Camden (AOE 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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c IVI A N D I N G F F I C E R CAPT. DONALD L. FELT, USN Captain FELT was commissioned upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1953, and sub- sequently served in the Pacific Fleet Attack Transport, GEORGE CLYMER (APA-27). Upon completion of flight training in 1956, Cap- tain FELT served in Attack Squadron Thirty-Four for four years. During this period the squadron com- pleted two deployments to the Sixth Fleet in the Mediterranean in SARATOGA (CVA-60), participating in the U.S. response to the Lebanon crisis in 1958. From 1960 to 1963, Captain FELT studied at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey, graduating with the Degree of Aeronautical Engineer. He then again served in Attack Squadron Thirty-Four as Operations Officer. Captain FELT sailed in Vietnam waters during 1966-1967 as Strike Operations Officer in INTREPID (CVS-II) flying combat missions in the A4 Skyhawk over South Vietnam with the embarked squadrons. Later he assumed the duties of Executive Officer of Attack Squadron Twenty-Seven, a newly forming A7 Corsair II squadron. After a 1968 WESTPAC deploy- ment, Captain FELT assumed command of the squadron for a second tour off Vietnam in CONSTELLATION (CVA-64) in 1969-1970. During this tour he flew over 225 combat missions in the Corsair. A succession of staff jobs followed: CINCPACFLT as Air Operations Officer; OPNAV (OP-60) as Aviation Plans, then FHead, Pacific Area Plans Section; and to date, as Chief, LANT SOUTH AL-REDCOM Division, J-3, Organization of the joint Chiefs of Staff. Captain FELT has been awarded the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Air Medal (22 Strike Flight Awards), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (4 awards with Combat V), and the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. Captain FELT is married to the former Marguerite Synon. They have five children: Kitty (16), Mimi (14), Liz (12), George (9), and Sara (6).

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EXECUTIVE OFFICER LCDR EDWARD T. WALKER, JR. USN Lieutenant Commander Edward Thomas WALKER, Jr. is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Class of 1960. Following graduation, he attended Submarine School in New London, Connec- ticut from July to December 1960. From January 1961 to November 1962, Lieutenant Commander WALKER served on board USS TIRANTE {SS-420) as Assistant Engineer and Communicator. Following his tour on board this ship he reported to the commissioning crew of USS DANIEL WEBSTER (SSBN-626) (Blue), which was then under construction at Croton, Connecticut. Enroute to DANIEL WEBSTER, he attended the SSBN Navigator Course at the Naval Guided Missile School, Dam Neck, Virginia. During his five Polaris deterrent patrols on board DANIEL WEBSTER, he served in a variety of billets including Communicator, Operations Officer, and Navigator. Detached in October 1965, Lieutenant Commander WALKER reported to the Staff of Commander Sub- marine Flotilla SIX to serve as Aide and Flag Lieute- nant. Lieutenant Commander WALKER ' s next assign- ment was Third Officer and Engineer on board USS VOLADOR (SS-490), home-ported in San Diego. Reporting on board in September 1968, he was detached in May 1970 to report to USS CAIMAN (SS- 323) as Executive Officer. He remained in that position until CAIMAN was decommissioned in June 1972. For his service as Executive Officer of CAIMAN, he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal. Prior to reporting to USS CAMDEN (AOE-2) as Ex- ecutive Officer in August 1973, Lieutenant Com- mander WALKER attended the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, graduating in June 1973. He also earned a Master ' s degree in Business Administration from Auburn University while at Maxwell. Lieutenant Commander WALKER is a native of San Diego, California, but was raised in Kerrville, Tex- as. He is married to the former Elaine K. Pichler of Newburgh, New York. The WALKER ' s have two daughters, Kathryn and Audrey, and one son, David. They currently reside in Bremerton, Washington. 10