Canisteo (AO 99) - Naval Cruise Book

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This book is dedicated to the wives and families who support the men who support the fleet at sea. They have the toughest job. i w«ww)» i »» i iiiiii i imtu-.iMW

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accept all challenges that come to me. will support you, re-arm you and refuel you. In whichever ocean you may sail. Under any condition or circumstance. My goal is perfection; my friend, fortitude, i . My heart beats service to my battle group, i give of myself to keep others going while I go alone. am the rogue. t Q HOT- . l ' BM2 William K. Nagy

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Commanding Officer ROBERT S. COLE Captain, US Navy C$).iVJMA ' [ i%J Captain Robert S. Cole, a native of West Point, New York, entered ttie Navy in September, 1963 from the NROTC contract program. Commissioned after graduation from Penn State University, he com- pleted flight training and was designated a naval aviator in May, 1965 Following A-4E SKYHAWK replacement pilot training. Captain Cole reported to Attack Squadron FIFTEEN, NAS Cecil Field. During his tour. Captain Cole flew more than 200 combat missions over North Vietnam from the carrier USS INTREPID. Assigned flight instructor duty. Captain Cole re- ported to Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY- SIX as NAS Miramar in November, 1968. During this tour he worked as Squadron Training Officer and helped initiate adversary training among Miramar- based fighter squadrons. Captain Cole transferred to the Naval Reserve in 1969, flying the A-4 SKYHAWK at NAS Los Alomi- tos. In July 1970 Captain Cole returned to active duty as Operations Officer of Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX. After completing transition training for the F-4 PHANTOM in late 1972, the Cap- tain reported to Fighter Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIF- TY-ONE as Maintenance Officer aboard USS MIDWAY forward-deployed in Japan. Captain Cole attended the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island in 1975, followed by a tour in the Pentagon where he served as the Head of Naval Aviation Manpower and Planning (OP-05). In 1978 Captain Cole reported as Executive Of- ficer Commanding Officer of Fighter Squadron SEV- ENTY-FOUR aboard USS FORRESTAL. He proceeded to become Fighter Training Officer for COMNAVAIR- LANT and then most recently. Executive Officer of the USS JOHN F. KENNEDY. Captain Cole has logged over 3500 hours of flight time and 800 carrier landings. His personal de- corations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, Meri- torious Service Medal, Air Medal, seventeen Strike Flight Air Medals, four awards of the Navy Commen- dation Medal with combat V, three awards of the Navy Achievement Medal with combat V, the Hu- manitarian Service Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry (Bronze Star), plus various unit awards and campaign medals. He has written numerous articles on naval aviation safety and served as Grampaw Pettibone while Contributing Editor for Novel Avia- tion News Mogozine. Captain Cole resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia with his wife Paulo and their children Tomi, Jennifer, Brian and Shelly.