Constellation (CV 64) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 12 text:

Battle Group Delta l.i «■ . ..»«i-i-

Page 11 text:

Command Master Chief USS Constellation ::5 i;ii AOCM Gordon R. Zehm was raised in Spokane, Wash. After high school and four years in the National Guard, he entered the Navy in 1952 and went to boot camp in San Diego, Calif. He attended Airman Prep. School in Norman, Okla. and then went through AO school in Jacksonville, Fla. His first ship was USS Cabot (CVL-28), homeported in Norfolk, Va. In 1954, he was transferred to FASRON 77 in Naples, Italy for three years. His next assignment was VX-1 in Key West, Fla, for two years. From there, he went to USS Essex (CVA-9) for four years, homeported in Mayport, Fla. and later as a CVS in Quanset Pt., R.I. Next, he was assigned to VA-44, Cecil Field, Fla., and in 1965 he was sent to VA-212 (CAG-21) on USS Hancock (CVA-19) off North Vietnam. In 1967, his squadron was assigned to USS Bon Home Richard (CVA-31) on which he completed combat cruises in 1967 and 1968. During this time, his squadron was first to introduce a new weapons system into combat, the Walleye weapon. In 1969 his squadron was back on USS Hancock for another combat cruise. In early 1970, AOC Zehm was sent to Millington, Tenn. to attend instructor training and after graduation, was assigned to NAMTD Lemoore, Calif, where he instructed A-4 and A-7 armament maintenance and MK4 gun pod. After being promoted to AOCS in AOCM Gordon R. Zehm 1971, he was sent to USS Coral Sea (CV-43) where he served as LCPO for flight deck maintenance, G. Division and Weapons Department. In 1978, AOCM Zehm became Command Master Chief of Coral Sea. In 1982 he went to shore duty at NAS Fallon, Nev. He reported aboard USS Constellation in 1985 just prior to the WESTPAC deployment. Master Chief Zehm has seen most of the world at sea and in the air. He has made numerous Mediterranean, North Atlantic and WESTPAC cruises and four Vietnam cruises. He has earned the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with combat V, Navy Achievement Medal with star, three Navy Unit Commendations, three Meritorious Commendations, eight Good Conduct Awards, three Navy Expeditionary Medals, Navy Occupation Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with eight campaign stars, Humanitarian Service Medal, four Sea Service ribbons, RVN Armed Forces Mug (Gallantry Cross), and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with device. He is authorized to wear the Surface Warfare emblem. In 1982 AOCM Zehm was a candidate for Master Chief of the Navy, and was among the top ten selectees. His total devotion is to represent our finest and most valuable assets — our sailors.

Page 13 text:

Carrier Group One :v :: ' .f •r SfT ! 3f ' S i.