Coronado (AGF 11) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 6 text:

COMMANDER THIRD FLEET VADM Jerry L. Unruh Vice Admiral Jerry L. Unruh, a native of Dodge City, Kansas, enlisted in the U.S. Navy following graduation from high school in 1957. He entered flight training as an aviation cadet in July 1959 and received his wings and commission in March 1961. His service as a Navy F-8 Crusader and F-14 Tomcat pilot included assignments in various East and West Coast fighter squadrons, including command of Fighter Squadrons 142 and 124. Vice Admiral Unruh has since held several significant command assignments, including command of the Navy Fighter Weapons School at Miramar, CA. While Commanding Officer of USS WICHITA (AOR 1), his ship was awarded the Battle Efficiency Award and decorated for operations involving the search for Korean airliner KAL 007 downed by Soviet fighters and for battle group operations in Central America. Following attendance at the Naval War College, he assumed command of USS SARATOGA (CV 60). SARATOGA deployed to the Mediterranean and Indian Ocean, where the ship was decorated for the Achille Lauro terrorist capture and Libyan Freedom of Navigation operations. SARATOGA also received the Battle Efficiency Award. VADM Unruh was promoted to flag rank in June 1987 and assigned to the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. Following assumption of command of Carrier Group ONE in July 1989, he successfully led Battle Group DELTA through a WestPac Indian Ocean deployment in support of Operation Desert Shield. Vice Admiral Unruh es- tablished the initial Battle Group and Maritime Interception Force operations that successfully enforced the United Nations sanctioned economic embargo of Iraq. Vice Admiral Unruh ' s personal awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, three awards of the Legion of Merit, four awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, and fourteen Air Medals. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA. Vice Admiral Unruh is married to the former Dolores Dee Havrda of Pensacola, Florida. They have two daughters, Dina and Kelli.

Page 5 text:

CORONADO HISTORY USS CORONADO (AGF-11) Two ships have borne the name USS CORONADO, both named for the City of Coronado, located adjacent to Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, Califor- nia. The first USS CORONADO (PF-38), a pa- trol frigate, served in World War II as a con- voy escort and distinguished itself with four battle stars: The Bismarck Archipelago Op- eration, the Hollandia Operation, the West- ern New Guinea Operation, and the Leyte Gulf Operation. The ship was decommis- sioned 12 July 1945. The USS CORONADO in commission to- day was built by Lockheed Shipbuilding and Construction Company in Seattle, Washing- ton. The keel was laid on 3 May 1965 and it was launched on 30 July 1966. USS CORO- NADO was commissioned 23 May 1970. USS CORONADO was designed as an Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD), built to transport Marines and their equipment to the scene of an amphibious assault, and land them ashore by landing craft and helicop- ters. The ship is one of seven fitted with ad- ditional superstructure for flagship duties. First assigned to the U.S. Atlantic Fleet in the 1970 ' s it conduced extensive operations, deploying on nu- merous occasions to the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas, as well eis Northern Europe. In 1989 USS CORONADO was redesignated an AGS (Miscellaneous Command Ship). Its first assignment was to relieve the USS LASALLE (AGF-3) as the flagship for Commander, U.S. Middle East Force, sta- tioned in the Persian Gulf. Reassigned in October 1985, USS CORONADO relieved USS PUGET SOUND (AD-38) as the flagship of Commander, U.S. SIXTH FLEET. During its ten month tour with the Sixth Fleet, it operated out of Gaeta, Italy, participating in operations in the Gulf of Sidra and strikes figainst Libyan terrorists support facilities. In July 1986, USS CORONADO was relieved as SIXTH FLEET flagship and ordered to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii to become the flagship for Commander, U.S. THIRD FLEET. The Admiral and his staff embarked in USS CORONADO in November 1986. Subsequently, CORONADO was relieved as THIRD Fleet flagship and deployed to the Arabian Gulf to assume duties as flagship for Commander, Middle East Force in Janu- ary of 1988. Upon its return to Pearl Harbor on November 9, 1988, CORONADO again assumed the duties as flagship for Commander, U.S. THIRD FLEET. The ship remained homeported in Hawaii until August 1991, when she and COMTHIRDFLT changed homeports to Naval Air Station North Island, in the ship ' s namesake city of Coronado, California. While stationed in San Diego, USS CORONADO has become an integral part of the surrounding commu- nity and continues to serve as a proud leader in THIRD FLEET.

Page 7 text:

COMMANDING OFFICER Capt Thomas F. Noonan Captain Thomas F. Noonan was born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa. Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1979 he attended the Naval Post Graduate School in Monterey, California, receiving a Masters degree in mathemat- ics in June 1971. Captain Noonan then reported to flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in Kingsville, Texas in October 1972. His first aviation tour was with VC-7 stationed at NAS Miramar flying the A-4 C, E, F and L aircraft in a variety of service and adversary missions. Following his tour in San Diego, Captain Noonan reported to the Naval Academy where he served as an instructor in the Mathematics Department from 1975 to 1978. In September 1978 he reported to VC-10 stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba where he served as the Administrative and Operations Officer, again flying the A-4 series aircraft in service, adversary and base defense missions. Captain Noonan reported to VAQ-129 at NAS Whidbey Island for training in the EA-6B aircraft in 1981. He was se- lected as Fleet Replacement Pilot of the Year in 1981 and assigned to VAQ-134 embarked in USS CONSTELLATION (CV-64) and USS CARL VINSON (CVN 70) where he served as the Administrative, Operations and Maintenance Of- ficer. He was reassigned to VAQ-129 in October of 1984 as an instructor pilot and training officer. Captain Noonan assumed duties as the Executive Officer of VAQ-137 in May of 1986 and commanded the squadron from October 1987 until June 1989. During his tour the squadron was embarked in USS SARATOGA (CV 60) and USS AMERICA (CV 66), twice won the Battle E and twice was selected as the Radford Award winner. He received nu- clear power training from September 1989 until April 1991 when he reported to USS NIMITZ (CVN 68) as Executive Officer while deployed to the Arabian Gulf. In April 1993 he reported to Commanding Officer, USS CORONADO (AGF 11) as his relief. Captain Noonan has over 5,000 flight hours including over 2,500 in both the A-4 and EA-6B series aircraft. He was married in 1971 to his wife Kathy, who is also a native of Dubuque, Iowa. They reside in San Diego with their two chil- dren, Patrick and Sarah.