El Paso (LKA 117) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commanding Officer MAU Service Support Group-34 Major W. R. HAPGOOD, was born 23 January 1934 in Harrisburg, Pennslyvania. He began his military career in the United States Navy on 17 July 1951 as a Seaman aboard USS WEDLEIGH until his discharge on 22 July 1955. Major Hapgood found himself joining the United States Marine Corps on 13 October 1955, as a private, and was later to enjoy an impressive combat record during the Vietnam war. From 1 August 1965 through 7 August 1969, Major Hapgood participated in numerous operations against the Communists forces in South Vietnam as both an Infantry Platoon and Company Commander with the 9th Marine Regiment. He was cited numerous times and awarded the Bronze Star with V twice. In the years since the war. Major Hapgood has served as the 1 I, CO., D 1st Bn 25 th Marine USMCR Manchester, New Hampshire and received his bachelors degree at the University of New Hampshire, additionally, he was the G-4 Logistic Officer with H Q Co., HQ Bn, 3rd MARDIV, the Community Motor Maintenance Officer MTMCO 2nd Maintenance B attalion 2nd FSSG until his present assignment as the Commanding Officer of MAU Service Support Group 34 with deployed forces afloat. Major W. R. HAPGOOD Commanding Officer of Troops

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Captain R. R. FERRIS Executive Officer of Troops Captain R. R. FERRIS was born 2 December 1945 in Alam, Georgia. After graduation from high school he joined the United States Army in June 1964. After boot camp at Fort Ord, California, Captain Ferris saw duty in West Germany as a Communicator Specialist and in Vietnam as a Company RTO and grenadier. Captain Ferris graduated from the Citadel in Charleston, South Carolina in May 1974 and reported to OCS on 9 June 1974 as an Officer Candidate in the 88th OCS, Quantice, Virginia. Upon being commissioned and additional schooling at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, he was assigned to Battery B 1st Battalion, as a forward observer and later became the Executive Officer of Battery ' s A and C in the 1st Bn lOth Marine, and the Commanding Officer of HQ Battery 12th Marine. Upon returing to the United States in December 1978 Captain Ferris was assigned as a student to the Motor Transport School, Camp Johnson. He then served as the Commanding Officer of H S Company, and Transport Company 8th Motor Transport Bn 2nd FSSG prior to being presently assigned as the Executive Officer of MSSG 34. 10