El Paso (LKA 117) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 15 text:

f ■ ' i -■. • ' -y THE DEPARTMENTS DECK ENGINEERING OPERATIONS SUPPLY ADMIN NAVIGATION MEDICAL

Page 14 text:

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

Page 16 text:

DECK DEPARTMENT LCDR Tilden First Lieutenant LT Baker Assistant First Lieutenant LTJG McKnight First Division Officer LTJG Jackson Fourth Division Officer CW03 Chadwick Ship ' s Bos ' n The Deck Department, headed by LCDR Averill E. Tilden, is the backbone of the EL PASO. The primary mission of the Deck Department is three-fold: (1) Performance of normal deck evolutions, (2) movement of embarked personnel, vehicles and cargo ashore in support of an amphibious assault; and (3) close-in gunfire support in defense of the ship. Timely accomplishment of this mission is achieved through the proper training of assigned personnel and the meticulous care and maintenance devoted to the equipment. Deck department consists of five divisions which operate independently of each other yet are able to form a cohesive bond capable of efficiently and successfully completing all assigned evolutions. First Division, led by LTJG Terrance E. McKnight and BM 2 Charles V. Murrin, was tasked with all deck evolutions forward of the ship ' s superstructure. This included the maintenance and perservation of one 70 ton, one 40 ton and four 15 ton booms as well as two cargo holds, numerous winch decks and all of the forward underway replenishment gear. Second Division, led by ENS Michael A. Kahrl and BMl Jay P. Sines, maintained all deck spaces and equipment aft of the superstructure. Much of the equipment and evolutions are similiar to those of First division. Third Division, led by ENS John R. Parrish and BMC Gaines E. Mathis, was responsible for the operation of EL PASO ' s 12 small boats which included four LCM 8 s, five LCM 6 ' s, two LCPL and one Motor whale boat. These small craft were used in amphibious assaults as well as for liberty party runs which EL PASO was tasked with on numerous occasions. Fourth Division, led by LTJG Bernard L. Jackson and GMCl Charles Ross, maintained the ship ' s four twin rapid-fire gun mounts, magazines and associated sprinkler systems, enabling EL PASO to sustain a high degree of readiness. Bos ' n Division, led by the Ship ' s Bos ' n, CWO 3 William C. Chadwick, was responsible for the preservation of the ship ' s hull and the stowage and issuance of paint, paint supplies and the ship ' s cleaning materials. The administrative details of the department were handled by the Assistant First Lieutenant, LT Clinton B. Baker and the Deck Yeoman, ■yN 3 Quinton E. Gaston. ENS Kahrl Second Division Officer ENS Parrish Third Division Officer BMC Mathis Boat Chief BMC Webb Deck Chief 12