Elrod (FFG 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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c COMMANDING OFFICER PHIL W. BOLIN G MM I IDn?lG ommander Phil Warren Bolin enlisted in the United States Navy in 1969. A native of Ephrata, Washington, he served 2 ' 2 years in USS JOUETT (CG-29) achieving the rate of Personnelman Second Class. He then completed Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, and was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy in July 1971. Prior to his assignment to command USS ELROD (FFG-55), Commander Bolin served on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations as Head, Officer Pro- fessional Development. For his efforts with officer career programs while as- signed to the OPNAV staff, Commander Bolin is authorized to wear the Merito- rious Service Medal. At sea Commander Bolin most recently served as the Chief Staff Officer for commander. Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Four. Prior to that tour, he was the commissioning Executive Officer in USS CLIFTON SPRAGUE (FFG- 16). During his tour, USS CLIFTON SPRAGUE earned the Destroyer Squadron Eight Battle Efficiency Award for excellence in her first year of commissioned service. After graduating from the Surface Warfare Officer Department Head course in 1974, Commander Bolin served two department head tours. His first Department Head tour was as Weapons Officer in USS BLANDY (DD-943) followed by assignment as Chief Engineer in USS MANITOWOC (LST 1 180). Commander Bolin ' s first sea tour after commissioning included duties as a division officer in the Weapons and Operations Departments and as the ship ' s navigator in USS RICHARD E. BYRD (DDG-23). Commander Bolin is a 1980 graduate of the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California where he earned a Master of Science Degree in Management. In addition to the Meritorious Service Medal, he is authorized to wear the Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star in lieu of second award and the Navy Achievement Medal. Commander Bolin was ordered to USS ELROD (FFG- 55) as Commanding Officer on 10 March 1986. Commander Bolin and his wife Anne have one daughter, Lauren, and they reside in Charleston, South Carolina.

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LOOKING BACK A. s the Guided Missile Frigate, USS ELROD (FFG-55), approached Buoy Charlie, her homeport of Charleston ' s Harbor entrance buoy, many thoughts of the past six months spent in the Persian Gulf lingered in the minds of the crew. It all started with a six week transit across the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. Intense training was conducted daily to prepare for convoy operations to protect reflagged American ships. After a brief stop in the Azores (Portugal) for fuel and seven days in Palma, Spain, ELROD was ready to continue ahead to her upcoming transit of the Suez Canal. Immediately upon ELROD ' S arrival to the Gulf, the crew was put to work using skills in which they were drilled. ELROD spent 90 ' c of her time in the Gulf at sea, conducting a variety of operations. Her first escort mission resulted in a mine being discovered by an ELROD lookout which led to the mine ' s immediate destruction. During the third mission ELROD observed the results of an Iranian small boat attack on a merchant ship and responded immediately to provide humanitarian assistance. During another assignment ELROD took part in the rescue of twenty crewmembers from a Korean mer- chant ship that had been attacked. One of the two SH-60B Lamps M K III Helicopters assigned to ELROD and a helicopter from the British warship HMS SCYLLA conducted the complete and safe evacuation of the merchant ship ' s crew. While ELROD was assigned to the Middle East Force, her helicopter detachment, HSL 44 Det 3, led by Lieutenant Commander R.L. Dick, flew over 1000 hours while in the Persian Gulf, more than any other ship that has been stationed there so far. From one end of the Gulf to the other, ELROD was on patrol or conducting escort missions. After three and a half months of this demanding assignment she was relieved to start her 7,500 mile journey home. On her way home ELROD had three good, hard-earned liberty ports. The first was Aquaba, Jordan, dur- ing which the crew enjoyed an all day tour up to the top of snow touched Jordanian mountains and experienced Jordanian Culture at its best. From Jordan ELROD transited the Suez Canal once again and proceeded to Genoa, Italy. In Italy ELROD and her crew enjoyed numerous tours and ski trips to the nearby Alps. Genoa, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus, was an excellent place where the crew enjoyed Italian cuisine. After three days in Genoa ELROD proceeded to a port visit in Toulon, France. Toulon, located on the French Rivi- era, was very beautiful and exciting. Several members of the crew were able to take a two day tour to Paris and as in Genoa, other crew members went on snow skiing trips to the nearby Alps. After stopping in the Azores for fuel ELROD was ready for the last leg of their journey home, crossing the Atlantic once again. The ship made its turn toward the Charleston Naval Base as it passed under the Cooper River Bridge. The thoughts of the past six months faded as new ones came into mind. Dreams of spending time with friends and loved ones now raced through the minds of the sailors onboard ELROD. It was time to get back into circulation and put the memories of the Persian Gulf behind.

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L EXECUTIVE OFFICER THOMAS R. MOODY lieutenant Commander Thomas Ray Moody graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor ' s degree in Political Science and was commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy on 12 May 1974. Prior to his assignment as Executive Officer, USS ELROD (FFG-55), LCDR Moody served two years on the staff of Commander, Destroyer Squadron FOUR as Training and Readiness Officer. LCDR Moody was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal as a result of his efforts on the staff. As sea, LCDR Moody served as Operations Officer in USS THORN (DD-988) and USS DAVIS (DD-937) and was a member of the decommissioning crew in USS DAVIS. LCDR Moody attended the Surface Warfare Department Head Course in 1982 and served for two years on the Naval Officer Candidate School (OCS) staff. During his tour at OCS, LCDR Moody earned a Master ' s Degree in Busi- ness Administration from Bryant College. Prior to his tour at OCS, LCDR Moody served as the Legal and Personnel Officer in USS SAIPAN (LHA-2) and was a member of SAIPAN ' S commissioning crew. LCDR Moody was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal while serving in USS SAIPAN. His first sea tour was as CIC Officer and Navigator in USS BOULDER (LST-1190). LCDR Moody is married to the former Gail Caldwell, a native of Waynesville, North Carolina and they have two children: Scott and Beth Ann.