Elrod (FFG 55) - Naval Cruise Book

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FOREWORD This cruise book is prepared as a remembrance of ELROD ' s first deployment; a deployment initially planned for the Mediterranean, but, due to world events was executed in the Persian Gulf. As you review the book you will see the faces of the crew and some of the events that took place during the deployment. You will have a hint of the friendships that developed and the hard work completed by the crew. The most important ingredient to the very successful cruise completed by this crew can not easily be shown by pictures. The teamwork of the 214 men embarked in ELROD . . . this includes HSL 44 Det 3, our two plane helicopter detachment from Mayport . . . made this a successful cruise. Everyone completed assigned tasks and accomplished these tasks perfectly; and even more importantly, helped their shipmates complete necessary work. This teamwork ensured ELROD was safe . . . and that ELROD accomplished all assigned jobs. The reputation ELROD received is evidence of this teamwork. As important to the teamwork displayed by the crew was the support of the wives and families. Holidays at sea are difficult for all, but the holidays over this deployment will always be remembered because of the hard work of our loved ones. It is the people that make the Navy a special place and it is fitting that this book be dedicated to the crew and families of the ELROD. I sincerely hope you enjoy reviewing the events of the deployment as you read the cruise book. Enjoy the pictures and read the captions of the USS ELROD (FFG- 55) Persian Gulf Cruise Book (22 September 1987 to 22 March 1988). P.W. BOLIN, COMMANDER USN

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M. DONALD J. DUNLEAVY COMMAND MASTER CHIEF .aster Electrician Mate Chief Petty Officer Donald J. Dunlevy, son of Hubert and Edith Dunlevy of Pitts- burgh, Pennsylvania, enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1959. He has completed recruit training at RTC, Great Lakes, Illinois as well as Class A Electrician Mate, Class B Electrician Mate and Minesweeping Electrician Schools. Master Chief Dunlevy served aboard the following afloat commands: USS JENKINS (DD-947) and USS NICH- OLAS (DD-449) learning the basics of the Electrician Mate Rating, USS DETECTOR (MSO-429) as Electric Shop Supervisor, USS MEADOWLARK (MSC-196) as Electric Shop Supervisor, Commander Mine Squadron 10 as Boat Electrician for MSB-36 and MSL Detachment 1-73, USS AMERICA (CV-66) as a member of the ship ' s Safety De- partment, Mine Counter measures Unit ALPHA as Maintenance Control Chief and Launch Recovery Director, Plankowner of Helicopter Minesweeping Squadron FOURTEEN as Avionics Division Chief, Launch and Recovery Coordinator and Command Senior Chief Petty Officer, and USS CANOPUS (AS-34) as Ship Superintendent for repairs to Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarines. Master Chief Dunlevy ' s shore duty commands include the Fleet Maintenance Assistance Group at Little Creek Virginia and Fleet and Mine Warfare Training Center, Charleston, South Carolina as an instructor for Minesweeping Electrician Mate courses. He is authorized to wear Navy Achievement Medal with a Gold Star in lieu of a 2nd award, for training Republic of Indonesia crews concerning leased minesweeping vessels and successfully conducting extensive repairs to three Au- tomatic Degaussing Systems which were constantly in use as training aids, the Meritorious Unit Commendation for service aboard USS CANOPUS (AS-34), and five consecutive Good Conduct Awards. Master Chief Dunlevy is married to Alice Jeanette (Benthall) of Norfolk, Virginia and they have three children, David, Donald II and Kristin. They presently reside in Goose Creek, South Carolina.

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SUPPORT DEPARTMENT he USS ELROD SUPPORT DEPARTMENT - SERVICE TO THE CREW - is there motto. The services that this department provides range from providing parts to keep the ship going and firing to cutting a man ' s hair. The Support Department personnel are the pride of the ELROD in professionahsm and cooperation. The Department Head is LT WilHam M. Bunker and the Assistant Support Officer was LT Charles P. Frasher. LT Frasher also held the respon- sibility as Disbursing Officer and Ship ' s Store Officer. In February 1988 a new man to the department arrived relieving LT Frasher of his ausome tasks - ENS David K. Henderson. The department is divided into two divisions - S-1 (Support) lead by ENS Henderson and PNCS (SW) Kevin A. Doak and S-2 (Food Service) lead by MSC (SW) Timothy E. Martin. S-1 (Support) Division is made up of many and varied ratings: Storekeeper (SK), Ship ' s Serviceman (SH), Yeoman (YN), Personnelman (PN), Disbursing Clerk (DK), Postal Clerk (PC), Master at Arms (MA) and Hospital Corpsman (HM). These personnel are ones who make living on the ship more bearable by providing those things you become accus- tomed to on shore like mailing a letter, buying from the store, getting a haircut, getting parts to fix your equipment and checking on personal affairs. Without these people living on the ship would not be the same. S-2 (Food Service) Division includes both the Mess Management Specialist (MS) and the Food Service Attendants on temporary duty from other divisions. It is the responsibility of these men to provide over 700 meals a day to the crew which include breakfast, lunch, dinner and mid-rats. It is because of these personnel that the men gained all their weight from the cruise. Judging from the remarks of numerous riders and from other commands, ELROD ' s food is the best in the fleet. 10