Enterprise (CVN 65) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDER CARRIER GROUP THREE, 25 June 1984-Present Rear Admiral John R. Batzler, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral John Richard Batzler, son of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Batzler, was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, December 9, 1932. A graduate of La Jolla High School, La Jolla, California, he also attended the University of California at Berkeley, receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics. Commissioned an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in June of 1 955, RADM Batzler reported for flight training in Pensacola, Florida, and received his wings in January 1957. As a photo reconnaissance pilot with VFP-63, he completed deployments to the Western Pacific aboard USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA 31) and USS ORISKANY (CVA 34). During his first tour of shore duty, RADM Batzler served for one year at the U.S. Naval Academy as a mathematics instructor and three years at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, as a graduate Navy Test Pilot and Project Pilot in the Weapon Systems Test Division. Reporting to Fighter Squadron 31 in November 1965, he served as Maintenance and then Operations Officer during one and one-half deployments to the Mediterranean aboard USS SARATOGA (CVA 60). A west coast tour with Fighter Squadron 96 followed, where RADM Batzler served as the squadron ' s Operations Officer while completing his first combat tour to Southeast Asia in USS ENTERPRISE (CVAN 65). U.S. Naval Postgraduate school followed, culminating in a Master ' s Degree in ComputerSystems Management in 1969. In 1970 he reported to Fighter Squadron 24 as Executive Officer and became Commanding Officer in July 1971. With the Flying Red Checkertails RADM Batzler made two com- bat deployments to Southeast Asia in USS HANCOCK (CVA 19). Following one full year of nuclear propulsion engineering training in June 1973, RADM Batzler served a short tour on the staff of Comman- der Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet. He then reported to USS ENTER- PRISE (CVAN 65) as Executive Officer in January 1975. During this tour, the ship conducted Indian Ocean operations and was a major supporting force in the evacuation of Saigon. Selected for major command at sea in 1976, RADM Batzler took over the Pearl Harbor based USS ASHTABULA (AO 51) in January 1 977, completing that tour in August 1 978. In February 1 979, RADM Batzler became Commanding Officer of USS NIMITZ (CVN 68). Dur- ing this tour USS NIMITZ made two Mediterranean deployments, one to the North Atlantic, and a record setting 1 44 continuous days at sea in the Indian Ocean. The highlight of RADM Batzler ' s tour was the shooting down of two Libyan SU-17 Fitter aircraft by NIMITZ-based VF-41 Tomcats. He was selected for Flag rank in February 1981 after having completed two of his three years as skipper of NIMITZ. On February 24, 1982, the then Captain Batzler was relieved as Comman- ding Officer, USS NIMITZ, in a ceremony at which the CNO, then Admiral Thomas B. Hayward, gave a major address on U.S. Naval Aircraft Carriers. Upon his promotion to Flag rank, he was assigned to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as the Deputy Director for Operations (Reconnaissance, Space, Electronic Warfare, and C3 Countermeasures) where he is currently serving. In RADM Batzler ' s flying career he has flown more than 50 different Navy aircraft, including fighters from the F9F Panther and Cougar thru the current F-14 Tomcat. His combat experience includes more than 270 missions in Viet Nam. RADM Batzler ' s awards include the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, numerous Air Med- als, Navy Commendation and various service and campaign ribbons for participation in the Viet Nam Conflict. He is a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, the Association of Naval Aviation, the U.S. Hang Glider Association, and the Cousteau Society. RADM Batzler is married to the former Carolyn Wright of Exeter, California. They have three children, Michael, Karen, and Gregory Shane. COMCARGRU 3 I 143

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CHIEF OF STAFF CARRIER GROUP THREE Captain Paul D. Frazer A native of Central New York where he graduated from Chittenango Central School and attended Syracuse University, Captain Frazer en- listed in the U.S. Navy in February 1958. After serving in USS JOHN- STON (DD 821) as an Electronics Technician, Captain Frazer attended Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, under auspices of the Naval Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP). Following grad- uation with a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree and attending Officer Candidate School, Captain Frazer was commissioned an En- sign in June 1 963 and was assigned to USS EUGENE A. GREENE (DD 71 1 ). Following Destroyer School and assignments in USS CHARLES P. CECIL (DD 835) and on the Staff of Commander, Destroyer Division 202, Captain Frazer was the commissioning Commanding Officer of USS CHEHALIS (PC 94). He was then briefly assigned to the Opera- tions Study Group on the Staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. In September 1970, he was selected to form Patrol Division 21 to consist of Patrol Gunboats forward deployed to the Mediterranean and homeported in Naples, Italy. During this period, he additionally com- manded USS DEFIANCE (PG 95). Captain Frazer then attended the Naval Post Graduate School, Monterey, California where he received a Masters of Electrical Engineering Degree in February 1974 and received orders to USS CONE (DD 866) as Executive Officer. Follow- ing a tour as a member of the Faculty of the Nava l War College, Newport, Rhode Island, Captain Frazer served in command of USS DONALD B. BEARY(FF 1085) from April 1980 to April 1982. He then served as Plans Officer for Commander, Carrier Group EIGHT prior to reporting to his current assignment as Chief of Staff to Commander, Carrier Group THREE in August 1984. Captain Frazer has been awarded the Legion of Merit, two Navy Commendation Medals, the Navy Achievement Medal and is autho- rized to wear various campaign and service ribbons. Captain Frazer is married to the former Mary Wanty of Waupaca, Wisconsin who currently resides in Virginia Beach, Virginia, with their three children. ) 44 I CHIEF Of STAFF