Essex (LHD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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Colonel John C. Garrett Commanding Officer 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, Fleet Marine Force John C. Garrett was bom in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the PLC program in 1969 after graduating from Virginia lylechnic Institute with a Bachelor of science Degree in Business Administration. After completing The Basic School in 1969, he was assigned to 1st Battalion, 9th Marines in Okinawa Japan where he served as the Weapons Platoon Commander, Company D. Shortly thereafter he served as Platoon Commander, Executive Officer, and Commanding Officer of Company M, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines in Vietnam through 1970. In 1971 he went to the 2nd Force Service Regiment as the Guard Officer. In 1974, Col. Garrett returned to The Basic School in Quanlico, Virginia as a Staff Platoon Commander, Ordnance Officer, and Basic Tactics Instructor. In 1978, after completing the Amphibious Warfare School, he returned to Okinawa where he commanded Company L, 3d Battalion, 4th Marines. Following this command, he served as the Operations Officer for 1st Battalion, 4th | Marines until 1981, then to the Tactical Exercise and Evaluation Group for the Combined Arms Exercise (CAX) program at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in 29 Palms, Calif. In 1982, Col. Garrett attended the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. Upon completion, he served at Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps as the Head of the Allocations Section, Manpower Control Branch. While in Washington DC. he earned an M.A. in National Security Studies from Georgetown University. Remaining in Washington DC, he attended the National War College at Ft. Leslie J. NcNair in 1987. In 1989, Col. Garrett completed a tour with the Current Operations Division, Headquarters, USCINCPAC and moved to command 3d Battalion, 3d Marines, 1st Marine Brigade. With 3d Battalion, 3d Marines (3 3) Col. Garrett deployed to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in support of operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After relinquishing command of 3 3, he moved back to Washington D.C. where he served as Head, Manpower Policy, Planning, and Programming and later with the Budgeting Branch, and Manpower and Reserve Affairs Department until June of 1993. Col. Garrett ' s next assignment was as the Head, Amphibious Branch, G-3, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (I MEF), Camp Pendleton. Calif. On April 5, 1994 Col. Garrett took command of the 13th MEU. Col. Garrett ' s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit (two, one with combat V ), the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the Bronze Star (with combat V ), the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon (two). Col. Garrett is married to the former Mary Paul Callis of Virginia Beach, Virginia. They have four children; Chris, Beth, Virginia, and Blair.

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LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM C. MACAK EXECUTIVE OFFICER 13TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT (SOC), FLEET MARINE FORCE Lieutenant Colonel William C. Macak was bom in Athens. Ohio on 25 November 1953. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant through the Platoon Leaders ' Class (PLC) program in March 1976 after graduating from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Government Economics. Following graduation from the Basic School in September 1976. he earned Naval Flight Officer Wings in July 1978. Completion of F-4 Phantom training led to an initial assigninent to Marine Attack Reconnaissance Squadron -i in March 1979 at Marine Corps Air Station. El Toro, Calif. During the tour he served aboard the USS Midway (March 1980 to November 1980) which deployed to the Indian Ocean. In July 1983, he reported to Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola to start Student Naval Aviator training. In October 1983 he reported to Headquarters Marine Corps to work in the Weapon System Acquisition field. He was assigned in October 1986 to the F A-18D Operational Development Team (ODT). NAS Lemoore, Calif., where he served as Operations Officer. He completed F A-I9D conversion training and Instructor training at Fighter Attack Squadron- 125 and assisted in the writing of the initial F A-I8D Training Readiness Manual, aircrew coordination studies and Tactical manual reviews. He then transferred the the 3rd Force Service Support Group (FSSG) in Okinawa, Japan in October 1988. He was the Group Air Officer and Contingency Plans Officer. He also flew the OA-4M. OV-IOD, F-I5D, and AW ACS aircraft. He detached from 3rd FSSG October 1989 with orders to Marine Air Group 1 1 (MAG- 1 1) at MCAS El Toro. In November 1989. he refreshed in the F A-I8D and was the assigned TAD to MAG-50 for RIMPAC 1990. He returned to MAG- 1 1 in June 1990 where he was the MAG- 1 1 (Rear) Operations Officer until November 1990. Lieutenant Colonel Macak reported to MAG- 1 1 (Forward) Bahrain. United Arab Emirates, for Operation Desert Shield in December 1990. There he performed as Assistant Plans Officer. He wrote the FASTFAC Concept of Operations for Operation Desert Storm, planned the Group 48 hour ATO, performed as Air Boss, and flew 38 combat missions in the F A-I8D. After the war. Lieutenant Colonel Macak returned to MCAS El Toro and assumed his duties in the Operations Department of MAG- 1 1 . He was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (All Weather) 225 as the Executive Officer in July 1991. Lieutenant Colonel Macak has fiown more than 1 000 hours in the F A- 18D. Lieutenant Colonel Macak was assigned to his present position as Executive Officer, 13th MEU (SOC), in April 1994. Lieutenant Colonel Macak s personal awards include: Two single-mission Air Medals with combat V , Strike Right Air Medal with numerical 3, Navy Commendation Medal with two stars, and the Navy Achievement Medal. Lieutenant Colonel Macak is married to the former Janie Stevens of Yuma, Arizona and has three children; Andrew, Kristin, and Jonathon. SERGEANT MAJOR ROBERT W. TASKER SERGEANT MAJOR 13TH MARINE EXPEDITIONARY UNIT (SOC), FLEET MARINE FORCE Following graduation from Coe-Browns, Northwood Academy in Northwood, New Hampshire in 1966. Sergeant Major Ta.sker enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on 27 July 1967. The Sergeant Major underwent Recruit Training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Car- olina and completed inf anu training at Camp Geiger, Nortli Carolina. Upon completion of infantry training he was transfen d to Marine Aviation Training Command, Memphis, Tennessee during November of 1967 and com- pleted the Aviation Operations Specialist Course in March of 1968. The Sergeant Major ' s first permanent duty station wa.s with Headquarters, MAG-32, 2d MAW, Marine Corps Air Station. Beaufort, S.C. .serving as the Assistant Operations Chief for the MAG and was later transferred to VMFA-25 1 as the Operations (Thief. Receiving orders in August 1969, tlie Sergeant Major reported for duty with Headquarters, MAG-ll, DaNang, RVN in December 1969 via Staging Battalion. MCB Camp Pendleton. Ca. During December 1970, he was transferred to Cherry Point, N.C. where he served as the Operations Chief for VMCJ-2 followed by an assignment as the Operations Chief of VMFA-312. In January 1973, tlien Sergeant Tasker, was assigned to Recruiter ' s School, MCRD, San Diego, Ca., and was sub- sequently assigned to Recruiting Station, Baltimore, Md from March 1973 through June 1977 as a recruiter where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant. He was reassigned to the Office of the Assistant Chief of Staff, Recruiting, Parris Island, S.C. During June 1977 and was promoted to Gun- nery Sergeant in March 1978. He served in the capacity of NCOIC. Recruiting Laison Section until July 1980 when he was transfered to MCAS. Beaufort, S.C. to assume the position of Station Flight Operations Chief. During July 1982. Sergeant Major Tasker was transferred to the Headquarters, 4th Marine Amphibious Brigade, em- barked onboard the USS Mount Whitney (LCC-20) serving first a.s the G-5, Plans Chief and then the G-3, Operations Chief conducting several major NATO Exerci.ses in North- em Norway, Denmark and Germany. In August 1984, fol- lowing his promotion to Master Sergeant, he was trans- ferred to Headquarters, Allied Forces Northern Europe where he served until June 1986 as the Ground Operations Chief. During this period he was redesignated as a First Sergeant. Transferred during June 1 986 to the I st Marine Division, Sergeant Major Tasker was a.ssigned as the First Sergeant for Company I, Third Battalion. I si Marines where he served until following his selection for Sergeant Major he was muisferred during July 1989 to Recruiting Station, San Diego, Ca. as the Station Sergeant Major. Completing his third tour of Recruiting Duty, he was transferred back to the 1st Marine Division where he served consecutively as the Battalion Sergeant Major of 1st Battalion, 1st Marines »» - and then the 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Bati Sergeant Major Tasker assumed his current position as the Sergeant Major, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) during June 1994. Sergeant Major Tasker ' s personal decorations include the Navy Achievement M edal and three Meritorious Service Medal. Sergeant Major Tasker is married to the former Dianne Konopka of New Hampshire. They have two children; Tammie and Kristie.