Essex (LHD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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■ Major Herbert A Hopper Executive Officer Battalion Landing Team 3 1 Major Herbert A. Hopper earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the United States Naval Academy, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1978. After completion of the Basic Officer Course and Infantry Officer Course, Quantico, Virginia, he reported to First Battalion, First Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif. 2ndLt. Hopper served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Battalion Adjutant, Company Executive Officer, and then Company Commander. He was assigned to School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, Calif., in November 1982 for duty as a Company Commander and Officer in Charge of all Tactics Instruction. From August 1985 to May 1986, Captain Hopper attended Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Virginia. Upon graduation he transferred to First Battalion, Sergeant Major Bimie Sergeant Major Battalion Landing Team 3 1 Sergeant Major Bimie enlisted in the Marine Coprs in September 1972. After Recruit training at MCRD, San Diego, and Infantry training at Camp Pendleton, Calif., he reported to his first duty station with Company A, 3d Recon Battalion, Hawaii. In February, he graduated as the Honor Graduate from the Marine Security Guard School and was assigned to detachments at the American Embassy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, and the American Consulate in Casablanca, Morocco. Upon completion of his tour as a Marine Security Guard in November 1977, SgtMaj. Bimie reported to 1st Battalion, 8th Marines, as the Operations Chief, where he served through two deployments to the Mediterranan. He was promoted to Staff Sergeant and was the Honor Graduate at the Staff NCO Academy during this tour. In November 1979, he reported to the Squad Leader School as a .senior in.structor until October 1980, when he retumed to Marine Security Guard Battalion for assignment as the Detachment Commander at the Fourth Marines, Twentynine Palms, Calif., where he served as Weapons Company Commander and then Battalion S-4 until August 1988. His next duty station was with the Inspector-Instructor Staff, Twenty- Fifth Marines, Worcester, Massachusetts and later as the Inspector-Instructor, First Battalion, Twenty-Fifth Marines on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He was promoted to Major in October 1990. Major Hopper was a student at the United States Army Command and General Staff College, Fori Leavenworth, Kansas from July 1991 until June 1992, when he took command of Marine Corps Security Force Company, Navy Support Facility, Diego Garcia. He reported to Headquarters Battalion, First Marine Division in July 1993 where he served as the Future Plans Officer, G-3 Operations, until he assumed duty as Executive Officer, Third Battalion, First Marines in February 1994. Major Hopper ' s personal decorations include two Navy Commendation Medals and two Navy Achievement Medals. Major Hopper is married to the former American Embassies throughout North Africa, particularly, Georgetown, Gayana, Tunisia; and Rome, Italy. Gunnery Sergeant Bimie retumed to the United States in November 1985 and joined the Command Element of the 5th Marine Amphibious Brigade as the Contingency Plans Chief. Gunnery Sergeant Bimie was selected for the Staff NCO Degree Completion Program, attended National University and recieved his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in April 1989. Selected for promotion to First Sergeant he was ordered to 1 st Light Armored Infantry Battalion where he served through one Western Pacific deployment, Operation DESERT STORM, and the Los Angeles riots. First Sergeant Bimie continued his education and earned a Masters in Business Administration degree in May 1993. In Jul 1993, he reported for duty as the First Sergeant for Marine Corps Security Force Company, Naval Air Station, North Island. He was selected to Sergeant Major and reported to his current position with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines in August 1994. Sergeant Major Birnie ' s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with Rose Marie Barrera of San Diego, California. They have four sons. two gold stars and Combat Distinguishing Device, Navy Achievement Medal, and the Combat Action Ribbon. He is married to the former Linda Lou Torgerson. They have a daughter, Celia (10).

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Lieutenant Colonel Philip D. Tracy Commanding Officer Battalion Landing Team 3 1 Lieutenant Colonel Philip D. Tracy enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 1966. He served as a field radio operator in Vietnam with the 1st Marine Division from March 1967 to April 1968. He was honorably discharged in April 1969. Returning to civilian life. Lieutenant Colonel Tracy attended Western State College. Gunnison, Colorado, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1974. After completing The Basic School, Quantico, Virginia, 2ndLt. Tracy was ordered overseas to serve with the 3rd Marine Division, Okinawa. Japan, as an 81mm Mortar Platoon Commander. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in January 1976. Following his tour in Okinawa, he served at the Marine Barracks, Subic Bay, Republic of the Philippines, where he was promoted to Captain. Returning stateside in November 1978, Captain Tracy was assigned as Commanding Officer, Company A, 1st Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In March 1981 Captain Tracy was assigned to the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Fori Benning, Georgia. Upon graduation, he served as a Tactics Instructor. In February 1983. Captain Tracy was assigned as a Company Commander and later, the Operations Officer for Officer Candidates School, Quantico. Virginia. He was promoted to Major in August 1984. Major Tracy attended the Command and Staff College from August 1985 to June 1986. Following graduation he transferred to Camp Pendleton. California, where he served as the Operations Officer for the 1 1th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU). Lieutenant Colonel Tracy assumed the command of Recruiting Station Dallas on 9 July 1988 where 1991. Lieutenant Colonel Tracy transferred to Headquarters, Marine Corps in July of 1991 where he was assigned as a Special Operations Action Officer, Special Operations Low Intensity Conflict Branch. He attended the National War College, Fort McNair. Washington D.C., from August 1992 until June 1993. He assumed command of 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines in July 1993. Lieutenant Colonel Tracy ' s personal decorations include: the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and the Good Conduct Medal. Lieutenant Colonel Tracy is married to brmer Jeannette Bailer of Cleveland, Ohio. They have four children; Lisa (20) Valerie (17), Jill 3), and Michael (10).

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History of Battalion Landing Team 3 1 The 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines was activated 1 March 1941 at Guantanamo Bay. Cuba. During April 1941, the battalion relocated to Parris Island, South Carolina, before being deactivated on 18 June 1941. It was reactivated on 16 February 1942 at New River, North Carolina, and deployed to Wellington. New Zealand, during June and July 1942. 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines participated in campaigns on Guadalcanal, New Guinea, New Britain, Peleliu, and Okinawa. After World War II, the battalion participated in the occupation of North China from September 1945 to April 1946. It was deactivated on 15 April 1946 at Tientsin, China. On 4 August 1950, the battalion was reactivated at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and deployed to Kobe, Japan the following month. It participated in the Korean War from September 1950 to July 1953, operating from Inchon, Seoul, Chosin Reservoir, and the East Central and Western Fronts. After the war, the battalion participated in the defense of the Korean Demilitarized Zone until April 1955, when it relocated to Camp Pendleton. From October to december 1962, it was mobilized for the Cuban Missile Crisis. The battalion was deployed to Camp Schwab, Okinawa during September 1965 for the Vietnam War. It conducted operations in Vietnam from January 1966 to May 1971 from the following areas; Chu Lai, Da Nang, Thang Binh, Hoa Long, Than Thuy, Ca Lu Combat Base, and Hoa Vang. Relocation to Camp Pendleton was completed during May 1971. 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines was designated as Battalion Landing Team 3 1 and deployed to Okinawa for training at various times during the early 1980 ' s. It deployed to Southwest Asia in 1991 for Operations DESERT SHIELD and DESERT STORM. During May 1992 the battalion deployed to Los Angeles, Calif., for Operation PEACEKEEPER, helping to quell the Los Angeles riots. THUNDERING THIRD