Essex (LHD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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uss ESSEX ILHD 23 COMMAND MASTER CHIEF 3 . YN CM CSVWAW3 RODRIGUEZ Master Chief Yeoman CSurface Warfare!Air War'fare3 Manuel C. Rodriguez enlisted in the U.S. Navy in June 1970 and attended Recruit Training at Recruit Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. Master Chief Rodiiguez reported for his initial sea tour on USS POCONO CLCC 1603 followed by Yeoman An School in Bainbridge, Maryland. Upon completion, he was assigned to Naval Air Maintenance Training Detachment, Norfolk, Virginia, for a brief tour followed by an assignment to the J-2 Staff, Commander in Chief, Atlantic. Master Chief Rodriguez then served with the Staff, Commander Amphibious Group TWO aboard USS MOUNT WHITNEY QLCC 203. While attached, he was selected as the Amphibious Group Two Sailor of the Quarter and later as Sailor of the Year. Other tours include Staff, Supreme Allied Commander Atlantic and Educational Service Officer, USS BELLEAU WOOD CLHA 33. Onboard USS BELLEAU WOOD CLHA 33, he qualified as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist and was advanced to Senior Chief Petty Officer. Master Chief Rodriguez was selected to attend the Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island, in January 1986. Following graduation he was assigned as Military Secretary for Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C., and was also designated as the Senior Enlisted Advisor for all Navy personnel assigned. While assigned to the J CS, he was advanced to Master Chief Petty Officer. Most noteworthy during his tour at J CS, he was hand selected to represent the U.S. Navy at a Joint Service Award Ceremony in which he was personally awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal by the Commander in Chief. In March 1989, he was selected Command Master Chief of USS LEAHY CCG 163. During Master Chief Rodriguez's tour with the LEAHY it deployed twice to the Persian Gulf, of which the later was in support of Desert Storm. In November 1991, Master Chief Rodriguez assumed the duties of Command Master Chief, Naval Air Station, Barbers Point, Hawaii. In September 1993, Master Chief Rodriguez qualified as an Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist. Presently, he is the Command Master Chief of USS ESSEX CLHD 23. Master Chief Rodriguez's personal awards include Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal Ctwo awards3, Navy Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal 'Cfive awards3, as well as unit and campaign awards. ' Master Chief Rodriquez is married to the former Barbara Starbuck of Detroit, Michigan. They have two children, Jared and Anna. ew .. 5 1 WWA . . my I 1 ' 51 my 13 Z?

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M A ax '4 vi 7 wr f wfffnft W www The Crew The Mission USS ESSEX CLHD 21 is safe, trained and ready to fight. ES SEX, s mission is to conduct prompt, sustained combat operations at sea, as the centerpiece of the Navy,s amphibious strategy of Forward From the Sea. ESSEX provides the means to deliver, command and support all elements ofa Marine Landing Force in an assault by air and amphibious craft. In carrying out her mission, ESSEX has the option of utilizing various combinations of helicopters, Harrier II CAV-SBD Jump Jets and air cushion landing craft CLCACJ, as well as conventional landing craft and assault vehicles, illustrating the LHD's flexibility. ESSEX can also provide command and control and aircraft facilities for sea control missions, While operating with an aircraft carrier battle group. ESSEX will transport and land ashore not only troops, but also the tanks, trucks, jeeps, other vehicles, artillery, ammunition and various supplies necessary to support the amphibious assault mission. Monorail trains, moving at speeds up to 600 feet per minute, transport cargo and supplies from storage and staging areas throughout the ship to a 13,600 square foot Well deck which opens to the sea through huge gates in the ship's stem, There, the cargo, troops and vehicles are loaded aboard landing craft for transit to the beach. Air cushion landing craft can uflyv out ofthe dry Well deck, or the Well deck can be ballasted down for conventional craft to float out on their way to the assault area. Helicopter flights also transfer troops and equipment to the beach, while the ship ' s air traffic control capability simultaneously directs close air tactical support provided by embarked jet aircraft and helicopter gunships. The ship's extensive medical facilities consist of six medical operating rooms, four dental operating rooms, medical laboratories and hospital facilities capable of caring for 600 patients. ESSEX is second only to the NaVy's hospital ships in medical support capability, providing effective care to retuming troops under battle conditions, or missions during peacetime. 1 5 'ti 3 PHOTO' AN STARKEY disaster relief in support of humanitarian .V Y 2 ,l