Everglades (AD 24) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN EMMETT H. TIDD Commanding Officer While with the Sixth Fleet in the Med- iterranean, EVERGLADES was commanded by Captain Emmett H, TIDD. He assumed command of the ship on 1 July 1968, just thirty days prior to her departure from Charleston. Captain TIDD was born on 6 October 1923 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He attended the University of Oklahoma, and received his commission as an Ensign from the NROTC unit there in February, 1945. Upon receiving his commission, he reported aboard USS GYATT QDD-7125 and assumed duties as First Lieutenant. lnV1950, Captain TIDD assisted in the recommissioning of USS FRANK E. EVANS QDD-7541, serving first as Assistant Engineering Officer and DCA and then as Operations Officer. EVANS was in the first Division of de-mothballed destroyers to reach Korea during the Korean Conflict. For duties performed during this deploy- ment while serving as Bombardment Liaison Officer in the siege of Wonsan he was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V . Upon completion of his tour aboard EVANS, Captain TIDD reported to the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington as Assistant to the Head of the Appointments Branch. He then served as Operations Officer and Navigation Officer aboard USS RADFORD QDDE-4465, followed by a tour as Squadron Operations Officer, Gunnery Officer, and ASW Officer on COMDESRON 25 Staff. ln September, 1956, Captain TIDD received his first Command, that of USS FORCE QMSO-445j. This was followed by post- graduate work at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, and a tour as the Assistant Head of the Special Weapons Branch, Strategic Plans Division of the Officer of the Chief of Naval Operations. ln May, 1961, C aptain TIDD assumed Command of USS RICHARD B. ANDERSON QDD-7861, and this was immediately followed by his third Command, that of USS CHARLES F, ADAMS QDDG-21, in April, 1963. Following Command of ADAMS, Captain TIDD was assigned as Objective Plans Officer of the Strategic Plans Division Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. For duties performed in this job, the Secretary of the Navy awarded Captain TIDD a Gold Star in lieu of asecond Navy Commendation Medal. Following this tour he attended the 1967-68 course of the National War College in Washington, after which he reported aboard EVERGLADES to assume duties as her Commanding Officer. Under Captain TIDD, Big Mama deployed to the Mediterranean, and while there, furthered her reputation as areal Can-Do ship. The procession of kudos and credits seemed almost unending. The continued high level of performance by her, crew was a source of great pride to her Commanding Officer, Captain Emmett H. TIDD.

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Dur1ng the Med1terranean Crulse Blg Mama was fortunate to have Commander Thomas F N1edbala as her Executwe Offlcer Commander N1edbala had just completed a tour of duty 1n Naples and h1s knowledge of the local customs attract1ons recrea t1onal fac1l1t1es and other act1v1t1es made the cru1se much more worthwhlle and enjoyable for the 'GLADES sa1lors Commander N1edbala was born on 18 July 1930 ID Buffalo New York He rece1ved h1s Bachelor's Degree from Pr1nceton Un1vers1ty 1n 1952 and was comrmssloned as an Enslgn as a graduate of the Regular NROTC program Upon rece1v1ng hls comm1ss1on Commander N1edbala was ass1gned for duty to USS MACON QCA 1325 where he served f1rst as Second D1V1S1OH Off1cer and then as Maln Battery Off1cer He has also served EXECUTIVE OFFICER Commander Thomas F. Niedbala as Ch1ef E ng1nee r 1n USS WACCAMAW QAO 1095 and 1n USS HARRY E YARNELL as Nucleus Crew Ch1ef Englneer Commander N1edbala next attended the Spanlsh Naval War College 1n Madr1d Spa1n where he l1ved w1th h1s fam1ly for approxlmately one year He was awarded the Spanlsh Naval Cross of Mer1t Second Class at graduatlon ceremonles 1n Madr1d 1n 1965 In 1965 Commander N1edbala was ass1gned to the Staff of Commander Strlklng and Support Forces Southern Europe The NATO plannmg staff of the Slxth Fleet and was stat1oned ln Naples wlth h1s farn1ly unt1l June 1968 Commander N1edbala re ported aboard EVERGLADES 15 July 1968 shortly before sa1l1ng for the Med1ter ranean and assumed dutles as Executlve Offlcer 3 - , . I I ' F 1 s ' x Q 1 . ' 5 , , . 5 , O , l 7 , ' , , Q ' - 9 9 1 I ' . 1 I 9 . .