Gettysburg (CG 64) - Naval Cruise Book

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CO?kAf1AANDiNG OFFICER USS GETTYSBUFQG KCG 6117 5' ,fi-1 A V 'i Nui V. w. :Q-

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No one wanted to miss the holidays, or the birth of their children. For all, however, the home- coming would be a special holiday of our own. It was time to fill our obligations, or, as it were, earn our pay. We knew that leaving home could very well be the ultimate form of service to our coun- try. As we left the break- water, our families real- ized with dread how long we would be gone. As we faded into the fog, antici- pation of our return grew. Since there is always the possibility of entering hos- tile waters, many are re- lieved knowing the level of technology onboard our ship. For some people, time will just slip by. For oth- ers, it will drag on forever. Several will discover a good time wherever we go, but others will have a hard time keeping their minds off their loved ones.

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From the Captam Thls crulse book 1S an effort IH a small way to capture the essence of GETTYSBURG s first deployment and everythmg that went 1nto maklng It the success that lt has been I hope that now and long 1nto the future lt w1ll serve as a rem1nder to you of all the good th1ngs that you 1nd1v1dually accomphshed and that we as a team accomphshed Hav1ng personally made nme deployments I can tell you that MED 1 93 was spec1al Speclal not because of the 6X0t1C hberty ports we V1S1t6d or because of the recognltlon we rece1ved for the tough Jobs we d1d No MED 1 93 was spec1al because each of you carr1ed out your respons1b1l1t1es as seasoned mar1ners IH the challenging w1nter tlme env1ronment of the Med1terranean Sea You d1d so flawlessly and to the casual outs1de observer seemlngly effortlessly You and I know that It was not easy We stood our watches on a rolhng deck or ln the cold cockplt of a hellcopter We d1d lt day and mght often fightlng off boredom and fatlgue but always ready to do what was necessary to ensure peace 1n the world and securlty and freedom of cholce for our fam1l1es frlends and fellow countrymen back home We d1d lt underway more than seventy five percent ofthe tlme and even the few days IH port we had to be ever vlgxlant for the wlnter gales that often demanded the finest sense of professlonal seamansh1p to keep our sh1pmates and GETTYSBURG safe We should never forget that the U S Navy IS the only Navy 1n the world that can do what we have done and that our Navy can do so contlnuously because sallors l1ke you know It IS lmportant and make the personal sacmfices necessary I hope thls crulse book w1ll always help you recall wlth pr1de your servlce and great accomphshments and those ofthe GETTYSBURG team I hope lt w1ll help you remember your frlends and sh1pmates and the camarader1e we shared I am proud of each of you of your determlnatlon and servlce and of your professlon al1sm It has been my hlghest honor to serve as your Capta1n Falr wlnds and followlng seas A mst X Captam USN . . . . , . Y D 7 I , - ' a . . , . 1 . . 9 9 '- 7 J. Q1-4'