Halyburton (FFG 40) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commanding Officer CDR William F. Larson USS HALYBURTON FFG-40 Commander Larson was born on December 18, 1958 in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Duke University in May 1980 with a B.S.in Mechanical Engineering, and received his commission through the Naval ROTC program. He received a Masters Degree from the Naval War College in 1994. Following commis- sioning CDR Larson reported to USS PORTLAND (LSD-37), where he served as Electronics Material Officer and Navigator. In June 1 983 he was assigned to USS Claude V. Ricketts (DDG-5) as Combat Information Cen- ter Officer, and deployed in support of the Multinational Force in Beirut, Leba- non. A tour at the Fleet Combat Di- rection System Support Activity, Dam Neck followed, where he participated in the development of the New Threat Upgrade Combat Direction System. Upon graduating from the Surface Warfare Officer Department Head Course in September 1987, CDR Larson reported to USS UNDERWOOD (FFG-36) as Combat Systems Officer. In UNDERWOOD he deployed with NATO ' s Standing Naval Force Atlantic and to the Arabian Gulf. His next assignment was with Destroyer Squadron TWENTY serving as Operations Officer. DESRON TWENTY deployed to the Mediterranean in March 1 990 and partici- pated in operation Desert Shield, conducting Maritime Interception Operations in the Red Sea. CDR Larson assumed command of USS PEGASUS (PHM-1 ) in October 1 991 . Dur- ing his tour PEGASUS conducted law enforcement and opposition force operations, and was awarded the Battle Efficiency E and Joint Meritorious Unit Award. On leaving PEGASUS in July 1 993, he attended the Naval War College in Newport Rl. Commander Larson was next assigned on the staff of the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic initially as Section Head for Command and Control Warfare, and subsequently as Branch Head for Nuclear and Proliferation Policy. CDR Larson assumed command of USS HALYBURTON October 21 , 1 998. Commander Larson ' s personal awards include the Defense Mentonous Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Seivice Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with gold star and the Navy Achieve- ment Medal with two gold stars in addition to various service medals and unit awards. Commander Larson is married to the former Hanora M. Sladek of Orange Park, FL and resides with their two children in Va Bch, VA.

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William David Halyburton, Jr. Pharmacist ' s Mate Second Class United States Navy HA named for the late pharmacist ' s Mate Second Class William David Halyburton, Jr., USN. a native of Canton, North carolina, he was a graduate of new hanover high school in Wilmington. North Carolina. His enrollment at Davidson Col- lege, WHERE HE PLANNED TO PRE- PARE HIMSELF FOR THE MINISTRY, WAS PUT ASIDE TO GO INTO THE SER- VICE. For extraordinary hero- ism WHILE SERVING ON OKINAWA with the marine rlfle company, Second Battalion, Fifth Ma- rines, First Marine Division, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. It was on lO MAY 1945, UNDAUNTED BY THE DEADLY ACCURACY OF ENEMY COUNTERFIRE AS HIS UNIT PUSHED THE ATTACK THROUGH A STRATEGI- CALLY IMPORTANT DRAW THAT Halyburton unhesitatingly dashed across the draw and up the hill into an open, fireswept field where the company ad- vance squad was suddenly pinned down under a terrific concentration of mortar, ma- chine gun and sniper fire with the resultant severe casual- TIES. Moving steadily forward barrage, he reached the wounded Marine who lay far- thest AWAY AND WAS RENDERING FIRST AID WHEN HIS PATIENT WAS STRUCK A SECOND TIME BY AN EN- EMY bullet. Instantly placing himself in the direct line of fire, he shielded the fallen fighter with his own body and staunchly continued his ministrations although con- stantly menaced by the slash- ing fury of shrapnel and bul- lets falling on all sides, alert, determined, and com- pletely unselfish in his con- cern for the helpless ma- rine, he preserved in his ef- forts until he, himself, sus- tained mortal wounds and col- lapsed, heroically sacrificing himself that his comrade might live. Also named in Halyburton ' s honor are: a road at the national naval Medical Center, Bethesda. Maryland; Halyburton quar- ters at the Naval Station, Charleston, South Carolina: and Halyburton Barracks at the Naval Aerospace Medical Center, Pensacola. Florida.

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CDR Larson SHOWS HIS NEW- FOUND FRIEND, RAFAEL, AROUND HALYBURTON in naples, thereturned out to be no truth to the rumor that Rafael was aboard as the prospective CO. CDR Larson assumed command in Oct of 1998. He arrived just after HALYBURTON had STRUGGLED TO COMPLETE ENGINEERING CERTIFICA- TIONS NECESSARY FOR DEPLOYMENT. JUST MONTHS LATER. HALYBURTON WAS RECEIVING HIGH PRAISE FROM THEATER COMMANDERS FOR HER OUSTANDING TURN-AROUND AND PERFORMANCE DURING HER SUC- CESSFUL DEPLOYMENT.