Hoel (DDG 13) - Naval Cruise Book

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..,..,-..-f-fN,,1a -1:f'f w - - ' ' ' ' 1 Y 1 r CCDMMANDER GARY L. BIER, USN 3 4 i i i i I Y f .

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dx.-fa- , . Q ....Y...-. . nv..-.. .,.- -1-.--f -,. -Y- USS HOEL QDDG-131 SHIP'S CREST The crest was designed with the thought of offering a heraldic presentation of the history of the name and pur- pose of the ship. The meaning of the symbolism is as followsp The Motto: Prima Inter 0ptima means first among the leaders The Chevrons: Symbolic of the ship's part in the de- fense of the United States The Trident: Symbolic of seapower The Battle Axe: Symbolic of the aggressive ablity of the ship The Cresent: Is the sign used to indicate that Hoel is the second ship bearing the name, the first ship being DD-533, lost in the Bat- tle of Samar during World War II. The shield-on-shield design was slected as representing the fact that DDC--13 falls heir of the fighting spirit and the heroism displayed by DD-533.

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T Commander Bier enlisted in the U.S. Navy 6 June 1958. After serving nearly nine years and attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer he was commissioned through the Integration Program after completing Officers Candidate School in 1967. He was promoted to Commander on 1 October 1981. His initial tour of duty was onboard the USS FLOYD B. PARKS QDD 8845 where he served as Electronics Material Officer and Combat Information Center Officer from August 1967 to August 1969. From September 1969 to March 1970 he attended the Department Head Course at the Naval Surface Warfare Officer's School in Newport R.I. and was subsequently assigned as Weapons Officer on the USS HERBERT J. THOMAS CDD 8831. In November 1970, THOMAS was decommissioned, and he was reassigned to the USS ROARK QFF 10531. In March 1972, he joined the Staff of Commander Destroyer Flotilla Five flater to be redesignated Commander Naval Surface Forces Mid Pacificj as Combat Systems Officer. From September 1975 to May 1977 he attended the University of Hawaii under the Degree Completion Program receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration Degree. Commander Bier assumed command of the USS GALLANT QMSO 4891 in November 1977. In November 1979 he was assigned as Executive Officer of USS KANSAS CITY QAOR 31. He remained on KANSAS CITY until November 1981 when he assumed duties as Military Assistant for Weapons Department and Air Operations Officer at the Naval Surface Weapons Center, Dahlgren, Virginia. He reported for duty as Weapons Officer, USS LONG BEACH QCGN 91 in April 1984 and assumed Command of USS HOEL KDDG 135 in December 1985. Commander Bier's personal decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal with Gold Star, Navy Achievement and Good Conduct Medal with Bronze Star. He is married to the former Susan Christensen of Detroit, Michigan. They have two children: Stephen, also on active duty in the U.S. Navy, and David who is living with his parents. ,