Hull (DD 945) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE MANY FACES CF A CAPTAIN A Captain must be many things. Certainly he must be a staunch warrior and a clever tactician. For in combat he will decide where and how the ship will fight. I-le will determine what becomes of his vessel and his men. In addition to being a competent naval strategist, he is also a judge charged with administering military justice. I-Ie is a personnel specialist, overseeing the procurement and training of his crew, and evaluating completely and fairly the per- formance of his officers. He is a manager and a coordinator who must be as knowl- edgeable about an engineering casualty as he is about the .status of the current budget. I-Ie isa ship handler -- the best. I-Ie is a teacher, imparting his vast store of knowl- edge to those who desire to learn. Yes, a Captain is many things, But, first and foremost, he is the commander of a United States Naval vessel -- an awesome responsibility. For someday he may be faced with making a decision, the results of which, could effect the destiny of not only his ship, but his country and the world as well.

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CONINIANDING OFFICER Commander George A. Church Commander Church was born in Winston Salem, North Carolina on 15 February 1926. He enlisted in the U. S. Naval Reserve Aviation Cadet training program in 1943. In 1949 he graduated from North Carolina State University with a B. S. degree in Engineering. In 1951 he received a direct commission as Ensign in the U. S. Naval Reserve and was called to active duty. He was assigned to USS MURRAY CDDE 5765 as Gunnery Officer and Operations Officer. Next he served as Commanding Officer of USS ALBATROSS QEAMS lj, then as Officer in Charge of the Movement Report Center, Norfolk, Virginia. Commander Church attended the 1958-59 General Line School class at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, and on completion was assigned as Executive Officer of USS VANDIVIER CDER 5405 until May 1960. He then became Navigator and Assistant Operations Officer for Commander Service Force SIXTH FLEET. Following another one year assignment at the Naval Postgraduate School, this time in the Engineering Science course, he served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for his performance of duty. Later, while serving as Operations Officer of USS OKLAHOMA CITY QCLC 55 he was awarded a gold star in lieu of a second Navy Commendation Medal with Combat IIVH. Commander Church became the sixth Commanding Officer of USS HULL on 14 April 1967. As a result of his performance during the WESTPAC deployment from January to july 1968, he was awarded the Bronze Star with Combat V and the Republic of Vietnam Navy Distinguished Service Order 12nd Classb.

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- --- -- f-.-1 rf-, f:-e:-.--'--1 'f 1----T---v -J..-.w,,.....-,,l ...f-31:1-.,.....,1...,,.,,.v-13-rgf: :f-v.-:.1-f-.f4f:.-..,-...1....,...,........,.,,.,.,,v..,,,,.,,,,.,,m..,.......,.. t Y .,... ,,...,,-.:-t,.- PREPARATIO 7 if Gun crews load their 3 f50 mounts during one of the many firing exercises held during the summer and fall of 1967. The rate at which these guns could fire was dependent solely upon the speed with which the men could keep feeding the shells to them. 10