Independence (CVA 62) - Naval Cruise Book

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5 , J-Y, '11 V -' agus-'Hand

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Independence entered the Norfolk Naval Shipyard at Ports' mouth, Virginia in February of 1967. She remained in the yards 10 months for her first major overhaul and dry-dock period. On the night of 27 Nlarch 1968 Capt R J. Charrier, USAF and LTJG K. Corson, USN scored the 100,000th arrested landing on Independence. April 3Oth 1968 she departed Norfolk for her sixth lVlediter- rean deployment. During this period she participated in the Sixth Fleet's 20th Anniversary exercises in a vast display of power for peace.

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RADM L R Gels RADM Lawrence R Gels was commlssloned an Erlslgn upon graduatlon from the U S Naval Academy on 1 June 1939 He served aboard the Destroyer USS MA HAN to Whlch he was asslgned when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor In MAHAN he p3l'tlClD3t8d ln the Battles of the Marshall Islands and Mldway He was deslgnated a Naval AVl3tOV ln June 1943 and assumed dutles as EXECUTIVE OffIC9F of Patrol Bomblng Squadron 54 ln January 1944 The squadron p8I'tIClpBt8d ln the Palau Leyte Mlndoro and the Llngayen Gulf campalgns ln the South P3ClfIC for WhlCh LCDR Gels was awarded the Alr Medal In 1947 he was ordered as Commandlng Oftlcer to Flghter Squadron THREE based ID USS KEARSARGE In November 1951 he was asslgned as Commander Carrler Alr Group Four based ln USS CORAL SEA Opefaflng ln the Atlantlc and Medlterranean In July 1954 he reported to the Naval Test Center Patuxent Rlver Maryland where he served flrst as a test pllot then as Executlve Offlcer of the statlon USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN he reported as Com mandlng OHICEF of Flghter Alr Development Squadron THREE ln July 1957 He attended the Natlonal War College ln July 1958 and later became Executlve ASSISLBHL and Senlor Alde to the Chlef of Naval Operatlons In 1961 he attended the Advanced Management Course Harvard BUSINESS School then was Command lng Of'flC8f of USS DUXBURY BAY flagshlp of the US Mlddle East Force In 1962 he assumed command of USS FORRESTAL CCVA 593 flagshlp of Commander Carrler DIVISION FOUR In July 1963 he was asslgned to the Net Evaluatlon Subcommlttee NZTIODBI Securlty Councll Selected for Flag rank ln 1964 early 1965 he assumed dutles as Chlef of the Naval MISSION to Bfalll wlth addltlonal duty as Chlef of the Navy SGCLIOD Mllltafy Asslstance Advlsory Group Brazll He took command of Carrler DIVISION FOUR on 29 Aprll 1967 After. a year at sea as Executive Officer of '. ' , in 18