Independence (CV 62) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 25 text:

July 31 1988 to present It lgilnlli It gg' M fa-'I Capt. Gary B. McEwen Captain Gary Bruce McEwen was born in Greely, Colo., on June 15 1947 He attended Chaffey High School in Ontario, Q . I Executive Officer Calif., and graduated from the University of Southern Califor- nia in June 1969 with a degree in International Relations and Economics. He was commissioned through the NROTC Pro- gram and reported to Pensacola for flight training imme- diately upon graduation. He was designated a Naval Aviator in October 1970. Captain McEwen's first assignment was to VA-195 flying A- 7E aircraft at Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif. He completed a combat deployment to Vietnam aboard USS KITTY HAWK in 1972, flying 188 combat missions. In 1975, Capt. McEwen reported to VS-41 in San Diego as an instructor during the introduction of the S-3A Viking aircraft. Subsequent tours of duty included assignment to VS-33 in 1977, completing a WESTPAC deployment aboard USS Kitty HAWK and a MED deployment aboard USS AMERICA in 1979. He then served as the OINC of the COMASWWINGPAC US-3A detachment deployed to the Indian Ocean aboard USS MIDWAY and USS CORAL SEA in 1979-80 during the Iranian hostage cri- sis. ln 1980 he returned to VS-41 where he served as Assist- ant Maintenance Officer. He reported to VS-37 in 1981 as Operations and Maintenance Officer and deployed aboard USS ENTERPRISE to the Northern Pacific and Indian Oceans. After a short tour of duty onthe maintenance staff of COMASWWINGPAC he reported as Executive Officer of VS-38 in May 1984, assuming command in November 1985. During this time the squadron deployed twice with USS RANGER to the Western Pacific, participating in multi- national exercises. Capt. McEwen reported to USS RANGER in April 1987 as Navigator and deployed once again to the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. In April 1988, Capt. McEwen attended enroute schools for training with COMNAVAIRPAC Staff and Prospective Execu- tive Officer's SWO School at Newport, Rl., before reporting as Executive Officer on board USS INDEPENDENCE CCV 62l, July 31, 1988. I , -Capt. McEwen has been awarded three Distinguished HY' ing Crosses, the Meritorious Service Medal, two lndividua - Air Medals, 18 Strike Flight Air Medals, eight Navy Commefl dation Medals with combat V and numerous unit decora- tions and service ribbons. He has accumulated over 6.000 d fllglst hours I4,700 in the S-3Al and over 870 carrier arreste an ings. , Capt. McEwen is married tothe former J'Ann Schfyeldef 9' Vacavllle, Calif. They reside in Point Loma, Calif., With the sons, Michael and Keith.

Page 24 text:

l W' July 15, 1987 to July 31, 1988 Q. n n Capt. Walter D. Bird Captain Walter Dennis Bird, a native of Decatur, Ga., earned a Bachelor of Business Administration from Georgia State University, and an MBA from Chapman College in Orange, Calif. ln July 1966, Capt. Bird entered flight training at Pensacola, Fla., and was commissioned in October 1966. He was desig- nated a Naval Aviator in February 1968. In November 1968, he reported to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 131 where he deployed to the Western Pacific during the Viet- nam Conflict and to the Mediterranean Sea. Upon stand-down of Tactical Warfare Squadron in May 1970, Capt. Bird reported to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 129 as a Flight Instructor and Aviation Safety Officer for the EA-6B Fleet Replacement Squadron. He returned to sea duty in June 1973, reporting to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 132, and made a Mediterranean deployment aboard USS INDEPENDENCE as the Assistant Maintenance Officer. In December 1975, Capt. Bird was selected for duty as Flag Secretary to Commander, Medium Attack Tactical Electronic Warfare Wing, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Soon after, he was assigned to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 129. While attached to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 133. Capt. Bird served as Maintenance Officer, Administra- Ai.--1-11-. tive Officer, and Operations Officer. He reported to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 135 in December 1979, as Executive Officer while the Squadron was deployed to the Indian Ocean, during the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979!80. Capt. Bird commanded Tactical Electronic Warfare Squad- ron 135 from March 1981 to May 1982. Capt. Bird graduated with the National War College Class of 1983 and remained in Washington, D.C., as the Aviation Enlisted Assignment Branch Head, Naval Military Personnel Command, from July 1983 to August 1985. Capt. Bird assumed command of Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 129 on Feb. 28, 1986. Following the change of command, in March 1987, Capt: Bird attended enroute schools for training with the COMNA- VAIRPAC Staff, and Prospective Executive Officers SWO School at Newport, Fil., before reporting as Executive Officer aboard USS INDEPENDENCE lCV 62l July 15, 1987. Capt. Bird's decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, two Air Medals, Navy Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Meritorious Unit Commenda- tion, Humanitarian Service Medal, Vietnam Service and Viet- nam Campaign Medals. He has achieved more than 2600 hours flying the EA-6B Prowler. Executive Officer 52,

Page 26 text:

mmand Master C MMCM R. Stone DSCM R. Crowe