Iwo Jima (LPH 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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Captain Brown began his naval career as an NROTC graduate of the University of Minnesota. Commission- ed in June 1953, he reported to Pensacola, Florida for flight training and was designated a Naval Aviator in September 1954. His first fleet assignment was Patrol Squadron Nine in Alameda, California, flying the PZV Neptune. Captain Brown returned to the Advanced Naval Air Training Command in 1957 for a tour as a flight instructor, training students in multi-engine air- craft. After completing the Combat Information Center Of- ficer course at Glynco, Georgia, Captain Brown report- ed to the USS Forrestal QCVA-591 where he served as Assistant Combat Information Officer. Following the Forrestal, he served in Air Anti-Submarine Squadron Twenty-Seven. He then was ordered to,Pensacola for helicopter transition training and qualified in rotary wing aircraft in January 1964. An operational tour in Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Eleven was fol- lowed in 1966 by duty in Training Squadron One in Pensacola. Captain Brown returned to command Helicopter Anti- Submarine Squadron Eleven in 1969. Following his command tour he served on the Fleet Air Quonset Staff and was subsequently ordered to duty in the Advanced Systems Concepts Division of the Naval Air Systems Command. In 1972 he reported as Executive Officer of USS Guam CLPH-91 and participated in the Interim Sea Control Ship Evaluation. While onboard Guam, Captain Brown was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal. Detached in August 1974, he reported to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operation fAir Warfarej in the Aircraft and Weapons Requirements Branch, Following his tour, Captain Brown commanded the USS Charles- ton QLKA-1131 from August 1976 to December 1977. Enroute to the USS Iwo Jima he attended a four-month Senior officer Ship's Material Readiness Course in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Captain Brown is married to the former Marilyn .lean Zarones of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia with their three children: David, Barbara, and Richard. .i CUIWMANDING OFFICER f-Xjx K. ,fx 'Ilia' 'vw' KBKJLQNXNX l f NK 1? 1 I A R x my ..jflf K' .s, ' .K , , , X N X i, xii rl f N 1 .a .azz-lvil . Us ,1

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V Y hi! 51 k' ,J ,-e 1 : v,,.,'- tif' L, EXECUTIVE OFFICER Captain Gerald A. Schussler is a native of Cedarhurst, Long Island, New York. He attended the Academy of Aeronautics in New York and was graduated in 1955. Captain Schussler entered the Navy in September of 1955 as a Naval Aviation Cadet and began flight training in Pensa- cola, Florida. He received his wings and was commissioned an ensign in March 1957. Captain Schussler reported to his first fleet duty following flight training with Heli- copter Anti-Submarine Squadron Three, home-ported at Naval Air Facility, Weeks- ville, North Carolina. During his tour here, Captain Schussler served as Legal Officer and Aircrew Officer. In August of 1961, Captain Schussler departed the squadron and reported to Naval Air Station, Quonset Point, Rhode Island. During his eighteen-month tour of duty at Quonset Point, he served as Aircraft Maintenance Quality Control Officer and as a station SAR pilot. It was during this as- Let Me Bring You Up To Speed . . .' signment that Captain Schussler was selected to continue his education at the Naval Post Graduate School in March of 1963. He completed' the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and was graduated in February 1965. Captain Schussler's next assignment was to Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Six, Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Imperial Beach, California. He served as Maintenance Control officer and Maintenance Officer. While attached to this squadron, he made an eight-month cruise to the Gulf of Tonkin, flying combat search and rescue. Upon completion of his tour with Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Six in September 1967, Captain Schussler returned to the east coast and the USS LaSalle QLPD-31 at Norfolk, Virginia. He served as Air Of- ficer for two years onboard the LaSalle. In September 1969, Captain Schussler re- ported to Commander Naval Air Force, Atlantic Fleet Staff, Norfolk, Virginia. He successfully served as Helicopter Operations Officer and Air Operations Officer. Captain Schussler is married to the former Betty Joyce Waltman of Mobile, Alabama. They have three children: Cass, Kevin, and Dawn.