Iwo Jima (LPH 2) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDER MPHIBIOUS SQUADRO SIX I CAPTAIN ALAN B. MOSER UNITED STATES NAVY Captain Alan B. Moser was born in Baker, Oregon, on 19 February 1941. He attended Eastern Oregon College, graduating' in July 1964. He was commissioned Ensign in April 1964, upon completion of Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island. Early sea tours included Communications Officer, USS CARTER HALL ILSD 31 and following graduation from Destroyer School, Newport, Rhode Island, Chief Engineer, USS HIGBEE IDD 8061. Following a tour as a Weapons Department Instructor, Destroyer School, Newport, Rhode Island, he was assigned as Flag Secretary to Commander, Naval Forces, Vietnam. In December 1973, he returned to sea as Executive Officer, USS JOHN S. MCCAIN IDDG 371. From June 1975 to August 1978, he served as Enlisted Programs Officer, Recruiting Area EIGHT, Treasure Island, California. Following graduation from the Naval War College ICNW1 in September 1979, he was assigned as Executive Officer, USS EL PASO ILKA 1171. He commanded USS PLYMOUTH ROCK ILSD 291 from August 1981 to April 1983 and served as Executive Officer, USS NASSAU ILHA 41 from April 1983 until August 1985. He was then assigned as the Head of the Amphibious Warfare Branch IOP 3721, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations until September 1987. Captain Moser commanded USS PONCE ILPD 151 from March 1988 until January 1990. He assumed the duties of Commander, Amphibious Squadron SIX in January 1990. Captain Moser's awards include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal lthree awards1, Navy Achievement Medal and various theater and unit awards. Captain Moser is married to the former Suedean Rae Dunn of Ontario, Oregon. They have three children, Jeffrey, Mark and Kimberlee.

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,pu-lQ,: vl- Captaln J. R. McDonald Amphlblous Squadron SIX was commissioned in 1958. It was redesignated in September 1983 as one of the four Tactical Amphibious Squadrons in the Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The mission of Amphibious Squadron SIX is to plan and execute amphibious operations and deployments with a reinforced Marine Battalion as an Amphibious Task Force. Amphibious Squadron SIX is a planning and operations staff. Ships are temporarily assigned for training prior to deployment or exercises and then remain as an integral part of the Squadron throughout the deployment or exercise period. Highlights of the Squadron's history include: - At the request of the Lebanese Government, assisted in easing civil disturbances in 1958 as part of the U.S. Specified Command Middle East. - Participated in the Cuban Quarantine Operation of 1962. H- Deployed to the Mediterranean and assisted the SIXTH Fleet in its response to the Middle East War in October 1973. Received a citation from the Commander SIXTH Fleet for the Squadron's role during that period of conflict. s- On 31 July 1984, units of Amphibious Squadron SIX extracted the last Marines from Beirut, Lebanon, terminating 22 months of active U.S. presence there. - ln April 1985, while conducting exercise Universal Trek-85, the largest ever amphibious exercise in the country of Honduras, sailors and marines of Amphibious Squadron SIX donated over 7 pallets of food and supplied urgent medical assistance to an impoverished Honduran village. - While deployed to the Mediterranean from November 1985 to June 1986, Amphibious Squadron SIX re- establlshed an aggressive Mediterranean exercise program, conducting more joint multilateralfNATO exercises than had been accomplished in that area in many years. This deployment was also unique in that it introduced the special operations capability CSOCJ as part of the Mediterranean Amphibious Ready Group. -M ln March and April of 1986, Amphibious Squadron SIX provided support to elements of the U.S. SIXTH Fleet engaged in combat operations in the Central Mediterranean, and earned the Navy Unit Commendation. The following types of ships have been assigned to Amphibious Squadron SIX: Amphibious Assault Ship ILHAJQ Helicopter Assault Ship KLPHlg Amphibious Transport Dock ILPDlg Dock Landing Ship ILSDlg Tank Landing Ship lLSTlg and Amphibious Cargo Ship QLKAJ. With various combinations of these ships and their embarked marines. Amphibious Squadron SIX is a strong asset in the Maritime Strategy of our Nation. Captain McDonnld'l Biography was not available

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24th MARINE UNIT COLONEL RONALD R. MATTHEWS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS Colonel Ronald R. Matthews was born on March 31, 1940 in New York City, New York. Upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1963, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps. X Following graduation from The Basic School in December 1963, he reported to 3rd Marine Division, Okinawa where he successively served as Platoon Commander, Company Commander, and Battalion Operations Officer of the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion. ln April 1965, he was assigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, where he served as a Series Commander until May 1966, when he was transferred to Marine Barracks, Subic Bay, Republic of the Phlllipines. From May 1966 to February 1968, First Lieutenant Matthews served as Executive Officer, and subsequently, Commanding Officer, of Detached Guard Company. Captain Matthews reported to the Naval Academy Group, Rung Sat Special Zone, Republic of Vietnam in May 1968, where he served as a Marine Advisor until May 1969. Upon returning from Vietnam he attended Amphibious Warfare School, Quantico, Virginia. After graduation he was assigned as a Company Officer at the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland. Following this tour, he was assigned to Second Marine Division. During the period August 1973 to August 1976 Major Matthews served as BLT 212 operations officer, 2d Marine Regiment Operations Officer and BLT 212 Executive Officer. In August 1976, he reported to the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island. Following graduation, he was assigned as Commanding Officer, Headquarters Company, Ill Marine Amphibious Force in Okinawa, and served in that capacity during the period August 1977 to August 1978. Reporting to Headquarters Marine Corps, Washington, D.C. in September 1978, Lieutenant Colonel Matthews served as an Action Officer and subsequently, Section Head within the Training Division. After leaving Headquarters Marine Corps in August 1981, he attended the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington, D.C. Concurrently, he attended George Washington University where he earned a Masters Degree in Management. Upon graduation Lieutenant Colonel Matthews reported to the 2d Marine Division where he served as the G-3 Plans and G-3 Operations Officer. ln November 1983 Lieutenant Colonel Matthews assumed command of 3rd Battalion, 2d Marines. ln May 1985, Colonel Matthews reported to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Washington, D.C. where he served as a Strategic Planner, Strategy Division, J-5 Directorate from July 1985 until April 1988. He assumed his current duties on May 6, 1988. EXPEDITIONARY