Kirk (FF 1087) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commanding Officers CDR E. Richard Diamond, Jr. Commander Emil Richard Diamond, Jr., USN, was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on 15 De- cember 1943. As a Navy Junior, he lived throughout the United States and Territory of Alaska before receiving the B.A. degree in Histo- ry from the University of Dallas, Irving, Texas, in 1967. After being commissioned in November 1967, CDR Diamond completed two Western Pacific cruises aboard USS BON HOMME RICH- ARD (CVA-31) and served two years aboard USS SPRINGFIELD (CLG-7), Flagship U.S. Sixth 4 Fleet, in the Mediterranean. He then served as an NROTC instructor at Tulane University, earn- ing the M.A. degree in Diplomatic History. CDR Diamond served as Weapons Officer aboard USS SAMPLE (FF-1048), on the CINCSOUTH staff in Naples, Italy, as XO of USS BUCHANAN (DDG-14), and with the Studies, Analysis, and Gaming Agency.

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Kirk ' s Twelve Year Mission In July of 1976 the USS KIRK joined the modern version of America ' s Asiatic fleet in Yokosuka, Ja- pan. Over the years these ships and the men who sailed them earned a reputation for living hard and fighting hard at the far edges of civilization. KIRK and her sailors lived up to this reputation with style. For 12 years, from the frozen North to the Land Down Under, no weather was too fierce, no language too foreign for KIRK men to master. This cruisebook documents KIRK s final 18 months of going bamboo. It was a busy time. Communi- cation barriers, schedule changes, and moral dilemmas appeared at every turn. But through them all KIRK sailors showed great professional strength and human compassion. We donated scholarship money to Fil- ipino students, saved a life in Malaysia, and showed the flag effectively from Otaru, to Bali. After her 12 years in WESTPAC, KIRK returned to Long Beach, California, on August 25, 1988, full of men who spoke Tagalog, hadn ' t been to America in years, and tended to confuse aye with hai. This book is for you, WESTPAC sailors in EASTPAC, and also for our new shipmates who want to know what KIRK is all about. The Twelve Year Mission is over but far from forgotten. El- - ' ««.,!

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CDR Larry W. Darling Commander Larry W. Darling, a native of Texas, was born on August 29, 1946 and was raised in Smith- ville. He attended Rice University and was graduated in 1968 with a bachelor of arts degree in com- merce. Following graduation he en- tered OCS and received his commis- sion in late 1969. He served as First Lieutenant, then Engineer Officer aboard USS FORSTER (DER 334). He served at the Texas Maritime Academy and in 1974 attended Sur- face Warfare Officer Department Head School in Newport, Rhode Is- land. He then reported to USS REA- SONER (FF 1063) as the engineer officer until 1 977. A following tour as Staff Material Officer for Destroyer Squadron Seven finished in January 1980. CDR Darling next served as Ac- ademic Director at SWOS, where he earned a MBA from National Univer- sity during off duty hours. In 1 981 he reported as XO aboard USS JOHN HANCOCK (DD 981). He then served at the Senior War College and with Deputy Chief of Naval Op- erations for Surface Warfare and Di- rector, General Planning and Pro- gramming Division for the Chief of Naval Operations. CDR Darling wears the Meritori- ous Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and Navy Achievement Medal in addition to various campaign and service me- dals. He is married to Sherrill Thomp- son Darling (also a commander on active duty.) He has a son, Jace, and a daughter Ellie.