La Salle (AGF 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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introduction On 22 February l964, the champagne bottle crashed against the bow as the USS LA SALLE CLPD-31, whose motto was to become Versatility at Sea, snailed her way into the icy waters of the New York Naval Shipyard. Dedicated by Mrs. VICTOR LONSTREET, La Salle's history has been from adventurous expeditions to Navy firsts. From 1964 to l972, La Salle served as flagship for various commands including Amphibious Squadron SlX and COMPHIBRON FOUR. lt was in the spring of i972 that La Salle was selected to replace the aging VALCOUR fAGF4ll, as flagship of Commander Middle East Force. Among, La Salle's firsts, she was the first ship of her size to recover a Gemini space capsule and the only ship ever to returna space capsule back to Cape Kennedy. She was the first U.S. Navy ship to launch and recover the British built VTOL iet fighter HARRIER , and is the only ship in the U.S. Navy to have her flight deck dedicated as Rogers Field an honor accorded La Salle by Miss Ginger Rogers. I As an LPD, La Salle is able to carry an assorted array of landing crafts and over 600 Marines and their equipment. As an AGF, miscellaneous command ship, La Salle helps to carry out the mission lot C0mmGnCler Middle East Force which also gives her the distinction of being the only U.S. Navy combatant ship to be painted white. La Salle is the second ship of the U.S. Navy to bear the name LA SALLEH. The first was a World War ll troop transport that saw extensive action' in the Pacific. Because her duty is considered a hardship tour, the average tour length is only one year hence the title, nm: Ynnr Wl'fl'1 The l..G SGlle.H , one year with the Ia Salle Cagt-33

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commander middle eaustforce radm. robert j.l'iE1nkS A i945 class graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Rear Admiral Robert J. Hanks has served aboard the USS SAINT PAUL CCA-735, USS ISBELL CDD-8693, in i960 as the Executive Officer aboard the USS PARKS CDD-884l, and a year later assumed command ofthe USS BOYD lDD-5445. Between the years 1950 and i95-4, Rear Admiral Hanks served in aviation billets after reporting to the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Florida as a student aviator in 1949. ' - He has also served in shore billets as a student at the Naval War College and as Chief of Staff for Personnel to Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer U.S. Pacific Fleet. A ln June 1969, Rear Admiral Hanks commanded Destroyer Squadron THIRTEEN. Prior to assuming command as Commander,MiddIe' Eqsf Force, he was Q Resecrcl-, Fellow at the Center for International Affqirgl Hgrvqfd University, He assumed command of COMIDEASTFOR on December 9, 1972.