La Salle (AGF 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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ff ' ' if Lr, . 'wikwfzf -' emdm f'Y ,,,' ,V .ifv ' - ' 4 .d e 'iv' f m .i m : if X V f, m.2b. A. m,,A A ,dd .1:1z d ef f e Commander Middle East Force Rear Admiral Samuel H. Packer

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USS LA SALLE QAGF-31 Mission and History V USS LA SALLE QAGF-3i is the flagship for Commander Middle East Force and is permanently deployed in the Middle East operating area to promote goodwill, understanding, mutual respect and acceptance between Americans and the people of countries visited by the ship. The ship has steamed over 370,000 miles paying visits to ports in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, to the east coast of Africa and numerous small islands in the Indian Ocean. A LA SALLE has been privileged to receive kings, sultans, amirs and numerous heads of state from both foreign countries and the United States. ln addition, the ship has hosted thousands of visitors from local communities in her theater of operations. Commissioned an amphibious transport dock at the New York Naval Shipyard on 22 February 1964, the LA SALLE was assigned to the Atlantic Fleet Amphibious Force as a force flagship. In early 1972 LA SALLE refitted to flagship configuration in Portsmouth, Virginia, Naval Shipyard. In July 1972 LA SALLE replaced USS VALCOUR as flagship for COMIDEASTFOR and has operated in the Arabian Gulf and throughout the Middle East area until the present time. LA SALLE is a proud ship which has recorded several historical FIRSTS: On 19 May 1969 LA SALLE made naval aviation history by landing and launching the first operational VSTOL aircraft from her flight deck in evaluation tests for the Navy. On 3 November 1966 LA SALLE recovered the Gemini Two spacecraft capsule near Ascension Island. Overall Length ............... ...... 5 21 feet Extreme Breadth .............. ............ 8 4 feet Full Load Displacement ....... ....... 1 3,890 tons Number of Anchors .......... .......................... t wo Weight of Anchors ........ .................................... 2 2,500 pounds Speed ................... ................................. M ore than 20 knots Armament ............ ..... F our Twin 3 l50 Caliber Gun Mounts Air Department ....... ................... ' .......... O ne SH-3 Helicopter Q i l l l l l 1 l l i 1 1 -.........J

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'lin Rear Admiral Samuel H. Packer attended Dartmouth College, and graduated from Tufts University in 1945, at which time he was commissioned. He served in USS DENNIS J. BUCKLEY and USS E-PCE lRl 852 prior to attending submarine school. He then served in USS SEAOWL, USS CERO, USS REMORA, USS SIRAGO, and commanded USS HARDER. He commanded Submarine Division FIFTY-THREE and Submarine Development Group ONE and has served on the Staff of Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, Commander Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, Commander in Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europeg and Commander U.S. Military Assistance Command Vietnam. His most recent assignments have been with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Joint Staff, Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Rear Admiral Packer commenced his present assignment as Commander, Middle East Force in July 1977. He is a graduate of the Naval War College and has a Master of Arts Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. He is married to the former Miss Peggy Rebhun of Cincinnati, Ohio, and they have five children.