La Salle (AGF 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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Iji COMMANDING OFFICER CAPTAIN HAROLD J. BERNSEN Captain. In March 1980 while at sea in the Persian Gulf, Captain Bernsen assumed command of USS LA SALLE (AGF-3) the flagship of Commander Middle East Force. Captain Bernsen has earned the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Services Commendation Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and Three Navy Unit Commendations as well as theatre medals and ribbons for Vietnam and Iranian contingency operations. Originally from Boston, Captain Bernsen is the son of Mrs. Harold A. Bernsen of Kristiansand, Norway and the late Mr. Bernsen. He and his wife, the former Doris Champion of Shelby, North Carolina, now reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia. 4

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Captain Harold J. Bernsen participated in the Regular NROTC program while a student at Dartmouth College and upon graduation in June 1958 with a B.A. in International Relations was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy. He was designated a Naval Aviator in March 1960 and received orders to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron TWELVE at Quonset Point, Rhode Island. While attached to VAW-12, Captain Bernsen served with detachments operating E-IB aircraft aboard USS SARATOGA (CVA-60) during two Mediterranean deployments. From October 1963 to October 1966, Captain Bernsen was attached to the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington. DC. He was next ordered to duty as Aide and Flag Lieutenant on the staff of Commander Carrier Division SEVEN serving aboard USS BON HOMME RICHARD (CVA-31), USS CORAL SEA (CVA-43) and USS TICONDEROGA (CVA-14) during the height of the air offensive against North Vietnam. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in January 1967. Captain Bernsen reported to RVAW-120 in October 1968 for familiarization training in the E-2B aircraft. During this training he worked with other officers to lay the ground work for a new early warning squadron which was commissioned as VAW-126 on 1 April 1969. After a tour under instruction at the Armed Forces Staff College. Norfolk. VA, during which time he was promoted to Commander, he returned to VAW-126 in February 1972 to become Executive Officer. On 3 January 1973, he became the Commanding Officer of VAW-126. Detached from VAW-126 in February 1974. Captain Bernsen reported to the USS FORRESTAL ' (CVA-59) in April 1974 as Navigator. In December 1975 Captain Bernsen assumed command of RVAW-120 in Norfolk, charged with providing transitional training for pilots and Naval Flight Officers reporting to all east coast VAW squadrons. Afterwards. Captain Bernsen completed two years of duty in the office of the Deputy CNO for Air Warfare (OP-05), the first year as the E-2 aircraft program coordinator, the second as head of the Program Management Section. During this period he was promoted to

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Robert Willis Chewning graduated from Randolph Macon Academy, Front Royal, Virginia and attended the University of Virginia at Charlot- tesville, for one year, prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy on an appointment from his native state in 1949. Following graduation in 1953, he remained at the academy as Plebe Drill Instructor and Boxing Coach until September. He then reported to USS RADFORD (DDE-446) as First Lieutenant and Gunnery Officer. Next he attended Submarine School, New London, CT. In January 1956 he reported to USS AMBER JACK (SS-522). In January 1958 he returned to New London to attend Nuclear Power School, pro- totype training at the Bettis Plant, Atomic Laboratory, Pittsburgh. In March 1959 he joined the pre-commissioning Blue Crew of USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (SSBN-598), the nations first fleet ballistic missle submarine. During the period 1961 through 1965 he served as Engineering and Executive Officer of USS SKIPJACK (SSN-585), attended Prospective Commanding Officers School, under- went Fleet Ballistic Missile Training and served as Executive Officer of USS ALEXANDER HAMILTON (SSBN-617), He commanded USS HADDO (SSN-604) from November 1965 until assuming command of the Nuclear Power Training Command in September 1967 where he served for three years. From November 1970 to July 1974 he served as Commander of Submarine Division Fifty-One, Commander of Submarine Flotilla Five and squadrons One and Seven. Following a course in Security Assistance at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he served as Chief Navy Section, Joint U. S. Military Mission for Aid to Turkey, where he served until September 1976. He then reported to Washington, DC as special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for Pan American Affairs until assuming his present duties in June 1979. His home town is Orange. Virginia. He is married to the former Virginia Louise Harvey of Kilmarnock, Virginia and they have three chil- dren, Carol-Winter, Virginia Sue and Rush Willis.