La Salle (AGF 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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ew CO DI G O FICER CAPT. H S. ELDREDGE 6 Q . .IQN ,QU N 5. 1 I 4 I I L

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. Q. - . ..V,.,...., ,Y,,?n,VMW,,w:N h , ' 2 ' I I El ' L 4-1 ' .Q 9 -Lk . .. igfrz ' 1 , -,', - - ---,, .---H-,-.. .... .,..........-.......,g..,?.1-.,,,,.,,.,,, ,,,,, , dental facility, sophisticated closed-circuit television systems, accomodations for an admiral and his staff, a helicopter hangar, and a ceremonial awning on her flight deck. With a coat of white paint to reflect the Middle East's hot sun, LPD-3 became ACF-3 fmiscellaneous Com- mand Shipj on July 1, 1972, and on August 24, she assumed her duties as COMIDEASTFOR flagship. The Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast, as she is affectionately called by the crew, steamed an average of 55,000 miles annually, calling at ports in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. She also participated in annual naval exercises with allied nations in the area. In February 1979, LA SALLE assisted in the evacua- tion of 260 American and foreign citizens from the Iran- ian seaport of Bandar Abbas. The evacuees were shut- tled bytwo British hydrographic ships to LA SALLE, which was waiting off the Iranian Coast. The operation earned the ship and crew the Humanitarian Service Medal. At the outset of the Iranian Hostage Crisis in Novem- ber 1979, LA SALLE was the focal point of US. activity in the Arabian Gulf While on station off the coast of Iran, LA SALLE was at sea from November 19, 1979 to Jan uary23, 1980, a total of 74 consecutive days, earning the Navy Unit Commendation Pennant. The combination of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, and the Iran-Iraq War which began during the summer of 1980, brought about a dramatic increase in the com- mand and support responsibilities which were' placed upon the crew. For their efforts during those arduous contigency operations, the crew was awarded the Navy Expeditionary Medal. A . In November 1980, LA SALLE was relieved as flag- ship for Commander, Middle East Force by USS CORONADO KAGF-112 Iformerly LPD-112. While re- turning stateside for the first time in 816 years, LA SALLE'S crew rescued six Norwegian Merchant Mari- ners from their burning vessel, which was off the coast of Sardinia. Shortly after her arrival sta teside in December 1980, LA SALLE began an extensive 860 million overhaul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Again, many changes were made to the ship, including a signiHcant increase in air conditioning capability, replacing and upgrading the ship 's four turbine generators, adding a large elec- tronics package, removing two 3-inch, 50 caliber anti- aircraft guns and replacing them with a close-in self- defense weapons system. The overhaul was one of the largest and most extensive for a Navy non-carrier type ship. . A After a period of trials and training in the Western Atlantic, she returned to the Arabian Gulf area, and resumed her duties as Flagship for Commander, Middle East Force in June 1983. Since her return to the Middle East, LA SALLE has operated in the area, as well as visi ting several Arabian Gulf and Indian Ocean littoral countries. ' 5

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Born on 31 December 1937in Los Angeles, California, Captain Eldredge attended public school in Arcadia, California, and Duke University and Miami University, and Was commissioned Ensign, USN, in June 1959. Upon commissioning, he Was assigned to the destroy- er USS POWER IDD-8392 for nine months prior to attending Submarine School. After graduating in Sep- tember 1960, he served in USS BONEFISH ISS-5822 from October 1960 to August 1963, as Division Engineer of Submarine Division THIRTEEM and in the subma- rines USS REQUIN ISS-4811 and USS ARGONA UT ISS-4752 in 1964 and 1965. Captain Eldredge then attended the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts and Harvard Universi- ties, Where he earned Masters degress in International Politics and Soviet Studies. In May 1967 he reported to USS SIRA GO ISS-4851 and served as Operations Office and Navigator until September 1968. From then until August 1970, he served as Executive Officer of USS BLUEBACK ISS-5812. In September 1970 he returned to the Fletcher School where he earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in International Politics. Subsequently, he commanded the attack submarine USS BARBEL ISS-5801 from- June 1972 to June 1974. From 1974 to early 1976, Captain Eldredge served as Head, Extended Planning Branch of the Systems Ana- lysis Division IOP-962 in the office of the Chief of Na val Operations. In 1976, he was transferred to the Execu- tive OfHce of the President, National Security Council, where he served as a member of the Program Analysis Staff From 1977 to 1980, he servedwith the OfHce of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Strategic Negotiations Division. 2 ' 1, i 7 sk In this capacity, he was a member of the US. Delega- tion to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks with the Soviet Union in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1980, he was transferred to the OfHce of the Assis- tant Secretary of Defense for Policy Planning, serving as Military Assistant. During 1981, he served as Mili- tary Assistant to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy. In 1982, Captain Eldredge reported to the miscella- neous command ship USS LA SALLE KAGF-31, where he is presently serving as the Commanding Officer.