La Salle (AGF 3) - Naval Cruise Book

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USS La Salle CAGF 31 With a coat of white paint to reflect the hot sun of the Middle East, LPD 3 became AGF 3 tMiscellaneous Command Shipj on July 1, 1972, and on August 24, it assumed its duties as COM- IDEASTFOR flagship. The Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast, as it is affectionately called by the crew, steamed on average of 55,000 miles annually calling at ports in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. It also participated in annual naval exercises with allied nations in the area. In February 1979, La Salle assisted in the evacuation of 260 American and foreign citizens from the Iranian seaport of Bandar Abbas. The evacuees were shuttled by two British hydrographic ships to La Salle, which was waiting off the Iranian coast. The operation earned the ship and itscrew the Humanitarian Service Medal. At the outset ofthe Iranian hostage crisis in November 1979, La Salle was the focal point of U.S. activity in the Arabian GuM While on station off the coast of Iran, La Salle was at sea from November 19, 1979, to January 23, 1980, a total of 74 consecutive days, which earned the ship the Navy Unit Commendation Pennant. The combination of the hostage crisis and the Iran-Iraq war which began during the summer of 1 980 brought about a dramatic increase in the command and support responsibilities which were placed upon the crew. For their efforts during those arduous con- tingency operations, the crew was awarded the Navy Expedi- tionary Medal. In November 1980, La Salle was relieved as flagship for Com- mander, Middle East Forceby USS Coronado KAGF 112. While returning to the United States for the first time in over eight years, La Salle's crew rescued six Norwegian merchant mariners from their burning vessel, which was off the coast of Sardinia. Shortly aker its arrival stateside in December 1980, La Salle began an extensive 560 million overhaul at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Again, many changes were made to the ship, in- cluding a significant increase in air conditioning equipment, replacing and upgrading the ship 's four turbine generators, adding a large electronics package, removing two 3 !50 caliber anti- aircraj? guns and replacing them with the Phalanx Close-in Weapons System. The overhaul was one of the largest and most expensive for a Navy non-carrier type ship. After a period of trials and training in the western Atlantic, the ship returned to the Arabian Gub' in June 1983 and resumed its duties as flagship for Commander, Middle East Force.

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Rear Admiral John F. Addams Commander Middle East Force Rear Admiral John F. Addams was born in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, and attended public schools in that city. Following graduation from Harvard University in 1952, he attended Officer Candidate School in Newport, R.I., and was commissioned an ensign in May 1952. He is a graduate of the Naval War College and has a master's degree in interna- tional affairs from George Washington University. Rear Admiral Addams has extensive service in cruisers and destroyers of both the Atlantic and Pacific fleets. He served in the com- missioning crews of USS William V. Pratt CDLG 135 and USS Jouett CCG 295. He commanded USS Cochrane CDDG 215 and was awarded two Bronze Stars for his performance of duty during combat operations off the coast of Vietnam. He has also commanded Destroyer Squadrons 5 and 7, and he has served on the staffs of Commander Destroyer Flotilla 2 and Commander Cruiser Destroyer Group 8. His shore tours have included duty on the faculty of the Naval War College, in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Rear Admiral Addams was selected for promotion to his present rank in February 1981 and reported for duty as the Deputy Chief of Naval Education and Training in July 1981. On July 6, 1983, Rear Admiral Addams relieved Rear Admiral Charles E. Gurney III as Commander Middle East Force. In addition to the Bronze Star, Rear Admiral Addams has been awarded the Legion of Merit, the Navy Commendation Medal and various unit commendations and campaign medals. Rear Admiral Addams is married to the former Ellen Waugh of Boston, Massachusetts. They have two married sons.