La Salle (AGF 3) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 7 text:

crew was awarded the Mavy Expeditionary Medal. In November 1980, LA SALLE was relieved as flagship for Commander, Middle East Force by USS COROriADO (AGFll). While returning to the United States for the first time in over eight years, LA SALLE ' S crew rescued six Norwegian merchant mar- iners from their burning vessel, which was off the coast of Sardinia. Shortly after her arrival stateside in December 1980, LA SALLE began an extensive $60 million overhaul at Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Again, many changes were made to the ship, including a sig- nificant increase in air conditioning equipment, re- placing and upgrading the ship ' s four turbine gen- erators, adding a large electronics package, remov- ing two 3750 caliber anti-aircraft guns and replacing them with the Phalanx Close-in Weapons System. The overhaul was one of the largest and most expen- sive for a Navy non-carrier type ship. After a period of trials and training in the western Atlantic, LA SALLE returned to the Arabian Gulf in June 1983, and resumed her duties as flagship for Commander, Middle East Force. La Salle ' s Mission As a forward deployed unit, LA SALLE ' S primary mission is to provide flagship facilities and support for Commander, Middle East Force (COMIDEAST- FOR) by fostering goodwill and understanding be- tween the United States, Middle East, and Western In- dian Ocean countries through port visits, joint naval training exercises, and operations. Additionally, LA SALLE provides logistical and other support within her capability to other U.S. Naval Units assigned un- der COMIDEASTFOR. The Middle East and Western Indian Ocean coun- tries are an area of global interest both economically and politically. Commander, Middle East Force and LA SALLE play a significant role in the advancement of U.S. interests in this volatile part of the world and receive the attention of the highest government offi- cials. The Ship ' s Crest The ship ' s crest combines features relating to the explorer, the city and the ships mission. Its up- per right corner bears the charges from the coat-of- arms of LA SALLE ' S family, an eight point star and a rabbit. The fort, on the lower left side represents Fort St. Louis, which was built by Sier de la Salle in 1 628 on the banks of the Illinois River. The elevated ground on which the fort stands is Known as Starved Rock. The city of La Salle is not far from the site of this fort. The background anchor symbolizes the Navy and the sea; the motto across the anchor ' s base, Tacilitas Ad Marem, translates as Versatility at Sea. La Salle ' s Name Amphibious Transport Docks (LPD ' s) are named for cities which take their names from explorers and developers of the United States. Thus, La Salle is named after La Salle, Illinois, which took its name from the French Explorer Rene Robert Cavalier, Sieur de la Salle.

Page 6 text:

THE TRADITION OF USS LA SALLE [ - m T nr- 4- ■BI85 lt WELCOME TO THE GREAT WHITE GHOST USS LASALLE On February 22, 1964, 23 months after her keel was laid at the Mew York Maval Shipyard in Brooklyn, riew York, the present LA SALLE was commissioned LPD-3. She joined her sister ships, USS RALEIGH and USS VAnCOUVER, as the third in a class of new am- phibious transports. As an Amphibious Transport Dock, LA SALLE ' S trademarks were mobility, flexibility, and versatility. She had the capability to carry more than 800 com- bat-ready Marines at high speed to an area of am- phibious operations. In addition, she transported ammunition, cargo, vehicles, and fuel to support the Marines. Within her well deck, which can be flooded, boats are carried to transport men and materials. The off- loading of equipment and supplies is aided by the use of a deck mounted crane, elevators and con- veyors, plus a six-unit monorails, overhead crane system within the well deck. The flight deck is avail- able for lifting men and supplies by helicopter. In keeping with her trademarks, LA SALLE ' S op- erating schedule has been far from routine. In May 1965, it served as flagship for Commander, Amphibi- ous Forces Atlantic during the Dominican Republic crisis. In December of the same year, it helped evacu- ate Construction Battalion 6 from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and carried 950 tons of equipment back to the United States, including 106 vehicles, 50 miscella- neous carriers and one 41-ton crane. In November 1966 she made history by being the first ship of her size to successfully recover a Gemini capsule and the first ship ever to return a cap- sule to Cape Canaveral after recovery. In May 1 969, LA SALLE served as an experimen- tal launch platform for the AV-8 Harrier aircraft, be- coming one of the first ships to operate with the su- personic, vertical takeoff and landing tactical fighter- bomber. Through 1971, LA SALLE served as an am- phibious force flagship for various commands. Oper- ating in the Atlantic, Caribbean and Mediterranean areas, it took part in numerous exercises with U.S. forces and with other MATO navies. Selected to replace USS VALCOUR (AGEl) as flagship for Commander, Middle East Force in Janu- ary 1972, LA SALLE began an extensive overhaul. Mew facilities were installed to suit its new role. It was outfitted with elaborate command communications equipment, a weather satellite receiver, additional air conditioning, a modern dental facility, sophisti- cated closed-circuit television, accommodations for an admiral and his staff, a helicopter hangar and a ceremonial awning on the flight deck. With a coat of white paint to reflect the hot sun of the Middle East, LPD-5 became AGF-3 (Miscella- neous Command Ship) on July 1, 1972 and on August 24, she assumed 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. LA SALLE also participated in annual naval exercises with allied nations in the area. In February 1979, LA S 1 .L£ ' assisted in the evac- uation 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 her crew the Humani- tarian Service Medal. At the outset of the Iranian hostage crisis in Mo- vember 1979, LA SALLE was the focal point of U.S. activity in the Arabian Gulf. While on station off the coast of Iran, LA SALLE was at sea from November 19, 1979to January 23, 1980, a total of 74 consecu- tive days, which earned the ship the Mavy Unit Com- mendation Pennant. The combination of the hostage crisis and the Iran Iraq war, which began in the summer of 1980, brought about a dramatic increase in the support re- sponsibilities placed upon the crew. For their efforts during those arduous contingency operations, the

Page 8 text:

COMMANDIMG Brent M. Bennitt Captain February 1985 - April 1986 Captain Brent M. Bennitt, a native of Muskegon, Michigan, received his commission in 1964 upon graduation from the U.S. Maval Academy where he earned a Bachelor of Maval Science degree and grad- uated with honors. He was designated a Maval Aviator in December 1963. A veteran pilot, Captain Bennitt flew 22 1 combat missions in Vietnam and has served as a Mavy test pilot and flight test instructor. His career has includ- ed tours with several attack squadrons, serving as Commanding OfRcer of Attack Squadron 105. He has served as riag Lieutenant and personal aide to the Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, and prior to com- mand of LA SALLE, he was Executive Officer of USS niMITZ (CVn 68). Among Captain Bennitt ' s awards are the Air Med- al (three individual awards, 17 strike awards), Mavy Commendation Medal with Combat V (three awards), Vietnamese Air Gallantry Cross, Mavy Unit Commen- dation, Vietnamese Meritorious Unit Commenda- tion, Queen ' s Commendation for meritorious achievement in aerial flight (United Kingdom) and the Mavy Expeditionary Medal for service in Lebanon. He is a member ofthe International Society of Experi- mental Test Pilots. Captain Bennitt is married to the former Beverly Brumfield of Kansas City, Missouri. The Bennitts have a daughter, Sarah. .1 - m .