Lewis Puller (FFG 23) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDING OFFICER COMMANDER ALFRED W. MITCHELL UNITED STATES NAVY FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER COMMANDER DENNIS L. RYAN, III UNITED STATES NAVY Commander Dennis L. Ryan, III was born in Wilmington, Delaware. After graduation from high school in Wilmington, he enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve and attended preparatory school in Washington, D.C. He was commissioned in 1970 upon graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy. Commander Ryan ' s first sea duty tour was as Damage Control Assistant in US5 O ' CALLAHAN (FF-1051). Following Destroyer School, he was assigned as Engineer Officer aboard USS FANNING (FF-1076) and Subsequently as First Lieutenant in USS RACINE (LST- 1191). Commander Ryan then served as Commanding Officer of USS PAIUTE (ATF-159). From 1979 to 1981, Commander Ryan was a student at the Naval Postgraduate School where he earn?d a Master of Science in Mechani- cal Engineering. He returned to sea as Flag Secretary on the staff of Commander, Cruiser-Destroyer Group FIVE. He then served as Execu- tive Officer of USS PAUL F. FOSTER (DD-964). Following a tour as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commander for Ship Design and Engineering, Naval Sea Systems Command, he was assigned as Engi- neer Officer in USS NEW JERSEY (BB-62). Commander Ryan ' s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and various service medals. Commander Ryan is married to the former Anita L. Bartlett and currently resides in Long Beach, California. His daughter, Kendra, lives in San Diego. Commander Alfred W. Mitchell was commissioned via the NROTC Unit at the University of Oklahoma in 1972. His initial sea tours were as Communications Officer on both USS BUCK (DD-761) and USS SOUTHERLAND (DD-743). Following these tours he served as Navi- gator and subsequently Communications Officer on USS STERETT (CG-31) from 1974-1976 while that ship served as CTF 7b flagship in the Western pacific. He then attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, graduating in 1978 with a Master ' s Degree in Electrical Engineering. After Monterey he began his department head tour in USS HEWITT (DD-996) as Operations Officer. During this tour the ship participated in the Iranian hostage rescue efforts. He joined the staff of Commander Cruise-Destroyer Group THREE in 1982 as the staff Communications Officer. While on the staff he also acted as Battle Group Echo Communications Officer while deployed in USS RANGER (CV-61). In 1983 he joined the commissioning crew of USS McTEEM (MSO-438) in Seattle, Washington, from 1985-1987. In 1987 he began service on the Military Communications-Electronics Board, an element of the Command, Control and Communications Directorate (J-6) of the Joint Staff. His principal duties consisted of NATO liaison and ratification of international communications stan- dards. He is a proven subspecialist in Communications Engineering and Command and Control. He holds the following major personal awards and decorations: Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal (2), Navy Achievement Medal (2), Navy Expeditionary Medal, and Hu- manitarian Service Medal. He is married to the former Kristen Blundell of Shawnee, Oklahoma. They have three children, James, Lauren and Stephanie.

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m S9 ir ' .i. ' : ' :i. ' - I ' • ■ ■ ■ i SHIP ' S NAMESAKE GEORGE PHILIP is named in honor of Commander George Philip Jr., USN (1912-1945). Commander Philip was born in Fort Pierre, South Dakota, April 14, 1912. Upon completion of his primary education he received an appointment to the Naval Academy. He was commissioned an Ensign on June 6, 1935. He served in many commands, including USS CALIFORNIA and USS TWIGGS. Commander Philip displayed extraordinary heroism while serving as Commanding Officer of USS TWIGGS. In 84 consecutive days of combat off Okinawa, he perished in a kamikaze attack on June 16, 1945. He was posthumously presented the Navy Cross.

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CHANGE OF COMMAND I stand relieved I assume the watch • - kf iS