Long Beach (CGN 9) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPTAIN FRANK R FAHLAND U S CUMMANDING OFFICER U S Captain Frank R Fahland son of lVIr and lVlrs Frank Fahland was born in Roanoke Virginia He began his career by enlisting as a Seaman in 1945 While in boot camp he competed for and won appointment to the U S Naval Academy from his home district in Nebraska He graduated with dis tinctlon and was commissioned in 1950 Serving at sea for the next five years Ensign Fahland served in the Destroyer USS N K PERRY iDD 8831 operating in Mediterranean waters in USS ESSEX ICVA 91 in the Korean theatre during that conflict and as an aide to the Admiral com mandung Cruiser Division ONE and FIVE home ported in Long Beach California Lieutenant Fahland entered the U S Naval Post graduate School in 1955 did his thesis work in gas turbines and was awarded the degree of Nlaster of Science in Mechanical Engineering He commanded the gasoline tanker USS PECATONICA IAOG 571 from 1958 to 1960 while she convoyed lVlutual Assistance Pact ships across the Atlantic and sup ported U S Naval facilities in the Caribbean during the early phases of the Cuban crisis ln 1961 he graduated from the U S Naval War College at New port Rhode Island Following two years technical duty at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington D.C., where he worked in the Polaris Missile and ABIVI programs, Lieutenant Commander Fahland returned to sea as Executive Officer' of the Destroyer USS HAIVINER IDD-7181. I Commander Fahland commanded the Destroyer BAUSELL IDD-8451 in 1965 and 1966 off the coast of South Vietnam and in the Gulf of Tonkin. For his performance he was awarded the Navy Commendation lVledal with Combat V. From 1966 to 1969 Commander Fahland served in the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense ISystem Analysisl where his work concerned both the effort in of strategic forc awarded the ln 1969 Captain sioning assault Seattle and Virginia. I ylnl197 resulted in h assumed a nucl ear powered September 1972 in I Captain Fahland is married to the Dorothy Bomery of Sands Point, Long York With their sont Chris they no . A , 1 , w I Pedro, Californiapy

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CAPTAIN WILLIAM A. SPENCER, U.S. NAVY COMMANDING OFFICER, USS LONG BEACH CGN-9 Captain William A. Spencer, USN, was born in St. Charles, Nlinnesota, on 21 June 1924, son of the late lVlr. 81 lVlrs. John E. Spencer. After attending Blue Earth Public Schools, Blue Earth, Minnesota, and St. Thomas College in St. Paul, lVlinnesota, he entered the United States Naval Academy in 1943. He graduated and was commissioned an Ensign on 5 June 1946. He was subsequently advanced on the rank of Cap- tain on' 1 July 1967. He assumed command of the nuclear powered guided missile cruiser, USS LONG BEACH ICGN-91, on 15 June 1968. Captain Spencer's first duty station was on board the USS O'BFIlEN IDD-7251 where he served as the assistant communications officer. In 1947 he became CIC and Operations Officer on board the USS R. K. HUNTINGTON IDD-781I. This was followed by a tour as Engineer Officer of the USS INGRAHAIVI IDD-6941. He was next assigned as Operations Officer on the staff of Commander Escort Squadron EIGHT. In September of 1952, Captain Spencer attended the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School, lVlonterrey, California, for two years and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Nlechanical Engineering. After attending the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Tech- nology, Captain Spencer was awarded a lVIaster of Science degree in lVlechanical Engineering. ln October of 1955 he became Electrical Officer for the commissioning crew of the USS FOR- RESTAL ICVA-591. Subsequently he served as IVlain Propulsion Assistant until his detachment in June 1957. The following month he reported to the Nuclear Power Training United in Idaho Falls, Idaho, as a student. He was then assigned as Chief Engineer for initial critical operations of surface prototype nuclear reactor plant in January 1968. His next assignment came as Engineer Officer of the USS LONG BEACH ICGN-9I in June 1959. Captain Spencer was the commissioning Engineer and remained with LONG BEACH until July 1963. He was then ordered to the USS BAINBRIDGE IDLGN 25I as Executive Officer. This three year tour included duty with the SIXTH Fleet, as a unit of Nuclear Task Force One in the round-the-world cruise, and with the SEVENTH Fleet. He assumed command of the USS BUCHANAN IDDG-141 in October of 1966 while on station with the SEV- ENTH Fleet. ln December 1967 he reported to the Strategic Plans and Policy Division of the Chief of Naval Operations. During his Naval career, Captain Spencer has earned the following awards: American Theater, World War ll Victory, China Service medal, Navy Occupa- tion medal, National Defense, Vietnam Service medal, Bronze Star, and the Legion of lVlerit. Captain Spencer is married to the former Miss Elizabeth Houghtaling, of Blue Earth, Nlinnesota. They currently reside in Cypress, California.