New Orleans (LPH 11) - Naval Cruise Book

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l ' ,. gp- Former Commanding Officer Captain R. E. Neiger Captain Ralph E. Neiger was born in Sacramento, California on 4 January 1928. He has attended Sacramen- to College and the University of California at Berkeley Where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. In 1961 Captain Neiger was accepted to the' United States Naval Postgraduate School and received a Master's Degree in Management. He com- pleted the College of Naval Warfare course at the Naval War College in June 1971. Captain Neiger entered the Navy in December 1945 in the V-5 program and following college training was ap- pointed a Midshipman in May 1948 when he entered flight training at Pensacola, Florida. He Was designated a Naval Aviator in September 1949, and assigned to Attack Squadron 115. In May 1950 he was commissioned Ensign, USN. Captain Neiger served with VA-115 on the USS PHILIPPINE SEA from July 1950 to March 1951, in the Korean conflict. He attended LSO school and later served in that capacity aboard the USS ESSEX in the Korean War Zone. Other assignments included duty with the Bureau of Naval Weapons Resident Representative, Special Projects Office, Aerojet General Corporation, Heavy Attack Squadron EIGHT in 1960 - 1961, V-6 of- ficer aboard USS RANGER, and as flight instructor with ATU-301 at Cabaniss Field, Corpus Christi, Texas. Cap- tain Neiger served as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of Heavy Attack Squadron EIGHT in 1965 - 1966, completed a tour as Operations Officer and Executive Of- ficer of USS HANCOCK KCVA-192 in September 1970, and Commanding Officer of USS OGDEN ILPD-5j in Oc- tober 1973. Captain Neiger's decorations include the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star Medal C1 starj, the Air Medal CNumeral 10 and 4 gold starsj, Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V , Navy Unit Commendation C2 starsb, Navy Occupation Service Medal, Vietnam Air Gallantry Medal, China Service Medal, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Service Medal C1 silver and 1 bonze starj, National Defense Ser- vice Medal C1 bronze starj, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal C3 bronze starsj, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal CKoreaJ. Captain Neiger assumed command of USS NEW ORLEANS KLPH-Ilj on 14 December 1973 from Captain R. W. Carius, and served as Commanding Officer of the ship from that date until 26 July 1975. He was relieved by Captain H. A. Zoehrer after the successful safe recovery of the Command Module of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project and the subsequent return of the astronauts to Hawaii. Captain Neiger is married to the former Anne Briscoe Alger of Los Angeles, California.