Ponce (LPD 15) - Naval Cruise Book

Text from Pages 1 - 106 of the 1995 volume:

BYELARUS UKRAINE SLOVAKIA Bratislava ROMANIA ROATIA Constanta Bucharest • Black Sea Belgrade SERBIA I BOSNIA Sarajevo Trabzon BULGARIA • Sofiya Samsun • MONTENEGRO eft • Skopje macedon; Istanbul Thessali • Ankara Diyarbakir TURKEY Giziantep • Halab Patrai Latakia SYRIA Nicosia Damascus Amman rusalcm JORDAN •Alexandria Luxor • EGYPT Aswan • Warsaw •an • POLAND • Krakow RUSSIA • Budapest ' HUNGARY • Krasnodar GEORGIA Erzurum IRAQ Gulf of Sidra SAUDI iabuk ARABIA LIBYA (2 f1U. cs% PO U S. NAVY ME.i-iO«iKL FOUNDATION 701 PENNSYLVANIA ME.. N.W. SUITE 123 WASHINGTON. D.C. 20004-2608 UNITED STATES SHIP PONCE PONCE’s Insignia USS PONCE’s insignia is comprised of four major elements: A rampant lion (from coats of arms of Juan Ponce de Leon) signifying the high spiritedness of the Navy-Marine Corps team that serves her; a trident, emblematic of the U.S. Naval power and supremacy; commission pennants, visual symbols of U.S. Ship in commission; and an anchor chain, linking the ship’s name and its designator symbols. The Royal Purple Lion which is the coat of arms of Juan Ponce de Leon, is a continuing reminder of our bond with the people of our namesake city. You may overhear several of the crew members refer to our ship as “The Proud Lion”. L —.—,—— Table of Contents Gitmo, Cuba Jamaca......... 3rd Battle “E” Maine... Rota, Spain.™ Toulon, Spai Malaga, S Valencia, S gSgt' African Ea ________________ Duress, Albania. Naples, Italy.. Odessa, Ukraine.. Rhodes, Greece... Haifa, Israel.... Home Coming... Cruise Book Sta: . k: Mm USS PONCE Some Capabilities Which Might Surprise You • PONCE carries enough fuel to steam over 10,000 miles (nearly halfway around the earth without refueling. 0 The ship has its own doctor and dentist, with a twelve bed medical ward, bacteriological laboratory, X-ray facilities, sterilizing room, and dental operatory. 0 Storerooms and refrigerated spaces which can subsist 1,500 men for 60 days, or 500 men for 90 days. © We can make nearly 50,000 gallons of drinking water a day from sea water in our distilling plants. O We operate our own store in which we serve everything from candy, toothpaste and clothes, to cameras. When loaded, PONCE carries balanced unit of 917 Marines and their combat vehicles (tanks, artillery, ammunition, tracked landing vehicles, etc.). 0 The after end of our ship (stem) has a hinged gate which can be lowered. We use this gate in conjunction with a ballast system to fill our well deck area with water. In this manner, amphibious assault crafts and boats can drive in and out of our well deck. The well deck area is large enough to fit two full size basketball courts inside, and the ballast tanks used to flood the well deck have the capacity of 2.3 million gallons of water. © Cargo carrying capacity: There is enough in our two storage areas to hold 110 medium size automobiles. © Air capability: The flight deck is large enough to accommodate three complete tennis courts and 11 trips around it is equivalent to 1 mile. There is sufficient room on the flight deck to operate four helicopters simultaneously. It is certified to operate practically every type of helicopter in the world, even the largest and most sophisticated. In addition, vertical takeoff and landing type aircrafts may operate on USS PONCE’s Hight deck. Sherrangc was born in Eric, Pennsylvania, die Naval service in September 1966 under 'didate Program, while attending Gannon n in May 1969, he received a Bachelor of] jnent and was commissioned as an Ensign in itial sea assignment was in USS GREAT 1 Ktfigatnr with at subsequent tour in USS | 390) as Weapons Officer. Mtfndcd destroyer school, Newport Rhode Island, )$tyvembor 1972, served as Engineer Officer in H dtomeported in Yokosuka, Japan. After three | IfA ril 1976, Qtptain Sherrangc was assigned to n hd as part of the 12C0 PS1 Steam Propulsion Ml) with duties as Director of Training and 1 wic;i duty in January 1979 completing tours of | mSssistant in USS AMERICA (CV-66) and [MC( A NI LESS_(FIM080)._ March 1993 to February 1995 Upon completion of his sea tour in USS Sherrangc attended Old Dominion University in Finance. Returning to Washington, D.C OPNAV Staff, Surface Warfare Directorate, as and Budget Coordinator. In June 1987 Captain Sherrangc assitymr . AINSWORTH (FF-1090) and completed tWo de Mediterranean Sea during his tour. Detaching in Decei as Operations Officer for the Commander, Second FI major NATOcxcrcises and eight fleet exercises. Captain command of USS PONCE (LPD-15) in March 1993. of Training at Tactical draining Group, Atlantic, His personal decorations include the liegion of Service Medal (3), Joint (Commendation Medal and Medal as well various service and campaign; CaptaiivShcrrange is married to the forn Erie. Pennsylvania. Captain and Mrs. Sherriuigi and Jixscph ami currently reside in Virginia Bcachi February 1995 to Present Captain Mahoney graduated from Seattle University m 1969 with .p clbgree m Political Science, l ie earned his commission from Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island that same year. Following his commissioning, he served as Combat Information ('enter ( fficer in the.commissionlng crew of USS KANSAS CITY (AOR '). From 1971 to 1972 he was assigned to the Naval Advisory Group in the Republic of Vietnam, serving in the Vung Tail and Camau areas of operation. After completing his “in country” tour, then LTJG Mahoney reported to USS MYLES C. FOX (DD 829) as First Lieutenant. In 1973, he attended Naval Destroyer School and subsequently reported to USS MFYFRKORD (FF 1058) as Weapons Officer, the first ship of a split department head tour. Between his department head tours. Captain Mahoney was a Combat Systems instructor .'at Surface Warfare Officers School, in Coronado. California. In 1979, he returned to sea duty aboard.USS DENVER (LPD 9) as Operations Officer and Overhaul Manager and completed his second department head tour. Captain Mahoney assumed the duties as Executive Officer in UNMOUNT VERNON (LSI'S 59) in August .1981. Upon completion of his Executive Officer tour in January 1983, he reported to Commander, Amphibious Group THREE in San Diego, California as Flag Secretary. He assumed command of USS SCI 1ENE(TTADY (LST 1185) in January 1986. Upon completion of his command tour in May 1988, Captain Mahoney was assigned duties as Chief Staff Officer to Commander, Amphibious Squadron SEVEN, completing that assignment in April 1990. He then assumed command of Surface Warfare Officers School Pacific from May 1990 to August 1992. Captain Mahoney’s most recent tour of duty was from October 1992 to October 1994, as Chief of Staff for Amphibious Forces SEVENTH Fleet, homeported in Okinawa, Japan. Captain Mahoney's awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with two Gold Stars, the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and Gold Star, the Navy Achievement Medal with Gold Star, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Navy Unit Commendation, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Captain Mahoney is originally from Lowell, Massachusetts and is married to the former Pamela Jane Turner of Muncic, Indiana. They have three daughters; Erica, Jessica, and Rebecca. 0Z 2200 ti O m O Z X O (Commander Lowry was born on 24 November 1956 Gouvernenr, NY, a mining and dairy farming community in the Northern foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. After graduating from Gouverncur Central High School in 1978 he attended Colgate University in Hamilton. NY, and graduated in 1978 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Sciences I le entered the Navy in January 1980, earning a commission as an Ensign in May, 1980, after completing training at Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. hollowing a brief tour as Electronics Maintenance Officer onboard USS CONNOLE (FF 1056). He continued training at Surface Officer School (Division Officer Course) in Newport, and then completed training at the Communications Officer Afloat School, also in Newport before being assigned to USS DEYO (DD 989) as Communications Officer and First Lieutenant from May 1981 until October 1983. After additional training, Commander Lowry was next assigned to USS AFFRAY (MSO 511) as Executive Officer. His tour there lasted from January 1984 until August 19S5. Following his tour on board AFFRAY, Commander Lowry matriculated in the Naval Postgraduate School at Monterey. While there. he earned a Masters of Science Degree in Electronic Warfare Systems Engineering before assignment to Surface Warfare Officer Department Head Course in October 1987. Upon completing the Department Head Course in Newport. Commander Lowry reported to USS KNOX (FF 1052) as Operations Officer. He completed that tour in July 1990 and then assumed duties as Operations Officer on the guided missile cruiser USS REEVES (CG 24) He filled that billet from September 1990 until May 1992. Following additional training courses at Dam Neck, VA, Commander Lowry then reported to the Staff of Commander, Carrier Group Two as Assistant Surface Operations Officer. He completed that tour in December 1995. He reported to USS PONCE (LPD 15) as Executive Officer in March 1994. Commander Lowry’s awards include the Navy Commendation Medal (3 awards), the Navy Achievement Medal, the Navy Expeditionary Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and various unit awards and citations. He and his wife, the former Nancy Greer Ehrhart of Trumanslnirg. New 'lork, reside with their two children in Virginia Beach, Virginia. ml JkinaWl. Naval Station Norfolk l rij ns ilTc'SclUor hnhstcd Counselor, i reacly Jo retire in 1990, he elected to return to sen njjnin on the USS I LINCOLN TCVN 72). Mutter Qiiy l wood then asked to , lH;eoiife t ,( jnm;uul M;ister� Chief ;it which time Tie was nwnrdedfthe 15), in ($ toKr. 1992. ■ ‘ i Kajjkvfc[k-T Elw« d’s-jtc h i e ve m e n l s include: Tl yr NiivvJ [S Ach vciW Medal, Rattj.e E ( awards), Navy Good Conduy MraJ fei HjsJi 9.i' nal i ehit Sirfvice t Ml jiwards), SoptWwj T ' swv hr'oi � c tar, and Scn Sctvfce n?toy(41 Mavfrr Cil ief EliS(H d is married i« the former SnnJi 'of Cleveland, Ohio. They Iv.tveVwo children, Christophcr-i Chief aiufhis family reside in Hampton, Virginia. Executive Officer 6 hoop UKfS USS PONCE LPD-15 History 10 July 1971 - USS PONCE Commissioned in Seattle, Washington January'June 1973 - First Mediterranean Deployment August 1973 Awarded Battle “E” representing selection as the best ship of her type within her squadron July 1976 - Assisted in the evacuation of American citizens Lebanon 26-29 January 1977 ; X f c SJ May 1981 USS PONCE visits namesake city PONCE, Puerto Rico; 12,000 visitors in four days USS PONCE awarded Humanitarian Service Medal for rescuing 640 stranded Caftan refugees in Florida Straits Mav 1986 - Awarded second Battle “E - I une 1-August 1990 Participated in Operation Sharp Edge and the evacuation of over 1,600 people from Monrovia, Liberia June-July 1991 - Operation Provide Comfort August 31, 1992 V' Hurricane Andrew Relief Effort Homestead Dade County Florida October 1994 - Awarded third Battle “E” 24 January-1 February 1995 - First American ship to participate in an Albanian Sarex 21-27 February 1995 - USS PONCE visits Odessa, Ukraine; over 12,000 visitors in 2 days REFTRA Gitmo Cuba i Onload Moorehead City Navy and Marine 9 Operations i Operation Handclasp 1 Fatima Seal Team Special Boat Unit LT Layne CW02 Bigelow MACS Robinson NCC (jonzolez Admistration Department LT.JQ Suchyta HTCS Qonzales Administrative PN2 Bland YN1 Harris LI2(SW) Mari RP2(SW) Stuckey LI2(SW) Watkins PN3 Valdez YNSN Crable PNSN Elivood LT Reigie Engineering LT Thompson Chief Eng Department LTJQ Scott m LT Thompson Chief Eng CWQ2 Robbins Auxiliary MM3 Freeman MM3 Crawford ENFN Flint BTFA Lacey ENFN McCall Boiler Techs UTCS Williams BTl Jones BTl Marler BTl McLaughlin BTl Welch BTl Williams BT2 Atchinson BT2 Brandon BT2 Couvillon BT2 Crimmons BT2 Earnest BT.3 Mize BT3 Synder BT3 Winandy BT3 Wilson FN Dal roza BTFA Qouine FA Mountain FA Rekosh BTFR Chen FR Jean BTFR Powell BTFR Still,nan QDDQD “E” Division EMC Mina EMI Ferreira ICl Jeanneret IC2 Adams S3 IC2 Moore EM2 Olsen EM2 Williams EM3 Hair EM3 Carpenter I EM3 Chameski EM 3 English EM3 Fox EM3 Janes EM 3 Lowers ft ■ IC3 Olmeda EM3 Patton IC3 Sneed EMFN Lonergan ICEN Marshall MMC Dees MMC Smith MM I Czajkoivski MM I Hanaivay i MM1 Raab QSM2 Maricle MM 1 Jenkins MM1 Lewis MM3 Alger MM3 Ortega MM3 Frasier MM3 Lewis MM3 Martin FA Qallagher FA Herren MMFN Jacobs FN Ledford FN Morales FN Overton I'N Panasuk FR Pena MMFN Rabum MMFN Rittenour I v DCC Cribb DC1 Kelley HT1 VVvc tc DC 2 Jolly HT2 Spahr y ■ FN Skiver Deck Department LCDR Tullos CW02 Brennan LTJQ O’Hare LTJQ Williams ENS Billy ENS White BMC Campbell V A BM1 Patternn BM2 Enzcnauer BM2 Slei'in BM2 Taylor BM3 Annani BM3 Combs BM3 Gilbert BM3 Weeks SN Atwood SA Blair SR Boudreau BMSN Brooks SN Bullard BMSN Ducrkson SN Eskew SA Favcla SR Feliciano SR Ferris SR Qray BMSN Gregory SN Ingram SN Simms SN Trinidad SA Warfcy SN Willoughby SN Vallejo SR Lynch SN McDonald SN Mosley SA Murray SR Nixon SR Nunc; BMSN Peters SR Ridley 2nd Division BMI Henry BM2 Campbell BM2 Schlenker BM2 Sleasman BM2 Warner BM3 Banks BM3 Cantu BM3 Moreno BM3 Robinson BMSN Dickerson SN Mes tress BMSN Phillips BMSN Suarez SA Burk SA Beasley SA Coakley SA Qivens SA Hem SN Jones SA Kochis SA Lewis SN Lovitt SA Porcher SA Proenza SA Rice Sgssssssssssssssssssssssssssss. 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SN Seals SR Dobson SR Finnigan SR Stockslager SR Taylor SR Tomozy SR Sandlin SR Dannenbring SR Fdrish SA Milliner SR Winkler SR Wehausen SR Stewart SR Nelson SR Peterson QMM1 Jackson FC3 Mathias SN Bolvin SN ( forge SN Turcott SN Willis FCl Bancroft FC2 Coles QMQ2 Manning QMQ2 Stein QMQ2 Birkicht FC2 Barrett RM3 Hamilton SM3 Susavage RMSN Mosely SM3 Phillips RMSR Briscoe SM.3 Lenore RMSN Lowe RMSN Toivnsend OE Division I OS I Qraham OS3 (jaither OS3 Brockington 0S2 Mirkle EW3 Almond OS3 Burney “Where did that contact go?” 0S3 Scanlon OSSN Cleveland OSSN Baas OSSN Bennett OSSA Copeland OSSA Bridgewater OSSA Brodie EWSN Dressier S - 1 Division SKI Belak SK3 Marcum SKSA Uribe SK2 Wiitala SKSA Crum SKSN Wysocki S - 2 Division i MS3 Lamb MS3 Ogbay MSSN Bn'iint MSSN Haas MSSA Murphy MSSN Sjnith S - 3 Division .'•I S - 4 Division i QM3 Jackson QM3 Hoffmeycr QMSN Briscoe QMSN Montes QMSN Nadeau QMSN Seals N A V I G A T I O N ABIC Ruzycki A BH1 Vazquez ABF2 Dujfertius ABH2 Valentin ABU 3 Fletcher ABH3 Steivard AS3 Young ABFAN Bates -� 6t 44 Q ABFAN Coleman AR Crump ASAN Nguyen AN Peterson ABFAN Portlock AN Rodney AN Henley AN Jennings AN Karavas AN Miller HMC Denney HMi Schroeder HMl Wyatt HM3 Ayotte 1 Dental DTI Shelford DN Harnlie LT Klein DN Sturdivant DN Vaultz e b Amphibious Assault Vehicles “Alright, whit’s Iflaying pac-man?” “Um, Um, Qood!” “What am I looking for?” “Seagull at 2 o‘clock!” Boy, What a day!” African Eagle Naples Italy Odessa Ukraine Rhodes Greece •m Haifa Jerusalem Sunsets Across the Med Marine Offload Home at Last Cruise Bqok Staff Editor, Layou and Production Ass Copy Write Photos - LI2(S ;n - LT Klein and LI2(SW) Watkins - LT Klein and LI2(SW) Watkins % Watkins T !W)_‘Watkins Walsworth Publishing Company Marocliae. Miucuri W58 USA Barry Brown, lamf Office. Suite 519 Norfolk. 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