Princeton (CG 59) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 11 text:

213035 :,,.,Q,, Nl.. 1 - V , , ...ti E '.iTli5Ei 1.2.5 Sl ICT' f COMMAND MASTER CHIEF CMDCM QSSXSWIAW5 WILLIAM A. SMITH UNITED STATES NAVY Master Chief Petty Officer Smith enlisted in the Navy from his hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii in July 1972. Following the completion of his basic training and initial Sonar training pipeline in San Diego, Califomia, he served aboard USS POGY CSSN 6475, where he eamed his Silver Dolphins and designation Qualified in Submarines? Follow on sea duty included USS ASPRO CSSN6485, USS GURNARD CSSN 6625, USS PINTADO CSSN 6725, USS CHICAGO CSSN 7215, where he served as Chief of the Boat and Battle Stations Diving Officer during Operation Desert Storm, USS GARY CFFG 515, where he served as Command Master Chief, eaming his qualification as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, and USS THACH QFFG 435. Ashore, he attended Sonar advanced technical training at Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Training Center Pacific in San Diego, Califomia, instructor duty at Submarine Training Facility in San Diego, where he earned the designation of Master Training Specialist, staff duty at Commander, Submarine Group SEVEN in Yokosuka, Japan, and duties as Command Master Chief at Service School Command San Diego, Califomia. Prior to reporting for duty aboard USS PRINCETON CCG 595, he served as Command Master Chief at Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light FOUR THREE, where he eamed his qualification as Enlisted Air Warfare Specialist. Command Master Chief Smithis decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with four gold stars, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with four gold stars, as well as numerous service, campaign, and unit awards. fly ZLi,.,.., ...,,,,.,w,w.t,.,., A ,V if . - , ' '-'bs'S'.f1mN5'5Y13 s'fbx':f'?fi , , , WN, ,al Qi 1 W2 5 yi 7

Page 10 text:

EXECUTIVE OFFICER LCDR ROBERT D. KATZ, UNITED STATES NAVY Lieutenant Commander Robeit D. Katz was commissioned through the NROTC program at the University of South Carolina, Where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Lieutenant Commander Katz's first sea assignment Was aboard USS SAN JACINTO CCG 561 as Anti- Submarine Warfare Officer and Main Propulsion Assistant. There he served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm With the John F. Kennedy Battle Group in the Red Sea. He then circumnavi gated South America during a UNITAS deployment and completed his tour doing BALTOPS N in the Baltic Sea. His Department Head assignment Was aboard USS LABOON CDDG 5 SJ as the Weapons Officer, Operations Officer and Combat Systems Officer. There he served in Operation Desert Strike as a part ofthe Middle East Force in the Arabian Gulf His final deployment was to the Mediterranean Where he served in Operation Dynamic Response. Ashore, Lieutenant Commander Katz attended the Naval Postgraduate School earning a Master of Science in Financial Management. He completed his Joint Professional Military Education at the Anny Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Most recently, he served as the Operations and Maintenance Budget Analyst for the Director of Surface Warfare Division CN76j at the Pentagon. 6

Page 12 text:

So It Begins. . . . . .Cff To War For the crew of USS PRINCETON, this voyage began many months before with the work-ups, training in school houses, repairs in the ship yards, and in anticipation of separation amongst families in homes. With the country on the brink of war, shipmates and loved ones said final L good-byes'. Every emotion was freely shared - from happiness, knowing this was definitely the day of deployment after weeks of uncertainty and delays, to sadness, not knowing when reunions would take place. One emotion was commonly experienced by every crew member who manned the rail... standing true and strong, all felt pride in themselves, their ship, and their country. And that same pride was felt by every loved one on the pier. When the mooring lines were cast offi a whistle blast let all across the naval station know that PRINCETON was underway. Moving patriotic music began to play and brought emotional intensity to peak and tears to the eyes of many, in that moment, all hands stood a little taller, breathed a bit deeper, and a wave of honor and courage swept over the ship and washed away all fear and worry. The ship pulled away from the harbor mouth and into the Pacific Ocean. And with the vision of home and loved ones still fresh in their mind's eye, the topsiders slowly drifted inside the skin ofthe ship. The daily routine began slowly with thoughts on the future - 'truly it would be an epic journey'. On the third day, ofthe third month, in the third year, ofthe third millennium, the crew of US Warship 59 left behind family and friends to set out on an historical cruise. Loved ones wondered where PRINCETON would go and what would happen, aboard, even the crew pondered what would come. But all knew the mission involved going into harms way. The mission of PRINCETON, paralleled and was tied to that ofa former PRINCETON in another generation - the light carrier CVL 23. As this Princeton set out to respond to a September I 1th attack on U. S. soil, she carried with her cremated remains of a crew member ofthe former carrier whose mission had responded to a December 7th attack on American soil 62 years before. So, when CG 59 made its way out of Pearl Harbor nearly two weeks after deploying, she laid a wreath passing the Arizona memorial honoring those who sacrificed to defend our nation years before, the visitors viewing this on the old Missouri battle ship cheered recognizing the present mission's parallel. Days later, the cremains were scattered in a fantail burial-at-sea ceremony in Philippine waters - near where many CVL 23 shipmates lost their lives when that PRINCETON was sunk in the Battle of Leyte Gulf USS PRINCETON CCG 595 steamed on to participate in the Global War on ' Terrorism in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.