Ranger (CV 61) - Naval Cruise Book

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THE CAPTA1 Captain Wilham E. Donnelly, Jr., assumed command of RANGER Octo- ber 20, 1967, reporting aboard from duty as the Executive Assistant and Senior Aide to the Vice Chief of naval Opera- tions. CAPT Donnelly was born in Dayton, Ohio, April 22, 1921. He attended Miami of Ohio for one year prior to entering the U. S. Naval Academy July 1, 1940. After a tour of duty in Eu- rope, he returned to the United States for flight training and was designated a naval Aviator in 1945. CAPT Donnelly has graduated from a variety of naval schools including the Weaponeers Course at Sandia Base, New Mexico, Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Maryland, and the Command and Staff and Naval Warefare Courses at the naval War College. Prior to taking command of RANGER Captain Donnelly's assignments in- cluded a tour as Commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 141, Executive Oflicer of USS KITTY HAWK, Commanding Oflicer of USS WINSTON fAKA-941 and a member of the Secretary of the Navy's Talk Force on Personnel Retention.

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THE EXEC T I E OEEICER aGet a hat sailor! Perhaps this Will be the fondest memory many RANGER- MAN will retain from the 1967-68 WESTPAC Cruise. As Executive Officer of RANGER Commander John H. McConnell, Jr. is responsible for the ship's affairs and laws. This is a broad statement and must be taken in its broadest sense to fully grasp the total scope of the XO's function. The X0 probably has the closest con- tact with the crew than any senior officer on the ship. Frequent appearances on KRAN TV as moderator, interviewer and as a subject for questions himself, have given everyone the opportunity for a direct line to RANGER,s second in command. Morale is the obligation of everyone living in close conditions such as are found on RANGER, however, besides the captain, the one person on whom the burden falls is the '4Exec . At times the burden weighs heavy, when his duties as ship's disciplinarian seem to conflict with those of morale booster. However, with his subtle humor and articulate manner, CDR McConnell has lifted the Veil of 4'Scro- oge , which might otherwise accompany some of the more ucontroversialn ex- ecutive directives. . As executor of the Captain's ideas and directives, Commander lVIcConnell's role has not been one of a subordinate, but rather. an amplification of the command. Unlike uHubey , no one connected with RANGER will soon forget 44Big John .