Shreveport (LPD 12) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDER Aivirwiieious sourxorioixi six CAPTAIN U.S. NAVY Captain Vernon C. Smith, a native of Midland, Michigan was commissioned in 1956 upon graduation from the integration Program of the Officer Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island. Captain Smith served in the USS RANKIN fAKA-1035 as Communications Officer and Navigator and in the USS AULT QDD-6985 as Engineer Officer. He commanded the USS HOCKVILLE QEPCEH-8515, the USS AVENGE QMSO-4235, the USS WASHOE COUNTY fLST-11565 and the USS HARLAN COUNTY CLST-11965. He served ashore with the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, the Defense Communications Agency, and the Naval Telecommunications Command. His most recent shore duty was as Executive Assistant and senior aide to the Director, Command and Control QOP-0945. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. He attended Destroyer Engineering School, the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, and the U.S. Army War College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Captain Smith's personal awards include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star with Combat V and gold star for second and third awards, Meritorious Service Medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal. Captain Smith reports to Amphibious Squadron Six from duty as Commanding Officer, USS MOUNT WHITNEY QLCC- 205. Captain Smith is married to the former Kathryn E. St. Louis of Midland, Michigan. The Smiths reside in Virginia Beach. Virginia. VERNON C. SMITH

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1' COIVIIVIANDING OFFICER KEITH S. JONES CAPTAIN U.S. NAVY Captain Keith S. iCaseyJ Jones was commissioned in June 1960 and designated a Naval Aviator in February 1962. He has served in a number of light jet attack squadrons and has flown all Navy models of the A-4 and A-7 aircraft. His operational experience includes combat deployments to Southeast Asia aboard USS HANCOCK CCVA-191 in 1965 and aboard USS KITTY HAWK QCV-633 in 1970 and 1972. Captain Jones was Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED FIFTY-Tl-IBEE from 1973 through 1975. While serving with VA-153, he made one of the early Indian Ocean deployments aboard USS OBISKANY QCV-345. He was subsequently chosen to command the Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron iBlue Angelsi and flew as Flight Leader in 1976 and 1977. He commanded Carrier Air Wing Three, making a Mediterranean deployment in 1978 embarked in USS SARATOGA CCV-601. Captain Jones holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the U.S. Naval Academy, a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and is a graduate of the Armed Forces Staff College. His Washington, D.C. experience includes a tour of duty as the Aviation Commander Detailer, Naval Military Personnel Command. ln October 1981 he was promoted to the grade of Captain and selected for major sea command in November ot the same year. Captain Jones has been decorated with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medals itwentyj, Navy Commendation Medals itwoi, the Navy Achievement Medal and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Palm and Silver Star. ln July 1981, Captain Jones commenced training tor command ot USS SHBEVEPOBT QLPD-129 and assumed command on 13 February 1982. Captain Jones and his wife Jan, both of whom hail from Shreveport, Louisiana, now reside in Burke, Virginia, a suburb ot Washington, D.C. They have three children, Celeste, Stuart and Brent. i