South Carolina (DLGN 37) - Naval Cruise Book

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U MIYIAWD IN IDFFICER Captain Neel was born in Rochester, New York and graduated from the United States Naval Academy as a member of the Class of I954. He served his first tour of duty on board USS ENGLISH IDD-696i in billets of Damage Control Assistant and Engineer Officer. In June 1957 Captain Neel was ordered to duty as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to the Chief, Military Advisory Group, Japan. He attended Nuclear Power School in ldaho Falls, Idaho from September I958 until October I959 and, upon completion, remained in Idaho as Training Officer at the Westinghouse Surface Ship Prototype. In early 1961 Captain Neel reported to the precommissioning unit of the Nuclear Frigate USS BAINBRIDGE and participated in the first Nuclear Task Group operations in the Mediterranean Sea. He then assumed duties as CAPTAIN WILLIAM NEEL, USN Engineer Officer at the General Electric DLGN Prototype in West Milton, New York. In June 1966 he reported to USS BENJAMIN STODDERT IDDG-223 in Pearl Harbor, as her Executive Officer. Joining USS ENTERPRISE fCVAN-6ST in June 1968 he completed CJ three year tour as Engineer Officer. In September 1971 he took command of the Guided Missile De- stroyer USS COCHRANE IDDG-215 based in Pearl Harbor. Captain Neel assumed command of the precommissioning Unit, SOUTH CAROLINA IDLGN-37l in February I973. Captain Neel is married to the former Colleen Stibal of Roberts, Idaho. They have two children, Thomas, age I2 and Mark, age IO.

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11 November 1974 - delivery of USS SOUTH CAROLINA. C0 M SSRINING Preparing, continually preparing, the Precom crew thought that the day would never arrive. But finally, on 25 January l975, the ship ioined the Atlantic Fleet when it was commissioned at Norfolk, Virginia under a bright sun and the sound of cannon salutes. USS SUUTH CAROLINA The Prospective Commanding Officer A and Ship's Company request the honor of your presence at the commissioning of the United States Ship South Carolina KDLGN 37 2 at Pier Twelve Naval Station N orfolk, Virginia on Saturday, the twenty-fifth of January nineteen hundred and seventy-five at eleven o'cloclc R. S. V. P. fi Ut' JS f'0U,h L, ll, an 1

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COMMANDER JOSEPH F. KING, USN Commander King was born in Concord, New Hampshire, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy as a member ofthe C1055 of 1959. He then served on USS DECATUR KDD-9363, and later on the Sfgff of Commander Destroyer Division 362. ln October of 1963, he was assigned to training in the Nuclear Power Program. Subsequently, he has had duty with USS TRUXTUN CDLGN-351, and USS LONG BEACH CCGN-91, in the Engineering Department. He earned a Master of Science degree in Oceanography at the Naval Posfgrgduate School in 1971. He reported aboard USS SOUTH CAROLINA lDLGN-371 Pre- commissioning Unit in Eebruary1973- Commander King is married to the former Nicki Acree of Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. They have five children: Joseph, Kelly, Stephen, Elizabeth and Kathryn. EXEC TIVE IIFFICER ii A C Commander Hixson was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and graduated from the United States Naval Academy as a member of the class of 1961. He served his first tour of duty aboard USS RUPERTUS CDD-8511 as DCA and MPA, then reported to the Precommissioning unit of USS GOLDSBOROUGH KDDG 201 where h served ' th b ll - , e in e i ets of MPA and Engineer. ln 1965 Commander Hixson entered the Nuclear Power Training Program, and upon completion reported to USS LONG BEACH CCGN-91, where he served as A and B Division Officer. He earned a Master of Arts degree in lnternational Relations from American University in 1968. He then assumed duties as Director, Enlisted Department, Nuclear Power- School, Bainbridge, Maryland, and in 1972 reported as MPA to the Precommissioning unit of USS NIMITZ KCVAN-681. After com- missioning in 1975 he left the NIMITZ and reported aboard USS SOUTH CAROLINA, where he ass d h d ume t e uties of Executive Officer in September 1975. Commander Hixson is married to the former Suzanne Massard of St. Louis, Mo. He has two children: Richard J. and Peter. FOMMANDFR Rift-lARl1 M. HIXSON, USN