Spartanburg (LST 192) - Naval Cruise Book

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EXECUTI E OFFICER fffx A.,-sa, Lieutenant Commander Paul W. Schmidle was born and grew up in Western Connect- icut. Ile received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geology from South Hampton College Branch of University of Long Island in 1976. He was commissioned in 1978 through Officer Candidate School in Newport Rhode Island. After completing Surface Ware- fare Officer School and Communications School. he reported to USS SPIEGEL GROVE QLSD 321 where he served as Gunnery and later Communications Officer. The new three years LCDR Schmidle spent completing Flight Training in the A-7 Corsair. In January of 1984 he reported to USS CONSTALLATION CCV 645 as Surface Operators Officer. He graduated Surface Warfare Department Head School with dis- tinction in July 1988 and reported as Operators Officer onboard USS CONYNGI-IAM QDDG 175. Upon completion of his tour on CONYNGHAM he reported to the Staff of Commander Carrier Group EIGHT as .Assistant Surface Operations Officer. LCDR Schmidle has been the Executive Officer of USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY QLST 11925 since March of 1990. LCDR Schmidle wears the following awards. Navy Commendation Medal tGold Star in Lieu of Third Awardl. Navy Achievement Medal, National Defense Medal, Meritori- ous Unit Commendation. Navy Expeditionary Medal. Southwest Asia Medal, Navy Battle E , Sea Service Deployment Ribbon tSilver Star in Lieu of Fifth Axvardl. LCDR Schmidle, his wife Wendy and their two daughters Heather and liiillary reside in the Brigadoom Pines neighborhood of Yirginia beach. Virginia.

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CDR JAMES J. DAMS USN FORMER COMMANDING OFFICER USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY LST-1 192 Commander James J. Adams was born in Rochester, New York on July 12, 1949. He entered Cornell University under the NROTC Program and received a Bachelor of Science degree and his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy in June 1971. After basic Surface Warefare Officer School in Newport, Rhode Island, he was assigned as Boat Group Commander and then as Auxiliaries Officer aboard USS CHARLESTON QLKA 1135. In July 1974, Commander Adams reported abroad the guided missile patrol gun- boat support ship USS GRAHAM COUNTY QAGP 11765 homeported in Naples, Italy as First Lieutenant and later as Operations Officer. He as- sumed the additional duty as Chief Staff Officer for Patrol Division TWENTY-ONE consisting of the support ship and four guided missile patrol gunboats. From September 1975 until October 1976, Commander Adams served aboard the guided missile patrol gunboat USS READY CPG 875 as Executive Officer, with collateral duties of Navigator, Operators and Communications Officer. While awaiting Department Head School, Commander Adams was assigned temporary duty to Commander, De- stroyer Squadron TWENTY-EIGHT in Newport, Rhode Island. There he served as Assistant Material Officer and was assigned engineering duties aboard USS NEWMAN K. PERRY QDD 8835. Graduating with distinction. Commander Adams was assigned as Weapons Officer aboard USS DA- MATO QDD 8715 from October 1977 to October 1979. In December 1979, he reported aboard USS PONCE QLPD 155 as Operations Officer and participated in the Cuban Refugee boatlift operators. In November 1981, he reported to the staff of Commander, Naval Surface Force, United States Atlantic Fleet as Assistant Force Plans Officer for SOUTH- COMIEUCOMINATOILANTCOM areas. From February 1984 to December 1985, he served as Executive Officer aboard USS AUSTIN CLPD 45 and subsequently reported to the staff of Commander, Amphibious Squadron TEN in January 1986 where he served as Chief Staff Officer until July 1988. He assumed command of USS SPARTANBURG COUNTY QLST 11925 in March 1989. Commander Adams has been awarded four Navy Commendation Med- als, a Navy Achievement Medal, National Defence Service Medal, two Humanitarian Service Medals and the Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal. Other awards include three Sea Service Deployment, three Battle Effi- ciency E , Naval Reserve Sea Service and Navy Overseas Service Rib- bons. Commander Adams holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration and is married to the former Phyllis Gail Yewell of Owensboro, Kentucky and together with their daughter Martha and son Jeffrey reside in Virgin- ia Beach, Virginia.

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CO 1 ASTER CHIEF 5 4 . I '5 .S .11 in lim Master Chief Yeoman Leonard D. Thornton was born in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada on 29 May 1943. He enlisted in the l'.S. Navy on November 5,1962 and attended basic training at Recruit Training Command, Greg Lakes, ll.. Master Chief Thornton has served onboard l'SS IIORNET QCVS-l2l, USS FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT QCV.-X-423. CSS Pl'Gl-IT SOl'ND CAD-381 and l'SS SPARTANBURG COUNTY ILST-11921. Additionally, Master Chief Thornton has been assigned to Flag Admin Unit, CINCPACFLT, Pearl Harbor Hawaii: The Navy Office of Information tCIlINFOl, Washington DC, Naval adviso- ry Group MACV, Saigon, Vietnum. Ile then attended Northern Virginia Community College under the Navy's Associate Degree Completion Program. He later served a tour on the staff of the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Commander. Naval Military Personnel Command as Washington Area Detailer: and on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations IOP-443. He gradu- ated from the Navy's Senior Enlisted Academy, Newport. Rl - President of Class 29. He reported to SPARTANBURG COUNTY in April 1990 as Command Master Chief. Master Chief Thornton is entitled to wear the Enlisted Surface Warefare Insignia, Joint Chiefs of Staff Identification Badge, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal twfgold starl. Navy lfnit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal twlsilver star 5 bronze starl, National Defense Service Medal twfbronze starl, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. Vietnam Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal twfbronze starl, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon twf2 bronze stars, Republic of Vietnam Unit Citation twfpalml, Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation twfpalml, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He is married to the former Brenda Downey of St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada. They have two children and reside in Falls Church, VA.