Sumter (LST 1181) - Naval Cruise Book

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LCDR PAUL K. KESSLER, JR. EXECUTIVE OFFICER LIEUTENANT COMMANDER KESSLER was born in Manchester, Maryland, on 24 January 1945. After graduation from high school in Bel Air, Maryland, he enlisted in the United States Navy on 24 January 1964. Upon completion of a tour of duty on board USS ENTERPRISE fCVN-651 in November 1966 and a tour of duty in Washington, D.C. in May 1968, Lieutenant Commander Kessler was accepted into the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program at North Carolina State University where he received a bachelor of science degree in Aerospace Engineering. Lieutenant Commander Kessler attended officer candidate school in Newport, Rhode Island and was subsequently commissioned ensign in the United States Navy in May 1972. In August, he reported to USS CORRY fDD-8172, where he served as the Electronics Material Officer. In October 1973, he detached from CORRY and reported on board USS FARRAGUT IDDG-371 for duty as Communications Officer. After completing all at sea surface warfare requirements in February 1976, he detached from USS FARRAGU T to attend the seven month department head course at the U.S. Naval Destroyer School, Newport, Rhode Island. Upon graduation, LCDR Kessler was assigned tours of duty on board USS FORREST SHERMAN KDD-9322 as Weapons Officer and USS SPIEGEL GROVE KLSD-322 as Operations Officer and First Lieutenant. Following these assignments he reported to Commander-In-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet in September 1980 for shore duty as the cruiser-destroyer scheduling officer. Completing this assignment, Lieuten- ant Commander Kessler returned to sea duty in .March 1982 to command USS INFLICT fMSO-4561 from August 1982 through September 1984. He subsequently reported on board USS SUMTER in November 1984 to assume duties as Executive Officer. Lieutenant Commander Kessler and his wife, Elizabeth, have three children, Sonia Lynn, Tracy Arlene, and Adrian Wade. 5

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lil P 1 LIEUTENANT COMMANDER THOMAS L. BREI- TINGER was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on August 14, 1949. He graduated from Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts in June 1971 where he was enrolled in the NROTC program and received a BA in Political Science. After Lieutenant Commander Breitinger received his commission as an Ensign, United States Navy in June 1971, he reported to USS JULIUS A. FURER IDEG-61 home-ported in Newport, Rhode Island. Here he served as Main Propulsion Assistant, Navigator, and Engineer Officer during a three year tour. Lieutenant Commander Breitinger was next assigned to the Surface Effect Ship Test Facility Detachment, Panama City, Florida, in June 1974. There he served as Ship Commander of the SES-100B, an experimental 100 ton high speed testcrafe. After graduating from the Surface Warfare Officer Department Head School, Newport, Rhode Island in May 1977. Lieutenant Commander Breitinger was assigned as Weapons Officer aboard USS BARNEY fDDG-62. From October 1979 until May 1981, he served as Executive 4 -aljneua..ni-lli'. THOMAS L. BREITINGER, USN LIEUTENANT COMMANDER EXECUTIVE OFFICER April 13, 1983 November 15, 1984 Officer aboard USS PRESER VER CARS-8j. Lieutenant Commander Breitinger completed the Latin American Basic Spanish Course at the Defense Language Institute, Monterey, California in November 1981. He then reported to the Commandant, Venezuelan Naval War College in Caracas, Venezuela, from which he graduated from the Command and Staff Course in December 1982- Lieutenant Commander Breitinger has served ai Executive Officer of USS SUMTER QLST-11811 Siiwe April 1983 and is presently in receipt of orders assigning him to OPNAV-372 in December 1984. Lieutenant Commander Breitinger has been award- ed the Navy Commendation Medal QG0ld star? for service with the Surface Effect Ship Program and USS SUMTER QLST-11815. He also wears a Coast Guard Ullll Commendation, a Meritorious Unit Commendation, W0 Navy E Ribbons, two Sea Service Ribbons and the National Defense Medal. Lieutenant Commander Breitinger is married to the former Teri Jean Moore of Birmingham, Alabama- ? v 1 2 I I I ,P t if l i

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CAPTAIN WIERZBICKI USMC CO OF TROOPS Captain WIERZBICKI entered the Marine Corps in February 1975 and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant upon completion of Officer Candidate School in May of that year. Subsequently, he was assigned to The Basic School, Quantico, VA for Infantry Officer Training. In December of 1975, Capt. WIERZBICKI received his first FMF assignment and was transfered to the Second Marine Division where he served as a Rifle Platoon Commander, Company Executive Officer and Company Commander of Kilo Company, Third Battalion, Eighth Marines. In June of 1978, Capt. WIERZBICKI was transfered to the Third Marine Division, Okinawa, Japan where he served as a Recon Platoon Commander in Bravo Company, Third Recon Battalion. Upon completion of his overseas tour in Okinawa, he was 6 H g :v i 'fl . 'Tv , 1 transfered to the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Island, SC in July 1979. While serving at Parris Ishngl- Capt. WIERZBICKI was assigned to the First Recru1 S Training Battalion where he served as a Serif . . Commander, Company Executive Officer and Comp g Commander of Bravo Company. In July of 198?, WIERZBICKI was again transfered to Quantico, where he attended the Amphibious Warfare Scholl, Upon completion of AWS, he was transfered to Offic Candidate School, Quantico, for duty. He WHS KF ,J sequently assigned to Charlie Company where he jf, i as the Company Executive Officer. In December of jfs Capt. WIERZBICKI was transfered to First Battali Eighth Marine where he assumed command Of V92 Company on 6 January 1984. E H :3 ,lx , 3,5 'Q