Texas (CGN 39) - Naval Cruise Book

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DEDICATION On behalf of Captain Owens, the officers and men of TEXAS, We would like to make a joint dedication of this, our First Cruise Book. First, we dedicate it to those Americans who continue to be held as hostages in lran as we send this hook to press. Our hopes and prayers go out to each one of you for s speedy and safe return to your 'honieportf ,And finally, we dedicate it to those who received few of the accolades, but shared just as really in our deployment our farniles and loved one, Wives, children, mothers, fathers, fiancee, friends in Norfolk and throughout the United States. We could not have done it Without you. DON K. CLEMENTS Lieutenant, Chaplain Corps . ,Cruiseboolt Editor 5 t 127 ,sux

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FROM THE CHIEF or Following is the text of a videotape message from CNO that was shown to the battle groups as they sailed oine. AS YOU steam toward your homegort at last, l've asked your skipper if I couldn't intru e upon your time for just a minute, to express personagy how much I appreciate what you have been doing me last many many months. You have received messages of congratulations and well done-s from naval commands and others acrm the land. l'd like to personalize that just a bit, exmd upon it some, because what you've been doing has n important to our country and to yourselves, and the grids that we have in everything that you've been omg. This past January, the Prmident of the United States in his State of the Union address stressed to all that national security is a first order of priority with our country. He also made it clear to the Russians and to all others, thatwe consider the Middle East to be a vital concern to America, and that we will take whatever action is necessary against anyone who will agressively intrude Tn our vital interests there. And t t that will inclu e the use of military force if necessary. O Since that time we have expanded the use of our naval forces in the lndian Ocean. And you should know that has been a point of special pride to me here in Washington to be able to say to the President, to the Secretary of Defense, to the leaders of Congress, that it is lyour Navy and Marine Corps that is rmnt in the Qndian Om, supporting our national, policies, showing our resolve, upholding our position there. A few days ago, the President made a very courageous decision as e ordered us to execute the rescue operation as we tried to free our Americans held hostage in Teheran. alt was not a rislrffree operation S there is no such thing as a risk-free rescue operation. You played a direct or indirect role in this effort, as we al share considerable disappointment that we were not successful. .But let's not be dapondent about that. Our job now is to remain alert, to look for future opportunitia, time when we can bring our Americans out. Our Job is to stay ready. . Now., while you've been gone there have been a number of things gow on in Washington that l'd like to share with you. e are conclu ing what we call the coniagreasional seasonhere, the time when service chiefs a service secretaries go before the Congress as we sggaport our policies and look for support for the Navy f t y, and what kind of Navy we should have in the u ure. I try toostress threegthings in my meetings with the conQional committen that l would like you to be aware of. First, I say look to the lndian Ocean. lf you want to know what ind of a Na we have today, look there tto the lndian Oceanl you'll see a ready, capable, modern sophisticated force - and you'll see 9 ou- an 0 rr' ,m , U. h.3.. .'f'l.7..'l1...'?.'y'i '.l '1a 'i l .L'i i1'l.Z 't'f.. 'i ' and what you've bggn doing. a t you ls there any doubt about who dominates the lndian Ocean today? There isn't any here in Washington, I NAVAL OPERATIONS can assure you. There isn't in Mlmcow, in the Kremlin -if or any other capital in the world. And l tell the Congrm it's our rwponsibility here .in the seat of government to see to it that we maintain this modern, ready, capable Navy. The second point I like to strm is that Ourghlavy today is 'stretched thin. We have a 'thin margin of superiority over the Russian Navy and we geograglbncally stretched thin around this globe. Just t in a ut meeting our Indian Ocean commitments right now. And take a looli at the 7th Fleet, and see how thin it is oil' Korea and Japan -5 even the South China Sea. Or the 6th Fleet in the Mediterranean if-V the smallmt 6th Fleet we have seen since World War ll if as we meet our national commitment to a large, capable naval force in the Indian Ocean. We are stretched thin. Our task is to see wit that we incrw the size and capability of the U.S. NW. Because l can assure you, Mr. Congressman, r. Senator, that the Russian Navy is not standing still. The third masage that I try to get across has to do with our people. We are ,stretching our geople thin today. We are stretching them thin aroun the globe, as well -- long deployments, time away from ome, demands upon them, as we have fewer and fewer talented, skilled, professionals in our ranks. But I also streu to them that we are stretching them thin in their pocketboolis. And here is a major issue with me today. Compensation. Adequate compensa- tion. l try to make a ploint that we in the military .do not ask to become ric -- we don't expect to be rich - but we do exgect a ramble, decent paycheck. And there's an o ligation upon this country to meet that expectation. We're making succes back here, Fm optimistic about our success in this effort today. There is a receptive Congrms . They understand the issue. Many of them have been out to visit you over the last several weelis, and have come back here to Washington enthused about your capabilitim, about gour s ills, your dedication. And they understand t e issue of compensation. So Pm optimistic, and l want to share that optimism with you. So, in conclusion, let me just say again, that I Rei-sonally apprectiatehwlaat you'vewbet:Lit dfiggg that ,rnericans across e n ap recia . n you re going Ito have a special feel gr tht as you lgiurn to your omeport. ou're going to surpr' , to a certain dqree, about how much appreciation this countrgs has. They know that your Navy has been in the! ln :En gcean. Thea its a got: Shad cfpable an rea avy -f an e apprecia . wan you to gnow that the Chlel' of Naval Operations appreciates that. And l want you to know that those of us wearing Navy blue stand just a little bit taller today because of what you are doing for all of us. So we come home, and thanks again. ADMIRAL THOMAS B. HAYWARD U.S. NAVY v It G ix, 4. 1 l ,i fl' 5 i . '. H 3 l 0 V I H F 1 l 'H 4 l. l t ll 2 Q , 5 . l t F. I 'v 'L l 1 i . 5 l I -l V l l xl y. V l l l l W ,z l

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