Texas (CGN 39) - Naval Cruise Book

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CAPT. WILLIAM D. ANDRESS JR. Commanding Officer Captain Andress is a native of Dothan Alabama. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree, and was commissioned in the U.S. Navy in June 1961. At sea, Captain Andress has served in the Gunnery and Operations Departments aboard USS DEALY CDE 10061. He was Electrical Officer, USS LONG BEACH QCGN 91, and Operations Officer, USS BAINBRIDGE QDLGN 255. He served as Executive Officer, USS WIL- LIAM V. PRATT CDLG 131 and Engineer Officer, USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER CCVN 693. He reported to USS TEXAS from USS JULIUS F URER CFFG 61 which he commanded from March 1979 to June 1981. 5 l l l --. This is MY ship . . . Captain Andress,s shore assignments include: grad- uate study at Duke University where he earned an M.S. Degree in Physics, Director of the Enlisted Department at Nuclear Power School, and short tours of temporary duty at school commands. He has been awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with one gold star in lieu of a second award, the Merito- rious Unit Commendation, and various campaign med- als. Captain Andress is married to the former Sylvie Kay Russ of Elizabethtown, North Carolina. They have three children: Clay, Wendy, and Genny. The family resides in San Diego, California.

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HI TORY GF CR I ERS Wf- Far Left: Commissioning of the Nuclear Power Vir- ginia Class TEXAS. The strength and diversity of the United States Navy has changed greatly over the past one hundred years. For example, the ships have gone from canvas sails to the stream driven, gas turbine, and nuclear powered ships of today. Another ex- ample is the general purpose class Cruiser. As originally intended, the word Cruiser, or as it was originally spelled: Cruizer, was used to de- scribe an independent operation by a single ship, unattached to any squadron. In 1880, the first classification of a Cruiser was introduced due to the use of steam driven Warships. The appearance of the Cruiser created many believers in this class of War- ship. The first Cruiser was classified as a Protected Cruiser. Next came the Armored Cruiser, the Light Cruis- er, the Heavy Cruiser, and the Bat- tle Cruiser. The basic design was left un- changed until 1957 when the first Guided Missile Cruisers were built. The first Cruiser built since 1945 the USS LONG BEACH QCGN- 93, was built without armor plating in the hull and used Nuclear Power instead of conventional power to provide propulsion and electrical power throughout the ship. Since then, the Cruiser class has been redesignated the Guided Mis- sile Destroyer Leader, and again re- classified as the Guided Missile Cruiser. The modern Cruiser of today is considered one of the most powerful Warships ever built.

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Grrr . . Commander Mitchell was born March 17, 1945 and was raised in Washington, D.C. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1963 and was selected for the Navy Nuclear Power Program upon graduation and commis- sioning in 1967. I Commander Mitchell served as Electrical Officer on USS BAINBRIDGE CCGN 251 from September 1968 until April 1971. He served in the commissioning crew of USS MCCANDLESS QFF 10841 as Training Officer and Weapons Officer from November 1971 until May 1974. Following duty as Nuclear Programs Officer at Naval Recruiting Area Seven, Dallas, TX., Commander Mitchell served in the commissioning crew of USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER QCVN 691 from De- cember 1975 until January 1979. Prior to reporting CDR. ANTHONY E. MITCHELL EXECUTIVE OFFICER aboard USS TEXAS in November 1981, Commander Mitchell was an instructor at the Chief of Naval Oper- ations Senior Officer Ship Material Readiness Course, Idaho Falls, Idaho. Commander Mitchell's decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal and the Navy Achievement Med- al. Commander Mitchell and his wife, Dru, have three sons and reside in Virginia Beach, Virginia.