The Sullivans (DDG 68) - Naval Cruise Book

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CGM A DER RICHARD . BROW COMMANDING OFFICER fMarch 21, 2003 - December 11 20045 lf Commander Brown is a native of Lowell, Massachusetts. He was appointed to the United States Naval Academy in 1981 and eamed a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics upon graduation in 1985. After completing the basic course at the Surface Warfare Officers' School in Newport, Rhode Island, he reported to USS CHARLES F. ADAMS CDDG 25 where he served as Damage Control Assistant and Navigator. During this tour, he qualified as Surface Warfare Officer and completed deployments to the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. In December 1988, Commander Brown reported to Commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group TWELVE as Flag Lieutenant. During this tour of duty, he completed a Mediterranean Deployment while the staff was embarked in USS EISENHOWER CCVN 695. In June 1990, Commander Brown reported to the Naval Post Graduate School and earned a Master of Science degree in Operations Research. Upon graduation from the Surface Warfare Department Head course in June 1993, Commander Brown reported to USS OBANNON CDD 9875 as Operations Officer. In August 1995, he reported to USS LEYTE GULF CCG 555 as Operations Officer. LEYTE GULF served as the Air Warfare Commander for the THEODORE ROOSEVELT Battle Grou durin her P 8 Mediterranean Deployment from November 1996 to May 1997. In August 1997, Commander Brown reported to the Naval War College and eamed a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. Following assignment to the Naval War College, Commander Brown served as Executive Officer in USS MAHAN QDDG 725 from November 1998 to February 2000. He then served as Flag Secretary for the Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic! Commander in Chief, United States Joint Forces Command from February 2000 to July 2002. Commander Brown assumed command of USS THE SULLIVANS CDDG 685 in March 2003. Commander Brown's personal awards include the Defense M . . . . . eritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, five Navy Commendation Medals and two Navy Achievement Medals.

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Q .1 fu USS THE SULLIVANS CDDG 685 is named in honor of the five heroic brothers from Waterloo, I Iowa, who served together on USS JUNEAU CCL-525 during World War II. Following the death of their friend Bill Ball at Pearl Harbor, the five Sullivan brothers decided to enlist in the Navy. Two of the brothers had served previous four-year enlistments in the Navy, and so, when all five brother enlisted together on January 3, 1942, the Navy was the obvious choice. They were adamant about serving together in spite of the Navy wartime policy to separate family members. Because of their persistence, their request to be stationed together was approved. The Sullivan brothers: George, 28, Francis, 27 3 Joseph 24, Madison, 23, and Albert, 20, lost their lives during the Battle of Guadalcanal on November 13, 1942. The brothers received the Purple Heart Medal posthumously and were entitled to the American Defense Service Medal, Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four engagement stars, and the World War II Victory Medal. They had also earned the Good Conduct Medal. They were survived by their parents, Mr. Thomas F. Sullivan and Mrs. Alleta Sullivan, a sister, Genevieve Sullivan, and by Albert Leo Sullivan's wife, Katherine Mary Sullivan. Their son, James Thomas, was twenty-two months old at the time of his father's death. The family today includes two grandchildren of Albert Sullivan: Kelly Ann Sullivan Loughren, the ship's sponsor, and John Sullivan. p The first USS THE SULLIVANS CDD 5375 was christened on April 4, 1943 by Mrs. Alleta Sullivan. Commissioned in September 1943, the ship arrived in Pearl Harbor in December 1943 and was immediately assigned to the Pacific Theater. It earned eleven battle stars in World War II and the Korean War. The ship's motto We Stick Together was the motto of the Sullivan brothers. It is a way of life for THE SULLIVANS' crew today, based on the sacrifices made by this proud Irish-American family from Waterloo, Iowa. p ?F lg. I oblcx revival D 5

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COMMANDER WADE F. WILKE COMMANDING OFFICER CDecember 11, 2004 - Present5 Commander Wilkenson attended Northwestern University through the NROTC Scholarship Program and graduated in , 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear Engineering. F. Following commissioning he reported to USS LYNDE MCCORMICK CDDG 85, serving as Machinery Division Officer, Gunnery Officer, and then as Navigator. He made two Western Pacific deployments and participated in Operation Praying Mantis, the 18 April 1988 retaliatory strike against Iranian oil platforms and naval assets following the mining of USS SAMUELB. ROBERTS CFFG 585. Next, Commander Wilkenson attended the Naval Postgraduate School, enrolling in the Weapons Systems Science Curriculum. He conducted research in Free Electron Lasers, and in June 1993 graduated with distinction, earning a Master's degree in Physics. From May 1994 through November 1997, Commander Wilkenson served consecutive sea tours as Chief Engineer in USS KLAKRING CFFG 425 and in USS BARRY QDDG 525, each including a Mediterranean deployment. In 1996, BARRY received the BATTENBURG CUP for the finest ship in the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, the Golden Anchor Award for best people programs, and the USS Arizona Memorial Trophy for best overall fleet combat readiness. Commander Wilkenson was next assigned as the Second Tour Division Officer Detailer in the Surface Warfare Assignment Branch at the Navy Personnel Command in Millington, Tennessee. From April 2000 through August 2001, Commander Wilkenson served as Executive Officer in USS GETTYSBURG CCG 645, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea as part of the ENTERPRISE Battle Group. Commander Wilkenson most recently served as Analyst and was Executive Assistant for Director, Assessment Division! Capabilities Analysis Group CN81!NO0X5 on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon. Commander Wilkenson assumed command of USS THE SULLIVAN S CDDG 685 in December 2004. His personal awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal ffive awards5, Navy Achievement Medal Cthree awards5, Combat Action Ribbon, and various campaign and service awards. He is an alumnus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Program.