Truett (FF 1095) - Naval Cruise Book

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BTCM Johnny W. Johnson United States Navy

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Division Officers LTJ G John Zemp LTJG Peter Bronikowski LTJ G Justin Trabocco Operations Department OPS DEPARTMENT CRUISE BOOK INPUT The Operations Depart- ment got off to an early start of Med 3-88 when the departure from Norfolk on August 2nd was opposed by hostile forces. The TRUETT team successful- ly fought their way past small boats and mines through the narrow channel in Chesapeake Bay, much to the regret of the family men onboard. The tran- sit across was hectic for the en- tire department as the ship took the opportunity to train in a Battle Force environment. The Operations Specialists COSJ, Electronic Warfare Technicians CEWD, Signalmen CSMJ, and Ra- diomen CRMJ stood watches Port and Starboard while the Electronic Technicians CETJ were transformed from techni- cians to Radio Central watch- standers to assist the under- manned RM's. Following our arrival in the Mediterranean, the TRUETT separated from the rest of the JOHN F KENNEDY Battle Group. The majority of our de- ployment was spent either inde- pendent steaming from port to port or conducting port visits throughout the Big Pond . However, the time available was not wasted as half of the depart- ment earned their Enlisted Sur- face Warfare Designation. Our most intensive period of opera- tions occurred during Naval On- Call Force Mediterranean CNAVOCFORMEDJ when we sailed as a Task Force with units from Great Britain, Italy, West Germany, and Turkey. Some of our strongest memories of Med 3-88 center around that month, ranging from port visits Cand partiesl to trying to understand what G3B was saying on the radio. But the most important thing we gained from our time with NAVOCFORMED was an increased personal commitment to NATO as the other ships' sailors transformed themselves from foreigners to friends and shipmates. After a trip that was both short Csome of those ports were FUND and long Cwe missed our familiesl we rejoined the Battle Group to transit back to Nor- folk. The trip back home was marked by heavy weather and a keen interest in our progress across the Atlantic as we awai- ted our arrival in Norfolk on February lst. 9