Truxtun (CGN 35) - Naval Cruise Book

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Qfficers and Crew USS T ruxtun CGN-35

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Commodore Thomas ruxtun 4 COMO TRUXTUN 1 I 1 1 Thomas Truxtun was born on February 17, 1755, near Hempsted, Long Island, New York. At age 12 he embarked on a seafaring career, sailing in the London Trade. At the age of 16 he was impressed into the Royal Navy. His com- manding officer observed the lad,s natural abilities, and of- fered him aid in securing a midshipman's commission. Trux- tun declined, and after obtaining his release, returned to the mercantile service. Truxtun's first command, at age 20, was the ANDREW CALDWELL. In 1775 he delivered great quantities of gun powder to Philadelphia. However, later that year, his ship was captured in the West Indies by British privateers. As a result, Truxtun's next five commands CCONGRESS, INDEPENDENCE, MARS, COMMERCE, and ST. JAMESJ were privateers themselves. He captured many prizes, and at a dinner in his honor, George Washington stat- ed, that Truxtun's services had been worth a regiment. Following the Revolutionary War, Truxtun returned to the mercantile trade, where his ship, CANTON, was the first American ship to enter the China trade. When the U.S. Navy was organized he was one of the first six captains to be select- ed. At the threat of war with France, his ship was one of the first to put to sea. In February 1799, Truxtun won the first of his famous victories when he encountered the French frig- ate UINSURGENT. After hours of fighting, the French ship was battered into submission. Almost nine months later he engaged the heavier armed, French frigate LAVEN- GENCE, and after five hours of fighting, the French shipls guns fell silent. Following the war, Truxtun was appointed to command a squadron, but through a misunderstanding in Washington, his unintended resignation was accepted. He later entered politics and died in Philadelphia, where he is buried at Christ Church.

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COMMAN OFFICER CAPT. Clyde J. Vanarsdall III, USN Captain Clyde J. Vanarsdall III is the son of a retired Navy rear admiral. After attending high school in France and Norfolk, Va. he was enrolled in the U.S. Naval Academy with the class of 1963. After graduation and basic nuclear power training, Cap- tain Vanarsdall was assigned as An and Mn division officer aboard the USS BAINBRIDGE QDLGN-253. While as- signed to the BAINBRIDGE, Captain Vanarsdall success- fully completed the around-the-world cruise of Nuclear Task Force One. From 1966 through 1968 Captain Vanarsdall was an in- structor at the Navy Nuclear Power School in Mare Island, Calif. Transferred to the USS TALBOT CFFG-41 in June 1969, Captain Vanarsdall functioned as the operations offi- cer. In 1971, Captain Vanarsdall served as a member of the System Analysis Division of OPNAV COP-961. Receiving a master's degree in financial management from George Washington University in 1974, Captain Van- darsdall once again rotated to sea duty serving aboard the USS LONG BEACH CCGN-91 as her main propulsion as- sistant. In January 1977, Captain Vanarsdall was assigned to CINCPACFLT Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as a member of the Nuclear Propulsion Examining Board. Once again going afloat, Captain Vanarsdall found him- self commanding officer of the USS LANG CFF-10601. Upon the end of his tour aboard the LANG in 1981, he was transferred back to the USS LONG BEACH CCGN-93, act- ing as her executive officer. Leaving the LONG BEACH in November 1983, Cap- tain Vanarsdall completed various schools and training at COMNAVSURFPAC before reporting as commanding of- ficer of the USS TRUXTUN CCGN-35, in July 1984. Captain Vanarsdall currently holds a Surface Warfare Specialist pin, two Sea Service ribbons, Vietnam Service rib- bon, Navy Expeditionary Medal, National Defense Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal with a gold star, Navy Achievement Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal, and is among the Navy service members priv- ileged to be a Golden Shellback. ' He is married to the former Sybil G. Mainhart of Alex- andria, Va. They have two children, Clyde and Michael, and reside in Coronado, Calif. 6 .