Truxtun (DLGN 35) - Naval Cruise Book

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CDR Byron B. Newell LCDR Ramon R. Owens PAST EXECUTIVE OFFICER Commander Byron B. Newell graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with the class of 1955. While at the Academy he was selected as the goalkeeper of the 1954 first All- American soccer team. He received a Superintendent's Let- ter of Commendation upon graduation. He served as First Lieutenant, ASW Officer and Weapons Officer of the USS LOWRY IDD-7705 from 1955 to 1957 and as commissioning Weapons Officer of the USS HULL QDD- 9455 in 1958. From 1959 until 1962, he attended the U.S. Naval Post- graduate School in Monterey, California, graduating with a Master of Science Degree in Electronics Engineering. He commanded the USS TAKELIMA QATF-1335 from 1962 to 1964 participating as a unit of Joint Task Force 8 conducting nuclear tests and as part of the Seventh Fleet providing services as a unit of Task Force 73. Upon completion of nuclear power training in 1965, CDR. Newell served for three years as Executive Officer of the U.S. Naval Nuclear Power Training Unit, West Milton Sites, Schenectady, New York. He became TRUXTUN's sec- ond Executive Officer in July, 1968. CDR Newell is married to the former Ingrid Charlotte Asche of Annapolis, Maryland. The Newells have four chil- dren, Thomas, Susan, Robert, and Michael. EXECUTIVE OFFICER Lieutenant Commander Owens was born on May 28, 1934 in Bismarck, North Dakota. He graduated from high school in Pasco, Washington in 1952 and enlisted in the Navy in 1953. He entered the Naval Preparatory School at Bainbridge, Maryland in September 1953 and the U.S. Naval Academy in 1954. After graduation and commissioning in June 1958, his first assignment was on board the USS PRICHETT QDD-5615 as Damage Control Assistant and Main Propulsion Assistant. In August 1960, he was reassigned to the commissioning crew of the USS KING QDLG-103 where he served as Main Propulsion Assistant and Engineer Officer until July 1963. In August 1963, LCDR Owens was selected for the nu- clear power program and upon completion of nuclear pro- pulsion training in August 1964, was assigned as Main Pro- pulsion Assistant in the commissioning crew of USS TRUX- TUN. He served in that billet until December 1967 when he was assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. He graduated with distinction and received the Engineer's Degree in electrical engineering in March 1971. LCDR Owens reported as Executive Officer of TRUX- TUN in June 1971 during the West Pac deployment. He is married to the former Barbara Ann Haeberlin of Pasco, Washington. They have three daughters. LCDR and Mrs. Owens make their home in Los Alamitos, California.

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CR UDESFLOT 11 ., . Rear Admiral Esch was born in Washing- ton, Illinois, on January 31, 1917 to the Rever- end and Mrs. Ben Esch. In June 1940, shortly after his graduation from the Naval Academy, Admiral Esch was assigned to the USS LOUIS- VILLE QCA-285. He remained with the heavy cruiser fiveand one half years, serving as a Gunnery and Watch Officer and as the ship's Gunnery Officer the last year of World War II. In December 1945, RADM Esch was ordered to duty as Flag Lieutenant Cin the rank of Lieu- tenant Commanderb to Commander SEVENTH Fleet, at Shanghai, China. I Following a tour of duty in Washington D.C., which combined assignment in the Judge Advocate General's Office and Law School, RADM Esch became Executive Officer of USS RICH QDDE-8205 in Norfolk, Virginia 11949-515. RICH was a member of Destroyer Division 81, a pioneer anti-submarine warfare unit in multi- ple ship ASW tactics. ' Promoted to Commander in January 1951, RADM Esch assumed command of USS POWER QDD-8395 then operating with the SIXTH Fleet in the Mediterranean. He continued his duty with the destroyer until mid 1952. Ashore in Washington, Rear Admiral Esch became Special Assistant to the Chief of Naval Personnel for the Congressional Liaison and Technical In- formation. He followed this assignment with a tour as Public Information Officer on the staff of the Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy. In June 1956, he travelled to Genoa, Italy to become Executive Officer of the cruiser, USS NORTHHAMPTON. In September 1957, he reported to the staff of Commander Anti-sub- marine Force, Atlantic, where he served as Tactics, Doctrine and Training Officer. In October 1959, following his promotion to Captain, he became Commander Destroyer Division 282. In November 1960, RADM Esch reported to Washington for duty as Director of Policy, Bureau of Naval Personnel. He served there for more than two years. Instruction at the National War College, Washington D.C., followed next with graduation on 5 June 1964. During this period, RADM Esch completed work that led to a Masters Degree in International Affairs from George Washington University. Rear Admiral Esch became Commander Destroyer Squadron TWO on 14 July 1964. Re- turning to Washington in July 1965, he was then assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations as Assistant for JCS matters in the Strategic Plans and Policies Division. In June 1968, he was selected for flag rank and on 8 July, 1968, reported as Assistant Chief of Staff, Logistics, under Admiral Horacio Rivero, USN, Commander in Chief of NATO's Allied Forces, Southern Europe, Naples, Italy. Returning to sea, he assumed command of Cruiser-Destroyer Flotilla ELEVEN on 27 Feb- ruary, 1970, in San Diego, California.

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Captain George S. Grove Captain George Sargent Grove was born in York' Village, Maine on September 29, 1924 to Lieutenant Commander and Mrs. George W. Grove. He attended St. Paul's School in Con- cord, New Hampshire from 1938 to 1942 prior to entering the U.S. Naval Academy in June of 1943. He was graduated from the Naval Acad- emy and commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy on June 5, 1946. Shortly after commissioning, Captain Grove reported to the destroyer USS HERBERT J. THOMAS QDD-833D for duty. While on the HERBERT J. THOMAS he served as First Lieutenant, and upon detachment in February of 1947 attended Gunnery School before assum- ing duty as the Gunnery Officer and First Lieu- tenant on the USS BURDO QAPD-1333. In No- vember 1949 Captain Grove assumed command of the USS CURLEW. On the CURLEW he saw action minesweeping during the Korean War. For his service during this period, Captain Grove was awarded the Bronze Star. CHIEF OF STAFF In March of 1952, after attending CIC school, he reported aboard the aircraft carrier USS MONTEREY QCVA-265 as Gunnery Officer and First Lieutenant. This tour was followed by a tour ashore beginning in March of 1953 as an instructor in the Operations Department at Officers Candidate School, Newport,Rhode Island. Captain Grove returned to sea as Exec- utive officer of the destroyer USS TWEEDY CDE-5325 in December 1955 where he remained until August 1958. , Ashore in Washington, D.C. in September 1958, Captain Grove served in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations QPersonnel Planning and Policyb. Once again returning to sea as Executive Officer, this time of the USS JOHN PAUL JONES QDD-9325 in March of 1961, Captain Grove served in this billet until August 1962. Following this tour, he attended the Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island for one year and was promoted to the rank of Commander in July of 1962. Upon completion of his course of study at the War College, Captain Grove assumed com- mand of the destroyer USS BLANDY QDD-9439. He served two years in command of BLANDY prior to reporting to the Staff of Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet as the Operations Officer. In July 1967 Captain Grove took command of Destroyer Division NINETY-TWO, then homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. Captain Grove was awarded the Bronze Star, Navy Unit Commendation and Meritori- ous Unit Commendation for his service in sup- port of the Republic of Vietnam as Commander Destroyer Division NINETY-TWO, Captain Grove became Chief of Staff and Aide for Commander Cruiser-Destroyer Flo- tilla ELEVEN in June 1969, a position he still holds. He was awarded the Legion of Merit and a second Meritorious Unit Commendation for his service in this billet for a deployment to Southeast Asia from August 1969 to February 1970. Captain Grove is married to the former Marilisse Dean of Fairfield, Connecticut. The Groves presently reside in La Jolla, California and have two daughters g Leslie and Loring.