Underwood (FFG 36) - Naval Cruise Book

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COMMANDING OFFICER Commander A. Conway Halsall was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on 8 November 1953. After receiving his Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics from Loui- I A siana State University, he entered the United States Navy i-qq through the Nuclear Power Officer Candidate Program. Commander Halsall received his commission from Of- ficer Candidate School in October 1975. Ordered to USS MISSISSIPPI CCGN 403, Commander Halsall was assigned to the precommissioning crew. He served as Reactor Controls Division Officer, Repair Divi- sion Officer, and Chemical and Radiological Control As- sistant In 1982, Commander Halsall completed a successful Persian Gulf Deployment while serving as Operations Officer on board USS STUMP CDD 9785. From 1983 to 1986, Commander Halsall was an in- structor at the University of Virginia Naval ROTC Unit. He earned a Masters Degree in Nuclear Engineering from the University of Virginia in 1986. Commander Halsall reported in February 1986 to USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER CCVN 691 as Electrical Of- ficer for a two-year tour. IKE successfully completed an eighteen-month complex overhaul and pre-deploy- ment workup. In February 1988, Commander Halsall reported to the Senior Officer Ship Material Readiness Course CSOSMRCJ in Newport, Rhode Island as an instructor. In October 1990, Commander Halsall became Execu- tive Officer onboard the USS DAHLGREN CDDG 435. He completed the UNITAS XXXII Deployment During that time, DAHLGREN won the Battle Efficiency E and all departmental awards. Commander Halsall commanded USS UNDER- WOOD from 22 October 1992 to 6 Iune 1994. UNDER- WOOD was awarded the coveted Battle Efficiency E Award and made a clean sweep of all departmen- tal awards. UNDERWOOD deployed to the Northern Red Sea to conduct maritime interdiction opera- tions in support of UN sanctions against Iraq. Coirunander Halsall has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, the Navy Commendation Medal Ctwoj, the Navy Achievement Medal, Meritorious Unit Citation, Navy E Ribbon Qthreej, Sea Service Ribbon Cthreej, and Expert Rifleman. Commander Halsall is married to the former Bridget DiBerto of Virginia Beach, Virginia. V Sunday stress relief . . It's easier to V Yes, shuttle operations again. ofHoad through the barrel :QM

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U NDERWOOD NAMESAKE CAPTAIN GORDON W. UNDERWOOD United States Navg Captain Gordon Waite Underwood was born in New York on 3 June 1910, and at an early age moved with his family to Portland, Oregon from where he was appointed to the U. S. Naval Academy in the class of 1932. At the Naval Academy he proved to be an outstanding student and superb athlete. He earned letters and starred in football and track. He was awarded the coveted Academy Sword for athletic excellence. Following his graduation from the academy, Captain Underwood served in USS OKLAHOMA. This tour was followed by training at the U. 5. Submarine School in New London, Connecticut. After his graduation he served in the Submarine 5-21, USS MISSISSIPPI and USS VEGA. In 1941 he attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology and earned a Masters Degree in Marine Engineering. Upon his return to sea duty he was assigned to the Staff of Commander Submarine Squadron TEN as Squadron Engineer supporting submarines on war patrol. In January 1944, he was assigned as the Command- ing Officer of USS SPADEFISH C55-4119. on this ship during three war patrols he was credited with the destruction of seventy-six thousand tons of enemy shipping including one aircraft carrier, the HIJMS SHINYO. For each of his war patrols he was awarded a Navy Cross and in recognition- of the great successes of the first two patrols SPADEFISH was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. His record of success in his war patrols remains one of the most notable in the history of the U. 5. Navy Submarine Service. Captain Underwood, following his retirement from the Navy in 1962 after 30 years service, with distinction, became associated wit, Spelin Inc., Mountain View, California in which company he was Vice President. He was also Vice President of Filter-Aire Company of Hollister, California, until his-retirement. He died 15 January 1978 at the age of 67.

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EXECUTIVE OEEICER LCDR Coffman Lieutenant Commander Homer J. Coffman, the son of Archie and Alice Coffman, was born in Denver, Colo- rado on I9 July 1956. He graduated from Biloxi High School, Biloxi, Mississippi. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the United State Marine Corp Reserve. After complet- ing a tour at Camp Pendleton, California he returned to Mississippi. There he attended the University of South- ern Mississippi and graduated with a Bachelors of Arts Degree. He was commissioned at the Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island, in May 1979. Lieutenant Commander Coffman has served in the following assignments: Engineer Officer on board USS LEADER CMSO 4905, Assistant Combat Information Cen- ter Officer on board USS RICHMOND K TURNER CCG 205, Engineer Officer on board USS OLDENDORF CDD 9725, served as Destroyer Squadron Nine's Material Of- ficer, and Flag Secretary at Mine Warfare Command, Charleston, SC. Lieutenant Commander Coffman earned a Master Degree in Management from the Naval Post Graduate School. He also obtained a Masters Degree in Computer Information Resources Management from Webster Uni- versity, St. Louis, MO. His personal decorations include: Navy Commen- dation Medal Cfour awards5, Navy Achievement Medal Cthree awards5, Joint Meritorious Unit Commendation, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and various other service medals and ribbons. Lieutenant Commander Coffman is married to the former Kathryn Merritt Smith of Gulfport, Mississippi. They have two children: Justin and Benjamin.