Union (AKA 106) - Naval Cruise Book

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On 18 October 1965, Captain Willett E, WHITE, USN, took command of USS UNION CAKA-1065. Prior to his appointment, in 1940, as a midshipman at the U, S. Naval Academy he attended New Mexico A 84 M College. He was com- missioned in June of 1943, being a member of USNA class of 44. In Sept. 1943 he attended Submarine School followed by a tour with the USS R- 18 Css 955, where he received his Dolphins in November l944.In Spetember 1945 he went aboard the USS Sea Fox Css 4025 where he covered all Departments. In April 1948 he went, as Gunnery and Project Officer, aboard the USS Carbonerd Css 3375, a loon CV- 15 firing ship. Capt. WHITE served as Asst. Professor, Ordinance a.nd Gunnery, atNROTC unit, University ofNew Mexico from August 49 to June 51, followed by tours as Executive Officer of the USS Sea Cat Css 3995 and the US Naval Ordanace Unit atKey West, Florida. He attended the US Naval War College, Newport, R.I., Command 85 staff Course, in July 1955. In August 56 he took command of the USS Argonant Css 4755. This was followed by Head of Surface Ship Applications Branch at Office of Naval Research in August of 58. He went to USPG School at Montery, California in July 1960 and received his MS degree in June 61 in Navy Management. In June 1961 he reported to COMSUBFLOT ' ONE for duty as Staff Plans Officer. In July 1962 he assumed Division Commander of SUBDIV 13. Prior to taking command of UNION, Capt. WHITE was Submarine Personnel Program Manager at the Bureau of Naval Personnel. Capt. WHITE holds the following campaign and service medals: American Campaign, Asiatic Defense, American Defense, China Service, Victory Medal WWII, and National Defense Service Medal. On 2 November 1966 Capt. WHITE was relieved by Capt. WAGNER on board UNION anchored at Cam Ranh Bay, Vietnam. Capt. WHITE's next assignment is Staff, CINCPACFLT.

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On November 2, 1966 Captain WAGNER took command of the USS UNION CAKA-1065. Captain Theodore A. WAGNER received his commission in June of 1944 from the USNA, class of 1945. Following this he served an eighteen month tour aboard the USS Colorado as turreteffl division officer. In February of 1946 he attended flight training and was designated aNava1 Aviator July 7, 1947. In January of 1948 he joined Fighter Squadron 131 and served as Personnel Officer and later as Maintenance Officer. In 1950 he was ordered to duty as flight instructor in VA-ATU-5, Cabaniss Field, Corpus Christi, flying the, still current, A-1 Skyraider. In 1952, Captain WAGNER was assigned to Fighter Squadron 153. During the last six months of the Korean War, he flew combat missions in the Gruman F9F-5 Panther aboard the Princeton. For the next two years, Capt. WAGNER served with VF 153 as Training Officer, Maintenance Officer, and finally Executive Officer. Following this tour he was assigned to FASRON TEN at Moffett Field as Operations Officer and then Executive Officer. In January of 1957 Capt. WAGNER attended Test Pilot School, N.A,T,C,, Patuxent River, Maryland for a period of six months. Upon completion he served as project pilot in the Fighter Branch of the Service Test Division. In the last two years of this tour, Capt. WAGNER was responsible for test work on the Chance Vought F-8 series fighters. In May of 1960, he was ordered to the Heavy Attack program at N.A.S. Sanford, Florida. He served as XO, then CO of Heavy Attack Squadron NINE. Captain WAGNER completed two MED cruises as part of Carrier Air Group THREE aboard the USS SARATOGA. In July of 1962, Capt. WAGNER was assigned as Air Operations Officer of the USS CONSTELLATION. From February 1964 to January 1965, he commanded Attack Carrier Air Wing NINE aboard the USS RANGER, then he was Staff Operations Officer for Commander Fleet Air, Whidbey. Among Capt. WAGNER's decorations and medals are the following: Navy Commendation Cwith VD, Air Medal C7 starsj, Navy Unit Commendation, American Theater, Pacific Theater C3 starsjg China Service, Korean Theater C2 starsjg Philippine Liberation with 1 star, Korean Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Occupation and others.