Union (AKA 106) - Naval Cruise Book

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Commander William D. FORSYTH assumed duties as Executive Officer of the UNION in July 1965 and continued in that position through the ship's training cycle and deployment. He reported to UNION after 'completing a tour as Executive Officer and Commanding Officer of Training Squadron THIRTY at Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas. His previous tours at sea include duty aboard the USS GEORGE QDE-6975 and the USS WICHITA QCA-455, and deployments with aircraft Squadrons VC-12 and VA-54 aboard the USS MIDWAY QCVA-415. USS LEYTE QC VA-131, and the USS KEARSARGE fCVA-335. Ashore and in-staff capacity he has been assigned to the Aviationl Supply Officer, Philadelphiag Officer in Charge, ,-GMLS MKII Training Unit, Puget Sound Naval Shipyardg Staff Com- mander Fleet Air Hawaiig and Joint Staff United Nations CommandfU.S. Forces Korea. The Exec expects to be detached in April 67.

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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.

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