Valdez (FF 1096) - Naval Cruise Book

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'Uris Du vegas :sen pace: program for afloat college education Mwaumte 'wmv 410,57 VF?-Wil x, i W-f-'-W-+.. s'. 'M' k u d o s mr. steve bannow g professor university of south carolina columbia, s.c. From: Commander Destroyer Squadron Six To: Commanding Officer, USS VALDEZ CFP-10961 Subj: Combined Federal Campaign 1975 Ref: lai USS VALDEZ msg 300540Z OCT 75 1. Your fine participation in the subject campaign as verified by reference lai is noted with pleasure. Z. You and your crew are commended for the 10070 participation. Further, the fine overall average contribution per man is very commendable and will be greatly appreciated by the foundationsfless fortunate people receiving the benefits of this fine contribution. fsf W. R. YETMAN note: a warm fuzzy went to lst division and keyman bm2 barry for their total contribution and per capita with an average 514.00 per man. editor's note. this message was received from the commanding officer, uss semmes iddg-187 to the captain, uss valdez: i Congratulations to you and your fine ship for winning the FY75 Battle Efficiency Award. SEMMES passes the MEAT BALL to a mast worthy successor. Warm regards and smooth sailing. HONOR Aiiiclifii tw CIUZVIBINED Flilftlfilfil. CAMPMGN i i ru K , ' ' fi' wi-W.. 1 Y' classes aboard ship ...dlm0fIUI'1lIhl,VflldlZl'OCOlVOdfflOlG'DUSf0f them all yesterday moming when a message was received from commander naval surface force, u.s. atlantic fleet announcing the results of iscal year 1975 battle efficiency competition among the 230 ships of the force. the battle efficiency e , which valdez won, is awarded to only one ship in each squadron each year. such award is based upon: 01 operational perfonnance, particularly in advanced commitments such as refresher, shakedown training, fleet exercises and deployments. li. ability to meet bath schedule and unscheduled commitments. c. contributions to squadron readiness through teamwork and assist- ance to other ships in the squadron. d. first term re-enlistment and crew morale. e. successful completion of other exercises and inspections not specifically weighted in the battle efficiency competition, i.e., ntpilnwoi. f, special recognition by fleet or force commanders for exceptional perfonnance. g. self-sufficiency as demonstrated by sustained endurance, ability to effect repairs, or cape with actual emergencies. h. effective management af personnel, funds, and material. i. conformance to the high standards of military precision and srnartness required. i. economic day to day fuel and feed water standards. to my knowledge, only one other ship in the atlantic fleet has ever won the battle efficiency e during the first year in commission. that ship is now the second best in the fleet. to depict the award, a large white e will be painted on the center of the bridge bulwark forward, port and starboard. in addition valdex will fly the meatball pennant from the truck in port until won by another ship fwhich i hope never happensi. In addition to the overall battle efficiency e , valdez was awarded the following departmental excellence awards for outstanding perfonnance and demonstrated proficiency by departments! areas concemed. operations e for excellence in operations, including communica- tions. to depict this award, a white e will be painted on the center of the bridge bulwarlr, aft, port and starboard. gunnery systems e for excellence in surface and air gunnery. to depict this award, o white e will be painted on the center of both sides of the gun director. engineering e for excellence in engineering. to depict this award a large red e will be painted on each side ofthe mach. supply e for excellence in supply support. to depict this award, a blue e will be painted on the center of bridge bulwark aft, port and starboard, ' as i have often said, i am proud to be o valdezman because of the outstanding people with whom i have the privilege to serve -- today i am even prouder because of the recognition given to valdez by the force commander -- proud, but certainly not surprisedl brovo zulu to all handslll commanding officer -w. I 4 fr-F: i Y.

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s-1331: ::: 2: .gre .L-.1211 7-...jp '13 t i i i l A f'..lA-km'JL.N. FM COMIDEASTFOR TO USS VALDEZ INFO C INCUSNAVEUR COMDESRON S Di BT ABU DHABI DEFENCE FORCE NAVAL FORCE OJT 1. THE SUCCESS OF USS VALDEZ IN PROVIDING THE INITIAL HIDEASTFOR OJT FOR THE G-ROAING ABU DHABI DEFENCE FORCE NAVAL FORCE IS TO BE COMMENDED. AS Ili THE INITIAL OJT PROVIDED FOR KUHAIT ARMED FORCES PERSONNEL, YOUR SUPERB EXECUTION OF THESE IMPORTANT MIDEASTFOR TASKS WITH ONLY MJNIMAL GUIDANCE FROM PH STAFF OR U.S. EMBASSY ABU DHABI IS ANOTHER REFLECTION OF USS VALDEZ CAN DO SPIRIT AND PROFESSIONALISM. YOUR EFFORTS HAVE COLTRIBUTED IN NO SMALL HAY TO THE FURTHERING OF USN AND US GOVT EFFORTS IN THE GULF AREA. 2. THE USS VALDEZ HAS TRULY EARNED A HELL DESERVED BRAVO ZULU. RADM T.J. BIGLEY, USN, COMMANDER MIDDIE EAST FORCE BT FM US EMBASSY ABU DHABI T0 USS VALDEZ INFO CNO COMIDEASTFOR SECSTATE HASRDC BT USS VALDEZ VISIT T0 SHARJAH UPON CONCLUSION OF VALDEZ VISIT T0 SHARJAH, I HOUID LIKE TO COMHEND YOU AND REST OF SHIP'S COMPANY POR YOUR HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL TWO DAY VISIT. IT HAS OBVIOUS FROM MY CONVERSATIONS NITH SHAIIKH SULTAN THAT VHE HAS BOTH IMPRESSED .BY YOUR NIM FRIGATE AND MOST APPRECIATED HOSPITALITY SHOJN TO HIM AND HIS PEOPLE ON BOARD. SHOOTING COMPETITION ASHORE SEEPS SIMILARLY T0 HAVE IEFI GOOD FEELINCS ALL AROUND. VISIT GOT EXCELLENT LOCAL COVERAGE IN NEJSPAPEE AND ON TV, AND IN W JUDGBMENT IT MADE DEFINITE CONTRIBUTION T0 PROMOTION OF U.S. RELATIONS IN THIS IMPORTANT EMIRATE AND IN UAE MORE GENERAL!! OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL CONCERNED POR JOB HELL DONE. AMBASSADOR STFRNVR . BT . - wwf Q ' V - 1 i 3' ai if ' i if S. H- 'dr E -:XII-ei :if Z All - the persian gulf is one of the oldest sea routes in the world - one which has been of vital cultural, commercial and strategic importance throughout history. nearly two-thirds of the world's known petrol reserves are located in the great arc around it. along the southern coast of the gulf in close proximity to the narrow straits of hormuz, are the seven emirates of abu dhabi, dubai, shariah, aiman, umm al qaiwain, ras al khaimah and fuiairah. together they cover an area of about 32,000 square miles extendingifrom the southeastern base of the qatar peninsula in the west to sh'am on the borders of the sultanate of oman in the east. this area was once renowned as the pirate coast. piracylgndlawlessnesstreached its peak in the early 19th century. but for the skill of the qawasim inhabitants as pirates, this area might never have gained historical prominence before the 'era of oil. the power of qawasim was finally destroyed in 1819, and the following year the british and the shaikhs of the maritime ports agreed to a perpetual maritime truce - hence the unique name of trucial states . in 1967 the british announced their intention to withdraw by the end of 1971. the seven states agreed upon the formation of a federation to be known as the united arab emirates which was created on 3 dec 71 the british resence in the form - P 'of military advisors still exists. . . I A ,I abu dhabi,iunited arab emirates ' . 4 'abu dhabi, once an independent-sheikhdom on the trucial oman coast, is now the largest and -r wealthiest of the seven states which comprise the uae. the city of abu dhabi, lying on a coastal island is the capital of the u.a.e., and the home of his highness sheikh zayed bin sultan al-nihya, ruler of abu dhabi and president of the u.a4e. the word abu dhabi means land of the gazelle. ' ' ' shariah ' the population of shariah is about 3,000. fishing and pearling were the main industries. due to slltmg only small boats can enter the harbour, and 'Www M ts.. I UIQ must do so within twohours of high tide. the largest airport on the southern coast of the gulfsis located two miles south of shariah. the offshore oil fields has led to plans of maior development which is evident. the port is in an area of low lying desert with only occasional greenery to be found around the homes of europeans. the bazaar of shariah and the new hotels were the only points of interest. exchange 2 dirham 2 .25c 1' ii

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bahrain the state of bahrain, although a comparative newcomerras a nation, is one of the oldest countries in the middle east. there are some 30 islands in the group of which bahrain is the most important. the island measures 1024 square kilometres, that is 64 km by 16 km. its name in arabic means two seas . the capital, manama, is on the north eastern coast and the population of the island group is 216,078. I his highness shaikh isa bin sulman al-khalifa, the amir of bahrain issued a declaration of independence in august of 1971 . the history of bahrain dates back to the third millenium b.c., a country called dilmun figured prominently in mesopotamian legend as the land of immortality , and also as a very real place whose adventurous merchants controlled much of the trade between the two great centuries of civilization, the indus valley in what is today pakistan and mesopotamia, in iraq. dilmun is generally believed to have been the ancient name for the bahrain islands. during the 4th - 7th century a.d. the sassanians of persia controlled bahrain, about 1058 a popular uprising expelled the ruling persians and for the next 250 years bahrain was ruled by a sequence of arab dynasties. in 1522, the portuguese seized the island and retained a rather precarious hold until 1602 when another uprising started and unsettled times followed. it was not until 1782, with the arrival of al-khalifa in the islands, that bahrain was again able to enjoy an, era of peace and prosperity. in the 19th century, the east india tea company and its successor, the british indian government, signed a series of treaties with most of the rulers of the gulf. in 1919, the municipality of manama was founded by the british, who stayed until 1971. 1. government house accommodates the offices of the prime minister and the ministers of finance, foreign affairs, develop- ment and engineering service and the ministers of state. 2. the guest palace, built in 1954 is used for state banquets and the accommodations of visiting heads of state and other notables. 3. the focal point of manama is shaikh sulman square with the bab al-bahrain, the gateway of bahrain, through whose arches passes all the traffic heading for the shopping area. 4. pedestrians successfully compete with cars in one of manama's narrower streets. 5. the bagdir or wind tower is the forerunner of air-conditioning. its cruciform shape traps the wind from any direction and channels it to a roam immediately below the tower. y 6. the spiritual center of manama is the iuna, or friday mosque where the weekly prayers are said by moslems of every race and nationality. H 7. much of the cargo that passes through bahrain in transit is 8. shipped out in arab .dhows which, despite the substitution of an- 9. engine for the sail as a means of propulsion, still look very much as they have always been. dhows are still made in bahrain by methods that have changed little over the centuries. their builders scorn marine architectural drawings and plans and depend on the rule of thumb and eye. first the ribs are carved out of naturally shaped tree trunks, the stern board is added and the hull then built up. bow drills are still used and one of the few concessions to modernity is the use of iron nails. 10. many legends are attached to ain alladhari, the virgin's pool, 11 . and to the large fish that inhabit it. al-adhari is the largest 12. natural spring in .bahrain and provides an agreeablebathing 13. place in the summer. ' 14. the palace of the amir at west rifaa was built in 1932 by his late father. it is a long standing tradition that every bahraini has the right of access to the amir, who holds an open maiis or reception every other day. 15. in the villages of bahrain traditional skills have been handed down from generation to generation. at bani iamra a weaver works on the red and black cloth that is popular among the village women as wearing apparel. 16. pottery today is centered on the village of aali where a potter and his son not only make the water iars, dishes and nargilis , or water pipes but also meet the needs of souvenir hunters. 8 ME? l l