Vandegrift (FFG 48) - Naval Cruise Book

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To the Officers and Crew, The task you performed in the Persian Gulf will have a favorable impact on that part of the world for years to come. You have every reason to look back on this deployment with a great deal of pride and satisfaction. You performed superbly under tough conditions in a harsh and risk filled environment. I want to express my appreciation for your incredibly hard work and your dedication. You are the finest crew that I have ever had the pleasure to serve with. BEST OF LUCK TO ALL OF YOU! CDR T. E. UTEGAARD Commanding Officer CDR T. E. Utegaard Commander Utegaard was born 2 February 1947 in Long Beach, California. He received his Bachelor of Science degree and was commissioned Ensign from the U.S. Naval Academy on 4 June 1969. Following graduation, Commander Utegaard attended Combat Information Center Officer school and Air Intercept Controller school in Glynco, Georgia before reporting to USS ROBISON CDDG-121 homeported in San Diego, Cali- fornia. While on board ROBISON, Commander Utegaard served as CIC officer and made two deployments to the Western Pacific. In March 1972, Commander Utegaard reported for duty as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Commander Cruiser Destroyer Flotilla NINE homeported in San Diego, California. During this tour COMCRUDESFLOT deployed to the West- ern Pacific as CTF 75 and Commander Cruiser Destroyer Force, U.S. Seventh Fleet. In May 1973, Commander Utegaard was assigned to duty under instruc- tion at the U.S. Naval Destroyer School Know Surface Warfare Office School, Department Head coursel in Newport, Rhode Island. In December 1973, Commander Utegaard reported on board USS BENJA- MIN STODDERT CDDG-221, homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii as Oper- ations Officer. While on board BENJAMIN STODDERT, Commander Ute- gaard made one deployment to the Indian Ocean!Western Pacific and partici- pated in the evacuation of South Vietnam in May 1975. Commander Utegaard then reported to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annap- olis, Maryland in June 1976. He served as 32nd Company Officer for two years before assuming duties as Executive Assistant to the Commandant of Midship- men in June 1978. In October 1979, Commander Utegaard was assigned as Combat Systems Officer on board USS HALSEY QCG-235 homeported in San Diego, California. While on board HALSEY, Commander Utegaard participat- ed in two deployments to the Indian Ocean and Western Pacific. Following Prospective Executive Officer school in Newport, Rhode Island, Commander Utegaard was assigned as Executive Officer to USS WADDELL CDDG-241 homeported in San Diego, California in October 1981. While on board WADDELL, Commander Utegaard made one deployment to the Western Pacific and Indian Ocean. In June 1983, Commander Utegaard reported to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Director of General Planning and Programming Division as an action officer in the congressional and policy coordination branch. In Janu- ary 1985, Commander Utegaard was assigned section head of the Navy Congres- sional Correspondence Section COP-906EJ. Commander Utegaard reported to the National War College in Washington, D.C. in August 1985. After graduation in June 1986, he attended several schools in preparation for command. He assumed command of USS VANDEGRIFT in February 1987 and made two deployments to the Indian Ocean and Arabian Gulf. Commander Utegaard is married to the former Janet Marie Manchio of Alexandria, Virginia. The Utegaards reside in Alexandria, Virginia with their daughter Erica. 1

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SS VANDEGRIFT FFG- The VANDEGRIFT CFFG-481 departed Naval Station Long Beach, Ca Pier 16 June 16, 1988 for deployment to the Arabian Gulf. VANDEGRIFT's mission provided protection to United States merchant vessels and sea lanes of communication QSLOCJ vital to United States' national and Allied interest. VANDEGRIFT's crew and Helo Detachment, HSL 45 Det 5, reported to COMMIDEASTFORCE July 25, 1988 and relieved USS SIDES CFFG-125. During the next three months, VANDEGRIFT stood picket duty in interna- tional waters, escorted U.S. flagged oil tankers CEARNEST WILL MISSIONJ, reported mines, and took part in a good will port visit to the United Arab Emirates. The Frigate from Hell , a term affectionately used by ASU Bahrain, was relieved by the USS REID CFFG-305 November 1, 1988. VANDEGRIFT, in company with the USS RODNEY M. DAVIS QFFG-601, set course for a much needed R8zR in Pataya, Thailand. From there VANDE- GRIFT visited Subic Bay, Hong Kong, and embarked the VANDEGRIFT Tigers in Pearl Harbor. VANDEGRIFT arrived back in Long Beach, California, December 16, 1988. USS VANDEGRIFT CFFG-481 is the forty-second ship of the FFG-7 COLIVER HAZARD PERRYJ class. She was built by Todd Pacific Shipyard Corporation of Seattle, Washington. Her keel was laid October 13, 1981. She was launched October 15, 1982. VANDEGRIFT was commissioned November 24, 1984. VANDEGRIFT has made one world cruise and has deployed to the Arabian Gulf once. She has been awarded a Meritorious Unit Citation, an Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and two Sea Service Ribbons.

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31 :N 4. I z 1 1 1 1 gi fi 5 3 4 X gi 3 X ii. ii Z1 Qi ,fl 72 Z 0! fi ,ity .S 4 Executive Officer LCDR Stephen A. Weinhardt LCDR Stephen A. Weinhardt was born 5 April, 1953 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and raised in Dallas, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Science in mechanical engi- neering and was commissioned through the NROTC program. LCDR Weinhardt first served as Damage Control Assistant and Combat Infor- mation Center Officer aboard USS DALE CCF-19J from 1975 to 1979. During this tour, he made two deployments to the Mediterranean Sea. In March of 1980, He reported aboard USS SAMUEL ELIOT MORISON CFFG- 13J as the commissioning chief engineer, making another deployment to the Medi- terranean Sea in 1982. In January 1983, he was assigned to USS CORONADO CAGF-115, then flagship for COMMIDEASTFORCE in the Arabian Gulf, as Op- eration Officer. In March 1984, he attended the Naval Postgraduate School where he received his Masters of Science in mechanical Engineering. Returning to sea in May 1986, he served as current Operations Officer for COMCRUDESGRU EIGHT, deploying to the Mediterranean Sea aboard the USS SARATOGA CCV-601. LCDR Weinhardt assumed duties as Executive Officer of USS VANDEGRIFT CFFG-481 in March 1988. LCDR Weinhardt's awards and decorations include the Navy Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and var- ious other service awards. The XO always had a smile for his hard working men. 6 The'XO was always at the sight of action directing, leading, correcting and teacher. He was a source of inspi- ration during the deployment. .M nl