THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 11, 1995 TAG: 9502110125
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
REAR ADMIRALS NAMED: Two local naval officers have been selected for promotion to the one-star rank of rear admiral.
Paul O. Soderberg, commanding officer of the Fleet Industrial Supply Center in Norfolk, and Michael W. Shelton, deputy commander of the 2nd Naval Construction Brigade at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, were among seven officers selected for flag rank this week.
The other five are: Raymond A. Archer III, deputy commander of Fleet Logistics Operations in Arlington; Michael L. Cowan, commanding officer of the naval hospital at Camp Lejeune, N.C.; Justin D. McCarthy, comptroller of the Defense Logistics Agency at Cameron Station, Alexandria; Robert L. Moeller, director of base closure for the Naval Facilities Engineering Commander, Alexandria; and Harold E. Phillips, executive assistant to the Surgeon General of the Navy, Washington.
BELKNAP WILL RETIRE: A 31-year veteran that survived Vietnam unscathed, battled back to life after a devastating fire and collision with an aircraft carrier, then served nearly 10 years as the 6th Fleet flagship will retire Wednesday.
The guided missile cruiser Belknap will be decommissioned at 11 a.m. in ceremonies at Pier 12 of the Norfolk Naval Station. Guest speaker will be Vice Adm. Thomas J. Lopez, deputy chief of naval operations for resources, warfare responsibilities and assessments.
The Belknap is the second ship to bear the name and the first of its class to be modernized and equipped with Terrier SM-2 extended range missiles.
The Belknap was built by Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, and commissioned Nov. 7, 1964, initially as a guided missile frigate.
Redesignated a guided missile cruiser July 1, 1975, the Belknap left Norfolk in mid-August for operations in the Mediterranean. It was severely damaged in a collision with the carrier John F. Kennedy on Nov. 22, 1975. The Belknap was towed to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, decommissioned, then restored and returned to service on May 10, 1980.
It currently is commanded by Cmdr. Robert T. Moeller and has a crew of 426.
YORKTOWN RETURNING: The guided missile cruiser Yorktown is scheduled to return Tuesday for a Valentine's Day homecoming with families and friends following a six-month deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, where it served as flagship for the Commander, Standing Naval Forces Atlantic.
Cmdr. David R. Ellison and his 366-member crew are scheduled to dock at Pier 24 of the Norfolk Naval Station at 9 a.m.
While in the Mediterranean, the Yorktown operated as part of a multi-national force assigned to enforce U.N. Security Council resolutions against the former Republic of Yugoslavia. It also rescued five Italian mariners in two boating accidents, finding two mariners clinging to their overturned boat and three others struggling in their sinking vessel.
VO-TECH OPEN HOUSE: A presentation Sunday of scholarship funds and a proclamation by Mayor Paul D. Fraim will kick off local observance of Vocational Education Week Feb. 12-18.
The event will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Norfolk Technical Vocational Center, 1330 N. Military Highway. Hosts are Norfolk public schools' Department of Adult and Vocational Education and the Norfolk Vocational Education Foundation.
Invited guests include presidents and representatives from Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Tidewater Community College, Virginia Wesleyan University, foundation members and students, teachers and administrators of Norfolk schools.
An open house will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the vocational center. The community is invited to see displays and demonstrations from the vocational center's 31 training programs.
ELECTED TO BOARD: Eric W. Schwartz, an associate with the Norfolk office of the law firm of Mays & Valentine, has been elected to the board of directors of the Virginia College of Criminal Defense Attorneys.
The Virginia College of Criminal Defense Attorneys is a statewide legal organization dedicated to the protection of individual liberties guaranteed by the constitutions of the United States and Virginia, and the improvement of the criminal justice system.
Schwartz also is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. by CNB