THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 15, 1995 TAG: 9511150283
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
SIMPSON TO MED: The Norfolk-based guided-missile frigate Simpson left port Monday for the Mediterranean Sea, where it will become part of NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic, the first permanent multinational naval squadron that has operated continously for 27 years. Commanded by Cmdr. Douglas A. Block, it has a crew of 198 and will spend the next six months operating with the squadron.
AVIATION MEMORIAL SOUGHT: Naval aviators are seeking support to erect a memorial to naval aviation in Virginia Beach, dedicated to all Navy and Marine Corps fliers, according to retired Capt. P.F. ``Holly'' Hollandsworth, president of the Hampton Roads Squadron of the Association of Naval Aviation. Hollandsworth has named Virginia Beach police Lt. Dennis E. Free chairman of a committee that will erect and dedicate the memorial. Donations of support may be sent to: The Naval Aviation Memorial, 2348 Huckleberry Trail, Virginia Beach, Va. 23456.
CANCER SCREENING DAY: The Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic at the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth will sponsor a Head and Neck Cancer Screening Day from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at the medical center. The screening is available for all who are eligible for military health care. Appointments may be made by calling Tricare at 677-6000 or by stopping by the clinic at the medical center.
CRANEY ISLAND DRILL: A fire drill was held Oct. 24 at the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center's Craney Island Fuel Depot to test a mutual aid agreement between the Navy commands and local community fire departments. In a major fuel tank fire at Craney Island, the firefighting equipment on the island is not able to effectively handle the fire by itself. Extra help is provided under the mutual aid agreement. The successful drill began when one of the new 150-foot diameter fuel tanks was breached by a simulated lightning strike and the fuel inside the tank caught fire (another simulation). The Portsmouth, Chesapeake and Suffolk fire departments responded along with help from Norfolk Naval Shipyard and the Norfolk Naval Base.
NAVAL DICTIONARY AVAILABLE: The history of every squadron the Navy has established since the evolution of the squadron concept after World War I is presented in a new, first-in-a-series volume from the Naval Historical Center. ``The Dictionary of American Naval History Squadrons'' is available in hardback for $46, or on CD-ROM for $18. Phone orders may be placed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. by calling 202-512-1800. Mail orders should be addressed to superintendent of documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15250-7954.
FAMILY SERVICES
JOB SEARCH: Little Creek Navy Family Services Center will offer an ``Employment Workshop Series'' the week of Dec. 11. The workshops will focus on the unique employment needs of separating and retiring service members. These workshops may be taken individually to meet specific needs or as a series to provide a comprehensive employment assistance package. Workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to noon through Dec. 14. To register, call 464-8101.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
RETURNING:
The Norfolk-based guided missile cruiser Vella Gulf is scheduled to return home at 9 a.m. Tuesday to Pier 25 of Norfolk Naval Station after completing a five-month deployment with the Middle-East Force in the Persian Gulf. Commanded by Capt. Peter W.. Matzluff, the Vella Gulf and its 368-member crew enforced United Nations sanctions against Iraq in operations Southern Watch and Vigilant Sentinel and intercepted nine foreign vessels during maritime operations, using its helicopter in more than 850 flight hours of patrols.
Coastal patrols Cyclone and Tempest returned to Little Creek on Tuesday from their first patrol coastal deployment to the Arabian Gulf. The Cyclone and Tempest traveled more than 27,000 miles during the four and a half months and sustained few equipment casualties.
CHANGE OF COMMAND:
Cmdr. George M. Wadzita relieves Cmdr. Robert H. Kuppers Jr. as commanding officer of the fast-attack submarine Key West. Kuppers will transfer to the staff of Commander Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk. Wadzita most recently served as submarine analyst in the Department of the Navy Office of Program Appraisal in Washington, D.C.
- staff report by CNB