THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 22, 1995 TAG: 9511220580
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A6 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
FRENCH NAVY VISITS: Two French navy ships, the frigate Primauguet and submarine Beveziers, will visit Norfolk for a week beginning today while on a training cruise to the area. The Primauget will dock at Nauticus and will be open for visiting between 2 and 6 p.m. daily.
45 CHIEFS NAMED AT LANGLEY: Forty-five Air Force senior master sergeants have been selected for promotion to chief master sergeant,the top enlisted rank, at Langley Air Force Base in Hampton. From the 1st Fighter Wing, 54 E-8s were eligible for promotion and 11 were selected. In the Air Combat Command Headquarters, 34 out of 152 were chosen. Air Force wide 632 out of 3,850 were named.
SHIPYARD'S OWN SHIP: Norfolk Naval Shipyard, temporary home to hundreds of ships in need of repair, now has its own ship, with an official homeport designated at the Portsmouth faiclity. The 280-foot, 1,400-ton motor vessel Pacific Escort, a research vessel previously based at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in California, is equipped with three laboratories, a full array of electronic equipment and deck gear that suits it for research, monitoring and testing at sea and environmental operations. It is moving to Portsmouth because the California shipyard was ordered closed.
BARRY WINS BATTENBERG CUP: The guided-missile destroyer Berry has received the Battenberg Cup from Atlantic Fleet Commander Adm. William J. Flanagan. Also known as the British Challenge Cup, it was initially given to the enlisted men of the U.S. North Atlantic Fleet by Prince Louis of Battenberg, a rear admiral in the Royal Navy, as a goodwill challenge cup during his visit to Annapolis in 1905. Today the trophy is a symbol of operational excellence in the Atlantic Fleet and is awarded during the Navy's Battle Efficiency cycle. The Barry, commanded by Cmdr. James Stavridis, has a crew of 25 officers and 315 enlisted.
FAMILY SERVICES
RECORDS WORKSHOP: The Department of Veterans Affairs, in conjunction with the Little Creek Navy Family Services Center, will sponsor the Veterans Affairs Medical Record Review Workshop from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 7. The workshop will cover items such as how the service medical record is constructed and how to submit a medical claim with the VA. To register, call 464-8101.
COMINGS & GOINGS
RETURNING
The Norfolk-based guided-missile cruiser Vella Gulf returned home Tuesday morning to Pier 25 of Norfolk Naval Station. The Vella Gulf completed a five-month deployment with the Middle East Force in the Persian Gulf. Commanded by Capt. Peter W. Matzluff, the cruiser and its 368-member crew enforced U.N. sanctions against Iraq and intercepted nine foreign vessels during maritime operations, using its helicopter crews in more than 850 flight hours of patrol. The ship departed Norfolk on June 13.
The Portsmouth-based Coast Guard cutter Harriet Lane returned home Monday following a 15-week patrol in Alaskan waters. The cutter left Portsmouth Aug. 10 and arrived in Juneau, Alaska, Sept. 4. It was the first time a 270-foot Coast Guard ship was deployed in Alaskan waters. The ship covered more than 22,000 nautical miles in its trip.
CHANGE OF COMMAND
Cmdr. Stephen R. Vaughn relieved Cmdr. Peter J. Williams as commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 143 in a ceremony Friday at Oceana Naval Air Station. Vaughn was previously executive officer of the VF-143 ``World Famous Dogs'' and has accumulated more than 3,800 flight hours, including 700 carrier landings. Williams' next duty assignment will be as air boss aboard the Norfolk-based aircraft carrier Enterprise.
Cmdr. George Koucheravy relieved Cmdr. Bill Ostendorff Friday as commanding officer of the fast-attack submarine Norfolk. Koucheravy's previous assignment was flag secretary for Commander Submarine Force Atlantic Fleet in Norfolk; Ostendorff will transfer to the staff of that command.
Cmdr. Marlene A. Simmons-Trefethen assumes duties today as officer in charge of Naval Air Maintenance Training Group Detachment, Norfolk, relieving Cmdr. David R. Carlson. Simmons-Trefethen previously served as Naval Air Station Norfolk Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department Officer. Carlson's next assignment is pending.
- Staff and wire report by CNB