THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 24, 1996 TAG: 9607240437
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Staff report
LENGTH: 74 lines
NORFOLK SHIP SAVES FISHERMEN: The Norfolk-based guided missile frigate Halyburton rescued five fishermen from their sinking boat 60 miles southeast of Nantucket July 19. The night rescue of crewmen aboard the New York-based 80-foot fishing vessel Amanda M. Jessica was hampered by darkness, wind, heavy fog and rough seas. After rescuing the fishermen, the Halyburton proceeded to Bar Harbor, Maine.
NATO FORCE OPEN FOR TOURS: Four ships of NATO's Standing Naval Force Atlantic, the world's first permanent peacetime multinational naval squadron, will be open to the public for tours from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. through July 28. Call 444-7955 for details.
NAVAL WARFARE EXPOSITION: The Naval Institute will launch its first Naval Warfare Exposition and Symposium Sept. 4 and 5 at the Virginia Beach Pavilion. Speakers and panelists include John Deutch, director of Central Intelligence; Gen. John Sheehan, Commander-in-chief, U.S. Atlantic Command; Adm. Leighton Smith, Commander-in-chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Allied Forces, Southern Europe; John Lehman, former Secretary of the Navy; retired Gen. Carl Mundy Jr. and retired Adm. Frank Kelso. The event is free but registration is required. Pre-register by calling (703) 631-6200 or through the Naval Institute's home page, at www.usni.org. You may also register at the Pavilion Sept. 3 through 5.
NAVAL BASE OPEN 8K RUN: The Norfolk Naval Station Morale, Welfare and Recreation Department, in conjunction with the Tidewater Striders, will host an 8K Run Aug. 10. There will be men's and women's divisions as well as wheelchair and racewalk divisions. Entry fees are $10 for active-duty military and $12 for civilians, on or before Friday. Military and corporate teams, made up of three to five runners, should add an additional $10 processing fee. For information call 444-2276.
NAVY FACILITY WINS AWARD: The Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Atlantic Division, was one of several Department of Defense organizations honored with a 1996 Value Engineering Achievement Award during a ceremony at the Pentagon July 15. The Norfolk-based command received an award in the field command category, which recognizes efforts to improve quality and reduce costs.
COMINGS AND GOINGS
RETURNING:
Fighter Squadron 143 (VF-143) and Attack Squadron 34 (VA-34) returned to Oceana Naval Air Station Monday from Carrier Air Wing 7 off the aircraft carrier George Washington. VA-34's return marks the end of its final deployment as an A-6 squadron; it will become VFA-34 and transition to F/A-18 Hornets homeported at Cecil Field, Fla. Also, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 121 (VAW-121) returned to Norfolk Naval Air Station Monday.
The nuclear cruiser Mississippi completes its final cruise Thursday when it arrives at Norfolk Naval Station at 9:30 a.m. at Pier 10. The Mississippi will be deactivated Sept. 6, after 18 years of service. During its final deployment the Mississippi, commanded by Capt. Lawrence Lewandowski, served as the escort ship for the Mayport-based carrier John F. Kennedy in the North Atlantic. The cruiser has a crew of 540.
CHANGE OF COMMAND
Rear Adm. Robert Cole, commanding officer of the Norfolk Naval Base, recently assumed additional responsibilities as Commander, Naval Shore Activities, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. The new role puts Cole in charge of 17 naval stations and naval air stations throughout the United States; Panama; Iceland; Puerto Rico; and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
Capt. Frederick Gay Jr. has relieved Capt. Patrick Peterson as commanding officer of Reserve Patrol Wing Atlantic. Gay reports from the Defense Mapping Agency in Washington, D.C., where he was the customer service support team chief for the U.S. Atlantic Command. Peterson's next assignment is to Washington, where he will join the BUPERS staff as the head of the TAR officer distribution branch.
Cmdr. James Ratte Jr. will relieve Cmdr. Donald Boland as commanding officer of the nuclear-powered attack submarine Phoenix in a ceremony at 11 a.m. Friday on Pier 23 at the Norfolk Naval Station. Ratte's most recent assignment was at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C. Boland's next assignment is command and control warfare coordinator on the staff of Commander Carrier Group 2. by CNB