DATE: Thursday, July 17, 1997               TAG: 9707160622

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B3   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: MILITARY

                                            LENGTH:   59 lines

WEEKLY BRIEFING

IN GENERAL

RETIREES NEEDED: The Patient Relations Department at the Portsmouth Naval Medical Center needs retirees who can volunteer their services each week. Volunteers will greet and direct patients and visitors, provide information on operating hours and distribute hospital literature. Training will be provided. The program will operate from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

OLD IRONSIDES: A special edition of ``Naval History'' magazine commemorates the 200th birthday of the Constitution, also known as ``Old Ironsides.'' The July-August issue devotes 32 pages to a narrative history of the ship written by her 58th captain, retired Cmdr. Tyrone Martin. Artwork is by maritime artists Tom Freeman, William Gilkerson, John Roach and Kenneth Grant.

SHIP VISITS: Three Navy ships are open to the public Saturday and Sunday. The oiler Platte will be at Norfolk Naval Station. Visitors should enter through Gate 2. The dock landing ship Tortuga will be at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base. Visitors should enter through Gate 1. The guided missile cruiser Normandy will be at Nauticus. For updated information, call the Tour and Information Center at 444-7637.

UNIT COMMENDED: The Second Naval Construction Brigade was recently awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation for performance from May 1, 1994, to Aug. 30, 1996. Brigade commander Rear Admiral Michael W. Shelton received the award during a June 20 ceremony in Gulfport, Miss. The command, located at Little Creek Naval Amphibious Base, oversees the operations of about 9,000 active and reserve Seabees in the Atlantic Fleet, providing construction support for a range of military and humanitarian missions. During the period recognized, the brigade provided support for construction of 23 schools, three medical clinics, four piers, 26 water wells and 10 miles of roads, among other accomplishments.

COLD START: The Air Force Air Combat Command began a no-notice exercise this month, deploying to Alaska until July 26. Although there have been five previous Air Expeditionary Force deployments, this is the first time the Air Force has done it from a cold start without notice. This is also the first joint-service involvement in such a deployment. The command is headquartered at Langley Air Force Base.

COMINGS AND GOINGS

Capt. Michael C. Tracy relieved Capt. Gerald L. Talbot Jr. as commander of Submarine Squadron Eight during ceremonies on Wednesday aboard the attack submarine Hyman G. Rickover. The squadron conducts training and operations for 10 Norfolk-based submarines of the Los Angeles class. Tracy is a New Orleans native, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and has been commanding officer of the submarine Newport. Talbot becomes director of the Submarine Nuclear Power Distribution Division at the Bureau of Naval Personnel in Washington, D.C.

Rear Adm. Gordon S. Holder is the new commander of Amphibious Group Two, relieving Rear Adm. Wirt R. Fladd during July 8 ceremonies aboard the amphibious assault ship Wasp. The group oversees all Atlantic Fleet Amphibious Forces and Amphibious Striking Forces for NATO. Holder comes from a position as commander of the Naval Doctrine Command in Norfolk.

Lt. Col. Leonard J. Samborowski, whose mother lives in Norfolk, is the new commander of the Harrisburg Recruiting Battalion in Pennsylvania. He was previously commander of the 304th Military Intelligence Battalion in Arizona.

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