U.S.S. SCHENECTADY [LST 1185]

U.S.S. SCHENECTADY
(LST 1185)

THE COMMANDING OFFICERS

The first Skipper, CDR David E. Sigsworth

CAPTAIN DAVID E. SIGSWORTH, U.S. Navy, was born and brought up in the small community of Kipton, Ohio. Following Navy enlisted service at the end of World War II, he attended Oberlin College, Ober-lin, Ohio, graduating in 1950. Commissioned in 1951, after graduating with class I at Officers' Candidate School, Newport, Rhode Island; he served in destroyers, minesweepers, fleet oilers, and as Commanding Officer of the USS Outgamie County (LST-1073). Other tours have included staff duty with the Chief of Naval Operations, Commander in Chief Pacific, and Commander Amphibious Group Three. CAPTAIN SIGSWORTH is a graduate of the Naval Intelligence School in Washington, D.C. and the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island. In addition to various campaign medals, he has been awarded the Joint Service Commendation Medal and the Navy Commendation Medal.

CREW MEMBERS SADDENED BY PASSING OF THE FIRST SKIPPER

The first Exec, LCDR William L. Clegg

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER WILLIAM L. GLEGG was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on July 24, 1936. Upon graduation from the United States Merchant Marine Academy in 1958, he served aboard the USS Preserver (ARS-8) until assigned as a student in the five month CIC course at the United States Naval CIC School. He then served aboard the USS Henley (DD-762) until selected to attend the United States Naval Submarine School. Upon graduation, he served aboard the USS Sea Leopard (SS-483) where he qualified in submarines.

His next tour was aboard the USS Sirago (SS-485) where he qualified for command of submarines. He was then assigned as Assistant Professor of Naval Science at the NROTC Unit, Cornell University where he taught navigation and naval operations. His next assignment was aboard the USS Plymouth Rock (LSD-29) before reporting to the USS SCHENECTADY.

The second Skipper, CDR Raymond J. Czar

COMMANDER RAYMOND J. CZAR was born in New York City, January 3, 1929. CDR CZAR enlisted in the Navy in May, 1946. After serving in the enlisted ranks aboard USS Proteus (AS-19), USS Hank (DD-702), USS Loeser (DE-608), he was commissioned an Ensign in August, 1956, following OCS training. His first assignment was aboard USS Olmsted (APA-188) as Boat Group Commander and Navigator. Then assigned to Naval Beach Group Two as Plans Officer. After attending Deslant Engineering School, CDR CZAR was assigned to the USS Dewey (DLG-14) as Chief Engineer, followed by a tour in the Bureau of Naval Personnel. He returned to sea as Commanding Officer of the USS Shakori (ATF-162) from 1964 to 1967. During this period Shakori took part in the Santo Domingo Operations as well as towing a salvage craft from Scotland to Subic Bay via the Indian Ocean, which was highlighted by completing an around-the-world cruise. CDR CZAR was then assigned to the staff of Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Atlantic Fleet, followed by a tour in Japan as Officer-in-Charge of Naval Beach Group One, Western Pacific Detachment. His most recent assignment was on the USS Fox (DLG-33) as Executive Officer.

The second Exec, LCDR M. E. Mays

LIEUTENANTCOMMANDER M.E. MAYS was commissioned Ensign upon his graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1963. He first served aboard the USS Robinson (DDG-12) as the Main Propulsion Assistant and M Division Officer until May of 1965. He attended U.S. Naval Destroyer School at Newport, Rhode Island, until graduation in December of 1965. Then he reported aboard the USS Forrest Sherman (DD-931) as Engineering Officer where he served for one year before reporting to the U.S. Naval Post Graduate School at Monterey, California. LIEUTENANT COMMANDER MAYS received a Masters Degree in Physical Oceanography. In December of 1968, he was ordered to the Navy Field Intelligence Office at the National Security Agency, Fort Mead, Maryland as Oceanographic Analyst. In November of 1971, he reported aboard the USS SCHENECTADY as Executive Officer.

[photos courtesy of 1972 cruise book]

The third Skipper, CDR Kelvin Matteson

(Read the Captain's Cabin, a letter from the skipper)

[photos courtesy of Steven E. Rivara]

The third XO, LCDR C. Hurst

Departed Ship During 75-76 West PAC due to illness

The Fourth Skipper, CDR Michael H. V. Nolan

Commander Michael H. V. Nolan, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Nolan, was born in Toledo, Ohio on October 19, 1936. He is a graduate of Cathedral Preperatory School, Erie Pennsylvania, and attended Holy Cross College, Worcester, Massachusetts where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1958. In 1972 he earned a Master of Arts in Human Behavior from United States International University.
Commander Nolan was commissioned an ensign in the regular Navy through the NROTC Program in 1959. From 1959 to 1964, he served on destroyers U.S.S. COMPTON (DD 705) and U.S.S. TAUSSIG (DD 746) as damage control assistant, Engineering Officer, Operations Officer and Navigator.
In 1964, he was assigned to the NROTC Unit at Princeton University as an instructor of engineering and leadership. This assignment was followed by a tour as Commanding Officer U.S.S. CHURCHILL COUNTY (LST 583).
Commander Nolan then had a tour of duty on the staff of the Commander, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam in 1968-69. This tour was followed by an assignment to the staff of Commander Amphibious Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. In 1971 he reported to the U.S.S. PEORIA (LST 1183) as Executive Officer. He returned to the Amphibious Force Staff in November 1972 as the equal opportunity assistant to the Force Commander. Upon establishment of the Naval Surface Force in January 1975, he retained the same assignment.
On the nineteenth of July 1975 Commander Nolan assumed command of the U.S.S. SCHENECTADY (LST 1185).
Commander Nolan has been awarded the Bronze Star, Navy Achievement Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.
He is married to the former Linda Marie Tripp of San Diego, California. They have three sons.

The fourth XO, LCDR S. Olsen

Temporarily assumed the duties of Executive Officer West Pac 75-76

The fifth XO, LCDR D. Pauling

Reported aboard as prospective Executive Officer 26 Jan 76
Assumed command upon the resignation of CDR Nolan

The Sixth Skipper, CDR Dennis Earl Neuman

Dennis Earl Neuman, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, is a graduate of UCLA. He was commissioned an Ensign through the NROTC program. His first tour was aboard the USS Hancock (CVA-19), he completed two Westpac tours aboard Hancock, attached to task force 77.
He was next assigned as CIC officer aboard the USS Wiltsie (DD-716) and later became operations officer. During this tour the Wiltsie, he completed two Westpac tours as part of the screening element of the task group that first carried out air strikes on North Vietnam and was task group flagship for "Operation Market Time. " he was promoted to LT. in 1965.
Lt. Neuman served as Assist. Professor of Naval Science and Naval Weapons Systems at Stanford U. for two years. He assumed command of USS Meeker County (LST-980) in July, 1968, During his tenure in command the ship was awarded the Battle Efficiency "E" and named the "Ship Of The Year" for 1968.
CDR Neuman has also served as Flag Secretary at the Amphibious Training Company, USPACFLT, Helped organize the Amphibious Training Command USPACFLT. He was XO of the USS Lockwood (DE-1064) in 1972 off Vietnam and during test firings of the Navy's New Harpoon Missle. CDR Neuman completed a tour at the Naval Amphibious School, Coronado, developing the leadership and management course. Commander Neuman was married to Pauline Laven of Pt Loma in May of 1972. They were married for over 11yrs had two sons, Ken and Andrew. Commander Neuman died suddenly on 16 September of 1998. He is still dearly missed by Pauline and their sons.

OTHER OFFICERS SERVING ON THE USS SCHENECTADY

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