Mondul, Steven, CAPT

PLEASE DESCRIBE WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCED YOUR DECISION TO JOIN THE NAVY.
I had always, even as a little boy, wanted to join the Navy. This bothered my parents a bit as being too single-minded, so they had me take a whole series of aptitude tests--which showed that I would be a good match for being a Naval Officer. The rest is history!!

WHETHER YOU WERE IN THE SERVICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS OR AS A CAREER, PLEASE DESCRIBE THE DIRECTION OR PATH YOU TOOK. WHERE DID YOU GO TO BOOT CAMP AND WHAT UNITS, BASES, SHIPS OR SQUADRONS WERE YOU ASSIGNED TO? WHAT WAS YOUR REASON FOR LEAVING?
Regular NROTC (scholarship) at Miami University (Ohio) commissioned 1964.

Spent the first several years in Atlantic Fleet Destroyers then got LT command (USS ELKHORN AOG-7) out of Pearl Harbor and deployed to WESTPAC/Vietnam. From there went to Naval War College (Command and Staff) under Stansfield Turner. Went to the Canadian Navy in Halifax, Nova Scotia as an exchange officer, then as XO, USS Mount Hood (AE-29) out of Concord, CA.

From Mount Hood went to CNO staff as SECNAV/CNO briefer; continued in the Pentagon as Command center Fleet Operations officer. From Pentagon went as PCO MERRIMACK (AO-179) building at Avondale, LA. Commissioned her and did Baltic and Med deployments in command. I was requested by COMNAVSURFGRUMED/CTF-63 to be his Chief of Staff in Naples, Italy, finished that tour, and went on to be DACOS Plans/Senior US Officer on the NATO naval staff at Naples. The final tour was a Director of Operations at Naval Base Norfolk, from which tour I retired.

IF YOU PARTICIPATED IN ANY MILITARY OPERATIONS, INCLUDING COMBAT, HUMANITARIAN AND PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS, PLEASE DESCRIBE THOSE WHICH MADE A LASTING IMPACT ON YOU AND, IF LIFE-CHANGING, IN WHAT WAY?
While ELKHORN earned the Combat Action Ribbon all we saw was gunfire at a distance. Since she was an AOG (Aviation gasoline tanker) that was probably a good thing!

DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY SITUATION DURING YOUR MILITARY SERVICE WHEN YOU BELIEVED THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY YOU MIGHT NOT SURVIVE? IF SO, PLEASE DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME.
I was OOD of USS Charles H Roan (DD-853) when USS Saratoga decided to resume her station by going through the screen and us. She missed us by 50 feet with us backing an emergency to avoid her. "Sorry Sara" nearly goyt me and 350 others that evening!

OF ALL YOUR DUTY STATIONS OR ASSIGNMENTS, WHICH ONE DO YOU HAVE FONDEST MEMORIES OF AND WHY? WHICH WAS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE?
ELKHORN, my first command, and MERRIMACK of which I was commissioning CO.

Plankowner CO has the unique capability (for better or for worse) to set the tone for a ship's entire life. MERRIMACK was known as "WFFO" (World's Finest Fleet Oiler) through her life, and that made the sweat, pain, and tears of the first couple of years worthwhile.

FROM YOUR ENTIRE MILITARY SERVICE, DESCRIBE ANY MEMORIES YOU STILL REFLECT BACK ON TO THIS DAY.
Being the Task Group Commander for the Presidential Support Task Group for the economic summit in Venice, Italy in 1987. Navy (me!) was responsible for all Presidential transport. Saw President Reagan every day along with many VIP types. One memorable boat ride was when the President offered Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher a ride in our boat to an event. She accepted---now THAT was a VIP boat trip.

WHAT PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF FROM YOUR MILITARY CAREER?
Navy Commendation Medal, Meritorious Service medal, and two Legion of Merit awards. NC was for command of Elkhorn, MSM for command of Merrimack, LOM for COS tour, and second LOM goodbye kiss at retirement.

OF ALL THE MEDALS, AWARDS, FORMAL PRESENTATIONS AND QUALIFICATION BADGES YOU RECEIVED, OR OTHER MEMORABILIA, WHICH ONE IS THE MOST MEANINGFUL TO YOU AND WHY?
I received two awards of the Legion of Merit, which at the time was pretty rare for Captains.

WHICH INDIVIDUAL(S) FROM YOUR TIME IN THE MILITARY STAND OUT AS HAVING THE MOST POSITIVE IMPACT ON YOU AND WHY?
Captain Jack Hilton, CO, USS SELLERS (DDG-11). He qualified me as a Fleet OOD and encouraged and mentored me to get me started on my naval career.

CAN YOU RECOUNT A PARTICULAR INCIDENT FROM YOUR SERVICE, WHICH MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FUNNY AT THE TIME, BUT STILL MAKES YOU LAUGH?
While at Kiaoshung, Taiwan at a port visit, my first class electricians mate became involved with a local female. During the, er, affair his elbow hit a live electric wire in the wall of the hotel room while still "connected". The resulting noise from him and the girl roused the whole floor. He was thereafter known as "Electric crank". Of course, as CO, I had no official knowledge of any of this!!

WHAT PROFESSION DID YOU FOLLOW AFTER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW? IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY SERVING, WHAT IS YOUR PRESENT OCCUPATIONAL SPECIALTY?
After retirement, I accepted a position with the Commonwealth of Virginia in Emergency Management/Homeland Security. I retired again in 2010 as Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security for the Commonwealth.

WHAT MILITARY ASSOCIATIONS ARE YOU A MEMBER OF, IF ANY? WHAT SPECIFIC BENEFITS DO YOU DERIVE FROM YOUR MEMBERSHIPS?
I belong to The American Legion, The Surface Navy Association, The US Naval Institute. The Naval History Society, The US Naval War College Alumni Association, and several ship associations. I really am able to keep tabs on my old shipmates through these connections.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS SERVING IN THE MILITARY INFLUENCED THE WAY YOU HAVE APPROACHED YOUR LIFE AND YOUR CAREER? WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR TIME IN THE SERVICE?
Military service absolutely shaped my life in every way.

BASED ON YOUR OWN EXPERIENCES, WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY JOINED THE NAVY?
Keep the faith. You are America's finest.

IN WHAT WAYS HAS TOGETHERWESERVED.COM HELPED YOU REMEMBER YOUR MILITARY SERVICE AND THE FRIENDS YOU SERVED WITH.

TWS and the US Navy

A very useful way of keeping track of others.

KC 10.17.20