1973-1998, U.S. Park Ranger (Retired) Grand Canyon NP, Longfellow/Washington's Headquarters NHS, John F. Kennedy Birthplace NHS and Chesapeake & Ohio Canal NHP
2002-Present, Ship's Historian, USS Terrebonne Parish (LST-1156) Association, Pittsburgh, PA
2007-Present, Volunteer, Senator John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Best Moment 1970-1971 "basket leave" to Paris and Rome during the Med 3-70 cruise and CNO Adm. Elmo R. Zumwalt, Jr.,'s` 12/23/1970 "Z-Gram" (Z-68) which authorized civilian clothes aboard ship for wearing ashore on leave and liberty for all petty officers!
Worst Moment Standing by for heavy rolls during radio watches!
1970 Thanksgiving dinner during 16-day Atlantic Ocean transit from Little Creek, VA to Rota, Spain (MED 3-70)
Chain of Command USS Terrebonne Parish (LST-1156) 8/6/1952 - 10/29/1971 LCDR Frank L. Edmunds, Jr., USN (CO) 12/20/1968 LCDR Mark V.V. Nelson, USN (CO) 4/25/1970 LT Michael A. Murray, USNR (XO) LTJG R.M. Rhodes (OPS) ENS T.J. Brennan (COMM) ENS F. Fuchs (COMM) RM1 E. Johnston RM2 W. Padfield RM2 J. Rogers RM2 James Meyer
Other Memories 1/4/1970-10/29/1971 USS Terrebonne Parish (LST-1156) 1/12/1970-5/21/1970 Carib 1-70 cruise 4/25/1970 Change of Command Ceremony, LCDR Mark V.V. Nelson, USN relieved LCDR Frank L. Edmunds, Jr., USN Tobago Road Holding Area 8/1/1970 Lift Ship to Philadelphia 1970 Exercises Escort Tiger-8, Veritas-3, Escort Venus-1, Exotic Dancer-3, Bascolex 9-70 and Escort Lion II Carib 1-70 cruise, U.S. Atlantic Amphibious Forces Battle Efficiency White "E" Award Carib 1-70 cruise, Operations Green "E" Award 8/14-16/1970 Port Visit Halifax, Nova Scotia 11/16/1970-5/12/1971 Med 3-70 cruise 1971 Exercises Phiblex 6/8/9-71, Bita Grande 8-71 and Panquiaco 7/6/1971-8/27/1971 US Southcom Ops cruise-Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute 1971 Communications Green "C" Award 1971 Operations Green "E" Award 10/29/1971 Ceremonies incident to the transfer of Ex-LST-1156 to Spanish Ship Velasco (L-11) 11/1/1976 struck from the Naval Vessel Register 1980 SN Velasco (L-11) was decommissioned and used as a training hulk for the Special Operations Unit in Cadiz 1994 SN Velasco (L-11) was scrapped