VICE ADMIRAL ROBERT JOSEPH STROH, USN 
Naval Aviator Number 3888, 25 January 1932
Grey Eagle Award, 1 August 1968 – 28 November 1969
Combat experience in Gilberts, Marshalls, Marianas.

SARATOGA'S first Commanding Officer was, appropriately enough, a native New Yorker. Born in New York City, Captain Stroh attended Evander Childs High School prior to entering the U. S. Naval Academy in 1926. 

Graduating from Annapolis with the Class of '30, he was assigned to the USS ARKANSAS. He reported shortly afterwards to NAS, Pensacola for flight training and was awarded the wings of a Naval aviator on 25 January 1932. 

After a brief tour of duty at Hampton Roads, Va., he saw sguadron duty aboard the USS PENSACOLA and the USS RANGER. Then he reported to Pearl Harbor where he was stationed until 1937. During this time he served with Scouting Squadron SIX-S, Bombing Squadron THREE-B, and Patrol Squadrons SIX-F and EIGHT-F. 

Upon his return to the States, he was based on the carriers ENTERPRISE and YORKTOWN as a member of Bombing Squadrons EIGHT and SIX. 

On the outbreak of World War II, Captain Stroh was attached to the American Embassy in London as a special U. S. Naval Observer. He returned in 1942 to take command of the Photographic Interpretation School, Anacostia, and later served with Fleet Air Photo Squadron ONE. 

In 1943, he became CO of Photographic Squadron THREE. The squadron accomplished the major portion of the photographic reconnaissance over the Gilbert, Marshall and Mariannas Islands, and was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for its work. Captain Stroh personally received the Air Medal, two Gold Stars, and the Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in the campaigns. 

During the last year of the war, he served with ComAirPac as head of the Plans Division under Adm. John H. Towers, and was awarded the Legion of Merit for "exceptionally meritorious conduct" in that capacity. 

His assignments after the war were as Executive Officer of the carrier HORNET; in the Office of CNO; as a student at the Air War College, Maxwell AFB; as Commander, Tactical Air Group TWO under Commander, Amphibious Forces, Atlantic. 

In 1950, he became Commanding Officer of the USS VALCOUR (AVP-55) and in 1951, he reported to CinCLantFlt for duty in connection with the establishment of the Supreme Allied Command. He served on the staff of this command until August of 1953 when he reported as a student at the National War College in Washington, D. C. 

Captain Stroh returned to the Navy Department to serve as Assistant for JCS and NATO matters in the office of the DCNO (Air), where he remained until July 27, 1955, when he received orders as Prospective Commanding Officer of CVA-60. He reported aboard as CO on 14 April 1956 when the carrier was commissioned. 

After the long and difficult job of testing and shakedown, followed by fleet exercises in the Atlantic, Captain Stroh was ordered to report to the office of the Chief of Naval Operations, and was relieved of command of SARATOGA on 1 December 1956.

Promoted to Rear Admiral in 1958, and Vice Admiral in 1963; he served as Deputy Director, Strategic Target Planning at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska until 1967, when he reverted to the rank of Rear Admiral. Vice Admiral Stroh's last tour of duty was COMFAIR Jacksonville, where he was retired in 1969.

CVA-60 (later CV-60) was named for the Battle of Saratoga, September and October 1777. It was a decisive American victory resulting in the surrender of an entire British army of 9,000 men invading New York from Canada during the American Revolutionary War. The Battle of Saratoga was actually two battles about 9 miles south of Saratoga, New York (NS020351a), namely the Battle of Freeman's Farm and the Battle of Bemis Heights, and is related with the earlier Battle of Bennington, about 15 miles east of Saratoga. The surrender of General John Burgoyne, who was surrounded by much larger American militia forces, took place after his retreat to Saratoga. The capture of an entire British army secured the northern American states from further attacks out of Canada and prevented New England from being isolated. A major result was that France entered the conflict on behalf of the Americans, thus dramatically improving the Americans' chances in the war. The Battle of Saratoga was the turning point in the Revolutionary War.
 

The first Battle at Saratoga, generally referred to by historians as Freeman's Farm, began with John Burgoyne's offensive (19 September), the British lost two men for every one American casualty. In terms of ground gained, however, both sides fought to a draw. In the second Battle, otherwise known as Bemis Heights (7 October), British losses were four to one. The rebels' victory was overwhelming. After negotiations, Burgoyne officially surrendered on 17 October. He returned to England in disgrace and was never given another command. When news of the American victory reached Europe, France entered the war on the side of the patriots. Money and supplies flowed to the American cause, providing Washington's Continental Army with the support necessary to continue its fight against Great Britain. Britain's loss at Saratoga was disastrous because it showed the European powers that the rebels were capable of defeating the English on their own. More than any other event, it would prove decisive in determining the eventual outcome of the War and the victory of Patriots.
 

American warships that had previously borne the name:

1. A Continental Navy sloop-of-war.
2. A corvette.
3. A sloop-of-war.
4. A cruiser.
5. An aircraft carrier of World War II fame.