(1) CAPT John E. Lacouture was Acting Commanding Officer, 26–28 October 1965, while CAPT Kennedy was on bereavement leave (CAPT LaCouture had been CO of USS Saratoga (CVA-60), 28 September 1963–2 October 1964, and in October 1965 was Chief of Staff to RADM James R. Reedy, CTF-77). The ship's XO, CAPT Sam Rorex, Jr., was in temporary command of Independence, 28 October–7 November 1965. (Back.)
(2) Graduated on 9 June 1943 with the Class of 1944. (Back.)
(3) Enlisted in the Navy in 1940. He was a "Mustang," i.e., a commissioned officer who began his career as an enlisted man. Read his biography at Arlington National Cemetery website. (Thanks to W.F. Mathers, PAO, Executive Division, USS Independence (CVA-62), 1969–1971.) (Back.)
(4) Graduated on 7 June 1944 as a member of the Class of 1945. (Back.)
Thanks to Robert M. Cieri; Ron Reeves & Wolfgang Hechler; Bill Gonyo.
Photo of CAPT Smith courtesy of Ed Palmer.
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Last update: 12 July 2024
