Welcome to My Web Site | home
Introduction | North Adams Airport | Diego Garcia | USS Coronado | Family Photos | Family News | North Carolina Trip | Friends | Steve Sauvé | Weird Stuff | Links | Interests | Contact Info
USS Coronado
(LPD-11)
Updated 12/24/15
PLANKOWNER'S "VIRTUAL REUNION"
PARTICIPATE IN AN ONLINE REUNION!
Send me a current headshot and I'll post it beside a scan of your cruisebook photo.
1970
Pre-Commissioning Crew in San Diego prior to boarding
the USS Coronado at Bremerton Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington
(Email me to request a 1MB High Quality 8x10 image file of the above photo)
= = =
USS CORONADO (LPD-11) 42nd REUNION...2012
A "42nd Reunion" was held August 2-5, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland
Group trip to "The Wall" Vietnam War Memorial in Washington, DC...August 2012
= = = = = =
USS CORONADO (LPD-11) 40th REUNION...2010
A "40th Reunion" was held September 17-19, 2010 in Norfolk, Virginia
Paul Ackerman kindly posted many photos of the reunion at the links below.
THANK YOU, PAUL!
USS Coronado (LPD-11) September 2010 reunion attendees aboard the battleship USS Wisconsin (BB-64)
L-R...Thomas, Heinen, Gilbert, Mynes, Ackerman, Caldwell, Littleton, Scott, Vandervort, Anderson, Baucom, Elder, Goodman
Front: David Scott, Paul Ackerman, Armister Mynes, Robert Littleton, Mike Heinen
Back: Randy Elder, Cris Anderson, Eddie Gilbert, Tom Thomas, Charles Booker
L-R...Paul Ackerman, Marty Goodman, Mike Heinen, Tom Thomas, Armister Mynes
More photos of the 2010 reunion at the links below.
= = =
Other USS CORONADO (LPD-11) links!
= = =
HEADLINE NEWS
USS CORONADO (EX LPD-11) WAS SUNK ON 9/12/2012
US Joint Forces Complete Valiant Shield SINKEX
Story Number: NNS120915-05Release Date: 9/15/2012 2:54:00 PM
From Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs
PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) -- A live-fire exercise, part of Valiant Shield 2012, sank the ex-USS Coronado (AGF-11) in waters 3,045 fathoms (18,270 feet) deep, 102 nautical miles south of Guam at about 3:20 pm local time, Sept. 12, 2012.
Sinking exercises (SINKEX) benefit the Navy by providing crews the opportunity to gain proficiency in tactics, targeting and live firing against surface targets, which enhances combat readiness of deployed units.
"These exercises provide important opportunities for realistic at-sea training with live ordnance, conditions that cannot be duplicated otherwise," said U.S. Navy Capt. Paul Krug, the U.S. Pacific Fleet Valiant Shield exercise lead.
Former Navy vessels used in SINKEXs are prepared in strict compliance with regulations prescribed and enforced by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Strict environmental compliance is observed during all SINKEXs. Each SINKEX is required to sink the hull in at least 1,000 fathoms (6,000 feet) and at least 50 nautical miles from land. Surveys are conducted to ensure that humans and marine mammals are not in the area where they could be harmed during the event.
Coronado was commissioned on May 23, 1970. The former Austin-class Amphibious Transport Dock (LPD) initially served the Atlantic Fleet, in the Caribbean, Northern Europe and the Mediterranean Sea. Coronado was re-designated an auxiliary command ship in 1980 and served as the command ship for the U.S. Middle East Force and Sixth Fleet. Coronado subsequently served as the command ship for U.S. 3rd Fleet, homeported at Pearl Harbor and later San Diego. At one time, the ship was said to be the most advanced command ship in the world. Coronado was also the first U.S. Navy combatant ship to have female crew members. Coronado was decommissioned on Sept. 30, 2006.
Photo of a missile being fired at the USS CORONADO during the sinking exercise.
B52 bombing the USS Coronado
Many photos of the B52 mission to sink the USS Coronado:
Here's a list of the ordinance used to sink her...
The USS Coronado was sunk on 9/12/12.
EX USS CORONADO, AGF 11 WAS SUNK BY MULTIPLE WEAPONS EXPENDED THROUGHOUT THE EVENT.
A TOTAL OF (6) AGM 88, (2) RGM 84, (2) AGM-84D, (3) AGM 84K, (4) AGM 114B, (1) GBU 54, (2) GBU 12, (16) MK 82,
AND (8) MK 83 WERE EXPENDED ON THE EX USS CORONADO.
THE HULK SANK AFTER THE MK 82 AND 83 GENERAL PURPOSE BOMBS IMPACTED AT 0545Z ON 12SEP12.
COORDINATES OF SUNKEN VESSEL: 11:32.11N 144:31.88E
WATER DEPTH: 3045 FATHOMS.
WATER TEMP: 29.8 C.
DISTANCE FROM LAND: 102 NM.
VESSEL DISPLACEMENT: 16405 TONS.
VESSEL LENGTH: 569 FEET.
= = =
For all sorts of USN info...from naval reunions to ship status
= = =
USS Coronado (LPD-11) Air Department patch...circa 1971
USS Coronado (LPD-11) Air Department Mini-Reunion...June 2005
I recently met up with some old shipmates from 35 years ago while
passing through southern N.J. on my return from visiting family in N.C..
L-R...Me, Dave Scott, Tony Dipasqua, Doug Lidy and Gary Caldwell.
Many thanks to Scotty and his wife, Diane, for having us!
What a trip!
"Vidge"...Carl Villanueva
"Scotty"...David Scott
"Butch"...Anthony DePasqua
"Boats"...Douglas Lidy
"Caldwell"...Gary Caldwell
Others who couldn't make the reunion...
"Mr. Gache"...LCDR M.A.Gache,USN
Our illustrious Air Officer...LCDR M.A. Gache (wearing his bagpiping hat).
The link below is an account of a daring mission that LCDR Gache flew in Vietnam.
"Baucom"...Dennis Baucom
"Awk"...Paul Aucella
"Funk"...Jim Funk
"Gilbert"...Eddie Gilbert
"Cortesini"...John R. Cortesini
John was a "live wire" that always kept the Air Department entertained.
Unfortunely, John passed away in 2004. We miss him.
Scotty and John in Norfolk, Virginia...1997
"Bones"...Marty Goodman
Marty was in the Air Department, then tranferred
to 3rd Division as a Gunner's Mate
"Tom"...Averil Thomas
"Andy"...Cris Anderson
"Mac"...Steve McManus
"Tom"
"Day"...Charles Monroe Day, III
Charles was a member of the original plankowner crew but
for medical reasons (tonsilectomy) had to catch up to the ship.
He still wonders what the Executive Officer thought when he politely asked
him to stop smoking on deck next to the fuel head and handed him an ashtray.
According to Charles, the Commodore accompanying the XO couldn't help but smile.
Click here for more info about Charles' new book.
"Randy"...Jack R. Elder
"JD"...J.D. Gaither
"Mynes"...ABHC Armister Mynes
Capt. Walker...Commanding Officer
"Recent" photo dated 2001
Jake...SK3 Jake Bliek
"Frank"...GMG2 Ralph Franklin Pinegar
Regretfully, Frank passed away on May 24, 2010
after a long battle with cancer.
Ralph Franklin "Frank" Pinegar III
Mr. Ralph Franklin “Frank” Pinegar III, 61, of Indianapolis, died Monday, May 24, 2010, at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis.
Frank was born in Indianapolis on Dec. 31, 1948. He was the son of the late Ralph Junior and Mary Jane Pinegar.
He served in the U.S. Navy from 1968 to 1972. He proudly served his country during the Vietnam War.
Frank began his career at Indiana Bell at the age of 17 and continued working in the telecommunications field for over 40 years.
He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His many interests included riding his Harley, walking in the mini marathon and especially spending time with his family and friends.
Frank was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy Jo (Simms) Pinegar of Indianapolis; children, Joshua F. Pinegar of Indianapolis and Abbi S. (Pinegar) Collins and husband, Andre, of Chicago, Ill.; grandchildren, Gabrielle Pinegar and Anna Jane Collins; brother, Jeff Pinegar and wife, Marie, of Chicago, Ill.; and many nieces and nephews.
"Smitty"...SN John Smith
Arlyn Moots
"Wolfy"...ETR3 Bob Weiten
Wayne...SK2 Wayne Portlock
Mike...CS3 Mike Heinen
Thomas Riley...ENC (Retired)
Plankowner - Photos 1970 and 2010
"Charley"...SN Ron Bruhn
SK3 Gary Carlson
"Chip"...SK2 Charlie Booker
BM2 William Foss
"Commodore"...ETR2 Paul Ackerman
"The Commodore" paying homage to "The Old Guy"
"Littleman"...SN Marc Weaver
SN Marc Weaver (lucky man!) being greeted upon return from deployment.
Gary "Butch" King
This photo was submitted by John "Smitty" Smith in 2007.
He and Butch got together and Smitty snapped his photo.
I don't have a "before" shot to post and am not sure
when Butch served aboard the Coronado.
James "Jim" Weeks
Jim was stationed aboard the ship back in the Precomm days.
FTG3 Michael Robinson...1970
Facebook photo January 2013
Here's a photo I found on the internet of Dr. Roediger around 2004.
Dr. Roediger was a plankowner and served as ship's doctor around 1970,
but I don't have a photo of him from back then.
Michael Vandervort, right, was in the Air Department.
He made the Navy his career and retired in 2007.
He is pictured at his retirement ceremony with his father.
The Rat Pack...Mike Heinen, Steve McManus, Tom Thomas and IC3 C Hansen
Hey guys...send me a recent photo and watch this "reunion website" grow!
"Gator Navy" Logo
If anyone has a photo of the "Gator Navy" flag that was flown
on our way to Gitmo, could you please send me a copy to post? Thank you!
"Red/Animal"...Robert Farrington
I photographed Red with raised fist in show of solidarity for fellow
shipmates from his bedside in Maine...2013. We love you Red!
Robert "Red/Animal" Farrington, Anthony "Butch" Dipasqua
and Doug "Boats" Lidy off the coast of Italy...1972
Heinen and Thomas on the flight deck
in front of the Pettibone Tilley/Crash Crane
Averil "Tom" Thomas...cool as ever, with toothpick
Paul "Awk" Aucella...(LSE) landing signalman
Hanging out in the compartment
Baucomb, "Whale" and "Animal"
Yes, Whale's finger had been partially amputated.
Fooling around between Flight Operations
Air Department
Air Department "Department of the Month" photo taken while on 1971-1972 Med Cruise
LCDR Gache (Air Officer) cuts the cake in celebration of
Department of the Month as Pough, Caldwell and Elder look on.
Scott, Pressley and Cortesini...Bremerton, Washington
Butch, Boats and Scotty...Athens, Greece
At anchor in Port Au Prince, Haiti
"Bum Boats" alongside selling wooden ware
FTG3 R. Zalebny
GMG3 W. Casselberry
GMG3 B. Reilly
Crooks and Reilly playing cards
Gunners Mates Goodman and Pinegar
Marty Goodman submitted these shots
of the Ship's Armory...circa 1972
= = =
Here's an email I received from an ex-Marine about his memories of the USS Coronado
I remember having some pretty good times aboard The USS Coronado during her 71-72 Med Cruise. Wish I still had my Cruise Book. Know where I could get one? It was not long outta Parris Island when I was assigned to ship's platoon to ready the ship for loading troops once we arrived in Morehead City. I was then assigned to the "Spud Locker" for a little night KP with a sailor I only remember by the name "Frenchie". I had been on board about a month when I ran into an old friend who was a sailor aboard by the name Jimmy Plummer. Not sure if he was a plank owner or not. Would you know either?
As for the first beer blast, I remember being on the isle of Crete when an LST (USS Suffolk I believe) sailed onto the beach (it was amazing to see) and her cargo doors swung open to reveal cases and cases of beer! Would have been Nov 1971 I guess (for the Marines anyway).
My most memorable experience I recall was racing outta the Well Deck in an AMTRAC off the rear of the ship while she was cruising forward at sea, splashing into the ocean and water rushing into the less than water tight doors and praying the steel coffin as we called it would boob back to the surface. Man I know the Sailors were spending their day laughing at them dumb jarheads! Guess we had it coming laughing at them dumb squid boiler techs and airheads...they were some HARD working guys for sure!!!!
Don Bordeaux...one of the first Marines to board the USS Coronado (LPD-11).
= = =
Hey guys...send me a recent photo and watch this "reunion website" grow!
By the way...if anyone has a photo of the "Gator Navy" flag that was flown
on our way to Gitmo, could you please send me a copy to post?
Thank You
= = =
USS Coronado links
= = =
Introduction | North Adams Airport | Diego Garcia | USS Coronado | Family Photos | Family News | North Carolina Trip | Friends | Steve Sauvé | Weird Stuff | Links | Interests | Contact Info