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Larry Kryske

Navy Bio

Larry Kryske received a Regular Navy commission from the NROTC Unit at UCLA on 17 December 1971. He had served as the Battalion Commander of the unit and authored the article, “NROTC at UCLA: The Colors Still FLY,” in the U.S. Naval Institute Proceedings magazine that same month.

Ensign Kryske reported to the guided missile destroyer, USS Parsons (DDG 33), homeported in Yokosuka, Japan, in June, 1972. He served as Gunnery & Missile Officer, Weapons Fire Control Officer, and Navigator. Parsons provided naval gunfire support and also carrier plane-guard duties during the last seven months of combat operations during the Vietnam War.

Parsons was homeported in Yokosuka, Japan

Proud, powerful USS Parsons (DDG 33)

Yokosuka, Japan

The Band of Brothers

The Navigation Team

In September, 1975, Lieutenant Kryske was assigned to the Intelligence Division of Commander, U.S. Naval Forces, Japan, as Technical Intelligence Officer, Assistant Foreign Liaison Officer, and as an Operational Intelligence Watch Officer. One year later, he was assigned to the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California, as a student in the weapons engineering curriculum. He received in December, 1978, a Master of Science degree in Applied Science, with distinction. His Master’s Thesis was, “Terradynamically-Assisted Shaped Charge Follow-Through Weapon for Mine-Neutralization Applications.”

After attending the Surface Warfare Officer Department Head course in Newport, Rhode Island, he was ordered to the fleet frigate USS Brewton (FF 1086) as Weapons Officer in October, 1979. In August, 1981, Lieutenant Commander Kryske reported to the guided missile cruiser USS Worden (CG 18) as Engineer Officer. Both warships were homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Brewton was homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

USS Brewton (FF 1086) – “Bubba Bee”

Worden was homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

USS Worden (CG 18)

Engineering Band of Brothers

In January, 1983, he was assigned to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV) in the Pentagon. He served in the Anti-Air Warfare Division of the Directorate of Naval Warfare (OP 095) as Assistant for Surface Weapons Systems and as the Program Coordinator for the Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile (ASAM) program. Lieutenant Commander Kryske qualified as a Material Professional (program management certification).

Following his Washington duty, he returned to Pearl Harbor in July, 1985, as Executive Officer (second in command) in the guided missile destroyer USS Goldsborough (DDG-20). The Commanding Officer, then Commander Mike Mullen, became Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) in July, 2005. Commander Kryske qualified for Command at Sea during that tour.

Goldsborough was homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii

USS Goldsborough (DDG 20) – “Goldy”

Goldsborough wardroom in Persian Gulf

Admiral Mike Mullen, USN
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

“Give me a fast ship for I intend to go in harm’s way!” John Paul Jones

In December, 1986, Commander Kryske was assigned as Chief, Defense Nuclear Agency Pacific Command Liaison Officer at the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command at Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii. In August, 1989, he reported to Field Command, Defense Nuclear Agency in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He initially served in the Nuclear Systems Safety Division and later as the Director, Personnel, Administration, Publishing, and Security Directorate.

Commander Kryske was ordered in August, 1991, to assume command as the first Commanding Officer of U.S. Naval Station, Pascagoula, Mississippi. Naval Station Pascagoula was the Navy’s newest, most technologically-advanced, environmentally-friendly base whose mission was to provide logistic support for over 10 warships homeported or being constructed in Pascagoula and quality of life support to over 5,000 sailors and their families. Commander Kryske retired from the U.S. Navy on 30 September 1993.

USS Parsons Way

Most technologically modern naval base in U.S.

Naval Station Pascagoula – “The Homeport”

Senator Trent Lott, United States Senate, said, “I am thankful for your leadership of Naval Station Pascagoula during this critical stage of infancy. The Naval Station, the City, and the State are fortunate to have you at the helm. We have had our challenges over the last year-and-a-half, but as you have said, ‘Our finest hour is yet to come.’”

Welcome Aboard Reception

Headquarters Building Plaque

Congressman Gene Taylor, U.S. House of Representatives, said, “Commander Kryske’s command reflected the professionalism, dedication, and pride that he has demonstrated throughout his naval career. I am quite impressed with the innovative, cost-saving measures that that he implemented. Naval Station Pascagoula survived the 1993 Base Closure Commission review, and Larry’s presentation to the Commission was one of the finest I have seen.”

Base Commissioning Ceremony

Dignitaries applauding new commanding officer

Congressman Taylor, Senators Cochran and Lott, Assn’t Secretary of the Navy Pope, and CDR Kryske

Andy Taggart, Chief of Staff to Governor Kirk Fordice, State of Mississippi, said in a letter to Vice Admiral J. Paul Reason, USN, “Both in my current capacity and in my previous professional endeavors, it has been my duty to participate in countless briefings and oral presentations, on both sides of the podium. I can tell you unqualifiedly that Commander Kryske’s presentation to the Base Closure Commission was as effective a piece of work as I have ever witnessed.”

Mission statement at Main Gate

Jerry St Pé, President, Ingalls Shipbuilding and Senior Vice President of Litton Industries, said, “All of Jackson County—indeed all of Mississippi—owe you and your entire Naval Station task force a deep debt of gratitude for the tremendous contribution you have made to keep our naval station on line.”

Sharing a light moment with General Powell

With Chairman, JCS General Colin Powell

Mississippi Medal of Honor Park opened Aug, ‘93

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