Commander S. A. Swarztrauber, U. S. Navy, served in Vietnam successively as Commander River Squadron Five, chief staff officer Task Force 116, and Commander Task Force Clearwater, during 1968–69, earning the United States Legion of Merit with Combat Distinguishing Device, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, and three unit awards. A graduate of Maryville College, he was commissioned from Officer Candidate School in 1952, and then served with Beach Jumper Unit 2, USS Laning (APD-55), and USS Coral Sea (CVA-43). A tour in the logistics branch of the Office of the CNO was followed by General Line School, from which he was graduated first in his class. He then served as executive officer of the USS Bradford (DD-545), followed by another assignment to the Office of the CNO in the strategic plans division, and in the politico-military affairs division. From 1966 to 1967 he was executive officer of the USS Halsey (DLG-23), and early in 1968 assumed command of River Squadron Five in Vietnam. Qualified for command of destroyers, he has written for the U. S. Naval Institute Proceedings and Naval Review 1965 as well as for Combat Readiness magazine.
