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Inside Iowa State
Jan. 12, 1996

USS Cyclone officer to visit campus

by Anne Dolan

The commanding officer of the U.S. Navy's USS Cyclone, Lt. Cmdr. Mark Young, is visiting Iowa State today through Monday (Jan. 12-15). Young will speak at the second annual banquet of the Naval ROTC Support Group Saturday, Jan. 13, in the Memorial Union Cardinal Room. The support group, begun a year ago, provides voluntary assistance to Iowa State's Naval ROTC unit, with special emphasis on recruiting young men and women for naval officer training.

In addition, Young will be introduced at halftime during the Cyclone men's basket-ball game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys Saturday afternoon (tip-off is at 3 p.m.) and visit with Naval ROTC students Monday, Jan. 15. Young's visit marks the first time a representative of the ship has visited campus.

Based in Little Creek, Va., the USS Cyclone was commissioned by the U.S. Navy in August 1993. In keeping with a Navy tradition of forging relationships with groups that share the names of its ships, Navy officials sought out the ISU Cyclones. Since then, the crew of the ship and the athletic department have corresponded and traded mementos.

The USS Cyclone is a fast, small (170 feet long) ship used to patrol coastal areas and provide support to Navy Seals operations. It has a crew of 28 people. Recent assignments include patrols off the coast of Haiti and in the Persian Gulf.

Young is a 10-year Navy veteran and assumed command of the Cyclone in 1994.

More information on the banquet is available from Bob Lindemeyer, 4-2316.

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Revised 1/11/96 URL: http://www.iastate.edu/ general/releases/usscyclone.html