CAPT Robert D. Dockendorff, USNR (Ret.)

During the second year that he attended graduate school at the University of Iowa Mr. Dockendorff received a (draft) notice to report for a pre-induction physical. Before the end of that month, June 1962, he enlisted in the Naval Reserve as a Seaman Recruit. Mr. Dockendorff (Bob) completed basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center. In September 1964 he was selected for Officers Candidate School in Newport, RI. After receiving his commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Naval Reserve he was assigned to the U.S. Navy Supply Corps School in Athens, GA in February 1965. In Athens he completed Supply Corps School training and served as the Editor-in-Chief of the NSCS Oak Leaf which was designated volume 170 in recognition of 170th anniversary of US Navy Supply Corps in 1965.

After Supply Corps School he was assigned to the re-commissioning crew of USS ASKARI (ARL-30) at Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, CA. The reactivation of the ASKARI was vital to the successful implementation of the Mobile Riverine Forces (MRF) small boat operations that were part of a strategic military operation in the Vietnam Mekong Delta and River. The mothballed ASKARI, which had previously been in Vietnam in the 1950’s, was placed in dry dock at the Willamette Iron and Steel Co. in Richmond, CA on 29 November 1965 for activation and extensive overhaul to support MRF boats. The ASKARI was re-commissioned in August 1966 and Bob had moved from the Disbursing Officer position to Supply Officer. The ASKARI soon sailed for Vietnam with a scheduled stop off in Honolulu, HI. In Honolulu, Bob was transferred to COMSERPAC for three months to recover from an accident on Oahu that resulted in several broken bones. In March 1967 he volunteered to continue to support the MRF supply and logistics effort at a new base being established by the Naval Support Activity, Saigon. In Vietnam he filled dual billets as Supply Officer for the NACSUPPACT, Saigon Detachment Dong Tam and as Supply Officer for YRBM-17, adjacently located on a dredged inlet off of the Mekong River halfway between Vung Tau and the Cambodian border. At the completion of his Vietnam tour he was promoted to Lieutenant and was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” for meritorious service for his work in support of the MRF.

In April 1968, he returned to Treasure Island at San Francisco, CA and was released from active duty. He began searching for a job and immediately encountered a problem that many veterans in the late 60’s and early 70’s experienced. Employers were looking for veterans; just not veterans that had served “in-country” in Vietnam. He finally landed a job at Pacific Maritime Association in September 1968. Finding a pay billet in the Naval Reserve wasn’t much easier at the time. But finally he found the perfect opportunity to get back into the “green” Navy that he loved and would continue to be affiliated with for most of the rest of his Navy career. He landed a billet as a Supply Officer in Reserve Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 2. He remained with the Seabees until February 1977 becoming quite familiar with the logistics of moving and paying a battalion for two week training exercises from the Bay Area to the Marine Corps Base in Camp Pendleton and the SEABEE training facility at Gulfport, MS. His training and experience in the Seabees would prove invaluable in future assignments.

In March 1977, already a seasoned LCDR, he was reassigned from the Seabees and to an Advanced Supply Base unit as Commanding Officer. In October1978 he was moved to Cargo Handling Battalion 3 as Executive Officer. In October 1979, now a CDR, he took over as Commanding Officer of a Navy Material Transportation Office unit. The following year, October 1980, he was again assigned to Cargo Handling Battalion 3 but now as Commanding Officer. Two years later he was moved into the Assistant Program Manager-Supply billet at REDCOM 20, finally becoming too senior to find another “green” Navy billet. In June 1985 he was assigned to CO, Military Sealift Command, Pacific Detachment as Logistics Officer and was soon promoted to Captain. In October 1987 he took over as Commanding Officer of a NSC Oakland Headquarters Unit.

In March 1988 he applied for retirement and was transferred to the retired reserve in April 1988 after completing 25 years of service in the U.S. Naval Reserve. In March 1999, on his 60th birthday, he received a “certificate of retirement” with the rank of Captain (O-6).

Bob has served on the Boards and Finance Committees of numerous non-profit charitable organizations. He also served as the Mayor’s appointee to the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Council from 1989 to 1996. He served as the Controller’s appointee to the San Francisco Ethics Commission from September 1996 to October 2000 and helped author the first two Ethnics Commission ballot initiatives both of which were overwhelmingly passed by San Francisco voters.

Bob retired as Vice President Communications & Research, Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) in August 2003 after 35 years at the Association’s San Francisco headquarters where he developed extensive experience in economics, transportation, website development, and employee benefits administration and funding. The PMA’s principal business is to negotiate and administer maritime labor agreements with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on behalf of international carriers, domestic carriers, and terminal operators and stevedores that operate in ports in California, Oregon, and Washington.

PMA is a member of the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration’s Marine Transportation System National Advisory Council (MTSNAC). Through PMA, Bob assisted the MTSNAC in maritime projects including editing several “white papers” the most recent entitled, Challenges and Opportunities for the U.S. Marine Transportation System.

Mr. Dockendorff earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Iowa in 1960. He also attended post-graduate school for several years. He is a life member of the University’s Presidents Club.

Captain Dockendorff’s Military Service Ribbons include: the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat “V” with a gold star in lieu of second award, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Unit Commendation, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (3 bronze stars), Armed Forces Reserve Medal with hour glass device in lieu of second award, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, and Expert Rifleman Medal. He is also authorized to wear the Command Ashore pin.

Bob is a life member of the American Legion Alexander Hamilton Post 448, The Naval Reserve Association, the Reserve Officers Association, and the Navy League.

A native of Iowa, Bob has lived in San Francisco, CA since 1968.