Camarillo, California

Capt.  Clell Neil Ammerman, U.S.N. (ret.)
April 3, 1932 to Sept. 30, 1999

Capt. C. Neil Ammerman, U.S.N. (ret.), 67, of Camarillo died at home on Sept. 30, 1999. He had suffered for many years from congestive heart failure with complications.

Capt. Ammerman was born in Greensburg, Pa., April 3, 1932, and had been a Ventura County resident for 15 years. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve program in 1949, qualified one year later for admission to the U.S. Naval Academy, and graduated with honors in 1954. As an ensign, he served aboard the destroyer McCaffery for two years in the gunnery and engineering departments. He next served as executive officer of USS Portage and in 1957, as commanding officer of USS Ely. His ship was one of the first to transit the new St. Lawrence Seaway.

In 1958, he was assigned to the National Security Agency for duty in the area of technical intelligence. He then attended the University of Maryland for graduate work in applied mathematics and physics, receiving a master's degree in 1961. He then became missile fire control and talo missile officer on USS Oklahoma City, and was involved in the initial naval action in the Gulf of Tonkin during August 1964. For his work in the field of nuclear weapons effects, completed in 1967 at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, Livermore, Calif., Capt. Ammerman received the Joint Services Commendation Medal.

Capt. Ammerman reported aboard the USS Standley in October 1967 as executive officer. He later became the assistant to the deputy director, Research and Technology, ODDR & E, from November 1968 to June 1971 and received the Legion of Merit for outstanding management of research and development programs.

Capt. Ammerman assumed command of the USS John S. MacCain in September 1971. He was awarded the Bronze Start Medal with Combat "V" for his actions during hostilities off the coast of the Republic of Vietnam between April and October 1972.

After a term as professor of naval science and commanding officer for the NROTC Unit at UCLA, Capt. Ammerman reported aboard the USS England in April 1976. In 1978, he moved to Newport, R.I., to command the Navy's prestigious Surface Warfare Officers School before becoming chief of staff of Battle Force Seventh Fleet, homeport Subic Bay, the Philippines. He retired in June of 1984 from the Navy and continued his Navy interests working for Ventura County Naval Contractors until 1995.

He is survived by his wife, Pamela Karolyn; children, Lisa, Dirk, Craig, Wendy, Kim, and Brian; along with four grandchildren.

The funeral was held on Oct. 2, at the United States Naval Construction Battalion Base Chapel with interment to be at Arlington Cemetery.

Donations may be made in Capt. Ammerman's memory, to the Navy League of the United States, 2300 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201 or the United States Naval Academy Alumni Associating, 247 King George St., Annapolis, MD 21402.