Navy News Service for Tuesday, January 08, 2008
NNS080108-08. Secretary of Defense Visits San Diego Commands, Presents
Awards
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=34219NNS080108-02. CNO Visiting Navy Shipyards Around the Country
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=34222NNS080108-01. Africa Partnership Station Arrives in Libreville, Gabon
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=34217NNS080108-09. Navy Helicopters Rescue Flooded Residents
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=34227NNS080108-07. DoD Identifies Navy Casualty
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=34225NNS080108-05. Daily News Update for January 8, 2008
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=34226NNS011214-19. This Day in Naval History - Jan. 09
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http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=310Eye on the Fleet - U.S. Navy Photo of The Day
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http://www.navy.mil/list_single.asp?id=54333-USN-
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NNS080108-08. Secretary of Defense Visits San Diego Commands, Presents
Awards
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Alexis R. Brown, Commander,
Navy Region Southwest Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates made stops
at various commands in San Diego Jan. 7 to recognize Sailors and thank
their family members for dedication to service in keeping with his
ongoing program visiting military personnel at their duty stations.
During his first stop, Gates presented 11 Sailors from Explosive
Ordnance Disposal Mobile Units (EODMU) 1 and 3, homeported at Naval
Amphibious Base Coronado, with Bronze Stars for their duties while
deployed to Iraq. Gates also promoted two Sailors, who were
meritoriously advanced, to first class petty officer.
"One of my greatest honors as Secretary of Defense is to participate in
ceremonies like these. I'm always humbled and inspired by what our
troops accomplish under the most challenging and demanding conditions,"
said Gates to ceremony participants and awardees.
"These members of EOD Mobile Units 1 and 3 set up an entire EOD compound
from scratch in Southern Baghdad. The team ultimately performed more
than 400 missions, many on foot, and disabled more than 90 improvised
explosive devices," he added.
New to the explosive ordnance family, Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st
Class Geoff Hurley of EODMU 3 said his receiving a Bronze Star from the
Secretary of Defense came as a surprise.
"I was shocked when I found out. It is cool," Hurley said. "This is
probably a once in a lifetime experience, opportunity. It is very
awesome to have that honor."
Hurley, who was a cryptologic technician before converting to EOD, said
he was looking for a job that was a little more exciting and found it in
EOD.
While at the amphibious base, Gates also awarded Bronze stars with
Combat Valor to six Sailors from SEAL Team 7.
Gates next visited Commander, Navy Region Southwest Headquarters to
discuss the Navy's role in combatting the recent San Diego area
wildfires, and the military's role in Defense Support for Civil
Authority situations.
Rear Adm. Len Hering, commander, Navy Region Southwest said Gates' visit
to the San Diego area is very significant.
"To be able to come out here and to award that number of Bronze Stars to
the professionals who live here and to make recognition of the family's
contribution is important," said Hering. "We've done a great job, and
it's wonderful to have the Secretary of Defense out here letting people
know that they're appreciated and that their job is contributing towards
the mission and hopefully, a resolution for the global war on terror."
Sailors stationed aboard the USS New Orleans (LPD 18), the final stop in
San Diego, also had an opportunity to enjoy Gates' company during a tour
and lunch.
Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class (SW) Crystal Collins said she was moved by
Gates' comments regarding those who deploy and have to leave their
families.
"He thanked us for what we do and we leave our families behind. They
stay here and wait for us to come back, and that hit close to home
because I am a single parent," Collins said.
Gates said he was impressed with the Sailors he met during his visit in
San Diego, and more impressed of the San Diego community support to the
service members.
"I just can't say how much I admire the men and women who are in
service. They are extraordinary," said Gates. "I come away from this
visit with these different units this morning and the visit to this ship
immensely impressed, as I always am, by the caliber of people who are
serving our nation."
For more news from Commander, Navy Region Southwest, visit
www.navy.mil/local/cnrsw/.
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NNS080108-02. CNO Visiting Navy Shipyards Around the Country
From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Gary Roughead
left the Pentagon, Jan. 7 on an eight-day trip to visit private and
public shipyards throughout the U.S.
As detailed in the 2007-2008 CNO Guidance, building the Navy's future
fleet is a top priority. This trip will serve to deepen Roughead's
understanding of the shipbuilding industry and help inform shipbuilding
decisions.
"It is vitally important that I have up-to-date, first-hand knowledge of
the latest developments, technological advances, and infrastructure
improvements in the shipyards," CNO explained.
He said that a stable shipbuilding plan relates directly to the quality
and quantity of ships the Navy acquires.
"Shipbuilding is complex, and the decisions I'll make regarding it are
critically important to the future of the Navy," Roughead added.
The trip includes visits to Portsmouth Shipyard (Portsmouth, N.H.), Bath
Iron Works (Brunswick, Maine), three Northrop Grumman Ship Systems sites
to include Ingalls (Pascagoula, Miss.), Avondale (New Orleans, La.) and
Gulfport (Gulfport, Miss.), Austal USA Shipbuilding (Mobile, Ala.),
Marinette Marine (Marinette, Wisc.) and National Steel and Shipbuilding
Company (San Diego).
Additionally, Roughead will meet with MIT Security Studies Program
faculty and other academic and business leaders, visit the Naval War
College and Senior Enlisted Academy, and conduct All Hands Calls during
his station and shipboard visits.
This visit will also play a larger role as CNO emphasizes his commitment
to making the Navy a "Top 50" workplace. On this trip and in those of
the future, Roughead will meet with Sailors, Navy civilians and family
members, as well as business leaders and educators to help define the
Navy's way ahead and integrate change, as needed.
"I'm a firm believer that if you don't walk the ground, you will not
have a good sense of what's going on," Roughead said.
For more news from Chief of Naval Operations, visit
www.navy.mil/local/cno/.
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NNS080108-01. Africa Partnership Station Arrives in Libreville, Gabon
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Eddie Dale Harrison, Africa
Partnership Station Public Affairs
LIBREVILLE, Gabon (NNS) -- Africa Partnership Station (APS) aboard
Amphibious Dock Landing Ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) arrived in
Libreville, Jan. 7.
APS's visit is part of a seven-month deployment designed to support and
strengthen regional maritime safety and security in West and Central
Africa and includes Sailors from Africa, Europe and the United States.
"In addition to their usual training, Gabonese Sailors will benefit from
professional trainers in an international framework," said French Navy
Lt. Cmdr. Bertrand Daniel, APS operation branch head. "The training will
be very interesting and beneficial for the Gabonese Navy; it gives them
a chance to work with different branches of military from different
countries."
The training is designed to ensure that maritime safety and security
will contribute to economical development ashore.
Some examples of training include maintenance, small boat handling,
security and visit, board, search and seizures.
"In this part of the Gulf of Guinea there are many crimes to include
human and drug trafficking, with this training, it will increase our
Gabonese Sailor's awareness and help to protect these waters," said
Gabon Navy Lt. Cmdr. Marcel Mihindou.
"It is great to work with people from places like Germany and France,"
said Mihindou. "The knowledge we gain from APS will give us the
confidence and professionalism for the future."
APS 2007 is a U.S. Naval Forces Europe-led initiative, executed by a
multi-national staff aboard Fort McHenry and High Speed Vessel 2 Swift.
Commander Task Group 60.4 and training teams from various U.S. and
European military commands, as well as governmental and non-governmental
organizations are embarked on board Fort McHenry to enhance cooperative
partnerships with regional maritime services in West and Central Africa
and the Gulf of Guinea on a seven-month deployment.
For more news from USS Fort McHenry, visit
www.navy.mil/local/lsd43/.
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NNS080108-09. Navy Helicopters Rescue Flooded Residents
From Naval Air Station Fallon Public Affairs
FERNLEY, Nev. (NNS) -- Residents of Fernley awoke to a chilly surprise
on Jan. 5, nearly freezing water was pouring through their neighborhood
and invading their homes.
A canal that carries irrigation water suffered a ditch bank failure, and
several hundred houses were caught in the path of the fast moving water,
flooding many to a depth of several feet.
As part of an immediate response by military assets, Navy helicopters
rescued 18 people from the flooded area.
The earthen canal failed around 4:30 a.m. on Jan. 5 and the breach
quickly eroded. The water flooded several subdivisions, with depths
rising to eight feet in some areas. Homes in the immediate area were
flooded with several feet of water, and most of the cars were completely
submerged. By 6 a.m., local emergency officials were calling for
assistance, and NAS Fallon was quick to respond.
At 6:45 a.m., the first of two HH-1N Huey helicopters was airborne and
heading to the flooded area, 30 miles from the base.
In command of the aircraft was Lt. Brent Hardgrave, a search and rescue
(SAR) pilot with the Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon "Longhorns".
Cmdr. Doug Russell, NAS Fallon executive officer was the second pilot,
with two aviation warefare systems operators rounding out the crew.
"The real-world experience of helping people in peril, whether they are
lost in the wilderness or caught in a flood, is not only good training,
but what being a good neighbor is all about," said Russell, the SAR team
leader.
Russell added that the SAR assets at NAS Fallon, when not assisting
flood victims, are designated to provide assistance if a military
aircraft goes down.
Upon arrival, the crew, under the direction of the civilian authorities,
was immediately put to work. Many people were stranded by the rising
waters, and evacuation efforts became the priority.
The helicopter crew made multiple trips between the victim's houses and
a staging point where bus transportation was shuttling people to a
temporary shelter set up in the local high school. Several families were
able to climb into the aircraft from their flooded front lawns, a hover
maneuver called a "one skid," while two folks were hoisted to safety
from the roof of their car.
In addition to the HH-1N Huey support, NAS Fallon's Seabee detachment,
Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit 303 provided 140,000 empty
sandbags.
A second Huey was not needed in the flood zone, and instead provided
communications support between the Navy and the civilian authorities.
Other Navy efforts to help included providing 140,000 empty sandbags
from NAS Fallon's Seabee detachment, CBMU-303, and staging several Coast
Guard C-130's that arrived to deliver FEMA-supplied Meals-Ready-to-Eat
and bottled water.
For more news from Naval Air Station Fallon, visit
www.navy.mil/local/nasfallon/.
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NNS080108-07. DoD Identifies Navy Casualty
From the Department of Defense
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of Defense announced Jan. 8 the death
of a Sailor who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Information System Technician 2nd Class Menelek M. Brown, 24, of
Roswell, N.M., was declared dead Jan. 4 after apparently going overboard
from USS Hopper (DDG 70) in the Arabian Sea Jan. 3.
Navy aircraft and ships conducted an extensive search but did not locate
him. Hopper is homeported in Pearl Harbor.
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NNS080108-05. Daily News Update for January 8, 2008
From the Navy News Service
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Daily News Update features six newscasts each day -
one two-minute newscast and five one-minute newscasts.
Two-minute newscast-
- Headlines from around the fleet: Two F/A-18's crash in the Persian
Gulf; Iranian small boats confront three U.S. Navy ships; individual
augmentee deployments are becoming part of the detailing process.
First one-minute newscast-
- Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead discusses leadership.
Second one-minute newscast-
- The Thrift Savings Plan gives service members a way to secure their
financial future.
Third one-minute newscast-
- The legalman rating is open for cross raters.
Fourth one-minute newscast-
- Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewmen face an intense training
program.
Fifth one-minute newscast-
- Task Force Life Work visits Navy commands.
Naval Media Center produces six Daily News Update (DNU) newscasts: a
two-minute newscast and five one-minute newscasts. DNU can be seen
throughout the day and evening on the Direct-to-Sailor (DTS) satellite
television service available aboard 160 ships of the fleet and via the
Navy Web site at
www.navy.mil. Check your local DTS program schedule for
air times. DNU can also be seen throughout the world on the Armed Forces
Radio and Television Service (AFRTS).
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NNS011214-19. This Day in Naval History - Jan. 09
From the Navy News Service
1861 - Union steamer Star of the West is fired on by the Confederates in
Charleston Harbor.
1918 - The Naval Overseas Transportation Service is established to carry
cargo during World War I.
1945 - Carrier aircraft begin a two-day attack on Japanese forces at
Luzon, Philippines.
For more news from the Naval Historical Center, visit their Navy
Newsstand page at
www.news.navy.mil/local/navhist.
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Navy News Service is the official news wire service of the U.S. Navy,
containing stories recently posted to the Navy Web site at
www.navy.mil.
It is a product of the Naval Media Center, 2713 Mitscher Rd. SW,
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For the latest in Navy news from around the fleet, visit
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For all Navy-related questions, review the FAQs posted at
www.navy.milor visit the Naval Historical Center's Web site at
www.history.navy.mil.
Media queries should be directed to the Navy News Desk at (703)
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V/r,
LT Jennifer Cragg
Naval Media Center
2713 Mitscher Rd.
Building 168
Anacostia Annex, DC 20373-5819
(202) 433-0574
Jennifer.cragg@navy.mil 
