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NNS080125-14. Holocaust Survivor Sends Message of Courage, Strength to Sailors
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (AW/SW) Natalie Johnson, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific
NORTH ISLAND, Calif. (NNS) -- A Holocaust survivor spoke to service members at the Naval Air Station North Island base theater Jan. 23, in observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Dr. Edith Eger talked about her experiences in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II and how service members can use her experiences as an example to persevere in difficult situations.
"She has a lot of spirit, and a strong message," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate Airman Jasmine Stough, Naval Base Coronado. "We could be in a worse position."
Lt. Scott Becker, an attendee, has grandparents who are Holocaust survivors. He heard stories of their experiences, but said he never heard a story like Eger's.
"Personally, it was tough to relate, how [Eger] forgave the [German] guards," said Becker, Naval Base Point Loma. "That's tough to do."
United Nations General Assembly designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day, on Jan. 27, to mark the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest of the Nazi death camps, where Eger and her family were held captive.
While in the camp, Eger's parents were killed, and she was separated from one of her two sisters. At the end of the war, however, she was saved by an American Soldier.
After the war, Eger moved to the U.S., earned her degree in psychology and now practices in La Jolla, Calif.
Eger's message to service members is, "I am passing the torch to you; I am counting on you ... you can make a difference."
A prolific author and member of several professional associations, Eger has been lecturing military groups for 35 years. She has appeared on numerous TV programs and is frequently invited to speak at engagements throughout the U.S. and abroad.
For more news from Navy Region Southwest, visit
www.navy.mil/local/cnrsw/.
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NNS080125-11. PWD Chinhae Finds Energy Solutions in the Sun
By Christine Lohr and Yasuko Nakamura, Naval Facilities Engineering Command Far East Public Affairs
CHINHAE, South Korea (NNS) -- The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Far East's Public Works Department (PWD) in Chinhae, Korea has initiated solutions to the base's energy needs by looking to the sun.
"In the past 12 months, we completed five solar projects for Commander, Fleet Activities Chinhae (CFAC) that are expected to save money and lessen greenhouse gas emissions," said Lt. Troy Brown, Public Works Officer, Chinhae.
Two of the most recently completed were a $68,000 project to repair the roof and install a solar powered water heater in the base laundry facility, and a $90,000 project to install solar powered security lighting on the base.
The projects began after first identifying large sources of energy consumption around the base. And as most electrical consumers know, it takes a lot of energy to keep hot water in a tank 24 hours a day. So when the roof of the base laundry facility needed repairs, a plan was put into place to benefit from the sun by using solar energy to heat the facility's water supply. The project also called for a more efficient heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and incorporating better insulation throughout the facility.
This green construction project completed in December will help reduce the laundry's total energy consumption by as much as 40 percent, and at the same time, reduce CFAC's diesel fuel transport and consumption.
"CFAC's goal is to utilize as much renewable energy as possible with the shortest pay back period," said Brown. "Further use of renewable energy will also eliminate potential pollution into the environment."
Another energy consumption project identified by PWD Chinhae was the need to reduce the cost of street lighting. Street lighting is a larger energy consumer than many of us realize. A small town of 400 can spend as much as $1,500 a month to light a few streets. In an effort to conserve energy and save on scarce resources, some places have added timers to shut down lighting in the middle of the night.
CFAC already added selective timers to some of their lights, but because of security, lighting along the fence line of any base must always be available. And with new developments in solar lighting taking hold, PWD Chinhae found they could incorporate innovative solar solutions alongside the older lights.
Solar lighting has become more feasible recently, as built-in battery systems now hold a reservoir of energy during grey days. The lighting poles installed at Chinhae are able to do just that, going 48 hours on stored energy. Previously, lighting from solar collection either wasn't intense enough for street lighting, or they used too many watts to produce the requisite lighting intensity, and quickly drained the battery's reservoir of stored energy.
That problem has been solved with new filaments that are able to deliver a finer, more penetrable light that uses less wattage. Low cost, high efficiency bulbs are added to the mix so that a solar street light today is able to provide the same lighting spread and can suitably illuminate an area on 100 lux (10 candles brightness).
The $90,000 lighting project resulted in ten new solar light poles being installed in October, but analysis of the energy savings that the new poles will generate will take a while longer. "We won't be able to analyze the accurate cost savings for at least a year," said Soon No, Deputy Public Works Officer, PWD Chinhae.
PWD Chinhae will be watching their energy meters with interest to see what the actual energy savings will be for the two projects. However, the new lighting and the solar panels on the laundry facility should definitely lessen energy consumption, and with it a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, but only the sun will reveal the extent of exactly how much energy will be saved in the future, and how much better off planet Earth will be because of it.
For more news from Naval Facilities Engineering Command, visit
www.news.navy.mil/local/navfachq/.
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NNS080125-08. PCU George H.W. Bush FCPOA Holds Coat Drive for Local School
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Dominique J. Moore, PCU George H.W. Bush Public Affairs
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- The Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) George H.W. Bush's (CVN 77) First Class Petty Officers Association (FCPOA) ended its first coat drive for the students of Newsome Park Elementary School Jan. 18.
The month-long coat drive, provided Sailors, who wanted to participate, bins to drop off new and gently used coats.
"The purpose of the coat drive was to provide coats for children who are less fortunate than others, and in need of a coat to last them through the colder months," said Personnel Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Chiquita D. Fleming, command coat drive coordinator.
Once the coat drive came to an end, all the donated coats were given to Newsome Park Elementary School. The school's coat drive representative then distributed them to the students.
"I witnessed firsthand when I participated in one of the other volunteer functions held at Newsome Park Elementary School that these students were in dire need of a coat drive," said Fleming. "I felt that it was my duty to become more involved regarding this issue, so I took action by starting a command coat drive."
Machinist Mate 1st Class (SW) Daniel Krys, FCPOA president added that it felt good to give back to the community.
"I think it's our responsibility to provide assistance for those less fortunate if we have the resources to do so," said Krys.
Fleming added, "The purpose of the FCPOA is to provide a forum that allows Sailors aboard PCU Bush to deal with any social or professional issues they may be faced with."
PCU Bush is currently under construction at the Northrop Grumman Newport News shipyard.
For more news from PCU George H.W. Bush, visit
www.navy.mil/local/cvn77/.
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NNS080125-07. USS Vicksburg Returns from Gulf
By Ensign Drew Perciballi, USS Vicksburg Public Affairs
MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- USS Vicksburg (CG 69) and Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light (HSL) 42 Detachment 5 returned from a six-month Persian Gulf deployment, Jan. 25.
Over the course of her deployment, Vicksburg served as air defense commander for the Kearsarge Expeditionary Strike Group, area commander for Commander Task Force (CTF) 158 in the Northern Persian Gulf, supported the coalition presence and security operations in the Central Persian Gulf, hosted both the secretary of the Navy and secretary of defense, and conducted Maritime Security Operations in the region. Also, Capt. John C. Nygaard relieved Capt. Charles C. Swicker as Vicksburg's commanding officer.
Vicksburg enjoyed several port visits throughout the deployment, including being the first U.S. Navy ship to visit La Spezia, Italy in over three years. During the six-day port visit, Sailors enjoyed trips to Florence, Genova, Pisa, and Cinque Terre. In addition to Italy, Vicksburg visited Souda Bay, Crete, where the crew enjoyed tours of ancient ruins and crystal clear beaches.
While operating in the Persian Gulf, Vicksburg visited Manama, Bahrain on four separate occasions and also benefited from a liberty visit to Jebel Ali, United Arab Emirates.
Upon completion of her duties in the Persian Gulf, Vicksburg made a quick stop in Salalah, Oman prior to transiting the Suez Canal.
Limassol, Cyprus and Valletta, Malta were the next stops for Vicksburg, as she voyaged across the Mediterranean Sea and the 6th Fleet area of responsibility (AOR).
Vicksburg traveled over 31,500 miles and passed through several major choke points, including eight Strait of Hormuz transits.
While deployed to the 5th fleet AOR, Vicksburg was called on to perform a variety of missions. In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Vicksburg served as the area commander for CTF 158 at the Al Basrah Oil Terminal, a vital structure in Iraq's improving economy. On station, Vicksburg conducted 26 visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) evolutions, numerous security patrols, and conducted 76 small boat transfers, during a combined six-week period.
Showing versatility, Vicksburg seamlessly integrated into the Enterprise Strike Group, relieving USS Gettysburg (CG 64) as air defense commander and "shotgun" escort ship, allowing the Mayport-based Gettysburg made a port visit.
The crew worked successfully towards personal accomplishments, with over 50 Sailors attaining their enlisted surface warfare specialist pins.
Vicksburg also successfully completed two unit level training assessment - sustainment evolutions while transiting to and from homeport.
Vicksburg was tasked to assume duties as a surface action group commander for the returning ships in the Kearsarge Strike Group.
For more news from Commander, Amphibious Squadron 8, visit
www.news.navy.mil/local/phibron8/.
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NNS080125-06. Mighty 8 Hosts Leaders to Sea
By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Daniel Gross, Commander, Naval Surface Force Public Affairs
SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- USS Dubuque (LPD
"Mighty 8" hosted California business and community leaders, who were participating in the Navy's Leaders to Sea (LTS) program, Jan. 15-18.
Commander, Naval Surface Forces developed LTS to allow prominent figures across the United States, including teachers, politicians, and business owners, to experience a day in the life of a U.S. Navy Sailor. Through this experience, leaders gain a better understanding of the Navy's mission, which they can then share with others in their communities.
Dubuque's Commanding Officer Capt. Bruce Lindsey, Executive Officer Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Voas, and Command Master Chief Brent Williams welcomed more than 32 guests to the "Mighty 8" during the four-day event.
Guests were first given a brief introduction to the ship, followed by tours where they were able to witness the hustle of Dubuque Sailors around the Austin-class amphibious transport dock. The tours focused on the theme of "Ask a Sailor." Spanning the length of the day, leaders went from the bridge to the well deck, stopping along the way to ask Sailors what they were doing and what their job was like.
"I have a lot of pride in what I do and I appreciate it when people take an interest in it," said Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class James Martinez, who was one of the Sailors who spoke with guests.
Sonia Ruan, a principal at Kimball Elementary School, said the tour was an "awakening experience" for her.
"I grew up in National City," said Ruan. "I used to ride my bike past the base as a little girl and always wondered what went on behind the gates. It's amazing to be able learn about everything and it gives me a great appreciation for what the Navy and the Sailors do."
Dubuque, which is homeported in San Diego, is currently preparing for deployment later this year as part of the Peleliu Expeditionary Strike Group.
For more news from Commander, Naval Surface Force, visit
www.navy.mil/local/cnsp/.
