RIMPAC 2014 OVERVIEW

USS Peleliu Holds Burial at SeaPg. 2Midshipmen Learn Through Hands On Experience Pg. 4So You Want to be a Surface Warrior? Pg. 5

“Capable, Adaptive, Partners”

PeleNewsJune 27, 2014

Vol. 2, Issue 6

The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) conducted a burial at sea for 22 deceased veterans and family members, June 22.

The Navy began holding burials at sea when they could not properly bury the deceased. They began ceremoniously committing bodies and remains to their final resting place in the sea.

“It’s important to remember the service of the people who served in the different branches of the military and also their family members, “ said U.S. Navy Chaplain, Lt. Tung Tran, assigned to Peleliu. “They would be pleased to know that we honor the

wishes of the dead and their family.” Burials at sea are conducted

to render honors to fallen military members, retirees, honorable discharged active duty service members or military dependents. This tradition is a way to show respect to the deceased’s dedication and faithful service to our country.

Sailors from a variety of departments participated in the ceremony. Sailors volunteered as casket and cremains bearers for each fallen service member and dependent.

Information Systems Technician 1st Class Chris Rae expressed his gratitude to have the opportunity to play a role in the ceremony.

“It’s gives me a sense of pride and

honor to pay my respects for a fellow service member,” said Rae. “It feels good to repay their service with mine and do something like this, there is a lot of honor here.”

Among the volunteers was Command Master Chief Tyron D. Flynn, who participated in the national ensign presentation.

“It’s important that the Sailors get the opportunity to see and participate in the burial,” said Flynn. “That way they can carry it on and continue to share the tradition with future Sailors.”

The crew of Peleliu honored deceased members from the Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Army, with a 21-gun salute and piping from the Honor Boatswain’s Mate.

(June 22, 2014) – Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), participate in a burial at sea ceremony for 22 veterans and family members.

Photo by MCSN Amanda Chavez

Photo by MC3 Katarzyna Kobiljak

Photo by MCSN Amanda Chavez

Photo by MC3 Katarzyna Kobiljak

PeleNews is published and printed on board by the USS Peleliu (LHA 5) Media Division. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents are not necessarily the official views of the U.S. Government. PeleNews reserves the right to edit submissions. Submission deadline is Thursday by noon to pao@lha5.navy.mil

Commanding OfficerCapt. Paul C. Spedero

Executive OfficerCmdr. Scott Hudson

Command Master ChiefCMDCM(SW/AW/EXW)

TyRon Flynn

MC2 (SW/AW) Amanda Gray

MC3 (SW/AW) Katarzyna Kobiljak

MC3 Dustin Knight

MC3 Ryan Batchelder

MC3 Will Gaskill

MCSN (SW) Christopher Farrington

MCSN Amanda Chavez

MCSN (SW) Michael Duran

StaffFront Cover photo by

MCSN Christopher

Farrington.

Back Cover photo by

MC3 Dustin Knight

Public Affairs OfficerLt. Julianne Holland

Managing EditorMCC(SW/AW) Michael Wagoner

Leading Petty OfficerMC2(SW) Daniel Viramontes

Designer/EditorMC2 Alex Van’tLeven

Story by MCSN Amanda ChavezPeleliu Staff Writer

USS Peleliu Holds Burial at Sea2 June 27, 2014

The amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5) leads a group formation of international ships, including vessels from Mexico and Columbia, during a photo exercise, June 23.

Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Robert Pucel, from Beachmaster Unit (BMU) 1, signals Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 58, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, to hold it’s postition after landing during an equipment transfer betweenUSS Rushmore (LSD 47) and Marine Corps Base Kaneohe Bay.

USS Peleliu (LHA 5) steadies its course while in formation during a photo exercise, June 23.

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Daniel Viramontes

U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Daniel Viramontes

Vol. 2, Issue 6

Peleliu will be participants in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC), which is the largest biannual multinational maritime exercise. The first RIMPAC was held in 1971. It involved forces from the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. Only Canada, Australia, and the United States have participated in every RIMPAC operation.

RIMPAC 2014 will take place from June 26 though Aug. 1. This year we have 22 countries, 49 surface ships, six submarines, more than 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel contributing to the exercise. The purpose of RIMPAC is to help encourage and maintain the cooperative relationships with a number of countries to ensure the safety of sea lanes and security of the world’s oceans.

This year, components from Australia, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the People’s Republic of China, Peru, The Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippians, Singapore, Tonga, the United Kingdom, and the United States will participate. This is the first year that the Royal Norwegian Navy and China will take part in the exercise.

The opening reception is scheduled for June 26 in Hawaii. Many events are expected to follow while in port, which include a medical symposium, a visit from the Surgeon General, a variety of sporting competitions between international ships, community relations

projects and a number of meetings and receptions.

The theme for RIMPAC this year is, “Capable, Adaptive, Partners.” This exercise builds a true partnership, based on mutual understanding and respect and is evident throughout all levels of leadership.

High-ranking officials from many different countries will be in charge of the various exercises. This marks the first year that a Royal Canadian Navy flag officer will command the maritime component, and the first time a Chilean Navy captain will serve as the deputy maritime component commander.

The participating nations bring a variety of capabilities, which reveal the flexibility of the world’s maritime forces. The capacity of the maritime forces will be emphasized through a number of exercise involving mine clearance, sinking exercises, amphibious operations, gunnery exercises, air-defense exercises, disaster response,

anti-submarine warfare, explosive ordnance disposal, diving and salvage operations, and humanitarian relief.

This is a unique opportunity for everyone involved. The partnerships and multinational relationships built from this exercise is expected to help us for years to come.

U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Dustin Knight

Story by MC2 (SW/AW) Amanda GrayPeleliu Staff Writer

RIMPAC 2014 Overview: “Capable, Adaptive, Partners”3

Midshipmen embarked aboard USS Peleliu (LHA 5) attempt to patch a ruptured pipe during damage control training, June 21.

U.S. Navy photo by MCSN Christopher Farrington

Vol. 2, Issue 6

Midshipmen embarked the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), to conduct their Midshipmen summer cruise training, June 17 through Aug. 1.

The Midshipmen not only had an opportunity to work in the fleet, but they were involved in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014, the world’s largest multinational naval exercise.

“It’s incredible that we get to be a part of RIMPAC, so we get to spend time with Sailors from other countries and learn from them as well as the officers in the wardroom,” said Midshipman Chloe Pina.

Midshipmen stood conning officer watch on the bridge during

replenishments-at-sea, attended navigation briefs, department head meetings, learned celestial navigation, experienced helicopter operations, participated in damage control training, and actively participated in a variety of other shipboard evolutions and watches.

“It was really cool being able to handle the fire hose and simulate fighting a fire,” said Pina.

“We’ve had a pretty full schedule with bridge watches and various training exercises that will help better prepare us when we become a part of the fleet.”

According to Capt. Paul C. Spedero, commanding officer of Peleliu, the wardroom’s responsibility was to expose the Midshipmen to a wide variety of shipboard communities so that they could learn as much as possible.

“Most of them will be in leadership positions and be placed in charge of Sailors, so the experience they gain now will help them step into that role and have an understanding of what they are expected to do as a junior officer,” said Spedero. “There’s no trial period, so this is important for them because they’re

expected to know things and do things as soon as they step onto their new ships.”

Midshipmen from Columbia and Mexico also had an opportunity to spend time aboard Peleliu learning what it’s like to be an officer aboard a U.S. ship.

“We as Midshipmen are always learning the process, trying to understand how the ships work and how we can be better leaders,” said Midshipman Claudio Davila Castro, from the Mexican ship ARM Centenario de la Revolucion (PO-164). “The attitude of the Midshipmen and the officers has been great, and everyone is trying to help each other to learn on Peleliu.”

The senior leadership aboard Peleliu was very excited to host the Midshipmen and answer all of their questions.

“They all seem very motivated and involved and are asking us questions and trying to learn as much as they can while they’re aboard Peleliu,” said Spedero.

RIMPAC has given the Midshipmen additional opportunities to observe how the Navy operates on a multinational level, which will better prepare them as future Navy leaders.

“Up until this point, the Midshipmen have had a limited amount of exposure to the fleet and it’s important for them to see firsthand what Navy life is about, so they can make educated decisions about where they want to go in their careers,” said Spedero.

Roman Catholic Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore (LPD 47) had the opportunity to participate in Mass and confession at sea when Lt. Tung Tran, U.S. Navy chaplain assigned to amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu (LHA 5), paid them a visit while en route to Hawaii to participate in exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2014, June 21.

Tran, along with his assistant Religious Programs Specialist Seaman Kevin Tufel, boarded an MH-60S Seahawk helicopter assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 21, affectionately dubbed “Holy Helo,” a term used for helicopters transporting chaplains.

“It makes me feel good to be able to travel to other ships to provide religious services for them,” said Tran. “I am glad to be utilized to the benefit of service members of other ships who would otherwise not have access to a Catholic chaplain.”

Rushmore has a protestant chaplain but lacks a Catholic priest on board. “There are about 50-52 active duty Catholic chaplains in the

Navy,” said Tran. “With the shortage of Catholic chaplains, it’s very important that the Catholic chaplains reach out to minister to Catholic Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen as much as possible, whether that means providing services to other ships or other commands and installations,” said Tran. “There may be lay leaders when there are no chaplains, but the sacraments are key pillars in Catholic theology. So, you

have to have Catholic chaplains, meaning priests, to administer them.”Along with the Mass, Tran offered confession, the sacrament

of anointing of the healing and sick and welcomed prayer requests from any Sailor for themselves or their families.

“I like to make myself available to those Sailors who want to go to confession and anyone who would like to unload any burden they may have spiritually,” Tran said.

Tran, who has provided services to other ships while in port, has never had the opportunity to travel to other ships while at sea.

“It was my first time riding a helicopter and I will never forget it,” said Tran. “It was a good experience. The weather was good. The pilots were professional and looked after me meticulously.”

Sailors from the Rushmore voiced their appreciation for Tran’s services as well.

“Chaplain Tran’s visit to the Rushmore this past Saturday was an exceptional end to the first week underway going to RIMPAC,” said Lt. Catherine Kubera, Rushmore’s dental department head. “It is rare that we have a Catholic chaplain aboard, so I know many Catholic Sailors really look forward to Mass as a pause in the busy week to refocus and center our thoughts and spend time in the presence of God. For myself, since I find being underway can be stressful and frustrating at times, attending

Holy Helo continued on page 7.

Story by MCSN (SW) Christopher FarringtonPeleliu Staff Writer

Story by MC3 Dustin Knight Peleliu Staff Writer

Midshipmen Learn Through Hands On Experience Aboard Peleliu

PELELIU’S CHAPLAIN BOARDS “HOLY HELO” TO RUSHMORE

4 June 27, 2014

Vol. 2, Issue 6So You Want to be a Surface Warrior?

Hooyah, I ron Nickel! Aloha, and welcome to the RIMPAC

edi t ion of the CMC’s Corner! Shipmates , i t i s great to be back in the fabulous s ta te of Hawaii and especial ly good to be a par t , of the RIMPAC 2014 exercise!

Shipmates , we are for tunate to be a par t of this mult i -nat ional exercise themed this year as , “Capable , Adapt ive, Par tners .” The RIMPAC exercise a l lows us the opportuni ty to demonstrate the value of our mari t ime forces and provides a unique t ra ining opportuni ty that improves our internat ional naval cooperat ion. Twenty-two nat ions, 47 surface ships , 6 submarines and over 200 aircraf t operated and manned with over 25,000 Sai lors and Marines! This is t ruly a major event!

With that being said, we wil l be r ight in the center of i t a l l here in beaut i ful Oahu at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. We wil l have the wonderful opportuni ty to meet and exchange conversat ion with our counterpar ts par t ic ipat ing in the exercise . We wil l a lso have the opportuni ty to have some fr iendly sport ing competi t ions, as wel l . I s t rongly encourage you al l to take advantage of this t ime, not everyone gets to play a par t in RIMPAC!

Shipmates , enjoy your t ime in Oahu. Go out and see the is land. Experience the wonderful things that our 50th s ta te has to offer. Be kind and courteous and be good on l iber ty. We are just embarking on a wonderful deployment , so take care of yourselves and watch out for your shipmates!

That’s i t f rom the CMC’s Corner! As always, shipmates , be pol i te , be professional and be prepared! Hooyah, I ron Nickel! CMC out!

CMC’s Corner

CMDCM (SW/AW/EXW) TyRon FlynnCommand Master Chief, USS Peleliu (LHA 5)

Coming this summer to an amphibious assault ship near you- ESWS Boards! If you don’t have your surface pin, or you need to re-qualify for the LHA-class platform, get in line, pay attention, and read on.

The Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) qualification is a time-honored tradition amongst Sailors. Your staff at the PeleNews searched far and wide, from vulture’s row to the pit, to bring you the low-down on what it is, why it’s so important and how you can join the ranks of pinned Sailors as we steam to the Orient and back.

We tracked down the always-busy Quarter Master 1st Class Brodie Williams, assistant coordinator for the Peleliu’s ESWS program. He offered valuable insight into the program, and laid out the process for new Sailors seeking to get their ESWS pin while aboard the Peleliu.

Williams has been on board since mid-2009, and stepped up to the duty of assistant coordinator in December 2012. Since then, he has been a familiar face to every sailor working on their surface warfare qualification.

“(It is difficult) getting time to do walk-throughs in-between watch and working hours.” Williams told PeleNews. “But be proactive and hungry for your quals.”

There has to be some hungry sailors onboard Peleliu, have you seen the length of the chow line?

The ESWS process can be confusing for anyone. Williams explained the steps to take, which will vary from sailor to sailor, but all of the following steps must be completed before one can add the (SW) title to his signature line:

1) Complete in-rate qualifications. This varies between rates and pay grades, but any ESWS-worthy Sailor must be a professional in their own rate.

2) Damage control (DC) 301 through 308. This is not only important for the ESWS process, but can save your life in case of emergency.

3) Craftsman qualification (it’s more than just a quality brand of hand tools.)

4) Material Maintenance and Management (3-M) qualification, which includes maintenance man, must be completed.

5) Enroll in the ESWS program. Fill out and properly route the enrollment form, which can be found on the Peleliu’s intranet. There’s a lot of signatures you will need.

6) Get your PQS books and do walkthroughs with the appropriate

departments. Your chain can provide you with the books, you can provide the legwork. Never skip leg day!

7) Study for and take the ESWS written test. Yup, you read it right, STUDY!

8) Stand your boards. As we promised earlier, coming soon- you and a panel of 1st Class Petty Officers, who will grill you on your knowledge of the platform you are serving on.

9) After that, the Chief’s board wants a bit of your time also, and don’t worry, they won’t go easy on you.

We have all heard horror stories about the ESWS process because this qualification doesn’t come easy. Everything from losing sleep, to having to retake the boards are problems that Sailors face trying to earn their pin.

Williams retells one such story: “I remember a Sailor passed out while standing his board.” Remember your RDC’s advice- don’t lock your knees.

If you want to be a qualified warrior of the sea, you need to step up your game, get out of your comfort zone and put in the work to earn your ESWS pin.

“I remember being so nervous during my board that I sweat through my utility shirt,” Williams reflects. (For junior Sailors- utilities are the uniforms from back in the day, before NWUs.)

However, not all ESWS stories are white-knuckle, high drama stories.

“I will never forget the last question the chief asked me during my final board,” said Culinary Specialist 1st Class Miriam McCormick, command ESWS exam coordinator. “’What does ESWS stand for?’ he asked. When I told him Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, he said ‘congratulations, you are now ESWS qualified’.”

A Sailor might long for dry land and the steady pace of shore life, but a deployment should not be squandered on Monopoly and Game of Thrones reruns.

“Stay focused on your goals,” McCormick offers . “I always tell my Sailors that if you don’t come home from deployment with both pins or at least ESWS, then you just wasted a deployment.”

For more information about the Peleliu’s ESWS program, visit the ship’s intranet, which hosts all the instructions and some important documents to study, and get with your chain of command to talk about adding that (SW) to your name.

Next time in the PeleNews, we will discuss how to become Air Warfare (AW) qualified. Until then my friends, stay salty.

Story by MC3 Will GaskillPeleliu Staff Writer

5

Photo by LS2 Alex K. Safont

Senior Chief Logistics Specialist Matthew Stockdale recites the oath with Ens Raneeza Guiao during his final reenlistment ceremony at Recruit Training Command Point Loma, May 16.

Vol. 2, Issue 6Senior Chief Re-enlists Where it All Began

On a warm, sunny San Diego day at Recruit Training Command Point Loma, among the 1,400 men and women standing on Preble Field, stood Matthew Stockdale, soon-to-be boot camp graduate and one of the Navy’s newest Sailors.

Twenty-four years later, on a day much like the day he graduated, Stockdale, now a senior chief logistics specialist, stood in the same spot he once completed boot camp from to re-enlist one final time.

“Re-enlisting at the old training center on Point Loma where I went to boot camp was special to me because, it is where my career started and I felt that if this was my last enlistment, then what better place to do it,” said Stockdale.

As important of a moment as it was for Stockdale, he didn’t make it all about himself. He took care of his junior Sailors as well.

“Senior chief Stockdale decided to mark his final reenlistment of his career by reenlisting in the same place he began his career,” said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Vincent Miller. “I was honored he invited me to be a part of it because I was about to re-enlist for six years, the first reenlistment of my career. Reenlisting for six years is a huge commitment, a big part of one’s life, a decision that I was very hesitant to make. It was Senior Stockdale who made that decision a whole lot easier for me.”

Miller also spoke about how Stockdale earns the respect and admiration of his Sailors.

“Ever since Senior checked on board the USS Peleliu, he has been a phenomenal leader and he has made a positive impact on many lives,” said Miller. “He is the type of person who will not think twice about helping out a Sailor in their time of need, no matter how bad the situation is and he will never pass judgment on that Sailor, which is why he has the confidence of his crew. Senior Stockdale is the type of leader that you can go to for advice and have the confidence that whatever words come out of his mouth is with the Sailors’ best interest in mind. Out of all the positive characteristics that make up Senior Chief Stockdale, it is his trustworthiness that stands out the most. The best way you can determine if a leader is truly great, is not by the rank a man holds, but by the crew that is behind the man. If the crew will follow that man into a war and put their lives on the line by their own

free will, then you know you are among greatness. Any of the Sailors that work for Senior Stockdale will follow him to hell and back without regard for their own lives, for the mere fact that they respect him and he means much more to them than just a superior.”

The road for Stockdale to make senior chief wasn’t always easy.

“I had trouble advancing to 2nd class because I refused to study,” Stockdale said. “It took me five times to get it together and finally it worked and I advanced. I have looked back and reflected and realized if I would’ve studied one hour a day every other day for about six weeks I could pass the test and advance. There was also a rating merger that incorporated the aviation storekeeper rating, which I was in the logistics specialist rating, and that weighed on me a bit.”

Stockdale wasn’t always sold on the idea of staying in the Navy but aspects of the military life kept bringing him back.

“I left the Navy twice,” said Stockdale. “The first time I left I worked for a lighting company as a quality insurance inspector, ensuring that the wiring elements were within limits. The second time I worked for a government contractor at the Depot Repair Facility in Little Creek, Va. I was still in the reserves. When the Navy took me back in 2002, I decided that it was time to commit for good. I had been out of the Navy but realized just how much I missed the people and friends that I had made. I think more than anything I missed the structured environment that it offered, as well as the job security.”

The Navy has offered Stockdale many opportunities that he possibly wouldn’t have had otherwise.

“I earned my Associates and Bachelors degree which was a huge achievement for me,” said Stockdale. “I was a D- student

who had to graduate in summer school because I was not doing what needed to get done. So by doing this and working hard for it, I was able to prove a lot of people wrong, which is what drives me the most.”

The person that Stockdale credits most with pushing him to join the Navy is the person that gave birth to him, his mother. Growing up in a small town was tough and offered little opportunity so his mother urged him to try something new.

“My mother influenced me to join the Navy,” Stockdale said. “She felt there was something better out there for me than the place where I lived. I grew up in a town and county with a population of about 50,000. There wasn’t a lot going on and it had nothing to offer, other than factory jobs. The thought of sitting in a factory for 30 years was not all that appealing to me. My mother worked hard and did the best she could so I felt I owed it to her to make something of myself. It wasn’t easy to raise four kids alone but she did and pushed all of us to achieve something.”

Stockdale, in his 21 years of naval experience, has learned many lessons; whether it be from his own experiences or others, and offers this advice to his Sailors.

“The Navy will take care of you no matter what,” Stockdale said. “If you are having financial problems they will get you help. If you are having family problems they will get you help. The Navy always helps their Sailors, you just have to follow the rules and live by them. The pay check is always there on the 1st and 15th and has rarely been late over the last 20 years. This is an easy job but there is a lot of sacrifice that comes with it. Any person can earn anything they want in life if they are willing to work for it. You only get one chance at it over your lifetime so achieve all that you can.”

Story by MC3 Dustin KnightPeleliu Staff Writer

6 June 27, 2014

Chaplain Lt. Tung Tran, assigned to USS Peleliu (LHA 5), blesses communion during Roman Catholic Mass aboard USS Rushmore (LSD 47).

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U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Dustin Knight

U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Dustin Knight U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Dustin Knight

U.S. Navy photo by MCSN Amanda Chavez

U.S. Navy Photo by MC3 Katarzyna Kobiljak

U.S. Navy Photo by MC2 Amanda Gray U.S. Navy Photo by MC2 Amanda Gray U.S. Navy Photo by MC3 Katarzyna Kobiljak

U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Ryan Batchelder

Photo 1: Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) 58, assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5, makes its approach to land during an equipment transfer, June 25. Photo 2: Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Handling) Airman Coltin Behrendt launches a Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm (BO-105) helicopter, assigned to the Columbian ship ARC Almirante Padilla (FM-51), June 23. Photo 3: Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Mathew Williams organizes .762 caliber ammunition casings before a qualification shoot, June 19. Photo 4: Lt.j.g. Bradley Sinoc (left), and Ensign Dustin Shelley monitor surface contacts on the bridge, June21. Photo 5: An MH-60S Seahawk helicopter, assigned to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 4, carries cargo from the USNS Rainer (T-AOE 7), to Peleliu, June 24. Photo 6: Peleliu and USS Spruance (DDG 111) conduct a replenishment-at-sea with USNS Rainier (T-AOE 7), June 24. Photo 7: Operations Specialist 1st Class Jeremy Sutton and Machinist’s Mate 1st Class Andrew Dunlap guide a Landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) toward the well deck of the amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu, June 22 Photo 8: Sailors assigned to Peleliu prepare for morning flight operations, June 23 Photo 9: Sailors watch as Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain (CG 57) makes its approach alongside for a replenishment-at-sea, June 20.

Vol. 2, Issue 6

Catholic Mass helps me refocus my mind and be more appreciative of the amazing experiences and friendships I am developing onboard.”

Rushmore’s Sailors hope to see Tran, or any other Catholic priest aboard again in the near future.

“If possible, it would be wonderful to be able to have a Catholic chaplain come aboard once a week for Sunday Mass,” Kubera said. “Of course, more often than that would be appreciate as well! Having time to do confession and maybe share dinner or supper with him would be a real treat too.”

The Rushmore is not Tran’s last stop. Tran plans to visit more ships during the group sail to Hawaii and again during RIMPAC.

“I hope Sailors know that the leaders in the military services do care about their spiritual and physical welfare, and that the chaplains are here with them and for them,” Tran said.

Holy Helo, continued from page 4.

U.S. Navy photo by MC3 Dustin Knight

PELELIU: MISSION READY!

7

H a w a i iWelcome to

“I recommend siteseeing. There are many beautiful beaches in Hawaii worth seeing. I also think every Sailor should go and visit USS Arizona memorial. Pearl Harbor itself has so much Naval history in it. Also, we are still on American land, go and enjoy yourself but be smart about it.”

CS3 Reginald Jones, from Chicago

“Any beach activity; snorkeling, paddle boarding, jetskiing, kayaking and surf-ing.”

IC3 Oscar Arias, from Union City, Calif.

“Go and see some turtles on Laniakea beach, and you have to try pineapple ice cream from the Dole plantation.”

AC2 Whitney Pen, from Spokane, Wash.

“The last time I was here I walked around a lot. I remember I had a steak at Duke’s Steakhouse.”

MR3 Gordon Artis, from Careywood, Idaho

“My last Hawaii port visit was short so I didn’t get to see much. I spent my time on base. I visited the MWR recreation center. This time I am planning to go on a tour with MWR.” DCFN Robert Bridges, from Chicago

“Arizona Memorial. Every Sailor should see it. I recommend you take a tour. Go snorkeling. Go hiking. A real luau is always nice. If you have a little extra money to spend, take a helo ride around the island.”

ABF1 Luis Mehia, from Orange County, Calif.

“If you don’t know what to do, you can always check out MWR. We have awe-some tours to choose from. It is a great chance to meet new people and to make friends. We will provide shuttles to and from Waikiki. For more info stop by MWR office or call 5055”

Lucas Eckstein, FUN BOSS

Oh, the places you will go!Congratulations!Today is your day You’re in Hawaii!You’re off and away

You can get off this boat You can take off your bootsYou can take off your coatAnd go where you choose

You’re on your ownSo, don’t be dumbYou’re in Hawaii Go have fun!

Layout and design by MC3 (SW/AW) Katarzyna Kobiljak