Saying Farewell to USS Nashville
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® Serving the Hampton Roads Navy Family Vol. 17, No. 40, Norfolk, VA FLAGSHIPNEWS.COM October 8, 2009 Military provides rescue and humanitarian relief in the Pacifi c BY DONNA MILES AND The aircraft will transport car- of the territories’ islands that LT. J.G. THERESA DONNELLY go and personnel required to wiped out entire villages. At least America Forces Press Service support disaster relief efforts, 65 people are reported dead in Sa- she said. moa, more than 20 in American WASHINGTON — While Meanwhile, USS Ingraham Samoa, and at least six in neigh- U.S. special operators conduct a (FFG 61), homeported at Naval boring Tonga. massive rescue effort after devas- Station Everett, Wash., is en route “Our thoughts and prayers are tating fl ooding in the Philippines, to provide needed support, White with the people in the affected the Hawaii Air National Guard said. Ingraham is an Oliver Haz- communities,” White said. and USS Ingraham (FFG 61) are ard Perry-class frigate. Meanwhile, members of Joint headed to American Samoa to FEMA offi cials asked the De- Special Operations Task Force support rescue and humanitarian fense Department to provide Philippines assisted the Philip- relief there following a massive medical triage, hazardous mate- pine armed forces in rescuing Photo by MC2 Tiffi ni Jones Vanderwyst earthquake and tsunami. rial response, mass casualty care 52 people stranded by massive Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead delivers remarks during The Hawaii Air Guard is slat- and strategic airlift. Offi cials are fl ooding during Tropical Storm Department of the Navy Sexual Assault Prevention Summit in Washington D.C. ed to fl y two C-17 Globemaster identifying the appropriate units Ketsana earlier this week. III transport jets to American Sa- to provide this support, White The storm, known locally as Military leaders on sexual moa today in response to Federal said. Tropical Storm Ondoy, struck in Emergency Management Agency An 8.3 magnitude earthquake the Manila area Sept. 27 and 28. (FEMA) requests, Air Force Maj. struck 120 miles south of Amer- The fl oods displaced hundreds of assault: ‘Not in my Navy’ Rene White, a Pentagon spokes- ican Samoa yesterday afternoon, PRESS RELEASE woman, reported. generating 15-foot waves in some See PACIFIC, A13 Chief of Naval Personnel Public Affairs personnel, plans and policy division. “We will call upon the total workforce WASHINGTON — Following — active, reserve and civilians — to closely on the heels of the fi rst De- educate themselves and their ship- partment of the Navy Sexual Assault mates on prevention and response Prevention and Response (SAPR) programs, to report crimes, or sus- Summit hosted by Secretary of the pected crimes before they occur, and Navy Ray Mabus in September, Navy to speak out when called upon during is moving forward to eliminate sexu- investigations and prosecutions.” al assault. The chief of naval operations desig- Key stakeholders were identifi ed nated chief of naval personnel as the and charged in NAVADMIN 282/09 executive agent for the sexual assault to reinforce Navy’s SAPR program, prevention and response program. which was established in 1994 under The Bureau of Naval Personnel will the name Sexual Assault Victim In- work closely with other key orga- tervention. nizations, including medical, legal, The name change aligns with the criminal investigations, security, vic- mission of the program, underlining tim advocacy, military commands the importance of both prevention and civilian resources to redouble and response. their efforts to educate the total force While Navy was the fi rst service to on preventative and response pro- develop a program of its kind, it is not grams. resting on past successes as it seeks “Sexual assault is inconsistent with to eliminate sexual assault from its our Navy Ethos, and our Navy total ranks. force will be held to the high stan- Photo by MC2 William Ramsey “We will raise the bar when it comes dards, which they are expected to U.S. Navy SEAL Teams One and Seven, Naval Special Boat Teams 12 and 20, and medical personnel assigned to sexual assault prevention and maintain as we reinforce a culture to Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines rescue Manila residents after fl ooding destroyed homes and displaced thousands of people. Two boats assisted more than 52 people, including a woman in labor, response,” said Rear Adm. Dan Hol- intolerant of sexual assault,” said Hol- elderly residents and children. loway, director of the Navy’s military loway. Photo by MC2 (AW/SW) Gina Wollman Offi cer-in-Charge of USS Nashville (LPD 13) Cmdr. Brian Peterson, smiles as he takes one last glace at the ship after the offi cial party is dismissed and the decommissioning ceremony of Nashville is fi nally complete. Saying farewell to USS Nashville BY MC2 NIKKI SMITH ing home,” said Larry “Pops” Collins, part of Navy Public Affairs Support Element, East Nashville’s Commissioning Crew. NORFOLK — After 39 years of faithful U.S. Navy Capt. Brian Weaver, U.S. Ma- service, USS Nashville (LPD 13) was decom- rine Forces Command Norfolk, gave the missioned during a ceremony, Sept. 30, at Invocation and Benediction while Nashville’s Norfolk Naval Station on Pier 4. remaining crew manned the rails throughout Decommissioning ceremonies mark the the entire ceremony. Cmdr. Brian Peterson, conclusion of a ship’s active service. During officer-in-charge USS Nashville, delivered Nashville’s decommissioning ceremony, it the opening remarks and read the Notifica- lost its lifeblood when the crew disembarked, tion of Decommissioning. At the conclusion the watch was secured and the colors were of the ceremony, the Norfolk Naval Base struck for the last time. “It’s time for those Band played Anchors Aweigh as the crew of of us who knew her to say goodbye,” said Nashville disembarked the ship one final time keynote speaker, retired Vice Adm. Frank taking with them the ship’s ensign and its Donovan, commanding officer of the Nash- commissioning pennant. ville from 1982 - 1983. Nashville’s history is long and storied. It has More than 100 previous Nashville crew taken part in several nationally and internation- Photo by MC2 (AW/SW) Gina Wollman members attended the ceremony, including ally known events since its commissioning on Retired Vice Adm. Frank Donovan’s grandson watches crew members of USS more than 35 members of the original crew. Feb. 14, 1970 in Bremerton, Wash. It has partic- Nashville (LPD 13) depart the ship for the fi nal time during a decommissioning “Going back on the ship was almost like com- ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk. The Nashville was decommissioned after See NASHVILLE, A13 more than 39 years of dedicated service to the fl eet. INSIDE: AROUND THE NAVY A6 FRONT & CENTER B1 OFF DUTY C1 Leap Frogs help Boy Scouts Cole Sailors provide Bruce Smith: Teamwork celebrate 100 Years civil maritime support Bruce Smith is set to tell Sailors U.S. Navy parachute demonstration Sailors of the guided missile destroy- about teamwork at Naval Station team help the Boy Scouts celebrate er USS Cole (DDG 67) encountered a Norfolk’s Vista Point Club, Oct. 13. 100 years of scouting in San Diego. unique training opportunity. NASHVILLE: After 39 years of service, Observing Domestic Violence USS Nashville (LPD 13) was decommissioned Awareness month in October Continued from page A1 PRESS RELEASE Through counseling, however, adults Navy Installations Command Public Affairs can learn to treat their partners with ipated in operations Desert WASHINGTON — The Navy is ob- compassion and respect and avoid ma- Storm, Desert Shield, Iraqi serving Domestic Violence Awareness nipulation and criticism, even during Freedom and Enduring Month in October as an opportunity to arguments. Freedom as well as playing inform Sailors and Navy spouses about Professional services of licensed a part in two evacuations domestic violence prevention efforts as counselors are available free of charge of American citizens from well as reporting options for victims. at Fleet and Family Support Centers. Lebanon (1982 and 2006). Domestic violence cuts across all age These are available to active duty and The ship was christened groups and social classes. It happens their family members – even Sailors and sponsored by Roy L. to Sailors as well as spouses; to men as who are unmarried can have couple’s Johnson. Her granddaugh- well as women. counseling with their partners. ter, Kathryn Coombs, Domestic violence goes beyond phys- A variety of courses that teach healthy represented her family at ical abuse. It includes emotional abuse relationship skills are also available Nashville’s decommission- such as threats, isolation, extreme jeal- at Fleet and Family Support Centers. ing ceremony and brought ousy and humiliation. It also includes These include anger management and with her the original invita- sexual abuse. Whenever an adult is conflict resolution. These are also free tion to the commissioning placed in physical danger or controlled and available to both active duty mili- ceremony, the champagne by threat or use of physical force by tary and spouses. bottle that christened their spouse or intimate partner, she or “These services are available because Nashville and the press he has been abused. The risk for abuse the Navy believes so strongly in the im- clippings from the com- Photo by MC2 (AW/SW) Gina Wollman is greatest when victims are separated portance of the prevention of abusive missioning that has been Kathryn Coombs, Granddaughter of USS Nashville (LPD from supportive networks. behavior,” Turner said. handed down through her 13)’s original sponsor, shows Officer-in-Charge Cmdr. The theme for Domestic Violence Turner has a simple message to those family for just this day. Brian Peterson and Public Affairs Officer Lt. Lydia E. Bock, Awareness Month this year is, “Have who are considering asking for help.