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Serving the Hampton Roads Navy Family
■ winning chef Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Solrosita De Perio, from the USS Wasp (LHD 1), garnishes a judging dish at the “LA Seafood Cook-Off” contest, April 20.
Vol. 20, No. 17 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 04.26.12
WASP CS FINISHES FIRST IN NAVY WEEK NEW ORLEANS SEAFOOD COOK-OFF By MCSN Preston Paglinawan USS Wasp (LHD 1) Public Affairs
NEW ORLEANS
Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW/ AW) Solrosita De Perio, from the multipurpose amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1), competed against culinary specialists from various U.S. and foreign Navy commands, in a “LA Seafood Cook-Off” at the Woldenberg Riverfront Park during Navy Week New Orleans, April 20. Eleven well-known Louisiana chefs were paired with culinary specialists from each of the visiting ships in port. Event coordinators partnered De Perio with Chef Johnny Blancher, owner of Ye Olde College Inn, a local New Orleans restaurant. “I think a key thing for CS2 De Perio to take away from this is that being a culinary
specialist in the Navy is more than just being a cook aboard a ship and making three meals a day. It’s an opportunity to be creative and have fun with your job,” said Cmdr. Darrel Mathis, Wasp supply officer. “She is a chef in her own right and she should be proud of what she did here today.” The duo started their day with $200 to spend on ingredients and first traveled to Rouses Market in Downtown New Orleans to shop for ingredients. They were assisted by award-winning and nationally famous New Orleans chef, Susan Spicer. “It was an awesome experience,” said Chief Culinary Specialist Lakesia Jackson, supply leading petty officer aboard Wasp. “I enjoyed everything from watching them shop for ingredients to the presentation of the award.” De Perio and Blancher, along with the other 10 teams, had 30 minutes to prepare a dish using any ingredients they wanted with the only required ingredient being at least
» see COOK-OFF | A6
USS Donald Cook returns home By Ens. Annika Thomas USS Donald Cook Public Affairs
NORFOLK
MC1 Julie R. Matyascik Master Chief Information Systems Technician James Leuci, the Hampton Roads Surface Navy Association guest speaker, explains the different chief uniforms during a luncheon honoring the Year of the Chief.
Navy Association celebrates ‘Year of the Chief’
Two hundred seventy eight Sailors aboard the guidedmissile destroyer USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) returned to Naval Station Norfolk, April 19, from a seven-month deployment to the Horn of Africa and the Persian Gulf. Safely sailing over 41,000 nautical miles, Donald Cook departed for deployment, Sept. 19, 2011. While deployed, the ship employed the ScanEagle Unmanned Arial Vehicle (UAV) in support of counter-piracy and counter-terrorism operations. Demonstrating tactical ex-
cellence in fleet operations, Donald Cook ensured critical sea lanes of communication remained open and safe as well as strengthening military ties and enhancing interoperability with our coalition partners around the globe. Donald Cook returns to Norfolk as one of the most lauded surface combatants in the fleet. The crew earned the Battle Effectiveness Award (also known as the Battle “E”), all five Command Excellence Awards, the Unit Tactics Award, the Chief of Naval Operations Ship Safety Award (also known as the Green “S”), and the Health and Wellness Unit Award (also known as
MCSN Samantha Thorpe Electronics Technician 1st Class Jason Taylor greets his wife and his new baby after the USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) pulled into homeport at Naval Station Norfolk from a seven-month deployment.
the Green “H”). Finally, one of her anchors is painted gold for earning the Retention Excellence Award. Donald Cook returns under the command of Cmdr. James R. Kenny who relieved Cmdr J. Lee Bennett during a change of command cere-
mony on Oct. 22, 2011, while underway in the Red Sea. USS Donald Cook (DDG 75) is named in honor of Marine Colonel Donald Cook, a Vietnam War prisoner of war who died in captivity and was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
By MC3 Desiree D. Green Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
NORFOLK
The Hampton Roads Surface NavyAssociation (HRSNA) hosted a “Year of the Chief” luncheon at Vista Point Catering and Conference Center, April 18. The luncheon was in celebration of the 119th year since the establishment of the chief petty officer rank in the Navy. To celebrate the event, former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) Duane R. Bushey and Master Chief Information Systems Technician James Leuci, both from Naval History and Heritage Command, spoke during the luncheon. “Each year we sponsor one major group, last year was aviation, this year we decided to go with the chiefs,” said Bushey. “Never in the history of the Navy Memorial have we had so much volunteer support as we have with the Year of the Chief.”
» see CHIEF | A6 EODOSU 10 HOSTS LOCAL BOY SCOUT Explosive Ordnance Disposal Operational Support Unit (EODOSU) 10 hosted Paoli ScoutTroop One, with 30 Boy Scouts ranging in ages from 11-17, at Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story, April 14. » see A3
NAVAL STATION NEWPORT BASE CLEAN UP CELEBRATES EARTH DAY By Bob Krekorian Naval Station Newport Public Affairs
NEWPORT, R.I.
■ nearly 2,000 pounds The total amount of recyclables recovered during the clean up, 1,841 pounds, helped contribute to a 77 percent diversion rate to local landfills.
SPANISH SAILORS, NMCP STAFF PAY TRIBUTE TO FALLEN The Spanish Navy paid tribute to three Spanish Sailors who died during the Spanish-American War of 1898 and were buried in Portsmouth, April 17.
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More than 733 active duty personnel and DoD civilian employees at Naval Station (NAVSTA) Newport conducted a base-wide clean up of debris, litter, trash and recyclables, April 16 - 20, in conjunction with Earth Day 2012. The focus of this year’s annual clean up were the shoreline areas adjacent
850 PERFORMERS COME TO NORFOLK The Virginia International Tattoo will draw thousands this weekend to the Scope for the celebration of international militaries, featuring more than 850 performers from around the world. » see C1
to Narragansett Bay. The clean up was scheduled daily, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Available personnel from the various NAVSTA Newport departments and 12 tenant commands were assigned areas of responsibility. The base was divided into three areas to insure the entire installation received some attention: Coasters’ Harbor Island, Coddington Point and Codington Cove.
» see CLEAN UP | A6 SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.This year’s theme is, “Hurts One, Affects All. Prevention of Sexual Assault is Everyone’s Duty.” Help raise awareness by joining the conversation on social media by using #SAAM.