®
Serving the Hampton Roads Navy Family
Vol. 20, No. 23 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 06.07.12
Hampton Roads honors 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway By MC3 Indra Bosko Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
HAMPTON ROADS
MCSN Chelsea Mandello Sailors and civilians participate in a Battle of Midway wreath laying ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk.
Military members from various naval bases around the Hampton Roads area commemorated the 70th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway with a wreath-laying ceremony, June 4. Participants of the Battle of Midway ceremonies included active duty military, retirees and their family members from Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk, Naval Air Station Oceana (NAS Oceana) and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story (JEBLCFS). The Battle of Midway took place, June 4 7, 1942. The U.S. Navy carrier strike forces defeated the Imperial Japanese strike force that prevented them from capturing Midway Island. The Battle of Midway is historically important in naval heritage because it is considered to have changed the tide in the Pacific. Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert, directed all Navy commands to conduct a wreath laying ceremony on June 4. JEBLCFS kicked off the early morning ceremonies in the Hampton Roads area in front of the Port Operations tower with ceremonial music, colors, benediction and wreath-laying in the waters of the Little Creek pier. “It was a fierce three-day battle where pilots from our aviation community, who are not old, were able to succeed from a devastating blow from the Japanese,” said guest
speaker Rear Adm. Michael P. Tillotson, Commander, Navy Expeditionary Combat Command. “We, the U.S., were able to crank out pilots, ships and airplanes at a phenomenal rate and we’re here to mourn and recognize those who gave their life so honorably at the Battle of Midway.” Battle of Midway survivor, 91-year-old Dave Davenport was one of the highlights at the JEBLCFS event. “I had to get the crew ready and we had to work extremely hard to proceed the next day at daylight,” said Davenport, a former Machinist’s Mate and accomplished enlisted pilot who worked almost 60 hours during the three-day Battle of Midway. “The planes functioned well and we completed our mission at Midway.” During the Battle of Midway, the U.S. Navy sunk one Japanese cruiser, four Japanese aircraft carriers and destroyed 248 Japanese aircraft, while only losing one aircraft carrier, one destroyer and 150 aircraft. After receiving a base coin from Tillotson, Davenport surprised Tillotson by giving him a coin in commemoration of the day’s event and told him to continue to “keep America alert.” Another ceremony was also held at NAVSTA Norfolk with a program which featured U.S. Fleet Forces band playing processional music as the official wreath, arranged by Navy Exchange Norfolk, was carried to the steps of the ensign at Ely Memorial
Yorktown celebrates Bicentennial of the War of 1812, OpSail 2012 Virginia
Midshipmen embark USS Fort McHenry for summer training
By MC3 Indra Bosko By Ens. Lauren Price USS Fort McHenry Public Affairs
USS FORT MCHENRY AT SEA
A group of 55 midshipmen from the U.S. Naval Academy and various NROTC programs got underway with the USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), May 30, as part of a summer training program. While some members of the group were participating in Atlantic Training for Midshipmen (LANTRAMID), others embarked in support of the Professional Training of
We have people coming out shoulderto-shoulder covering more ground of the beach.” - Fire Controlman 1st Class Zach Winemiller
■ OpSail 2012 Fort McHenry is making preparations to take part in OpSail 2012 Virginia in Norfolk and Sailabration 2012 in Baltimore, Md. as a part of the War of 1812 commemoration.
MCSN Wesley Dannelley Midshipmen from the United States Naval Academy learn how to safely operate a CO2 extinguisher aboard amphibious dock landing ship USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43).
Midshipmen (PROTRAMID) program, which all midshipmen go through, with the primary goal being to get a taste of various naval communities
prior to selecting their designator. The midshipmen spend a week with surface, aviation, submarine and Marine units. Every midshipman was assigned a “running mate,” for the duration of their stay
Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
YORKTOWN
Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
VIRGINIA BEACH
More than 170 service members and civilians from Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana Dam Neck Annex and hundreds more from Joint Expeditionary Base (JEB) Little Creek-Fort Story participated in the 24th annual “Clean the Bay Day,” June 1 - 2.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation hosts “Clean the Bay Day” every year to clean debris from Virginia’s urban, suburban and rural shorelines and waterways. Each year, hundreds of service members answer the call to keep the beach clean. “I’m doing this because I love the ocean and the beach,” said Quartermaster 2nd Class Matthew Beasley, assigned to Assault Craft Unit Two. “I
This is just a great event for the military to give back to the community and for the community to give back to the military.”
thought this would be a great opportunity to help keep something beautiful that I love.” At Dam Neck, the volunteers collected a total of 26 bags of trash, which weighed more than 500 pounds. The trash was mostly cigarette butts, wood and plastic containers. “I think we had a successful event,” said Fire Controlman
Military members from the Hampton Roads area commemorated the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 and OpSail 2012 Virginia at Yorktown Maritime Weekend, June 1 - 3. Service members from all branches of service - Mark O. Piggot participated in the free event held at Riverwalk Landing near Yorktown online National Battlefield, and For more about the War of was attended by hundreds of visitors from 1812, go to http://1.usa.gov/ a0xxJo. For more on OpSail around the world. “This is just a great 2012 Virginia, visit www. event for the military to opsail2012virginia.com. give back to the community and for the community to give back to the military,” said Mark O. Piggot, public affairs officer for Naval Weapons Station Yorktown. The non-profit, congressionally-chartered organization of tall ship events, Operation Sail, Inc. (OpSail) has partnered with the Navy to commemorate the Bicentennial of the War of 1812 across the country and Yorktown is an affiliate port with OpSail 2012 Virginia. The War of 1812 marked a time when the United States was forced to fight against Great Britain for its independence for a second time. The U.S. Navy played a pivotal role in keeping America free and securing its seas, a tradition that continues today. It was also during America’s “Second War
» see CLEAN | A9
» see OPSAIL 2012 | A9
aboard. Third class midshipmen were partnered with Sailors; 1st class midshipmen spent time with a junior officer. The midshipmen were ex-
» see TRAINING | A9
SAILORS, CIVILIANS PARTICIPATE IN ‘CLEAN THE BAY DAY’ By MC3 (SW) Billy Ho
» see MIDWAY | A9
VIRGINIA BEACH PATRIOTIC FESTIVAL BRINGS AIR SHOW More than 100,000 spectators were treated to an air show, food, a bike race, a car show, a visit by the Washington Redskins and three concerts at this year’s festival.
SUBMARINE COMMISSIONED The Navy commissioned USS Mississippi (SSN 782), the ninth Virginia-class attack submarine, during a ceremony in Pascagoula, Miss., June 2.
NORFOLK HARBORFEST TO HOST OPSAIL 2012 VIRGINIA The 36th annual Norfolk Harborfest will host OpSail 2012 Virginia from June 6 - 12 along the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront.
» see A6
» see B1
» see C1
THE FLAGSHIP’S FREE HOME DELIVERY Get the convenience of your Navy newspaper delivered right to your door for free! Sign up today! Call 222-3990