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Serving the Hampton Roads Navy Family
Vol. 20, No. 30 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 07.26.12
Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik (left) passes the colors of U.S. Marine Forces Command (MARFORCOM) to Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton, Jr. (right) during a change of command ceremony onboard Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads in Norfolk, July 20.
National food drive gets support from local installations
Lt. Gen. Hejlik served with MARFORCOM since August 2010. Lt. Gen. Paxton, Jr. comes to MARFORCOM from II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, N.C.
By April Brown CNRMA Public Affairs
USMC photo by Steven Kotecki
played “Amazing Grace” and the Navy Hymn. Among the family members was Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Ashley McNelis whose grandfather, Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Frank McNelis, died on the Forrestal. “To me it feels unreal to be able to be around people who served with my grandfather, because I didn’t get a chance to know him,” said McNelis. “By talking to them I get a chance to see what my grandfather was like, and I am honored to be able to do this for my family.” On July 29, 1967, Forrestal was conducting wartime flight operations in the Gulf of
Three Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) became the first Lincoln personnel to earn the Enlisted Information Dominance Warfare Specialty (EIDWS) pin, July 14. Cryptologic Technician (Technical) 1st Class Daniel Jacobs, Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Johnny Cullum and Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Michael Dorobiala completed the new program in an attempt to lead the way forward for their respective ratings. “It’s a great feeling and an honor to be among the first of three to receive the EIDWS pin,” said Jacobs. “I got a lot out of this experience. And it’s something else to be triple-warfare qualified.” Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet authorized Lincoln to operate an afloat EIDWS program and awarded the ship its final certification, July 2. Later that day, Lincoln held its first-ever EIDWS final board, from which three EIDWS-qualified Sailors emerged. U.S. 10th Fleet granted the certification after a required, complex planning and administrative review was accomplished. Senior Chief Information Systems Technician Darcel-
Commands throughout the Mid-Atlantic region are collecting non-perishable foods and household products to assist families in need for the 4th annual Feds Feed Families (FFF) food drive. Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC) has been designated as the Navy’s lead command for the FFF initiative, while Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic is heading the way for the region and here in Hampton Roads. “In today’s world, there are plenty of people in need,” said Rear Adm. Tim Alexander, Commander, Navy Region Mid-Atlantic. “This is an opportunity for those of us that are in a little bit better situation to give to those who are in need and are in not in as good of a situation. This is a terrific initiative across the federal government for us to take care of our fellow citizens. The way it is set up is terrific in terms of collections and it is very well organized. We have folks throughout the region who are out there requesting contributions, and at the end of the day, it is all about taking care of fellow citizens who are in greater need than we are. That is what we are here to do.” In assisting in the food drive, base chaplains, or FFF reps, have placed collection boxes throughout Hampton Roads installations at designated collection points. Each week, the FFF reps collect, weigh and tally the donations so that the regional chaplain can accurately report the results to CNIC. This year’s goal for the Department of Defense is 1.5 million pounds, and within the department of the Navy, it is 396,000 pounds. Collections will be accepted through August. Since the program’s inception, Navy personnel have ensured that collection points are well-identified and accessible across bases throughout the region, and collected goods are generally donated to local food banks. The Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia said that they are always in need of food throughout the year, but the summer months are especially tough months for food banks locally and across the country.
» see FORRESTAL | A9
» see LINCOLN | A11
» see FFF | A9
Hejlik closes out extensive military career; remains true to Marine core values By David Todd The Flagship Managing Editor
NORFOLK
After nearly 42 years of active service (44 total service years), Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, Commander, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe officially retired at a ceremony held at Marine Barracks Washington, often called “8th and I” in Washington, D.C., July 23. He has seen every major conflict the United States has encountered since the Vietnam War, and through it all, he has been a mentor, a leader and a role model for Marines – touting the Corps’ core values of “Honor, Courage and Commitment” to the very end. A change of command ceremony was held onboard Naval Support Activity Hampton Roads on July 20, where he was relieved of command by Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton, Jr., who served most recently as Command-
He’s a great Marine, a great gentleman, so there is no doubt in my mind that things will continue.”- Lt. Gen. Dennis J. Hejlik, about Lt. Gen. John M. Paxton, Jr. ing General, II Marine Expeditionary Force and Commander, U.S. Marine Forces Africa. “We’ve been friends for 30 years, they won’t miss a beat up here,” Hejlik said about Paxton. “The battle rhythm will continue … he’s a great Marine, a great gentleman, so there is no doubt in my mind that things will continue. When you move from one commander to the next, things always get a little bit better, and they will with Lt. Gen. Paxton.” In late 1967, Hejlik was drafted into the Army, but instead of going into the Army, he decided to enlist in the Marine Corps in February of 1968. His thought was, “I’ve been drafted, I have to serve my country and I’m going to serve my country, but at the
time I said, ‘You know, I’m going to serve with the best – the Marines.” And he did until 1972 when he was honorably discharged as a sergeant and left active duty service. He was later commissioned in 1975 through the Marine Corps Platoon Leaders Course (PLC) program, because “I realized how much I liked being a Marine and I came back.” “When I got to the Platoon Leaders Course and The Basic School in Quantico, Va., I really started to enjoy the infantry … being out in the field, leading a platoon of Marines,” said Hejlik, who recalled that as an enlisted Marine he wasn’t infantry and worked on aircraft. “I actually had a flight contract and I dropped [it] in order to be an infantry officer.”
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Ashley McNelis observes a photo of her grandfather, Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Frank McNelis during the 45th annual commemoration ceremony of the fire aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA 59) at the Farrier Firefighting School.
MC3 (SW) Tamekia L. Perdue
FORRESTAL REMEMBERED By MC3 (SW) Tamekia L. Perdue Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
NORFOLK
The Navy’s Farrier Firefighting School Learning Site (FFSLS) hosted the 45th annual memorial ceremony of the disaster aboard the aircraft carrier USS Forrestal (CVA 59), July 20, held by members of the USS Forrestal Association. The ceremony was attended by former crew members of Forrestal, surviving family members, Sailors and instructors from the firefighting school. The name of each Sailor killed during the tragedy was read, while a bagpiper
COMINGS AND GOINGS FOR LOCAL SHIPS The guided-missile frigates USS Nicholas (FFG 47) and USS Elrod (FFG 55) returned to Naval Station (NAVSTA) Norfolk this week. The guidedmissile destroyer USS Oscar Austin (DDG 79), deployed from NAVSTA Norfolk. » see A6
NORFOLK
In the past 40 years, Hejlik said that technology has changed the face of the Marine Corps, but the core of the Marine infantry has stayed consistent. “The biggest change, I think, has been technology,” he said, “because the basic tenant of the Marine infantrymen has stayed the same, and I am Marine infantry. Technology, when you look at Skype, MySpace, Facebook and all those things that are out there – that’s changed the face of war, if you will – but it’s also changed the face of the Marine Corps.” In looking to the future, Hejlik feels that joint services will continue to be prevalent in the Armed Forces. “In this day in age, with limited resources, you have to fight ‘joint’ and you have to fight ‘coalition,’” he said, “but that doesn’t mean that we should ever lose our identities as separate services – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard – we
» see HEJLIK | A11
Lincoln pins its first Enlisted Information Dominance warriors By MC3 Mason Campbell USS Abraham Lincoln Public Affairs
USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, AT SEA
ROBOSUB COMPETITION The 15th annual RoboSub competition was held at the Navy’s SPAWARTransducer Evaluation Center in San Diego, Calif., July 17 - 22. » see B1
ART EXHIBITION “Combat Paper Project,” an exhibition featuring selected work from the Combat Paper Project, will be featured through Sept. 9 at ODU’s Baron and Ellin Gordon Art Galleries.
» see C1
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