NSA Bahrain Dedicates Kylan Jones-Huffman Library

Photo By Lt. Seth Clarke | 070528-N-7095C-004 NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN -- (May 28, 2007) Maria Fernandes, Lt. Kylan Jones-Huffman Memorial Library supervisory technician, hands the scissors she used to cut the ribbon for the dedication of the library to Capt. Paul B. Becker, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) assistant chief of staff for intelligence/operational net assessment director. The base library was dedicated to Jones-Huffman, who was killed in Hillah, Iraq, August 21, 2003. He is the only NAVCENT staff member to be killed in Iraq. Official U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Seth Clarke  

05.28.2007

Story by Seaman Seth Clarke 

U.S. Naval Forces Central Command / U.S. 5th Fleet           

By Seaman Seth Clarke

NAVAL SUPPORT ACTIVITY BAHRAIN - Officials dedicated the Naval Support Activity Bahrain base library in honor of Lt. Kylan Jones-Huffman in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the library May 28.

The renamed Lt. Kylan Jones-Huffman Memorial Library honors the only U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) staff member killed in the line of duty in Iraq. Jones-Huffman was killed August 21, 2003 in Hillah.

"Scores of NAVCENT staff members have been temporarily assigned in Iraq during four years of Operation Iraqi Freedom," said Capt. Paul B. Becker, NAVCENT assistant chief of staff for intelligence/operational net assessment director. "Only one has paid the ultimate price."

"Kylan volunteered to participate in an important mission in Iraq, never choosing the path of ease when faced with charging up a hill," Becker said.

An intelligence analyst assigned to the NAVCENT N-2 Counter Terrorism Department, Jones-Huffman traveled to Iraq in 2003 to educate coalition forces on the complicated interactions of various factions and the geopolitical environment in the region.

Becker said the dedication of the library is the perfect choice to honor a Sailor he described as "a man of books."

"He was a scholar without peer," Becker said. "To let his legacy live on—this was the right move."

Becker and other Navy officials worked closely with Jones-Huffman's family to realize this honor for their son.

"It's very meaningful to them," he said. "We couldn't have picked a better location."

Maria Fernandes, the library supervisory technician, says the family has donated over 1,100 books to the library's collection since 2006. Fernandes cut the ribbon during the dedication ceremony.

"The family sent a lot of books for us," she said. "It's an honor to cut the ribbon. For a great man like that who really fought for our country, it's really nice."

• Date Taken: 05.28.2007
• Date Posted: 05.30.2007 13:28
• Story ID: 10588