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    USS San Diego Sailors and Marines participate in a HERO workout to honor veterans

    USS San Diego Sailors and Marines participate in a HERO workout to honor veterans

    Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Gerald Dudley Reynolds | Landing Craft Air Cushions 31 and 75, attached to Assault Craft Unit 5, conduct an...... read more read more

    RED SEA - About 10 Sailors and Marines, assigned to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, participate in the Hansen CrossFit HERO workout to celebrate Veterans Day and honor the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice aboard the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego (LPD 22), Nov. 11.

    The workout was chosen to honor Marine Staff Sgt. Daniel Hansen, who died Feb. 14, 2009 while serving during Operation Enduring Freedom when an improvised explosive device that he was working on detonated.

    The Hansen Workout consisted of five rounds of 30 kettle bell swings, 30 burpees and 30 sit ups. About half of the participants donned 30-40 pound flaks, creating a harder workout and testing their endurance limits.

    “To feel your muscles strain, and pull, and be on the verge of giving up is not a fun feeling- and the pain that the Veterans went through is something that is not taken lightly and experiencing this workout is just a small part of that pain,” said Sgt. Joseph Devroy, assigned to the Aviation Command Element (ACE) as part of the 11th MEU.

    As the workout progressed, fatigue and exhaustion was evident on the faces of all the participants as the pace started to slow down. Driven by their desire to continue, the service members pushed through the workout.

    “This workout is more mental than physical and just when you want to give up you got to find that inner strength to continue on,” said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Katherine Shepard. “The workout is not about me, or any of us out here, it’s about those brave veterans and because of them we are able to do what we do.”

    Sweat poured down and the participants’ bodies as the unforgiving sun continued to beat down as one by one the participants finished the workout. Smiles and high fives were shared as all the service members finished the workout.

    “As an active duty service member Veterans’ Day means a lot as it’s a time that I take to thank my brothers and sisters who have stood the watch and that I continue to carry the torch for them,” said Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Joshua Farmer.

    The Sailors and Marines did just a little part to show how much appreciation they have towards the men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice but that sacrifice is something that will never be forgotten.

    San Diego is part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group and, with the embarked 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 11.11.2014
    Date Posted: 11.19.2014 02:41
    Story ID: 148216
    Location: RED SEA, AT SEA

    Web Views: 75
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN