Secretary of the Navy Visits Boxer

Courtesy Photo | USS BOXER, At Sea (Nov. 24, 2006) - Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Dr. Donald C. Winter meets USS Boxer (LHD 4) Sailors during a visit to the ship, Nov. 24. Winter's visit was part of his Thanksgiving holiday tour of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command's area of responsibility where he conveyed the gratitude and thanks of the American people for Sailors' and Marines' serving in the Middle East.  

11.24.2006

Courtesy Story

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

by Mass Communication Spc. 3rd Class James Bartels
U.S Naval Forces, 5th Fleet PAO

USS BOXER, At Sea - Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Donald C. Winter visited USS Boxer (LHD 4) Nov. 24 to meet with Sailors and Marines conducting maritime security operations in U.S. 5th Fleet's area of responsibility (AOR).

BOXESG is currently providing support for Maritime Security Operations (MSO). MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the North Arabian Gulf and protect Iraq's sea-based infrastructure, which provides the Iraqi people the opportunity for self-determination.

The trip is the second time that Winter has visited the 5th Fleet AOR since assuming the role of SECNAV Jan. 3. While aboard Boxer, Winter briefly met with Commander, Task Force 158 Brig. Gen. Carl B. Jensen, Commander, Boxer Expeditionary Strike Group (BOXESG) Capt. David Angood and Boxer's Commanding Officer Capt. Bruce W. Nichols. He then met with Boxer's senior leadership to express his gratitude to the Sailors and Marines of the forward deployed strike group.

Afterward, Winter toured the ship to speak with "deckplate" Sailors to convey to them the nation's gratitude for their service away from home during the Thanksgiving holiday.

"I am not here for speeches," said Winter. "I am here to interact with our great Sailors and Marines. This is my chance to thank them for all of their hard work."

Winter answered questions covering many topics including 5th Fleet's mission, the strike group's mission during the Doha Arabian games, officer training, the defense budget and the country's support of U.S. service members.

"I had the chance to visit Wall Street and see the trading floor," said Winter to a group of Boxer Sailors. "When the traders saw my staff that was with me in uniform, they stopped what they were doing, applauded and came to shake their hands. The support these service members have is also evident from the Defense Authorization Bill recently passed in Congress. This bill, which passed unanimously, had more support than the resolution passed in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor to go to war."

Among his many stops Winter visited the ship's Helicopter Direction Center. While there he met with Sailors to ask them about their Thanksgiving and give them the opportunity to express their concerns and questions.

"It was a privilege and an honor to meet the SECNAV," said Air Traffic Controller 2nd Class (AW/SW) Brent Watson, from Milwaukee, Wis., "It is not often that you get to meet a man as important as he is."

Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/Commander U.S. 5th Fleet's area of responsibility encompasses about 7.5 million square miles and includes the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and parts of the Indian Ocean. This expanse, comprised of 27 countries, includes three critical chokepoints at the Strait of Hormuz, the Suez Canal and the Strait of Bab al Mandeb at the southern tip of Yemen.

• Date Taken: 11.24.2006
• Date Posted: 11.27.2006 14:14
• Story ID: 8398