18th Annual CPO Heritage Days aboard the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) sets new attendance record

Photo By Max Lonzanida | Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (Ret.) Duane Bushey speaks to CPO Selects aboard the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) during the 18th Annual CPO Heritage Days Event. This annual event is hosted by the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, in conjunction with local Chief Petty Officers and Nauticus. This year’s event was held on August 21-23, 2018, and attracted over 840 CPO selectees from 58 area and out of state commands. (US Navy Photo by Civilian Public Affairs Officer Max Lonzanida/Released)  

NORFOLK, VA, UNITED STATES

08.29.2018

Story by Max Lonzanida  

Naval History and Heritage Command

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum’s 18th Annual Chief Petty Officer Heritage Days was held on August 21-23, 2018. This year’s event set a new record, with over 840 Chief Petty Officer Selects participating from 58 US Navy Commands. According to the event’s co-chair, BTCS(SW) Thomas Dandes (Ret.), the three-day event “is an opportunity for Chief selectees to connect with their history and gain insight into being a chief, which will help them become stronger Navy leaders”.

Each day’s events started off before the crack of dawn, when each group of CPO Selectees mustered at Town Point Park, which is adjacent to the museum. There, CPO selectees from individual commands were broken into separate groups, “moved with a purpose” across the gangway, and boarded the USS Wisconsin (BB-64) for a morning of historical and heritage presentations.

Aboard the Wisconsin, CPO Selectees rotated through stations for training. Guest presenters at each station provided history and heritage presentations for groups of selectees. Former Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (Ret) Duane Bushey provided some footnotes about his tenure as the Seventh Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy during his presentation in the Wardroom aboard the Wisconsin. Bushey’s tenure started in September 1988 and ended in August 1992, and many CPO selectees were curious about the time he spent in his capacity as MCPON.

The Captain’s Wardroom was the setting for a presentation and dialogue about women in the Navy. This presentation was provided jointly by Fleet Master Chief (Ret.) Susan Whitman, and Senior Chief (Ret.) April Maletz. This energetic and engaging presentation was well received by many of the CPO selectees. Below decks in one of the closed spaces, the museum’s own Tom Dandes, himself a retired US Navy Chief, provided a historical first person narrative regarding the heroic and fateful actions of Chief Water Tender Peter Tomich. Tomich perished aboard the USS Utah (AG-16) during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941.

The museum’s Curator and Deputy Director, Joseph Judge, presented some historical footnotes about the US Navy’s involvement during the Vietnam War. Above decks, USS Pueblo (AGER-2) Veteran Earl Phares, gave a historical account of his captivity in North Korea over the course of 335 days when the vessel was captured.

CPO Selectees rotated through the fantail for group pictures with their guidons in front of turret #3. After lunch, CPO selectees converged on the covered pavilion behind Nauticus for the much anticipated cadence and guidon competition. Before announcing the winner of the coveted Best Mess trophy, Fleet Master Chief (Ret) Susan Whitman and Fleet Master Chief (Ret) Thomas Howard both presented and provided some words of wisdom.

Each day’s event ended at around 1400, and was repeated over the course of three days. This year’s event attracted over 840 CPO selectees from 58 commands from the Hampton Roads Area and out of state.

About the Museum:

The Hampton Roads Naval Museum is one of ten Navy museums that are operated by the Naval History & Heritage Command. It celebrates the long history of the U.S. Navy in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia and is co-located with Nauticus in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. Admission to the museum is free, simply by-pass the ticket line and take the stairs or elevator to the museum on the second deck. The museum hosts a robust educational program for area schools and commands, with free educational programs to area schools aligned with state curriculum standards, a travelling sea chest program, a premier Lego outreach program, and historical presentations for area commands. To inquire, contact their Educational Director, Laura Orr at [e-mail] or at [phone]. The museum is also host to a robust volunteer corps, who serve as docents, support special events, and assist in museum archives. To inquire, contact their Volunteer Coordinator, Darcy Sink at [e-mail] or at [phone]. Lastly the museum proudly hosts military ceremonies, such as re-enlistments, retirements, and promotions for area commands aboard the U.S.S Wisconsin and in the museum’s gallery. To inquire, contact their special events coordinator, Tom Dandes at [e-mail] or call [phone].

• Date Taken: 08.29.2018
• Date Posted: 08.29.2018 14:44
• Story ID: 290782
• Location: NORFOLK, VA, US