PCU Nantucket Sailors Learn About Local History During A Namesake Visit

Photo By Lt. Anthony Junco | Crewmember of PCU Nantucket (LCS 27) visit the Nantucket Yacht Club as a part of a namesake visit to learn about their the history of Nantucket.  

NANTUCKET, MA, UNITED STATES

06.27.2022

Courtesy Story

Commander, Littoral Combat Ship Squadron TWO

Sailors assigned to the Freedom-variant littoral combat ship (LCS) Pre-Commissioning Unit (PCU) Nantucket (LCS 27) traveled to Nantucket, Massachusetts 17-21 June, to participate in community relations events in their namesake city.

Namesake visits serve as a unique opportunity for Sailors to connect with the local community, share their stories and learn about the culture, customs, history and heritage of the place their unit represents.

The Sailors began their visit by working with the Sconset Civic Association on a beach cleanup on the East end of the island. They also visited the Nantucket Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum with former Navy Sailor and Museum Director, Charles Allard, where they learned about previous namesake Lightship Nantucket.

“The Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum was an unexpected surprise,” said Cmdr. Kari Yakubisin, commanding officer of Nantucket. “It was amazing to see how the equipment and procedures they used to rescue Sailors stranded is very similar to our Refueling at Sea equipment.”

The crew received a rare opportunity to climb the steel stairs to the top of Sankaty lighthouse which features prominently on the ship’s crest. There they met with the ship’s sponsor, Polly Spencer, whom the crew met for the first time.

"Experiencing the Sankaty lighthouse with Polly was wonderful, said Chief Operations Specialist Timothy Weier. “That lighthouse is a historically significant symbol for both the island and an important symbol of our ship."

During their visit they also toured the Whaling Museum and went on a walking tour of Nantucket hosted by the Nantucket Historical Association. They met with locals at the Wharf Rat Club and learned more about the history of the island.

“I was not aware of the importance of the whale oil, not only for the island, but for the world economy,” Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Huriel Rivera-Aponte.“ It was also amazing to learn how essential female leadership was in the history of Nantucket and their contribution to development of the island.”

A trip to Nantucket would not be complete without participating in more modern activities on the island. The crew received sailing lessons from instructors at Great Harbor Yacht Club and later met with instructors from Nantucket Yacht Club, and Nantucket Community Sailing.

"The sailing instructors made learning how to sail seem like I have been sailing for years in just a few hours,” said Electronic Technician 1st Class Rachel Patton. “The plethora of amazing seafood was a great way to end each day."

Finally, the ship met with local students at Nantucket High School who were excited to learn about the ship named after their home and learn how the Navy and the island’s whaling history are connected.

"This was a very rich and historical trip learning about the whaling history of the island at Nantucket's famed Whaling Museum and City Walk Tour and getting to experience things I'd never thought I'd get to do, said Culinary Specials Seaman Apprentice Madysn Adas.

The ship is the fourth ship to be named after Nantucket and is being completed in Marionette, Wisconsin. The crew is stationed in Mayport, Florida. The commissioning date has not yet been announced.

LCS is a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation. It is designed to defeat asymmetric "anti-access" threats and is capable of supporting forward presence, maritime security, sea control, and deterrence.

• Date Taken: 06.27.2022
• Date Posted: 06.28.2022 10:51
• Story ID: 423854
• Location: NANTUCKET, MA, US