By Lt.j.g. Jennifer Stephens, USS Austin Public Affairs
ABOARD USS AUSTIN, At Sea -" 74th Secretary of the Navy Donald C. Winter (SECNAV) visited with Sailors from USS Austin (LPD 4) during his tour in the U.S. 5th Fleet Area of Operations on Jan. 30.
Winter had an early morning flight so that he could join the crew of USS Austin for breakfast. Upon his arrival, he immediately joined the Sailors on the mess decks and went through the chow line. He was joined at his table by several Austin crewmembers and visited with them for almost an hour.
"The SECNAV was a very down to earth guy. He asked about our families and how deployment was going for us," said Culinary Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Gaylord Brown. "It was quite a privilege to be able to speak with him in such a personal setting. It was great to see that he is trying to get out there and find out what is happening in the mainstream military."
"I spoke with the SECNAV about the troops in Iraq and all the training we have been doing on Austin with the Iraqi military," stated Navy Counselor 1st Class (SW) Erwin Hunter. "It was an honor to eat breakfast with him."
After breakfast, Winter departed via Austin's small boat to visit with Sailors from Mobile Security Detachment (MSD) 31 deployed to the Iraqi Oil Platforms in the Northern Arabian Gulf. He toured the Al Basra Oil Terminal (ABOT).
Upon his return to Austin, the SECNAV took a tour of the ship and spoke with the Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) team, the bridge crew, and the engineers in the main machinery room. He then reenlisted Master Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW) Jorge Lopez-Centellas for three years at the end of which he will have reached 30 years of service in the Navy.
"I have had the honor to have had some great officers reenlist me throughout my 27 year career, however, having the Secretary of the Navy reenlist me in front of my fellow Chiefs and the entire Deck Department while at sea, I could not have asked for a better scenario to reenlist," said Lopez-Centellas. "It was an honor to meet and talk with the Secretary of the Navy, but when he addressed my men and spent time discussing with them the importance of our mission out here, there was a look of pride on their faces that makes you feel good about being an American. His visit to the Austin made us realize that what we are doing here is being noticed and is crucial to the success of this war."
"Hosting SECNAV and his staff was a distinct privilege and honor. It was also a lot of fun," said USS Austin's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Kevin Flanagan. "Every CO enjoys showing off his ship and crew, I'm no different. It's great to walk visitors around the ship, introduce them to your Sailors and listen to those same Sailors talk a little about themselves or their watch stations."
"Austin Sailors work very hard to keep this 41 year old ship steaming," added Flanagan. "We're the "Oldest and Best Gator in the Fleet" because of their efforts. The look of satisfaction and pride in SECNAV's face while he was walking the deck plates and talking with our Sailors is worth a million bucks!"
Austin left Norfolk, Va., early November as part of Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) 8 and is currently deployed to the 5th Fleet Area of Operations in support of Maritime Security Operations (MSO). MSO set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment. MSO complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. MSO deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.
| Date Taken: | 02.01.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 02.01.2006 10:21 |
| Story ID: | 5257 |
| Location: | ABOARD USS AUSTIN, AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 50 |
| Downloads: | 10 |
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