Deployment 2011

Volume 2

June 2011
pated in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Malaysia 2011. Though some shipmates were out enjoying the town, beaches, and malls, others participated in cultural exchanges and community service projects, enhancing relations between our two countries. Many people visited orphanages and childrens centers where Howard Sailors presented games and toys to the underprivileged children and spent their liberty time clearing land and performing upkeep on the grounds. Others spent time training our counterparts in the Malaysian Navy through symposiums on various topics from medical practices to submarine tracking. After training ashore for several days, we took ourselves back to sea. Practicing all that we had exchanged with the Malaysian Navy, we conducted tactical evolutions and shiphandling exercises. Finally, returning back to Kuantan, we closed out our visit with a barbeque hosted by the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces, followed by the closing ceremonies the next morning. Until the next port visit, we continue doing what HOWARD does best being the best at who we are and what we do.

USS HOWARD ParticiPates in carat Malaysia 2011

By: EM1(SS) Joseph Seina
On USS HOWARDs latest excursion through the areas of South East Asia, we made a stop in a resort town on the Eastern Coast of Malaysia. Kuantan, Malaysia is located on the East coast of peninsular Malaysia. It borders the South China Sea and is where the Kuantan River empties into the sea. She is a city of roughly 600,000 people. The population of Kuantan is diverse, ranging from Malay, Chinese, to Indian and other races as well. They speak many languages in the city. Malay, English, Thai, Chinese all can be heard on a daily basis while walking the shops and streets of Kuantan. Kuantan is the capital of the Phanang state of Malaysia, the 3rd largest state in the country. The major economic draw of the city is the tourism industry. With beaches and waterfalls aplenty, there are many beautiful spots to see in and around the city of Kuantan. Also, while here one can experience the joys of the rather large malls that are favored in this part of the world. Most malls here have a variety of attractions in them, not only stores and movie theaters but karaoke shacks. A quintessential part of the Southeast Asian culture, one can rent time in a karaoke shack with friends to video and participate in karaoke sessions. HOWARDs time in Malaysia was not all about sightseeing and shopping. While in Kuantan, Malaysia, Howard partici-

(Above) The USS Howard soccer team poses with the Royal Malaysian Navy soccer team after a fun game on Sports Day. (Right) Lt Derr helps paint a senior citizen retirement facility with members of the Royal Malaysian Navy.

By: IT2(SW) Stefani Wells

EnlistEd surfacE WarfarE spEcialist (EsWs)

Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist, better known as ESWS, is an insignia earned by enlisted members of the navy. It is worn upon completion and qualification of the associated PQS (Personnel Qualification Standard). ESWS is more than just a pin worn on your uniform or a few added letters to your title and its more than just signatures in a book and questions asked. It is proof that you have a deep understanding of your ship and that you are dedicated to your job; it shows that you have pride in yourself and your ship. It inspires your peers to look up to you, and to trust you as a leader. Earning your ESWS pin is not an easy feat; a Sailor must be determined, motivated and knowledgeable in order to become ESWS qualified. Many hours and dedication go into studying and training. During the learning process, which usually lasts several months, there are many late nights full of studying and early mornings full of training. The ESWS qualification process is completed in addition to a Sailors everyday job, so the workload can become very challenging. While studying the ESWS materials, Sailors must learn the jobs of their peers in a myriad of areas. ESWS requires a proficiency in damage control, combat systems, engineering, communications, weapons systems, electronic warfare, and many other areas. Once Sailors have mastered these skills, they will be held to a higher standard and be expected to help train junior Sailors. There is a much higher expectation from an ESWS qualified Sailor due to the amount of work and knowledge it takes to complete the program. Becoming ESWS qualified is a huge accomplishment. If your Sailor qualifies on deployment be sure to congratulate them and reward them for all of their hard work! Congratulations to the following Howard Sailors for becoming ESWS qualified: GM3(SW) Yuritzie Aguilar, ET2(SW) Sarah Anders, FC2(SW) Sabrina Baloo, STG2(SW) Claudio Bellido, CSSN(SW) Trevor Blunt, GSE3(SW) Kyle Chrisman, STG1(SW/IUSS) Matthew Cramer, QM3(SW) Whitley Durand, GSM3(SW) Christopher Ewigman, FC3(SW) Marneil Garcia, FC3(SW) Herbert Genovez, OS2(SW) Ashley Griffin, IT3(SW) Tyronne Heard, ITSN (SW) Samantha Hill, HM2 (SW) Alexis Howard, LS2 (SW) Roberto King, GSM3 (SW) Justin Lenoir, SHSN (SW) Lasasha Mickey, ET3 (SW) Jefrey Mikolay, MR2 (SW) Jeanette Morales, GSM3 (SW) Dexter Muniz, IC3 (SW) William Robbins, CTR2 (SW) Richel Sayre, QM3 (SW) Antoward Usher, IT2 (SW) Stefani Wells.

(Above)ET2(SW) Sarah Anders being pinned after several months of hard work and lots of studying. (Below) Howard Sailors studying hard for ESWS

AdvAncement time
Once again its that time of the year where people wait with baited breath. Shipmates are filled with anticipation like a cup overflowing with water. Throughout the ship you hear whispers and rumors of quotas and results. Shortly after quotas are out, the crew knows that results of that advancement cycle should be out in only a few short days. Results for what? you may ask. Well, the answer to that is rather simple actually. Advancement results! Now, being advanced to the next pay grade is no easy feat, there is a lot of hard work and preparation that goes into actually being advanced. About 5 to 6 months prior to the exam, which is taken twice a year (once in the spring and once in the fall), a bibliography comes out. A bibliography is a list of publications specific to a rate and rank that the test taker can use to study. These publications are neither few nor small. They tend to be rather lengthy and require many study sessions to retain all of the knowledge that lay within their pages. So, we all know that no two people are alike. One person may be a book worm, while the other is more a hands-on learner. Some people are extremely well-

By: FC2(SW) Cierra Wyre

educated and just get nervous when test time rolls around. This is why the exam score is not the only factor in a Sailors advancement. Other things that go into the advancement process are evaluations (evals), awards and even some college degrees! You could think of an eval as a type of report card except instead of being graded on a class, youre graded on work ethic/quality, military bearing, leadership skills and other things of that nature. Extra points are also given for certain awards and college degrees. All of these are added to you test score to give you your final multiple. If youve take the exam before and passed but did not advance (PNA) you will also receive PNA points added to your final multiple as well. If the testtakers multiple is equal to or above the set multiple for that specific rate and rank, then the test-taker will be advanced. Now, what exactly makes advancement so great? First of all you earn a pay raise! Who doesnt love making more money? Aside from the pay increase, a Sailor earns more responsibilities and possible job opportunities within the division. There is also a wonderful feeling of accomplishment and pride that comes

along with being frocked to the next rank. Now, without further adieu, a round of applause is in order for our newly promoted Howard Dragons! Congratulations to : FC2 Arland, STG3 Betsch, GM2 Cadena, STG2 Gordon, DC2 Kruciak , AM3 Paulo, CS1 Sorgie, BM3 Vogel, LS2 Armstrong, OS2 Bohlinger, OS2 Delperdang, HT2 Furrier, STG2 Hamilton, GSM3 Lenoir, GM2 Paz, EM1 Seina, OS3 Alston, CS3 Washington, GSM2 Ballah, DC2 Boss, BM2 Diegobello, FC3 Genovez, OS3 Johnson, BM3 Lewis, GM3 Pelcher, GSE3 Shumway, FC2 Baloo, EM3 Eason, CS3 Gomez, CTT2 Knudson, STG3 Nguyen, C. , STG3 Revels, CTR2 Solomon, PS2 Thomas. Congrats!

Newly frocked, EM3 Eason receives his letter from the CO.

By: Ensign Ashley Valanzola

Department of the month : operations

The most diverse and all-encompassing department on the ship, there isnt a single event that the Operations Department doesnt have their hands on. Led by LT Andrew McCann, Operations Department Head, he describes the department as the heart and brain of Howard. Operations Department is made up of four divisions: the Operations Specialists of OI, the Boatswains Mates of deck department, the Quartermasters of navigation, and the Cryptologic Technicians of OT. Along with the QM rate, the BM mate rate is one of the original five rates of the US Navy. Deck division embodies the hardworking personage of the traditional sailor. Their jobs include, but are not limited to: refueling the ship, dropping and raising the anchor, driving the ship and the Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBS), conducting flight quarters and mooring to piers and buoys. As BM2 Ardon puts it: We own a lot of real estate: the forecastle, the flight deck, the hangars and midships.He went on to explain how deck is responsible for anywhere from 100-200 maintenance checks per week in addition to their watch standing duties. BM2 Ardon has been a boatswains mate for ten years now, serving on three amphibious ships and one destroyer. He prides himself on being a part of one of Howards most relied upon divisions. Howard leans upon Navigation divisions four quartermasters, one Quartermaster Chief Petty Officer and one navigator officer, to get us from one point to the next safely. This small, but focused group not only stands watch on the bridge making recommendations to the Officer of the Deck, but also prepares charts, reviews weather messages, writes movement reports, and takes care of the pilothouse. According to QMC Long, they will know where the ship is going far before anyone else, and are responsible for getting the ship there on time. Called upon constantly in emergencies, navigation division is always ready to take on our ships next challenge. OT division is made up of not just one, but four different rates. The division actually breaks down into three different divisions: OT01, OT02 and the self-proclaimed OT03/OZ. OT01 is made up of four cryptologic technicianstechnical (CTTs) and one Electronic Warfare Officer. They werent always known as CTTs, formerly their rate was Electronic Warfare (EWs), and they will frequently tell you they wish it stayed that way. They were merged with CTs when the Navy downsized. Not much can be written about what they do because its all classified secret, but they are another strong line of defense to keep HOWARD safe. When asked about his job, CTT3 Gaither said: I really like the math aspect of my job. At times being a CTT can be fast paced, tiring, and really challenging, but I wouldnt have it any other way. OT02 works out of the Ships Signal Exploitation Space (SSES), consisting of Cryptologic TechniciansMaintenance (CTMs) and Cryptologic Technicians-Collection(CTRs). They do some fascinating work in SSES, but unfortunately for the average person, its classification is too high for us to know about. The basic answer when asked what they do is to pinpoint specific signals down a bearing. OT03, or OZ is the smallest of the three divisions in OT, housing only one Intelligence Specialist Chief, ISC Lively. He works daily to put together intelligence briefs for the Captain and crew, researching threats around the world. ISC likes being the single point of contact for intelligence matters onboard Howard. He will be joined shortly by an IS1 in October. Eighteen operations specialists make up the fourth division of operations department. Like deck division, OI handles many different evolutions that occur onboard. According to one of their first class petty officers, OS1 McKernan, OI represents the most diverse division on the ship. There is someone in our division that has their hands in everything; we have air controllers, people who assist the bridge in navigation, naval surface fire support teams, and people who work with the anti-submarine warfare team. OI manages to stand port and starboard watches, meaning that they are on watch for 12 hours every single day, but that doesnt stop them from ensuring that the combat information center runs smoothly and HOWARDs missions are carried out. As you can see, Operations Department has a wide ranging mixture of different specialties that come together to make Howard one of the best ships on the waterfront. Maybe Im just prejudiced, but there is no department I would rather be a part of!

Several operations department personnel stand by in preparation for a routine underway replenishment to start.

(Left) Operations Department assists with Shark Watch during Swim Call.

(Right) Operations Department sailors chill out during the Steel Beach Picnic.

CMDCM(SW/AW) David W. Blackburn Command Master Chief USS HOWARD (DDG 83)
especially when the burden of responsibility lies solely on you, the families to take care of the home front. That in my mind is the toughest job and believe me its the truth after being in this business for 25 years. Thank you for the words of encouragement, the care packages, emails and FACEBOOK hits; those are just some of the items that keep us going ~ but ultimately its you! During my tenure we had three Command Family Ombudsman, Mrs. Cathy Baniqued, Mrs. Stephanie Griffus and Mrs. Terra Cramer. They volunteered for a demanding job that took time away from their families to support ours. I cannot thank you three enough for everything you did to keep everyone informed. To our Family Readiness Group, thank you to Mrs. Laurie Kallonakis and Mrs. Melissa Reyna for reinvigorating the FRG to support our family members while were away. Your hard work does not go unnoticed and its very much appreciated. Captain Bergmann, you are a revered Commanding Officer, Naval Leader, and Mentor. I cant thank you enough for allowing me to serve by your side and lead our Wardroom, Chiefs Mess, crew and ship to VICTORY. Ill always remember your saying, CMC, its about them and that holds true to this day. Mahalo Nui Loa! XO and the Wardroom, I hold you in the highest regard. You were receptive to my ideas and advice as I was to yours. Thanks for taking the time to listen and opening the lines of communication because thats what we do as leaders. Keep Pressing! CPO Mess, you are by far the best Mess I have been associated with in 12 years. The brother and sisterhood displayed by you were truly exceptional. I could not be more proud of the way you led, took care of our Sailors and supported the ships mission. You will never be forgotten. `Okole maluna! To the HOWARD Family, Yvonne, Yvette, Darlene and Joe. I cant believe I met the children of our ships namesake. There are not many people in the Navy that can say thats happened to them but Im one of them. All of you are so giving to the ship and crew and it is appreciated more than youll ever know. Thank you for your friendship and hospitality. Me ka aloha pumehana! In closing, as I set sail to Pearl Harbor to be the CMC onboard USS OKANE (DDG 77), I want all of you know that we came together, weathered the storm and conquered all that came our way ~ thats TEAMWORK! I am proud to have served as your Command Master Chief. ALOHA & MAHALO!

Shipmates, family and friends, it has been an honor and privilege serving as your Command Master Chief. When I reported onboard I was greeted what I thought was the entire crew. Hearing the boatswains pipe and walking through the side boys of all Chief Petty Officers and the crew was simply astounding. It set the tone for me that this would be a great crew and even better warship. Looking back, I was not wrong. Crew: You are the best in the business. I cannot express how much youve impressed me and the positive effect you had on me as a person, Sailor and Leader. I learned from you and Im hoping you part with something Ive taught you. Over the course of two years we faced many challenges some with adversity and Im proud to say that you, team HOWARD persevered. Thank you for your hard work, dedication and professionalism. Families & Friends: None of this was possible without the support from you. Thank you for supporting us in all of our endeavors. Being away from home is not easy

the Boatswain mate

By: BM3(SW) Vogel
The rating of Boatswain Mate (BM) is one of the oldest in the US Navy. They are the backbone of the Navy and the ships they are assigned to. BMs train, direct, and supervise personnel in ships maintenance duties in all activities relating to marlinspike, deck, boat seamanship, painting, upkeep of the ships external structure, rigging and deck equipment on a day to day basis onboard Howard. BMs most notably handle all topside evolutions such as underway replenishment (UNREP) and connected replenishment (CONREP, a method of transferring fuel, stores, ammunition and personnel from one ship to another.) Since the Howard has deployed, Deck Department has completed three UNREPs and has collected a total of 400,000 gallons of ships fuel, F-76, and 12,000 gallons of helicopter fuel, JP-5. Deck department also launches and recovers aircraft. The Landing Signal Enlistedman (LSE) directs the helicopter as to when and where to land on the flight deck. Other BMs chock and chain the aircraft so it is secured to the flight deck once it has landed. The helicopter can be launched at all times of the day and night, so once it goes up it has to come down so we need to be ready when the ship calls away flight quarters. So far, Deck Department has completed 522 hours of flight operations to date with a total of 21 flight quarters onboard Howard. BMs are also in charge of small boat operations. We have 2 Rigid Hull Inflatable Boats (RHIBs) on board Howard. We launch them to transfer personnel, board other boats and ships with the VBSS team, recover personnel if they should fall overboard and escort Howard in and out of port if necessary. Along with being in charge of small boat operations, several BMs are coxswain qualified to drive the RHIBs. A Search and Rescue (SAR) swimmer is required to be in the RHIB when it is launched. BM3 Lewis and SN Williams are two of the four SAR swimmers on board Howard. We stand watch 24 hours a day, seven days a week on the bridge and on the flight deck. We work in the heat, sun, rain, wind and cold. We drive the ship, we stand as lookouts and keep our eyes open for contacts our radars cannot pick up. We get the ship where it needs to go. We respond to casualties. We do extensive maintenance on our equipment. We work long hours and long days, but the weeks and months are short and in no time, we will be pulling into San Diego to see our family and friends.

SpOtligHt On:

BM1(SW) Jesse Hill prepares equipment for a routine underway replenishment (UNREP).

BM3 Zach Lewis directs SN Kyle Klemz in procedures for an UNREP.

By: LT Alison Derr

howarD pollywogs transformeD into trusty shellBacks

There are traditions in the US Navy that are as old as Davey Jones himself. From the sacredness of a ships quarterdeck to the symbolism in the Navy Hymn, past, present and future Sailors are trained to acknowledge and respect this heritage. One of the oldest and saltiest traditions still alive in todays Navy is the act of crossing the equator and the ceremony that accompanies this momentous occasion in a Sailors career. The ceremony is something that connects todays Sailors to those who served in the past. Im currently reading Tin Can Sailors and the book talks about the Sailors conducting a Crossing the Line ceremony and earning their Shellbacks. Granted our ceremonies probably greatly differ, but its a common bond we share with the Sailors who served years and years ago, said GM1(SW) Jose Nixon. A challenging ceremony that was originally created for Sailors to prove their seagoing worthiness, Crossing the Line ceremonies are now fun and momentous milestones that mark a Sailors career. Sailors who have previously crossed the equator and have participated in the ceremony are deemed Shellbacks. Sailors who have not yet crossed the line are considered slimy Pollywogs or Wogs. I was a little nervous, but mostly excited to go through the event, said IT2(SW) Stefani Wells, one of Howards newly minted Shellbacks. Its a historical part of our naval heritage, so I was excited to go through the process of becoming a part of that tradition. Todays ships have scripts in which Shellbacks play various roles such as Davey Jones and King Neptune. The Pollywogs are then sent through various trials throughout the ceremony that might include team building activities, physical activity and tests of ones knowledge of naval heritage and history. The Wogs also have to prove their worthiness and saltiness to King Neptune and Davey Jones in order to successfully finish the ceremony. At the end of the series of trials, the Pollywog is cleansed and deemed a new Shellback. Everyone has their reasons of wanting to participate. I did it because I wanted to say, Hey, I did it. You can trust me now. Its an opportunity to prove yourself to the saltier Sailors, said CS3(SW) Alejandro Perez. On June 17, USS Howard conducted her Crossing the Line ceremony and successfully cleansed 97 Pollywogs, transforming them into new and trustworthy Shellbacks. The adventure began on the evening of June 15, when Commanding Officer, CDR Ande Bergmann, announced the impending arrival of Davey Jones and King Neptune and warned all slimy Pollywogs to be wary of the coming events for the next several days. The following evening, the Pollywogs attempted to entertain all the Shellbacks with a talent show. However, their lack of talent quickly got them boo-ed off-stage, leaving the audience of Shellbacks angry, unimpressed and filled with anticipation for the following days events. The whole event is a series of rites of passage for a Sailor, said GM2(SW) Jorge Paz. seas. Many Sailors consider the event a bondIts like being a part of an elite club and not ing moment. Its an opportunity for all Sailors, everyone in the Navy is privy to that opporturegardless of rank, to come together and grow as nity. Its an honor to participate in the events a group. Everyone had a good time it was a and activities and then be able to call yourself a fun day for all, said CS3(SW) Alejandro Perez. Shellback. But whats really great is that everyone parAt 0600 the following morning, the ticipates together khakis and blue shirts come Shellbacks rousted all of the Pollywogs from together and earn their title as a Shellback as a their racks to begin the cleansing process. All group. dirty Pollywogs were brought to the Flight Deck Often times, ships schedules are ladfor some early morning PT and Wog-worthy en with operational tasking and routine requirebreakfast of green pancakes, green eggs and ments. But Crossing the Line ceremonies allow slime juice. The groups of Wogs were then the crew to take a day to truly remember the hersent through various stations where they were itage of the Navy and the honors and traditions required to sing songs together, find Flipper, that come with it. I feel saltier and like I dere-enact various ship evolutions and of course, serve to be out here on the sea. And I earned that more PT. Some groups, especially the group right by becoming a Shellback, said IT2(SW) of Khaki Pollywogs, displeased the Shellbacks Stefanie Wells. Its a great honor that Ill carry and had to go through the course multiple times. with me throughout my time in the Navy. Prior to attending the royal court of King Neptune and Davey Jones, Wogs were first sent to the Royal Barber, where they received shaving cream and silly string hairstyles. The Wogs continued their trek to please the Shellbacks before being deemed worthy of going before King Neptune and Davey Jones. Before the royal court, Wogs had to entertain the King and Davey Jones before taking a trip to the cleansing pool and earning the title of Shellback. The Navy is full of customs and traditions in which we Slimy Wogs enjoy a Wog-worthy breakfast before the must keep alive said ceremony officially kicks off. OSCS(SW) Drew Edwards, who fulfilled the role of Davey Jones during the ceremony. They are a part of who we are as Sailors. The tradition of the Shellback is a big milestone in a Sailors time in the Navy a tradition many never have the opportunity to achieve. I promise its a day a Sailor will look back upon and smile. The Shellback tradition instills pride in the Sailor, teaches Sailors how to work as a team with people they may generally not work with and to reflect on the challenges and The dirty Pollywogs take part in the cleansing process to sacrifices a Sailor must become trusty Shellbacks. endure to sail the high

Bravo Zulu

The First Class Petty Officers Association would like to recognize the following Sailors for their dedication and hard work during the first few weeks of deployment. Keep it up!

from the first class petty officers association

cE

ic3(sW) robbins and ic3 columbo:

Assisted installing the new rodmeter, correcting the ships speed through water.

os2 foWlEr:
For qualifying Watch Officer, a qualification held by E6 & Above. At-a-Girl!

oi

sHsn mickEy

s3

For qualifying ESWS, and being one of 2 seamen currently onboard Howard to achieve this qualification. Also she was nominated at Howards Supply Dept Blue Jacket of the Quarter. SHSN Mickey is headed down the road to success. Good Job!

Ht2 furriEr:

Er

Assisted with the ships RAS temporary repair. He replaced of several vacuum interface valves for the habitability of berthings 1, 2, 4 & 7 with VCHT drainage and operation. Also, the repair of MER1 main drainage eductor suction check valve and 1A RO bellow replacement. At-a-Boy!

dcfn Hitt:

Er

Troubleshot and repaired the aft breathing compressor for the ships SCBA recharging station. Led the change out of the AFT AFFF proportioning valve and provided diligent assistance in troubleshooting the AFFF system faulty actuation and identified CMWDS discrepancies and correction. At-a-boy!

All the junior personnel of CE Division - Outstanding job on the 05 level preservation while inport Malaysia!

cE Junior pErsonnEl

cE

A word from our ombudsmAn...

Hello Howard Family and Friends, June is a month that recognizes fathers and their vital role in a childs life. Fathers Day focuses on those men who are dads and how they shape the children in their lives. Fathers Day is a day to celebrate and honor those men who are fathers. Whether they realize it or not, fathers play an important role in their childrens development. Sonora Dodd created Fathers Day in 1909. After her mothers death, Dodds father raised her and six siblings. She was moved by a sermon she heard on Mothers Day and decided that her father deserved a special day for all his years as a single father. That year, Fathers Day was born. Years later, President Lyndon Johnson officially made Fathers Day the third Sunday in June, a day when fathers across America are honored for their devotion to their childrens lives. Military fathers are heroes who endure long separations from their families, work doubly hard, and are often overlooked for their contribution to family life. With this in mind, its only fitting that dads (especially military dads) receive a special day too. A suggestion to help Howard kids feel close to their fathers this Fathers Day is to have them send a care package to Dad. Care packages are an old military tradition that can allow dads who are separated from their children to feel remembered and revered even from afar. USS Howard fathers we remember your sacrifice for our country and family this Fathers Day. Its no surprise fathers give up a lot for their children. Military fathers give up more than most. They give up personal time, family time, and stable home lives. Your family, your neighbors, and all Americans benefit from your sacrifice. Talk with your kids about the meaning of this sacrifice. It will make it easier for them to handle being away from you. It will also help you fathers keep in perspective why you are away this Fathers Day. Happy Fathers Day to the crew of the USS Howard! Good luck on a successful deployment. Your family, friends and Americans appreciate the sacrifices that you make to defend our freedom and way of life. We honor all the fathers on board Howard this Fathers Day. Thank You, Terra Cramer

Happy Birthday to Howard Sailors with Birthdays in the Month of June!

happy BirthDay!

promotions
Senior Chief Petty Officer Promotions: GSCS Burke AECS Perry Officer Promotions: LTJG DeFreval LTJG Martin LTJG James LTJG Christensen LT Rudzis LT Norris LT McCullar LT Derr

JUNE
CTM2 Jackson, SHSN Dominick, PS1 Patterson, BM2 Ardon, OS3 Johnson, FC2 Montanez, EN3 Mazur, OS3 Alston, GSM2 Gonzalez, CSSN Blunt, OS2 Griffin, FC1 Vancamp, BM3 Vogel, LS2 Manson

Howard Dragons in Action: Swim Call

Hi, Mom!

Wait....There arent really any sharks in here, right?

GSM2(SW) Will Broughton prepares to make a splash.

Everybody wants to take a dip!

CTM2(SW) Amber Upson enjoys a relaxing afternoon floating in the ocean.

EMC(SW/AW) Kelly Greeno kicks back for a bit.

Members of the Air Department relax on the Flight Deck.

Words From Home

By:

fc2(sw) cierra wyre

Hi Matt/Daddy! We miss you so much. Thanks for all you do for our family. You are in our hearts and prayers. -- Love, Nicole & Jackson Hi Ensign Hower. I miss you so much! Im so proud of you! --Love, Andrea Howdy Tony Saich, Miss you so much! Cant wait till you get home! Love you lots! Hugs and Kisses! -- Love, Your Wife, Little Ann, and Nacona BM1 (SW) Stephen Phillips we miss you and cant wait to see you!! We are so proud of you!!! -- Love, Athena, Cameron and Madeline Hey Jake (Haff), we are thinking about you. We love you very much and cant wait to see you! --Love, Erica, Ty and Storie HELLO there FC2 Martinez! The days are going by a little faster and before you know it, you will be back home! We love you and miss you tons everyday! KOTF. muah! --Your wife Sonja and son Victor Hi Darren Manick. We love you and miss you lots. --Love Amanda, Mental Furball, and Kit Kat Nathaniel, were so proud of you and all the sailors on HOWARD. We miss our favorite Hokie and cant wait to see you!! --Love and hugs, Anne, Maewyn, & Ryder Hi Daddy! (FC1 Heller) HAPPY FATHERS DAY!! You are the best daddy in the whole wide world! We love you and miss you!!--Love, Mommy, Jacob, Nathan, Owen and Baby PS2 Stuart Thomas. We wanted you to know we miss & love you soo much. We cant wait for your safe return so we can be a complete family again! --Love, Brandi, Mikkaila and Mikkal. Matthew Betsch, I love and miss you so much! Enjoy seeing the world baby Ill be right here when its all over! --Love forever and ever, Brittanie Hi hunny Jamie Furrier. The girls and I miss you dearly. We love you and hope your days are going by fast. We cant wait for you to come home. Your mother-in-law says hi and she misses you too. Baby just know every minute of every day we all miss you. Now hurry up and get home lol. I love you. See ya soon hunny, --Kristy, Marissa, Kaylee, and family. Hi Scotty! We love you and miss you. Take care and stay safe!-- Love, Mom, Dad and Audrey XXXOOO To OSCS Edwards, Youre in my heart, thoughts & our prayers. We Love & Miss you Much... Well see you soon!-- Yours Truly Carissa & The Boys! LT Rob Taylor, We are so proud of you. We miss you and love you. --Deanna, John, and Alex Hello, CS3 Lhendie Rocamora, Happy Fathers Day. Always take care, JV and I well be waiting for your come back. We miss and love you sooooo much. -- Julie & JV Rocamora To Aleksandr Litvachuk, We LOVE receiving mini cds of you reading the girls books. You look great and we miss you so much. Everyday we count down to the day youll come home. We love you! --Veronica, Julia and Maggie

Words From Home: CONTINUED

LT Swenson - Hows the creepy mustache coming along? We love you and miss you! Tommy says Hi Dada! and Casey says shes going to her office on the ship like Uncle Mat. Hey my hot lover (Greeno), I miss you sooo much! Please take care out there. -- Love, Priscilla Hi Titi Alexis Howard, I miss you so much! I cant wait for you to come home and give me hugs, kisses and goodies! You are the best Titi in the whole world and I am so proud to be your nephew. You are my hero. I love you. -- Joshua Terrence we miss you! Love, Jarvis, Torri, Mom and Dad. We cannot wait to see you! Tony, we all miss you very much, Adrean cant wait for you to take him to Toys R Us, Sophia cant wait for Halloween, and Selya cant wait to have more time for herself. Me, I just cant wait for your return. WE ALL LOVE YOU. --Your family, Raquel, and the Kids. Hey Matty Betsch, Dad and I are so very proud of you! What a wonderful young man you have become! Love you more with every day that passes. Cant wait to see you! --Love, Mom, Dad, Bailey, Zoe, Milo and Primo Hi Zach - You are always in our hearts and in our minds! We cant wait to see you when you get home! Heres to fair winds and following seas! --Love, Mom and Jes (and Cheyenne and X amount of hamsters) Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Hazel and Aunt Jan. Hi Alex Herrera (AOPS), Happy Fathers Day! We miss & Love You! Cant wait for you to come home!! Rhiley, and Yuki!! --Love, Martha, B.B., Dylan,

Hi Robert Mohler! Your family misses you very much! We hope to hear and see you soon. Come back home safely, love always your family. --Love, your wife saeng, letha, johnny, adyn xoxo<3 Hey Andy just wanted to be a part of the Family Gram Message and tell you how much you are missed and loved. The Ya Yas asked to be included, as well as VoVo, Karen, Craig. Didnt mention it to the girls, just wasnt thinking, but Im sure they all send love and hugs! Be safe. Thanks to you and all the men and women who serve to keep us free. --Love and hugs MOM. Poppa Peeps!! (Eric Peoples) All of your peeps at home are missing you.... Ginger, Madison, Marcus, Donna, Dave, Jack, Nancy, Hillary and Tom.... and if there are any babies in Nancys belly then those babies miss you too!!! We love you!!! Dear ENC Josh Roper, We love you and miss you! Please be safe and stay busy to help the time go by. We are counting down the days until you are home with us again. --Love from Julia, Trevor, Jacob and Baby. Hi BM3 Davis, Just know we love and miss you a lot and wish you could home already! --Your loving wife, Daughter, Polly, Abby and Silver Hi Mr. Dan, I miss you, think about you, pray for you, and love you so very much! I cant wait to have you home! --Love, Miss Sarah Hey Daddy!! I hear about you every day and cant wait to play with you when you get home! --Love you much, Your Little Natles Hi Bonny T. FA, love you and miss you, package coming, keep studying. Love, Dad, Mom, Sporty and Trixie. To our EM3 Reyna, youre an ocean away from us and we still feel your love every day. We love you back --Melissa, Priscilla, Aaron, and ? =) Hi Ziv-Wynn, we miss you and love you. Cant wait til you get back. --Love Chris, Rob, Jackie, Mom and Dad, and the whole Mindless Indulgence gang! LS Jason Kouche, Congratulations on becoming a daddy! Ryan and I cant wait for you to come back home so we can enjoy this new life together. Love you so much JR! --Xoxo Danielle Hi Dada (XO)! We miss Tutti Frutti with you and all of your tickles! --Love, Ayla, Grace, and Mama STG1 Cramer, We miss you more than words but know the Lord is keeping you safe. JJ cannot wait until his Best Friend is back home to play with him and I cannot wait until My Love is by my side yet again. We Love You and God Bless You --Terra and Jeremiah

Jr. Dragon Corner

Jr. Dragon worD of the month: HAtCH
HATCH, is the nautical term for a horizontal door leading to another level on the ship. These hatches are how we keep the ship water tight.

Jr. Dragon Joke of the Month

Q: Whats a pirates favorite letter? WORDS TO FIND: SCUTTLE HATCH DECK PIRATE SWAB SEA A: AAAAARRRRRRHHHHHHH!!!

Happy Fathers Day!

(Above) Games on the Mess Decks. (Right) VBSS team members take a moment during intense training to pose tactically for the camera.

Dragon Times news sTaff

Editor in Chief: LT Alison Derr Assistant Editor: FC2(SW) Charles Slagle Layout Editor: CTMSA Rebecca Marinacci Staff Writers: ENS Ashley Valanzola OS1(SW) Eric Peoples FC2(SW) Paulina Castro FC2(SW) Cierra Wyre EM1(SS) Joseph Seina IT2(SW) Stefani Wells BM3(SW) Meryl Vogel

Howard Sailors enjoy an elephant ride during a port visit to Pattaya Beach, Thailand.