Honor,
Courage, Commitment… This is the code of a United States
Navy Sailor. It has been a part of our heritage since the
Navy was founded in 1775. Yesterday and today come alive everyday
for Sailors onboard USS Constitution, the oldest
commissioned warship afloat in the world.
Recently,
“Old Ironsides” played host to over 300 chief
selectees from Navy ships, submarines, shore commands, aviation
squadrons, and reserve units around the world. This is the
seventh year that Constitution has hosted the event,
giving the new chiefs vital training and lessons in naval
history.
“The
Constitution fought in 33 engagements and never lost,”
said BM2(SW) Andrew P. Dingman, one of the tour guides onboard
Constitution. “Two hundred years ago, the Constitution
fought against the terrorist Barbary pirates. As a symbol
of our war against terrorism today, it is a reminder that
we will remain undefeated as a Navy.”
Of the
150 chief selectees from the fleet, 44 were submariners. From
Kings Bay to Norfolk, from Pearl Harbor to Groton, these senior
Sailors took pride in representing the “silent service”
during their visit. “The submarine community is very
close knit,” said EMC(SS) John P. Peckham, 39, of Submarine
Squadron Support Unit (SSSU), Norfolk. “We are standing
in for our fellow submariners, so we have to step up and not
fall behind.”
During
the four-day event, the new chiefs learned about the life
of a Sailor serving onboard the Constitution in the
1800s. From climbing the mast and setting the sails, to manning
the guns and even sleeping onboard, these chief selectees
filled the shoes of their 19th century counterparts. It was
an eye-opening experience.
“I
have a greater appreciation for what Sailors did before all
the technology came along,” said HMC(SS/SW/AW) Rodger
A. Buck, 29, from USS Newport News (SSN- 750) in
Norfolk. “I would recommend this for all Sailors to
come and see, especially future chiefs,” the Ft. Walton
Beach, Florida native explained.
“It’s
been truly rewarding to step back in time,” said YNC(SS)
Douglas C. Frisbie, 33, from Commander, Submarine Fleet Pacific.
“It’s hard to believe that a ship from the very
beginning of our Navy is afloat today and in service.”
“On
a submarine, you have a lot of computers and fancy formulas
to help you destroy an enemy with a torpedo or Tomahawk,”
said MMC(SS) Richard T. Abrahamsen, 36, of SSSU Norfolk. “Lining
up one of these guns takes a lot of muscle and keen eyesight.
It’s a lot different from what we’re use to.”
“They
were a different breed of Sailor,” Peckham added. “I
challenge any Sailor today to do what they did. In rough seas,
climbing across the yardarms, setting the sails – it’s
amazing that they were able to do it,” the Weymouth,
Massachusetts, native continued.
The one
factor that brought the chief selectees together was teamwork,
and it reflected the teamwork it took to make the Constitution
a fighting warship. “Absolute teamwork,” Abrahamsen
noted. “Everyone has to know what everyone else is doing
to get the job done, whether its rigging the jib or firing
one of the ship’s 24-pounder long guns.”
“We
have to work together as a team on a submarine,” the
Magnolia, New Jersey native continued, “so once we start
working together as a team, we can get any job done. We’ve
been able to do that here with all the new chiefs.”
Teamwork
really came into play when the chief selectees were divided
into gun crews and learned how to fire the ship’s long
guns. They drilled the same way their 19th century counterparts
did, trying to match their best speed. “A gun crew in
the 1800s could fire a single round in thirty seconds,”
Buck said. “That’s unbelievable. It’s amazing
what they could accomplish.” |
 |
| The
new chiefs served aboard Constitution for four
days, climbing the mast to set sails, manning the guns,
even sleeping onboard. |
Some
of that teamwork was applied to some community-service projects.
The new chiefs went out to Warren-Prescott Elementary School
and spent part of their day cleaning, painting, and generally
getting the school ready for students coming back to class
in less than a week. “We have the manpower, they have
the need,” said ETCM(SS/DSW) Steve Brandt, Constitution’s
Command Master Chief. “We’re emphasizing teamwork
with the new chiefs to get done whatever they need to get
done.”
“They
are getting a lot of work done that normally would never have
been completed due to budget shortfalls,” said Dr. Domenic
Amara, the school principal. “I think the whole experience
has been nothing short of excellent.”
“Overall,
it adds a whole lot of meaning to why we’re here,”
said SKC(SS) Jason P. Buonvino, 32, of SSSU Norfolk. “The
team is really coming together, especially for these kids.”
USS
Constitution is just one feature of the “Freedom
Trail,” a 1-1/2 mile walking tour of Boston’s
historical landmarks. The new chiefs marched through the streets
of downtown Boston, past Paul Revere’s House, the Old
North Church, and Quincy Market, singing and calling cadence
for all of Boston to hear. People stepped out of their homes,
stopped at a corner, or peered out of a restaurant window
to see the chief selectees marching by. Some would clap and
cheer; others would just say thank you. It was quite a spectacle.
“When
you’re in a city like Norfolk where there’s nothing
but Navy, you don’t get that kind of appreciation from
people,” Buck said. “The people of Boston don’t
get to see the Navy that often, and they’re letting
us know how they feel.”
“We’re
not only doing this for ourselves,” Buonvino added,
“but it allows us to show off our ‘Navy Pride.’
And it’s a good feeling.”
This
wasn’t just a chief’s event, but also a family
affair. Two brothers, ETC(SS) Christopher O. Leggett, and
HMC(SS/FMF) Michael A. Leggett, both made the trip to Boston.
For these brothers, it was the first time in their 13-year
careers that they’ve actually been together in one place
except for home in Raeford, North Carolina.
“We’ve
never served together,” said Christopher, “at
any time in our careers. The pleasure of being with my brother
is first and foremost, and to learn from chiefs of all specialties
while surrounded by all this history is highly motivating,”
he continued.
Another
new chief got his father involved. ETC(SS) Eric B. Jones,
32, Pre-Commissioning Unit Texas (SSN-775), was surprised
when his father, AWC Kirby Jones (retired), showed up at the
Constitution. “I’m just as proud as can
be,” Kirby said. “I’m jealous he gets to
do all this. I wish they had it when I made chief.”
“Being
here means so much to me, and sharing it with my father makes
it even more special,” Eric said. “Here on the
Constitution, looking at the things these Sailors
used to do is incredible. It gives me more appreciation for
what my father did in the Navy and what those Sailors did
in the 1800s. By being here with my father, the traditions
of the past go on from generation to generation, and will
not be lost,” he explained.
The
final day of the event culminated in a “turn-around”
cruise, in which the chief selectees manned the ship and actually
got “Old Ironsides” underway. The ship sailed
out over two miles while the new “crew” manned
the yards and fired a 21-gun salute to the United States of
America.
“This
is what it’s all about,” Abrahamsen said. “All
the hard work we’ve done to get this great ship underway,
the training in the ropes and the guns – it was definitely
worth it.”
“This
ship is a living representation of the core values of the
Navy,” Buonvino added. “It’s an honor for
all of us just to be here.”
Chief
Piggott is the Force Journalist serving under Commander, Naval
Submarine Forces. |
