Patriot opens its quarterdeck for MCAS
Iwakuni school children and personnel
By Chief Electricians Mate (SW) Noel B.
Corneja, USS Patriot Public Affairs Officer
Posted: 02/14/2007
IWAKUNI, Japan – Forward-deployed
mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) opened its quarterdeck
to the students and staff of the M.C. Perry Elementary School, the
Department of Defense School on Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS)
Iwakuni, in addition to a handful of base personnel and some curious
Marines from the air base.
Patriot pulled in to MCAS Feb. 9, becoming the first U.S. Navy
vessel to pull into the base’s new harbor facility since it was
completed in 2005.
The Sasebo, Japan-based minesweeper and its crew repaid the favor to
its gracious hosts by hosting ship tours and demonstrating the
intricacies of the mine countermeasures mission and the Navy mission
overall.
Patriot engaged students and other guest with a range of static
displays, including the suite of crew-served weapons the ship uses
in defense and deterrence against attack. Enthusiastic children
tried to carry the M-60 light machine gun, emulating what they have
seen in the movies. The young visitors had a chance to touch and
marvel at dummy rounds as well.
“Being a first time visitor of a Navy warship, I found it very
interesting. I was surprised when I found out that the ship is
really made out of wood,” said Kirsten Bordall, a student from M.C.
Perry. “Every time I hear the word ship I was thinking it is always
made of steel.”
Finding out the ship was wooden was not the only aspect of intrigue
for the students. Students were walked through the intricacies of
damage control, seamanship, navigation, operations and shipboard
food preparation. On the forecastle, the children enjoyed hearing
about the names of all the various parts and pieces, many of which
coincidentally had animal names—rat guard, pelican hook,
wildcat—which drew giggles from the kids.
“I can’t believe a ship this small has a lot of gears to maintain;
all spaces are utilized as a workspace and the berthing is a lot
smaller than I thought. Visiting this kind of ship is a neat and
rare experience, we don’t have this opportunity often,” said Janice
Weston of Buffalo, N.Y.
The crew of Patriot used the static display for the visitors to see
and touch the equipment, with some actually trying to wear the fire
fighting helmet and took photos among themselves; children also wore
the flack jacket used against shrapnel caused by explosions from the
attack.
The crew felt a great sense of gratitude for showcasing their ship.
“It was a long day, but fun and rewarding,” said Mineman 1st Class
(SW) Douglas E. Warren, the weapons division leading petty officer.
“If we do it again, I am more than willing to support.”
Among the older visitors was Mr. Pedro Mercado, the regional manager
of Community Bank, who was just as intrigued by the on goings of the
minesweeper as the kids were. “Being used to seeing large ships I
was surprised that the minesweeper is surprisingly small, this is
good for the work relation because everything is in reach. The crew
members, in general, are warm and great.”
Patriot Commanding Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Thomas E. Shultz, said that
hosting the school children and various other base personnel was the
ship’s way of ‘repaying’ the community for its hospitality.
“Myself and the crew felt an abundant amount of warmth from
Iwakuni’s great people, who radiated that warmth even before we
pulled in,” said Shultz. “It is a great joy to be able to give back
like this, and hopefully inspire these kids to serve their country
in the same way. I know the school children had a great time and
looked like they made some friends who were in the Navy uniform.”
Patriot is a forward-deployed mine countermeasures ship homeport at
Sasebo, Japan, serving under Task Force 76, the Navy’s only
forward-deployed amphibious force.
For more information on CTF 76, visit www.ctf76.navy.mil.
This is an official U.S.
Navy web site and the official web site for the U.S. 7th Fleet. Contact the Webmaster via
e-mail or Unit 25104; FPO
AP 96601-6003.
