USS Mustin’s CPO Mess Donates to the Yamato Museum

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mikey Mulcare

Posted: Sept. 21, 2011

KURE, Japan - USS Mustin’s (DDG 89) Chief Petty Officers (CPO) Mess donated a lanyard for a replica bell to the Yamato Museum Sept. 20.
 

KURE, Japan (Sept. 19, 2011) - Chief Boatswain’s Mate Adam Melancon (right) and Chief Ship’s Serviceman Warren Brown, assigned to USS Mustin (DDG 89), splice a lanyard to a replica bell at the Yamato Musuem in Kure, Japan. Mustin is one of seven Arleigh Burke-Class guided-missile destroyers attached to Destroyer Squadron 15 and is currently visiting Kure as a port-of-call. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mikey Mulcare) | Download

The Yamato Museum is a tribute to the famous WWII battleship and flagship of the Imperial Japanese Navy HIJMS Yamato.
 

The handmade lanyard was affixed onto the museum’s replica bell by Chief Boatswain’s Mate (SW) Adam Melancon and Chief Ship’s Serviceman (SW) Warren Brown of Mustin’s CPO mess.
 

“At some point in time our Command Master Chief had gone over to the museum and she came back and told us how the bell simply had a piece of rope attached to it and she asked the mess if we could do anything to help out,” said Melancon. “After that I flipped through one of the many books of knots I have and then found a pattern I liked then I started making the lanyard from quarter inch five strand nylon rope.”
 

To many of Mustin’s CPO Mess the lanyard symbolized more than just four hours worth of work and more than just a gift to the museum.
 

“Donating that lanyard was an opportunity to contribute something special to a significant piece of history,” said Chief Personnel Specialist (SW/AW) Sean Craft.
 

The less than two pound lanyard also had a special meaning to the Museum’s Curator Hisao Michinaga.
 

“It was a surprise for me and I’m very thankful the U.S. Navy ship has come all the way from Yokosuka to present the lanyard,” said Michinaga. “Our old lanyard was a bit damaged and I’m very happy a beautifully handcrafted lanyard is now hanging from our replica bell.”
 

Mustin has traveled more than 400 miles from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka to reach the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Base Kure to strengthen interoperability with the JMSDF and to reinforce cultural relations with their host nation of Japan.