Gosport - July 26, 2013

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School/Sports Physical Rodeos at Naval Hospital Pensacola ...

It’s getting close to back-to-school time and school/sports physical rodeos will be offered at Naval Hospital Pensacola (NHP) for children enrolled in the Family Medicine and Pediatrics departments. The physicals will take place in the NHP Pediatrics Clinic Aug. 3 and Aug. 17 from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Call to make an appointment for the rodeos: NHP Family Medicine, 505-7120; NHP Pediatrics, 505-7121.

Vol. 77, No. 30

VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com

July 26, 2013

Top Russian admiral visits U.S. Navy museums By MC1(AW) Tim Comerford Navy History and Heritage Command Communication and Outreach Division

WASHINGTON (NNS) Adm. Viktor Chirkov, commander-in-chief of the Russian Federation Navy, visited three U.S. Navy museums recently, including the National Naval Aviation Museum (NNAM) onboard NAS Pensacola, to learn more about U.S. Navy history as part of a larger official visit. He began his history visit at the National Museum of the U.S. Navy, where he was hosted by Capt. Henry J. Hendrix, director of the Navy’s History and Heritage Command (NHHC), which is responsible for the preservation, analysis, and dissemination of the U.S. Navy’s art, artifacts and objects. The nine U.S. Navy museums report to NHHC, with the original one located at the Washington Navy Yard. “The National Museum of the United States Navy (NMUSN) was created by Adm. Arleigh Burke,” Hendrix explained to the Russian admiral as the group entered the museum. It was established to both capture and promote the great history of the U.S. Navy. The Russian commander-inchief asked about the industrial nature of the building in which the museum is housed. “It was a shipyard factory building and then became a museum?” Chirkov asked. “The entire Washington Navy Yard was the Washington

Gun Factory,” explained Hendrix, pointing out the large overhead cranes. “This was just one of the many factory buildings where large guns were assembled. These cranes can still work, so when we have to move large objects we test them and then use them.” Chirkov was then led on a whirlwind tour of the museum’s exhibits and learned much about the history of the U.S. Navy. The first stop was the museum’s newest exhibit “Don't Give Up the Ship,” which opened in June. The exhibit details the support the U.S. Navy leant the U.S. Army during the War of 1812’s lake battles. The director called the admiral’s attention to one of the main artifacts of the exhibit, the Chambers Gun. “This is one of the most interesting pieces in our collection,” Hendrix explained. “It was the secret weapon of the War of 1812. They would pack 24 bullets into each of its seven barrels, and once the trigger was pulled, it would fire off up to 145 shot (in about two minutes). The gunner would be up on the fighting top firing down on the opposing ship. Once you cleared the enemy’s gun deck, you would board." Hendrix explained that NHHC holds many firearms, most in working order. “We try to retain a working copy of all arms back to the beginning of our Navy,” Hendrix said. “We still have muskets from the American Revolution

An interpreter explains aspects of the National Naval Aviation Museum to Russian Federation Navy Adm. Viktor Chirkov (center) during the admiral’s visit to NAS Pensacola July 18. Retired Navy captain and NNAM Director Bob Rasmussen (right) hosted the tour. Photo by Karen Kline

that are fire-able. Every now and then, we have a scientist or engineer who wishes to test them to determine their muzzle velocity and firing characteristics.” Hendrix led Chirkov through exhibits featuring the U.S. Navy during World War II, a period when the United States fought to clear the Atlantic Ocean of German submarines in order to convoy supplies to the Allies, including the then-Soviet Union. Chirkov, a former commander of an Udaloy-class anti-submarine destroyer, was particularly inter-

ested in reviewing the display on commercial shipping losses, as well as German submarine attrition rates. One of the citations on display showed that the Soviet Union honored 183 American Sailors, “For Outstanding Military Activities Which Facilitated the Sailing of Transports with War Supplies to Ports of The Soviet Union During the War Against the Common Enemy of the USSR and the USA... and for the Valor and Gallantry They Displayed.” Sailors and Coast Guardsmen

By Jennifer Eitzmann NASP PAO Intern and Jay Cope NASWF PAO

Coast Guard Cutter Thetis (WMEC-910) is docked at Allegheny Pier aboard Naval Air Station Pensacola along with USGCS Cypress (WLB-210) July 19. The Thetis was in port to restock its ammunition supplies. Representatives of the NASP Fire & Emergency Services Gulf Coast were on sight as a routine safety precaution. The Thetis is homeported in Key West. The ship’s primary mission is law enforcement, search and rescue, Homeland Security and national defense. Photo by Patrick Nichols

SecDef Hagel talks budget with Sailors, civilians JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) — During his first visit to Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville July 16, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel called on Congress to work with DoD to avoid sequestration in fiscal 2014. Otherwise, DoD will be forced to cut $52 billion from its budget that only could be accomplished by putting together an extremely severe package of military and civilian personnel actions.

See Russian admiral on page 2

Feds Feeds Families program

USCG cutter visit ... U.S.

By Clark Pierce Jax Air News

were awarded the Order of the Great Patriotic War, First and Second Class; Order of the Red Star; Medal for Valor; Medal of Ushakov; and Medal for Combat Merits. The U.S. Navy also had a lend-lease program with the Soviet navy where 34 minesweepers were transferred for their use in protecting their coasts from U-boat laid mines. Chirkov remarked that Russia’s Naval Museum is set to move to new quarters.

With U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown, Ander Crenshaw and Ted Yoho joining the audience at a town hall meeting with civilians and Sailors at Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) aboard base, Hagel called on Congress to work with DoD to avoid sequestration in fiscal 2014. “If the cuts continue, the department will have to make sharp reductions with far-reaching consequences — including limited combat power and reduced readiness

See SecDef on page 2

The Department of Defense (DoD) has kicked off the Feds Feed Families (FFF) campaign for the fifth year. FFF is a campaign aimed to help people in need. It is a volunteer effort to collect non-perishable food items for local food banks to distribute to less privileged families. Unlike previous years, when there was a widespread federal push to participate in the program and meet specific goals, this year participation is voluntary at the command level. While the campaign doesn't have any set goals, it hopes to receive more than 1.2 million pounds of food and other items throughout the DoD. Officials at Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) and Naval Air Station Whiting Field (NASWF) are collecting food donations through Aug. 31. “Donating to Feds Feed Families gives us a chance as a command to speak out and help people in need,” ITSN Jennifer Minyard of the NASP Command Chaplain’s office said. Summer food bank donations are slow in comparison with rest of the year, yet the demand is still the same. FFF is essential in helping to meet that demand. Last year, NASP was able to collect 65,670 pounds of food for Manna Food Bank. NASWF collected 2,000 pounds of food for the Bay Area Food Bank, Milton location.

See Feds Feed Families on page 2

Published by Ballinger Publishing, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Navy. Opinions contained herein are not official expressions of the Department of the Navy nor do the advertisements constitute Department of the Navy, NAS Pensacola or Ballinger Publishing’s endorsement of products or services advertised.


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