NAS Pensacola CO’s address for Veterans Day, 100th anniversary of end of World War I ... Check out NASP Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Martin’s latest video, a look at the contributions and sacrifices of American service members in “The War to End All Wars.” It’s on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/NASPPAO/videos/323730951547980).
Vol. 82, No. 46
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
November 16, 2018
NAS Pensacola remembers Armistice Day From NAS Pensacola Public Affairs Office
Naval Air Station Pensacola’s (NASP) Aviation Memorial Chapel hosted a ceremony Nov. 11 recognizing the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Seventy-five service members and community members attended the Armistice ceremony, which was designed to recognize the centennial anniversary of the end of World War I as well as express appreciation and gratitude for service members from all eras of the United States Armed Forces. NAS Pensacola Public Works Officer Cmdr. Ancelmo McCarthy served as the event’s guest speaker, and noted the importance of the occasion to the guests. “I want to recognize all those among us who have been a part of the great brotherhood and sisterhood we call the U.S. military – our veterans, active-duty service members, guardsmen and reservists. It is your service and sacrifice that has kept our country safe and free,” he said. “And while we’ve been in-
volved in several conflicts since the formation of our great country, Nov. 11, 2018, marks a century since the end of one of the most devastating wars the world has known. On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the fighting of World War I ended a century ago. Due to the conclusion of ‘The War to End All Wars,’ Nov. 11 became a universally recognized day of celebration.” The day was originally declared “Armistice Day” eight years after the end of World War I and honored only veterans of that war. Then in 1954, after World War II and the Korean War, it was renamed “Veterans Day” in the United States to honor all veterans who served America in war and defended democracy. During the brief ceremony, a bell was rung 11 times at 11:11 a.m., commemorating the more than 16 million service members and civilians who were killed during World War I, as well as paying homage to the 100th anniversary of the signing of the armistice which effectively ended one of the deadliest conflicts in history.
(Above) Naval Air Station Pensacola (NASP) Public Works Officer Cmdr. Ancelmo McCarthy address a crowd (right) during the NASP Aviation Memorial Chapel’s Armisitice Day ceremony Nov. 11. The ceremony was designed to recognize the centennial anniversary of the end of World War I. Photos by Joy Samsel
McCarthy also said that although naval aviation was in its infancy during World War I, NAS Pensacola played an
integral role in training future aviators. “Those who served at NAS Pensacola during World War I
were training aviators and maintenance personnel a century See NASP on page 2
IWTC Corry Station honors 100th anniversary of the end of World War I By Information Warfare Training Command Corry Station
Information Warfare Training Command (IWTC) Corry Station staff and students participated in a bell-ringing ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, Nov. 11.
On Nov. 11, 1918, 100 years ago, the armistice that was signed between Germany and the Allied nations went into effect, marking the end of World War I. The tolling of bells is a traditional expression of honor and remembrance. IT1 Sopheareth Sao, an IT “A” School instructor, began the
ceremony by welcoming those in attendance. “Thank you for joining us on this solemn day of remembrance to honor those who lost their lives during World War I,” Sao shared. At 11 a.m., IT1 Dustin Wilkins, an IT “A” School instructor, tolled the bell 21 times to remember the 116,516 Americans lost and the more than 200,000
CNATRA flight students help with Hurricane Michael recovery Story by Anne Owens Chief of Naval Air Training Public Affairs
When Hurricane Michael hit Florida’s Gulf Coast Oct. 10, Gary Churchwell, a division head at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Panama City, Fla., and his family evacuated to Mobile, Ala., to wait out the storm. When it was safe to return, they came home to fallen trees, downed power lines, their roof and ceilings collapsed and their family home devastated. Beginning the cleanup process seemed a monumental task; heavy furniture had to be moved, soaking wet carpet had to be ripped out and all of that in 90 degree weather with limited, if any, emergency services available. “We were determined to get the work done,” Churchwell said. “I started feeling dizzy and had to take a break. We noticed a few young people working with our neighbors next door, clearing trees in their driveway with a chainsaw. When they were finished, they showed up at my house and said, ‘What can we do?’ ” This group of young people consisted of two flight students from Naval Air Station Whiting Field (NASWF), Ens. Nicholas Sholty, Ens. Andrew Kittel and their friend Carolyn Gadboys. Sholty, a Pensacola native, is no stranger to hurricane destruction. He lost his own home in 2004 when Hurricane Ivan made landfall
wounded during the Great War. “Today we gathered to not only remember the close of our world’s first Great War,” Lt. Mike Smith, one of IWTC Corry Station’s chaplains said. “But we also gathered to remember all veterans that have fought and served See IWTC on page 2
MacDill hosts NASP flight training squadron By Senior Airman Adam Shanks 6th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs
Ens. Andrew Kittel, Carolyn Gadboys, Lisa Churchwell, Gary Churchwell, and Ens. Nicholas Sholty gather after a day of work removing debris, furniture and carpet from the Churchwell home following Hurricane Michael’s destruction. Courtesy photo
on the Florida coast, just a few days after moving in. “We had eight feet of water in our house, and we spent weeks walking from Pensacola pier down to our house and back a few times a day, salvaging what we could and trying to empty out everything that was ruined,” Sholty said. “We only had the clothes that we evacuated with.” After buying a house in Gulf Breeze and setting up a new home mere months later, Hurricane Dennis hit. See CNATRA on page 2
Since the end of October 2018, the skies above MacDill Air Force Base, Fla. roar a little louder than normal. On any given day, the Tampa Bay community can look to the skies to see the robust KC-135 Stratotanker fly overhead en route to fuel warfighters around the world. However, their buzz is currently drowned out by the U.S. Navy’s visiting fleet of training jets. Members of the Navy’s Training Squadron 86, also known as the VT-86 Sabrehawks, journeyed to MacDill to complete pilot training in lieu of the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels’ homecoming at Naval Air Station Pensacola. “Instead of crowding the airspace above Pensacola, we’ve temporarily moved to Tampa to continue our blocks of training,” Lt. Brandon Brown, an instructor pilot and officer in charge of the VT-86 detachment at MacDill said. Students with the Sabrehawks learn to fly the T45C Goshawk, a carrier-capable trainer with a maximum speed of 645 mph. Once their six to eight month training is complete, the students move on to pilot the See VT-86 on page 2
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