NAS Pensacola holiday hours ... The NASP west gate and Corry Gate 7 hours will be modified during the holiday season as follows: • Closing Dec. 21, 9:30 p.m. • Opening Jan. 2, 5:30 a.m.
Vol. 76, No. 50
VISIT GOSPORT ONLINE: www.gosportpensacola.com
December 14, 2012
NAS Pensacola command master chiefs recognized Story, photo by Mike O’Connor Gosport Associate Editor
Santa arrives at NAS Pensacolaʼs Selected Childrenʼs Christmas Party ... Santa Claus greets the crowd at the Selected Children’s Christmas Party Dec. 5 at the Fred G. Smalley Youth Center aboard NAS Pensacola. Guests included 101 underprivileged children from elementary schools in the Pensacola area, who were escorted by volunteers. The children were treated to special activities, lunch and each one received a gift from Santa. This year, the event was sponsored by the First Class Petty Officers Association (FCPOA) with participation from a variety of NASP departments and members of the Navy Wives Club. Photo by Janet Thomas For story and more photos, see page 4
NAS Pensacola’s command master chiefs (CMC) have earned their place in the base’s history – and now have a permanent record of it. A plaque was unveiled Dec. 11 in NASP CMDCM(SW/AW) Michael Dollen’s office which lists all of the former CMCs. The board is similar to the one which lists all of the commanding officers of NAS Pensacola. The former CMCs were invited to attend the ceremony, which was held in command headquarters, Bldg. 1500. Many of them still live in the Pensacola area. The current Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON), Michael D. Stevens, served as NASP’s CMDCM from 2005-2006. Stevens was also invited but was unable to attend. “It commemorates the great master chiefs who have led the helm here at NAS Pensacola,” NASP Commanding Officer Capt. Christopher Plummer said. “This is a great testament to all of you who have served here before.” Former CMDCM(AW) Clint Mims, who today works as a maintenance man-
ager with base contractor Regal Select Services Inc., recalled his tenure as base command master chief with fondness. “(It was an) opportunity to have the privilege and honor to work with such an outstanding civilian staff as well as military,” Mims said. “What we called it back then was ‘welcome to working in paradise.’ ” Mims thought the plaque appropriate. “This is historic, and I think history and tradition are an important part of our Navy. We should never forget the men and women who have laid the groundwork for
See CMCs on page 2
CMDCM(SW/AW) Michael Dollen presents the new command master chief plaque to base officials and visitors Dec. 11.
World War II, Pearl Harbor anniversary remembered at museum Story, photo by Mike O’Connor Gosport Associate Editor
Hundreds of area residents, civilians, service members and veterans attended a Dec. 7 World War II remembrance at the National Naval Aviation Museum. The two-hour program, with narration from museum volunteer Bob Pisz, included a multimedia presentation of the key events of the war years, accompanied by live music from the Tate High School Band. Special guests included eight local veterans, survivors of the Dec. 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor – Bill Braddock, Jay
Veterans of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and their families line the front row at the National Naval Aviation Museum’s World War II remembrance ceremony Dec. 7.
Carraway, Frank Emond, Jacob Gallawa, Dale Hendricks, Jim Landis, George Mills and Cass
Phillips. The group sat in the front row with the widows of other local Pearl Harbor vets:
Angie Engel, Ann Glaeser and Dottie Graziani. This Dec. 7 marked the 71st anniversary of the Japanese sneak attack on the Pacific fleet’s anchorage at Pearl Harbor; more than 2,400 service members were killed in that attack, which plunged the nation into war. The presentation was followed by guest speaker, local author and Marine veteran Dr. Sid Phillips. Guadalcanal veteran Phillips’ character starred in HBO’s “The Pacific,” a series which followed the battles of World War II through the experiences of its four characters. Phillips’ recollections, both vivid and sometimes humorous, pro-
vided an insight into the turbulent days of the war. An animated question-and-answer session with the crowd followed, and afterward Phillips signed copies of his combat memoir, “You’ll Be Sor-ree!” Phillips, who graduated from high school in June 1941, recalled the moments of hearing about the Pearl Harbor attack on the radio – and his decision to enlist. He had been enjoying a vanilla milkshake at a soda fountain in downtown Mobile when the word came. “It was about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, that Sunday, Dec. 7, when we began
See WWII on page 2
2012 Navy Community Service Environmental Stewardship Flagship Award winners announced • NAS Pensacola wins honorable mention • By Katherine M. Turner Chief of Naval Operations Energy and Environmental Readiness Division PAO
WASHINGTON (NNS) – Recently the Navy announced the winners and honorable mentions, including NAS Pensacola, of the 2012 Navy Community Service Environmental Stewardship Flagship Awards. Vice Adm. Philip H. Cullom, deputy chief of Naval Operations for Fleet Readiness and Logistics (N4), released a naval message listing the awardees. The awards recognize Navy commands that engage in exemplary voluntary community service activities that promote
good stewardship of environmental resources. The Environmental Stewardship Flagship, which is sponsored by N4, is one of five flagships in the Navy Community Service program. The other four flagships include Personal Excellence Partnership, Project Good Neighbor, Campaign Drug Free and Health, Safety and Fitness. In the naval message, Cullom saluted the awardees. “Your dedicated service has made a positive difference, strengthened community ties, and enhanced our environment,” said Cullom. “Please accept my personal ‘Bravo Zulu’ and
Legal visit ... A conversation between Thomas E. Perez, assistant attorney general U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division (left to right); Capt. Christopher Plummer, commander of Naval Air Station Pensacola; Pamela Marsh, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida; and Stuart Delery, deputy attorney general for the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, was part of a Dec. 10 visit to NASP by state and federal legal officials. The visit included meetings with base personnel and a roundtable discussion with Navy and Air Force legal assistance providers. The focus was on efforts to protect the rights of members of the military. Photo by Janet Thomas
See Awards on page 2
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