FRIDAY, AUG. 25, 2017
Eye on the Fleet
ARABIAN GULF
VOL. 17 NO. 34
WWW.CNIC.NAVY.MIL/KEYWEST NAVAL AIR STATION KEY WEST, FLORIDA
At Your direction
Former CO recalls Andrew By Jolene Scholl Southernmost Flyer
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(Aug. 20, 2017) Marines take a break from their work in the hanger bay of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is deployed in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. U.S. Navy photo by MCSN Kennishah Maddux
inside: GET SCREENED For your health. . . . . . . . . . . . 2 RETIREMENT MWD Karo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
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EAN Christopher Chelman directs a MH-53 helicopter at Boca Chica Field Wednesday. Chelman is here training with Helicopter Sea Combat Weapons School Atlantic, based in Norfolk, Virginia. The detachment, with three helicopters and135 Sailors training in flight, maintenance and administration, is conducting the Helicopter Advanced Readiness Program at Naval Air Station Key West for the first time.
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Scientist uses native plant found at NAS in cancer research
FITS FINE Selectees shop. . . . . . . . . . . . 6
By Jolene Scholl
SKY VIEW Solar eclipse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
hile most visitors to Naval Air Station Key West look to the sky to watch combat fighter aircraft, Dr. Mark Day was more interested on what was growing near the shore at Truman Annex beach. Day, a University of Michigan professor, visited last week, searching for a specific plant that grows on Truman Annex - Ambrosia
TOP OF PAGE ONE: An F/A-18E Super Hornet assigned to the ‘Tomcatters’ of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 31 breaks the sound barrier during an air power demonstration.
U.S. Navy photo by Jolene Scholl
lthough Naval Air Station Key West escaped the wrath of Hurricane Andrew, Thursday’s 25th anniversary brought back memories of the non-stop relief efforts supported by base personnel. The Category 5 hurricane blew through Homestead and Florida City, killing more than 60 people and causing millions of dollars in damages. Former Commanding
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hispida, more commonly known as coastal ragweed. While a nuisance weed to some, his research indicates it may produce a chemical compound that can aid in the fight against certain bladder and breast cancers. Ambrosia hispida is considered native to the Caribbean and is found in Southern Florida. Day had been collecting the plant at Fort Zachary Taylor when he noticed a patch growing across the fence on Navy property.
The discovery prompted him to write NAS Environmental Director Ed Barham for permission to access the base. “A. (Ambrosia) hispida is somewhat scarce and a very important plant for cancer research and I am finding very few places to collect it,” Day wrote in his request for permission to collect a kilogram from Navy property. Day, who has a doctorate in molecular and cellular biology, has been conducting research with
the Translational Oncology Program in the Department of Urology at the University of Michigan. Early research indicated “there was something very real with this plant,” he said in an interview Thursday. The plant produces sesquiterpene lactones, which lab tests indicate attack the proteins that drive the cancer cells’ aggressiveness. His work is a continuation of phyto-chemistry research started by other scientists studying natural
remedies that have been used in folk medicine for hundreds - even thousands - of years. What scientists are learning is the compounds extracted from plants, particularly those that appear to be effective in combating certain cancers, can’t be synthesized in labs. “Mother Nature has a vast untapped reservoir,” Day noted. His work is far from over, see ragweed page 3