61st year, No. 45
Serving the NATO, Naples and Gaeta Military Community in Italy
EURAFSWA Commander Joins USO Thanksgiving Celebration
President Barack Obama
Mason Sailor Talks to POTUS on Thanksgiving By Petty Officer 3rd Class Janweb B. Lagazo USS Mason (DDG 87) Public Affairs
Commander, Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia Rear Adm. Rick Williamson cuts a turkey for the USO Thanksgiving luncheon for service members at the Air Terminal at Capodichino November 22, 2016. Photo by PO1 Daniel Barker
JFC Volunteers Help Animal Shelter Through Initiatives
When Kate Maslen arrived to Italy with “Hank the Tank,” her beloved nine-year-old bull mastiff, she was happy her pooch would be able to live out his golden years in an Italian villa. Photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Patton
By U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Mark Patton
When Kate Maslen arrived to Italy with “Hank the Tank,” her beloved nine-yearold bull mastiff, she was happy her pooch
would be able to live out his golden years in an Italian villa. A couple of months after Hank’s passing, Maslen didn’t expect to see his “twin” in an online posting from an animal shelter.
After eventually following up to go take a look at the dog, Maslen found herself in an animal shelter not far from the headquarters of Allied Joint Force Command (JFC) Naples. It wouldn’t be her last trip to the Rifugio San Francesco animal shelter in Castelvolturno, Caserta. Maslen, who works with Military Family Services Europe and married to a Canadian service member from JFC Naples, realized right away that she, and others, could make a difference in the lives of the 315 four-legged habitants of the shelter. “We can be doing something,” Maslen recalled thinking at the time. That thought is now a reality as a calendar project, dubbed “Soldiers for Strays,” made its debut at the annual Christmas Bazaar at JFC Naples. After the bazaar, it’s also available for purchase at the Canadian Support Element. Each month of the calendar features photos of a military or family member from one of the NATO countries with a dog seeking a home. JFC HELPS ANIMALS Page 11 CAPTAIN’S CORNER. . . . . . . . . 2 BASE NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 NAVY HISTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 FFSC CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . 5
50%
SOUND OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 MOVIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 JOBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
60% nEX OFFERInG FREE SHIPPInG . . . . . page 5
Friday, December 2, 2016
HOME FIRE SAFETY HInTS
USO TOURS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
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WORD SEARCH / COLOR ME 14
A U.S. Navy Sailor and Flint, Michigan, native received a phone call from President Barack Obama while operating aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87) in the Mediterranean Sea on Thanksgiving Day. Petty Officer 2nd Class (SW) Christina McGuire, a 2012 graduate of Clio Area High School, is serving aboard Mason as a cryptologic technician in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. McGuire entered the Navy in April 2014 and reported to Mason in August 2015. She has recently qualified as an Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. “Petty Officer McGuire is a superb Sailor,” Cmdr. Christopher J. Gilbertson, from Minneapolis, Mason’s commanding officer, said. “Her direct actions in defense of the ship, crew and others are indicative of what every Mason Sailor is - absolutely professional. Her performance, attitude and hard work especially make her a standout. Her infectious, positive attitude has been a welcome addition, and I know she was honored to have the opportunity to speak with our commander-in-chief today.” President Barack Obama reached out to McGuire this Thanksgiving. “He wanted to say, ‘Happy Thanksgiving,’” McGuire said. “He wanted to congratulate Mason on our excellent performance these last couple of months.
MASON SAILOR TALKS TO POTUS Page 11