USS Gary celebrates 18th birthday
7th Fleet Release
01/06/2003
Gas Turbine System Technician (Mechanical) (SW) First Class Guy A. Bensing, USS Gary public affairs
ABOARD USS GARY, AT SEA -- Sailors aboard the Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate USS Gary (FFG 51) celebrated the ship's 18th year of active service Nov. 17.
A celebration committee was organized months in advance and a series of events was planned for the crew. Although the scheduled events were designed to provide the crew some fun and relaxation, the ship was also working her way through Annual-ex 14G, an intensive bilateral exercise with elements of the Kitty Hawk Battle Group and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force.
The first of the events was a unique fund-raiser for the Combined Federal Campaign, during which Sailors could purchase "no-shave" chits. The idea for this stemmed from a photograph in Gary's commissioning book, in which many of the "plank owners" (Sailors who were the first to crew the ship) sported full beards.
Beards proved to be extremely popular with the crew, and they raised more than $600 for the worthy causes supported by the CFC.
Gary Sailors also signed up for chess and video game tournaments during the week prior to Nov. 17.
On Sunday, Nov. 17, the 18th birthday of the frigate, Sailors aboard Gary were awakened to the sound of Madonna's "Borderline," one of the pop star's first hits released in 1984, and the announcement that the ship's original sponsor, Mrs. George D. Leamer, had been secretly flown aboard and would be participating in a re-enactment of the ship's christening.
Gary's crew mustered on the foc'sle with Gary commanding officer Cmdr. Tito Dua and executive officer Lt. Cmdr. Mark Metzger and side boys were on station as Leamer was rung aboard.
Leamer was not actually aboard the ship, but a member of the crew dressed as the ship's sponsor, prompting laughter and applause from the assembled Sailors. "Leamer" briefly addressed the crew, saying what a great honor it was to be back aboard Gary, and was then led to the side of the ship by Dua, where Gary was re-christened with a bottle of chilled champagne broken on the port gunwale.
The crew was then invited to enjoy a steel beach cookout sponsored by the ship's First Class mess, where a history of the ship, the vessel's namesake and a letter from Gary's acting sponsor, Mrs. Carolyn J. Lantz, grand-niece of the ship's namesake, Donald A. Gary was read.
Cmdr. Donald A.Gary was a winner of the Medal of Honor in World War II. In action off the coast of Japan aboard the USS Franklin, he rescued 300 fellow crewmen trapped below decks after a two 500-lb bombs from a Japanese bomber ripped through the flight deck. His hometown of Findlay, Ohio, also contributed to the celebration, presenting plaques from the local Police and Fire Departments in commemoration of Commander Gary's heroic deeds and the ship's commitment to the defense of the United States. The plaques are now mounted on each side of the bridge.
In her letter, Mrs. Lantz recounted anecdotes of her late granduncle, and told the crew "Your ship is your home while you are at sea. It sustains you just as you sustain it. While underway, you and your ship are truly one unit. While underway at sea on any naval vessel, you are always sailing in harms way. Expect the unexpected."
Because no birthday party is complete with out presents, the committee gave out several presents to the crew as door prizes. Crewmembers born the year the ship was commissioned and one member born in Long Beach, Calif. cut the cake.
According to Dua, the opportunity to participate in a ceremony commemorating both a U.S. Navy ship and the Sailor the vessel was named for help a particular importance.
"Celebrating the history of a ship is a wonderful experience," he said. "Gary has such a rich past, much like the man she was named after. It is an honor for me to command a ship whose namesake lived the same values of Honor, Courage and Commitment which we hold on to so strongly today."
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