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USS Harpers Ferry wins Battle "E"

Journalist 3rd Class Alicia T. Boatwright, USS Harpers Ferry public affairs
Posted 03/13/2003

ABOARD USS HARPERS FERRY AT SEA -- Following a hull-swap and a year of successful operations and inspections, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) has earned the prestigious Battle Efficiency Award for 2002.

The Battle "E" is awarded annually to ships that demonstrate superior performance during day-to-day operations, exhibiting a high level of safety awareness and successfully complete the required certifications and qualifications.

"I think the crew has a tremendous amount to be proud of and the Battle 'E' is very well deserved," said Cmdr. Bradley Martin, Harpers Ferry's commanding officer. "It signifies our commitment to do things the right way all the time."

Command Master Chief Robert Palmer added that the Battle "E" was the "ultimate award."

"It definitely signifies the crew's hard work coupled with teamwork," Palmer said.

The Harpers Ferry was nominated for the Battle "E" by Commander, Amphibious Group 1, while Commander, Naval Surface Force, Pacific Fleet selected the awardees.

Among the accomplishments the crew of the Harpers Ferry successfully completed in 2002 were support operations in the Philippines, a hull swap, humanitarian assistance operations and passing numerous engineering inspections.

While on the USS Germantown (LSD 42), the crew delivered over 200 pieces of support equipment to the Naval Construction Task Group in Basilan, Philippines. It was the first time a load out of an entire Naval Construction Battalion had been accomplished on a ship of its kind.

In August 2002, the Germantown crew completed a hull swap with the San Diego-based Harpers Ferry crew in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Despite the many complications that can come with such an endeavor, the swap was successful.

"We were able to take Harpers Ferry and put her to immediate use," Martin said.

After completing the hull swap, the Harpers Ferry sailed directly to East Timor to participate in a humanitarian assistance operation in the world's newest democratic country. In conjunction with elements of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (SOC), the crew helped hundreds of residents in East Timor by getting them medical attention and supplies and rebuilding a school.

During the yearly training cycle, Germantown/Harpers Ferry underwent several engineering and maintenance inspections with success. The crew also passed all of their readiness assessments, in which their reactions to mocked crises were tested. The ship's supply department also successfully completed two inspections.