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SECNAV Visits USS Mason in Persian Gulf

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS061127-01
Release Date: 11/27/2006 9:47:00 AM

By Ensign Benjamin Cantu, USS Mason Public Affairs

USS MASON, At Sea (NNS) -- Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV), the Honorable Dr. Donald C. Winter, visited guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87), Nov. 25, during a holiday tour of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command’s area of responsibility.

Winter took time to answer questions in the wardroom, chief's mess and crew’s mess while aboard, but spent the majority of his time touring work centers and talking with Sailors.

During the visit, he also thanked the crew for their hard work and dedication while conducting maritime security operations (MSO) in the Persian Gulf.

MSO help set the conditions for security and stability in the maritime environment and complement the counter-terrorism and security efforts of regional nations. These operations deny international terrorists use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material.

Mason crew members appreciated the visit.

“How often do you get a chance to meet the Secretary of the Navy?” said Fire Controlman 1st Class Wesley James, who met Winter while standing watch in the ship’s Combat Information Center (CIC). “He was really interested about the watch stations and how the systems worked.”

Winter also took the opportunity to present awards to Sailors, including Mason’s Sailor of the Year, Gas Turbine System Technician (Electrical) 1st Class Carlos Morales and members of Mason’s embarked Helicopter Anti-Submarine Light Squadron (HSL) 46, Det. 4. From the detachment, Airman Jonathan Reed received Bluejacket of the Year, Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 2nd Class Mark Schmidt received Air Crewman of the Year and Lt. Michael Sheedy received Pilot of the Year.

“Secretary Winter is really down to earth and approachable,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class David Farace, a member of Air Department. “We talked about the other places he had visited and even about what we were doing when the 9/11 terrorist attacks took place.”

Mason departed its homeport of Norfolk, Va., Oct. 3, with the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group on a regularly scheduled deployment. Currently, Mason is operating alongside coalition partners, conducting MSO with Combined Task Force 152.