Patriot Mans Blue-Shirt Detail in Final Transit to Forward-deployed Home
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS070705-11
Release Date: 7/5/2007 1:06:00 PM
By Chief Electrician's Mate (SW) Corneja, USS Patriot Public Affairs
SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- Sasebo’s two mine countermeasures ships USS Patriot (MCM 7) and USS Guardian (MCM 5) returned to their forward-deployed home of Sasebo after a three-month spring patrol to Pacific Rim nations June 29.
The deployment was filled with a number of diplomatic and goodwill visits to countries including Indonesia, Brunei and Philippines.
As the two ships pivoted toward the city of Sasebo from Sakibe Bay, families and loved ones cheered at the first glance of the slowly approaching ships. Fire trucks from the edge of India Basin sprayed colored water as a gesture of welcoming the returning warships.
Patriot Commanding Officer Lt. Cmdr. Thomas E. Shultz steadied the ship back to Sasebo with a special group of people manning the important positions during the sea and anchor detail. The ship was manned by “blue shirt detail,” composed of enlisted personnel from first class petty officers and below. Positions included officer of the deck to the line handlers.
“This is very rare for a ship to hand over the special sea and anchor detail evolution responsibilities fully to the blue shirts," said Shultz. "But because of [their] vast experience at sea and long hours of watch experience, they fully deserved the opportunity.”
Sailors were ready for the challenge and welcomed the return home.
“I must admit that this evolution is very critical and not just a walk-in-the-park. However, due to the teamwork we have here on the bridge and critical watch stations, our watch team functions as one,” said Storekeeper 1st Class (SW) Michael J. Simmons, who is also the Patriot’s Sailor of the Year for 2007.
The blue shirt sea and anchor detail was evidence of the multitude of qualifications that Patriot Sailors earned while underway.
“Lots of qualifications were done this underway, especially the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) insignia, damage control and combat mine warfare,” said Senior Chief Mineman (SW) Leo Butler, the ship’s senior enlisted advisor.
The two forward-deployed mine countermeasures ships left Sasebo on April 16. Both ships visited nine ports reaching out to local communities through community service projects and allowed foreign dignitaries, military service members and the general public to visit.
Patriot was praised during their visit to Surabaya, Indonesia, on May 8 by local government officials who visited the ship. The officials were impressed by the ship’s capabilities and the vast knowledge of each crew member regarding mine countermeasures and neutralization capability of the ship.
Local residents and business owners in Puerto Princesa, Palawan Island, Republic of the Philippines, were also impressed by the professionalism and community interaction during the two ships’ port visit June 2-7.
The two Avenger-class mine countermeasures ships made history by being the first U.S. Navy vessels to visit Yonaguni Island, the most remote and western part of Japan, since 1972.
”It’s a great feeling to come home to such a warm welcome from both the families and all the organizations here on base. We really appreciate what our families and these organizations do for us every day whether we’re inport or at sea,” said Lt. Robert Shu, executive officer of Patriot. “After completing such a great underway, it’s incredibly rewarding [to have] time to spend with your family and friends.”
Guardian and Patriot serve under Task Force 76, based out of Okinawa with an operating detachment in Sasebo.
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