Lake Erie Gets 'Top Gun' and Retention Excellence Awards
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS080325-10
Release Date: 3/25/2008 1:02:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class James E. Foehl, Commander, Navy Region Hawaii
PEARL HARBOR (NNS) -- The Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) and her crew were formally recognized for their retention excellence and successful accomplishment of Operation Burnt Frost during a ceremony March 24 while in port Naval Station Pearl Harbor.
Rear Adm. T.G. Alexander, commander of Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific, presented the Retention Excellence Award to the Lake Erie Sailors on behalf of Adm. Robert F. Willard, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet for the command's superior retention efforts during fiscal year 2007.
"One of our greatest challenges today is attracting, recruiting and retaining quality Sailors. What you did last year and what you're doing already this fiscal year demonstrates that you all have clearly cracked the [retention] code," said Alexander.
The annual award recognizes commands that meet or exceed Pacific Fleet retention goals for the year. For 2007, the goals were: 50 percent for personnel with less than six years of active service, 60 percent for personnel between six and 10 years active service, and 80 percent for personnel with more than 10 years of active service.
According to Alexander, Lake Erie exceeded all retention goals for three out of four quarters in 2007 and paid out almost $320,000 in selective reenlistment bonuses (SRB). For fiscal year 2008, Lake Erie has had more than 91 percent zone "A" reenlistment and has paid out nearly $600,000 in SRB's.
Following Alexander's presentation, Adm. Timothy J. Keating, commander of U.S. Pacific Command, presented Lake Erie the Meritorious Unit Commendation and nine individual awards to her crew members for their successful accomplishment of Operation Burnt Frost, a one of a kind joint operation, directed by the president of the United States to intercept a non-functioning U.S. reconnaissance satellite.
During Operation Burnt Frost, which took place Feb. 2 to 22, the Lake Erie Sailors orchestrated an unprecedented intercept of a malfunctioning satellite by utilizing a modified Standard Missile-3 and the AEGIS weapons system. Their success resulted in complete destruction of the satellite and prevented possible harm from an uncontrolled reentry of the resident space object.
"To the president of the United States the word was 'Lake Erie can do it' and you did," said Keating. "For you all to go out and hit that thing, first time ever done and come back into port and just go on about your daily business – it's difficult for me to find the words to tell you how momentous, significant and dramatic your success is in the scheme of things all throughout the Pacific."
Capt. Randall Hendrickson, commanding officer, Lake Erie, was awarded the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the third-highest award bestowed upon service members by the Department of Defense, for his outstanding leadership and tireless efforts while serving as the commanding officer for Lake Erie during the mission.
Joint Service Commendation Medals were presented to Lt. Cmdr. Andrew D. Bates, tactical action officer; Lt. Christa N. Almonte, operations officer; Chief Warrant Officer Kevin A. King, system test officer; Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Andrew S. Jackson, missile systems supervisor; and Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) Robert W. Polt, radar system controller.
Joint Service Achievement Medals were awarded to Lt. j.g. Thomas A. Shapiro, fire control officer; Fire Controlman 1st Class (SW) James R. Lewis, computer central operator and lead computer system technician; and Fire Controlman 2nd Class (SW) John G. Whitby, primary radar technician.
"The folks that were standing up here [being awarded] were the ones at the pointy end [of the spear] but the pointy end is only part of the spear," said Bates. "Lake Erie is not just an SM-3 coming out of a launcher - it's a whole ship. From the engineers getting us from place to place to the supply folks doing the laundry and feeding the crew, none of what we do would be possible without all that."
The presentation concluded with a personal thanks and congratulations from Keating to the individual awardees, crew members and their families for their services and sacrifices.
"You should be immensely proud of your accomplishments," concluded Keating. "It doesn't happen automatically - it's a result of each and every Sailor, chief, warrant officer and officer in the crew doing their assigned task without error."
For more news from Commander, Navy Region Hawaii, visit www.navy.mil/local/cnrh/.
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