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USS Roosevelt Dedicates Medical Space to Corpsman

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS101124-18
11/24/2010

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sunday Williams, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East Detachment Southeast

MAYPORT, Fla. (NNS) -- Sailors aboard USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) dedicated the ship's medical space in the name of a fallen shipmate, Nov. 19.

Sailors gathered with the family of deceased crew member, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Robert L. Sides Jr. to pay tribute and honor him for all his hard work.

Sides ran the medical spaces aboard Roosevelt from June 2007 until September 2010 when the 34 year-old Sailor lost his battle with throat cancer.

The ship held a brief ceremony on the flight deck and then conducted a ribbon cutting in the ship's medical spaces where Roosevelt Commanding Officer Cmdr. Robert Chadwick and Sides' widow, Asia Sides, cut the ribbon to officially mark the name of the medical facility.

Sides' family did not have the words to express how grateful they were for the honor the ship has shown.

"We are so thankful for all that this ship has done to honor my son," said Julie Sides. "I feel like this is one way which he will be able to continue the work he loved."

Those that knew him said Sides would study medical books for two to three hours every morning, starting his day at 4:00 am.

According to Sides' fellow corpsman and friend Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW) Sarah Pilipovich, Sides was very passionate about his work. He always studied and was usually the smartest guy in the room, but never boasted about it.

"He was so funny and full of life," said Pilipovich.
"He loved what he did and was always ready to help people, both medically and personally."

Sides joined the Navy inspired to do something bigger than himself after 9/11. He wanted to be a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman and to serve his country on the ground during combat operations. His long term goal was to become a doctor and work with Doctors without Borders.

Petty Officer Sides' chief from Hospital Corpsman School, Chief Hospital Corpsman James Hopkins Jr. was very sad to hear about his passing.

"All I can say is that in the short time I knew him, he touched my life profoundly and his spirit and memory will live with me in the things I do every day, especially how to look at difficult situations in a positive manner," said Hopkins.

Through Roosevelt's push to keep Sides' memory alive by telling his story, he will continue to motivate and inspire Sailors to be the best they can be and pursue their dreams.