The City of Seward welcomed us with open arms
and treated us to what I can only imagine is what small town America
is like. Whether the American Legion, the City Council, the various businesses
or the local population, everyone was nice and very patriotic. It’s great to know bastions of our population still exist
that sincerely appreciate the work your sailors do day in and day out.
We left Seward to commence the Northern Edge exercise, but again due to very poor weather, we were forced to return
for another stay in Seward and experience more of their great hospitality. The
crew participated in many comrel projects, outdoor activities, and just relaxed.
Once Northern Edge was cancelled, the push was for JPJ to return early from deployment, something we wrestled hard
with as it would negatively impact our Tiger Cruise. We were pushed out of Seward
to beat the next storm, only to get caught up in yet another weather divert south. We
experienced some sea sicknesses and some minor damage to the ship, and instead of pulling into Esquimalt,
BC, Canada, we sailed to Everett
Washington as Esquimalt could not support our visit during
their federal holiday.
We had a one week stay in Everett where everyone was able to enjoy some liberty while
we prepared the ship for our return to San Diego. Due to the constantly changing schedule, the Tiger Cruise was cancelled, but our return to San Diego stayed 27 May.
Your Sailors have been amazing these last four months. Every task was
accomplished, every mission was a success, and every opportunity was taken advantage of.
We now get some much deserved down time post deployment as we head into a twelve week maintenance period. I am proud of each and every JPJ sailor. They are the heroes
of today and I relish this opportunity to serve with them.
Christopher K. Barnes
CDR
USN
Commanding Officer
CMC’s Corner
Hello JOHN PAUL JONES Family and Friends,
Yes we are finally
home! This last month of deployment was a
crazy one; we had so many changes that I’m
sure it was driving our
family and friends nuts. Crew was disappointed
that they weren’t able
to show off their warship for the Tigers, but the
most important part
is that we are all home safe and sound. Nothing
beats the feeling of seeing your family and friends on the pier to meet you for homecoming, thanks to everyone that helped
make it all happen! It’s awesome being back to our favorite port of all “HOME”!!
I would like to
extend a “Congratulations on a job well done” to the following Sailors who were recently for sustained superior
performance:
Senior Sailor of the Quarter: DC1(SW/AW)
Foster
Junior Sailor of the Quarter: HM2(SW) Arnold
Bluejacket of the Quarter: SH3(SW) Daly
Sailor of the Week:
BM3 Pham
CTT3 Salinas
Navy Commendation Medal:
LT Belton
GSCS(SW) Caballero
Navy Achievement Medal:
LTJG View
CTTC(SW) Lovell GSE1(SW) Cabamongan
OS1(SW) Davis
GSM1(SW) DeLeon OS1(SW) Gray
FC1(SW) McGuire
FC1(SW) McKay ET1(SW) Bowles
FC1(SW) Alcala
SK2 Hairfield OS2(SW) Lopez
FC1(SW) Nydegger
FC2(SW) Steck FC2 Swensen
FC2 Blake
GSM2(SW) Dummer OS2(SW) Fisher
DC2(SW) Gomez
BM2(SW) Hernandez OS2(SW) Jenkins
FC2(SW) Johnson
YN2(SW) Lee BM2(SW) Londono
CS2(SW) SeguraMartinez
ET2(SW) Snyder IT2(SW) St John
OS2(SW) Temple
OS2(SW) Vang HM3(SW) Saechao
GM3(SW) Shaver
ET3(SW) Smith CS3 Agbayani
GSM3(SW) Feliciano
ET3(SW) Garcia BM3(SW) Hernandez
ET3 Weinrich
SH3(SW) Daly
Flag Letter of Commendation:
FC1(SW) Fournier
GSM2(SW) Schad FC2(SW) Camales
BM2 McKinney
FC2(SW) Yoder GM3(SW) Glover
FC3 Moore
EN3 Negley GM3 Wright
SN(SW) Hobart
OSSN Bittner ENFN Swan
Letter of Commendation:
ENS Soto
ITC(SW) Balcom IT1(SW) Orr
CTM2(SW) Burnett
OS2(SW) Fisher STG2(SW) Garcia
PS2(SW) Miller
BM3 Nabors SH3 Perez
CTM3(SW) Strueby
EM3 Barros BM3 Pham
GSM3(SW) Verdugo
CSSN Barnes YNSN Thomason
CSSN(SW) Baker
BMSN Cagle SN Hendrix
BMSN Mendiola
BMSN Paquin DCFN Walker
Good Conduct Medal:
EMC(SW) Delmundo
GSE1(SW) Yang DC2(SW) Kelly
GSM3 Zuber
Apprenticeship Certificate:
EM2(SW) Cabrera
Enlisted Surface Warfare Qualification:
STG2(SW) Barrett
FC2(SW) Camales ET3(SW) Garcia
IC3(SW) Robinson
OS2(SW) Jenkins CTM2(SW) Burnett
CTM3(SW) Strueby
STG3(SW) Melillo SK2(SW) Phaviseth
STG2(SW) Freeman
GM2(SW) Bradley SHSN(SW) Daly
FC1(SW) Nydegger
BM3(SW) Chapman BM3(SW) Pietras
ET3(SW) Smith
NC1(SW) Winfield OS2(SW) Brito
BM3(SW) Hernandez
FC2(SW) Hathway STG3(SW) Metz
CS2(SW) Seguramartinez HT3(SW) Turner
HT3(SW) Chase
QMSN(SW) Earls
CSSN(SW) Baker OSSN(SW) Anguiano
OS3(SW) Gorospe
New Senior Chief
Petty Officer:
HMCS(SW/FMF) Newman
New First Class Petty
Officers:
BM1(SW) Devers
FC1(SW) Fournier HT1(SW) Kester
FC1(SW) Nydegger
CTT1(SW) Ocana BM1(SW) Samaniego
GSM1(SW) Villatorovaldes
New Second Class Petty Officers:
HM2(SW) Arnold
FC2 Blake GM2(SW) Bradley
FC2(SW)Camales
FC2 Commiskey DC2 Dail
ET2 Diaz
STG2(SW) Frederick DC2(SW) Kelly
OS2 McClaskey
BM2 McKinney CTT2 Murders
GM2 Ouimet
CS2(SW) Seguramartinez FC2 Seto
IT2(SW) St. John
FC2 Sydnor IT2(SW) Tierney
New Third Class Petty Officers:
EM3 Barros
IT3(SW) Chan HT3(SW) Chase
IT3 Deardorff
EN3(SW) Dupard CS3 Gardner
GM3(SW) Glover
OS3 Gorospe CS3 Mann
GSM3 Martinito
EN3 Negley GSE3 Santana
ET3(SW) Smith
AO3 Timmerman GM3 Wright
Command Advancement Program:
ET1(SW) Bowles
SH3(SW) Daly
Very Respectfully,
CMDCM(SW) Karol M. Kramer
Command Master Chief
USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG 53)
OMBUDSMAN’S CORNER
Welcome Home JPJ Sailors!
That’s a phrase that all of us have been wanting to say for quite some time!
This deployment
has been a lesson in patience, flexibility and more patience. Homecoming
was an exciting day. The weather was perfect, if for no other reason than we
got to see our loved ones come home. But now that homecoming is over we need
to put our lessons learned from this deployment into our lives now. Patience
and flexibility with each other is key to making the reunion as smooth as possible.
Remember, just as Homecoming Day isn’t perfect neither is any reunion as you reconnect with your sailor.
There are many people that I want to thank for a variety of things during this deployment. First, I want to thank the Command and their spouses, their support and patience has been greatly appreciated. Next is the Family Support Group Board. The
FSG Board has done a great job of planning activities and doing everything they can to help their fellow FSG members throughout
this deployment. A special thank you goes to Mistianna Cerami, her homecoming
committee and our sister ship, the USS Sampson, who did a wonderful job putting together our homecoming as well as those who
helped with the lei. Fourth, the spouses who offered their assistance to
families in need of help. These spouses are the epitome of what Navy spouses
are thought to be-people who are willing to help whenever asked. Finally, my
thanks also goes out to VFW Post 1512, for their continued support of our Sailors and their families.
With the beginning of the summer comes the end of the school year for many. Please
remember to keep an eye out for the children as they enjoy their play time. They
aren’t always careful or remember that the street isn’t theirs to play in.
Keep an eye out and enjoy a safe, memorable summer.
I wish you the best for your reunion and a safe and happy summer!
Heather Cox
Command Ombudsman
USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53)
(619) 743-5416 OMB line
1-866-310-4650 Careline
jpjombudsman@yahoo.com
http://jpjfamilynews.tripod.com
Family Support Group News
Dear JPJ Families and Friends,
As I sit here writing this I’m thinking,
“Gosh, in less than twelve hours I will be standing on the pier awaiting the ship’s arrival”. I keep wondering
is my house clean enough, did I put the laundry in, are the butterflies in my stomach normal? By the time you receive the
newsletter homecoming will be a fond memory. It has been a rough deployment for a lot of us but I feel lucky that I had my
friends from the support group to lean on.
On with the news from the FSG; our spring basket
auction was a great success raising more than $1400 for the FSG. Thank you to all of our sailors who were generous enough
to participate in the auction. Our June meeting has been canceled so that everyone may spend some quality time with his or
her sailors during stand-down. The FSG has a new vice president, Mistianna Cerami, thank
you Misti for taking on the position. The FSG will remain active during the time our sailors are in port and we are currently
planning a get together to include all of the crew and families. I hope to see you at the July meeting.
Enjoy your time with your sailor,
Julie Gushlaw, JPJ FSG President
Save the Date!
June is National Fireworks Safety Month: Fireworks are a big part of the Fourth of July Celebration but if you aren’t careful
some serious injuries can result from the use of fireworks. Check out the Firework
Safety Tips for ways to safely handle fireworks.
June 1, 1792
Kentucky became the 15th US State (Commonwealth)
June 3, 1942 Battle of Midway began
June 6, 1944: Battle of Normandy begins - Operation Overlord, also known as D-Day, starts with the landing of 155,000 Allied troops on the beaches of Normandy, France. The allied soldiers that participated in the largest amphibious military operation in history helped liberate France from Germany and weakened the Nazi Germany hold on Europe.
June 12, 1939: THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME OPENS
June 20, 1863 West Virginia became the 35th state.
June 25, 1950 Korean War began
June 28, 1919 Peace Treaty of Versailles was signed officially ending World War I
Navy
Trivia:
What is a George and a Bull?
A. an Ensign
B. an animal’s name
C. King of England
D. The Ombudsman’s dogs
Ask the Ombudsman!
Question:
My sailor has come home but now I am concerned because things aren’t the same as they were before. We don’t seem to connect the way we did before. Is this
normal? What do we do?
Answer: First, let me say that I am not a counselor.
I have not been trained to provide the help you may be searching for. I
can tell you from experience that every deployment brings some change. You have
both grown and that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. Think of this as a
chance to get to know one another again and you get the unique opportunity to “recharge” your relationship. If you have concerns about serious problems about your relationship there are several
great resources for you to use. These include the base chaplains, Fleet and Family
Support and MilitaryOneSourece.com. Each of these resources provide confidential
and licensed counseling. If you need more information about it please let me
know and I can help you get the resources you need.
Fireworks Safety
July is coming fast upon us and with the beginning of July comes fireworks. Below are some tips for working safely with fireworks from the Consumer Product Safety
Commission and the National Council on Fireworks Safety.
- Always read and follow label directions.
- Have an adult present.
- Buy from reliable sellers.
- Use outdoors only.
- Always have water handy (a garden hose and a bucket).
- Never experiment or make your own fireworks.
- Light only one firework at a time.
- Never re-light a "dud" firework (wait 15 to 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of
water).
- Never give fireworks to small children.
- If necessary, store fireworks in a cool, dry place.
- Dispose of fireworks properly by soaking them in water and then disposing of them in your
trashcan.
- Never throw or point fireworks at other people.
- Never carry fireworks in your pocket.
- Never shoot fireworks in metal or glass containers.
- The shooter should always wear eye protection and never have any part of the body over
the firework.
- Stay away from illegal explosives.
For more information on the laws for your state please go to: http://www.fireworksafety.com/laws.htm
This Resource
is for You!
Homecoming Stress
Yes, this was here last month but it’s always good to repeat this information!
The stress is gone because the sailors are home, right?
Well, not necessarily. Just because the sailors are home doesn’t
mean that the stress is gone-it has changed. You are now having to deal with
the difficulties of readjusting to life with your sailor home. If you need help to deal with these adjustments please get the help you need. The last thing anyone wants is for you to feel stressed out or alone.
Here are some great resources for you.
If you are eligible to shop at the Commissary:
Fleet and Family Support:
In San Diego call: (619) 556-7404
Out of San Diego? Check out https://www.nffsp.org/skins/nffsp/home.aspx
Chaplains:
Call 1-877-4-1-TOUCH or check out http://www.chaplaincare.navy.mil/index.htm
ASYMCA: http://www.militaryymca.com/
If you aren’t eligible to
shop at the Commissary:
In San Diego: 211-this is an information referral hotline (an Ombudsman for the civilian world)
Outside of San Diego: Many places offer services like 211. Check out your local
phone book. Also, you could try speaking with your spiritual advisor.
These resources are not the only resources available,
simply some of the most common resources to use. Contact your ombudsman if you
need a different resource as well.
Disclaimer: The Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, and Navy Personnel Command do not
endorse any commercial enterprise or their websites that may be found within this section.
Information on any commercial enterprise or their websites are provided because of the useful information provided
on these sites at no cost to the visitor.
Navy Trivia Answer: A
The most junior Ensign on the ship is called the J.O.R.G.
(George) Ensign while the most senior Ensign is called the Bull Ensign. The insignia worn by both of these Ensigns are not officially authorized but are traditionally
kept within the Command. The Bull Ensign, who wears enlarged Ensign bars with
the word “BULL” imprinted on them, is traditionally expected to mentor
junior ensigns of the wardroom, is directly responsible for the JORG and may wear a bull horned hard hat at social functions. The J.O.R.G. normally serves as
the Vice-President of the mess at formal military dinners and has key responsibilities for the success of this important military
social event. The JORG is typically the collector and manager of the Wardroom Fund. Some of the various incidental duties
of the JORG may also include maintaining the senior officer of the wardroom's Government-Owned Vehicle (GOV), setting up projectors
and screens for General Military Training (GMT) and various other tasks.
CONTACT
YOUR SAILOR:
Sailors
love snail mail! Although we have the convenience of email, don’t forget
to send letters and packages to your loved one at sea! Send mail to:
Service Member’s
Name
USS JOHN PAUL JONES
(DDG-53)
FPO AP 96669-1271
Remember…sailors love snail mail!
June 2008
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D-Day
Rememberance |
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Flag Day |
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Father’s Day |
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Summer
Solstice |
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