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USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) Memorial Ceremony

HONORING THE SAILORS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF OUR COUNTRY


Admiral John S. McCain and his son Admiral John S. McCain, Jr

USS John S. McCain (DDG 56)

    USS John S. McCain (DGG 56) is the second Bath-built ship to carry the name. The first ship (DL 3/DDG 36), bore the name from 1953-1978. Both destroyers honor Admiral John S. McCain (1884-1945), the distinguished Carrier Task Force Commander of World War II, and his son, Admiral John S. McCain Jr., (1911-1981), a former Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Pacific Command. Both men distinguished themselves in wartime with the senior McCain serving in both World Wars.

    Admiral McCain, grandfather to Senator McCain, is best remembered for his designation as Commander, Aircraft, South Pacific and South Pacific Force during the campaign of the Solomon Islands in 1942 and later as Commander, Second Carrier Task Force and Commander, Task Force 38.1 in 1944. As part of Admiral Halsey’s Task Force THIRTY-EIGHT, Admiral McCain saw almost continuous combat action and was awarded the Navy Cross for heroism and great achievement

    Admiral John S. McCain, Jr. served the navy from 1931 to 1972. During World War II, he commanded submarines USS Gunnel and USS Dentuda and was awarded the Silver Star and Bronze Star medals for service in combat. Among his commands and assignments were: Commander, Submarine Division SEVENTY-ONE; Commander, Submarine Division FIFTY-ONE; Commander, Submarine Squadron SIX; Commanding Officer, USS Monrovia (APA 31) and USS Albany (CA 123); Commander, Amphibious Force, Atlantic Fleet; Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Naval Forces Europe; Commander-in-Chief, Pacific; and as a special assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations.


Memorial Service Program

Welcome

Arrival of Official Party

National Anthem

Invocation

Remarks

Bell Ceremony

Taps

Benediction

Navy Hymn


Chief Petty Officer Electronics Technician (Surface Warfare/Aviation Warfare) Charles N. Findley

CHIEF PETTY OFFICER ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN

(SURFACE WARFARE/ AVIATION WARFARE)

CHARLES N. FINDLEY

    Chief Petty Officer Electronics Technician Charles N. Findley is a native of Amazonia, Missouri. He enlisted in the United States Navy in February 2008 and completed Basic Training and follow-on Electronics Technician “A” school at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois.

    His was first assigned to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) from February 2009 to July 2013 where he qualified as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist. He later served at Naval Computer and Telecommunications Station Far East Detachment Chinhae, South Korea from September 2013 to September 2014 and Naval Computer and telecommunications Station Far East Detachment Okinawa, Japan from September 2014 to October 2016. After successful tours ashore, Chief Petty Officer Findley received order to USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) November 2016.

    Chief Petty Officer Findley was serving onboard USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) as the CE Division Leading Petty Officer, charged with leading 16 Sailors in the maintenance and operation of all shipboard internal/external communications and radar/navigation equipment. These duties included total management of McCain’s shipboard aloft, HERO, 2-M, test equipment, EMI, and calibration programs.

    He will be remembered by Combat Electronics Division for being an outstanding leader and a talented mechanic, who whole-heartedly committed himself to his equipment and Sailors. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Two Gold Stars) and various unit and campaign awards.


Photos of Chief Petty Officer Findley


Chief Petty Officer Interior Communications Electrician (Surface Warfare/Aviation Warfare/Information Warfare) Abraham Lopez

CHIEF PETTY OFFICER INTERIOR COMMUNICATIOINS ELECTRICIAN

(SURFACE WARFARE/ AVAIATION WARFARE/ INFORMATION WARFARE)

ABRAHAM LOPEZ

    Interior Communications Electrician Chief Petty Officer Abraham Lopez is a native of El Paso, Texas. He enlisted in the United States Navy in December 1997 and completed Basic Training and follow-on Interior Communication Electrician “A” school at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois.

    His assignments include USS Curtis Wilbur (DDG 54) where he qualified as Enlister Surface Warfare Specialist, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, USS Boxer (LHD 4), and Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station Atlantic. After his successful tour ashore, Chief Petty Officer Lopez received orders to USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) in November 2014.

    Chief Petty Officer Lopez served aboard USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) as the CE Division Leading Petty Officer until January 2017 and, subsequently, as primary interior Communications technician. These duties include the management and operation of internal telephone systems, intercom switchboards, close circuit television system, and all shipboard alarms and sensors. He also served as the tag-out coordination for Combat Systems, Weapons, and Operations Departments, Managing all system isolations, work packages, and check points for depot level maintenance.

     He will be remembered by Combat Electronics Division as a father figure for each junior Sailor, having earned their respect and friendship by investing countless hours in their training and mentorship. Chief Petty Officer Lopez was scheduled to retire September 2017 having completed 20 years of honorable naval service. His personal awards included the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Four Gold Stars), and various unit and campaign awards.


Photos of Chief Petty Officer Lopez


Information System Technician Petty Officer First Class (Surface Warfare/Information Warfare) Corey G. Ingram

INFORMATION SYSTEM TECHNICIAN

PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS

(SURFACE WARFARE/ INFORMATION WARDARE)

COREY G. INGRAM

    Information System Technician First Class Petty Officer Corey G. Ingram is a native Poughkeepsie, New York. He enlisted in the United States Navy in February 2009 and completed Basic Training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois and follow on IT “A” school in Pensacola, Florida.

    His was first assigned to USS Nassau (LHA 4) from July 2010 to March 2011 with follow-on assignments to Expeditionary Strike Group TWO, USS Carter Hall (LSD 50), and USS Cole (DDG 67). He later served at Naval Computer & Telecommunications Station Hampton Roads, Virginia, and U.S. Naval Computer & Telecommunications Station Bahrain where he earned his Information Dominance Warfare qualification. After successful tours ashore, Petty Officer Ingram attended Naval Tactical Command Support System Manager school and received orders to USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) in October 2016. Aboard he served as the CC01 Work Center Supervisor and the Communication Watch Officer, charged with leading all facets of daily operations in Radio. These duties include over-seeing all communications troubleshooting efforts, monitoring message traffic, and IP service management.

    His Command collateral duties include primary EHF Point to Point Technician and SHF SATCOM Systems Operator. He will be remembered by Combat Communications Division for being an “ideal radioman,” and a light-hearted leader, gifted in every component of the communications suite. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Three Gold Stars) as well as various campaign and unit awards.


Photos of Petty Officer Ingram


Information System Technician Petty Officer Second Class (Information Warfare/Surface Warfare) Timothy T. Eckels Jr

INFORMATION SYSTEM TACHNICIAN

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS

(INFORMATION WARFARE/SURFACE WARFARE)

TIMOTHY T. ECKLES JR

    Information Systems Technician Second Class Petty Officer Timothy T. Eckles is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. He enlisted in the United States Navy in May 2014 and completed Basic Training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois and follow-on IT “A” school in Pensacola, Florida.

    His was first assigned to Fort Meade, Maryland from May 2014 to August 2016 where he earned his Information Warfare qualification. After a successful tour ashore, Petty Officer Eckles attended Global Command Control System-Maritime System (GCCS-M) school and received orders to USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) in October 2016. Onboard he served as the Communications Division, maintain custody of over 100 electronic COMSEC keys.

    His Command collateral duties include Damage Control Petty Officer, Command Fitness Assistant, Ship’s Signal Exploitation System technician, and Divisional Training Petty Officer. Petty Officer Eckles was posthumously awarded the Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS) qualification having completed all the training and qualification prerequisite. He will be remembered by Combat Communications Division for having qualified TCS in only three months of deployment, faster than any radioman before him, and setting the new standard for in-rate leadership. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal as well as various campaign and unit awards.


Photos of Petty Officer Timothy T. Eckels, Jr.


Electronics Technician Petty Officer First Class (Surface Warfare/Information Warfare) Kevin S. Bushell

ELECTRONICS TECHINICIAN

PETTY OFFICER FIRST CLASS

(SURFACE WARFARE/ INFORMATION WARFARE)

KEVIN S. BUSHELL

    Electronics Technician First Class Kevin S. Bushell is a native of Gaithersburg, Maryland. He enlisted in the United States Navy in September 2011 and completed Basic Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois.

    His was first assigned to U.S. Naval Computer & Telecommunications Area Master Station Detachment Rota, Spain from October 2012 to November 2015 where he earned his Information Dominance Warfare qualification. After a successful tour ashore, Petty Officer Bushell attended AN/SRQ-4 Maintenance School and received orders to USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) in January 2016.

    Onboard he served as the CSE1 Work Center Supervisor, charged with the maintenance and operation of all exterior communication systems, to include al HF, VHF, UHF, SHF, EHF, line-of-sight, Tactical Data Links, and encrypted communications. A testament to his expertise Petty Officer Bushell was hand-selected for orders to the White House Communications Agency, Washington D.C.

     He will be remembered by Combat Electronics Division for his wide range of talents, love of reading, and contagious sense of humor. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, as well as various campaign and unit awards.


Photos of Electrician Technician Kevin S. Bushell


Electronics Technician Petty Officer Second Class (Surface Warfare) Jacob D. Drake

ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS

(SURFACE WARFARE)

JACOB D. DRAKE

    Electronics Technician Second Class Petty Officer Jacob D. Drake is a native of Cable, Ohio. He enlisted in the United States Navy in November 2013 and completed Basic Training and follow-on Electronics Technician “A” at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. After successfully completing all training assignments, Petty Officer Drake attended SAS/COMSEC and HF System Maintenance schools and received orders to his first afloat unit, USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), in January 2015.

     Onboard he served as the Command’s primary Tactical Data Link technician and most proficient TIC operator on the Combat watch floor. His additional duties included the maintenance and management of all external communication transmitters and receivers and interior wireless communications. In 2017, Petty Officer Drake was hand-selected by the Special Warfare community for inclusion into the highly competitive Joint Communications Unit. He was the only applicant in the entire U.S. Navy to by selected for this assignment.

    He will be remembered by Combat Electronics Division for his unmatched technical knowledge, quick wit, and loyal friendship. He was counted upon by many and offered himself as a faithful friend to every Sailor onboard. His personal awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (one Gold Star) as well as various campaign and unit awards.


Photos of Petty Officer Drake


Electronics Technician Petty Officer Second Class (Surface Warfare) Kenneth A. Smith

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS

(SURFACE WARFARE)

KENNETH A. SMITH

    Electronics Technician Petty Officer Second Class Kenneth A. Smith is a native of Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He enlisted in the United States Navy in June 2015 and completed Basic Training and follow-on Electronics Technician “A” school at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. After successfully completing all training assignments, he receiver orders to his first afloat unit, USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), in September 2015 where he qualified as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist.

    Onboard he served as the Command’s primary Naval Message and Communication System technician, charged with ensuring all shipboard message traffic was received and processed. His additional duties include Integrated Bridge and Navigation technician, where he was responsible for McCain’s charting, global positioning, and steering/propulsion interfaces.

    He will be remembered by Combat Electronics Division for being an “old soul” and committed technician, with a sly sense of humor and compelling laugh. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal as well as various campaign and unit awards.


Photos of PO Smith


Electronics Technician Petty Officer Second Class (Surface Warfare) John H. Hoagland III

ELECTROINCS TECHNICIAN

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS

(SURFACE WARFARE)

JOHN H. HOAGLAND III

    Electronics Technician Petty Officer Second Class John H. Hoagland III is a native of Killeen, Texas. He enlisted in the United States Navy in July 2015 and completed Basic Training and follow-on Electronics Technician “A” school at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. After successfully completing all training assignments, Petty Officer Hoagland receiver orders to his first afloat unit, USS John S. McCain (DGG 56), in October 2016 where he qualified as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist.

    Onboard he served as the Command’s primary Identification Friend/Foe technician, responsible for all transponders, remote control indicators, antenna feed horns, and cryptologic equipment associated with discriminating allied and hostile forces at range. His additional duties included underway Shipboard Electronics Supervisor.

    He will be remembered by Combat Electronics Division for his positive attitude, contagious smile, and desire to help others. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal as well as various campaign and unit awards.


Photos of PO Hoagland III


Electronics Technician Petty Officer Second Class Dustin L. Doyon

ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS

DUSTIN L. DOYON

    Electronics Technician Second Class Petty Officer Dustin L. Doyon is a native of Suffield, Connecticut. He enlisted in the United States Navy in April 2015 and completed Basic Training and follow-on Electronics Technician “A” school, at Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. After successfully completing all training assignments, Petty Officer Doyon received orders to his first afloat unit, USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), in June 2016.

    Onboard, he served as the Command’s primary satellite communications technician, charges with establishing and maintaining external communications with Forward Deployed units and regional allies in the seventh Fleet Theater of Operations. Petty Officer Doyon also served as the ship’s Search and Rescue swimmer, successfully leading all applicable seamanship certifications and small boat evolutions.

    He will be remembered by Combat Electronics Division for being a world-class athlete and a natural leader with a positive, selfless, and adventurous spirit. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal as well as various campaign and unit awards.


Photos of PO Doyon


Interior Communications Electrician Petty Officer Second Class Logan S. Palmer

INTERIOR COMMUNICSTIONS ELECTRICIAN

PETTY OFFICER SECOND CLASS

LOGAN S. PALMER

    Interior Communications Electrician Petty Officer Second Class Logan S. Palmer is a native of Harristown, Illinois. He enlisted in the United States Navy in June 2016 and completed Basic Training and follow-on Interior Communications Electrician “A” school at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Illinois. After successfully completing all training assignments, Petty Officer Palmer received orders to his first afloat unit, USS John S. McCain (DDG 56), in May 2017.

    He served onboard USS John S. McCain (DGG 56) as the Command’s primary Interior Voice Telecommunication System technician, charged with the operation and maintenance of over 200 jack boxes and associated telephones and nets. He had served onboard USS John S. McCain (DDG 56) for three months.

    He will be remembered by Combat Electronics Division for being an enthusiastic Shipmate and a dedicated Sailor who blazed through the most difficult in-rate qualifications. His personal awards include the National Defense Service Medal as well as various campaign and unit awards.


Photos of PO Palmer


Never Forgotten

Published: Wed Aug 12 17:08:18 EDT 2020