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December 2014 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 7. UNITED STATES NAVY NEWS


CNO releases Navy’s Position Report Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs


WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy’s top leader released a detailed report Friday that highlights the U.S. Navy’s progress toward its vision, plans and current goals. The Position Report: 2014 was posted


to Navy’s website and to the leadership page of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO), Adm. Jonathan Greenert. The document reviews the Navy’s progress over the last year in pursuing objectives laid out in the Sailing Directions and Navigation Plan 2015 - 2019, which can also be found on CNO’s leadership page.


Greenert highlighted several areas across the service where Navy intends to build upon its 3 tenets of Warfi ghting First, Be Ready and Operate Forward. From infor- mation on ships and platforms to changes in presence the document highlights progress and continuing efforts.


One of many highlights included the development of the Optimized Fleet Response Plan (O-FRP); a new readiness construct that improves maintenance and training predictability, ultimately providing stability for deploying Sailors, Marines and their Families.


The Navy continues to rebalance its


forces to the Asia-Pacifi c region, as noted in the report by the end of the fi scal year 2014 there were 41 ships and submarines based in theatre. In keeping with the tenet of Operating Forward Greenert said the Navy is on track to establish a fi fth Amphibious Ready Group in the Pacifi c by 2018. CNO was clear in his Position Report that the Navy has an eye to the future with superb Sailors, Civilian, and their Families that have enabled the Navy to remain, ready, forward and engaged during challenging


times.


USS Gettysburg Honors Civil War Hero By Mass Communication Specialsit 1st Class Michael Wiss, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East, Detachment South- east


MAYPORT, FL (NNS) -- The USS Gettys- burg (CG 64) renamed their Wardroom after the Battle of Gettysburg hero and recent Medal of Honor recipient, First Lt. Alonzo H. Cushing, during a dedication ceremony aboard the ship Nov. 19.


First Lieutenant Cushing and his artil- lery battery held a position atop Cemetery Ridge during Pickett’s Charge the Confed- eracy’s “High Water Mark.” Cushing, facing down over 10,000 charging Confederate Soldiers, held his position and continuing to direct his battery’s cannon fi re despite being wounded twice. Eventually wounded a third and fi nal time, Cushing fell that day, but his extraordinary heroism and leader- ship undoubtedly played a signifi cant role in turning back the Confederate onslaught on Cemetery Ridge, ultimately leading to a victory by the Union Army. After 151 years, believing it never too late to honor a hero, President Barack Obama awarded the 64th Medal of Honor to Cushing in a White House ceremony earlier this month. According to USS Gettysburg (CG 64) Commanding Offi cer Capt. Charles B. Cooper, it is only fi tting to name the wardroom “Cushing Wardroom” aboard the ship that bears the number 64.


USS Gettysburg (CG 64) has many his- torical reminders of the courage, dedication, and sense of purpose displayed by those who fought at the namesake battle. According to USS Gettysburg (CG 64) Force Protection Offi cer Lt. j.g. Zach Wardelman, the ship’s


motto, “Deeds, not words” is emblematic of the lasting legacy and tradition that connects them to the excellence and heroism of those who have gone before. The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863} involved the largest number of ca- sualties of the entire Civil War and is often described as the war’s turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Meade’s Army of the Po- tomac defeated attacks by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia, ending Lee’s attempt to invade the North.


Between 46,000 and 51,000 soldiers from both armies were casualties in the three-day battle. On November 19, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln used the dedication cere- mony for the Gettysburg National Cemetery to honor the fallen Union soldiers and rede- fi ne the purpose of the war in his historic Gettysburg Address. According to Cooper, the ship’s namesake is a big part of honoring those who died in that three day battle.


Continued on Page 8.


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