March 2017 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 21. U. S. N N Continued from Page 9.


DDG 1000 program manager, Program Executive Offi ce, Ships. “We’re honored to be celebrating this milestone with our 36th president’s daughters and look forward to continued progress on the fi nal ship of the Zumwalt class.” While the keel laying has traditionally


represented the formal start of a ship’s con- struction, advanced modular shipbuilding allows fabrication of the ship to begin months in advance. Today, the keel laying continues to symbolically recognize the joining of the ship’s components and the ceremonial beginning of the ship. Zumwalt-class guided-missile destroy-


ers feature a state-of-the-art electric propul- sion system, wave-piercing tumblehome hull, stealth design, and are equipped with the most advanced warfi ghting technology and weaponry. These ships will be capable of performing a range of deterrence, power projection, sea control, and command and control missions while allowing the Navy to evolve with new systems and missions. Bath Iron Works is currently in pro-


duction on future USS Michael Monsoor (DDG 1001), as well as Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), Thomas Hudner (DDG 116), Daniel Inouye (DDG 118), and Carl M.


Levin (DDG 120). As one of the Defense Department’s


largest acquisition organizations, PEO Ships is responsible for executing the develop- ment and procurement of all destroyers, am- phibious ships, special mission and support ships, boats, and craft.


Operation Deep Freeze: Cargo Han- dling, Not for the Faint of Heart From Navy Expeditionary Combat Com- mand Public Aff airs


MCMURDO STATION, Antarctica (NNS) -- Sailors assigned to Navy Cargo Handling Battalion (NCHB) 1 have commenced car- go-handling operations at McMurdo Station in Antarctica in support of the U.S. Antarctic Program, which is managed by the National Science Foundation. Upon arrival into Antarctica, Sailors


assigned to NCHB 1 are provided time to acclimate to the harsh conditions so they can safely begin on-loading and off -loading equipment in extreme weather conditions. NCHB 1 is part of Operation Deep Freeze, the U.S. military’s logistical support for the Antarctic Program. “These Sailors are working in minus 20


degree Fahrenheit, which is minus 29 de- grees Celsius weather, with sustained winds of 20-30 mph and gusting to 40,” said Chief Logistics Specialist James Hawley, who is


assigned to NCHB 1. Hawley added Sailors have been accli-


mating to the weather and harsh environ- mental conditions with physical training and team-building activities, allowing Sailors to settle into a routine and prepare for the start of cargo operations. Prior to arriving in Antarctica, Sailors


received extreme cold weather gear in Christchurch, New Zealand, to prepare for the mission. The signifi cant time change -- 18 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time -- coupled with 24 hours of daylight create challenges for acclimatization. The annual mission, which NCHB 1 has


been participating in for more than 60 years, resupplies the U.S. Antarctic Program’s largest research station on the most remote continent. The supplies delivered also keep Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, 800 air miles from McMurdo, as well as remote fi eld camps operational. The successful cargo operation, in short, allows NSF to meet its presidential mandate to run three year-round Antarctic research stations. Sailors will continue to off -load roughly


500 containers aboard Military Sealift Com- mand-chartered ship MV Ocean Giant, and on-load another 500 containers which will return to the United States. NCHB 1 is the U.S. Navy’s only ac- tive component cargo handling battalion


homeported in Williamsburg, Virginia. NCHB 1 is supported by Navy Expedition- ary Logistics Support Group (NAVELSG). NAVELSG delivers expeditionary logistics and equipment to NCHB-1 and the Reserve component cargo handling battalions.


Navy Decommissions “The Big E” By MC2(SW) Kevin F. Johnson, COM- NAVAIRLANT Public Aff airs


NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (NNS) -- The air- craft carrier, USS Enterprise (CVN 65), was decommissioned during a ceremony held in the ship’s hangar bay, Feb. 3. The ceremony not only marked the


end the ship’s nearly 55-year career, it also served as the very fi rst decommissioning of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. Capt. Todd Beltz, commanding offi -


cer of the Enterprise, addressed the ship’s company, former commanding offi cers and distinguished visitors and spoke of where the true spirit of “The Big E” comes from. “For all that Enterprise represents to this


nation, it’s the people that bring this ship to life,” said Beltz. Enterprise was the eighth naval ves-


sel to carry the name. It was built by the Newport News Shipbuilding Co. and was christened Sep. 24, 1960, by Mrs. Bertha


Continued on Page 22. O: K, C, J  F Continued from Page 8.


to be yard manager through fi ve diff erent owners. He gained his wealth of knowledge from hands on experience and his aptitude could not be denied. He loved to share his knowledge with the team. Among his favor- ite projects were the Victory Chimes and the Bounty, the latter of which he became dear friends with the captain and his wife. Joe’s second marriage was to the love


of his life and soul mate, Ruthie. His love for her was palpable. There was never a time you did not see them smiling and laughing when they were together. His deep love did not stop there. He was a loving, kind, hon- orable and devoted father and son. He was the mastermind behind a beautiful 100th birthday celebration for his mother this past May.


Joe enjoyed any type of woodworking,


it was not solely wooden boats. In fact he built the home that he raised his family in and had recently started making his own wooden folk art. Sailing was something that he always wanted to do more of, often telling his family, “it’s a good sailing wind out there.” He was most happy with Ruth by his side while they enjoyed road trips, bird watching, antiquing, trying diff erent foods and just sitting home enjoying life together. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends. He was predeceased by his father,


Joseph Zigmund Jackimovicz, stepfather William Smith and grandson Liam Lewis. He leaves behind his mother Valerie


Smith of Boothbay; wife, Ruth (Day) Jacki- movicz of Boothbay; son, Alex Jackimovicz of Boothbay Harbor and grandson Adam; daughter, Kara (Jackimovicz) Roach and spouse Mary, and grandson Elliot of Cum- berland, Maine; stepson, Justin Lewis and spouse Amy Williams of Boothbay; stepson, Clint Lewis and spouse Tarrah, and grand- children Mya and Carmela of Walkerton, Virginia. In lieu of fl owers, donations may be


made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities, 250 Brackett Street, Portland, Maine 04102. Services will be held at noon


on Friday, Jan. 13 at Halls Funeral Home in Boothbay. Light reception to follow.


Mark left the Coast Guard in 1959, Captain Mark H. Freeman


March 15, 1934 ~ January 26, 2017 Born in Seattle on Lake Union, Mark


grew up on the docks of the family business and began his storied tugboat career at the age of 8 working for his folks O.H. “Doc” and May Freeman pumping boats and deck handing for him on anything that fl oated. At 13 he purchased his fi rst tug the “Seal Rock” and began a log patrol business on Puget Sound and Lake Union. In between tows he attended B.F. Day, Hamilton Middle and Lincoln High schools and helped out at the marine supply store known as “Doc Freeman’s”. He found - with the teachings of his mentor, Jack McCrary - that he was a natural born captain and thoroughly enjoyed it. At 16 he purchased a bigger tug the “Jerk- more”. He said, with a grin, ‘with that boat I could jerk more logs off the beach’. After high school, he went on to the University of Washington for a couple of years, but nothing held his interest as much as tugs. Mark continued his tugboating career until he joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 1955. Stationed in Westport for four years, he ran motor lifeboats on the bar - before they had self-righting boats, helmets or much more than life jackets. He was extremely proud of his work as Boatswains Mate second class in the Coast Guard having been credited for directly saving 37 lives and countless vessels, earning him the Coast Guard Com- mendation medal.


returning to Seattle and purchasing Fremont Boat Company from his folks. He continued the huge used boat brokerage (with towing on the side) and ran the family businesses with his Mom after “Doc” passed in 1963, learning to be a tough but honest business- man with no re ason to have a back door. He was a staunch believer in private property and the working waterfront who led the Lake Union Association to success stories in local and State politics. In 1967 he was ‘sick and tired’ of selling boats so he changed the operation into a marina and got serious with the Fremont Tugboat Company. The next few years saw him marrying Aneva “Ginger” Blake, helping to raise her chil- dren Monty and Tracy and had a son he was always so deeply proud of - Captain Erik O. Freeman. His divorce in 1976 put him on a few diff erent paths of interest including the Retired Tugboat Association where he met life-long friends and cruising buddies. Mar- gie entered his life around this time, fi rst as a moorage customer, then as his bookkeeper and in 1984 he married the love of his life. They were inseparable for the rest of his life, working and having fun together daily, going back and forth to their fl oating home from the business; where one was, the other was close by. Lovebirds until the end. Mark was an avid photographer, at a


high point taking 5,000 photos a year - most- ly of tugboats, of course. He always carried his camera - which got easier with better technology. He was the guy who always said “Stop! I have to get that picture”. Boats and girls - in that order. Around 20 years ago he stopped towing commercially and sold Fremont Tugboat to Erik and his best friend, Tom Bulson. Erik having had control of a tugboat wheel from age 11 and both having learned the fi ner points from Mark, they are keeping up his legacy. He’d still do the odd tow job in the marina and of course ran the other businesses with Margie. However, there was a new venture: Mark Freeman’s Maritime Museum! The computer became his friend, storing hundreds of thousands of photos, he ran a blog, collecting artifacts, models and building on his personal collec-


tion that is now hard to rival. He genuinely enjoyed conversations


with family, crew or friends, impromptu or with food so gathering at the round table in the offi ce happened frequently. He had a wonderful sense of humor with


a warm smile who had a thousand sayings to fi t just about any situation, but “Get the slack out of the headline” was a favorite on board or on land. One of the delightful things about Mark


was he was rarely wrong; he had a sixth sense about people and business. There was always someone coming to him for advice and he was a mentor to many. And with those he cared about he sometimes gave advice not asked for - either way, he had the knack of being right. He was a great man, an unsung leader,


teacher, author and hard worker; a unique soul who knew where his compass was pointing from an early age. With quiet per- severance, he never wavered and got to cel- ebrate the 100th anniversary of his business, Fremont Boat. He said all you needed to do to be a success in life was to be smart and work hard, but above all else to “Be Nice”. He was right about that too. He is survived by his wife, Margie;


son Erik (Heidi) and granddaughter Marina Freeman; son Monty (Karen) Freeman; daughter Tracy Carlson (John); and their mom, Aneva Freeman. Nephews Howard (Michelle) and Scott (Debbie) Stoppelman and niece Paula (Richard) Kelley; sister-in- law Ellen Coyne and everyone’s extended families. The outpouring of love and condolenc-


es by his many friends is so appreciated by his family but he didn’t want any services or celebrations. He wanted us to continue to have one on one lunches or coff ee with friends to keep it meaningful to him. Our suggestion would be to fi nd your own way to “be nice” in his honor. Fair winds, my love, and following seas.


See ya over the next swell, Cap.


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