Harpers Ferry Newsletter - First In Freedom March 2017 Issue No.

005

From the CO Humbled, Excited to Work Quote Of the Month

With You!
Team HARPERS FERRY, The United
What an honor it is to be serving as your Com-
manding Officer! I am humbled and excited to States Navy is the
work with a great team of professionals from Sea-
man Recruits to Commanders. envy of every oth-
You have definitely demonstrated pride and pro-
fessionalism across the ranks. The ship is doing er navy in the
great due to your dedication and ownership. As
we press forward through this shipyard, please world. They don't
want to be like us-
keep SAFETY as your number one priority.
The steady strain of cleanliness, training and deck
plate presence is what will keep us successful in
getting out of the yards and through basic phase. -they want to be
Keep the press on and the motivation and dedica-
tion each of you has today will be necessary us. - Leighton
throughout the coming months. Do it safely. Do
Smith
Commanding Officer,
Cmdr. Tammy Royal your best. Make it right. Make the most of
each day.
Royal Takes Command of Harpers Ferry Inside This Issue
By Seaman Valentine Mulango, HFY Public Affairs From the CO P.1
Royal Takes Com-
SAN DIEGO Cmdr. mand of Harpers Ferry
Tammy Royal offi- P.1-2
cially relieved Cmdr.
Jon Rigby as com- Ombudsmen Con-
manding officer of tacts P.2
dock landing ship
USS Harpers Ferry Top Two Photos of the
(LSD 49) during a Month P.2
change of command ESG-3 Commander
ceremony on the Visits Troop Spaces
flight deck of USS P.2
Midway Museum,
Mar. 9. Harpers Ferry: 1995 In
During the ceremo- Retrospect P.3
ny, Rigby read his
orders and trans- This Month in Naval
ferred command to History P.3
Royal, who read her
She Got a NAM P.3
SAN DIEGO (Mar. 09, 2017) Cmdr. Tammy Royal (right) shakes hands orders, assumed
with Commander, Amphibious Squadron One, Capt. Patrick Foege (left) command, and ad- Contact Us P.3
after relieving Cmdr. Jon Rigby (center). dressed the audi-
ence as Command- Sailor Spotlight P.4
ing Officer of Harpers Ferry for the first time. I am excited to be your new commanding
officer,The
Royal told herFerrian
Harpers new crew. Continue reading on page 2. No. 005 March 2017
COMMAND TITBITS
Change of Command story contin-
ues She (Royal) revealed her priori-
ties include safety, professionalism and
responsibility. It is my responsibility to
give you the tools, training and time and
to be able to trust you to go out and do
your job properly.
(Royal), welcome aboard and strap in
for a thrilling ride leading the Sailors
and Marines of LSD 49 said Com-
mander, Amphibious Squadron One,
Capt. Patrick Foege, guest speaker of
the ceremony.
Rigby, who will continue his naval car-
reer at the Naval Surface Force, U.S.
Pacific Fleet, told the crew that they are
in good hands. I have known (Royal)
for a long time. Apart from serving with
her on several occasions, we even sat
next to each other during the prospec-
tive commanding officer course. She
Rigby always says his amazing individ-
ual accomplishment as a CO were only
made possible by the group efforts of
the many teams. (Rigby), your leader-
ship building those teams has been
absolutely inspiring, he said.
As the new CO, Royal brings to Harp-
ers Ferry a rich naval experience. She
is the recipient of seven Navy Marine
Corps Commendation Medals, a Joint
Achievement Medal and five Navy Ma-
rine Corps Achievement Medals. She
initially served nine years as an enlisted
electronics technician before being
commissioned as an Ensign in 2000
through the enlisted to commissioning
Cmdr. Royal addresses crew for the program.
first time as CO, Mar. 9, 2017 The Columbus, Georgia native is not a
stranger to the LSD class of ships after
will take good care of you, he assured. serving on USS Rushmore (LSD 47)
Capt. Foege said in his remarks that and USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43).

Photos Of The Month Did You Know That

Today, women serve in every rank from sea-
man to admiral and have the opportunity to
serve in any occupation in the US Navy.

SAN DIEGO (Mar. 17, 2017) Electrician Mate 1st Class

Wade Nicolson and LTJG Julia Ryan deliver procedural
compliance training to sailors assigned to USS Harpers
Ferry (LSD 49) during a safety stand-down as Com-
manding Officer, Cmdr. Tammy Royal watches on. ESG-3 Commander Visits Troop Spaces

SAN DIEGO - Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Three

SAN DIEGO (Mar. 03, 2017) Commanding Officer,
Cmdr. Jon Rigby (right), Prospective Commanding Of-
ficer, Cmdr. Tammy Royal (left) and Commander Am-
phibious Squadron One, Capt. Patrick Foege (center)
exit the vehicle storage area after touring shipboard
spaces to evaluate the progress of Plan Maintenance
Availability (PMA) on USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49).
The Harpers Ferrian
(ESG-3), Rear Adm. Cathal OConnor (left) visited dock landing
ship USS Harpers Ferry to appraise ongoing Plan Maintenance
Availability (PMA) in troop spaces March 14. During the close to
one hour tour guided by Gunnery Sergeant Laura Munsell,
Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Tammy Royal (right) and Executive
Officer, Cmdr. Anthony Uniewski (center) took several questions
from OConnor and ESG-3 Combat Cargo Officer, Capt. Rivera
Ricardo regarding the PMA. Key spaces visited included Troop
berthing compartments, Combat Cargo Commanders Office,
armory and tag log office. OConnor wrapped up the visit with an
indoor meeting with the Harpers Ferry triad.
2 No. 005 March 2017
 FLASH BACK
This Month in Harpers Ferry: 1995 In Retrospect
Naval History
March 1, 1942 - Naval Reserve pilot
Ensign William Tepuni, flying a
Lockheed Hudson reconnaissance,
light bombing and transport aircraft
(PBO) from VP-82 Squadron based
at Naval Air Station Argentia, New-
foundland, Canada, attacks and
sinks German submarine U 656
southwest of Newfoundland. It is the
first U-boat sunk by U.S. forces in
World War II.

March 20, 1833 - Honorable Ed-

mund Roberts, transported by USS
Peacock and accompanied by USS
Boxer, signs the Treaty of Amity,
with the King of Siam (now Thai-
land), which is the first treaty be-
tween the United States and an
Asian power.
March 30, 2007 - USS Hawes (FFG
53) provides medical assistance to
Liberian cargo vessel MV Harmony
while conducting Maritime Security
Operations (MSO) in the southern
Persian Gulf.
USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, 13th Marine
Expeditionary Unit team, is now operating in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations.
On Jan. 7, 1995 USS Harpers Ferry was
commissioned during a ceremony at the
Navy Landing in Woldenburg Park in
downtown New Orleans. Five days later,
she embarked two LCACs off the coast of
Panama City, Fla., for a transport to Camp
Pendleton, Calif.
On Jan. 25, the dock landing ship arrived
in Mazatlan, Mexico, for a two-day port
visit. January 31, USS Harpers Ferry ar-
rived in its homeport of Naval Station San
Diego after a 20-day transit from New Orle-
ans, La.
From March 20-24, the ship was underway
for Combat Systems Ship's Qualification
Trials (CSSQT) in the SOCAL Op. Area.
Underway for Type Training from April 3-7;
Underway for Tailored Ship's Training
Availability (TSTA) I from May 15-19, May
22-26 and May 30- June 2; Underway for
FCT Preps. from June 8-9; Underway for
final contract trials from June 19-23.
On July 7, LSD 49 departed San Diego for
a Friends and Family Day Cruise. Six days
later, USS Harpers Ferry entered the
NASSCO shipyard in San Diego for a three
-month Post Shakedown Availability (PSA).
Underway for sea trials from Oct. 17-18;
Underway for TSTA II from Nov. 6-9.
November 9, The Harpers Ferry moored at
Broadway Pier in downtown San Diego for
a three-day "Open House" in conjunction
with the Veteran's Day weekend.
From Nov. 13-17, the dock landing ship
was underway off the coast of southern
California for a TSTA II; Underway again
from Nov. 27- Dec. 1; Underway for Opera-
tional Propulsion Plant Examination
(OPPE) from Dec. 13-15; Underway for
TSTA III from Jan. 8-12.

Publisher:

CO, Cmdr. Tammy Royal

Editorial Adviser:

XO, Cmdr. Anthony R. Uniewski

In early March, MM2 Angela Brio-
nes (right) discovered flooding in
the forward AC space on LSD 49.
Her prompt response saved a situ-
ation that could have otherwise
turned into chaos. That earned her
a Navy and Marine Corps Com-
mendation Medal on Mar. 8, 2017.
The Harpers Ferrian
Contact Us Executive Editor:
For more information about our newsletter,
CMC, MCPO Vince Vanterpool
Write us at:
USS Harpers Ferry LSD49 Managing Editor, PAO:
FPO, 96665-1737 AP
Email us at: LTJG Britney Steen
PAO@LSD49.Navy.Mil
Visit us on the web at: Desk Editor, Assistant PAO:
http://www.harpers-ferry.navy.mil/
Facebook: SN Valentine Mulango
USS HARPERS FERRY LSD49
3 No. 005 March 2017
 SAILOR SPOTLIGHT
On Spotlight this March:
Every month, The Harpers Ferrian throws a spotlight on four crew members onboard dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry.
On the spotlight this March 2017 are Naval Officer LTJG Julia Ryan, Force Protection Officer; Quarter Master 1st Class
Rodolfo Espinoza from Navigation Department, Ships Serviceman 2nd Class Kristofer Wilson from Supply Dept., and Hospi-
tal Corpsman Jaclyn Anderson from Medical Department. They tell their best memories with LSD 49.

LTJG Julia Ryan (FPO) QM1 Rodolfo Espinoza (NAV)

My name is Julia
Ryan and I have
been a Naval Officer
for almost three
years. I have been
on Harpers Ferry for
six months and my
home city and state
is Virginia Beach,
Virginia. My favorite
sport team is the
Dallas Cowboys and
my hobbies include
photography, hiking,
running, and spend-
ing time with friends
and family. If I didn't
join the Navy I would
have or probably
been a physician's
assistant. My best
memory with Harp-
ers Ferry was standing bridge watch underway! I am looking
forward to getting out of the yards on time and returning to that
operational surface warfare officer life.
My name is
Rodolfo Espinoza
and I have been
a Navy Sailor for
13 Years. I have
been on Harpers
Ferry for over
four years and
months. My home
city and state is
Chicago, Illinois
and my favorite
sport team is the
Chicago Bears.
My hobbies in-
clude spending
time with my fam-
ily, running and
watching movies.
If I didn't join the
Navy I would
have or probably
been an Astro-
naut. My best
memory with Harpers Ferry is when I made Quarter Master
First Class and less than two years later, obtained my gold
chevrons for 12 years of consecutive good conduct.

SH2 Kristofer Wilson (Supply) HN Jaclyn Anderson (Medical)

My name is Kristofer My name is
Wilson and I have Jaclyn Anderson
been a Navy Sailor for and I have been a
four years and 11 Navy Sailor for
months. I have been two and a half
on the Harpers Ferry Years. I have
for four years and been on Harpers
eight months. My Ferry for 20
home city and state is months. My home
Memphis, Tennessee. city and state is
My favorite sport team Austin, Minneso-
is the Pittsburgh ta. My favorite
Steelers and my hob- sport team is the
bies are watching Minnesota Vi-
movies with my wife kings and my
and children. If I didn't hobbies are ANY-
join the Navy I would THING outside
have or probably been watching docu-
working toward Physi- mentaries, work-
cal therapy school. My ing out, and ad-
best memories with venturing to new
the Harpers Ferry places. If I didn't
dates back to the join the Navy I
2013 deployment would have or
when I obtained my probably been a
Enlisted Surface War- Special Needs Teacher or Physical Therapist. My best
fare Specialist (ESWS) pin, advanced to Petty Officer Third memory with Harpers Ferry was taking part in underway
Class and made Second Class a year later. replenishment during 2016 deployment!

The Harpers Ferrian 4 No. 005 March 2017