by Lt. Wesley Holzapfel, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Mass Communication
Specialist 1st Class Robert Zahn
(MAYPORT, Fla.) – A 2007 Southwest
Miami Senior High School graduate
and Miami, Florida native is serving with a U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that
flies the Navy’s newest and most technologically-advanced helicopter.
Petty Officer 3rd Class
Richard Anon is an aviation structural
mechanic with the “Airwolves” of Helicopter Maritime
Strike Squadron (HSM) 40, a Mayport,
Florida based squadron that operates the Navy’s next generation submarine
hunter and Anti-Surface Warfare helicopter, the MH-60R Seahawk. Each helicopter
is nearly 65 feet long, may weigh up to 23,500 lbs. (max gross) and can travel
over 120 miles per hour for nearly 320 miles on a tank of gas.
As an aviation structural
mechanic, Anon is responsible for general
structural maintenance on the MH-60R aircraft.
“Growing up in Miami, my
family taught me to respect everyone and take the bad with a grain of salt,”
said Anon. “Two of my uncles served - one in the Army and one in the Coast Guard. They
call me and check up on me all the time. It's nice to have them looking out for
me.”
According to Navy officials, the MH-60R is the most capable
multi-mission helicopter available in the world today. It is used for a variety
of missions, including hunting and tracking enemy submarines, attacking enemy
ships, search and rescue, drug interdiction, delivering supplies and supporting
the Navy’s special operations forces.
It is replacing the Navy’s older helicopters because of its
greater versatility and more advanced weapon systems.
Anon said they are proud to be part of a warfighting team that
readily defends America at all times.
“I'm proud of making third class my first time up for promotion,” said Anon. “It's a pride thing. My
grandfather who passed away always told me as long as you try hard and study
there's nothing that will hold you back.”
Sailors’ jobs are
highly varied within the squadron. Approximately 297 Navy men and women are
assigned and keep all parts of the squadron running smoothly. This
includes everything from maintaining helicopter airframes and engines, to
processing paperwork, handling weapons and flying the aircraft.
Serving in the Navy, Anon is learning about being a more
respectable leader, Sailor and person through handling numerous
responsibilities.
“The Navy has given me a
new extended family,” said Anon. “It's instilled a new sense of respect to and
for the world and those around me.”