By
Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert
Zahn, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo
by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward
YOKOSUKA, Japan- A 2015 Warren
Central High School graduate and Bowling Green, Kentucky native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Blue
Ridge.
Seaman Nathaniel Smith is a boatswain's mate aboard the
forward-deployed amphibious command ship operating out of Yokosuka, Japan.
A boatswain's mate in the deck department
maintains and preserves the exterior surfaces of the ship, handles deck
machinery and equipment, handles mooring lines, handles cargo, operates small
boats, and takes part in various evolutions such as search and rescue and
underway replenishment.
“My ROTC instructor in high school told me to always stay
positive with every aspect in life and this helps
me to this day especially how demanding the Navy life can get,” said Smith.
With more than 50 percent
of the world's shipping tonnage and a third of the world's crude oil passing
through the region, the United States has historic and enduring interests in
this part of the world.
"Our alliance is rooted in
shared interests and shared values," said Adm. Harry Harris, Commander, U.S. Pacific
Command. "It's not hyperbole to say that the entire world has
benefited from the U.S.-Japan alliance. While our alliance helped stabilize the
region after the Second World War, it also enabled the Japanese people to bring
about an era of unprecedented economic growth. And for the last six decades,
our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen have worked side by
side with the Japan Self Defense Force to protect and advance peace and
freedom."
USS Blue Ridge serves as
the flagship for the U.S. Seventh Fleet. It is one of only two U.S. Navy
command ships in the world, providing command and control for fleet commanders.
Forward-deployed sailors
are crucial to the success of the global Navy mission and earn high praise from
their leaders.
“Both of my grandfathers
were in the Army and I wanted to follow in their footsteps and keep up a tradition
of serving for my country.” said Smith. “One thing that I am proud of is when I received a Letter of Appreciation from my command which motivates
me to to work harder knowing that your work will not go unnoticed."
Sailors serving abroad in
Japan are highly motivated and quickly adapt to changing conditions, explained
Navy officials.
“Serving in the Navy means
that I am able to provide a better life for myself and my future,” added
Smith.
Sailors play a vital role
in the overall military mission around the world.
"The U.S.-Japan alliance
remains the cornerstone for peace and stability in the Indo-Asia-Pacific
region," said Harris.