By
Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Robert
Zahn, Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo
by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward
YOKOSUKA, Japan- A 2013 Franklinton
High School graduate and Franklinton, North Carolina native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Blue
Ridge.
Seaman Nicholas Loury is a culinary specialist aboard the
forward-deployed amphibious command ship operating out of Yokosuka, Japan.
A Navy culinary specialist
is responsible for operating kitchen and dining facilities, budgeting for food
service management, and ensuring morale aboard the ship.
“My dad taught me the
value of hard work and why it’s important to succceed in life," said Loury. "I was prepared
to work hard and people respect you more because you work so hard.”
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.
“Being forward deployed here in Japan is tough because I
am so far away from home, but you learn to enjoy the work and appreciate the people
of Japan because they are so friendly and respectful,” said Loury.
Sailors serving abroad in
Japan are highly motivated and quickly adapt to changing conditions, explained
Navy officials.
“I serve for my country
for the opportunites it provides and I feel like serving is something that I
always needed to do,” added Loury. “I also want to make my family proud.”
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.