By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller,
Navy Office of Community Outreach
Photo by Senior Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward
YOKOSUKA, Japan- A 2015 Nyack High School
graduate and Nyack, New York native is serving in the U.S. Navy
aboard USS Blue Ridge.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Thomas Lattanzio is a yeoman aboard the
forward-deployed amphibious command ship operating out of Yokosuka, Japan.
As a Navy yeoman, Lattanzio leads
junior sailors responsible for performing
administrative and clerical work aboard ship. He also deals with visitors,
coordinates worldwide travel, submits passport applications, and handles
various forms of military correspondence.
“Growing
up I learned how to interact and work with others
with diverse backgrounds," said Lattanzio. "This was foundational as I work in a team environment
for my job every day in the Navy.”
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.
“I like
the structure the Navy brings. Looking toward the future I’m thankful for the
opportunities it provides me in the civilian world,” said Lattanzio. “Being
in the Navy gives me an opportunity to see the world from a different aspect
and experience, different cultures and countries and how they interact with one
another. Having these experiences is great because I plan on attending Georgetown
University and getting a degree in international relations."
Sailors serving abroad in Japan are highly motivated and
quickly adapt to changing conditions, explained Navy officials.
“I'm proud to wear my country's cloth and to serve in
the Navy,” added Lattanzio.
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.