By Mass
Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller, Navy Office of Community
Outreach
Photo by Senior
Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward
YOKOSUKA, Japan
– A St.
Louis native and 2014 Tower
Grove Christian Academy graduate is serving in the U.S. Navy
aboard the guided missile destroyer, USS Curtis
Wilbur.
Petty Officer 2nd Class Charlene Hayes is a yeoman aboard
the forward-deployed Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer operating out
of Yokosuka, Japan. Curtis Wilbur is one
of eight destroyers forward-deployed in Yokosuka.
A Navy yeoman is responsible for performing administrative and clerical work
aboard ship. They deal with visitors, coordinate worldwide travel, submit
passport applications, and handle various forms of military correspondence.
“St. Louis is an incredibly diverse city with people from
many different walks of life," said Hayes. "Growing up there made transitioning into the Navy
much easier and I’m able to interact with sailors from many different
backgrounds every day.”
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 U.S. 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."
Approximately
300 men and women serve aboard the ship. Their jobs are highly specialized and
keep each part of the ship running smoothly, according to Navy officials. They
do everything from maintaining gas turbine engines and operating the highly
sophisticated Aegis weapons system to driving the ship and operating small
boats.
Forward-deployed
sailors are crucial to the success of the global Navy mission and earn high
praise from their leaders.
“The experiences and
knowledge I’ve gained here are awesome," said Hayes. "We do a lot of real world operations with
many learning opportunities available daily. I especially see this in technical
rates. Sailors get to utilize every aspect of what their jobs encompass. I’m also grateful to work with
navies of other countries, especially in Southeast Asia where I don’t see many
women serving. This gives me greater sense of American pride."
Sailors serving
abroad in Japan are highly motivated and quickly adapt to changing conditions,
explained Navy officials.
“It’s humbling when we
visit third world countries," added Hayes. "I appreciate the freedoms and opportunities I have
as an American that much more.”
With the ability to conduct anti-air warfare, anti-submarine
warfare and anti-surface warfare, destroyers are capable of sustained maritime
operations supporting forward naval presence, maritime security, sea control,
deterrence of aggressive actions on U.S. partners around the globe, as well as
humanitarian assistance. Fast, maneuverable, and technically advanced,
destroyers provide credible combat power, at and from the sea.