By Mass
Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller, Navy Office of Community
Outreach
Photo by Senior
Chief Petty Officer Gary Ward
YOKOSUKA, Japan- A 2008 Morgan
Township High School graduate and Wanatah, Indiana native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard USS Blue Ridge.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Dane Manaea is a hospital corpsman aboard the forward-deployed amphibious command
ship operating out of Yokosuka, Japan.
As
a Navy hospital
corpsman, Manaea is responsible for providing health care to sailors aboard the ship. He
serves as a pharmacy technician, medical technician, nurse’s aide and physician’s
or dentist’s assistant. He also provides first aid and minor surgery, patient
transportation, patient care, prescriptions and laboratory work.
“Growing up I learned that kindness is the golden rule, especially in a small town," said Manaea. "Family is also
important and it’s reassuring to know that I have a lot of support back home.”
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 small-town culture in parts of Japan, it
reminds me of home sometimes," said Manaea. "I also appreciate the major differences we have
with the Japanese people. Being here is a very
enriching experience for me. I’m very thankful to have this opportunity to see
all Japan has to offer. Joining in the Navy in
the first place was a great accomplishment for me. It really took me out of my
comfort zone. The diversity in the Navy is outstanding."
Sailors serving abroad in
Japan are highly motivated and quickly adapt to changing conditions, explained
Navy officials.
“Serving in the Navy has really given me a new lease on life," added Manaea. "I have a desire to grow and do
better for myself, reaching new heights and goals that I never thought I was capable
of. I've had some great mentors that have helped me as a sailor, a man, and
even as a corpsman. It gives me a sense of pride and satisfaction knowing that I
serve in the world’s greatest Navy.”
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.