By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Tim Miller,
Navy Office of Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A 2008 Myers Park High School graduate and Charlotte, North Carolina, native is serving aboard the WWII namesake warship, USS Spruance.
Petty Officer 1st Class Domi Massenburg is a yeoman aboard the San Diego based ship, a guided missile destroyer.
As a yeoman, Massenburg is responsible for performing administrative and clerical work aboard the ship. He interacts with visitors, coordinates worldwide travel, submits passport applications, and handles various forms of military correspondence. As the special security representative, he also manages all security investigations for crew members.
“Growing up, southern manners were always stressed by my parents," he said. "Making sure you treat others the way you want to be treated is very important. Every day I have to interact with sailors from different backgrounds and cultures, and I believe that I'm an ambassador of southern hospitality.”
More than 300 Sailors serve aboard the ship, and their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission ready at all times, according to Navy officials.
Destroyers are warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. They are about 510 feet long and can be armed with tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, variants of the SM missile family, advanced gun systems and close-in gun systems. Destroyers are deployed globally and can operate independently, as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, or amphibious readiness groups.
Spruance is armed with long range missiles intended for air defense to counter threats to friendly forces posed by manned aircraft, anti-ship, cruise and ballistic missiles.
It was commissioned in 2011 and named after Admiral Raymond A. Spruance. He was a key naval commander during WWII, leading U.S. naval forces during two of the most significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific Theatre: Battle of Midway and Battle of the Philippine Sea. He later served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines.
At Midway, Spruance scored the first major victory for the United States over Japan; generally considered to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific.
“USS Spruance is responsible for 22 mission areas, with 350 people onboard each Sailor actively supports multiple missions, said Cmdr. Joshua Menzel, commanding officer of Spruance. “As a member of the Pacific Fleet, the crew of USS SPRUANCE patrol the same waters and trains to perform the same missions as the Sailors Admiral Spruance commanded during WWII.”
Massenburg has carried lessons learned from his hometown into his military service.
“It means a lot to be the first in my immediate family to start a great tradition serving my country," said Massenburg. "I appreciate the opportunity to not only represent my family but also the North Carolina Tar Heels."
Massenburg is proud to make it to the nine-year mark in the Navy.
“Getting that far in the Navy is a great accomplishment in itself, but I'm most proud of my wife and two daughters and how they have supported my career. They inspire me every day,” he added.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Massenburg and other Spruance sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.
“Serving in the Navy means a great deal to me," said Massenburg. "Representing the United States in the greatest military on the planet is very honorable for me. I get to contribute to society and provide security and a piece of mind for my loved ones back home.”
Navy Office of Community Outreach
SAN DIEGO – A 2008 Myers Park High School graduate and Charlotte, North Carolina, native is serving aboard the WWII namesake warship, USS Spruance.
Petty Officer 1st Class Domi Massenburg is a yeoman aboard the San Diego based ship, a guided missile destroyer.
As a yeoman, Massenburg is responsible for performing administrative and clerical work aboard the ship. He interacts with visitors, coordinates worldwide travel, submits passport applications, and handles various forms of military correspondence. As the special security representative, he also manages all security investigations for crew members.
“Growing up, southern manners were always stressed by my parents," he said. "Making sure you treat others the way you want to be treated is very important. Every day I have to interact with sailors from different backgrounds and cultures, and I believe that I'm an ambassador of southern hospitality.”
More than 300 Sailors serve aboard the ship, and their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission ready at all times, according to Navy officials.
Destroyers are warships that provide multi-mission offensive and defensive capabilities. They are about 510 feet long and can be armed with tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, variants of the SM missile family, advanced gun systems and close-in gun systems. Destroyers are deployed globally and can operate independently, as part of carrier strike groups, surface action groups, or amphibious readiness groups.
Spruance is armed with long range missiles intended for air defense to counter threats to friendly forces posed by manned aircraft, anti-ship, cruise and ballistic missiles.
It was commissioned in 2011 and named after Admiral Raymond A. Spruance. He was a key naval commander during WWII, leading U.S. naval forces during two of the most significant naval battles that took place in the Pacific Theatre: Battle of Midway and Battle of the Philippine Sea. He later served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines.
At Midway, Spruance scored the first major victory for the United States over Japan; generally considered to be the turning point of the war in the Pacific.
“USS Spruance is responsible for 22 mission areas, with 350 people onboard each Sailor actively supports multiple missions, said Cmdr. Joshua Menzel, commanding officer of Spruance. “As a member of the Pacific Fleet, the crew of USS SPRUANCE patrol the same waters and trains to perform the same missions as the Sailors Admiral Spruance commanded during WWII.”
Massenburg has carried lessons learned from his hometown into his military service.
Massenburg is proud to make it to the nine-year mark in the Navy.
“Getting that far in the Navy is a great accomplishment in itself, but I'm most proud of my wife and two daughters and how they have supported my career. They inspire me every day,” he added.
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Massenburg and other Spruance sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes.
“Serving in the Navy means a great deal to me," said Massenburg. "Representing the United States in the greatest military on the planet is very honorable for me. I get to contribute to society and provide security and a piece of mind for my loved ones back home.”