A 2016 Muskegon Heights High School graduate and Muskegon, Michigan, native is serving aboard the future USS Tulsa, a littoral combat ship homeported in San Diego.
Seaman Anthony Gordon is a culinary specialist responsible for supply and hospitality. He is in charge of cooking and planning the meals for his shipmates and making sure supplies are given out for living conditions. “Most of my enjoyment comes from being around different cultures and races,” said Gordon. “Getting to experience new things like visiting new states and countries, receiving firearm training, and firefighting is exciting and new.”
Tulsa is an Independence variant littoral combat ship - a resilient and flexible warship, designed from the keel up to affordably take on new capabilities – from advanced core weapons systems to the latest in trimaran hull design and propulsion systems. Its speed, strength and versatility make it a critical tool to help our sailors achieve the mission.
Littoral combat ships are a fast, agile, mission-focused platform designed to operate in near-shore environments, while capable of open-ocean tasking, and win against 21st-century coastal threats such as submarines, mines, and swarming small craft.
Gordon has carried lessons learned from his hometown into his military service.
“Having pride and morals was important in Muskegon,” he said. “I learned to remain solid with any situation, making sure I stand for something so I won’t fall for anything.”
Sailors’ jobs are highly varied aboard Tulsa. Increased automation equals a smaller crew. In the case of LCS 16, that is a core of 70 men and women who keep all parts of the ship running smoothly. Minimally manned crews place high demands on sailors. Each crew member performs a number of tasks outside of their traditional job or area of expertise.
“On any given day Tulsa sailors are asked to perform the duties of two or more Sailors on any other surface ship,” said Cmdr. Drew Borovies, the future USS Tulsa’s commanding officer. “Tulsa’s successes to date are a testament to her sailors’ in depth technical training, willingness to put in long hours to get the job done, and commitment to taking care of their ship and each other. They truly are the best that the Surface Navy has to offer!”
Gordon has military ties with family members who have previously served and is honored to carry on the family tradition.
“My step-father was in the United States Navy as an electrician's mate. He never forced the decision upon me but was always eager to give me advice and share stories good and bad about his time in,” said Gordon. “My sister was in the United States Army and loves to give me feedback on her time in to make sure I know what she received out of it both negative and positive. My personal reason for joining was to get away, do something different and to start my life off right so that I drill into my mind the only way to live in life is to progress.”
As a crew member aboard one of the U.S. Navy’s high-tech littoral combat ships, Gordon and other Tulsa sailors are proud to be part of a warfighting team.
“My service means a lot in ways that could be taken as selfish,” Gordon said. “It gave me a new outlook on life and that’s why I give my 100 percent daily.”
Tulsa is the fifteenth littoral combat ship to enter the fleet and the eighth of the Independence variant. It will be the second ship to be named to honor the city and citizens of Tulsa – Oklahoma’s second largest city. During its February 16, 2019 commissioning ceremony in San Francisco, the warship will be officially placed into active service. The ceremony includes “bringing the ship to life” and other orders rooted in centuries old naval tradition.
For information about the commissioning ceremony, visit https://www.usstulsa.org/.