SAN DIEGO - Petty Officer 2nd Class George Lewis, a native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, serves aboard USS Jack H. Lucas, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of San Diego, California.
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Lewis graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in 2021.
The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Tulsa.
“I learned growing up to make sure I stick with the right crowd and to not allow external factors to drag me down,” Lewis said.
Lewis joined the Navy three years ago. Today, Lewis serves as an operations specialist.
“I joined the Navy because I was in high school and had no plan,” Lewis said. “The Navy seemed promising and the idea of traveling seemed fun.”
Jack H. Lucas is named for Marine Corps Pfc. Jack Lucas, who served in the Marines during World War II and earned the Medal of Honor for his heroism at the Battle of Iwo Jima after saving the lives of three Marines when he was just 17 years old. Lucas is the youngest Marine, and the youngest service member in World War II, to be awarded the United States’ highest military honor for valor.
Jack H. Lucas is a Navy destroyer, a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons system.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard Jack H. Lucas. 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.
The U.S. Navy is celebrating its 250th birthday this year.
According to Navy officials, “America is a maritime nation and for 250 years, America’s Warfighting Navy has sailed the globe in defense of freedom.”
With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.
Lewis has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.
“I am most proud of graduating Air Intercept Controller-Basic because it wasn’t easy and has a high drop rate,” Lewis said.
Lewis serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.
“Serving in the Navy means contributing to something bigger than myself,” Lewis said.
Lewis is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I want to thank Operations Specialist 1st Class Deocampo, Operations Specialist 1st Class Guthrie, Operations Specialist 2nd Class Cunnagin, Chief Operations Specialist Evans, Lt. j.g. Beauchamp, Operations Specialist 2nd Class Gonzalez, Operations Specialist 1st Class Ayala, Operations Specialist 2nd Class Cook, Chief Operations Specialist Montro and Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Luevano,” Lewis added. “I also want to thank Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Pettifry, Culinary Specialist Class 3rd Class Holbrook, Operations Specialist 2nd Class Maxey, Retail Services Specialist 1st Class Cliftin, Operations Specialist 3rd Class Rosario, Operations Specialist 2nd Cortez, Operations Specialist Rivera, Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 1st Class Swan, Cryptologic Technician (Collection) 2nd Class Robinson and Operations Specialist 2nd Class Santos.”