U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Rusty Pang
PEARL HARBOR – There’s a U.S. Navy ship unlike most floating in the waters of Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. It's a Navy warship that honors the name of a female who has set the standard of excellence for those who have followed.
Seaman Daewson Walters has served in the Navy for a year-and-a-half and is serving aboard the Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile destroyer.
Walters credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Rochester.
“From my mom, I was taught to be nice to people and give them a chance," said Walters. "When I first got here, I did not know anyone but I spoke every morning and it helps because people started talking back to me.”
The sailors’ jobs aboard USS Hopper are highly specialized, requiring dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments keeping the ship mission-ready at all times.
As a Navy sailor, Walters is responsible for busting rust and paint to make the ship looks beautiful and he is responsible for the ship getting fueled up and ready to go.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard the ship named for the pioneering computer scientist who served in the Navy for 43 years.
Though Rear Adm. Hopper joined the Naval Reserves in 1943 after being an associate professor of mathematics at Vassar College, retired from the Naval Reserve with the rank of commander at the end of 1966. She was recalled to active duty in August 1967 for a six-month period that turned into an indefinite assignment. From 1967 to 1977, Hopper served as the director of the Navy Programming Languages Group in the Navy's Office of Information Systems Planning and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1973. Hopper was promoted to commodore by special Presidential appointment in 1983. In 1985, the rank of commodore was renamed rear admiral lower half. She retired from the Navy on August 14, 1986. Owing to the breadth of her accomplishments and her naval rank, she is sometimes referred to as "Amazing Grace."
“Hopper is different for me, it is much more a family and people are easy to get along with and make you feel welcome,” said Walters. “The commanding officer walks around all the time and asks how we are doing and when we wear the Hopper ball cap lets people know we are from a family.”
Navy guided-missile destroyers are multi-mission ships, equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons systems, that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea.
Being stationed in Pearl Harbor, often referred to as the gateway to the Pacific in defense circles, means Walters is serving in a part of the world that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on rebuilding military readiness, strengthening alliances, and reforming business practices in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“Our priorities center on people, capabilities and processes, and will be achieved by our focus on speed, value, results and partnerships,” said Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer. “Readiness, lethality and modernization are the requirements driving these priorities.”
The Pacific is home to more than 50 percent of the world's population, many of the world's largest and smallest economies, several of the world's largest militaries, and many U.S. allies. The Navy has been pivotal in helping maintain peace and stability in the Pacific region for decades.
Though there are many ways for sailors to earn distinction in their command, community, and career, Walters is most proud of being recognized by Captain Joe Ring, Destroyer Squadron 31 commander, when he came on board and commented on the amount of rust removal from the ship saying it was something he had never seen.
“It makes me feel good that the work is noticed after I worked for two hours in the hot sun and someone that high in rank notices my work," said Walters. "It motivates me to do it again.”
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Walters, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Walters is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“My dad was a Marine and it influenced my decision to join the miltiary,” said Walters. “I plan to continue the legacy. My goal is to surpass my dad’s rank and when I have kids, hopefully they will have a goal to strive for.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Walters and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
”Helping people is why I joined and serve in the military,” added Walters. “I have done what I can to help people and it feels good to help those that are less fortunate and give back. Hopefully those I help will in turn help others.”