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 Samuel Cowles has served in the Navy for one year and works as a Navy hull maintenance technician, serving aboard the Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile destroyer.
Cowles credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in South Bend.
“I was taught to have a strong work ethic," said Cowles. "This is a rewarding experience.”
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 hull maintenance technician, Cowles is responsible for welding, plumbing, pipe fitting and general metal work that the ship needs.
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."
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 Cowles 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, Cowles is most proud of earning the Deck Plate Hero in November 2018 and being nominated for the Blue Jacket of the Quarter 2018, Quarter 4. BJOQ programs recognize the very best all-around sailors in paygrades E-1 through E-6 for sustained superior performance, leadership, self-improvement, command and community involvement, self-expression, military bearing, and appearance are all key facets of the best all-around sailors.
“It is good to be recognized for hard work especially when you think you are not being recognized,” said Cowles.
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Cowles, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Cowles is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“My dad was in the Air Force during Desert Storm, one grandpa was in Vietnam and the other was in Korea, both in the Army ,” said Cowles. “I would like to continue the legacy and I want to carry on the torch.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Cowles and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
“So far serving aboard the Hopper is like a little family because it is such a small ship. I am very close with my division and we have a sense of family,” added Cowles. “It has meant a lot to me; when I go back home, people look up to me and I am recognized for getting out of my hometown and accomplishing a lot.”