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.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Lindsey Hudson has served in the Navy for one year and works as a Navy damage controlman, serving aboard the Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile destroyer.
Hudson credits success in the Navy to many of the lessons learned in Winter Haven.
“Growing up I learned to treat people the way you want to be treated,” said Hudson. “I did ROTC and learned there that with rank comes responsibility, not power. I was meritoriously advanced and took on much more responsibility, but I didn't want to boss people around. You really have to give respect to get respect.”
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 damage controlman, Hudson is responsible for performing and training first response and damage control to the crew to combat any accident which may occur on the ship while inport and underway.
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."
“Serving onboard the Hopper has definitely been a positve experience. I love the people I work with the crew is my family, they’re my ‘go to’ for any help I need,” said Hudson. “I definitely love giving back."
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 Hudson 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, Hudson is most proud of earning a meritorious advancement to the rank of petty officer third class.
“I feel like through hard work I've really earned it,” said Hudson. “The day I stepped in Hawaii I was here for, literally, 15 minuttes and we went underway for a month. They were waiting on me to arrive before they raised the brow to get underway.”
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Hudson, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Hudson is honored to carry on that family tradition.
“My grandpa seved in the Army and he’s definitely one of my biggest idols,” said Hudson. “I really look up to him and what he has accomplished in his life.”
As a member of one of the U.S. Navy’s most relied-upon assets, Hudson and other sailors know they are part of a legacy that will last beyond their lifetimes providing the Navy the nation needs.
"After high school, I didn’t really feel like I was doing enough," added Hudson. "Serving in the Navy has been a good experience and I can see myself making a career out of it. I get the opportunity to travel, learn and meet new people. I have to say that I never walk off this ship without learning something new.”