Cortland Native Completes Successful Assignment Aboard Oldest Commissioned Warship Afloat: USS Constitution

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Alec Kramer, USS Constitution Public Affairs 

BOSTON - Chief Religious Programs Specialist Jesse Kiepper, a native of Cortland, Ohio, bids farewell to the officers and crew after completing a successful, three-year tour aboard USS Constitution, May 26. 

Chief Religious Programs Specialist Jesse Kiepper, middle, bids

farewell to the crew of USS Constitution.

“It is bittersweet, but exciting,” said Kiepper.

Kiepper, a 2008 graduate of Lakeview High School, has served in the Navy for 11 years and his previous duty stations were 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, Camp Pendleton, California; Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, Maryland; St. Mary’s County, Maryland and USS Lake Champlain (CG 57). 

Duty aboard USS Constitution is one of the Navy’s special programs, and all prospective crewmembers must meet a high standard of sustained excellence and interview to be selected for the assignment. 

The active-duty sailors stationed aboard USS Constitution normally provide free tours and offer public visitation to more than 600,000 people each year as they support the ship’s mission of promoting the Navy’s history, maritime heritage, and raising awareness of the importance of a sustained naval presence. 

USS Constitution, is the world’s oldest commissioned warship afloat, and played a crucial role in the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812, actively defending sea lanes from 1797 to 1855. 

The ship earned the nickname of Old Ironsides during the War of 1812, after British cannonballs were seen bouncing off the ship’s wooden hull.

USS Constitution was undefeated in battle and captured or destroyed 33 enemy vessels.