Harpers Ferry Newsletter - First In Freedom JANUARY 2017 Issue No.

003

From the CO Keep Thinking Safety! Quote Of the Month

Team HARPERS FERRY,
We are entering the 3rd month of our avail
"I can imagine no more
and I must say we are doing great! Each of rewarding a career. And
you have taken up the mantra of maintaining
ownership of our ship! I see you all each
any man who may be
day maintaining cleanliness, continuing asked in this century
maintenance and conducting business as
usual. At the end of this avail, this will pay
what he did to make his
huge dividends and create a much smaller life worthwhile, I think
hill to climb to get operational because of the
care and ownership you all have for OUR
can respond with a good
ship! Keep thinking safety! deal of pride and satis-
I would also like to mention that as we get
ready to head into the Spring season, we
faction: 'I served in the
are making plans to ramp up our MWR United States Navy, -
events to include several events that will in-
clude our families. If you have an idea for
President J.F. Kennedy
Commanding Officer,
Cmdr. Jon Rigby an event you would like us to consider,
please let us know.

Improved FRV Coveralls For Sailors Inside This Issue

By Seaman Valentine Mulango From the Command-
ing Officer P.1
A new version of the Flame Resistant Variant (FRV) Ombudsmen Con-
coveralls currently used by U.S. Navy sailors will tacts P.2
soon make its way into the fleet. Commander, U.S.
Fleet Forces (USFF) announced the authorization of Improved FRV Cover-
alls for Sailors P.1-2
the Improved Flame Resistant Variant (IFRV) cover-
all as an approved fleet organizational clothing item Top Two Photos of the
Jan. 19. Month P.2
According to a USFF release of Jan. 19, the approv- XO Takes Questions
al came after a review of the results from recently From Junior Sailor P.2
completed afloat wear tests conducted aboard three
deploying ships and involving more than 700 Sailors. Harpers Ferry and the
Civil War P.3
"Shipboard wearability and functionality was of ex-
treme importance with the development of the This Month in Naval
IFRV," the release quoted Adm. Phil Davidson, com- History P.3
mander, USFF. Continue on next page... They Said Goodbye to
Lt. Cmdr. Heather Flores, assigned to U.S. Fleet Forces Command, poses in the Harpers Ferry P.4
Improved Fire Retardant Variant (IFRV) coverall onboard Naval Support Activity
Contact Us P.3
Hampton Roads. The IFRV, made of a light weight, tri-fabric blend, is flame
resistant and will replace the current flame retardant variant coverall in use by Sailor Spotlight P.4
the fleet. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Stacy
Atkins Ricks/Released), Jan. 13, 2016
The Harpers Ferrian No. 003 January 2017
 ALL-IN-ONE
Improved FRV coverall sto-
ry continues
"We weren't going to intro-
duce something new without
thorough testing afloat to en-
sure it meets the needs of our
Sailors and was indeed an
improvement over the original
FRV."
"The IFRV was designed not
only with the safety of our
Sailors in mind, but also com-
fort and durability," Adm. Da-
vidson continued. "We will
always make safety a priority,
but if we can also improve
quality of life for our Sailors in
doing so, then everyone
wins."
Like any other organizational Promotion
clothing item, Sailors can ex-
pect to have their current FRV
replaced by the ship over time
at no additional cost to them.
USFF is teaming up with
NEXCOM and Defense Logis-
tics Agency to introduce the
IFRV coveralls to the fleet.
The Navy's transition from
the FRV to the IFRV coveralls
is expected to take place after
October. Additional guidance
on a finalized roll-out plan,
along with instructions on
manner and occasion of wear, ET3 Heather Krier
will be provided at a later
got promoted to
date, the release concluded.
ET2 on Jan. 18

Photos of the Month

Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Jon Rigby addresses XO Takes Questions From Junior Sailors
Engineering Department sailors during an Awards
ceremony in the Vehicle Turning Area, Jan. 18

Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decision (C-

SADD) members from dock landing ship USS Harp-
ers Ferry (LSD 49) volunteer to sort and package po-
tatoes at the Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food
Bank as part of efforts to fight hunger among some
low income families. Jan. 13, 2017
New Executive Officer, Cmdr. A.R. Uniewski, held his first
interactive talk with junior sailors in the mess deck of USS
Harpers Ferry Jan. 23. The session which focused mainly
on questions and answers, was occasion for Cmdr. Uniew-
ski to provide responses to sailors concerns.

The Harpers Ferrian 2 No. 003 January 2017

FLASH BACK
This Month in Harpers Ferry And The Civil War
Naval History USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49) is the lead The town's garrison of 14,000 Federal
ship of her class of landing ship dock of the troops played a key role in the Confederate
January 1, 1944 - USS Ray (SS United States Navy. This warship was invasion of Maryland in September 1862.
271) sinks a Japanese gunboat at named for the town of Harpers Ferry, West General Robert E. Lee did not want to con-
the mouth of Ambon Bay, while
USS Puffer (SS 268) attacks a
Japanese convoy at the western
entrance of the Mindanao Sea,
sinking an army cargo ship. On
the same day USS Herring (SS
233) attacks a Japanese convoy,
sinking an aircraft transport ship
220 miles off Tokyo Bay.

January 6, 1945 - USS Walke

(DD 723) is attacked by four kami-
kazes while laying mines. After
the third plane struck the ship,
burning gasoline envelopes the
bridge and Cmdr. George F. Da-
vis, the commanding officer, is
horribly burned. Remaining on his
feet, he conns the ship, directs
damage control efforts and sees
to the destruction of the fourth
plane. Assured of the ship's sur-
vival, Davis is taken down below,
where he dies a short time later. USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), part of the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, 13th Marine
For his heroic conduct, Davis is Expeditionary Unit team, is now operating in the U.S. 3rd Fleet area of operations.
posthumously awarded the Medal
of Honor. Virginia, which, because of the Federal tinue on to Pennsylvania without capturing
arsenal there, was an important location the town, which was on his supply line and
during the Civil War. would control one of his possible routes of
SAID GOODBYE TO HFY The Civil War was disastrous for Harpers retreat if the invasion did not go well.
Ferry, which changed hands eight times Dividing his army of approximately 40,000
between 1861 and 1865. Because of the into four sections, he used the cover of the
town's strategic location on the railroad mountains and sent three columns under
and at the northern end of the Shenandoah Stonewall Jackson to surround and cap-
Valley, both Union and Confederate troops ture the town.
moved through Harpers Ferry frequently.
To be continued...

Publisher:

CO, Cmdr. Jon Rigby

Editorial Adviser:
LS2 Rdee Lagaspi
XO, Cmdr. A. R. Uniewski
Contact Us Executive Editor:
For more information about our newsletter,
CMC, MCPO Vince Vanterpool
Write us at:
USS Harpers Ferry LSD49 Managing Editor, PAO:
FPO, 96665-1737 AP
Email us at: LTJG Britney Steen
PAO@LSD49.Navy.Mil
Visit us on the web at: Desk Editor, Assistant PAO:
http://www.harpers-ferry.navy.mil/
Facebook: SN Valentine Mulango
USS HARPERS FERRY LSD49
BM2 Elizabeth Vermeesch
The Harpers Ferrian 3 No. 003 January 2017
 SAILOR SPOTLIGHT
On Spotlight this January 2017:
Every month, The Harpers Ferrian throws a spotlight on four crew members onboard dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry.
On the spotlight this January 2017 are Naval Officer, Ensign Tim Howarth, Weapons Division Officer; Logistics Specialist 3rd
Class Luz Pena from Supply Department, Operations Specialist 2nd Class Shalee Kumano from Operations Dept., and Per-
sonnel Specialist 3rd Class Filiberto Martinez from Administrative Department. Their best memories with Harpers Ferry are...

ENS Tim Howarth (Officer) LS3 Luz Pena (Supply)

My name is Tim My name is Luz
Howarth and I Pena and I have
have been a Na- been a Navy Sailor
val Officer for for almost two
almost two years. Years. I have been
I have been on on Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry for for a year and 5
a year and five months. My home
months. My city and state is
home city and Bronx, New York.
state is Plains- My favorite sport
boro, New Jer- team is The New
sey. My favorite York Giants and my
sports team is the hobbies are read-
Philadelphia Fly- ing, yoga and run-
ers and my hob- ning. If I didnt join
bies include rock the Navy I would
climbing, hiking, have probably been
soccer, and trying a bank manager.
new food. If I My best memory
didn't join the with Harpers Ferry
Navy I would was advancing to
have probably would have tried to play soccer on any level. My Logistics Specialist 3rd Class during the 2016 deployment.
best memory with the Harpers Ferry is seeing San Diego after Editors note: On Sep. 12, 2016, Harpers Ferry returned to
deployment. Editors note: On Sep. 12, 2016, Harpers Ferry Naval Base San Diego after a seven-month deployment in
returned to Naval Base San Diego after a seven-month deploy- the Middle East.
ment in the Middle East.

OS2 Shalee Kumano (Operations) PS3 Filiberto Martinez (Admin)

My name is Fili-
My name is Shalee
berto Martinez
Kumano and I have Jr and I have
been a Navy sailor been a Navy
for four years and Sailor for three
three months. I have and a half
been on Harpers Years. I have
Ferry for four years. been on Harpers
My home city and Ferry for three
country is Baguio Years and two
City, Philippines. I months. My
am not a sports fan home city is
and my hobbies are Hesperia, CA.
Zumba, hiking and My favorite
watching Netflix. If I sports team is
the Dallas Cow-
didn't join the Navy I
boys and my
would have been a hobbies are
Psychologist. My lifting heavy
best memory with weights, watch-
Harpers Ferry is my ing anime and
first deployment in spending time with family/friends. If I didnt join the Navy I
2013 where I was would have been a teacher. My best memory with Harpers
able to learn more Ferry is the karaoke nights with personnel from the Admin-
about the ship's mission. Editors note: On Aug. 23, 2013, istrative Department during the 2016 deployment. Editors
USS Harpers Ferry departed Naval Base San Diego for a note: On Sep. 12, 2016, Harpers Ferry returned to Naval
scheduled eight-month deployment as part of the USS Boxer Base San Diego after a seven-month deployment in the
Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) in the Middle East. Middle East.

The Harpers Ferrian 4 No. 003 January 2017