1. U S S H O P P E R
HOPPER Ohana News
Amazing Grace
“Dare and Do”
august 2011
Commanding Officer:
CDR Kevin Melody
Executive Officer:
CDR Al Lopez
Command Master
Chief:
CMDCM Jay Stuckey
Ombudsman:
Kristin White
Ombudsman newsletter
CO’s CORNER
Aloha HOPPER Ohana, while onboard HOPPER. He has been a significant
Welcome to the halfway edition of the Ombudsman part of the success of the ship. Fair Winds and
newsletter! Your Sailors have been doing a fantastic Following Seas, Shipmate!
job accomplishing all different missions out here for Again congratulations to everyone back home for
the last three and a half months. During that time they making it to the halfway point and thank you for all the
have thought about you often and conversations support you give us out here. We are thinking of you!
frequently revolve around what family and friends are
doing back home. That was never more true than after CDR Kevin Melody
we saw the fantastic pictures and videos you sent to Commanding Officer
surprise your loved ones out here. There were lots of
smiles, lots of laughter, and not many dry eyes during
the halfway party. Thanks to everyone who sent in
pictures and video.
As we start the second half of deployment, our
Command Master Chief, CMDCM(SW/AW/FMF)
Stuckey, is nearing the end of his tour on HOPPER and
will shortly be transferring to NCTAMSPAC in
Hawaii. He has done a fantastic job taking care of all
the Sailors here on HOPPER. He will definitely be
missed. The Chiefs have put together a nice farewell to
him but I would like to take the opportunity to
personally thank CMC for everything he has done
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From the Chiefs’
Mess
Command Master Chief (CMDCM) Jay Stuckey will say his goodbyes to USS HOPPER DDG 70 and her
crew August 9th. He will be relieved by CMDCM Rob Cuddeback prior to reporting to Naval Computer
Telecommunications Area Master Station (NCTAMS) Hawaii as their Command Master Chief.
During his CMC tour onboard HOPPER he was a devoted advocate for every Sailor. The job of CMC is ever
changing and always challenging. He was often seen mentoring, counseling, and guiding his Sailors in all
facets of their professional and personal lives, recognizing and praising their accomplishments or providing a
shoulder to lean on when life presented challenges seemingly insurmountable. His constant concern for the
crew was evident, he continuously asked Sailors about their family and the workplace.
CMC Stuckey made HOPPER Sailors his absolute top priority. He made it a point to know each Sailor
professionally as well as personally. He understood that every Sailor is what makes HOPPER the great ship
that she is. He has spent countless hours working with detailers to do his best to get Sailors to the right job
following HOPPER. He has continually pressed to keep HOPPER manning at the highest levels. CMC
Stuckey has supported the crew with passion and excellence. The USS HOPPER Chiefs’ Mess and crew
would like to thank CMC Jay Stuckey for everything that he has done, and bid him Fair Winds and Following
Seas. Good luck at NCTAMS Hawaii!
ALOHA CMC Stuckey!
Congrats to the following CPO Selectees!
MAC (Sel) Kenneth Weakley
BMC (Sel) Maricel Julian
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Ombudsman’s Corner
Aloha HOPPER Families~
I hope this newsletter finds you all continuing to do well
through this deployment. Reaching the halfway point feels like
a huge milestone and one which should be celebrated! Thank
you to all of you who sent in videos/pictures for your Sailors. I
hear that it was much appreciated on the ship during their Helpful Websites:
celebration. I would also like to thank DCC (SW) Montenero www.greatlifehawaii.com
and FCCS (SW) White for the hard work that they put into
www.militaryonesource.com
making that project a success for all of our Sailors.
Frequently, this halfway marker gives us a renewed strength
and feeling of confidence. It seems to break up the monotony FACEBOOK
of the deployment duration and give us a boost! As the saying
HOPPER Ombudsman is now on
goes: it’s all downhill from here! Of course we will continue to
Facebook! Please feel free to send a
miss our Sailors, but the countdown seems within reach now
and we know that we can do this. Continue striving for those friend request in order to receive
goals that you set at the beginning, remain active within some additional links to family
type of support group and before you know it, we will be talking resources and information.
about Homecoming.
As the Ombudsman, I am a volunteer appointed by the
Command to serve as a liaison between the families and the Confidentiality & Reportables
command. I work as an advocate for the families and I can
Please know that any information you share
provide you with many resources to address most problems. I with the Ombudsman is considered strictly
am always available for you, so please feel free to contact me confidential, however there are certain issues
at any time, for any concern. I can be reached by email at that require reporting to the Command for the
hopperomb@gmail.com or by phone at 808.864.3199. safety of all involved. Those items include
• All suspected/known child abuse/neglect
Take Care, • Alleged domestic abuse
Kristin White • Suspected/potential homicide, violence or
life endangering situations
• All suspected or potential suicidal risks
Ombudsman Newsletter August 2011
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FRG Board
FRG Corner President: Sarah McClain
Hello Hopper families,
Vice President: Amy Norman
I want to start by saying Happy 1/2 way to you all. The FRG Treasurer: Sara White
has had a very successful first 1/2 and can’t wait to see what
the last 1/2 will bring. Thank you to all of the spouses who Secretary: Sandy Thompson
came out to Bucca to celebrate the 1/2 way marker. The turn
out was great and the food was delicious.
If you would like to be added to the
August 2nd will be our monthly meeting. It will be held at the
Catlin Park Community Center at 6:30. We will be starting our FRG Email list in addition to the
Scentsy fundraiser that day also. There will be a representative Ombudsman Email list, please email
from Scentsy set up so everyone can see the new items and
smell some of the new scents. If you cannot make the meeting frghopper
70@yahoo.com!
you can order online as well. This fundraiser will be open the
whole month of August. All you have to do is go to
lauriecoleman.scentsy.us and click on the HOPPER link Upcoming Events:
on the bottom. When you do this a portion of your order will be
donated to the Hopper FRG. August 2, 2011~
My board and I are really excited about the homecoming FRG Meeting
preparations and helping with anything you may need help with
the 2nd 1/2. If you have any questions please contact the FRG 6:30pm Catlin Park Community
at frghopper70@yahoo.com. Have a great August! Center
Sarah McClain
USS HOPPER
FRG President
~Our spouses serve as we serve, every bit as much. They do not bear the arms, but their open arms provide
strength and comfort. They do not set the ship's course, but their internal compass keeps the family ready and on
track. They do not ford the stream or build the bridge, but the bridge they provide back to the home sustains and
improves the morale and performance of entire units.~
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CONGRATS to the
entire HOPPER
crew and to all of
the HOPPER
families for
making it to the
HALFWAY point!
Way to go!
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We Miss You HOPPER Crew!!
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Celebrations & Congratulations!
✦Happy Birthday to the Love of my Life...LTJG Long Tran! I love you and miss you lots!, From
your one and only
✦Happy birthday to ENS Dan Hemmer on August 5. We love you and are really proud of
you. Dad, Mom, Dave, Laura, LeAnne and Zoey!
✦ET2 Lopes- Extremely blessed that we came into each other's lives on August 19th! Our journey
together began that day and I am so thankful for you and all that you do for me and our family. I
love you beyond words and miss you very much! Always & Forever babe...
✦Sarah McClain, I wish you a happy birthday (July 1st) and it’s been an unbelievable 10 years
(May 17th)! Tell The Hunter and Kendall I love and miss them both. (submitted by IT1 McClain)
✦Happy Birthday to my son Alika, Daddy loves and misses you very much. I promise we will have
some birthday cake when I get back. I love you! (submitted by ET2 Lopes)
✦GM2 Andrew D. Putman, August 29th, Happy Birthday! We are very proud of you and miss you
too much.Love you too much, Dad, Mom, Amanda, Penny and Phoebe
✦HAPPY 9th Birthday Mikalynn! I miss you TONS and can't wait to celebrate! I love you to the
moon and back! (submitted by YN1 Archuleta)
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✦HAPPY Birthday my Husband! I hope you enjoy your day! Love and Miss you BUNCHES!
(submitted by YN1 Archuleta)
✦Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife, just wanted to let you know I miss you every day and can’t
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wait to come home to you. (submitted by IT2 Thompson)
✦Happy 1st birthday, Johnny. I love and miss you and your mommy like crazy. (submitted by QMC
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Mathews)
✦BM2 Boyd August 6th - Happy Birthday! We love and miss you. Love, JoeyLynn & Makenzie
✦HM1Quisque Massa Alisha Wyche would like to wish their daughter, Moriah a very
— James Wyche and
big Hau`oli Lā Hānau!
✦Happy Birthday to my beautiful wife Alisha (Slim), I love you more and more each year…
(submitted by HM1 Wyche)
✦Happy Birthday Moriah, Love you MJ… “Stay focused”(submitted by HM1 Wyche)
✦Happy 22nd Birthday IT3 Cameron Evans! We love you, Dad, Mom & Noah
✦Happy Birthday on August 29th Putty Bear (GM2 Putman) from your island ohana! Love Erin,
Shaners, and the rest!
✦FC1(SW) Gabriel De La Paz and wife Jessica proudly announce the birth of their blessing and
daughter, Gemma Olga De La Paz on June 28, 2011 at 1456 at Tripler Army Medcal Center. Baby
girl weighed 7 pounds 3.4 ounces and measured 21 inches.
✦Happy 15th Birthday Dalton! Love ya! Dad (submitted by ENC Fellows)
✦Aug 23rd: Happy birthday to my beautiful wife Kimberly from YLH (submitted by ENS Francis)
✦HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Rebecca Gaster on August 1st!!! Love you lots, John. (submitted by ENS
Gaster)
✦GSMFN Ryan Francisco is a new father! Baby boy born on July 31, 2011 at 8:26am weighing
7lbs 14oz and 19 3/4 in long.
✦ET2 Lopes- Happy 6th Birthday to our oldest son Alika! We love you!
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OPSEC
Don't discuss future destinations or ports of call!
Don't discuss future operations or missions!
Don't discuss dates and times of when we will be in port or conducting exercises!
Don't discuss readiness issues and numbers!
Don't discuss specific training equipment!
Don't discuss people's names and billets in conjunction with operations!
Don't speculate about future operations!
Don't spread rumors about operations!
Don't assume the enemy is not trying to collect information on you so he can kill
you, he is!
Be smart, use your head, and always think OPSEC when using email or phone!
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ON ISLAND FAMILY FUN
2nd Annual Parent Child Golf
Tournament
Saturday, September 10
3:30 p.m.
Barbers Point Golf Course
$50
Operation Hele On
Mock Deployment for Children
Friday, August 19
7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Makai Recreation Center
Enjoy a FREE lunch, MWR
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information booths, sponsor
booths, prize wheels, keiki
activities and much more !
MWR Youth Programs
(affiliated with the Boys &
Girls Clubs of America) offer a
great sports program for youth
ages 3 - 18 years.
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