DESRON-1 Plays Major Role in Rim of the Pacific 2010

Walking into a wardroom with three Navy Captains can lead to some confusion when young officers ask to join the mess. This is a challenge that the junior officers of the USS Lake Erie (CG-70) had to overcome during the multinational exercise known as Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010.

The trio of senior leadership included the ship’s Commanding Officer, Captain William C. Johnson, Commodore Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 1, Captain Eric C. Young, and the DESRON’s Deputy Commodore Captain Donald Hornbeck.

Commodore Young and Capt. Hornbeck found themselves aboard the USS Lake Erie as the Sea Combat Commanders overseeing all of the evolutions of RIMPAC 2010. Even his boss, Vice Admiral Richard Hunt, Commander Third Fleet, made clear that leading such a large group wasn’t very easy, “This is the biggest exercise the Navy has done all year. There are 14 nations, 20,000 sailors and service members involved. It’s a big deal.”

Playing war games as the Sea Combatant Commander, Captain Young is focused on the safety of the sailors more than anything, “I just want to see proficiency in everything we do; I want these to be safe, mishap free exercises.” Boarding ships, calling flight quarters and training Sailors about the art of submarine, air, and surface warfare is an inherently risky task.

Despite the stress of his increasingly demanding job, it was a rare sight to see the Commodore without a smile. “I really enjoy interacting with the Sailors and junior officers. My day-to-day drive is fueled by watching the Sailors do what they do at sea and watching our next generation of Naval Officers and senior enlisted learn to run the Navy for the future.”

Having charge of thousands of Sailors and over a dozen warships has its downside too. “See that,” asked the Commodore while pointing to his phone, “Rings all night long.” It is a hard job, but fortunately, he is not alone. Commodore Young brought a support staff of fourteen Officers and Chiefs to help him with his duties during RIMPAC, and with a schedule full of events they stay busy. Captain Young left nearly half of his staff to continue to support and run Destroyer Squadron 1, back in San Diego.

Not only was he working out of his normal base of operations but he also had to find a balance with the crew and wardroom of the USS Lake Erie. He remarked how working in conjunction with Captain Johnson was easy for him, explaining how they prefer to work as a team and share ideas constantly.

Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) wasn’t all smooth sailing however, different nations meant different languages. “There was a language barrier, however it didn’t take long for that setback to dissipate with the help of Liaison Officers aboard foreign ships and the diligence of participating nations to overcome the challenge.”

With such a busy schedule it was surprising to see how much effort Captain Young made to be present on the ship. His interactions with members of the USS Lake Erie’s crew did not stop with the wardroom either; it was not unusual to see him receiving feedback from the most experienced enlisted men aboard as well as the newest members to the ship.

Captain Young attended all major evolutions without fail to participate and supervise. “The quality of Sailors, ships, submarines, aircraft and members of our multinational team are second-to-none,” the Commodore confidently noted. His joint efforts with the USS Lake Erie and the entire cadre of participating nations is what made RIMPAC 2010 such a success for not only the United States Navy but every single sailor, Marine, solider and airman involved.

USS Lake Erie Midshipmen Participate in MEDEX

Six Midshipmen aboard the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie (CG 70) took advantage of an exciting opportunity to be part of a comprehensive Medical Evacuation Exercise (MEDEX), playing the part of wounded Sailors after a deadly explosion.

The Midshipmen acted their roles seamlessly, giving realism to the exercise which was essential for the proper training of the Sailors, Soldiers and Marines involved. Simulated injuries among the wounded ranged from slight bruising and superficial wounds, to severe life-threatening amputations. Each Midshipman involved in the exercise agreed on the quality of the experience as well as how grateful they were to be part of such a complicated evolution.

“I thoroughly enjoyed being involved in this training exercise (by) helping prepare Soldiers and Sailors to react to combat disasters. Also, being painted up like a zombie wasn’t bad, either,” remarked Midshipman 1/C Kevin Lewis from Virginia Tech who suffered from mock burns of the face and arms. The six Midshipmen mustered early in the flight hangar aboard the USS LAKE ERIE along with several dozen sailors to begin the first phase of the evolution which consisted of getting into costumes and makeup. Experienced Corpsmen painted on all of the “wounds” with surprising realism, simulating severe burns, amputations, bruises and shrapnel wounds.

Donned in fake lacerations and blood, the Midshipmen headed to the mess decks where the “explosion” occurred. Strewn across the floors, tables and benches, moaning “victims” begged for help from the incoming firefighting teams and medical personnel. To an uninformed passerby, the scene would have looked authentic enough to cause alarm. Luckily, everyone involved knew their part and played it well. The expert medical team found the most severe cases and tended to them first, eventually helping the rest before escorting them to the ship’s hangar. Once secured in the hangar, they awaited their CH-47 Chinook helicopter rides to a proper medical facility.

After a short wait, the Midshipmen were the first six to board the Chinook and leave Lake Erie; however, the trip to safety and treatment in Hawaii had only just begun. First, the chopper made a landing on the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6). The Midshipmen were transferred to a new helicopter with more fuel and departed for their final destination at Tripler Army Medical Facility.

Landing at Tripler around midday, the Midshipmen exited the still roaring chopper and sprawled themselves on the lawn while an Army medical team rushed to help. The medical staff quickly diagnosed and separated the victims into “Immediate Care” and “Delayed Care” categories. “I was impressed with how prepared and professional all of the Army medics proved to be,” commented Midshipman 3/C Robert Bruss, a sophomore at the U.S. Naval Academy.

Only minutes after touching down, the casualties were rushed into the hospital Emergency Room and treated for their various injuries. After a thorough and comprehensive exam, the Midshipmen were released from the ER, sent into the Operating Room, or proclaimed “dead.” Hours of mock surgeries were performed on the mock victims. “I died twice,” Midshipman 3/C Brendan Hanlon of the U.S. Naval Academy joked. “Technically, I wouldn’t have even made it to the hospital.”

Overall, the experience proved both educational and engaging for all of those involved. Out of the six participating Midshipmen, only three were able to survive, as the other three were proclaimed “dead.”

Dead or not, the Midshipmen weren’t complaining. Midshipman 3/C Sean Parmigiane of Annapolis remarked, “Four helicopter flights in one day? It was worth dying for!”