Just a reminder NAVFAC/NOPF Whidbey Island will be having a 25th Anniversary Ceremony on 13 July 2012. The ceremony is scheduled from 1000-1100 with facility tours from 1100-1300. After the ceremony I have reserved the Elks Lodge in Oak Harbor for a social from 1400-1800. If you are interested in attending either event please let me know. My e-mail address is shawn.philp@navy.mil.
Sure wish I was able to attend this special Anniversary Ceremony and facility tour. I served at every west coast NavFac (except Pt. Sur) and have been at all of them, other than Whidbey - which came on line after I retired.
I would love to see the facility. My wife and I are tentatively planning a west coast trip in 2013. What are the chances of a crotchety old, retired Master Chief visiting your facility then? We have friends in Washington State whom we will be staying with for a few days. He was also stationed at NavFac Pacific Beach with me back in 1959-61.
Wishing you and your crew a very special 25th Anniversary..........
If you are in the area just give me a call and I will get you in for a tour, send me an e-mail for my phone number... Also, thanks for your service and we wouldn't be where we are today if not for our shipmates who stood the watch before us.
Not going to be out there until August. Going to visit my son and daughter in law. He is stationed on the USS Ronald Reagan in yard period in Puget Sound.
No worries.. We had a great turn out with quite a few former shipmates returning for the ceremony. Our guest speakers included Admiral Caldwell (SUBPAC), Commodore Rauch (CUS), and Master Chief Henshaw (1st CMC). The bald eagles put on a show for us and little Pacific Northwest liquid sunshine. Once I get the photos down loaded I will post them. Thanks again for all who were able to attend and look forward to the next one...
Shawn,
Was this "Ken" Henshaw. If so I was stationed with him while he was Master Chief of Naval Annex Bermuda. and I retired out of NavFac Bermuda in August 1987 and he piped me ashore.
Chuck Cable
CPO USN Ret
Hot off the press and a big thanks to all those who attended and those who made this event possible.
V/R
CWO4 Shawn Philp
-----OFFICIAL INFORMATION DISPATCH FOLLOWS-----
R 131734Z JUL 12
FM COMSUBLANT NORFOLK VA
TO NAVOCEANPROFAC WHIDBEY ISLAND WA
INFO COMSUBLANT NORFOLK VA
COMSUBPAC PEARL HARBOR HI
COMUNDERSEASURV DAM NECK VA
SUBJ/BRAVO ZULU//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY, THE UNDERSEA WARRIORS AT NAVAL OCEAN PROCESSING FACILITY WHIDBEY ISLAND HAVE BEEN ON WATCH, FOCUSED ON THE UNDERSEA BATTLESPACE, AND PROVIDING CRITICAL INFORMATION TO OPERATIONAL COMMANDERS. THE TEAM IN PLACE TODAY STANDS ON THE SHOULDERS OF GIANTS. YOUR PREDECESSORS WERE UNHERALDED HEROES OF THE COLD WAR, TRACKING SUBMARINES USING THE LATEST APPLICATIONS IN UNDERWATER SOUND TECHNOLOGY OF THE TIME AND LEARNING
TO INTEGRATE BOTTOM-MOUNTED FIXED ARRAYS WITH ACOUSTIC SURVEILLANCE SHIPS. AS THE COLD WAR ENDED, THAT TECHNOLOGY WAS APPLIED TO AN EXPANDED MISSION OF OCEAN OBSERVATION SERVICES TO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WHILE STILL MAINTAINING SUPPORT TO THE FLEET.
2. TODAY, THE NOPF WHIDBEY ISLAND TEAM CAN TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN MISSION ACCOMPLISHMENT. YOU BRING A SET OF CAPABILITIES TO U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY THAT IS UNIQUE AND INDISPENSABLE. THE PLATFORMS AND SYSTEMS YOU EMPLOY ALLOW US TO FULLY EXPLOIT THE UNDERSEA MANEUVER SPACE. COMBINED WITH OUR SUBMARINES, THERE IS NO COASTAL LOCATION OR OCEAN THAT IS BEYOND THE REACH OF U.S. UNDERSEA FORCES.
3. BRAVO ZULU ON 25 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE IN UNDERSEA WARFIGHTING.
4. VADM JOHN RICHARDSON AND RADM FRANK CALDWELL SEND.//
