Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Brent Pyfrom | 170328-N-FM530-205 MEDITERRANEAN SEA (March 28, 2017) Gas Turbine Systems Technician...... read more read more
Tahlequah, Oklahoma is the city where Northeastern State University; former NFL and college football coach, Butch Davis; and Cherokee Native Americans call home. It is also home to Navy Sailor, Fireman Ian Palmer.
Palmer is a Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Electrical), assigned to Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 4 based out of Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek, Norfolk, Va. ACU4 is a landing Craft Air Cushion (LCAC) expeditionary unit that provides combat ready craft to transport personnel, equipment, vehicles and supplies between amphibious ships and the shore.
ACU 4 is deployed with the Bataan Amphibious Ready Group supporting maritime security operations, providing crisis response capability and increase theater security cooperation while providing a forward naval presence in the U.S Navy's 6th Fleet area of operations.
Palmer joined the Navy May 25, 2015, to provide a better life for his wife and two daughters and to have the means to send his children to college. He carries the responsibilities of taking care of his family as well as and remembering the things he learned while growing up in Tahlequah and applying them in the Navy.
“I learned that respect is earned and not given, and good manners and kindness should always be used no matter the situation,” says Palmer. “I'm proud of the people in my hometown. They’re never afraid of hard work or to get their hands dirty. They always tell you what’s on their minds; they are very blunt, but at the same time they seldom ever cross the line of being rude or mean. They are all around just good people.”
Ian grew up around the Grandview area and graduated from Tahlequah High School in 2009. After high school he drove trucks out of Muskogee, Oklahoma. Though he is far from his favorite hometown areas like Lake Tenkiller and the Illinois River, he is content with repairing and maintaining almost all electrical equipment on ACU4’s LCACs as they support the Navy’s amphibious missions around the world.
“I would like my city to be proud of the fact that in this large world and Navy I'm proud to be an ‘Okie’ and it’s all thanks to everyone back home,” says Palmer. “Because of them I’ve turned out to be a strong man, a good man, a loving husband and father of two beautiful girls.”
This is Palmer’s first deployment, and it’s the special town of Tahlequah and the people from there that keeps him motivated.
“I hope I'm making everyone back home proud,” says Palmer. “My mom, my dad, siblings, countless close friends and people of Tahlequah have stayed on my mind. I think about all of you all the time and I'll come back home when my watch has ended and my boots are no longer needed.”
| Date Taken: | 04.02.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2017 14:06 |
| Story ID: | 228994 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 539 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Tahlequah, Oklahoma Native Keeps Small Town Values While Serving, by PO1 Brent Pyfrom, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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