Dallas native battles blaze aboard warship

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Madysson Ritter | SAN DIEGO (July 16, 2020) Lt. j.g. Bernado Tinoco from Dallas poses for an environmental portrait in front of the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) July 16. Tinoco lead multiple teams aboard Bonhomme Richard on missions to set safe and stable routes for firefighting teams to safely move through the ship. Additionally, he led a team to extract a Sailor in need of medical attention and safely removed him from the ship and rendered medical attention. On the morning of July 12, a fire was called away aboard the ship while it was moored pierside at Naval Base San Diego. Base and shipboard firefighters responded to the fire. USS Bonhomme Richard is going through a maintenance availability, which began in 2018. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Madysson Anne Ritter)  

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

07.28.2020

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kevin Leitner 

Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet

Lt. j.g. Bernardo Tincoco, a Dallas native serving aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) as a supply officer, was recognized by the commander of the Navy’s Commander, Expeditionary Strike Group Three on July 16 for his efforts while fighting a fire aboard the ship.

Rear Adm. Philip E. Sobeck was speaking to the press when he noted Tinoco’s role leading multiple teams aboard the ship to search for safe and stable routes for firefighting teams to use to navigate the ship during four days of firefighting efforts.

The 16-year Navy veteran also led a team to safely extract a Sailor in need of medical attention from the ship.

“When asked if this generation of men and women are capable of facing adversity and confronting dangerous situations head-on, just talk about the men and women of USS Bonhomme Richard, and you’ll lay that debate to rest,” said Tinoco.

On the morning of July 12, a fire was called away aboard the ship while it was moored pierside at Naval Base San Diego. Fire teams consisting of four federal entities as well as more than 400 Sailors from 12 San Diego-based ships fought the fire for four days. Three helicopter squadrons conducted more than 1,500 water bucket drops, fighting the fire and cooling the super structure and flight deck enabling fire crews to get aboard to fight the fire. Tugboats were also used to provide firefighting support from the waterline, cooling the ships’ hull.

USS Bonhomme Richard is the third ship in the United States Navy to bear this name. She was commissioned on Aug. 15, 1998, at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, and then headed to her new homeport in San Diego. On Jan. 17, 2003, Bonhomme Richard deployed with Amphibious Task Force – West, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and the Global War on Terrorism. On Feb. 14, 2012, Bonhomme Richard departed Naval Base San Diego for a two-month western Pacific deployment and a homeport shift to Sasebo, Japan. On May 8, 2018, Bonhomme Richard returned to Naval Base San Diego after being forward deployed to Japan for the previous six years. Bonhomme Richard is currently going through a maintenance availability, which began in 2018.
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• Date Taken: 07.28.2020
• Date Posted: 08.03.2020 16:16
• Story ID: 374748
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US