PEARL HARBOR – Petty Officer 2nd Class Abel Hinojosa, a native of Mesquite, Texas, is serving aboard USS Chung-Hoon, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Hinojosa, a 2017 graduate of Mesquite High School, joined the Navy five years ago.
“I joined the Navy because of my stepdad,” said Hinojosa. “I always looked up to him and wanted to be like him.”
Today, Hinojosa relies upon skills and values similar to those found in Mesquite to succeed in the military.
“My stepdad taught me a lesson he learned from the Navy and that was to always do the right thing, even when no one was looking,” said Hinojosa.
This lesson has helped Hinojosa while serving in the Navy.
USS Chung-Hoon is a guided-missile destroyer that provides a wide range of warfighting capabilities. The destroyer is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx close-in weapons system.
More than 300 sailors serve aboard USS Chung-Hoon. Their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times, according to Navy officials.
With 90 percent of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to trained sailors and a strong Navy.
"Our mission remains timeless - to provide our fellow citizens with nothing less than the very best Navy: fully combat ready at all times, focused on warfighting excellence, and committed to superior leadership at every single level," said Adm. Mike Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations. "This is our calling. And I cannot imagine a calling more worthy."
Serving in the Navy means Hinojosa is part of a team that is taking on new importance in America’s focus on strengthening alliances, modernizing capabilities, increasing capacities and maintaining military readiness in support of the National Defense Strategy.
Hinojosa and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“My proudest accomplishment in the Navy was earning a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for being a part of the best strike team on deployment,” said Hinojosa. “We were competing with around six other strike groups for top shooter and we never lost the number one spot. We held that throughout the deployment.”
As Hinojosa and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy, to me, means that I have the opportunity to be a better person, travel the world and go to college,” said Hinojosa.
Hinojosa is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my family for being supportive and understanding when I'm not able to be home sometimes,” added Hinojosa.
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2023 |
| Date Posted: | 10.30.2023 14:14 |
| Story ID: | 456326 |
| Location: | PEARL HARBOR, HAWAII, US |
| Hometown: | MESQUITE, TEXAS, US |
| Web Views: | 9 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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