Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Ryan LeCompte | Peruvian Navy Commander, Pacific Operations Command, Vice Adm. Javier Bravo De Rueda,...... read more read more
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JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Six U.S. Navy Sailors assigned to Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific (COMNAVSURFGRU MIDPAC), including Capt. Joseph J. Ring, commander, were presented with the distinguished Peruvian Naval Medal of Honor for Merit award by Peruvian Commander, Pacific Operations Command, Vice Adm. Javier Bravo De Rueda, during an awards ceremony aboard the Peruvian Makassar-class landing dock BAP Pisco (AMP-156) while in port at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, July 8, amid Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024.
“Nearly two years ago we received a notification that there were brothers in peril out at sea,” Ring recalled while speaking to a small group of distinguished visitors aboard the BAP Pisco. “It ripped our hearts wide open when we heard the extent of trouble they were in.”
Chaos ensued for the Peruvian navy during the “at-sea” portion of RIMPAC 2022 when a fire broke out in an engine room aboard the corvette BAP Guise (CC-28). Two sailors suffered third-degree burns on 85% of their bodies according to senior leadership of the Peruvian navy. The actions of the Peruvian navy to extinguish the fire, coupled with the combined support efforts of the French and U.S. navies to evacuate the injured sailors, resulted in zero loss of life.
“We rushed down to the waterfront, and what we saw that day were heroes; sailors, led by their captain," Ring said. “They were in clean dress uniforms, they were manning the rails, as their ship was towed in, badly damaged. It was a humbling sight that we had never seen before and would never see again.”
The award was presented to the MIDPAC Sailors for their role in helping to contain the fire. The award is presented to national or foreign personnel for performance of needs that benefit the Peruvian navy. The quick response of the MIDPAC Sailors represents the importance of maritime partnerships and training.
“It took over five hours to put that fire out, and it took more than three months to put that ship (BAP Guise) back together,” concluded Ring. “For us today, we’re humbled, we’re grateful, but most of all we feel so privileged to have the best shipmates in the world.”
Twenty-nine nations, 40 surface ships, four submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 171 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 27 to August 2. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2024 is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
| Date Taken: | 07.08.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 07.11.2024 23:36 |
| Story ID: | 475780 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, HAWAII, US |
| Web Views: | 77 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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