Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Karen Blankenship | Seaman Jeremy Karcher pours hot water into a sink to wash dishes in the galley aboard...... read more read more
USS TORTUGA, At Sea - Seaman Jeremy Karcher, son of Ronald John Karcher and Theresa K. Stewart of Cornelius, Ore., is currently serving aboard amphibious dock landing ship USS Tortuga (LSD 46).
Tortuga is scheduled to participate in exercises along with amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6), amphibious transport dock ship USS Denver (LPD 9) and the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
“I wanted to be in the military since high school,” said Karcher. “I always thought I would be doing my part to serve my country and if I didn’t make a career out of it, I could say I served time in the military.”
Karcher originally considered the National Guard and the Marines, but eventually decided on the Navy.
Karcher said that his grandfather was in the U.S. Navy for 22 years. “He loved being in the U.S. Navy, said Karcher. He had nothing but good things to say about the Navy and how it would do good things for me.”
As an undesignated Seaman, Karcher has the opportunity to strike for any rate in the Navy.
“I really want to be a gunner’s mate,” said Karcher. “That would give me the opportunity to learn about firearms and other ordnance I wouldn’t get to use in the civilian world.”
Gunner’s mates are responsible for operating and maintaining small arms and magazines, guided missile launching systems and other ordnance equipment.
“I like firearms a lot,” said Karcher. “I like the mechanical aspect of it. I like figuring out how things work and how to take things apart and put them back together.”
Karcher will turn 21 this week while underway. He is a 2009 graduate of Forrest Grove High School.
Tortuga departed Aug. 13 for a deployment to the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.
| Date Taken: | 08.15.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 08.15.2012 12:24 |
| Story ID: | 93269 |
| Location: | USS TORTUGA, USAFRICOM, AT SEA |
| Web Views: | 51 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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