By Stephanie Fox
Navy Place of work of Group Outreach
CAPE City, South Africa – A Canyon Country native is serving aboard USS Hershel “Woody” Williams, a U.S. Navy Lewis B. Puller-class expeditionary cell base.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jose Cortez is a 2008 Canyon Superior School graduate. Today, Cortez serves as a gunner’s mate.
“Gunner’s mates operate, carry out and coordinate routine maintenance on guided missile launching systems, missile launching teams, guns, gun mounts, modest arms and torpedoes,” reported Cortez. “We also supervise personnel in modest arms skills we inspect and immediate repair service of publications and ammunition stowage space.”
Cortez joined the Navy four decades back for the chances the navy features.
“I joined the Navy to journey and further more my training whilst serving my nation,” Cortez mentioned.
According to Cortez, the values essential to succeed in the Navy are comparable to all those uncovered in Canyon Region.
“Working at my hometown taking pictures selection served me with my changeover to being a gunner’s mate,” Cortez explained. “It taught me good weapons handling, security, routine maintenance and marksmanship.”
USS Hershel “Woody” Williams’ namesake was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Truman for his steps at the Fight of Iwo Jima in the course of World War II.
Although there are many possibilities for sailors to make recognition in their command, local community and careers, Cortez is most proud of contributing to the crew.
“The accomplishment I am most proud of is taking part in the commissioning of the USS Hershel ‘Woody’ Williams,” mentioned Cortez. “To me, serving in the Navy implies owning a second family… It is the shared activities: excellent and undesirable. This family members is produced when we serve facet-by-facet, and these connections will keep with us for the rest of our lives.”