Stennis Memorial Service Honors Aviation Boatswain's Mate
Story Number: NNS090429-20
Release Date: 4/29/2009 9:10:00 PM
By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Steve Owsley
USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- A memorial service was held on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74) April 28 for a Sailor who died after the ship pulled into Changi Naval Base, Singapore.
Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Equipment) 3rd Class (AW) Gatlin Green, 22, a native of York, Pa., died while performing a routine procedure on a Stennis catapult system April 24.
A crowd of approximately 600 Stennis crew members attended the memorial ceremony on Stennis' bow. Sailors from throughout the ship attended, but the majority were from air department, their brightly colored jerseys front and center during the ceremony, showing silent support for their fallen shipmate.
Stennis Commanding Officer Capt. Joseph Kuzmick spoke about Green during the ceremony's opening remarks.
"I'm sure, that like me, you are proud to have the honor to have had the opportunity to serve with such a great Sailor, natural leader and patriotic American," said Kuzmick. "I've had the opportunity to speak with Gatlin's wife, mother and father-in-law. They are naturally devastated by this, but they are also buoyed by your camaraderie with him."
Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate (AW/SW) Henry Ceballos and Aviation Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class (AW) Christopher Henry delivered a eulogy for their fellow aviation boatswain's mate.
"Gatlin lived an amazing life even though it was rather short. Gatlin was a great Sailor; he was the type of Sailor that you could count on day or night," said Ceballos."
Lt. Marty Johnson, Stennis assistant chaplain, offered words of comfort before Chief Warrant Officer Rayvon Northern delivered the Aviation Boatswain's Mates' Prayer.
Green was posthumously awarded a Navy Commendation Medal and the Enlisted Aviation Warfare Specialist pin.
Weapons department delivered a 21-gun salute followed by Taps and a benediction by Johnson.
After the ceremony concluded Green's shipmates paid their individual respects and shared stories.
