Navy Fuel Personnel Build Community Spirit During U.S., Japan Friendship Festival

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) -- Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics Center (FLC) Yokosuka fuels personnel hosted a Friendship Day Festival softball tournament and barbeque onboard the Defense Fuel Support Point (DFSP) Tsurumi in Yokohama, Japan March 20.

"As a fuel terminal operator it is highly important to have the trust, respect and friendship of your neighbors," said John Floyd, Kanto Area Fuel Director, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka.

It is a joy opening up the gates to the local people living around the facility and sharing in the spirit of camaraderie and competition, not to mention some amazing food, Floyd added.

"Our neighbors like to be around us and the feeling is mutual," said Floyd.

As March 20 heralded in the first official day of spring around the world it was also a Japanese National Holiday called Spring Equinox Day or Shunbun No Hi. this allowed many Japanese living outside of DFSP Tsurumi a chance to build relationships with their Navy neighbors.

"Thank you so much for this invitation to Friendship Day," said Moriai Shojiroh, Tsurumi Neighborhood Association Chairman. "I am honored."

Capt. Marty Fields, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka's commanding officer, was equally pleased with the event and high turnout of local civic leaders and citizens.

"I am honored to have you all here today," said Fields. "Enjoy the food and let's play ball."

The first pitch and a crack of the bat had the game underway pitting local nationals against their Navy competitors. Whether it was something intangible in the spring air or simply the smell of the grass, the first game put the day in full swing.

"Sports share a common language between our two countries," said Machinist Mate 1st Class Paul Ashby, NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka, Fuels Division, adding that he looks forward to this event every year as a way to show appreciation to the people of Japan.

Whether the language was English or Japanese, common ground was found on the diamond, communicating using a pastime that both the U.S. and Japanese people know quite well.

"We all came out and had fun," said Ashby.

After the Friendship Day was complete it was back to work for the Fuel Department Sailors, Master Labor Contract (MLC) and United States Civil Service (USCS) employees whose job it is to operate and maintain the Navy's regional bulk fuel terminals and flight line re-fueling operations providing the Navy and joint warfighter the best option for petroleum, oil and lubricant (POL) products.

The NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka Fuels Department has a bulk petroleum inventory of 588 million gallons, which is an astounding 10 percent of DoD's total global bulk petroleum inventory with NAVSUP FLC Yokosuka managing roughly 45 percent of the total Navy fuel in the Pacific and partnering with DLA Energy to store and distribute fuel by vessel, rail, and truck throughout mainland Japan and the U.S. Navy's vast Asia Pacific area of responsibility (AOR).

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/navsup/.