The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation recognized both the 2016 and 2017 "Buck Stops Here" award winners during a ceremony held in USS Harry S. Truman's (CVN 75) hangar bay Nov. 28.

"If you look at the quote on the Truman flag, it reads, 'the buck stops here'," said the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation's General Counsel, Mr. Westbrook Murphy. "That is the same sign that [President] Truman had on his desk, and it meant that he was the one that made the decisions and that he was the one that took responsibility for them. And so, we're here to recognize members of the crew that have done that themselves."

Senior Chief Electronics Technician Roger Lutz, Chief Master-at-Arms Thomas Powers, Electrician's Mate 1st Class Robert Allison, Religious Programs Specialist 2nd Class Devante Marable and Information Systems Technician 3rd Class Madison Dunnegan were all recognized.

The annual award is in honor of President Harry S. Truman's legacy of leadership and recognizes Sailors who excel as leaders among their peers. The award is presented annually to one enlisted Sailor in three rank categories; E-1 to E-3, E-4 to E-6 and E-7 to E-9.

"Today we recognize members of the crew who have been identified in the same vein [as President Truman] through selfless service and phenomenal leadership," said Commanding Officer Capt. Nicholas Dienna.

One awardee said that winning the award is a terrific honor, however the award speaks mostly to the effort and accomplishments of the Sailors who surround him.

"To be able to get an award from the Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation is a really awesome thing, especially when it exemplifies leadership, leadership within the community, and what [President Truman] stood for," said Lutz.

As the ceremony concluded, Dienna reiterated the Buck Stop Award is about the leadership that Truman Sailors embody everyday single day and how they pull all of their skills together to accomplish our mission.

"A comment made by Harry S. Truman to Company D 100 years ago embodies what leadership is all about," said Dienna. "'You soldier for me and I'll soldier for you.' I don't think there is any greater representation of what leadership is all about in a combat environment."

The Truman Foundation is the nation's official living memorial to the 33rd President and the presidential memorial to public service. Created by Congress in 1975, the foundation was President Truman's idea.

Truman is currently moored at Naval Station Norfolk preparing for the integrated phase of pre-deployment training. For more information visit www.facebook.com/usstruman

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