The Gold Star family of a Sailor with ties to amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) participated in a special tour aboard the ship, May 4.

The tour allowed the family of Quartermaster 1st Class Clarence James Roach - made up of his wife Tamika, 8-year-old daughter Cailynn and 5-year old son Caiden - to finally visit the ship he was deployed on from December 2014 to July 2015.

During the deployment to the 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility, Roach was assigned as a quartermaster for Assault Craft Unit 2. Shortly after returning home from deployment, Roach passed away on August 26, 2015, at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

"Coming on the ship was a crazy experience," said Mrs. Roach. "Seeing everything on board and meeting people who served with Clarence was really nice. We all really appreciate the ship having us on board and especially letting our children see their daddy's old ship."

Capt. James Midkiff, commanding officer of Iwo Jima, expressed his gratitude for Roach and thanked the family for visiting the ship.

"Petty Officer Roach was a craftmaster on one of the assigned landing craft attached to Iwo Jima throughout the entire integrated training phase and deployment. He definitely played a key role in our arduous but highly successful eight-month deployment." said Midkiff. "His skill at handling his craft in all conditions while always taking care of his people is fondly remembered by all of us who served with him."

Some of the current Iwo Jima crew served with Roach during the deployment and had nothing but fond memories of their shipmate.

"He was a mentor to me during the deployment," said Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Handling) 3rd Class Brittani Murphy. "I remember meeting him during an ice cream social. He took time out to talk to me, told me how to grow as a Sailor, and I think he did that for a lot of people on board."

"He truly was a Sailor's Sailor," said Master Chief Aviation Boatswain's Mate Glen Newbins. "When I say that, I mean that he always looked out for his Sailors. He ensured they had the best possibility to succeed and was a deckplate leader each and every day."

The term Gold Star family is a modern reference that comes from the service flag. These flags were first flown by families during World War I and included a blue star for every immediate family member serving in the U.S. armed forces during times of war or conflict. If that loved one died while in service, the blue star was replaced by a gold star.

Today, the organization recognizes the sacrifice all Gold Star family members make when a parent, sibling, child, or other loved one dies in service to the nation.

For more information, visit http://www.navy.mil, http://www.facebook.com/usnavy, or http://www.twitter.com/usnavy.

For more news from USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), visit http://www.navy.mil/.