Gee Mercado, president, Jacksonville Filipino American Veterans Society, addressed a gathering at Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center (NAVSUP FLC) Jacksonville commemorating Asian-American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, May 23.

Mercado left the Philippines in January 1961, joining the U.S. Navy under the U.S. Navy Philippine Enlistment Program, in search of a better way of life.

A surveyor in the Philippines, Mercado hoped to become a Seabee but was limited to becoming a steward in the U.S. Navy.

As times changed and inequities towards minorities lifted, the U.S. Navy expanded ratings available to Filipinos. Mercado took advantage of this opportunity to change ratings, entering the supply field.

Advancing to chief petty officer, Mercado took advantage of another opportunity to join the officer ranks, applying and being accepted as a limited duty officer in the Supply Corps.

Mercado rose to the rank of lieutenant commander prior to retiring from the U.S. Navy.

"The Navy gave anyone the chance to succeed as long as you were dedicated, worked diligently, and correctly," said Mercado. "As Sailors, we were all one color with one mission."

Mercado noted than many of his countrymen took advantage of the opportunity to develop a better way of life; so many, that at one point there were more Filipinos in the U.S. Navy than in the Philippine Navy.

NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville is proud to honor the Asian-American Pacific Islander community, recognizing their many contributions to the history and mission of the U.S. Navy.

NAVSUP FLC Jacksonville, one of eight fleet logistics centers under NAVSUP Global Logistics Support (GLS), provides operational logistics, business and support services to fleet, shore and industrial commands of the Navy, Coast Guard, Military Sealift Command, and other joint and allied forces. Services include contracting, regional transportation, fuel, material management, household goods movement support, postal and consolidated mail, warehousing, global logistics and husbanding, hazardous material management, and integrated logistics support.

NAVSUP GLS provides global logistics for a global Navy. The organization is made up of approximately 6,300 military and civilian logistics professionals operating from 105 locations worldwide, providing an extensive array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy, Marine Corps, joint operational units, and allied forces across all warfare enterprises.

For more NAVSUP Global Logistics Support, visit http://www.navsup.navy.mil/navsup/ourteam/navsupgls/news/ or http://www.facebook.com/navsupgls/.

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

For more news from Naval Supply Systems Command, visit http://www.navy.mil/.