An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

 

'I Do Solemnly Swear...'

24 July 2017
A somber feeling filled the space as a group of Sailors wearing clean, pressed dress whites and USS Pearl Harbor rockers sewn on each of their shoulders like a badge of honor began to enter the memorial.
A somber feeling filled the space as a group of Sailors wearing clean, pressed dress whites and USS Pearl Harbor rockers sewn on each of their shoulders like a badge of honor began to enter the memorial.

The only sound was the echo of footsteps on the ground below them and a low shuffle as they took their places around the room. A brief moment of stillness passed, and then, one Sailor stepped forward.

She took a deep breath, taking in all of the history around her, and then raised her right hand.

"I, Tiana Street, do solemnly swear..."

Personnel Specialist 2nd Class Tiana Street, a native of Richmond, Virginia, assigned to the administrative department aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52), reenlisted at USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, July 15.

The reenlistment took place during a special tour reserved for some of Pearl Harbor's Sailors during the ship's first port visit of its 2017 deployment.

"One of our chiefs put together a two-hour-long remembrance tour, which most notably included the USS Arizona Memorial," said Master Chief Thane Douglass, Pearl Harbor's command master chief. "It was a very limited tour, and so we invited as many of our hardest charging Sailors as we could. It was really great to see so many young Sailors take an interest in our ship's history and heritage."

The tour had special significance for many Sailors and Marines aboard Pearl Harbor, as the ship is named for the historical events that took place on Dec. 7, 1941, ushering the United States into World War II.

"We hear about the Pearl Harbor attack often aboard this ship," said Street. "Knowing and understanding the significance of that date is a huge part of being a Pearl Harbor Sailor. It's something we all should want to learn more about."

Street immediately asked to attend the tour a soon as it was scheduled but was surprised when she was approached by her chief and asked if she would like to reenlist during the tour.

"I wasn't expecting to get to reenlist at the Arizona," said Street. "When I was approached about it, I was caught a little off guard, but I knew it would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I had to take part in."

Street was read the oath of enlistment by Ensign Kris Rodriguez, Pearl Harbor's administrative officer.

"It was an honor and a privilege to be able to stand in the Arizona Memorial and read the oath of enlistment to a great Sailor whom I know is going to do great things in the future," said Rodriguez. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime moment that neither one of us will ever forget."

After the tour, the Sailors returned to the ship to change and explore more of Hawaii's incredible history.

"Hawaii is a beautiful place," said Street. "But I'm not sure if anything can compare to being able to visit the Arizona Memorial and being able to reenlist there. It's one of the many amazing opportunities the Navy has given me, and I'm really thankful for that."

After visiting Hawaii, Pearl Harbor departed the island to continue on its scheduled deployment as a part of the America Amphibious Ready Group (ARG).

The America ARG consists of America-class amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6), San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS San Diego (LPD 22), and Harpers Ferry-class amphibious dock landing ship USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52) and more than 2,500 Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

U.S. 3rd Fleet leads naval forces in the Pacific and engages in joint, interagency and international relationships that strengthen the ability to respond to crises and protect the collective maritime interests of the U.S. and its allies and partners.

For more information on CPR3, visit:
http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/cpr3/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.facebook.com/PHIBRON3/

For more information on USS Pearl Harbor, visit: http://www.public.navy.mil/surfor/lsd52/Pages/default.aspx
http://www.facebook.com/USSPEARLHARBOR/

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

For more news from USS America (LHA 6), visit www.navy.mil/.
 

Google Translation Disclaimer

Guidance-Card-Icon Dept-Exclusive-Card-Icon