Active Duty
Published 9:55 pm Sunday, May 16, 2010
USS Abraham Lincoln’s commanding officer Capt. John Alexander recently awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal to Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Airman Stephanie Lopez, of Washougal, for her actions during a shipboard fire.
Lopez was on steam watch and making security rounds on the evening of April 24 when she saw what she thought were flames.
“I felt kind of scared,” said Lopez in a press release from the Navy. “At first, I wasn’t actually sure if it was a fire or not. I thought maybe a light had burst open and that it was sparking, so that’s why I got the guys to come from the lounge to verify that it was a fire.”
Lopez ran around to where the steam-smother valve is located, activated it and suffocated the fire. Her response quickly diffused what could have been a catastrophic fire. Lopez’s actions earned her the second achievement medal she’s received in her three-year Navy career. Receiving the medal was a great way to meet the commanding officer, she said.
The Lincoln is off the coast of Southern California conducting tailored ship training assessment in preparation for a deployment later this year.
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Air National Guard Airman Ian Klein graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Klein is a 2008 graduate of Lake Stevens High School.
Air Force Airman Scott Gentry graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Linda Parker of Oak Harbor and a 2001 graduate of Oak Harbor High School. He also earned an associate degree in 2002 from Wyoming Technical Institute, Laramie.
Army Lt. Colonel James Geiser recently completed a C-12 refresher flight course at Fort Huachaca, Ariz. Geiser currently is attending battalion pre-command training at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., in preparation for command in August at Fort Hood, Texas. Geiser is a 1986 Snohomish High School graduate and a 1992 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He is the son of James and Susan Geiser of Mill Creek.
Navy Seaman Danielle Cynkar, daughter of Angela and Anthony Cynkar of Everett, recently completed basic training at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Cynkar is a 2009 graduate of Sequoia High School in Everett.
Navy Seaman Recruit Michael Lohkamp, son of Kimberly Richardson of Monroe, recently completed basic training at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Lohkamp is a 2009 graduate of Monroe High School.
Navy Seaman Apprentice Casey Dreyer, son of Cindy Dreyer of Marysville and Roderick Dreyer of Buckley, recently completed basic training at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Dreyer is a 2008 graduate of Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
Navy Seaman Travis Kenworthy, son of Lynda Kenworthy of Oak Harbor and Shawn Kenworthy of Clinton, recently completed basic training at U.S. Navy Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Kenworthy is a 2009 graduate of South Whidbey High School.
To submit news for the active duty column, contact reporter Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.
