Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jessica L. Dowell –
Sailors and Marines assigned to the Harpers Ferry-class dock landing ship USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) and the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) volunteered to serve soup with members of the St. Nicholas Church for those in need during a port visit to Gdynia, Poland, June 23, 2018.
Twelve Sailors and Marines replaced the regular, rotating group of volunteers from the St. Nicholas Church of Gdynia who serve soup every Saturday.
“Volunteering has many mutual benefits,” said Lt. Yoni Warren, the ship’s chaplain and organizer of the volunteer opportunity. “Volunteering in the community raises awareness in the local population that these Sailors and Marines not only serve in a military capacity, but also serve to make a difference in the communities they visit.”
Sailors and Marines aboard Oak Hill highlight the Navy’s culture of community service through their personal choice to give freely of their time.
“Every opportunity I get, I try to volunteer,” said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Ralph Palmer. “Service is all about heart and giving back. You never know what situation you might be in where you may rely on someone else to give back to you.”
Oak Hill is deployed in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations conducting naval operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa to enhance capability and interoperability with our allies and partners in the region.
Oak Hill is part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group which embarks the 26th MEU and includes the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7), the San Antonio-class transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), Fleet Surgical Team 4 and 8, Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 28, Tactical Air Control Squadron (TACRON) 22, components of Naval Beach Group 2 and the embarked staff of commander, Amphibious Squadron 4.
For more information visit www.oak-hill.navy.mil