Nine sailors were recently pinned at a chief petty officer pinning ceremony at NAS Fallon.
Photo by Steve Ranson.
Fate and timeliness tied the past with the present when nine future chief petty officers from Naval Air Station Fallon were recently pinned during a 90-minute ceremony at Hangar 7.
“This is extraordinary, very eventful,” said Command Master Chief Katherine Knight of this year’s ceremony on Nov. 19. “What was extraordinary was watching this group of chiefs that we have here in this program to make sure, even when it was cold outside, that every single man joined our fellowship. We didn’t leave one person stand behind.”
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Jaymes Wilke, who grew up in Fallon, became one of the newest chief petty officers at NAS Fallon.
Selectees included Chief Aviation Maintenance Administrationman Richard Artisy, Chief Yeoman Kenneth Booker, Chief Fire Controlman Kendall Boone, Chief Aviation Structural Mechanic Safety Equipment Joel Cook, Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Abel Cholico, Chief Master-at-Arms Ryan Bottberg, Chief Naval Aircrewman Helicopter Michael Papada, Chief Yeoman Lorenz Samson and Chief Electronics Technician Jaymes Wilke.
Wilke, who serves in the U.S. Naval Reserve and is a graduate of Churchill County High School, said the junior sailors relied on each other and their mentors.
Photo courtesy of Michael Terry
The nine newest chief petty officers at NAS Fallon cleaned up a disabled veteran’s property on Nov. 11.
“We didn’t get here alone,” said Wilke, who spent eight years on active duty and six in the reserves. “This is a great experience and a great privilege to be here in my hometown (for the pinning).
Leading up to the pinning ceremony, retired CPO Michael Terry of Fallon said the newest chiefs also performed a community project. They cleaned and made repairs to the Veterans of Foreign War Post 1002 building on South Maine Street in late October. He said they also cleaned up property on Nov. 11 that belonged to two disabled veterans.
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IT1 Barrett Hamm plays the national anthem on his soprano saxophone.
With the 80th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor one week away, Air Traffic Controller Chief Joshua A. Sawyer of NAS Fallon delivered the keynote address and focused his remarks on Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Bob Feller, who served in the Navy during World War II. The only award for a petty officer is named after Feller, who pitched for the Cleveland Indians until he retired in 1956.
Sawyer, a 2021 recipient of the Bob Feller Act of Valor award, said the pitcher had thrown three no-hitters and 12 one-hit games while winning 20 or more games during six seasons. The highlight of his career came in 1948 when Cleveland won the World Series.
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Kenneth Booker becomes one of NAS Fallon’s newest chief petty officers.
The day after Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy although his father was dying from brain cancer. Sawyer said Feller knew the war had to be won
“On Dec. 9, he became the first American athlete to enlist to go to war,” Sawyer said.
Feller became an anti-aircraft gunner on the battleship USS Alabama. He served five campaigns in the Atlantic theater of operations and then the Pacific. Feller earned eight battle stars.
Steve Ranson / LVN
Kenneth Booker becomes one of NAS Fallon’s newest chief petty officers.
“When the war ended, he was discharged as a chief petty officer and went back to baseball,” Sawyer said.
“When Feller retired (from baseball), Sayer said the pitcher was just as proud of his military service as he was his baseball career.
Sawyer said when Feller was asked of the most important game he won, his reply was World War II. The establishment of the award named after Feller occurred after his death, and Sawyer said Feller’s background is to educate today's sailors with actions of citizenship, service, sacrifice and legacy.
Steve Ranson / LVN
The family of Joel Cook pins him as one of the newest chief petty officers in the U.S. Navy.
“It’s the only chief’s award we have in the military,” Sawyer said, admitting he wasn’t familiar with the Bob Feller award until he was nominated for it.
Although receiving the award was important for Sawyer, he said the most important role he or any chief petty officer has is training and leading sailors.
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Capt. Evan Morrison, commander of NAS Fallon, presents a certificate to Chief Petty Officer Ryan Nottberg.
“We are the shield to protect our sailors,” he said.
Sawyer also said NAS Fallon is a crown jewel in the Navy where sailors have worked hard with unflappable determination. Now, he said the younger sailors will rely on the newest chiefs for leadership and knowledge.
Steve Ranson / LVN
Air Traffic Controller Chief Joshua A. Sawyer of NAS Fallon delivered the keynote address.
Steve Ranson / LVN
Capt. Steven Hejmanowski, deputy commander of the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center, left, and Capt. Evan Morrison, commander of NAS Fallon, share a light moment before the chief petty officer pinning.
