HM3 Gregory Gonzales Named 2014 Navy Pharmacy Junior Technician of the Year

By Hospitalman Thomas B. Sauer, Naval Hospital Lemoore

LEMOORE, Calif. (NNS) -- Naval Hospital Lemoore's (NHL) Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Gregory Gonzales, a native of Thousand Oaks, California, was selected as the 2014 Navy Pharmacy Junior Technician of the Year at the Joint Forces Pharmacy Seminar in Washington D.C. Oct. 22.

Gonzales' nomination for this prestigious award was for his many outstanding contributions within NHL as well as for his participation in 2014 Pacific Partnership and his active involvement in the local community.

The 2014 Pacific Partnership--a task force comprised of more than 200 personnel from active and reserve components of the U.S. Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, 17 non-government organizations and seven foreign military partner nations, is the largest humanitarian assistance mission in the Pacific Area of Responsibility. During the deployment, Gonzales actively engaged in 10 medical missions in Cambodia and the Philippines and was directly responsible for the pharmacy set-up at different locations within these two countries. He prepared and dispensed more than 13,000 prescriptions to more than 6,000 patients. He also volunteered more than 70 hours (painting, mixing cement and then laying it down) with Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 1 conducting a major renovation in a medical facility in Da Nang, Vietnam.

In addition to his contributions to the Navy, Gonzales has been a strong community supporter. In one year, he volunteered more than 165 hours to the Kings County Fire Department and completed 32 hours of Volunteer Firefighter Level 1 training.

On May 18, he participated in fire suppression efforts that minimized property damage and he helped evacuate 40 residents in an apartment complex fire in Lemoore.

On Nov. 29, 2013, he witnessed a multiple vehicle accident in Madera County and then conducted onsite triage for seven injured individuals and instructed bystanders in first aid support while monitoring the injured victims until arrival of medical personnel. Gonzales was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for his heroic efforts that day.

A member of the Navy for only three years, Gonzales has exhibited exceptional professionalism and loyal devotion to the Navy and his fellow citizens. NHL is extremely proud of him, his accomplishments and his impressive award as this year's Navy Junior Pharmacy Technician of the Year.