Proud Navajo Sailor Follows Her People’s Path

By Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Elesia K. Patten, Carrier Strike Group 11

AT SEA ABOARD USS NIMITZ, Nov. 27, 2017 — When Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Denise Alamo introduces herself to other people from the Dine or Navajo tribes in their native language, the introduction translates to: "Hello, my name is Denise. I'm Towering House Clan, born for Tangle Clan, my maternal clan is Salt People, and my paternal clan is Coyote Cross Path."

"In Dine culture, you must know what your four clans are because they make who you are," Alamo said. "For instance, when I introduce myself to another Dine, I would say my clans in the following order: my mother's clan, my father's clan, my maternal grandfather's clan, and paternal grandfather's clan.

A proud Navajo woman, Alamo also is a proud U.S. Navy sailor, assigned to Destroyer Squadron 9 of Carrier Strike Group 11 as an operations specialist. She's serving aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz on a six-month deployment to the Western Pacific. Since 1994, the Navy has reserved November to celebrate and honor Native Americans and Alaska Natives.

Throughout her 18-year career, Alamo said, she has crossed paths with several other sailors who belong to her tribe. Military service is fast becoming a tradition in her family; her brother is serving in the Marine Corps and her grandfather was a Navy Seabee. Alamo said his service motivated her to join the Navy.

"[My grandfather] always talked about traveling and seeing different parts of the world," she explained. "I also wanted to travel. Being a Native American sailor holds much integrity and pride back on the reservation."

Early Life

Alamo grew up on the Dine Nation Reservation, an area near Sweetwater, Arizona. Her family owned two houses; one was near the main road in Sweetwater, and the other was more remotely snuggled in the Carrizo Mountains. During the school year, she said, they lived in the house on the main road. Come summer, the family moved to the isolation of the mountain house, where they herded livestock and raised crops.

"Our nearest neighbor was about a mile away," Alamo said. "That house had no electricity or running water. We had a farm that we maintained during harvest season, and we planted fruits and vegetables such as corn, apricots, grapes, strawberries, watermelon, cabbage, tomatoes and avocados."

Alamo's Navy life and her life on the reservation share some similarities. While deployed, she trades her life on land for a life in a more secluded environment. Just as up in the mountains, the ocean distances her from grocery stores, movie theaters and other home comforts. The many customs and traditions that are so heavily ingrained in the Navy also mirror Alamo's way of life on the reservation.

Her grandparents enjoyed attending ceremonies and traditional dances, so during her childhood Alamo attended many dances, she said. And just as her grandparents ensured the traditions of her people were passed on to her, she added, she proudly passes on Dine tradition to her children.

Proud of Her Heritage

"I'm proud to be Dine, and that I know my language, culture and tradition," Alamo said. "Dine people are also called the 'Holy People'. We have many taboos that we are told to abide by. However, that tradition is dying with the younger generation. I tend to pass on the taboos of our tribe on to my kids along with the folk tales and many stories of Coyote the Trickster. I will also make sure that they know their clans."

Alamo said she draws inspiration and strength from her people, and that she employs them to inspire her throughout her Navy career. A saying in her tribe translates to "In beauty I walk," she added.

"To me this means, 'No matter what obstacles are thrown at you, always strive to better yourself professionally and personally,’" she said.

Face of Defense: USS Lake Erie Sailor Writes From the Heart

By Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Lucas Hans, Carrier Strike Group 11

ABOARD USS LAKE ERIE, Nov. 27, 2017 — "Poetry is how I let it all out," Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Antwoun Stevens said in a soft, but matter-of-fact way. "It's my heart."

Stevens stands 6 feet tall. He's strong, with the short, well-kempt hair you'd expect from a U.S. Navy sailor. He cracks jokes with the guys and dreams of being home with his newborn son, Immanuel, whom he has yet to meet.

Stevens is a yeoman aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Erie. He's on deployment in Subic Bay, Philippines, after spending several months in the Persian Gulf supporting combat operations. He processes reams of forms, letters and orders for more than 300 sailors aboard Lake Erie. Everything has to be perfectly formatted to Navy writing standards: precise, exact and perfect. There's no room for error or creativity.

What most of Stevens' shipmates don't know is he's also a self-published poet.

"When you think 'military,' you don't think 'poetry,'" Stevens said. "So it's an unnerving experience putting something out there for your peers to see and possibly judge."

Putting Emotions on Paper

Stevens developed a love for words early on and found sanctuary in putting his emotions on paper. He grew up on the north side of St. Louis, one of nine children. Money was tight, and his parents did the best they could with a large family to feed. His siblings often talked about what they wanted to be when they grew up, but to Stevens it seemed to be all talk. He knew he had to be different; he had to make his move.

"I always wanted to be a rapper," Stevens said. "On a dare, I got myself into spoken-word poetry. Words have always meant something to me, and poetry is what I loved the most. By the time I was 16, I was teaching poetry at a camp. Kids would come in really hesitant, but by the time they left, they had a love for it."

From then, his affinity for poetry just took off, he said. He made up his mind that he wanted to be a published poet, but didn't know how and when.

Determined to Achieve His Dream

By the time Stevens joined the Navy in 2014, he had yet to try his hand at writing a book, despite having already made a name for himself in his hometown as a poet. He had embarked on a new journey as a sailor, but he was determined to achieve his dream of getting published. He set to work putting his heart onto paper in the little time he had between shifts and studying for his job.

"I would write in my rack or get up in the middle of the night to find a free computer to type and edit," he said.

Stevens finally finished his book in July and used an online service to get it published.

"Publishing was actually a lot easier than you might think," said Stevens. "The most difficult aspect was making sure the book was in the right format. I sent in the 43 poems along with my cover design and signed the contract. When I finally received my hard copy, I couldn't stop smiling. This was it. This was my book. It was proof of something I created all by myself."

Titled, "When the Clock Strikes Twelve," Stevens' book is about his own life story -- his journey from growing up a big city to the sailor, man and father he has become.

"When my son asks me what I wanted out of life, I want to be able to tell him exactly what I wanted and the steps I took to achieve my dreams," he said. "I want him to understand who his dad was at that moment in time."

Seeking to Inspire

Modest about his writing, Stevens is working up the nerve to deliver the message of his poems to his shipmates, and that he hopes his words will be more than just read.

"I want people to take something away from the book," said Stevens. "Maybe someone is dealing with something internally that they can't tell anyone about. I hope that they find something in my book that helps them or gives them the strength to deal with it. Maybe the fact that the book is self-written and self-published inspires them. It might just inspire them to achieve something they've always wanted to do."

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Shanice Harrison from Ypsilanti, Michigan, a quartermaster assigned to USS Lake Erie, recently read Stevens' poetry and said she admires his work.

"It was real and raw, and I am so amazed by what he was able to create," Harrison said. "The fact that he wrote and published the book while on deployment floors me. So many people look up to Stevens, and I can't wait for everyone to read it. He has inspired me so much."

Now, as Stevens looks forward through deployment toward his new adventure as a father, he continues to write and is already well on the way to completing his next book of poetry.

"I'm taking an entirely different approach," he said. "It won't be anything like ‘When the Clock Strikes Twelve.' I hope people take to it."