Crew of USS Anchorage Renders Aid to Stranded Sri Lankan-flagged Fishing Vessel

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Dickinson, USS Anchorage Public Affairs

INDIAN OCEAN (NNS) -- San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) rendered assistance and provided aid to the crew of a stranded Sri Lankan-flagged fishing vessel, M/V Lakshan, Nov. 4 at 12:30 p.m. local time.

Watchstanders spotted six mariners aboard the vessel waving articles of clothing in an attempt to get the attention of the U.S. Navy ship as Anchorage was transiting through the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. The commanding officer aboard Anchorage, Capt. J.J. Cummings, ordered the dispatch of a rescue and assistance team, which determined Lakshan had experienced a crank case explosion, leaving both engines unworkable and beyond at-sea repair. The fishing vessel had been at sea without power for one day when the fishing vessel's crew hailed the crew of Anchorage for assistance.

The rescue and assistance team delivered food, water and car batteries to power the stranded vessel temporarily to the crew of Lakshan. M/V Beyanara, roughly 165 nautical miles away at the time of Anchorage's arrival on station, was dispatched for assistance by the fishing vessel's parent company. Anchorage remained on station until their arrival.

Beyanara arrived the afternoon of Nov. 5, at which point the crew aboard Beyanara assumed on-scene commander responsibilities from Anchorage's commanding officer, and is now in the process of towing the vessel and crew back to land.

"Once our Rescue and Assist Team determined the vessel was dead in the water and 300 miles from land with no food or water, it was obvious that the crew was facing a life or death situation," said Cummings. "Giving them assistance became our number one priority, and we were not going anywhere until we had full confidence that the crew was safe. Our Sailors instantly flexed from underway operations to mariner assistance, and it was a beautiful thing to watch."

"This event stands as testimony to what lengths our nation will go to help complete strangers and the remarkable professionalism of the Anchorage Sailors," continued Cummings. "Our bridgewing lookouts, who were the first to spot their distress signal, literally saved the lives of these mariners in distress."

Anchorage is assigned to the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, commanded by Capt. Clint Carroll. The Essex ARG, and embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.

USS Anchorage Holds Change of Command

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Matthew Dickinson, Commander, Amphibious Squadron 3 Public Affairs

GULF OF ADEN (NNS) -- Capt. J.J. Cummings relieved Capt. Michael McKenna as commanding officer aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock ship USS Anchorage (LPD 23) during a change of command ceremony Sept. 3.

This change of command was special for Capt. McKenna because it was his last. He retired after 26 years of service in the U.S. Navy.

"It has been an amazing week, you guys are really lucky to have a talented, energetic and awesome leader," said McKenna. "I know Capt. Cummings and his wife Sarah are going to do a fantastic job here, and I'm very honored to be turning this command over to him."

McKenna, from Missoula, Montana, has more than 3,200 flight hours and 540 arrested landings. His awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Service Medal, Individual Air Medal (with Combat V), Strike Flight Air Medal, and Navy Commendation Medal (with Combat V).

"I'll leave you with a quote, it's a pretty straight-forward quote, I'm a pretty straight-forward person. It's by Theodore Roosevelt, and I think it really captures why I'm here and why I do what I do," said McKenna. "'There is no greater reward than working hard at a job worth doing.' What we do, the sacrifices we make for our country, it's worth it."

Cummings, a native of Sharon, Massachusetts, attended Aviation Officer Candidate School in November of 1991, earned his pilot wings in October 1993 and completed Fleet Replacement training in the F-14/A Tomcat in June 1995.

"Capt. McKenna, I would like to thank you for the past year, the past week in particular for getting me up to speed with this job," said Cummings. "Without a doubt any future success this ship has is a direct result of the work that Capt. McKenna and the crew have done over the past year."

Capt. Cummings' fleet tours flying the F-14 were with the VF-24 "Fighting Renegades" and VF-211 "Checkmates" aboard USS Nimitz (CVN 68). After transitioning to the F/A-18F Super Hornet in 2007, he served as executive and commanding officer of VFA-11, the "Red Rippers", aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Ashore, Capt. Cummings served as an F-14 instructor pilot with the VF-101 "Grim Reapers," where he graduated from the Navy Fighter Weapon School (TOPGUN) as a strike fighter tactics instructor. He recently served as the executive officer of USS Nimitz (CVN 68) from May 2013 to May 2015.

"For the crew, it's a complete honor and privilege to be your commanding officer," said Cummings, "I will make the most of this opportunity and work very hard every day to make sure you are the best trained, and most professional Sailors on the planet."

Anchorage, part of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, and with the embarked 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (15th MEU), is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations.