I reached the seaport on time and was greeted by excited faces that form part of a small contingent participating in Saipan’s first Bosslifts — an activity designed to orient employers about military personnel on active duty as part of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, or ESGR, program.
Retired Maj. Gen. Benny Paulino, chairman of the ESGR Guam/CNMI Committee, led the pack’s trip to USNS 1st Lt. Jack Lummus, a 46,000-ton 13-deck ship commissioned in 1986.
The ship carries ammunitions and military supplies enough to feed thousands of troops for at least a month.
It was named after Lt. Andrew Jackson Lummus Jr., an American War and football hero who died in the Battle of Iwo Jima in Japan during World War II, when he accidentally stepped on a landmine.
With us was Rose Igitol, CNMI area chair, ESGR Committee; Capt. Josephine Blas, program administrator, ESGR Committee; Mariano Fajardo, military outreach coordinator, ESGR Committee; POII Jason Tarkong, the spokesman of the Department of Public Safety; Jordon Kosam, chief of police of the Commonwealth Ports Authority; Vicky Concepcion, Branch Manager First Hawaiian Bank; Juan D. Tenorio, emergency services director of the American Red Cross; Marian Aldan Pierce, president DFS LTD. Saipan; Dolores San Nicolas, Department of Corrections’ secretary; Juan Wabol, director of the Department of Public Safety/Fire; Ivan Quichocho, vice president Business Development, Tan Holdings Corp.; and Janice Ada Tenorio, dean of Northern Marianas College Division of Student Services.
Rare journey
We began our journey shortly after 10 a.m. that day and reached USNS Lummus 20 minutes later.
For many, it was their first time to visit the ship. It was my second after three years.
I had randomly toured the ship back in 2006 along with two other former colleagues after a military official invited us to take a look at it.
USNS Jack Lummus had been all over the world — witnessed both war and peace in different times.
The United States sent it to Somalia in 1992 to help in Operation Restore Hope in the country.
In Sept. 1991, a civil war broke out in Somalia’s capital, Mogadishu, where more than 20,000 people were killed.
The conflict destroyed Somalia’s agriculture leaving about 300,000 people starved to death and another 1.5 million suffering between 1991 and 1992, thus, USNS Jack Lummus was sent there to bring food and aid to the people.
The ship was also deployed to the Gulf War and the Maldives in 2004 when a tsunami destroyed several Asian countries that year, among other assignments.
From the small boat, we climbed up a steep steel staircase one at a time, to reach the entrance deck of the ship.
It was a feat for many who had to do the act for the first time. Fear from falling on the ocean water is a major concern because the swell was rough.
The sight of those struggling to climb up the steep staircase as the small boat is swayed by the swell was frightening.
“This is a once in a lifetime experience,” said Guerrero.
We were warmly welcomed at the huge main deck of the ship and were given ear plugs.
We then proceeded to meet Capt. Geoffrey Pack, the commodore of the ship, who gave us a brief lecture about the MPSRON and what prepositioning ships do.
Lummus and other prepositioning ships are crucial to both the military and the civilian population in times of conflicts and disasters like a tsunami incident or an earthquake, he explained.
The ship is able to pump out oil or water within eight miles from the tanker to the distribution site.
It can produce 36,000 gallons of water a day and even have its own hospital.
Chief Mate Dan Reed gave us a brief tour of the ship, including the area where tanks, yachts, humvees and trucks are stored.
Impressive
From a far, Lummus looks so small but in reality, it is home to more than 600 different kinds of amphibious and non-amphibious vehicles.
“This is the Volkswagen of the fleet,” said Pack during a briefing with the participants.
He didn’t confirm nor deny when one asked if the ship has nuclear weapons citing standard military policy as reason.
With its might and power, USNS Lummus can actually power a small city in case of an emergency disaster.
“I was impressed,” said Fajardo who toured the ship for the first time.
San Nicolas said the trip satisfied her nagging curiosity as to what is actually inside prepositioning ships.
The Corrections secretary said she thought she’d never live to see the day of having the chance to tour one of them.
The retired general described the trip as “exciting.”
“I enjoyed the trip,” he said.
Before the tour was over, Pack and participating employers signed the Statement of Support for the ESGR.
The ESGR Week, Sept. 20-26, is being observed in Guam and the Northern Marianas.
Paulino said there are about 2,600 reservists and National Guards in the Marianas. A significant number of them either had returned home or returning home after their tour of duty.
He said the ESGR Committee is ready to help them keep their jobs in the private sector as part of the federal law that protects their employment when called to active duty.
“We really want to thank the employers. Your support is critical to these employees,” said Paulino who retired from the Army after 32 years. “I take great pride in helping our service members.”
After having lunch at the ship, we headed back to the shore.
If reaching USNS Lummus’ main deck was heart-pounding, it was more difficult climbing down from the stairs as the small boat that will take us back to the seaport moved up and down amid high swells.
You hang on to the steel staircase until the boat is actually underneath your feet with the thought and prayer that you don’t fall on the ocean which has sharks.
“It was scary,” said Ada Tenorio.
Lummus is leaving Saipan in November for a routine maintenance check and change of equipment.
