USS Emory S. Land commanding officer, Capt. Brent Spillner, center, executive officer, Commander Michael Fasano, second left, Command Master Chief Jonathan Render, second right, Chief Navy Engineman Mark Guiawan, left, and Chief Petty Officer Kevin Barbo pose for a photo with the special assistant to the governor for military affairs, Danny Aquino, and Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs policy advisor, Tom Linden, at the Port of Saipan on Wednesday.
FOR their third port call on Saipan, the officers and crewmembers of the USS Emory S. Land will stay a couple of days longer than they did last year so they can do more for the island community.
Danny Aquino, the special assistant to the governor for military affairs, and Tom Linden, policy advisor for the Commonwealth Bureau of Military Affairs, welcomed the ship’s commanding officer, Capt. Brent Spillner, Commander Michael Fasano Executive Officer, Command Master Chief Jonathan Render and crewmembers on Wednesday.
One of the U.S. Navy’s two submarine tenders, USS Emory S. Land, made its first port call on Saipan in February 2022. During its second visit in May last year, the officers and crewmembers conducted cleanups on Beach Road.
Spillner said what they are going to do this time will be very similar to their activities last year, which include “verifying our ability to provide services anywhere in the world.”
Homeported in Guam, the USS Emory S. Land is a “forward-deployed submarine tender tasked with providing…maintenance and repairs, as well as…hotel service and logistics support to guided-missile and fast-attack submarines deployed in the 7th Fleet area of responsibility.”
Named for Vice Admiral Emory Scott Land (1879-1971), the ship is also capable of providing repair and logistics services to deployed surface combatants and ships.
Spillner said aside from cleaning up American Memorial Park today, Thursday, and Tank Beach in Kagman on Friday, they may also visit a school.
“If we’d have our choice where to come for this rehearsal, Saipan is our top choice,” he said. “Not only is the island close to home but it is also a place that is fun to visit,” he added.
“We always feel welcomed by the community here. We had a great experience last year and the crews are excited to come back. Some of the crew are new and they are excited to see Saipan for the first time.”
This time, Spillner hopes to spend more time off the ship because last year he was aboard all day. He said he wants to do scuba diving for which he got certified years ago on Saipan.
Two of USS Emory S. Land’s service members are from the CNMI: Chief Navy Engineman Mark Guiawan and Chief Petty Officer Kevin Barbo.
Guiawan said his family lived on Rota before they went to Guam where he joined the U.S. Navy.
“It’s really awesome coming back over here,” he said. “It’s an amazing feeling. It’s great to see Saipan again. I love it, I miss the weather and I can’t wait to go to the beaches out here. I miss some of my friends in high school, who are still here,” he said.
Barbo said it’s always exciting to be back on Saipan. “It’s always a new experience but there is always a sense of familiarity coming back. I am excited to see my family and I’m going to see them later tonight,” he added.
