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Command Newsletter

For Sailors and Marinesaboard USS Harpers Ferryand the family members

awaiting our return.

volume: II | December 2013

The

Musket

2

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Command Newsletter

Dear Harpers Ferry Families,Although Harpers Ferry is far from home, please

know that you are always close at heart. We all feel the burden of separation and the immense strain it tolls. However, we know that for those we have left behind the separation of deployment is especially tough. You are left the daunting task of carrying on with life without your husband, wife, mother or father. You bear the burden of household, parenting, caregiver, handyman and homework master without missing a beat. And all without your most vital support network, biggest cheerleader and best friend. You are incredible and I thank you for your burden and sacrifice and know that everyone onboard feels your strength and support every day.

Your Sailors are making a difference in the world and here is how. We departed with CLB (Combat Logistics Battalion) 13 and quickly meshed with our embarked Marines. We almost immediately started Split-ARG operations (this means the ships were in separate locations) east of Guam and continued that into India and the Arabian Gulf. While inport India, we spent a week discovering warm hospitality, weather and food!

Harpers Ferry Sailors interacted with local school children and even painted a few class rooms to build goodwill and personal relationships. We are now in Fifth Fleet conducting operations, supporting allies, showing American presence and landing our Marines ashore for important advanced training to keep their skills sharp.

Harpers Ferry is ready to receive the call to proceed for possible Humanitarian Assistance/Disaster Relief (HA/DR) operations, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) missions and the full range of amphibious tasking. We have trained

diligently and have become a cohesive team with our Marine brethren during the many months of workups and deployment. I have never seen such stellar performance and we could do none of it without the support of our loved ones! We anxiously look forward to our future operations and most of all our return home to our families. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

CDR S. Ilteris Commanding OfficerUSS HARPERS FERRY (LSD-49)

"I thank you for your burden and sacrifice and know that everyone onboard feels your strength and

support every day.”

| From the Captains desk

3 3

November 27th, 2013

On the morning of November 27, 2013, Sailors of USS Harpers Ferry were

treated to a special kind of picnic.

In the sandbox of Jebal Ali, locally known as The Oasis, Chiefs held a rope yarn picnic for all to attend.

Hot dogs, hamburgers, fruit salad, lemon water, and cookies were some of the tasty munchies offered.

The picnic came on the cusp of Thanksgiving day and provided some time for everyone to relax and get to know eachother off the ship.

Why is it called Rope Yarn?On the day the tailor boarded a sailing

ship in port, the crew knocked off early, broke out rope yarn and mended

clothes and hammocks.

One afternoon per week at sea was reserved for mending. Since it was

an afternoon for rest from the usual chores, much like

Sunday, it was dubbed “rope yarn Sunday.”

Rope Yarn Picnic |

Rope Yarn PicnicRope Yarn PicnicRope Yarn PicnicRope Yarn Picnic

4

Blue Jacket of the YearBM3 Theriot

Senior Sailor of the YearIT1(SW/IDW) T. Williams

Junior Sailor of the YearQM3 (SW) Nichols

Sailor of the YearFC2 (SW) Vera

Sailors of the Year

| Sailors of the Year

These Sailors exemplify the values and skills every Sailor in the United States Navy should aspire to. They are peer leaders who are nominated and reviewed by a commi ee of their

leaders to hold the tle of Sailor of the Year.

According to pipes/drums, an online publication dedicated to bag piping news and information,

there are roughly 30,000 bagpipe players across the United States. But since the amphibious

dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) left for deployment there is one less. That’s because of

one man, Lt. Alexander Douglas Paul, a bagpipe playing dentist embarked aboard Harpers Ferry.

Paul uses his bagpipes to bring music to the military, all the while fulfi lling his duties as the shipboard dentist.

“On this ship I am attached to Combat Logistics Battalion 13. I am responsible for maintaining green side dental

readiness for all three of the ships,” says Paul with a relaxed demeanor. “I am in communication with the other two ships

in the ARG [Amphibious Ready Group] to make sure all the Marines embarked are getting the dental treatment they

need.”

Paul has always been a dentist at heart, but his love for piping goes back just as far.

“My dad was in the Navy,” says Paul. The coffee in his mug barely moves as he collects his memories. “He played

the bagpipes prior to joining the military so I’m carrying on the tradition I suppose. He was a submariner and had the

chance to be in Holyloch, Scotland.”

At this point he slows down and gathers his thoughts to continue, “When I joined CLB 13 last October, they had me

play for the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. I played the Marine Corps Hymn. I’ve played at memorial ceremonies, military

funerals, and weddings.”

This past Sept. 11, Marines and Sailors gathered together on the mess deck to pay homage at a remembrance

ceremony. Some were dressed in their whites and others in their working uniforms. Paul was dressed in bagpipes.

“I didn’t fi nd out about the Sept. 11th ceremony until the day before it happened,” explains Paul, smiling about the

memory. Paul played “Taps” during the cere`mony.

“With ‘Taps,’ because it’s not something I typically play [on the bagpipe] I was focused on making sure I played

everything correctly,” he said.

It took Paul his whole life to get to the level of skill he is at today. Practicing every chance he can get, even if it means

being loud and raucous.

“A few people found my practice area in the vehicle turnaround area,” he says. “It’s not the best condition for the

instrument, but I’m trying to balance not disturbing people, with being in a place where I can play and not sweat to

death. I have to wear PT [Physical Training] gear.”

“There are two different types of practice with the bagpipes,” says Paul, his fi ngers fi dgeting as if he was playing the

notes.

Paul leans back in his chair, his head slightly tilted up. “The other type of practice is just the part you would

normally put your fi nger on to change notes. You don’t have the parts sticking up on your shoulders. It’s very quiet. I can

A Bagpipe Dentist Out to C# [sea]

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mark El-Rayes, USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) Public Affairs

5A Bagpipe Dentist Out to C# [SEA] |

6

play it in this room, and no one would know what I’m doing.”

And when it comes to knowing his instrument, Paul knows exactly what he is doing with the bagpipes and even the

history of it.

Paul explains how the early bagpipes were made from the stomach of a wild animal, which was skinned and turned

into the belly of the bagpipe.

He talks about the musical structure with grand hand gestures, more excited with each passing topic. He goes on to

explain the tuning of the main pipe and how the other pipes need to be in tune with each other.

Paul then checks the time. He has a 9 o’clock appointment, and he has to get ready. He has a technical job to

complete; he is on deployment after all. He utters technical terms to his assistant. His passion for dentistry rivals his

passion for playing bagpipes.

As of 2009, the American Dental Association recorded 186,084 professionally active dentists in the United States.

That puts Paul on two small lists, one of 186,083 dentists and one of 30,000 bagpipe players but, most interestingly, the

only one out to sea on Harpers Ferry.

A Bagpipe Dentist Out to C# [SEA] Cont.

Lt. Alexander D. Paul, dental of icer, plays Taps on he bagpipes during a Sept. 11 remembrance ceremony on the mess deck of the amphibious dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49). (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Mark El-Rayes/Released)

6 | A Bagpipe Dentist Out to C# [SEA]

Dear Harpers Ferry Families,I hope all of you are doing well and have settled

in from the departure of your loved one on deployment. I would like to let you know that your Sailors’ are doing amazing things while away. They have demonstrated the highest levels of professionalism in all aspects of seamanship, technical expertise, and as ambassadors during recent port visits. They have been working hard in their respective ratings and achieving required qualifications in those ratings.

Many of our Sailors’ participated in the semiannual rating examination, so I am hoping to have many new Petty Officers onboard later this year. We have also qualified many of our shipmates as Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist (ESWS). I wish you all the very best and we look forward to our return home to you.

Very Respectfully,

Erik K. CopleyCommand Master ChiefUSS HARPERS FERRY (LSD-49)

"I would like to let you know that your Sailors’ are doing amazing things

while away.”

7Message from CMC |

UUSSSS

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“First in Freedom"

InformationShip’s Addresses:

USS Harpers Ferry (LSD-49)FPO-AP 96665-1737

CLB-13 Unit 16045FPO-AP 96427-6045

BLT 1/4 Det 1 Unit 16056FPO AP 96427-6056

PAO Email:PAO@lsd49.navy.mil

Independent Duty MC:mark.elrayes@lsd49.navy.mil

Facebook:www.facebook.com/USS.Harpers.Ferry

www.facebook.com/HarpersFerryOmbudsman

Command Ombudsman Email:Harpersferry.Ombudsman@gmail.com

8 | Information

USS Harpers Ferry LSD 49

volume: II | December 2013