ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 17, 1997 TAG: 9704180006
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: HAVE YOU HEARD?
Jeffrey Henley's first year in the Navy was pretty uneventful. Then in November, his ship - the USS Chancellorsville - was deployed for three months on a counternarcotics mission. During the deployment, the Chancellorsville's crew not only tracked and captured two drug smugglers, but also rescued a crew of fisherman who had been adrift for 10 days and repaired a school in South America.
Henley, a 1995 graduate of Salem High School, was also promoted, in March, from seaman apprentice to the rank of interior communications electrician. He helps maintain all the ship's communications and some navigation equipment while also serving as a fireman.
Henley left his home port of San Diego aboard the Ticonderoga class cruiser on Nov. 6 for the tour through the Southeastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea. The ship returned to port in February.
The Chancellorsville was responsible for confiscating $1.3 billion in uncut cocaine bound for the United States.
After the smugglers were detected on the ship's radar, a helicopter was sent out to survey the ship. The Chancellorsville then began pursuit.
"It's a long process to check the ship out. You have to rip it apart and then put it back together," Henley said. "We [the crew] all felt the mission was a success. We had a lot of excitement."
The Chancellorsville's radar also detected another ship 120 miles from the Colombian coast. The Ecuadorean fishing boat had been adrift for 10 days before the Chancellorsville's crew rescued the fishermen on board and turned them over to the Colombian Coast Guard, who towed the boat to shore.
"They were in some serious trouble. The engine was broken down. The boat was a wreck and looked like it was about to fall apart," Henley said.
"It made me feel good to know we helped them out: a total feeling of compassion."
Henley's goodwill easily carried over when the crew traveled to Salinas, Ecuador to perform some repairs on a school in an underdeveloped area. The crew painted walls, planted shrubs, made other needed repairs and "played with the kids a little bit," Henley said.
"They were normal kids and seemed to be happy," he said. "Our presence seemed to make a good impression. It made me feel better."
The tour wasn't all business. The ship also made port in Aruba and Acapulco, Mexico and Panama - where the crew was allowed to take liberty. Henley said he liked Aruba the best.
Henley said he liked Aruba the best despite the cost of staying there. He and friends stayed in a hotel and rented a car to see the island. "It's a very nice place. A little expensive but how many times do you get to go to Aruba?"
Henley's ship is currently going through an equipment upgrade overhaul. His next deployment will be in nine months.
2nd Lt. Dirk D. Ringgenberg, son of Dennis D. Ringgenberg of Roanoke, recently graduated from Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduation and serves as an infantry officer.
Staff Sgt. Elisabeth M. Dubarry, of Stewartsville, recently was promoted to her present rank in the 229th Chemical Company, Virginia Army National Guard, Roanoke, after completing Phase I of the basic noncommissioned officer development course at Eastover, S.C.
Airman Tammy Y. Johnson, daughter of Frank R. and Janie F. Johnson of Roanoke, recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She is a 1996 graduate of Lord Botetourt High School. |CAMPUS| Beth M. Culver, of Roanoke, recently was initiated into the Phi Eta Sigma national scholastic honorary society for freshmen at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Indiana University recently announced a list of students who completed degree requirements in December. David S. Wiley, director of the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, received a doctor of music degree. Sue Ellen Brown, of Vinton, was awarded a doctor of philosophy degree. |COMMUNITY| The Woman's and Junior Woman's Clubs of Vinton recently won awards at the Blue Ridge District Spring Meeting. The Woman's Club won second place in arts and crafts, special emphasis in education; second place in home life; first place in international affairs; first place in safety, special emphasis in fund raising; second place in membership, special emphasis in leadership, public affairs, and public relations; second place for newsletter layout for all clubs and first place for newsletter content for all clubs. The Junior Woman's Club won four first-place awards in: arts and crafts, health/mental health, public affairs and education.
Submit items to Jon Cawley in care of the Neighbors section by mail at P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010, by fax at 981-3346, or by e-mail at jonc@roanoke.com
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: 1. Jeffrey Henley\Salem High graduate. 2. (headshot)by CNBJohnson