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We Salute Petty Officer 3rd Class David E. Bledsoe
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Posted by nwv_admin Wed Sep 29, 2004 08:49:00 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments Petty Officer 3rd Class David. E. Bledsoe, a graduate of Stockdale High School, went to sea Jan. 14, along with 900 sailors and 200 marines on the USS Boxer (LHD 4).

According to Bledsoe, going to the Gulf was the necessary thing to do.

"What I am doing for the Iraqi people makes the United States people appreciate the military more," said Bledsoe, a graduate of Stockdale High School.

Bledsoe is the 20-year-old son of Blake and Debbie Bledsoe of Bakersfield and the son-in-law of Harry and Sherrie Noroian, also of Bakersfield. He is married to their daughter, Samantha.

A mechanic, Bledsoe is responsible for the ship's propulsion and auxiliary equipment and the outside machinery on board the 840-foot long mulipurpose, amphibious assault ship.

"I stand watches for the boilers. If the fuel goes into the pumps without a fire already there, there could be an explosion," said Bledsoe.

Boxer's January 2004 deployment is one of the first examples of a surge deployment since the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Vern Clark, announced the new "Fleet Response Plan" in August 2003. The plan focuses on providing more flexible deployment for strike groups

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