Memorial Day Special: A Conversation with Navy Ensign

Dayton grad and Navy Ensign Mauricio Blondet's ship the USS New York has been . He spoke with Patch via email shortly before his ship docked. In honor of Memorial Day, we present our conversation with Blondet below. 

Could you tell me a little bit about yourself, like your reasons for
joining the Navy and what you do in the service?

 I enlisted in the Navy in 1999. My main reason was to earn money for college. I was accepted into a commissioning program called Seaman to Admiral 21 in which the Navy selects enlisted sailors to go to college for 3 years and then they earn a commission as officers in the Navy. I was accepted into that program in 2006. That goal (to get the Navy to pay for college) was finally achieved in May of 2009. I have been onboard USS NEW YORK for almost two years.

Did growing up in Springfield have any influence on your service?

Yes, my family moved from Newark to Springfield in 1997. Living in Springfield instilled in me a great respect for the military. My father is a regular on Mountain Ave. during the Memorial Day Parade, witnessing this event shows the respect and admiration that the town of Springfield
has for all military members, those who have served on those currently
on active duty.

Part of the ship you serve on is made of steel from the World Trade Center. What was it like for the crew when it was announced that Osama Bin Laden was dead?

USS NEW YORK honors those who lost their lives in the tragic events of 9/11. Hosting the family members, friends, and co-workers of those heroes that lost their lives is an emotional experience. Everyone has a unique story that they want to share with members of the crew and we are all very happy to listen. I cannot speak for the crew, but I was happy to learn about the death of OBL because I thought that in some way those families felt a little better.

What are you looking forward to this fleet week?

I am going to see very little of my family in Springfield because the mission for this port  port visit is to showcase our ship to the general public in the tri-state area. Maybe I will get lucky and give a tour to someone from Springfield.