No Higher Honor (15 page)

Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Electrical) 3rd Class David J. Burbine receives fresh dressings en route to Germany aboard a U.S. Air Force C-141B Starlifter.
Sgt. Douglas K. Lingefelt, U.S. Air Force

Cracked in three places, the aluminum superstructure was braced with 3/4-inch phosphor-bronze cables on 15 April 1988. Here, Signalman 1st Class (SW) Serge E. Kingery stands roving security patrol atop the port gas turbine access plate as the
Roberts
sits at Dubai Drydocks in late April 1988. One of the cracks is visible to either side of the plate.
Courtesy Eric Sorensen

Roberts
in dry dock in Dubai, ca. May 1988.
Photographer's Mate 1st Class Chuck Mussi, U.S. Navy

View of the
Roberts
's hull breach from dry dock floor, 3 May 1988.
Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Rudy D. Pahoyo, U.S. Navy

A look into the
Roberts
's mangled main engine room from dry dock floor, 3 May 1988.
Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Rudy D. Pahoyo, U.S. Navy

The damaged interior of Auxiliary Machine Room 3, 3 May 1988.
Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Rudy D. Pahoyo, U.S. Navy

Cdr. Paul X. Rinn, captain of the
Roberts
, receives the Legion of Merit from Adm. William J. Crowe, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at a pierside ceremony in Dubai on 3 May 1988.
Courtesy Paul Rinn

(Left to right) Chief Engineman (SW) George A. Cowan, Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Edwin B. Copeland, and Chief Electrician's Mate (SW) Robert C. Bent received the Bronze Star with Combat V for pulling Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) Alex Perez from the ship's burning main engine room. Pierside in Dubai on 3 May 1988.
Courtesy Paul Rinn

The decorated officers of the
Roberts
(listed alphabetically) included: Lt. Cdr. John R. Eckelberry, Bronze Star with Combat V; Lt. Robert L. Firehammer Jr., Navy Commendation Medal with Combat Device (NCM/CD); Lt. Bradley G. Gutcher, NCM/CD; Lt. David Llewellyn, NCM/CD; Ens. Kenneth J. Rassler, Bronze Star with Combat V; Crd. Paul Rinn; Lt. (jg) John Sims, Bronze Star with Combat V; Ens. Robert B. Sobnosky, NCM/CD; Lt. (jg) Michael L. Valliere, Bronze Star with Combat V; and Lt. Gordan E. Van Hook, Bronze Star with Combat V. Pierside in Dubai on 3 May 1988.
Courtesy Paul Rinn

The decorated chiefs included (left to right): Chief Mess Management Specialist (SW) Kevin J. Ford, NCM/CD; Chief Engineman (SW) George A. Cowan; Chief Electrician's Mate (SW) Robert C. Bent; Senior Chief Boatswain's Mate (SW) George E. Frost, Bronze Star with Combat V; Chief Gas Turbine Systems Technician (Mechanical) (SW) David J. Walker, NCM/CD; Cdr. Paul Rinn. Pierside in Dubai on 3 May 1988.
Courtesy Paul Rinn

The decorated sailors of
Roberts'
crew (listed alphabetically) included: Electrician's Mate 2nd Class Edwin B. Copeland; Engineman 1st Class (SW) Mark T. Dejno, Purple Heart; Signalman 1st Class (SW) Charles R. Dumas, NCM/CD; Mess Management Specialist 2nd Class Scott W. Frank, NCM/CD; Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Richard L. Fridley, NCM/CD; Hull Maintenance Technician 1st Class Gary W. Gawor, NCM/CD; Boatswain's Mate Seaman Bobby Gibson, Purple Heart; Signalman 1st Class (SW) Serge E. Kingery, NCM/CD; Hospital Corps-man 1st Class James E. Lambert, NCM/CD; Quartermaster 2nd Class (SW) Daniel J. Nicholson, NCM/CD; Hull Maintenance Technician 2nd Class (SW) Timothy Regan, NCM/CD; Rinn; Electrician's Mate 1st Class (SW) James E. Whitley, NCM/CD. Pierside in Dubai on 3 May 1988. Several more commanders subsequently received awards as well.
Courtesy Paul Rinn