Posted on 09/01/2015 6:27:51 PM PDT by nickcarraway
A motorcyclist killed in an early morning crash in National City Monday has been identified as Master Chief Kyle Sutton from the USS Makin Island.
The crash happened Monday at 6:17 a.m. on the southbound Interstate 5 near 8th Street. Sutton was driving a Harley Davidson motorcycle in the slow lane that morning and was trying to avoid hitting a bus, California Highway Patrol officials said.
In the process of avoiding a crash, his motorcycle slid beneath the trailer of the semi-truck in the next lane. Sutton was pronounced dead.
“Our prayers go out to the family of Kyle Sutton. The obvious shock, tears and outpouring of assistance by the San Diego waterfront and across the globe is testament to the character and broad influence of Master Chief Sutton. He touched many lives and his selection as Master Chief and Command Master Chief proves his salt and proven leadership. Sailors wanted to work under his charge! He was tough, fair and courageously honest—the hallmark of the Chief Petty Officer. We will miss him greatly,” said USS Makin Island Commanding Officer, Capt. Jon P. Rodgers, in a statement.
Rodgers shared a letter remembering his shipmate and friend on Facebook:
Sharing a letter from the Commanding Officer, Capt. Jon P. Rodgers: Farewell Boats! These meager words cannot describe the anguish and pure gut punch news of your sudden passing this morning. Your next reveille will be on the foc’sle of heaven. God must have needed the best to guide his ship as you guided so many here on earth. More than a simile my friend, you were simply the best as evident from the tear-filled eyes and shock of your loss I witnessed in the souls of the crew today. We are all torn by the fact that you will never accept a friend request or return an email or phone call again. Your voice will never be heard on the 1MC or your leadership and wit echoing in the Boatswains locker or Chief’s mess. You have led your last morning quarters and blown your last Boatswains pipe. I grieve knowing the mind numbing task of removing your name from every email and message distro list and packing your locker. Those, like me that know we are too late to express our thanks and our genuine appreciation of calling you shipmate. We only hope you are looking down with some sense of latent gratitude and solace knowing that we miss you terribly! You are simply irreplaceable and missed already. Equally tragic are the images of your family that must learn of your sudden passing from those who are charged with that impossible task. We will reach out and express the sincerity of how much you touched our ship, your shipmates, and an unknowing Navy. A crew who so long to reach out belatedly and express the genuine gratitude and heartfelt condolences of serving with such a salty Sailor, Husband, Son and Father. You leave behind a legacy of pride, professionalism and down-home honor. You lived the core values and spoke courageously. Your candor saved lives and served as a bedrock of earned trust--that salty frankness so critical to the Captain. I’ll cherish the day we promoted you to the coveted title of Master Chief; and the sea stories we drowned on deployment liberty port calls. Memories we will toast again one day! Farewell my friend. When you observe taps tonight, know we are all looking up to you! Captain
Ping
Active Duty ping.
Fair winds and following seas Master Chief.
Sad, RIP sailor. Sympathies to family, friends and shipmates.
Nice tribute from his Captain...
R.I.P., Boats.
RIP.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.