RIP
PO2 Mark A Mayo, USN
Posted on 03/26/2014 5:43:12 PM PDT by Timber Rattler
The sailor who was slain during a shootout aboard a guided-missile destroyer at a Virginia base saved another sailor's life by jumping between her and a civilian gunman who was trying to board the ship, Navy officials said Wednesday.
(snip)
He parked his tractor-trailer cab near Pier 1, was able to walk onto the pier and began heading up a ramp toward the USS Mahan when he was confronted by Navy security, said Mario Palomino, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service special agent in charge of the Norfolk field office.
The man then got into an altercation with a female petty officer and disarmed her, Navy officials said. Palomino said Mayo stepped over the disarmed officer and fired his weapon at the assailant. He was serving on watch for the installation that night and came to help once he saw the civilian board the ship.
(Excerpt) Read more at stripes.com ...
My mistake, I meant the surviving female PO.
Indeed. Hero bump!
I hope his family finds comfort that he did his duty and much more...That others may live.
Ship security wise? Not so many years ago the only ships at NOB that had armed guard at the Quarterdeck was the subs in the Pier 1 area. The carriers and LPH had MARDET or Marine Detachment full time onboard to respond to security issues. Yes they were armed. I'm talking about what was Cold War posture. The main gate was manned by USMC and their was a pier watch. During the Iranian Hostage Crisis the ships began posting pier guards.
As for weapons training? generally the Navy doesn't have this in basic training. You might have a couple hours with a .22 and that's it. The Navy does have ratings which are trained in security and firearms. This includes Master At Arms made a rate back about 1980 and Gunner Mates. Also some specific officers or enlisted handling having duty involving handling money or sensitive material may be firearm qualified. The Navy did not discourage firearm qualification it's just that in most ratings it wasn't needed. Submarine duty is another exception where you'll see firearm training.
As budget cuts came about and the nuclear arms treaties were put in place some of the security was lessened even to at pre-9/11 where people were basically walking on bases with no ID. In The Cold War you had to have ID or you waited at the gate until someone from your ship showed up to vouch for you and sign you in or if it was a non service visitor such as family with ID or prior clearance they had to be escorted on base by relative in dress uniform of the day. No one non Navy got onboard without a uniformed escort the exception being civilian Tech Reps who had proper DOD ID.
This sounds like the perp was looking for the first opportunity to do some carnage. The classic 15 minutes of fame even though the person would not live to see it. The piers and base does need to be secure. Used to it was Marines working the gates and civilian police force aka base security in vehicle patrols. Security needs to be turned over to in house. It's a Navy Base and USMC are the ones most capable and qualified in securing it if allowed the authority and leeway needed to do so.
Any unauthorized boarding attempt after the shout of Halt should be met with use of deadly force. Some may say it's too extreme. Well this old boy has had many a M-16 pointed at me by MARDET usually at lunch or supper time which was the MARDTS's CO's favorite time to hold a drill. Anyone including sailors who attempted unauthorized entry into security areas without permission and proper authorization would have been made a pin cushion. Thus no one tested them just to see.
Thanks Timber Rattler.
It’s just his head and his neck.
Thanks Timber Rattler for this update.
This naval Captain (Same as Bird Colonel in the other branches) sure does not have many service ribbons to show for his effort! Must be a desk job swabbie!
Active Duty ping.
There is nothing so sacred as to lay down your life for another!
Are they still using the Beretta model 92 for their side arms?
He's in Officers Working Uniform of the Day not Dress Uniform. Typically most Ribbons are not worn on work uniform.
You are right about the ribbons, should have thought of that myself!
Do you know if the larger ships still have Marine Detachments assigned?
I think the carriers used to have around 70 leatherheads.
BTW, when little ol’ peon me got guard duty or Duty NCO in “the field” back then we had 5 rounds of rifle ammo or five rounds of 45 for the pistol. And we were sure were not allowed to chamber—— ahem. Or do it and make damn sure you don’t have an AD.
I do know somebody who had a 22 revolver hidden under his field jacket when pulling guard duty in the middle of the night in wintertime-——but I can’t mention that guy’s name ;)
He’s also a Pilot if I’m seeing wings on his shirt. To be C.O. of that base it’s likely a requirement due to extensive air ops there much like a carrier Captain and XO must be a pilot.
If he is going to do any flying now, it will have to be a good sized cockpit!
RIP
PO2 Mark A Mayo, USN
I really don't know. I got out in late 1980 and the Navy was in the process then of assuming some security such as taking over the brig and making Master At Arms an actual rating for E-5 and above I think. Up till then it was T.A.D. pooled among the divisions. The main reason carriers had MARDET was for the nukes. But conventional are still a significant security risk. I know there are Marine Squadrons.
BTW, when little ol’ peon me got guard duty or Duty NCO in “the field” back then we had 5 rounds of rifle ammo or five rounds of 45 for the pistol. And we were sure were not allowed to chamber—— ahem. Or do it and make damn sure you don’t have an AD.
I do know somebody who had a 22 revolver hidden under his field jacket when pulling guard duty in the middle of the night in wintertime-——but I can’t mention that guy’s name ;)
We couldn't have a firearm on the ship but we had our own defenses LOL. I had a 12" Crescent Hammer in my rack. All Engineering Machinery spaces required a Vital Area Badge for entry. We seldom wore them ourselves but we challenged with Chief Engineer's blessings anyone entering our spaces we knew didn't belong there. Then there was this rumor back in the day of Snipes being armed with rope and cans of graphite grease and hazing aka welcome to the shop LOL. Today such acts is a Court Martial offense. :>{ WIMPS
In Okinawa I had a hefty three foot wooden club between my mattress and springs in the barn.
One of the deck apes we were friendly with on the Duluth related a story about one night in Subic Bay. Four black marines came in liquored up at curfew time and started giving the ship’s watch officer a ration of shit in the mess. They were threatening to beat up him and a couple of other swabbies. Anyway, another sailor saw this, went to berthing and quickly something like forty guys came swarming up with hammers, crowbars, pipes, pipe wrenches, chains, mop handles, you name it.
Meanwhile, one of the marines had gone for more of them-— they were portside under the helicopter deck-—and brought back four more assistants.
In ended up being about forty or fifty to eight. The drunks sobered up and didn’t want to fight anymore.
Not sure if you have ever stepped foot on a Naval vessel in port. Quarterdeck watches in port are usually 3 people.
The quarterdeck OOD, the petty officer of the watch and the messenger of the watch. None of these people receive extensive or intensive training in security procedures or weapons usage. The inport OOD can be just about any junior officer or chief such as an ENS. supply officer, JG CIC officer, chief radiomen, chief Ships Serviceman (skivvy scrubber). The petty officer of the watch is rated, can fog a mirror, and is taught enough about fire arms to know which end you are suppose to point at the target. They are not security specialists and do they receive extensive training in weapons handling, or hand to hand combat. They are assigned the duty from any of the 20 or 30 sailors in that particular duty section. Over the years I have seen many men assigned to that watch that could have had their weapon taken away from under similar circumstances. To claim that this incident was the solely result of the watch being a women shows a considerable lack of understanding of how the system functions. JMO.
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