PORT HUENEME DIVISION, Calif. –
As veterans account for nearly half of the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD) workforce, what better way to honor Veterans Day than to share some of their stories and past experiences serving the nation?
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, over 32% of all federal employees are veterans.
NSWC PHD has a significantly greater percentage of veterans in its civilian workforce, accounting for about 1,400 of its nearly 2,800 federal employees.
Every November, Americans commemorate Veterans Day to thank those who have served, or continue to serve, the country.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country's service, and was originally called Armistice Day.
Armistice Day was celebrated Nov. 11, the anniversary of the signing of the armistice that ended World War I. However, in 1954, the holiday changed to Veterans Day to account for veterans of all wars.
Americans continue the tradition today by honoring the bravery and sacrifice of all U.S. veterans with parades and other events across the country.
This year, however, fewer parades and gatherings are likely because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the country will still continue to honor veterans in large and small ways, while veterans themselves are planning their own individual tributes.
Frank Sellin
NSWC PHD Procurement Coordinator and Logistics Management Specialist Frank Sellin said Veterans Day for him is a time to reflect on the experiences he’s had throughout his career.
Originally from Arlington Heights, Illinois, Sellin was a self-proclaimed military brat. His father, mother and stepmother all served in the U.S. Navy, while his stepfather was a U.S. Marine.
“What inspired me to join the military was seeing my parents serve our country and the pride that went along with that,” Sellin said. “My step-dad served in the Vietnam War and worked as a combat engineer.”
While in the Navy, his biological father worked as a loadmaster and flew in support of a naval mission in Beirut, Lebanon. Sellin’s mother and stepmother worked in supply logistics in the Navy.
In 1991, and right out of high school at age 18, Sellin joined the U.S. Marine Corps.
“For me, joining the Marine Corps was my way of continuing my family’s tradition of serving and defending our country,” he said.
The armed forces opened many doors for Sellin to see the world.
During a six-month overseas deployment, Sellin was sent to Okinawa, Japan; Hong Kong, China, and other locations to train in desert operations.
But before his company could make it out to Perth, Australia, Sellin and his battalion were re-directed and deployed to the coast of Mogadishu, Somalia, to provide ground support to Americans and the United Nations forces.
During 1993, the war-torn country was being controlled by several warlords.
Sellin said he and his battalion participated in Operation Restore Hope and Operation Continue Hope, which included providing aid such as food and protection to the people of Somalia.
“Essentially, we were called to provide humanitarian assistance,” he said. “It felt good knowing the locals had food and water. They were going to get the nourishment they needed to take care of themselves and their families.”
Sellin said he will never forget that experience and what it felt like to help people.
He said Veterans Day is a reminder to him and the nation to take pride in being an American.
“Veterans Day is a time for people to pay respects to those who are currently serving, military men and women who have served and those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country,” Sellin said.
This year, he intends to honor Veterans Day and the Marine Corps’ birthday by visiting the 1st Marine Regiment Memorial at Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California, and taking photos.
“I plan to honor those Marines and Sailors who have served and paid the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country,” he said. “I plan on playing Taps on my trumpet.”
Sellin said he has taught his three daughters the importance of Veterans Day and the meaning of the holiday.
“I’ve been able to install the significance of Veterans Day in my daughters, so they understand what sacrifices people including myself have made to protect their freedoms,” he said.
And to this day, Sellin is still close to those he served in the military with.
“It’s very important to keep those relationships near because it’s your fellow veterans who understand better what you’ve gone through,” he said.
Katrina Helm
NSWC PHD’s Human Resources Employee Relations Specialist Katrina Helm said this time of year she likes to reflect on the lifelong friends and family she’s made while serving the country.
Helm grew up in the small town of Logansport, Indiana. Her father served in World War II and her oldest brother in the Vietnam War.
Out of the eight children in her family, six have been active duty and four have retired from the Navy. Helm enlisted when she was 18.
“I think there was an expectation for me to follow in my siblings’ footsteps,” she said. “There was something very prideful about serving our country.”
Helm served during peacetime for the majority of her career and was stationed in several different states rather than overseas.
She said she wasn’t exposed to much diversity growing up in a small town, but in the Navy, she served alongside people from all around the world, and it helped open her eyes to different cultures.
“I had the honor of serving alongside people from Greece, Australia, the Philippines and Holland,” Helm said.
As Helm reflects on her experience in the military, she’s reminded firsthand of the sacrifices servicemen and women have made.
“When military men and women deploy overseas, they experience family separation, along with new orders and a new location,” Helm said. “Other sacrifices include family strain and financial impacts.”
During the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Helm was stationed in New Orleans, Louisiana.
That tragedy reminded her of the strength our nation had, she said.
“For a moment, everybody felt defeated, but we quickly rebounded as a nation,” Helm said. “The results after 9/11 were inspiring because as a nation we were unified, and it strengthened our patriotism and brought people closer together.”
After 9/11, Helm said the U.S. military instituted Operation Iraqi Freedom, and support poured out from individuals willing to volunteer for service.
“In their willingness to volunteer, several people paid the ultimate sacrifice,” she said.
For Helm, Veterans Day is an opportunity to honor and show gratitude for veterans, retirees and reservists, and active duty men and women.
On Veterans Day, she makes it a point to call her family members to thank them for their service, while also showing appreciation for other service members she comes across.
“I love taking the opportunity to thank somebody for their service,” Helm said. “It feels good to acknowledge somebody, especially when you thank a senior veteran. You get to see a twinkle in their eye and put a smile on their face.”
Basilio “Del” Bena
NSWC PHD Supervising Engineer Branch Manager Basilio “Del” Bena said Veterans Day is a time for him to reflect on the accomplishments he’s made throughout his military career.
Bena grew up in Kelso, Washington. Following in his father’s footsteps, he enlisted in the Navy.
“I knew the military would offer educational opportunities and open doors to life experiences for me,” he said.
He served as a surface warfare officer for 26 years and as a civilian for nine years.
Throughout his career, Bena has made it his mission to prepare ships and Sailors for combat.
“If you didn’t pay me, I would still be doing the job, and be just as happy with or without pay,” he said.
Bena’s military career has led him around the world including deployments in Yokosuka, Japan; Naples, Italy; Rota, Spain and Subic Bay in the Philippines.
“I’ve experienced more cultures in my career than most people get to experience in their entire lives,” he said.
Starting his career as an electronics technician, Bena worked his way up to a surface warfare officer and eventually joined the force protection field.
Bena said a significant event that stands out to him this time of year was the USS Cole (DDG 67) bombing.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the bombing is considered a suicide attack by the terrorist group al Qaeda.
The attack targeted a U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer being refueled in Yemen’s Aden harbor. After the bombing, Navy investigations led to assessments about port vulnerability.
As a leader of the port security assessment team for the East Coast, Bena was tasked with assessing 80 port civilian facilities throughout the U.S., along with foreign countries.
Bena assessed the vulnerability of all civilian ports from Corpus Christi, Texas to Eastport, Maine, and completed the only port vulnerability assessment for New York City before the 9/11 attacks.
This assessment enabled the U.S. Coast Guard to establish the Manhattan Piers in the vicinity of Intrepid Sea, Air, & Space Museum Pier, a command post for all inter-agencies to form combat strategy for national emergencies.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Bena said the Navy began performing port security for key U.S. harbors including the one in New York City, New York. This was known as Operation Noble Eagle.
“It was rewarding to defend the U.S. in a time of conflict,” Bena said. “Veterans Day is important and should always be remembered. You should always want to thank a service member for their commitment no matter how large or small the contribution is.”
Dana Sortino
NSWC PHD Modernization and Installation West Coast Team Lead Dana Sortino said Veterans Day reminds her of the challenges she faced and the opportunities she had to conquer them.
Sortino grew up in Downey, California. At 21, she enlisted in the Marine Corps while attending California State University Fullerton.
“I figured out that college was not the right path for me,” Sortino said.
In 2007, she deployed to Iraq for eight months, and during that time, she learned the meaning of hard work.
“The experience taught me to have a strong work ethic,” Sortino said. “I learned to get the job done no matter what.”
While in the Marine Corps, she worked for eight years as an electronic technician. After four years of serving in North Carolina, she took a position as an information technology (IT) specialist in Parris Island, South Carolina.
“I supported the IT Help Desk by assisting those with technical difficulties, including creating accounts for military personal and fixing computer-related issues,” Sortino said.
Faced with a challenge that Sortino said was destined to fail, she jumped into action by assisting her teammates with computer and system logistics planning.
This was important, she said, because without updating the systems, old computers essential to their operations would have failed, she said.
Without the help and support from her Marines, Sortino said the project would have failed.
“The experience brought us together and helped our team build a strong connection,” Sortino said. “I never would have thought a negative situation would lead to a positive experience.”
Every Veterans Day, Sortino reflects on her time in the military and the lifelong relationships she’s made over the years.
“It’s important to acknowledge and remember those who have served our country and fought for our freedoms,” she said.