Shrewsbury – Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jason K. Kim, a 2002 graduate of St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, and fellow Sailors and Marines aboard the amphibious transport dock USS New Orleans participated Black History Month with a celebration hosted by the ship's diversity committee. Kim joined the Navy in July 2006.
Today, more than 123, 000 active duty, reserve and civilian members of the Navy Total Force identify themselves as African American. In keeping with the nationwide theme of this year's observance, the focus of the celebration was “Black Women in American History and Culture.” During the ceremony, Sailors and Marines spoke about influential black women like Oprah Winfrey and Harriet Tubman.
New Orleans and embarked Marines assigned to the 11th Marine MEU are deployed as part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group, supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.
