Petty Officer 2nd Class Jearel Black, a native of Safford, Alabama, received an award while serving aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima on April 6.
USS Iwo Jima’s leadership recognizes Sailors monthly for demonstrating superior dedication to the ship’s core values of learning, improvement, wellness, ownership, and safety.
Black was recognized for exemplifying the core value of wellness.
“It really means a lot, coming from a small town in Alabama,” said Black “Peace, love, and prosperity is the motive and that is the message I would like to send back home.”
Black is a 2013 graduate of Keith High School.
Black joined the Navy for seven years and is currently surving as a yeomen.
Amphibious assault ships, such as USS Iwo Jima, project power and maintain presence by serving as the cornerstone of the Amphibious Readiness Group / Expeditionary Strike Group.
The Amphibious Readiness Groups provide the Marine Corps with a means of ship-to-shore movement by helicopter in addition to movement by landing craft.
USS Iwo Jima has supported major humanitarian-assistance and combat operations in which the United States has been involved.
USS Iwo Jima is named for the battle of Iwo Jima fought in 1945, in which three divisions of U.S. Marines took control of a tiny island from more than 20,000 enemy defenders.
The ship’s motto is a quote from Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz: “Among the Americans who served on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
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