Petty Officer 2nd Class Eddie Meadows

Covington Native Serves Aboard Navy Warship in Mayport   MAYPORT, Fla. - Petty Officer 2nd Class Eddie Meadows, a native of Covington, Virginia, serves aboard USS Ramage, a U.S. Navy warship operating out of Mayport, Florida. Meadows graduated from Alleghany High School in 2019. The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Covington. β€œI learned from my grandparents to always strive to do my best,” said Meadows. β€œThat lesson is important because I am going to do my best to succeed.” Meadows joined the Navy four years ago. Today, Meadows serves as a fire controlman. β€œI joined the Navy to see the world and to support my family,” said Meadows. A Navy destroyer is a multi-mission ship that can operate independently or as part of a larger group of ships at sea. The ship is equipped with tomahawk missiles, torpedoes, guns and a phalanx of close-in weapons system. More than 300 sailors serve aboard Ramage. Their jobs are highly specialized, requiring both dedication and skill. The jobs range from maintaining engines to handling weaponry along with a multitude of other assignments that keep the ship mission-ready at all times, according to Navy officials. With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America. "We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day," said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations. "Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”

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