Chief Petty Officer Franklin Mateo, a native of Kissimmee, serving aboard USS Jason Dunham, completed a visit to Scio, New York, Jan. 16-19, to honor the legacy of Medal of Honor recipient Cpl. Jason Dunham, the ship’s namesake.
During the visit sailors participated in a series of community engagement and commemorative events honoring Dunham’s life, service and sacrifice, including lunch with Dunham’s family, visiting his high school, and engagements with local veterans groups and their families. The itinerary included a private memorial service at Dunham’s grave.
Mateo comes from what he calls a “very tight-knit family” and graduated from Poinciana High School in 2016.
“They instilled values that have kept me true to myself. I learned at a very young age the key is having a good work ethic and discipline, which has led to success in my naval career,” said Mateo, who joined the Navy nine years ago, became the first in his family to serve in the military, now serves as a master-at-arms.
“I enjoy being a master-atarms,” Mateo said. “It allows me to make a daily impact in sailors’ lives while upholding standards and enforcing policies.”
The USS Jason Dunham is a warship designed to support of national security and global maritime stability. Its maritime operations include air defense, surface warfare, strike warfare and anti-submarine warfare. According to the Navy, the ship recently completed a successful combat deployment in the Red Sea defending maritime shipping from enemy missiles and drones, and a deployment to the Caribbean in support of counter-narcotic operations.
“My proudest moment in the Navy is being selected to commission as a limited duty officer,” Mateo said. “Serving in the Navy means the world to me. It allows me to make an impact on a global level. The places I’ve seen, the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve encountered are truly something I treasure. I am humbled to serve my country.”
Submitted by the U.S. Navy Office of Community Outreach
