By Megan Lemly, Navy Office of Community Outreach

OKLAHOMA CITY – Every sailor’s story of naval service is unique. For Lt. Cmdr. Joseph Sullivan, this story began in Merchantville, New Jersey, where they learned skills and values that would be foundational to their success in the Navy.

“I learned in my hometown the strength of everyone working towards the same goal,” Sullivan said. “I went to a school where people from all sorts of backgrounds worked together to create an awesome environment. In the Navy, we all come from different backgrounds, but we are all moving to the same common goal. From admin to operations specialists, we all have our piece to play and are all pushing towards the same common goal.”

Sullivan graduated from St. Joseph’s Preparatory School in Philadelphia in 2002.

Honor & Remembrance

Otero-Barreto received multiple Silver Stars, took part in more than 200 missions during Vietnam War, and later served as an American Legion post service officer.

Army veteran Jorge Otero-Barreto – nicknamed the “Puerto Rican Rambo” — received multiple Silver Stars, volunteered for five tours in Vietnam, engaged in more than 200 combat and aerial missions, and was wounded five times. He died Oct. 14 at age 87.

Otero-Barreto was a platoon sergeant in the 82nd Airborne Division and the 101st Airborne, serving from 1959 to 1970. 

Later, he joined The American Legion and was post commander and service officer for many years at Vega Baja American Legion Post 14, about 30 miles west of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In 2016, American Legion Magazine ran this profile of Otero-Barreto. He will be remembered as many things to many people: honorable warrior, community leader, veterans advocate.

“I want to be remembered as a good father,” he said during the interview, bowing his head and pausing. “A good grandpa. A good father. A good husband. I want them to remember me.”  

By Rose L. Thayer/Stars and Stripes

Robert Stillman Garcia- laid to rest after being identified eight days after being killed while serving on the USS California.

Robert Stillman Garcia may have gone missing in action during the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, but his legacy of service held strong in his family during the eight decades it took for him to return home.

“I never thought this day would come,” said Navy Lt. Allison Ledesma, his great grand niece.

She knew Garcia primarily from the portrait of him that hung in her childhood living room alongside the telegram informing the family he was missing. Garcia was 23 and serving as storekeeper 3rd class on the USS California — his first duty assignment — when the Japanese attacked.

Military helicopters flying over Pennsauken and the greater Philadelphia area are part of large-scale, routine Department of Defense training exercises for upcoming events like the FIFA World Cup and the nation’s 250th birthday in 2026. These exercises, which involve troop and equipment movement, are not a response to any specific threat but are designed to ensure preparedness and coordinate with local first responders, according to sources like FOX 29 Philadelphia and 6abc Philadelphia.  

• Reason for the exercises: The drills are part of the Department of Defense’s routine training schedule and specifically focus on preparing the Philadelphia area for major events in 2026, including the FIFA World Cup. 
• Purpose: The exercises are for preparedness and involve coordination between Department of Defense personnel and local first responders to practice how to respond to emergency situations. 
• Not a specific event: The military has stated that the exercises are not in response to any specific event. 
• What residents may see: Residents may experience sights and sounds related to emergency response drills. 
• Timeline: These specific drills were scheduled to occur during the week of August 31 to September 6, 2025, but similar exercises may continue as part of ongoing training.