Seaman Daniel Suarez, a native of Homestead currently is serving at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, home to the U.S. Pacific Fleet Headquarters.
According to Navy officials, the U.S. Pacific Fleet is the world’s largest fleet command, encompassing 100 million square miles, nearly half the Earth’s surface, from Antarctica to the Arctic Circle and from the West Coast of the United States into the Indian Ocean.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet consists of approximately 200 ships/submarines, nearly 1,100 aircraft, and more than 140,000 Sailors and civilians.
Pearl Harbor itself is home to more than 19,000 U.S. Navy Sailors, 11 surface ships, 19 nuclear-powered submarines and 19 aircraft units.
The 36 nations that comprise the Pacific region are home to more than 50 percent of the world’s population, many of the world’s largest and smallest economies, several of the world’s largest militaries, and many U.S. allies.
Accordingly, the Navy has plans, by 2020, to base is basing approximately 60 percent of its ships and aircraft in the region. Officials say the Navy also will provide its most advanced war-fighting platforms to the region, including missile defense-capable ships; submarines; reconnaissance aircraft; and its newest surface warfare ships, including all of the Navy’s new stealth destroyers.
Suarez attended the Armed Forces Classic held in Honolulu, Hawaii on Veterans Day. The event honored all veterans, with special commemorations for those who served during World War II. The U.S. was drawn into World War II following the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor 75 years ago.
