Asian Week, News Report, Posted: Oct 05, 2012

 Filipino American Lieutenant Frederick Atienza is one of six United States Navy Sailors currently being featured in the U.S. Navy campaign Honoring Navy Achievement, recognizing Navy personnel both past and present who have gone “Beyond the Call” of duty and service to have a positive impact in the communities where they serve.

 
Lieutenant Atienza is a 14-year naval officer and serves as the chief engineer on the USS THACH. He has served in the Persian Gulf and has been deployed onboard numerous ships around the world. Married with three children, Atienza has focused his energy and enthusiasm on volunteerism amidst deployment and surge operations around the world. He supports the Wounded Warrior’s Program in San Diego, and teaches self-defense and martial arts classes for women.

“We all in the end want to get the job done and make it happen and come home safe,” said Atienza. “And, in order to do that, you form friendships and bonds with the Sailor next to you and, by the end of a deployment, it’s not uncommon to hear a lot of us say, you know, ‘We’d do anything for that guy next to us’ because it’s true. You go through all these challenges together and you form these bonds.”

Commander Horacio Fernandez, Diversity Director at Navy Recruiting Command, states, “‘Beyond the Call’ is just one way the U.S. Navy honors Sailors of diverse backgrounds and experiences. These Sailors are examples of individuals who demonstrate their commitment beyond the call of duty to help make their communities a better place to live. These individuals are just the tip of the iceberg of those we wish to honor, and we ask our visitors to share their stories of their Navy achievers by uploading a story and photo on the Facebook page.”