Toledo Sailor Honored as Service Person of the Month

By MC1(SW/AW) Bill Larned

(June 24, 2014) — A sailor from the Los Angeles class attack submarine USS Toledo at Naval Submarine Base New London was recognized as June’s Service Person of the Month by the Waterford Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut on June 16.

Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Juan Camachocalderon received the award during a Rotary Club luncheon at Filomena's restaurant in Waterford.  The monthly award is sponsored by the Chamber and local service organizations, such as the Rotary Club, and recognizes service members in the southeastern Connecticut community for their work and dedication.

Camachocalderon, a native of Los Angeles, Calif., has served in the Navy since 2003 and has been Toledo’s Independent Duty Corpsman for more than two years.  Submarine Force Independent Duty Corpsmen are the sole medical professionals permanently assigned to submarine crews, managing the medical care and needs of some 150 personnel.

Camachocalderon is also the leader of Toledo’s first class petty officer association, as well as a “coach” both on the submarine and in the community.  As Toledo’s Qualifications Petty Officer, he coaches and guides all new crew members as they pursue watch standing and professional qualifications.   In the community, Camachocalderon coaches and mentors 12 eight-year-old youth in the fundamentals of baseball as he serves as a role model in the Norwich Little League. 

Master Chief Electronics Technician Joseph Wilt, chief of the boat for Toledo, praised Camachocalderon’s dedication. 

“Petty officer Camachocalderon is who we count on when we’re out in the middle of nowhere and someone gets sick,” said Wilt. “He’s involved in every single program aboard our boat supporting junior Sailors. His medical duties, while a big responsibility, are only a fraction of what he does on a daily basis… He’s seen as a leader and someone people can trust and go to for advice.  He does a phenomenal job.”

Camachocalderon thanked the service club and acknowledged the benefits of leading and mentoring.

“I didn’t realize until I came to the submarine community what it means to be a submariner and a Sailor, and the brotherhood that really exists in the Navy,” Camachocalderon said. “I try my best to help every junior Sailor that I can; someone did it for me when I was in their shoes. I love the submarine community and the sense of family here in eastern Connecticut, and I’m humbled by this recognition.”