12/29/2025
Fueling the Fight
STORY WRITTEN ONBOARD USS FRANK E. PETERSEN JR. (DDG 121)
By: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christian Kibler
PACIFIC OCEAN — Each day U.S. Navy Culinary Specialists on Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) work hard to ensure everyone onboard gets a hot, healthy and delicious meal.
U.S. Navy Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Chase Bowers was awarded Black Knight of the Month aboard USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) for the month of December 2025.
“When I was awarded Black Knight of the Month, it was hard to describe how I felt,” said Bowers. “I felt relieved and excited; I was happy to finally be recognized for all of my hard work.”
Before enlisting in the U.S. Navy, Bowers grew up in Halsey, Ore.
“I joined the Navy to do something new,” said Bowers. “I was a farmer for most of my life and I wanted to do something different.”
As a U.S. Navy culinary specialist on Petersen, Bowers primary responsibilities include cooking three meals a day for the crew, overseeing the duties of fellow junior culinary specialists and food service attendants (FSA), and completing maintenance every week.
“People got to eat,” said Bowers. “I cook three meals a day for the crew and if I’m on nights- midrats. I help fuel the fight.”
As a culinary specialist, Bowers works long hours to ensure that Sailors aboard Petersen are able to enjoy regular meals, as well as large scale morale exercises such as Petersen’s ice cream socials, steel beach picnics and holiday dinners.
“My favorite thing about my job is seeing the satisfaction of the crew,” said Bowers. “It makes me happy when I can see the crew happy because of the food I make.”
Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Frank E. Petersen Jr. (DDG 121) is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations, demonstrating the U.S. Navy’s long-term commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
