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RMKS/1.  In the last two weeks, our entire Navy and Marine Corps family was 
struck by three tragic acts:  Little Creek, Virginia; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; 
and Pensacola, Florida.  These crimes targeted us all, and I know I speak for 
every Sailor, Marine, and Civilian in the Department when I say that our 
prayers are with the families of the fallen and with the wounded.  It is our 
solemn duty to find the causes of such tragic loss and ceaselessly work 
together to prevent them.  As we reflect on these tragedies, I ask that we 
focus on the following:
Grief.  We must understand, and stand in grief, alongside the families of 
those who lost their lives in these tragic incidents.  The families of Airman 
Mohammed Sameh Haitham, Airman Apprentice Cameron Scott Walters, Ensign 
Joshua Kaleb Watson, Master-at-Arms 3rd Class Oscar Jesus Temores, Mr. 
Vincent Kapoi, and Mr. Roldan Agustin are a part of OUR broad naval family.  
They are suffering from the loss of their loved ones.  We must pray for them 
and keep them in our thoughts.  For those who witnessed these events, and/or 
were injured, we must be committed to help them in their journeys back to 
normalcy.  It is all of our jobs to help them recover from their injuries, 
visible or not.
Heroism.  We must never forget the heroism of those who ran towards the 
danger in these incidents, exhibiting the finest warrior ethos and quick 
decision -making that doubtless saved many lives.  On Tuesday, I traveled to 
Naval Air Station Pensacola to meet with the patrol officers and Naval 
Security Force personnel, who were the first responders on the scene and 
confronted the shooter, along with heroic civilian officers from the Escambia 
County Sheriffs Office.  I learned about countless acts of heroism from the 
first responders, and many of the victims themselves which will come to light 
as the facts of these tragedies are revealed.  I assure you that we will all 
be proud of these heroes and what they did in moments of terror and extreme 
danger.
Resolve.  Even as we grieve together as a community, we must stand united in 
our resolve that these attacks will not deter us from fulfilling our sacred 
obligations to protect and defend our fellow citizens.  The facilities at 
Little Creek, Pearl Harbor, and Pensacola remain fully operational and 
mission -focused.  Around the world, our people still maintain the watch in 
protection of our nation, securing the sea lanes, and responding wherever 
there is need alongside our allies and partners.  From these incidents, we 
must take renewed purpose, learning where we can to ensure greater protection 
of our assets, information, infrastructure, and most importantly, our 
precious people.  It is my expectation that each of our facilities will 
review physical security and emergency response procedures to minimize the 
risk of a recurrence.  And it is my expectation that all of our people  
military, civilian, and contractor  be provided with the training, 
information, and motivation to maintain the vigilance we must all have to 
spot the warning signs that are often precursors to tragedies such as these.
The events at Pensacola, Pearl Harbor, and Little Creek were very different, 
but each represented an attack on our naval family and our ideals.  These 
incidents will not hold us back but will serve as a constant reminder of our 
common responsibilities to each other and the nation we so proudly serve.
I have never been more honored to serve at your side than I have over the 
past two weeks, as I witnessed how senseless tragedies have elevated within 
us the values that define our force and unite us all.

2.  Released by the Honorable Thomas B. Modly, Acting Secretary of the 
Navy.//

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