Warrior Sailor Awarded Mineman of the Year

by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kirsten King, Amphibious Force 7th Fleet Public Affairs

22 October 2020


SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- A Sailor assigned to USS Warrior (MCM 10) in Sasebo, Japan, was recently named the Association of Minemen's (AOM) 2018-2019 Mineman of the Year (Sea).

Mineman 1st Class Yves Dessources, operations leading petty officer for the combat information center on Warrior, received the award during the association's annual reunion, Oct. 9-12, in Jacksonville, Florida.

Dessources said he was not expecting to receive such recognition, but he was honored to have been selected.

"I was shocked at first," said Dessources. "My chain of command, for them to even submit me for this award, is a blessing. I'm very humbled. I always thank them every day because without them, I wouldn't be where I'm at."

Dessources said he tries to help his Sailors as much as his chain of command has helped him.

"I'm always encouraging everyone to go to school, do community service, just do anything that will help them and help them with their careers," Dessources said. "Anything that will help them progress inside and outside the Navy."

Dessources knows firsthand about taking advantage of education benefits through the Navy. He received his Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Excelsior College while serving.

Senior Chief Mineman Miguel Torres, operations leading chief petty officer on Warrior, said that he thinks the AOM picked the right Sailor to recognize.