Sangerville native reenlists in the U.S. Navy

SANGERVILLE — After 17 years of service in the U.S. Navy, Chief Petty Officer and Sangerville native Joshua Haskell has reenlisted. Haskell was able to have a reenlistment ceremony back in his hometown before family and friends on the afternoon of July 8 at the fire station.

Haskell, who is a 2000 graduate of Piscataquis Community High School, was joined at the ceremony by U.S. Navy Lt. Tim Shea of Abbot who is a 1999 PCHS graduate and an 18-year member of the U.S. Navy, and Haskell’s cousin U.S. Navy STG2 Elaine Riitano, a 2014 PCHS grad who will reach three years of service next month.

“Every so many years you have a reenlistment,” Haskell said. “Today I will be reenlisting for four more years.” He later explained he is continuing with his Naval career to reach a goal of 20 years, and upon reaching two decades he will have the ability to retire from the U.S. Navy.

Haskell said his next assignment will be in Newport, R.I., which he said will be the closest of his career to home. Haskell and his wife Julie are the parents of two children, 6-year-old Blake and 4-year-old Chloe.

The chief petty officer said he began working in the nuclear field and later became a chief machinery repairman. “So basically I fix things that other people break,” Haskell said.

He said he served aboard the USS Ronald Reagan and the USS George Washington, and has been stationed in Italy, Japan and Annapolis, Md. More recently Haskell served on the USS Donald Cook and worked on a base in Rota, Spain.

He said the USS Donald Cook “is a very small destroyer with around 300 people, so it’s not like an aircraft carrier where you are meeting someone every day.”

“We don’t usually get to do this in front of family and friends,” Shea — who conducted the proceedings — said, as reenlistment ceremonies are most often held at sea or on base. “I’m thankful for what Josh is going to do today,” he said, saying that Haskell is again writing a blank check for freedom and to the country with a value of up to and including his life.

Shea said Haskell would be briefly discharged from the U.S. Navy before taking the oath to reenlist. A father of four himself, Shea said the entire family is reenlisting with Haskell and certificates were given to Julie, Blake and Chloe Haskell in recognition of their contributions.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
NAVAL REENLISTMENT — U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer and Sangerville native Joshua Haskell, left, takes the oath to reenlist after 17 years service in the U.S. Navy during a July 8 ceremony at the Sangerville Fire Station. Administering the oath is Lt. Tim Shea, of Abbot who joined the U.S. Navy a year before Haskell, and looking on is Haskell’s cousin U.S. Navy STG2 Elaine Riitano, who will mark three years of service next month.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
NAVY FAMILY — In recognition of their husband and father Joshua Haskell’s reenlistment in the U.S. Navy, Julie, 6-year-old Blake and 4-year-old Chloe were each recognized during a reenlistment ceremony on July 8 at the Sangerville Fire Station. The family will be stationed in Newport, R.I.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
PROUD GRANDMOTHER — Natalie Haskell of Sangerville poses with two of her grandchildren who both are serving in the U.S. Navy, Chief Petty Officer Joshua Haskell and STG2 Elaine Riitano.

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
THIRTY FIVE COMBINED YEARS OF SERVICE FOR A PAIR OF PCHS GRADUATES — The reenlistment ceremony for U.S. Navy Chief Petty Officer Joshua Haskell, left, was conducted by his fellow Piscataquis Community High School graduate U.S. Navy Lt. Tim Shea at the fire station in Sangerville on Saturday. The respective 2000 and 1999 grads have served in the U.S. Navy for 17 and 18 years.