Peoria native pilots a helicopter in south China Sea for U.S. Navy

U.S. Navy sailors serve and protect from around the globe, and every sailor got their start somewhere.

A naval aircrewman from Peoria has been assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 49, March 5.

2nd Class Gavin Sorensen rides a MH-60R Seahawk in the South China Sea, while serving aboard the Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Mobile.

Mobile, part of Destroyer Squadron 7, is on a rotational deployment operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations to enhance interoperability with allies and partners and serve as a ready-response force in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.