Adventures At Sea Part 7

Adventures At Sea (Part 7)

December 3, 2013

Continued from November 25, 2013

It didn’t seem like I had been asleep any time when reveille came over the loud speakers at 0600.  It wasn’t a trumpet wakeup call; it was a man’s voice saying “Reveille, reveille, reveille.  Roll out of your racks and muster.”   He said this like three times in a row.  I vaguely recall hearing flight ops start about 5:00 a.m., but I went straight back to sleep.  How sad is that, or how good depending on how you look at it, that I can sleep through flight operations sleeping one level below the flight deck of an aircraft carrier?  My dismount from the top bunk was nowhere near as graceful as I’d climbed up there the night before.  I’m thankful that my roommate was already out of her bunk and out of the room when I literally tumbled out of mine.  Thankfully though, I didn’t hurt anything, in the room, or on me!  That was actually my only “accident” while on this trip!  Yes, to those who know me well, I was being very careful!  I got ready quickly and got my things together.   We were told all we had to do was to pack our bags and leave them in the room and guest services would take care of them for us (they did – we didn’t have to carry a single bag, on or off the ship!).   Out in the hallway in DV Row there were many pictures hanging between the rooms of President Bush at different points of his service to the United States.  In fact, in places throughout the ship there were numerous pictures of the President and the entire family.  

At 6:45 sharp, our escort arrived to lead us to breakfast.  We were able to eat breakfast in the Officer’s Mess.  I had scrambled eggs, biscuit and gravy, a waffle, and bacon.  It was all delicious!  Oh, and a large cup of coffee to shake the cobwebs off left over from sleep.  We had a chance to really talk to our escorts while we ate.  The gentleman was part of the media department and the young lady was the Division Officer (DIVO) of supply.  They were superb hosts and individuals!  When we left the Mess, we went to Starbucks – yes – they have a Starbucks on board.  They have all the drinks but minus the pastries.  

After the coffee fix, we went to the ship’s store where we could buy shirts or souvenir mugs.  It was like being in your average convenient store.   Then we went to talk with the Food Services Officer.   He is responsible for feeding all persons on the ship at least three times daily.  They serve 18,000 meals daily in all of the different messes.  The messes are open from 5-7:30 a.m. for breakfast, 10:30-1:30 for lunch, 3:30-7:30 for supper, and 10-1 a.m. for those working later shifts.  There is very little down time for the kitchens.  In one of the kitchens that we got to tour, there were these huge pots that could hold 500 servings of something like green beans or macaroni and cheese.  He took us through to the bakery where they were making cake and rolls.  The dough mixer they were using made dough for 500 rolls at a time.  They had some Cowboy Cookies there for us too.  We left the bakery and went to one of the storage rooms for all the canned foods and wow – it was like going into a Sam’s Club.  I even found cans of the “Creamed Sliced Beef” a.k.a. SOS when we were down there.  It was absolutely unbelievable to me that they fixed so many meals a day and that things were so well organized.  They know where everything is and exactly how much it’s going to take to fix the next meal.  AMAZING!   The FSO also told us that they get shipments when they are underway from supply ships that run alongside of them.   They use cables to slide pallets of supplies from the supply ship into the carrier and then they move things to the storage rooms.  

                                        (Barbara Bush's Cowboy Cookies)

                                                (SOS)

We left the Kitchen and storage areas and went next to the forecastle (pronounced folksull).  This is what I refer to as the Anchor room.  Its where the anchors and chains run out of the ship when they need to be lowered.  The links are absolutely mammoth!  One link weighs more than 400 pounds and the chain pretty much runs all the way down to the bottom deck of the ship.   The part of the chain that is visible while we are in there is black.  Black is the colored links that hook to the anchor itself.  The links change color as they go up.  If I remember correctly, the links run in 90 foot sections and each section is a different color.  I think it went black, white, yellow, and finally red that indicates the end of the chain.  Considering what all this room held, it was very, very clean.  It looked like you could eat off of the floor.

Next on the to-do list was to meet with the Maintenance Officer (MO).  He let us talk to several of his Division officers about the different jobs that they do.  We toured areas in the hangar bay where they did routine maintenance on the tractors and sweepers that they use on the flight deck.  They took us through one of the electronics repair shops where they could repair certain electronics for the aircraft.  They also took us through the workshop where they can repair the jet engines and test them there on board.  I learned that many of the mechanics get their ASE certifications while they are in the Navy, which will help them later on in civilian life.  I told them about the students at the Career and Tech Center where I teach that also get some ASE certifications before they graduate high school.  

                                        (View from inside the hangar bay)

We went to lunch next.  We went back to the Officer’s Mess again.  The MO and our escorts ate with us along with several other ship and airwing personnel that we were privileged to talk to.  I was and I remain so impressed by these young folks.  We had another good meal!  I had salad, baked potato, and baked salmon.  All delicious!!  I didn’t pig out this time around.  I was afraid with the upcoming launch off the carrier that I might accidentally launch my lunch, so I kept it light.  By this time it is around noon or just after on Friday.  I cannot believe where 24 hours have gone!  I have seen so much and learned so much it’s a total sensory overload but still absolutely incredible!

Check back next week for the conclusion to this adventure.

Adventures at Sea Part 6

Adventures At Sea (Part 6)

November 25, 2013

Continued from November 19, 2013

When we left the Chapel, we were led back up a whole bunch of stairs.  At least eight flights of them.  We were taken to the Flag Bridge where we would watch night flight ops with the Admiral in his Bridge area.  This is where he controls the whole strike group – from the planes to the supporting ships.  He had a platter full Cowboy Cookies (Barbara Bush’s personal recipe we were told – and they were WONDERFUL!) waiting for us and water, tea, or coffee.  When we got up there the sun was just setting really good over the horizon and it was a beautiful sunset.  There were a couple of planes to come in at this time.  The Admiral explained that landings in the “pink” (the color of the dusk sky) were still considered a night landing.  He said the “pinks” were his favorites. 

 

The night flight ops were just starting to get underway.  They were getting the pilots in their planes and getting the planes lined up for launch.  It was amazing to see the deck at night.  The lights of the planes and the colored light wands of certain crew on the deck were the only sources of illumination.  The control panels in the Flag Bridge were all light with an orangish color, much like the dashboard of a car when the lights are on at night.  It was very beautiful.  

 Once again, the Admiral was very gracious and very indulgent with our questions.  He talked to us about what it feels like from a pilot’s point of view to land on a carrier and landing in different conditions.  He described the almost four foot window that a pilot had to get the plane on the deck.  I asked him if “call the ball” was actually a real Navy phrase or if it was just something Hollywood added in Top Gun.  The answer was yes, that is an actual term.  He said that there is a series of green lights in a straight horizontal line and then there is a big white/yellow light right in the middle of the green.  This is the meatball.  If a pilot is on the right glide path to land on the carrier, then the meatball will line up in a straight line with the green lights.  If they are coming in too high, the meatball is above the green lights.  If they are too low, the meatball is below the green lights.  When they get within a certain distance the controllers on the deck with ask the pilot to “call the ball” or verify that they actually see the lights lined up and they are on the right glide path.  He answered numerous questions like this and each time he gave in depth answers that we all understood.  He seemed to be a very natural teacher actually.  You could definitely tell that he was proud of the ship and all that it does and all of its people!  And for those that have had any military service, you’ll know what this is, for those that don’t I’ll explain here in just a minute.  I asked him if they still served shit on a shingle (yes, that’s really what they called it back in the day) in the mess halls.  He laughed a minute and asked “how in the world do you know about SOS?”  I told him that my husband is former military and my father-in-law was a Marine and they both talked about how that was one of their most favorite things to eat while in the service.  He told me that yes, they do still have SOS in the mess halls and it was one of his favorites too.  For those who don’t know what that is, it is chipped beef in a cream sauce and its spread over toast.

I’m not sure how long we stayed on the Flag Bridge and even ventured outside on Vulture’s Row (an observation area outside of the Flag Bridge) watching fighter jets taking off and landing.  Just like being on the flight line, I could have totally stood there all night watching.   About 2230, (10:30 p.m.) our escort came back and led us down from the tower back to DV Row.  I didn’t realize how tired I was until we stopped going somewhere.  They told us that they would be back to get us at 6:45 the next morning.  We were free to shower and rest.  

The Ladies DV Head was nice.  It had four stalls and four showers in it with one sink.  It was kind of like being at camp or something.  I showered quickly so I didn’t waste any hot water.  I’m sure that is scarce with 5200+ people on board.  The big fluffy towels that they gave us to use were great and the bath robe was comfy and warm too.  Back in the room, my roommate had found another guest book for us to sign to show that we had stayed in that room.  This one actually had individual pages for us to sign and leave messages for others to come or for those on the ship.  I signed that and then climbed into my bunk at about 11:30.  I chose the top one!   I thought I would have to lay there and read a little bit to get good and sleepy, but it didn’t take long at all for me to be ready for sleep.  I remember watching a couple of planes (and hearing and feeling them) land on the TV in the room and that’s all I remember.  The bed was very comfortable and I slept through night landings!  Yes, I was that worn out!

Check back next week for more to this story!

Adventures at Sea Part 5

Adventures At Sea (Part 5)

November 19, 2013

Continued from November 11, 2013

After spending a while with the Captain, we were lead back down the nine flights of stairs that we’d originally trekked and then down one more flight of stairs – I think (if we hadn’t had guides everywhere we went, I would most definitely have gotten lost!).   We were lead through several different passage ways.  The doorways on the ship are not like a regular door in a house or building, the knee-knocker – or the part of the frame that is part of the metal of the bulkhead – comes up about 1-1/2 to 2 foot off the floor and then the door frame is inserted, so you have to be very, very careful traversing the hallways.  Trust me, as danger prone as I am, I made sure I paid real close attention to where I was going.  We finally made our way to “DV Way”, this is the hallway of visitor rooms that we would be sleeping in much later in the night.  The rooms were beautiful and I know that they were not indicative of the conditions that your average crew-man lives in, but it was comfortable and more than enough for no longer than we were actually in our bunks.  Each room was named after a job with the government that George H. W. Bush had in all his many years serving our country.  I shared the “Ambassador” suite with one of the ladies from Ohio.  We each had a desk and a locker to put things in.  There was a sink and mirror in the along the wall opposite our beds, and then a double bunk compartment type bed unit.  There is a flat screen television in the room too that shows everything that is going on on the flight deck from multiple angles.

                              (This was home sweet home!)

We spend maybe five minutes or so in our rooms and our escorts return to take us to dinner.  We are escorted through the maze of passageways and maybe back up or down a flight of stairs to a beautiful dining room.  The table was set with twelve place settings and was absolutely immaculate.  We were greeted by the Captain; the Admiral; the Admiral’s Chief of Staff – Captain Sean Moriarty; the CAG – the Commander of Airwing Eight “Team Ocho”, Captain Daniel “Dozer” Dwyer; and the Commander of the Destroyer Strike Group “Desron 22”, Captain Kenneth Long.  The Admiral’s Chef had prepared dinner for the twelve of us.  The officers were dispersed through the table amongst us.  I sat beside Captain Moriarty and directly across the table from the Admiral.  We each had name cards in front of us so we knew exactly where to sit and there was a menu provided to tell us what we were about to partake of.  Dinner was spectacular!  We had a garden green salad with lemon and pepper oil dressing to start.  The main course was breaded chicken breast with beurre, blanc sauce, roasted potatoes, and red and green pepper confit.  The chicken was so tender you could have cut it with your fork.  And dessert was a pecan tarte.  We talked with the officers while we ate.  The Admiral is an impressive fellow.  He could pass for Ray Liota’s twin brother.  He is a Naval Academy graduate and an F14 and F18 pilot.  He was very personable and very forth coming with answers to our questions.  All of the gentlemen that we were dining with were amazing men in their service and achievements.  They were all very humble and very gracious hosts.  We were able to meet the cook staff just before we left the dining room.  The chef was assigned to the Admiral, so he went where the Admiral went, the others that were serving us and were helping in the kitchen were regular crewmen working their turns in food services.  I was impressed by the fact that the Admiral knew a little bit about each one of the young men and was able to share it with us.

                           (Our dining room for the evening)

 

After an amazing dinner and even better conversation, our escorts came to get us.  We were led, again through many passageways and I don’t remember how many stairs, to the hospital area of the ship.  We met with the ship’s doctor and saw their ER and their OR, the ICU, the fifty bed sick bay, and the physical therapy room.  They have a lab that can do basic blood work.  They have basic digital x-ray capabilities.  And they can do some surgeries, including oral and maxillofacial surgery while underway.  For most cases, if there is a way to transport a sailor to a land based hospital for surgery, this is what they do, but if they have no choice, they have capabilities of doing almost anything on board.  We learned that the airwing also travels with a flight surgeon.

When we left the hospital area we were taken to the library, internet access area, and chapel.  We met with the Chaplain and he took us into the chapel where a group of sailors were practicing a song for Sunday morning’s worship service.  This was the type of singing that gave you goose bumps on your arms and made you want to holler “AMEN” at the end!  Absolutely beautiful!   We were able to talk with them afterwards and they were truly, an incredible group of young Americans!    On our way out of the Chapel and to our next stop, we did pass the NCIS office!  No, sadly there was no Dinozzo, Gibbs, or Callen waiting on us, but we got to see the door.

Check back next week for more to this story!

Adventures at Sea Part 4

Adventures At Sea (Part 4)

November 11, 2013

Happy Veterans Day to all the Veterans, past, present, and future that I have the privilege of knowing.  Thank you all so very much for your service and your love for country and family.  Thank you for your sacrifices and for willingly giving of yourselves so that I might have the freedom to write on a site like this.  Thank you and God bless you all!

Continued from November 5, 2013

After spending roughly about an hour and a half outside on the flight deck, we were escorted back inside and given a few minutes to catch our breath.  We began the ten-story climb up to the Primary Flight Deck.  If you are not in good shape, these steps will get you!  They are steep and they are many.  The PriFlight deck is the top deck in the tower of the island.  It is basically air traffic control.  They are controlling the landing and launching of all the aircraft.  We were able to talk with the Air Boss and the Mini Boss while we were up there for them to explain what they do.  They also have to keep track of what type of aircraft is landing and communicate that to the sailors in charge of the arresting cables as each one has to be set for a particular type of plane depending on the weight of the plane.  We were also told of their good luck disco ball that hangs between the Boss and Mini Boss’ seats.  They use it to help the pilots that might be having a little trouble getting on the deck.  It’s their “talisman.”  The view out over the deck up there is astounding because you can see everything that is going on down below.

                          (This is me in the Mini Boss's Seat)

                                         (Disco Ball)

                                         (View of the Stern from PriFlight)

                            (View of the Bow from PriFlight)
 

We spent roughly forty-five minutes in PriFlight (time really had no meaning to us on this trip – we were just so enthralled with everything we were seeing) and we descended one flight down to the Bridge.  Next to the flight deck, this is probably the second busiest place that we have seen so far.  This is where everything related to the ship runs.  The navigation is up here, the Officer of the Watch – I think that was his title – is in charge of putting the ship into proper position with his instructions in order to launch or land aircraft.  This has to do with speed of the ship itself and with natural wind direction and ocean movements.  It was fascinating to watch and listen to him call out commands to those in charge of steering the ship and those controlling speed.  The young lady that was steering the ship was just twenty years old and a tiny little person.  She explained to us what she sees on her screen when she is steering the ship.  She also explained that they usually alternate running of the four 21’ bronze propellers.  Like on Thursday, they were running propellers 2 and 4 and they would switch over on Friday to propellers 1 and 3.  It is not as easy to see out of the windows from the bridge.  The metal walls go up taller than it did up in PriFlight, so for short people like me, there are seven wooden boxes to stand up on and see out the windows.  Each box had one of the Seven Dwarfs engraved in it.  I found Grumpy and Sneezy while I was there! 

                            (View from Bridge)

 We were able to spend quite a bit of time with the Captain while we were up here.  We even got to sit in the Captain’s chair and have our pictures made.  This was a little daunting with him standing right there beside of us, but he was very gracious and very humble.  After each of us had our turn and our picture made we watched the next wave of flight operations, launching and landings from the bridge.  The Captain explained to us what all of the different shirt colors meant on the deck.  He explained this as they are preparing to start launching aircraft.  The Red Shirts are the ones responsible for arming, disarming, and loading weapons on the aircraft.  Yellow Shirts are the Shooters – they’re the ones responsible for moving the planes into position and then giving the pilot direction as to when to rev up and finally after all checks are made, giving the go for them to catapult the aircraft off the deck.  The White Shirts are responsible for safety related jobs including final inspection of the aircraft’s exterior and movements prior to launching.  Green Shirts are responsible for hooking the planes to the shuttle for the catapult and are responsible for handling the arresting wires.  Blue Shirts operate elevators and drive the tractors that pull the aircraft or that sweep the deck.  Purple Shirts are the ones responsible for fueling the aircraft (all fuel lines and fuel related rooms and valves throughout the ship are painted that same bright purple) – they call them “the grapes”.   And finally the Silver Suits, those are the guys/gals that you don’t want to have to see; they are the ones that handle fires or crashes.   After he explained to us the shirts and their jobs, he took us through the whole process of how they hook the planes to the cats and what each person does when they’re doing that and how the cat has to be set for the correct type of launch – with or without afterburners – the pilot signed up for.  Due to a pilot error just before his launch – he changed his mind about wanting the afterburners on just before he launched – there was a huge back up of planes waiting to launch, so the Captain pulled all waiting aircraft up to the front of the deck to launch off of catapults 1 and 2 and as soon as they launched the pilot that had caused the backup, they quickly covered up cats 3 and 4 and started landing aircraft.  Within less than two minutes of launching the last plane off of cat 4, they had planes landing in that area.  They can actually do that faster and I’m estimating quite long – remember time didn’t have much meaning to me on this trip!  Needless to say, the Captain was not too happy about the snafu.  He didn’t strike me as a fellow that takes messing up a schedule lightly!   They can land a plane every forty-five seconds!  Absolutely AMAZING!  

                            (Me in the Captain's Chair)

                           (That's the Captain over to the right)

Check back next week for more to this story!