Taken Away
this was written a year ago while I was still on deployment...
I was looking out over the Indian Ocean this evening and I saw a beautiful sight. The sea was glassy calm. As the ship passed through the water the phosphor (photo luminescent algae) was glowing brightly in the ships wake. The phosphor was bright electric neon blue - not like in the North Atlantic where the phosphor is neon green and not nearly as bright.
As the waves crashed down and the water churned from the props the ships wake glowed a path into the inky black darkness. It glowed in the foam and created lighting bright strings rippling like plasma across the wave tops.
Then to my amazement, I could hear splashes off in the distance. At first, I could not figure out what it was, then the splashes came closer and I could see huge “blasts” of phosphor spouting into the air. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I could see more. Finally, I saw what caused those mini explosions in the phosphor. Dolphins were jumping the waves in our wake, merrily playing and jumping giving us an unbelievable light show to the likes few have ever seen.
Taken aback, all the days’ problems and troubles just washed away, if only for a few moments. Tonight was one of those times when I knew in my heart I belong at sea. For only a moment I was taken away, I was no longer onboard the ship I was just watching nature at it’s finest soaking in everything, the sights and sounds of the magnificent show before me. There was no better place on earth, then right here.
Showing posts with label Deployment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Deployment. Show all posts
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Musing #6
Last Sunrise in the Mediterranean0455 (4:55 AM) Thursday morning May 10th, the water was glassy smooth the only ripples were from the bow slicing smoothly through the water. The sky was still starry as we headed west. Behind us, the light started almost imperceptibly at first then growing faster a deep rich gold along the horizon. The clouds are still dark and inky, above them night is still grasping firmly refusing to fade away to the onslaught of the new day.
As the light grows, there is
Turning back to the sunrise at hand, the sky is growing brighter and that gold is now showing orange with a purple line above with the night still refusing to fade away. The clouds are lighting brighter by the second moving from purple to fire red with orange below as the sky brightens up there are merchant ships carrying cargo to and from all parts of the globe passing along.
Today is the dawning of a new day and the closing of a chapter. As the sun slides up to the horizon, the night finally relinquishes it grasp. Such a poetic moment should not be interrupted by idle conservation, I remain, fellow sailors have come and gone today; just as they have come and gone through out my career.
I cherish this moment like few others in my life. Looking back for the last 214 days of this deployment and the last 17½ years in the navy, I can truly say wow it has been one hell of a ride. Just as the day takes over the night, it is time for the younger sailors to take over for those of us “old salts” this day is different than every one before and the Navy is different today then it was when I came in a scared kid. Somewhere along the way I became a man, today is the day when the kids of today will need to step up and be men too.
I guess it is finally time for me to start looking west towards that sunset and let the younger sailors have the day.
Friday, January 4, 2008
HOW TO SIMULATE SHIPBOARD LIFE - NAVY STYLE
Speaking today on behalf of those that think that the Navy lives a "TOP GUN" existence. You know, those people that have watched one too many episodes of JAG, and think that Navy life is glamorous! Here are a few suggestions on how to experience the real Navy life, right in the comfort of your own home.
Buy a dumpster, paint it gray and live in it for 6 months straight.
Run all of the piping and wires inside your house on the outside of the walls.
Pump 10 inches of nasty, crappy water into your basement, then pump it out, clean up, and paint the basement "deck gray"
Every couple of weeks, dress up in your best clothes and go the scummiest part of town, find the most run down, trashy bar you can, pay $10 per beer until you're hammered, then walk home in the freezing cold.
Perform a weekly disassembly and inspection of your lawnmower.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays turn your water temperature up to 200 degrees, then on Tuesday and Thursday turn it down to 10 degrees.
On Saturdays, and Sundays declare to your entire family that they used too much water during the week, so all showering is secured.
Raise your bed to within 6 inches of the ceiling.
Have your next door neighbor come over each day at 5am, and blow a whistle so loud that Helen Keller could hear it and shout "Reveille, Reveille, all hands heave out and trice up"
Have your mother-in-law write down everything she's going to do the following day, then have her make you stand in the back yard at 6am and read it to you.
Eat the raunchiest Mexican food you can find for three days straight, then lock the bathroom door for 12 hours, and hang a sign on it that reads "Secured - contact OA DIV at X-3053"
Submit a request form to your father-in-law, asking if it's ok for you to leave your house before 3pm.
Invite 200 of your not-so-closest friends to come over, then board up all the windows and doors to your house for 6 months. After the 6 months is up, take down the boards, and since you're on duty, wave at your friends and family through the front window of your home...you can't leave until the next day.
Shower with above-mentioned friends.
Make your family qualify to operate all the appliances in your home(i.e. Dishwasher operator, blender technician, etc.)
Walk around your car for 4 hours checking the tire pressure every 15 minutes.
Sit in your car and let it run for 4 hours before going anywhere. This is to ensure your engine is properly "lit off".
Empty all the garbage bins in your house, and sweep your driveway 3 times a day, whether they need it or not.
Repaint your entire house once a month.
Cook all of your food blindfolded, groping for any spice and seasoning you can get your hands on.
Have your neighbor collect all your mail for a month, randomly losing every 5th item.
Spend $20,000 on a satellite system for your TV, but only watch CNN and the Weather Channel.
Have your 5-year-old cousin give you a haircut with goat shears.
Sew back pockets to the front of your pants.
Spend 2 weeks in the red-light districts of Europe, and call it "world travel"
Attempt to spend 5 years working at McDonalds, and NOT get promoted.
Ensure that any promotions you do get are from stepping on the dead bodies of your co-workers.
Needle gun the aluminum siding on your house after your neighbors have gone to bed.
When your children are in bed, run into their room with a megaphone, and shout at the top of your lungs that your home is under attack, and order them to man their battle stations.
Post a menu on the refrigerator door informing your family that you are having steak for dinner. Then make them wait in line for at least an hour, when they finally get to the kitchen, tell them that you are out of steak, but you have dried ham or hot dogs. Repeat daily until they don't pay attention to the menu any more they just ask for hot dogs.
In the middle of January, place a podium at the end of your driveway. Have you family stand watches at the podium, rotating at 4-hour intervals.
Lock yourself and your family in your house for 6 weeks. Then tell them that at the end of the 6th week you're going to take them to Disneyland for "weekend liberty". When the end of the 6th week rolls around, inform them that Disneyland has been cancelled due to the fact that they need to get ready for E-cert, and that it will be another week before they can leave the house.
Put your family through these, and then let them tell you how glamorous Navy life is.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Welcome home "Big E"
Just in Time For ChristmasToday is a big day for thousands of spouses, friends and family of the sailors embarked on the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) and the other ships in the Enterprise Battle Group.
The big "E" pulls in to Naval Station Norfolk just in time for Christmas! I for one want to wish them all a Warm Welcome and Happy Holidays! Pier 12 is a mad house with anxious family and friends all waiting to see the ship on the horizon... counting the longest moments of the entire deployment....
After what seems like an eternity the ship finally came into view the Big “E” looks tired and ready to be home. Sailors man the rails all along the flight deck in their Service Dress Blues, shivering both from the cold and the anticipation of finally being back.
As the USS Enterprise rounds past the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower a roar is heard from the pier and those thousands of anxious friends and family welcome home their sailors. Sliding forward, painfully slow the tugs slide the Enterprise into her berth and finally those words that every sailor longs to hear “MOORED, SHIFT COLORS!” another even larger cheer goes out through the crowd. Moments later the call is heard across the flight deck to dismiss the sailors manning the rails. A mad scramble ensues with everyone running trying to get a better view to find their loved ones in the crowd below. Cell phones and walkie-talkies come out, tears, laughter, cries and shouts. The warmth all but drowns out the cold and wind, no one minds today after the Big "E" is finally home.
Just moments from now the Brows will be across and those sailors that have been gone will finally be reunited with their loved ones. Just in time for Christmas.
BZ BIG E!!!!!!!
Dennis
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Musing #5
I have heard numerous words to describe how I view coffee. Some say I’m fanatical, while others will say I am just plain nuts. I have been called everything from a drug dealer to the coffee man. Then there are some, a very select few, which call me a connoisseur. Even though there are many different opinions about me and my coffee the one universal opinion is that I have the best coffee on the ship.
I am sure you are wondering what about my coffee is different. I roast my own coffee beans, every week. Yes onboard the ship. I have over 30 pounds of green coffee beans onboard from every different coffee growing region on the face of the earth. I can tell you the difference in coffees by country and region.
If you simply tell me what you like about coffee I can give you three or four recommendations on the spot. Chances are I have at least one of them onboard and can roast you some the next time I am roasting.
Do I have your attention yet? Did you know that coffee is not supposed to be bitter or sour? Not fresh coffee, fresh roasted coffee that is! I have sailors from all over the ship that come by weekly just to get a bag of coffee from me. The best part, I think, is that the finest coffee in the world can be bought for a fraction of the price of roasted coffee. On average I spend around 5 dollars a pound for coffee. The same coffee from a gourmet shop would cost around $30.00 to $40.00 per pound.
Am I obsessed? I don’t think so, I believe that I just enjoy some of the finer things and I am willing to go the extra mile to get them. Do I mind the name calling and the kidding? Not at all, I know that deep down every coffee drinker onboard wishes they had my “True Brew” coffee in their cup everyday.
I am sure you are wondering what about my coffee is different. I roast my own coffee beans, every week. Yes onboard the ship. I have over 30 pounds of green coffee beans onboard from every different coffee growing region on the face of the earth. I can tell you the difference in coffees by country and region.
If you simply tell me what you like about coffee I can give you three or four recommendations on the spot. Chances are I have at least one of them onboard and can roast you some the next time I am roasting.
Do I have your attention yet? Did you know that coffee is not supposed to be bitter or sour? Not fresh coffee, fresh roasted coffee that is! I have sailors from all over the ship that come by weekly just to get a bag of coffee from me. The best part, I think, is that the finest coffee in the world can be bought for a fraction of the price of roasted coffee. On average I spend around 5 dollars a pound for coffee. The same coffee from a gourmet shop would cost around $30.00 to $40.00 per pound.
Am I obsessed? I don’t think so, I believe that I just enjoy some of the finer things and I am willing to go the extra mile to get them. Do I mind the name calling and the kidding? Not at all, I know that deep down every coffee drinker onboard wishes they had my “True Brew” coffee in their cup everyday.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Guest writer from the ships paper...
Soldier’s Angels: A Touching Opportunity for True
By Mass Communication Specialist
Seaman Adrian J. Escobar
Fire Controlman (SW/AW) 1st Class Dennis True browsed the Soldiers’ Angels website late November in search of care packages for Sailors aboard IKE. The next month, he was contacted by Janice Parker, an intern working on her master’s degree in social work at Willamette View, a retirement community north of Milwaukee.
Wanting to find a way to encourage residents in the assisted-living wing to socialize, she found him through Soldiers’ Angels. Soldiers’ Angels is an international organization that provides aide and comfort to the men and women service members and their families.
Parker asked True if he would be interested in being a pen-pal to a group of seven retirees at the retirement center. Without hesitation, True accepted.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to know people and hear their stories from a completely different time era,” said True.
Shortly thereafter, True was adopted into the Soldiers’ Angels foundation and received his first letter. Since then, he has received a total of 127 packages and over 250 letters.
“Two men out of the group happened to be veteran Sailors,” said True. “Each one had a 1944 Shellback certificate.”
True received letters of personal accounts during the Depression and World War II, as well as general stories from the 60s. He was told stories of their children,
husbands and wives. He also shared stories of his own, and was able to jog memories of Paul Gillette, a 91 year-old member of the center.
“I sent him a story of my travel through Cyprus [the post below this one]that reminded him he had hitchhiked from Chicago to Yellow Stone when he was between the ages of 18 and 19,” said True. “He was then able to share that forgotten memory with his family for the first time.”
Due to the great response in the group, Jim Mertz, Willamette View’s chief executive officer, extended to True and his wife, Marjorie, an expense-free invitation to meet the group for the first time. He felt it was important for the pen-pals to meet. True was greeted with warmth and lots of smiles during his visit.
“I had lunch with the Angels and gave a power point presentation about the deployment,” said True. “It was a moving experience to meet them in person, and I will cherish it forever.
Wanting to find a way to encourage residents in the assisted-living wing to socialize, she found him through Soldiers’ Angels. Soldiers’ Angels is an international organization that provides aide and comfort to the men and women service members and their families.
Parker asked True if he would be interested in being a pen-pal to a group of seven retirees at the retirement center. Without hesitation, True accepted.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get to know people and hear their stories from a completely different time era,” said True.
Shortly thereafter, True was adopted into the Soldiers’ Angels foundation and received his first letter. Since then, he has received a total of 127 packages and over 250 letters.
“Two men out of the group happened to be veteran Sailors,” said True. “Each one had a 1944 Shellback certificate.”
True received letters of personal accounts during the Depression and World War II, as well as general stories from the 60s. He was told stories of their children,
husbands and wives. He also shared stories of his own, and was able to jog memories of Paul Gillette, a 91 year-old member of the center.
“I sent him a story of my travel through Cyprus [the post below this one]that reminded him he had hitchhiked from Chicago to Yellow Stone when he was between the ages of 18 and 19,” said True. “He was then able to share that forgotten memory with his family for the first time.”
Due to the great response in the group, Jim Mertz, Willamette View’s chief executive officer, extended to True and his wife, Marjorie, an expense-free invitation to meet the group for the first time. He felt it was important for the pen-pals to meet. True was greeted with warmth and lots of smiles during his visit.
“I had lunch with the Angels and gave a power point presentation about the deployment,” said True. “It was a moving experience to meet them in person, and I will cherish it forever.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Musing #4
The Walk or Why You Never Trust a Local...
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower had just anchored off the coast of Limissol Cyprus. After riding in on the Liberty Boat, I was on the beach and looking forward to getting to the hotel room that a group of us were going to stay in while we were there. After taking the contracted bus to the second of the pre-designated stops, four of the six people that were all headed to the Grand Hawaii Hotel got off the bus.
First, we had to wait on the rest of the group, so we decided to split up; the other two went on to the hotel. My liberty buddy, Tracy and I agreed we would wait on the others in the liberty party. We remained in the vicinity of the bus stop watching for the others. After about an hour and 17 busses later we decided that we must have missed them in the crowds getting off the bus.
This is where the fun and our story really begins.
We decided to head out. We had the free tourist maps of Limissol that were being passed out as soon as we were on shore. We saw our hotel on the map just outside the “magnified area” on the map and we were already half way there according to our map. Looked like about one mile maybe one and a half. No problem we will be there in no time. The “ever conscious me” even stepped into a gift shop and asked “How far was the Grand Hawaii Hotel?”
“Oh it is not too far just a little ways up the road, only about two Kilometers or so.” The shopkeeper cheerfully replied, undoubtedly hoping for a fast sale of some trinket. I did purchase a large bottle of water, both to say thank you and because a seasoned traveler always keeps well hydrated.
With new found confidence that the hotel was “just up the road” we headed out. We started out enjoying the scenery. We walked along the beach where we both agreed the local scenery was to our liking. The attire of the beach going crowd kept our spirits up. There is just something about topless beaches and sailors just getting ashore, always a great way to take your mind off the walk.
I checked the map periodically to see our progress; we are trekking along quite nicely. We are making significant progress along the “magnified” portion of the map. One mile down and only about a half a mile more to go, right?
Wrong.
We started looking around and the area was getting less and less touristy and more and more remote. Gone were the beaches filled with people replaced now with weeds and rocky shores. Not being overly concerned (yet) but still not seeing the hotel. I notice that the wind has picked up, the sun is gone, the water has transformed from a beautiful tranquil green to an ominous choppy dark green/inky black and dark clouds are rolling in (now I am starting to get a bit concerned). There is no easy shelter in sight as the first fat raindrops start to fall. We quicken our step a bit around the bend, ahead we see it - no not the hotel - rather a little apartment complex that has a wonderful covered alcove. Whew, just in the nick of time we duck in, at that same moment the sky opens up and a huge gully-washer (downpour for those non southern readers) is upon us.
After about 20 minutes of studying the map and looking for a legend, attempting to reassess our current location, and still not finding one. I can see that we are outside the “magnified” area on the map. It appears that we are right on top of the hotel or at worst it should be just around the next turn in the road. We have already traveled best guess over two and a half miles. I honestly have no idea how far the hotel is at this point. Being the “seasoned sailors” that we are, a little rain, now muddy road, and lack of landmarks on a map won’t stop us! We head back out only slightly worse for wear.
Onward Ho! Now passing the estimated three mile mark.
Each bend seems like it will be the one. We come across some beautiful ruins that were being excavated. Here I am trying to walk and get some pictures of the ancient columns and building foundations. SPLASH! Oops! Yuck! I step in a huge mud puddle, in the muck up to my knees. Now my feet are completely soaked and my shoes are almost twice as heavy from all the mud now hitching a free ride. Our sprits are sinking with each and every step. Adding insult to injury the sidewalk ends and it would appear that we are going to have to travel on the side of a very narrow two lane road. After just a few steps I spy a wooden walkway on the other side of the road. Carefully we cross the road, seems simple enough, right? Except for the fact that the Cyprian’s drive on the opposite side of the road so you are have to look the opposite from what we are used to.
We make it on to the walkway with out incident, other than an upset local that let us know his frustrations with his horn and a few choice words which neither of us understood. As we walk along the beach the sun has once again started to shine and my shoes are shedding off the now caking mud. Things are once again looking up but still no Grand Hawaii Hotel.
The walkway changes to a beaten path after about half a mile. About a quarter mile ahead I see some buildings that look like hotels and I mention this to Tracy we quicken our step. Moving forward the anticipation builds, we are thinking this has got to be our hotel. Lo and behold our Mecca, we finally have arrived at the Grand Hawaii Hotel.
Dragging our tired yet relived butt’s inside, we spy the rest of our party sitting in the bar relaxing. They look us over and you can just see in their faces the questions like “Where in the hell have you been?” and “What happened to you guys?” We summarize our events, everyone started to chuckle and tell us that they had all caught a cab, because who ever they had asked said it was way too far to walk. Slightly frustrated and feeling rather icky, I headed for the room for a long hot shower and a change of clothes.
I have learned a valuable lesson during this course of events. Never trust a local, rather ask around to make sure you have good information and for Pete’s sake Never, Never, Never (yes, I said it three times) trust a free tourist map, spend a few bucks and get a real map. The journey was lovely, aside from a few minor mishaps. I will look back on my trip to Cyprus fondly for years to come. I am now wiser and more wary of the seemingly innocent events that led up to one heck of a walk.
Just in case you were wondering, when I took a cab the next day back down to the bus stop area of Limissol checking the odometer I discovered that we had actually walked around ten kilometers or roughly six miles.
Thinking back to the shopkeeper, maybe he did say ten kilometers and not two. We may never know for sure.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower had just anchored off the coast of Limissol Cyprus. After riding in on the Liberty Boat, I was on the beach and looking forward to getting to the hotel room that a group of us were going to stay in while we were there. After taking the contracted bus to the second of the pre-designated stops, four of the six people that were all headed to the Grand Hawaii Hotel got off the bus.
First, we had to wait on the rest of the group, so we decided to split up; the other two went on to the hotel. My liberty buddy, Tracy and I agreed we would wait on the others in the liberty party. We remained in the vicinity of the bus stop watching for the others. After about an hour and 17 busses later we decided that we must have missed them in the crowds getting off the bus.
This is where the fun and our story really begins.
We decided to head out. We had the free tourist maps of Limissol that were being passed out as soon as we were on shore. We saw our hotel on the map just outside the “magnified area” on the map and we were already half way there according to our map. Looked like about one mile maybe one and a half. No problem we will be there in no time. The “ever conscious me” even stepped into a gift shop and asked “How far was the Grand Hawaii Hotel?”
“Oh it is not too far just a little ways up the road, only about two Kilometers or so.” The shopkeeper cheerfully replied, undoubtedly hoping for a fast sale of some trinket. I did purchase a large bottle of water, both to say thank you and because a seasoned traveler always keeps well hydrated.
With new found confidence that the hotel was “just up the road” we headed out. We started out enjoying the scenery. We walked along the beach where we both agreed the local scenery was to our liking. The attire of the beach going crowd kept our spirits up. There is just something about topless beaches and sailors just getting ashore, always a great way to take your mind off the walk.
I checked the map periodically to see our progress; we are trekking along quite nicely. We are making significant progress along the “magnified” portion of the map. One mile down and only about a half a mile more to go, right?
Wrong.
We started looking around and the area was getting less and less touristy and more and more remote. Gone were the beaches filled with people replaced now with weeds and rocky shores. Not being overly concerned (yet) but still not seeing the hotel. I notice that the wind has picked up, the sun is gone, the water has transformed from a beautiful tranquil green to an ominous choppy dark green/inky black and dark clouds are rolling in (now I am starting to get a bit concerned). There is no easy shelter in sight as the first fat raindrops start to fall. We quicken our step a bit around the bend, ahead we see it - no not the hotel - rather a little apartment complex that has a wonderful covered alcove. Whew, just in the nick of time we duck in, at that same moment the sky opens up and a huge gully-washer (downpour for those non southern readers) is upon us.
After about 20 minutes of studying the map and looking for a legend, attempting to reassess our current location, and still not finding one. I can see that we are outside the “magnified” area on the map. It appears that we are right on top of the hotel or at worst it should be just around the next turn in the road. We have already traveled best guess over two and a half miles. I honestly have no idea how far the hotel is at this point. Being the “seasoned sailors” that we are, a little rain, now muddy road, and lack of landmarks on a map won’t stop us! We head back out only slightly worse for wear.
Onward Ho! Now passing the estimated three mile mark.
Each bend seems like it will be the one. We come across some beautiful ruins that were being excavated. Here I am trying to walk and get some pictures of the ancient columns and building foundations. SPLASH! Oops! Yuck! I step in a huge mud puddle, in the muck up to my knees. Now my feet are completely soaked and my shoes are almost twice as heavy from all the mud now hitching a free ride. Our sprits are sinking with each and every step. Adding insult to injury the sidewalk ends and it would appear that we are going to have to travel on the side of a very narrow two lane road. After just a few steps I spy a wooden walkway on the other side of the road. Carefully we cross the road, seems simple enough, right? Except for the fact that the Cyprian’s drive on the opposite side of the road so you are have to look the opposite from what we are used to.
We make it on to the walkway with out incident, other than an upset local that let us know his frustrations with his horn and a few choice words which neither of us understood. As we walk along the beach the sun has once again started to shine and my shoes are shedding off the now caking mud. Things are once again looking up but still no Grand Hawaii Hotel.
The walkway changes to a beaten path after about half a mile. About a quarter mile ahead I see some buildings that look like hotels and I mention this to Tracy we quicken our step. Moving forward the anticipation builds, we are thinking this has got to be our hotel. Lo and behold our Mecca, we finally have arrived at the Grand Hawaii Hotel.
Dragging our tired yet relived butt’s inside, we spy the rest of our party sitting in the bar relaxing. They look us over and you can just see in their faces the questions like “Where in the hell have you been?” and “What happened to you guys?” We summarize our events, everyone started to chuckle and tell us that they had all caught a cab, because who ever they had asked said it was way too far to walk. Slightly frustrated and feeling rather icky, I headed for the room for a long hot shower and a change of clothes.
I have learned a valuable lesson during this course of events. Never trust a local, rather ask around to make sure you have good information and for Pete’s sake Never, Never, Never (yes, I said it three times) trust a free tourist map, spend a few bucks and get a real map. The journey was lovely, aside from a few minor mishaps. I will look back on my trip to Cyprus fondly for years to come. I am now wiser and more wary of the seemingly innocent events that led up to one heck of a walk.
Just in case you were wondering, when I took a cab the next day back down to the bus stop area of Limissol checking the odometer I discovered that we had actually walked around ten kilometers or roughly six miles.
Thinking back to the shopkeeper, maybe he did say ten kilometers and not two. We may never know for sure.
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