Over a year and a half ago I was thinking about taking sea duty again. Being ashore for three years was a good break but at a price. My 20 plus years of experience and two previous Aircraft Carrier duty wasn’t much help to get me primed in my game. I took sea duty willingly knowing the history and bad reputation of the USS KITTY HAWK from previous years. Its not any easier with all the uncertainties of the eventual decommissioning and cross decking for the USS GEORGE ”GW” WASHINGTON. Next to my longest deployment which was eight months on the USS CARL VINSON after OEF Sep 11, 2001; this year’s deployment is the most challenging in my career. It has been a very rough challenge on the mind, the body and most especially the spirit. I am at the point where I am even thinking about retirement.
It was hard leading Sailors on a ship that is getting decommissioned. The chain of thought is “we’re going away so why work to keep our equipment going”. Thing was we were still active duty and could be recalled to fight. That is exactly what happened when we took the Multinational exercise of RIMPAC 2008. All along we left Yokosuka thinking we were going to put the Kitty Hawk to bed for good and never bring her back to fight. Additionally, bringing a ship which has been in the yards for over four years from the east coast straight to the tip of the spear is no fun. We’re talking about Sailors that were forced into pulling roots and moving half way around the world. It was a wake up call for the Sailors on the GW that fought the fire onboard after taking her around the straits. It was just a prelude of what the real world had in store for her. Yes all that and a bag of chip. Yes Sir three bags full. Like pulling tooth and nail.
So we made history taking the Kitty Hawk back home being the last conventional Aircraft Carrier in Forward Deployed Naval Force and brought the first Nuclear Aircraft Carrier outside the US Mainland to Forwardly Deployed. Was it worth? Most definitely I can undeniably say YES. The sacrifice of being away from home, friends and family then facing a gamut of challenges made it hard. The diverse leadership and very intrusive atmosphere made it even more challenging but all the better to get the job done right. The price of freedom truly doesn’t come for free. We all pay a price. I am sure one day I will be sitting down sipping warm tea somewhere laughing about this but “boy it has been a very Challenging deployment/decommissioning/crossdecking Sea Duty”. And I hope I never get a chance to do this again. If anyone finds me saying something to doing this again please shoot me. I want to extend my sincerest Thanks to all my friends and family for all the encouragement, the emails, the great times while in port (this ones for you Milma), and the prayers to help me stay sane while out here. As the old saying goes, “its not over until the fat lady sings”. I still got two more years to go on this tour but at least I know there won’t be too many uncertainties. I still ask for the prayers and words of encouragement. It just might keep me going enough to return to shore duty and finally retire.
Until then fellow citizens of the world; rest assure your tax money is well spent this year from this Sailor. Don’t lose any sleep worrying about your freedom tonight. I still have the watch and continue to keep the watch.
