Memories

It’s a duty day (back in homeport obviously) and I was just topside doing a tour and I glanced over to the ship across the pier, the USS COLE (DDG-67). It’s a cold, rainy night here in Norfolk and the COLE sits on the pier looking no different from the other hard working warriors on the water front except for that patch in her port side where terrorists attacked her while she was taking on fuel in Aden October 12, 2000.

The Navy doesn’t give up on ships, the TRENTON, the STARK, the SAMUEL B. ROBERTS, the COLE… we bring them home, we fix them we send them back in to harms way. It’s been that way since the beginning.

The Sailors standing watch on the COLE’s quarterdeck understand the history of their ship, but the history doesn’t have the same impact as memory.

I was a Strike Officer doing a training exercise on another ship that day. We were in Norfolk practicing how to launch missiles in a timely manner when we heard on CNN that our sister ship had been attacked. We were one of three ships to serve as a backdrop when President Clinton came to Norfolk for the ceremony honoring 17 Sailors, we gave tours to stricken families so they could see spaces resembling the ones their loved ones died in.

I’m an old hand at this Navy thing and over the years there have been many memories, more good than bad but a melancholy memory goes with a rainy duty night.

Political ugliness.

This is a very interesting piece from the NY Times. Many folks feel the Times doesn't do well at fair and impartial reporting, that they are too liberal, but this is just plain scary. McCain should be ashamed, this is not what I ever thought he, or anyone associated with his campaign would stand for, perhaps it is a sign of a win at any cost mentality that is setting in?

I'm seeing the same ugliness show up in political ads in Virginia, not directed so much at Obama but they keep slinging around the four letter word liberal. It wasn't that long ago that John McCain was considered a liberal. It wasn't that long ago that liberal ideas set this nation's founders on a path to defy the conservative power of Britain and declare their independence. What's wrong with being a liberal?

Post deployment recipe for success

Decadent days... Slept in then went to Macaroni Grill... time for a nap!

Home, Day 1

This being home stuff is kinda nice. I wake up without a pipe, no funny smells and the temperature is quite pleasant. I think I have to say, this being home stuff is pretty nice!

Home at last!

Moored! Shift colors!

Hampton Roads Bridge/Tunnel

Even closer! That is the Hampton Roads Bridge/Tunnel.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel

Almost home. That is Lynnhaven anchorages and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge/Tunnel!

Headed home!

Headed home! Fair in the channel headed out of Mayport basin, can't be long now!

Better than laundry?

And this is a recreation facility....

Pictures from the laundry mat....

Saturday in the laundry mat...

Saturday in the laundry mat... Not quiet the same as Chicago's song but , you get the picture (or you got the picture, hehe). Just doing laundry waiting to get home!