  AT3 Rodney Huffaker (photo right; left) from Menan, ID and AT3 Andrew Karsten from Milwaukee, WI were preparing for the 1730 launch cycle as prop guards for the E2C-Hawkeye. Karsten said jokingly that the hardest part of being aboard Indy is finding room in his locker for all the stuff he bought while in port.
Working below Indy's flight deck to keep the birds in the air was AIMD's AMS3 Jared Jackson (above; left) from Santa Anna, CA and AMS3 Chris Cameron from Long Island, NY. Removing & replacing rivets on an E2C-Hawkeye's landing gear door, Jackson said just being out here away from family and friends makes the time difficult. They both agreed the ports are great, and Cameron said while Indy was in Jebel Ali he took advantage of the Deep Sea fishing tour and caught a Kingfish.
Well, just another day right? In a way they all have a very familiar feeling, but
each day is distinctively different. Whether it's the way the sun fades away, or the
the number of launches, or just the shipmates you run into and talk with, each day has
something new out here. Tonight the sun went down a lot slower than I've seen in
awhile, but that could be because the last few days we've been stable, not steaming
through the Gulf. As I made my way through the hangar bays, there were quite a few
Sailors taking in the sunset. DN Steven Rouse (right) from Hugo, OK was doing just
that when I asked if I could grab this shot. Obviously already into some deep
thoughts, he answered my question without being asked... "You know what the hardest
part of being out here is? Not exactly knowing what's next," he said.
Yup, the days are different, even if they are the same. So, guess it's time
to open some mail and pay some bills, at least you can always count on them... Until then. |
Today began flight Ops again as the guys upstairs worked
through the night to clean off all the sand that had found a home up there. The
temps lowered here to a livable 90º and the sun was still blazing strong as it disappeared into
the big lake. We brought aboard around 3,000 pounds of mail and the NOVA team is back on board to wrap up their filming of "The
Battle Group, On Alert in the Gulf." We chose our ELEVENTH Ballcap winner today and plan to keep giving away the goods while
we're here. They haven't responded yet, but they still have time. Let's see,
what else took place. Oh, we just finished General Quarters
right after conducting a Man Overboard drill. Also the
SIXTH Fleet Concessionaires are back on board to sell gift items to Sailors. Soooo, it's
back to the grind!
Back to removing grind and other various dirt particles was AN Mac Ganeshan (left) from Gaithersburg, MD. Part of the FOD (foreign object damage) team that ensures the flight deck is clear of any debris, Ganeshan said he's been aboard for only six months and the hardest part is the time between receiving letters from home.
Airman Rashad Jacobs (below) from Carson, CA said the long hours in a stressful environment is what fills his days, but the pace of it all is what keeps him coming back. Well, that and his enlistment obligation. Jacobs said everyday at sea is exciting, it would be difficult to pinpoint the most exciting part of working on Indy's flightdeck.
Taking advantage of some free time was AT3 Michael Cantrell (below) from Murfreesboro, TN. "I usually watch a little TV or read a magazine before and after my shift," he said. "Unless we have an overload of work." Cantrell works on electrical equipment in AIMD and said he does everything from repairing to calibrating and testing components.
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