| Somedays it's difficult
to think about writing. What do you write, nothing really
happened, it was just another day. That's been a bad
excuse from me for not writing friends for quite some
time now... but really, it was just another day
here. A little colder, but for the most part, I think the
"we're here" has worn off and replaced
with, "were here."
IC3 Antonio Jackson (below) from Orangeburg, SC is getting ready to call friends back in Japan. "I called home last night, now I'm calling Japan," he said. Jackson's been aboard Indy for one and a half years and was stumped with the question of whether or not he would recommend the Navy to anyone. "Not a lot of people could adapt to living aboard a ship," he said, "You've got to be able to look past what you don't have and enjoy what is here." Jackson said that if could add one "luxury" to the Indy it would be up-to-date-TV sitcoms and day shows.
MWR's (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation) Airman Sid Siddons (below) from Kansas, MO has got a deal for you. Siddons said his job is to make fun for other people, setting up movie nights, board games on the messdecks, volley ball, etc. MWR has more than 734 movies that crewmembers can check out for free. "You just need a current military ID card," he said with a laugh. Siddons said being away from his five-year old son, Wolfie, is the hardest part of his enlistment.
HM3 Blake Cooper (left) was a photo request I finally located. He's an Emergency Medical Technician reserved for the flight deck. He mans the post with one other, and he said mostly they see cuts and bruises which are quick and easy. Cooper said being in a high-tempo environment has put him in position to gain experience he would have not found elsewhere.
|
With close to thirty years in the Navy, CMDR David Odenwelder (above) knows exactly what being out to sea means. He's spent nearly 20 years logging sea time and is in his second tour aboard Indy as the Aircraft Handling Officer. The "Ouija board" before him represents the flight deck and where each aircraft is.
PACE (Program Afloat College Education) courses are beginning here on Indy. Sailors can earn college credit while underway in classes ranging from Business to Speech.
AOAN Carlos Pererira (above) was busy cleaning a bulkhead when I stopped him for a photo. He's TAD from G1-Weapons Department to Supply. "If I wasn't wiping this wall I'd be moving ordnance," he said. He didn't hesitate to let me know he enjoys moving bombs around the ship. "I like it when we get underway, that's when we get to do "our" job the most."
ATAN Guy Jackson (left) from Daytona Beach, Fla. was spraying 'em down while his shipmate was tossing 'em at him. Jackson is TAD to the Messdecks from VS 21 and has one more month of dishwashing to go. "When I return to my squadron I'll work on radar, landing systems, radios, computers, and more," he said. "I missed seeing Australia by that much," he said while pinching the air. "I was back on the beach waiting, begging to be flown out." Jackson did make it aboard for the Otaru port visit and said it was incredible. "Being away from my family and friends is tough, but I like that I'm learning to be responsible for myself..." he said, noting that he wanted to say, "Mom and Dad, I'm finally doing the dishes!" |
