 Today Independence was host to the new Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Master Chief Machinist’s Mate (SS/SW/AW) James L. Herdt. He came aboard to meet Indy Sailors and give them an opportunity to ask any questions they might have for their new MCPON. After taping a short brief in SITE TV, he made his way down to one of his old haunting grounds aboard Indy, Damage Control Central.
MTCMT (SS) Terry Scott (below; left) from Louisburg, KS was one of the many
Sailors that had a question for the MCPON. "I think it's pretty important for
the junior Sailors to meet their MCPON," Scott said. "It lets them see
first hand their top leaders working on quality of life issues and helps dispel
rumors."
Above and below, line handlers kept check on the distance between the two ships.
It's a tight squeeze in the hangar bays as the birds are being worked on, equipment is
being moved around, supplies are finding new homes, and the general traffic of
crewmembers. |
After four hot, humid, wonderful days inport Jebel Ali,
U.A.E., we're back to steaming in the big lake. The skies are clear right
now and the moon is on its way out, just a crescent shining up there. The wind has
brought us cooler temperatures and a few white caps to rock us to sleep. We got
underway around 9 a.m. and other than a few quick hops, the birds didn't fly as the flight
deck was alive in preparation of tomorrow's flying.
When Herdt was new to the fleet, his first ship was the Independence and he said after thirty years, she still looks pretty much the same. "I still remember this big, burly guy meeting me on the Quarterdeck to show me around," he said. "He said, 'grab your seabag and follow me.' He took me to berthing and said, 'here's where you sleep.' Then he took me to the forward mess and said, 'here's where you eat.' Then he took me down to Number ONE Auxiliary room where they were cleaning bilge's at the time and said, 'here's were you work.'" Now of course it sounds better when he tells it...
Not long after the MCPON finished, Indy went into restricted maneuvers for a RAS
[refuel at sea] and began to bring aboard approximately 300,000 gallons of diesel fuel,
marine. On the flightdeck the birds were being positioned for a full day of flight Ops tomorrow.
JO2 Henry Rice (below) from Pine Island, NY was working in the SITE [Shipboard Information, Training, and Entertainment] studio editing the earlier taping of the MCPON. There is almost one television set in every space aboard Indy. After the 1-MC, it's just about the best way to put out information... of course, face-to-face contact would have to be number one, right.
PC3 Jonnie Adams (below; left) from Jackson, MS and Airman Joseph White from Alexandria, LA help separate the 3,500 pounds of mail that was brought aboard today.
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