ROUGH RIDER USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (CVN 71)
Underway
inside: being diverse and mail call, mail call
November 19, 2013 • DAILY
Celebrating Heritage TR Style
Story and Illustration by MC2 (SW) Gregory White
W
alk down any passageway aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) and it is no surprise to find people of different backgrounds. Men and women from various cultures and places around the world work together daily to carry out the ship’s mission. TR’s diversity committee consists of Sailors from various departments and cultures. The committee takes pride in celebrating diversity aboard TR and throughout the Navy. “With the diversity committee you can expect to learn about different cultures, and see some colorful talents that members of our crew possess,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Edric M. Kidd, command coordinator for the diversity committee. The committee celebrates the crew’s diversity by holding events that spotlight different cultures. These events highlight the heritage, art, music and cuisine that identify the culture. “We understand that in the Navy our biggest asset is people,” said Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Daniel A. Irizarryramos, a member of the committee. “It’s not the planes. It’s not the ships. It’s the people that make everything happen. We put them all together and pay homage to the differences.” The committee plans to celebrate Native American Heritage Month Nov. 26. in the ship’s foc’sle. It will consist of Native American song, dance and dress, as well as guest speakers and prayers from the chaplain. The event is scheduled to run an
NATIVE AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH hour long and end with a cake cutting. Sailors interested in joining TR’s diversity committee can contact ABFC Kidd via email or at J:Dial 5352.
A Little Piece of Home
Story and Photo by MC3 (SW/AW) John Paul Kotara II
“M
AIL CALL! MAIL CALL!” Beneath the heavy foot traffic of the aft mess decks, and nestled in a corner beside the ship store, is the ship’s post office. With the help of TR’s Supply department, the post office’s Sailors lift the crew’s morale by delivering mail from loved ones back home. “A single letter can change the outlook of a whole day,” said Logistics Specialist Seaman Daniel Moya. “In an instant, a horrible morning can change to the most sensational day a Sailor has had in a while.” Letters from home are not the only items received through the mail system aboard a ship. Family and friends also have the option to send care packages from home. “Sailors come down here every day,” said Moya. ”You can see they are really anticipating a delivery. Then one day, they are told their package is in and they instantly cheer up and are very excited.” The mail starts at the beach detachment in port and transitions to a C-2 Greyhound. The time the mail takes to reach the ship depends on what part of the world the ship is in. “The supply line has a lot of moving parts,” said Logistics Specialist Seaman Johnathan Bates. “It starts in Norfolk. It then has to make it all the way to the ship. That is just to get here. That doesn’t count the preparations we do before we disperse it.” Less than a handful of Sailors actively screen and process all
Logistics Specialist Seamen Daniel Moya (left) and Johnathan Bates (right) sort mail aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The post office is responsible for receiving and distributing mail.
mail that comes to TR. These few mail room attendants must follow strict protocols to ensure the right mail gets to the right Sailors. “This is an extremely tedious process,” said Bates, “We do everything in our power to find an individual so they can receive their mail. Even if we have to go department to department to ensure this is done.” A handwritten letter, or a picture drawn by the tiny fingers of a young child, can lift a Sailor’s spirits, especially when they spend long periods away from family and loved ones. From beginning to end, TR’s mail staff is here to ensure wishes from home make it into the right hands.
YOURNAVY IN THE NEWS
GWSG Delivers Relief to a Thankful Village
By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Liam Kennedy In the small village of Guiuan, located in Eastern Samar province, villagers lined up outside the gate of a runway awaiting food, water and medical supplies to be delivered by helicopters from the George Washington Strike Group (GWSG) in support of Operation Damayan. Guiuan was heavily affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan, which clocked winds up to 195 miles per hour (mph) with gusts up to 235 mph. Houses that were once big and colorful, are now gray and battered. Uprooted palm trees are now makeshift shelters, and water faucets are now showers. But due to support from the GWSG, 3d Marine Expeditionary Brigade (MEB) and other organizations in close coordination with the Philippine govt. and military, the villager’s morale and conditions are improving. “Strong winds and waves hit our town early in the morning,” said Haiyam Salisa, a Guiuan resident. “We had nothing within the matter of an hour. We were afraid and couldn’t stop crying till the storm was over.” The “Golden Falcons” of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 12 and the “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, embarked aboard the U.S. Navy’s forward-deployed aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73), have airlifted 3,255 gallons of water, 24,900 pounds of food and 2,630 pounds of general supplies,
and have conducted 221 personnel transfers. “The Americans have brought food and water to us,” said Sheen Gonzales, mayor of Guiuan. “But more importantly, they have brought us transportation to and from the island. We were isolated for many days and without the American’s help, my people would not be eating their regular meals three times a day.” As boxes of supplies were off-loaded from trucks and organized into neat stacks for distribution, weary villagers ate their provided rations or discussed what their next big move may be; where they will live, who they will see and when they will rebuild.
USNS Bowditch Clears the Way
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shannon Heavin, Commander, Task Force 70 Public Affairs
USNS Bowditch (T-AGS 62) was first on scene off the coast of Tacloban, Republic of the Philippines, ensuring safe sea lanes in order for the George Washington Strike Group (GWSG) to assist the Third Marine Expeditionary Brigade in support of Operation Damayan. Bowditch serves as an oceanographic sampling and data collection of surface, mid-water and ocean floor parameters. When a significant storm event passes through an area, surveys of this nature are required to confirm bottom features and identify navigational hazards. She has been performing acoustical, biological, physical and geophysical surveys of the effected area since right after the Super Typhoon. “Bowditch has been a fantastic member of the Strike Group because in the wake of a major disaster like this, especially in an area that is known for shifting sands, it’s important that we get a very accurate description of the topographic levels of the ocean so that we can safely place
our relief-assistance ships, typically the amphibious ships as they get close to shore,” said Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery, commander, GWSG. “Bowditch was nearly first on scene and has been working the Leyte Gulf aggressively, and she’ll be wrapping up in the next 24 to 36 hours. A very impressive work ethic displayed by Bowditch has contributed significantly to the overall success of the maritime component of this disaster relief mission.”
TR’s Captain’s Cup Needs Coordinators
TR’S
GRAPES
HIGH OCTANE
Staff Commanding Officer Capt. Daniel Grieco Executive Officer Capt. Mark Colombo Public Affairs Officer Lt. Cmdr. Patrick Evans Media Officer Ensign Jack Georges
Photos by MC2 (SW) Gregory White
Senior Editor MCC Gino Carr
Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Airman Apprentice Valerie Jean Proulx takes samples from a JP-5 filter as Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Fuel) Airman Darneshia E. Eddings observes aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). The JP-5 filter is the last stage to make sure all jet fuel from the pump is clean before sending it to the flight deck.
Editor MC2 (SW) Brian G. Reynolds Layout MC3 (SW) Heath Zeigler Rough Rider Contributors Theodore Roosevelt Media MC2 (SW) Gregory White MC3 John Paul Kotara II Command Ombudsman Sabrina Bishop Linda Watford Michelle V. Thomas cvn71ombudsman@gmail.com
If you would like to see more photos of the week visit the share drive. S:Media/Photos/ Weekly Photos
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For more information contact EM1 Dinh at Dung.Dinh@cvn71.navy.mil
The Rough Rider is an authorized publication for the crew of USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Contents herein are not necessarily the views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Navy or the Commanding Officer of TR. All items for publication in the The Rough Rider must be submitted to the editor no later than three days prior to publication.
TR MOVIE SCHEDULE TUESDAY 0900 NOVEMBER 19 Ch. 66 OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN Ch. 67 DODGEBALL: UNDERDOG STORY Ch. 68 SINISTER
native american heritage month The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter. This legislation protected and preserved the inherent right of American Indian, Eskimo, Aleut, and Native Hawaiian people to “believe, express, and exercise their traditional religion.” In addition, it called for a yearly evaluation of the federal agencies’ policies and procedures as they affect the religious rights and cultural integrity of Native Americans.
IF YOU SEE ONE OF THESE. MAKE SURE YOU’RE WEARING ONE OF THESE.