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Serving the Hampton Roads Navy Family
Vol. 20, No. 33 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 08.16.12
Roosevelt XO films web reality show By MC2 (SW) Christopher Church USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs
These Sailors give every ounce of energy they have every day for a job they don’t often receive any sort of recognition for.”
online To watch the episodes, visit http://on.fb.me/zLWDi8.
NEWPORT NEWS
USS Theodore Roosevelt’s (TR) (CVN 71) Executive Officer (XO), Cmdr. Mark Colombo, stars in the production of a new web series called “XO’s Dirtiest Jobs,” which began on July 17, where he showcases the dirtiest jobs his Sailors are performing to rebuild their aircraft carrier during the ship’s mid-life overhaul. Colombo began this project by working with TR’s overhead team, deck team, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Division, and most recently, TR’s mess team. The episodes are now airing on TR’s Facebook page. “These Sailors give every ounce of energy they have every day for a job they don’t often receive any sort of recognition for,” said Colombo. “This show is not only a way for these Sailors to see how much I appreciate their efforts, but it also shows the public how much our Sailors
are willing to push themselves to get this ship back out to the fleet and protecting our country.” The highlighted jobs are integral parts to the Big Stick’s continuation of its recent milestone of beginning “Crew Move Aboard,” a process allowing Sailors to work and sleep aboard the ship. TR also celebrated “Crew Eat Aboard,” its first meal served aboard since entering the shipyard in September 2009. “The hard work of our Sailors has allowed us to move along expediently in this process,” said Colombo. “I can even enjoy delicious meals from our ship’s Food Service Administration (FSA) aboard the ship now.” The show highlighted the FSA in the most recent episode, while Colombo learned
- Cmdr. Mark Colombo
■ kitchen duty TR’s Executive Officer Cmdr. Mark Colombo works with Sailors in TR’s mess decks and scullery while filming the web series “XO’s Dirtiest Jobs.”
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AN Alexandra Hassoldt
Virginia teen’s ‘Operation Hawkeye’ pays tribute to 30 fallen troops By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall, Jr.
online For more information, visit the project’s Facebook page at www. facebook.com/OperationHawkeye
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON
One of the most tragic moments of the war in Afghanistan has inspired an American teenager to honor the memory of 30 fallen service members and to help their families – by shooting hoops. Will Thomas, a 13-year-old boy from McLean, Va., has spearheaded “Operation Hawkeye” in an effort to raise money to help the families of fallen special operators – particularly, 30 American troops killed in an Aug. 6, 2011, CH-47 Chinook helicopter crash that also claimed the lives of eight Afghan forces and a military working dog. U.S. investigators concluded that a Taliban insurgent fired a rocketpropelled grenade that brought down the chopper as it attempted to land in Afghanistan’s Wardak province. Thomas recalled hearing about the crash from his father. “I was just outside shooting baskets with my dad … when it happened,” he said. “I was just thinking ‘Wow, that’s a horrible loss.’” Struck by the great loss of life, the 8th grader felt a strong urge to do something to help the grieving families’ healing process, in part because a fellow Mclean native, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Jonas B. Kelsall, was killed in the crash and left behind a widow. “My dad and I were talking and I
Courtesy photo Will Thomas, 13, of McLean, Va., has used his passion for shooting baskets to raise money for survivors of special operations service members killed in an Aug. 6, 2011 helicopter crash in Afghanistan.
said, ‘I’d really like to do something about this,’” Thomas explained. “He [asked], ‘Well what would you like to do?’ and we thought about it.” His father suggested shooting baskets, he said, because that’s what they were doing when they got the news. “So we just thought if there was a way we could work that into help, that would be great,” said Thomas. He didn’t have to go far to start Operation Hawkeye, shooting baskets in his driveway in exchange for donations to the families. He didn’t stop until he had raised nearly $80,000 for
CPO INDUCTION Chief petty officer selectees continue to go through the induction process that will last until the early fall when they officially are pinned with their anchors.
NAVY OSC MILESTONE The Navy’s Operational Stress Control (OSC) Program completed the 100th presentation of its Navy OSC for Leaders Course at NTC Great Lakes, Ill., Aug. 10.
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the Navy SEAL Foundation. He didn’t have to do anything special to prepare for his task, he said, but he admitted with a laugh that he was plenty sore afterward, having shot 20,317 baskets. “I shoot a lot, but obviously, it was more than I usually do,” he said. He named his effort Operation Hawkeye after the loyal pet of one of the victims. “There was a dog of one of the fallen Soldiers from Aug. 6,” he said. “At the Soldier’s funeral, the dog refused to leave the casket. So, when I saw the article about it, I thought that would be a cool name for it.” Thomas has set this year’s Operation Hawkeye goal at $310,000, an amount he hopes to raise from donations and pledges. “There were 31 members of the team that fell – 30 members and one highly trained dog. So, we just added the zeroes to it, because it was a significant number,” he said. With success from his last fundraiser, Thomas said he feels encouraged and intends to continue to raise money in honor of the fallen troops “as long as people are willing to donate.”
PUT YOUR CONSTRUCTION SKILLS TO THE TEST TO BENEFIT CHKD The 9th annual DuckTape Regatta is set for Aug. 18 at Willoughby Harbor in Norfolk.The family-friendly event provides participants with plywood, fasteners and duct tape, with which they have four hours to create a seaworthy boat. » see C1
VICE CHIEF VISITS IKE, HOLDS MEETINGS WITH LEADERSHIP By MC1 Nathanael Miller USS Dwight D. Eisenhower Public Affairs
USS EISENHOWER, AT SEA
Vice Chief of Naval Operations (VCNO) Adm. Mark Ferguson visited the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike) for a two-day visit, highlighted by an all hands call and meetings with leadership, Aug. 12 - 13. As part of the visit, the VCNO and Navy Total Force/ Manpower, Personnel, Education and Training (MPT&E) Fleet Master Chief, Fleet Master Chief (SW/AW/SCW) Scott A. Benning, took time to thank Sailors for their efforts in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and extended a “thank you” to those Sailors’ families back home. “You are critical to our nation’s security and make a difference daily,” Ferguson told Ike Sailors. “The importance of what you do to help protect America cannot be overstated. I know how very hard you work, and I recognize the stress that puts on you and your families – thank you for your dedication and sacrifice.” Ferguson and Benning both imparted to the Sailors the importance of adaptability and flexibility required in today’s
You are critical to our nation’s security and make a difference daily.” - VCNO Adm. Mark Ferguson
global environment. They emphasized that the Navy was changing to meet new demands and that force structure, manning, training and retention would align accordingly to ensure continual readiness. “The future Navy will be smaller and leaner, but will remain flexible and technologically advanced,” said Ferguson. “Today’s Navy has never been more relevant, or in demand, and I expect that will not change.” Benning echoed these sentiments. “Today’s Sailors are the best trained and most dedicated men and women to wear the uniform of our Navy,” he said. “Everywhere I go around the world, I’m in awe of the Sailors in our Navy today. They are dedicated, devoted and determined to get the job done under any
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