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Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Happenings A Sailor’s Christmas ~ Twas the night before Christmas, and he lived in a crowd, In a 40 man berthing, with shipmates so loud. I had come down the exhaust stack with presents to give, And to see just who in this rack did live. I looked all about, and a strange sight I did see, No tinsel, no presents, not even a tree. No stockings were hung, just boots close at hand, On the bulkhead hung pictures of far distant lands. He had medals and badges and awards of all kind, And a sobering thought came into my mind. For this place was different, it was so dark and dreary, I had found the home of a Sailor, this I could see clearly. The Sailor lay sleeping, silent and alone, Curled up in his rack, dreaming of home. The face was so gentle, the berthing in such good order, But not how I pictured a United States Sailor. Was this the hero whom I saw on TV? Defending his country so we all could be free? I realized the families that I’ve seen this night, Owed their lives to these Sailors who were willing to fight. Soon round the world, the children would play, And grownups would celebrate a new Christmas Day. They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year, Because of the Sailors, like the one lying here. I couldn’t help but wonder how many lay alone, On a cold Christmas Eve, on a sea far from home. The very thought brought a tear to my eye, I dropped to my knees and started to cry. The sailor awakened and I heard a rough voice, “Santa, don’t cry, for this life is my choice. Defend the seas this day, the peace do I keep.” The sailor then rolled over and drifted to sleep, I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep. I kept watch for hours so silent, so still, And we both shivered from the night’s cold chill. I didn’t want to leave on that cold, dark night, This guardian of honor so willing to fight. Then the Sailor rolled over and with a voice soft and pure, Whispered, “Carry on Santa, it’s Christmas..All is Secure”
-Unknown
Enterprise V Basketball Team Highlights Date Opponet
Team opp Win Loss
11/15
Bainbridge
50
11/16
barry
11/21
Roosevelt BS 47
11/22
Wasp
52
15 28
1 1
35 57
Q: Name the tool which allows you to see fire through smoke?
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DC Question of the week
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Eisenhower
61
55
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11/29
Eisenhower V 40
31
1
0
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Mason
11/30
Eisenhower
61 51
47
32
1
1
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The Shuttle is published and printed daily underway and bi-weekly in port by the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) Media Department, FPO AE 09543-2810. This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Please direct all story ideas, questions and comments to MC1 (SW) Steve Smith at smithsw@CVN65.navy.mil.
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Commanding Officer Capt. William C. Hamilton Jr.
Executive Officer Capt. Gregory C. Huffman
Command Master Chief Public Affairs Officer ABCM (AW/SW) Eric Young Lt. Cmdr. Sarah T. Self-Kyler Editors MC3(SW) Jeffry A. Willadsen MCSN Eric Brann MCSN Harry Gordon
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
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Santa makes a pit stop at USS Enterprise Itwasonestopthatwasn’treportedontheNorthAmericanAerospace Defense Command’s (NORAD) Santa Tracker last night when Santa made a pit stop at 12:03 a.m. on the USS Enterprise flightdeck.Santa,havingneverlandedonthefamedBigE’sdeck, couldn’tsurpasshisfinalopportunityandmadeanexcellentlanding, catching the third wire.
AsthecatapultpreparedtolaunchSanta’ssleighandreindeerinto the air, every ship in port could hear Santa cry:“Merry Christmas to all Navy Sailors- and to all a gooooooodddd nigggghhhhtttt!”
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Religious Ministries Caters Care Photo and story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gregory White
NORFOLK– The Religious Ministries Division (RMD) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65) provides spiritual services, family services and counseling to the men and women who live and work on the ship, both in port and underway. Religious Programs Specialist 2nd Class Ralph A. Oliver II said a variety of religious services are offered at various times throughout the week while Enterprise is underway. RMD serves everyone regardless of background or religious preference. “We cater to the needs of this crew,” said Religious Programs Specialist 1st Class Manuel Ortiz. “We offer religious services, but of course, we also offer counseling.” If service members are dealing with stress, trouble back home, or anything at all, they are invited to talk about it with the Chaplains and Sailors of RMD. “The beauty about talking to one of us or the chaplain about problems you may be having is that our conversations are confidential,” said Oliver. “The only time we would ever share something with your chain of command is if it is detrimental to yourself or someone else.” RMD can often help alleviate a Sailor’s hardship. They have access to a variety of resources and, if they are unable to assist you, can direct you to someone who can help. They offer religious studies and church services, counseling, and organize activities, such as the United through Reading program, a ser-
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
vice for deployed parents to record themselves reading to their children. These recordings are then sent home. “We’re not just here for you,” said Ortiz. “We are here for your family also.” RMD also handles all messages from the American Red Cross and relays the messages to the Sailors they involve. Ortiz said the news is not always good, but it’s not always bad either. “There have been times when we have been able to facilitate an AmCross message for a Sailor whose wife was in labor. That Sailor can then come up here and talk to his wife,” said Ortiz. “Sometimes on deployment we even have the capacity and equipment to allow a Sailor to see his wife and baby.” RMD takes care of the ship’s library as well. Sailors are welcome to check out books, relax, and use the 29 computers with internet service the library offers. “I got lucky,” said Aviation Ordnanceman Xochilt A. Diaz, an Enterprise Sailor, as she referred to her temporary assigned duty (TAD) to RMD. “I get to see a different perspective because in my rate I usually deal with bombs and missiles,” said Diaz. “What we do in ordnance is work with weapons, but what we do here in RMD is try to improve lives through fellowship. There are so many types of religions and we offer stuff that I didn’t even know we had, for everyone from Buddhists to Baptists. I guess it just gives me a different perspective on how people live on this ship. You can’t just think about yourself. All these people work for each other.” RMD is open 24/7 on deployment and can be found at compartment 03-189-2-Q, or reached at J-Dial 7856.
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Community Relations Photo and story by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Gregory White
NORFOLK- One car after another turned off of Newtown Rd. in Virginia Beach and onto a long driveway between a church and other buildings. At the beginning of the drive was a big sign that read “Sentara.” At the end of the drive was a nursing home. Signs were posted around the facility that read “Mobile Meals-Pick Up”. The drivers knew they were in the right place. They pulled around to the back of the nursing home and were greeted by the smiling faces of the employees. The drivers left with arms full of meals from the pantry and were assigned a delivery route. USS Enterprise Sailors take time out of their busy schedules twice a month while in port to volunteer at the Mobile Meals organization in Virginia Beach. Doree Richardson, the volunteer program coordinator for Mobile Meals, said that Mobile Meals is part of the senior services offered through Sentara, a not-forprofit hospital organization. “Meals on wheels is a program where we go to a facility such as Sentara hospital and we pick up meals to deliver to those that are sick or shut in, those that are not in a mental state to take care of themselves and the elderly,” said Navy Counselor 1st Class Linda H. Gilmore, an Enterprise Sailor and volunteer. “It is important because we’re taking care of those elderly people that can’t really get out much and have no one else to help them out,” said Religious Programs Specialist
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2nd Class Ralph A. Oliver II, coordinator of all community relations (COMREL) activities for Enterprise. “I remember this one guy on one of my routes that talked to me for twenty minutes,” said Oliver. “I still had two other meals to drop off, but he was just so excited to have someone to talk to. He said I reminded him of someone he knew and that he was so grateful for what we do for [the elderly]. Even after all he had done when he was younger and for his country, it meant a lot that someone was coming out to support him now that he couldn’t do it anymore in his old age.” “He actually told me this,” said Oliver as he smiled at the memory. Oliver said that when Enterprise first started the Meals on Wheels program there were only a few volunteers, but now the response is overwhelming. “The majority of our volunteers are military,” said Richardson. “Enterprise Sailors come twice of month. They’ve been doing this at least as long as I have. Different people have been in charge,
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but Enterprise has been a great help to Mobile Meals.” “I’ve been doing Meals on Wheels for five years,” said Gilmore. Richardson and Gilmore both said that they have developed a friendship through their commitment to serving others, and both ladies are big on giving back. Richardson is more than happy to write letters of recommendation and give certificates or documentation for the evaluations of those sailors who participate in Mobile Meals. “You are out here helping others, so I am more than happy to help you,” said Richardson. “There are so many different opportunities to give back,” said Gilmore. “During deployments, depending on what part of the world we are in, we may get an opportunity to paint a school, paint a playground, volunteer at different hospitals or children’s’ centers. We definitely will always have the opportunity to give back.” “Keep up the good work Enterprise,” said Richardson.
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