Christmas 2010 Vinson Voice

VOL 1 / NO 56

December 25, 2010

Story by MC2 Byron C. Linder USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

Christmas Eve traditionally commences with families gathered around a festively-illuminated tree, with each person sometimes opening a token present as a prelude to the next day’s customary Christmas Day celebration.

A significantly scaled-up interpretation of the ritual occurred on board Carl Vinson yesterday as USNS Henry J. Kaiser (T-AO 187) provided Sailors with 79 pallets of mail, weighing more than 50,000 pounds, just in time for Christmas.

Lt. Ben Razon, Vinson’s Principal Assistant for Logistics, explained the plethora of mail arriving the day before Christmas.

“It’s a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for everybody. We didn’t pull into port and there was limited capacity for the ships to get our stuff to us. The priority was food, so the next was to get mail.”

Getting the mail from the Kaiser to Vinson Sailors’ hands required multiple activities, coordinated into a string of concurrent events like Christmas lights encircling a tree. Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 15 Seahawks conducted a series of trips to the Kaiser and back to Vinson in a multi-hour vertical replenishment. Flight deck personnel expeditiously moved the pallets to the aircraft elevator, where hanger bay personnel stood by to forklift and hand-truck the pallets off and stage them in Hangar Bay 2.

“It’s pretty busy out here and we’ve got a whole lot of pallets of mail to get to the departments. This is going to literally take all day,” said Yeoman 3rd Class Logan Wright. “We’re getting a lot moved in a really short time. It’s much better than we expected. We expected it to be a lot See`CHRISTMAS` page 2

The Carl Vinson Voice is an internal document produced by and for the crew of the USS Carl Vinson and their families. Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government or the Departments of Defense or the Navy and do not imply any endorsement thereby.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Luis Ramirez

2

Carl Vinson Voice

`CHRISTMAS` Cont.

STAFF

more hectic, but it’s been running pretty smoothly.”

Vinson’s mail clerks were ready to receive the pallets and began the formidable task of opening the pallets and sorting the individual boxes and envelopes.

In a cordoned-off area, Sailors worked to unpack the pallets, scan the barcodes for each piece of mail and organize the pieces by department.

“I’m hoping some of this is for me,” laughed Logistics Specialist 1st Class (SCW) Anntionette Banks as she quickly marked boxes for sorting into departments. “We knew this was coming, and this will bring up spirits a bit since we can’t be home for Christmas.”

Mail orderlies enlisted help from their departments to bring the sorted mail in multiple trips throughout the day.

“I’m expecting a couple of boxes from my family, some cookies and some presents. I’m going to have way more cookies than I can possibly eat,” said Airman Tyler Stjernstrom, assigned to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 25.

For Sailors who didn’t get their mail in time for Christmas, Logistics Specialist 1st Class (SW) Yesenia Ramirez, a Los Angeles native, offered the comfort of a short wait before the next mail call.

“A lot of people are going to get mail today, but this isn’t all of it,” Ramirez said.

“The next time we get mail the 29th of this month, so whatever doesn’t come today will be here very soon.”

Publisher

Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey Commanding Officer Executive Editors

Lt. Cmdr. Erik Reynolds

Public Affairs Officer

Lt. Erik Schneider

Deputy Public Affairs Officer

Managing Editor MC2 Ashley Van Dien Photo Editor MC2 Adrian White Layout and Design MC3 Patrick Green Staff Writers/Photographers MC2 Byron C. Linder MC3 Lori Bent MC3 Travis K. Mendoza MC3 Luis Ramirez MC3 Jessica Robertson MC3 Christopher K. Hwang

Shipmates Celebrate the Season

Sailors from Dental pose with their Christmas tree donned with various toothbrushes, floss and other accessories. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Christopher Hwang.

Story by MC3 Lori Bent USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

Blue water and sunshine don’t typically equal acres of snow and stockings over fireplaces, but it still looks a lot like Christmas this morning onboard Carl Vinson.

That’s due in no small part to the hours of work put in by hundreds of Sailors who’ve been in the holiday spirit for a few weeks.

Many have transformed their work spaces with green trees, decorations, garlands and lights, several divisions planned special events for their Sailors to celebrate this holiday together.

“We have a lot of Sailors who are away from their families for the first time,” said Logistic’s Specialist 1st Class (AW/SW) Maggie Applewhite from Supply Department S-1 Division. “We may not be with our families right now, but we have each other.”

Supply Department S-1 and S-8 Divisions orchestrated a special Christmas Eve dinner, a movie and video game night and caroling in the hangar bay for their Sailors.

“Holidays are for families,” said Logistic’s Specialist Seaman Justin Mc Lauren from S-8. “Today we are not just Shipmates, we are family.”

Vinson’s Medical Department decked the halls with Christmas decorations

and played carols to celebrate the season.

They are having a “White Elephant” gift exchange and Dental Department will be trading presents the “Secret Santa” way.

“We planned ahead and decided to do something special for each other for Christmas,” said Hospital Corpsman Holli Daniels from Dental. “This way we know everyone gets a gift for Christmas.”

For Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Kara Fennell from Medical, celebrating the holiday with her Shipmates means an increase in teamwork, camaraderie and morale.

“We [in Medical] have been through a lot together. We laugh and cry, have happy and sad moments together,” said Fennell.

“It makes it special to be able to spend Christmas day with our Shipmates.”

“Even though we don’t have our families here, we have formed a special bond from the experiences that we’ve had together,” added Daniels. “When we’re here we’re family, not just for Christmas but for the deployment too.”

Daniels added that having a strong support system at sea is not only beneficial to Sailors, but their families at home as well.

“Our families are happy knowing that we can celebrate some form of Christmas,” said Daniels. “They know we’re not alone or sad.”

“We are happy and we feel the Christmas spirit,” added Fennell. “We have each other right now, that’s all we can ask for.”

3

December 25, 2010

Sending Love Home

Aviation Structural Mechanic 1st Class (AW/SW) Jesus Andrade from Strike Fighter Squadron 25 is recorded on a video camera reading a book to his child as part of the “United Through Reading” campaign. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Travis K. Mendoza.

Story by MC2 Byron C. Linder USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

“And he puzzled and puzzled ’till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?”

That classic from Dr. Seuss is 53 years old, but it’s brand new to many children of Sailors deployed aboard Vinson, who are hearing it for the first time this holiday season thanks to a program called “United Through Reading (UTR).”

In the ship’s museum, Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 Sailors are using the UTR program to read stories, like the classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” to their children.

The program, explains active duty coordinator and San Diego native Religious Programs

Specialist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Ehrmar Macaraeg, brings a closer connection using an activity.

“I love the program because it helps my Shipmates connect to their loved ones,” he said. “It helps deployed Sailors deal with separation from their loved ones and helps them connect and bond,” said Macaraeg The program, available via signup at the Religious Ministries office at 2-126-4-L, is available to Sailors with children ages 1-18 free of charge and with unlimited repeat visits.

“We film the Sailor, make a DVD, and they have a pamphlet they can leave a personal message to their loved ones on. We send it with the DVD that day or the next,” explained Macaraeg.

Macaraeg noted a spike in interest as the holidays grew closer, with Dr. Seuss and

Christmas books being the most popular.

“Response has been great.

We started around late November, and we have seen over 60 people in the past two weeks. We have books for all age ranges. It benefits the Sailor and the children. The parent is a role model, and being read to helps academically.”

UTR requires coordinators on multiple levels to ensure the program’s continued success.

Chief Religious Programs Specialist (SW/AW/FMF) Enya George acts as the command point of contact for the program’s staff. A civilian homefront coordinator assists with the library’s development on board Vinson, and promotes UTR with families before and throughout the deployment as part of the overall family support infrastructure.

Macaraeg added the effort required to make the program

as accessible as possible required outside assistance.

“We have support from the air wing that covers our weekends and night shifts,” Macaraeg said.

Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Eric Mercier, a Green Bay native assigned to Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron 125, explained the importance of maintaining connections to his family.

“This is my first deployment where I’ve had a daughter. I heard about the program on my last deployment and I figured I’d give this a shot,” Mercier said. “I figured this was a good way to keep in touch with her so she can see my face and hear my voice so she knows who I am when we come back.

It’s something we can’t really do through the internet, and a great thing to have for the holidays or for anytime to give your kids a little pick-me-up.”

4

Carl Vinson Voice

Family for the Holidays

Ship’s Serviceman Seaman Tyriek Lyons and Ship’s Serviceman Seaman Terrel Lyons.

cial advantage when adjusting to ship life.

“It was really awesome when we first got here, because we both had an automatic friend, someone to talk to if we were feeling lonely,” said Brittani. “We might get on each other’s nerves, but at the end of the day, we’re still close.”

Ship’s Serviceman Seaman Tyriek Lyons, 27, a Sailor in Supply Department S-3 Division, described how it feels to have his brother, Ship’s Serviceman Seaman Terrel Lyons, 20, on the same ship—and even in the same department and division— for the holidays.

“It helps a lot. It’s definitely, without a doubt, a great support system to have,” said Tyriek. “I don’t have to call home and say I wish he was here. He is my Christmas present.”

Terrel joined the Navy September 2008 and came on board Vinson February 2009. When his brother showed an interest in the Navy, Terrel was there to share the experience

to a yeoman at A-school, who talked to the detailer, who promised we wouldn’t be separated. Then we were USS Carl Vinson Staff Writer offered [orders to] the Vinson.”

The Law sisters, just like the other It’s the holiday season, a time syn- siblings on board Vinson, had a speonymous with Christmas carols, a tree with all the trimmings, the smell of gingerbread and…family. And for some Sailors celebrating this holiday season on board Carl Vinson, that family is only a passageway or ladderwell away.

There are several sets of siblings living and working on board Carl Vinson, and as the ship embarks on a combat deployment, these siblings will be spending the holiday season in each other’s company.

Yeoman Seaman Jennifer Law, 23, of Operations Department OY Division and sister Yeoman 3rd Class Brittani Law, 22, of Reactor Department RX Division, are together for the holidays in part thanks to a compassionate Shipmate and the sisters’ strong desire to stay together.

“We at least wanted to be on the same coast,” said Jennifer. “I talked Yeoman Seaman Jennifer Law and Yeoman 3rd Class Brittani Law. Story and photos by MC3 Jessica Robertson

5

December 25, 2010

and knowledge he’d gained, but let Tyriek make his own decision. Now, both brothers are embarking on a new experience.

“This is our first [deployment] and it’s amazing that we’ll get to see so much together,” Terrel said.

Family is also very near and dear to Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jenna Rainbolt, 20, of Operations Department OI Division and her brother, Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class (AW/SW) Richard Rainbolt, 23, of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 113.

“We come from a very big family and we’re very family-oriented,” said Jenna. “Sometimes it’s hard to get everyone together in one place. It’s a blessing to have at least one person from my family here for the holidays.”

This will be the first Christmas in five years that Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Greg Getchell of Supply Department S-5 Division and his brother, Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Stephen Getchell of Combat Systems Department CS-8 Division will spend together due to

Operations Specialist 2nd Class Jenna Rainbolt and Aviation Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class (AW/SW) Richard Rainbolt.

different work and leave schedules previously.

Greg was already on board Vinson and was nearing the end of his enlistment. When Stephen mentioned he was up for orders and Vinson

Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Greg Getchell and Interior Communications Electrician 3rd Class Stephen Getchell.

was one of his choices, Stephen convinced Greg to re-enlist so the brothers could be together.

The Getchell brothers agreed it will be nice to finally spend the holidays together, “plus, our mom only has to send one care package instead of two,” joked Greg.

Stephen commented that having his brother on board Vinson means there’s no shortage of entertainment.

“It’s great if I’m bored, because he can keep me amused for hours,” he said. “He’s a big prankster and the comedic moments are never-ending.”

For Jenna Rainbolt, having her brother on board during this deployment has already helped a great deal.

“I’ve got it good right now,” said Jenna. “I walk out of my berthing, take two steps, and he’s there.”

The Lyons brothers agreed that having the other close by will be an excellent support system, both during the holidays and throughout the rest of the deployment.

“It’s like having your best friend in the world right here on the ship,” said Tyriek, “Someone who knows all about you. He keeps me motivated.

He knows me. I can go to him with my problems and he knows my intentions and my character. It’s easy to just be me around him.”

6

Carl Vinson Voice

Deckplate Dialogues

“What is the best Christmas gift you’ve ever given or received?”

“A little stuffed dog named Kat my grandmother gave me for Christmas when I was 16. It was right around the time my dog ran away and it meant a lot to me.”

Information Systems Technicial 3rd Class Clarence Thompkins

“My brother, sister and I gave my parents a train trip to Washington, D.C. and all of us went on the trip together. It made my mom cry.”

Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW) Jim Marcussen

“The gift of seeing my sister for the first time in seven years. We were in foster care and got separated.”

Personnel Specialist Seaman Reanna Bostic