Vinson Voice: 22 May 2012

I T I: T S | S B P P | M L

Vol 03 No 54 | May 22, 2012

Tiger Cruise

A Family Legacy STORY BY

MC2 (SW/AW) Byron C. Linder | Carl Vinson Staff Writer

M

achinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW/SS) Sean Walsh, assigned to Reactor Department’s RX Division, and his father retired Master Chief Machinist’s Mate (SS) Robert Walsh share many things in common beyond their last name and their pursuit of a career in Navy nuclear power. Today they both celebrate their birthdays, 30 years apart, and are ecstatic for the opportunity to be together aboard Carl Vinson.

Robert Walsh spent 23 years in the Navy. His career was Cover photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

spent primarily on submarines and teaching leadership courses for submarines. His first visit to a carrier has proven to be a memorable one.

“The only time I’ve ever seen a carrier before this was through a periscope,” Robert said with a chuckle. “This is a great crew and a great ship.”

Robert was aboard the attack submarine USS Parche (SSN 683) May 22, 1984, which was moored in Bremerton, Wash. That night, the nuclear reactor was shut down, shore CONTINUE ‘LEGACY’ ON PAGE 3

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Steel Beach Picnic

Photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer Photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer Photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

May 22, 2012

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FROM ‘LEGACY’ ON PAGE 1

power was hooked up, and the submarine was submerged next to the pier.

“You have a hatch with shore power cables and a telephone line. It’s my birthday, and I’m kind of bummed out that I’m here, so I try to call my wife. She doesn’t answer, and the corpsman tells me to try calling the hospital.”

A nurse answered the phone miles away at the Oakland Naval Hospital and reported both Robert’s wife and son had checked in. “’My son?! Wow. Holy cow,’” Robert recalled as his response.

MM1 Walsh was born six weeks ahead of schedule. When MM1 Walsh’s mother had gone in to the hospital for an exam, she was told she’d have to have a Caesarian section.

“She asked the doctor if she could do it before midnight, and the doctor said ‘Sure,’” Robert recalled.

Growing up with a Navy dad, MM1 Walsh acknowledged the difficulty of his father’s repeated absences, but noted it prepared him for the challenges of his own Navy career.

“He was there when he could be,” MM1 Walsh emphasized.

“We moved around a lot, and I got used to it. I didn’t really try to follow in his footsteps – I was going to be an electrician originally, but in boot camp I chose to be a mechanic because it fit my personality.”

“I’ll never forget the day I walked into the kitchen and there were papers on the table. He said, ‘Dad, I have to talk to you about these.’” Robert added. “I’m thinking it was financial aid paperwork to go to college, and it was paperwork to join the Navy and be a nuke.”

MM1 Walsh had been a Tiger aboard the attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700) and had the opportunity to attend his

Photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

father’s re-enlistment on the submarine’s bridge.

“After that, we submerged. Then we brought him over to the ballast control panel and let him pull the emergency blow levers and blew us to the surface. I think that’s what hooked him,” Robert joked.

MM1 Walsh’s decision made him part of a family legacy already lived by his father, his grandfather as a radioman, his mother who had been a hospital corpsman, and his uncle who was a submarine nuclear machinist’s mate. In 2007, the Walsh men reversed their Tiger/Sailor roles when MM1 Walsh hosted his father aboard the attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757).

“That Tiger Cruise was good. This one is totally freaking excellent,” Robert emphasized. “It’s not just the experience of watching airplanes, it’s being with this crew. These are great people and I’m happy he’s here.”

The opportunity to celebrate a birthday together is mutually appreciated.

“I haven’t spent a birthday with him in a couple of years and I was really happy everything came together the way it did,” MM1 Walsh said. “I’m happy to have my dad aboard and I can’t think of a better way to end this deployment.”

“There’s been so many we haven’t been together, and to be at sea on top of that is just awesome,” Robert added. “Seeing him work his butt off and hearing the guys and his Chief speak so highly of him means a lot to me as a Navy dad and a retired Master Chief.”

Tiger Cruises provide an in-depth look into a world many are not familiar with, and a return visit for those who served in the previous generation. But as the Walsh’s story emphasizes, it also strengthens the bonds of family.

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Tigers Cruise Around The Vinson Photo by: MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa A. Arzola | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

May 22, 2012

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Schedule of Events for Tuesday, May 22 0500 – 0700 0600 0700 – 1100

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Breakfast Reveille Air Wing Fly-Off / VIP COD from NASNI (To Be Determined) Cleaning Stations Tours #6 Lunch BINGO Ticket Sales (MWR Office) Scrub-Ex Flight Deck Tours #7 Helo Fly-Off Dinner Tours #8 BINGO TAPS / Tiger Central breakdown

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DIALOGUES D E C K P L A T E

“How willing the pilots were to serve information.

The pilots were very cordial, and answered all of my questions.”

“The number of stairs.”

Tiger A n t h o n y D a n i e l

Tiger S h e r r y B r a c k e n

“The planes breaking the sound barrier.”

“How professional everyone is. They went beyond expectations.”

Tiger J a c k W e v e r

Tiger C h r i s s y F o s t e r

BACK TO THE FUTURE POLAR EXPRESS NIM’S ISLAND ENCHANTED RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN DIARY OF A WIMPY KID THE 70 BACK TO THE FUTURE POLAR EXPRESS NIM’S ISLAND ENCHANTED RACE TO WITCH MOUNTAIN DIARY OF A WIMPY KID G-FORCE

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BAD NEWS BEARS WALL-E SECRETARIAT THE PRINCESS & THE FROG ELF HOP THE 70 HAPPY FEET 2 BAD NEWS BEARS WALL-E SECRETARIAT THE PRINCESS & THE FROG ELF HORTON HEARS A WHO

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THE FIGHTING SEABEES MAMMA MIA THE THREE MUSKETEERS PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL WE BOUGHT A ZOO THE FIGHTING SEABEES MAMMA MIA THE THREE MUSKETEERS PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL

STAFF

|PUBLISHER|

CAPT. KENT D. WHALEN

STAFF

CHANNEL 6

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TUESDAY

NOW PLAYING CARL VINSON CINEMA

| What Has Surprised You Most About Tiger Cruise? |

COMMANDING OFFICER

|EXECUTIVE EDITORS| LT. CMDR. ERIK REYNOLDS PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

LT. ERIK SCHNEIDER

ASSISTANT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

|EDITOR IN CHIEF|

MCC (SW/AW) MONICA R. NELSON MEDIA ALCPO

|MANAGING EDITOR|

MC2 (SW/AW) BYRON C. LINDER

|PHOTO EDITOR|

MC2 (SW/AW) JAMES R. EVANS

|GRAPHICS/LAYOUT| MC3 PHOENIX C. LEVIN

|STAFF WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS| MCSN (SW) GEORGE M. BELL