Hello NIMITZ Family and Friends,
I’m happy to report that we returned safely to port at NAS North Island on Sunday morning, 19 December, following an extremely successful Composite Training Unit Exercise. The entire ship/airwing/strike group team performed magnificently and raised the standard for warfighting capability. That great performance didn’t just happen by accident. It was due to a lot of hard work in preparing the ship and crew for the mission, and the intense dedication to mission accomplishment and success demonstrated by all hands. Congratulations are due to your NIMITZ Sailors for a job well done, and to you for your constant and indispensable support that makes it possible for us to go to sea and do our jobs out here.
While we were still at sea, I announced our “People of the Quarter” for the fourth quarter of 2004 and “People of the Year”. Those awardees are:
Blue Jacket of the Quarter---BMSN Erik Carlson
Junior Sailor of the Quarter---BM2 (SW/AW) Derek Evans
Senior Sailor of the Quarter---CTM1 (SW) Stephanie Wilkins
Blue Jacket of the Year---PHAN Shannon Renfroe
Junior Sailor of the Year---EM2 (SW) Zachary Goldwasser
Senior Sailor of the Year---ABH1 (AW/SW) Dudley Griffith
I also announced the names of the remaining 2004 Command Advancements. Those Sailors are:
AOAN (AW) Steven Buzzell advanced to AO3
ABFAN Claude Price advanced to ABF3
PHAN Shannon Renfroe advanced to PH3
AN Matthew Baalmann advanced to AM3
FN Rhonda Arispe advanced to PN3
ABF3 (AW) Maurice Marion advanced to ABF2
MM3 Steven Johnson advanced to MM2
BM3 (SW/AW) Lindsey Vazquez advanced to BM2
ABF2 (AW) Antonio Hernandez advanced to ABF1
A hearty congratulations and well-done to all our awardees and newly promoted Petty Officers.
Most of the crew is enjoying some well-deserved time off during the holidays and this will most likely be my last Family and Friends update for the year. I want to take the opportunity to wish you and your family happy holidays and all the best in 2005. It stands to be a busy and exciting year for the NIMITZ Team and I’ll count on your continued support to make our success possible.
Have a safe and joyous holiday season.
Warm regards and very respectfully,
CAPT Ted Branch
Commanding Officer
USS NIMITZ (CVN 68)
Date Posted/Last Updated:12/23/2004 2:48:55 AM