Nimitz News

Hello NIMITZ Family and Friends,
In the three weeks since my last email to you we have continued to support Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Maritime Security Operations (MSO) here in the Arabian Gulf, and we were able to make a port call in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. As always, your Sailors have been working hard under difficult conditions with a fantastic attitude and a sense of purpose. On this Sunday, we are back at sea conducting flight ops. As you know, the carrier does all the “blocking and tackling” required to keep the airport running, the logistics flowing, the command and intelligence support centers humming, the crew healthy, fed, trained, and job-satisfied, and the whole thing protected against any threat. Lately in addition to OIF and MSO, we have been busy with several engagement events with coalition partners and Theater Security Cooperation efforts.

At the end of August, the Naval Air Forces Maintenance Material Management (3M) Team came out to give us an assessment. This is an area every department of the ship has worked extremely hard in since our initial assist visit last fall. At that time our program was not up to speed and there was a lot of room for improvement. I’m very pleased to say that all the hard work paid off. NIMITZ had outstanding results on the assessment--we really hit it out of the park. It is difficult for me to convey the extent of effort required to produce this result. One has to keep in mind the fact that the crew was already working hard on the full-time job of supporting the wing and embarked staffs conducting our primary missions. The improvement in our 3M capability was accomplished in addition to regular tasking. To the 3M Officer, LCDR Bruce Fauver, and all his folks, I’d like to say congratulations and very well done.

Following the 3M assessment, we pulled into Dubai for a well-deserved five-day port visit. Dubai is best described as modern, bustling, and under construction. It was my first visit in five years and I couldn’t believe the rate of growth the city has experienced. We were able to moor the ship pierside making access much more convenient for the crew. The port facility there has an area we call the Sandbox. It is just off the pier and offers numerous food vendors, merchants, recreation areas, laundry facilities, phone access, and many other services for the crew. Occasionally under certain force protection conditions, liberty has been limited to the Sandbox. On this visit, however, the crew had the opportunity go into town and many chose to take overnight liberty. Dubai has a lot to offer both in MWR tours and in just enjoying the many sights and sounds of the city. It was a good time and as always, this crew performed superbly as ambassadors of their Navy and Nation with no liberty incidents.

The Chief Petty Officer transition process in full swing. CPO Selectees will pin on and don their hats on 16 Sept. Our CPO Mess, led by Command Master Chief Chris Penton, has done an outstanding job in the transition and everyone is excited to make the selections official. Congratulations to all the selectees:

Alba, Jerome Z ABFC
Ayonon, Mariano G. EMC
Baxter, Sydney II MMNC
Calloway, Rosella YNC
Channer, Donald E. ATC
Collantes, Ricardo M. AMC
Dazell, Justin ATC
Dimapilis, Roy T. SKC
Doyle, James P. DCC
Duenes, Anthony AZC
Dunagan, Brent C. ETC
Espejo, Hector SKC
Gamet, Mary F. AOC
Garcia, Michael A. ACC
Gill, Maria LNC
Grande, Maricris AMEC
Griffith, Dudley K. ABHC
Halkin, Jeremy S. ETC
Harkins, James PNC
Irineo, Dodie PNC
Johnson, Thomas R. ITC
Lagrada, Nestor G. EMC
Leonard, Mary PNC
Loomis, Michael ATC
Madrigal, Isidoro G. MMC
Martin, Stuart R. EMC
McCarty, Robert T. DCC
Melendez, Victor AEC
Mueller, Jared D. ABHC
Nicols, Jeffrey W. GMC
Oconnor, Robinson M. Jr FCC
Pabon, Elbert ABHC
Robertson, Douglas ATC
Runnion, Shawn ADC
Schmidt, Gary AOC
Scutt, Joseph ATC
Shanafelt, Kevin FCC
Shivers, Tracie L. YNC
Snyder, Brian W. SKC
Sosa, Ismael ABHC
Stokes, Larry ACC
Thrailkill, Vincent AMC
Tionquiao, Rodolfo V SKC
Villahermosa, Aristotle T. ABHC
Wenrich, Michael SKC
Wharton, Cynthia MAC
Winfield, Terrance D. YNC
Wright, Richard J. II ATC

We have all been shocked and amazed at the damage to the southern US caused by Hurricane Katrina. Many crewmembers have family and friends in the areas affected by the storm and there were a lot of tense moments as the crew tried to make contact. We felt pretty helpless out here as we watched all the suffering on television. Wanting to help out, the crew raised over $10,500.00 for Navy Relief to benefit the Hurricane Katrina survivors. For all of us who have families in the region, I’d like to say thanks for your thoughts and prayers for the safety, comfort, and support of all those affected by the storm.

As I write this today, September 11th, I reflect on the day four years ago when our world was changed forever by the terrorist acts in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. Our activities and presence here in the Arabian Gulf highlight the fact that this will be a long, difficult road. At 0846 this morning, the Command Chaplain, Father Bob Keane, talked to the entire crew and we observed a moment of silence in recognition of those who suffered four years ago and for those who continue the struggle today. This is a fight we have to win.

Finally today I want to announce that our transit plan for the return to San Diego has been approved and it is what we were expecting. Due to its classification, I can’t put the ports or dates in this email, but the family support group and command ombudsmen have the plan and can fill in the blanks. It is a little too early to have our minds on coming home, but with this information people can make plans for joining on our return port visits and for Tiger Cruise. Once again I want to thank all of you for the fantastic job you are doing on the homefront. We have definitely turned the corner and this deployment is on the downhill side. Just like we tell the crew out here though, this is not the time to drop the pack. We have to stay focused on our tasks to ensure that we bring everyone to those great reunions.

Warm regards and very respectfully,
CAPT Ted Branch
Commanding Officer
USS NIMITZ (CVN 68)