Nimitz News

Dear Families & Friends, Well, we have arrived in the final month of our deployment. I know that plans are in full swing back there for our much-anticipated homecoming. Your Sailors and Marines just completed the most successful 3M (Maintenance and Material Management) inspection ever done by an aircraft carrier and two hard-earned and well-deserved port visits in Hong Kong and Singapore. I’m very proud of them, and you all should be too. We still have work to do out here, however, before we head to Hawaii and, ultimately, San Diego. We have just arrived back in the Bay of Bengal where we are currently participating in the exercise Malabar 07-2 with navy ships from India, Singapore, Australia and Japan. When we wrap up this exercise in a few days, we’ll head back through the Straits of Malacca for one last time. Many of you have probably heard that a brief stop in Guam has been added to our transit back home. Guam will not be a liberty port for your Sailors and Marines, the ship will be stopping there to pick up aircraft for transfer back to San Diego. We expect to only be pier side in Guam for the better part of a day. This unscheduled stop will not impact the ship’s schedule – we will still arrive in Hawaii to pick up Tigers as planned and our return to home port has not changed. Speaking of Tigers, to date, more than 1,300 friends and family members will be meeting the ship in Hawaii and joining us for the transit home. By now, all of you should have received scheduling information from your Sailor or Marine. If not, please contact them via email or contact your Family Support Group and Ombudsmen team. The Tiger Cruise committee has lined up six full days of events, tours and activities. Special thanks go out to the LCDR Mike Salka in Operations who headed up the planning efforts – no small feat. While in Hawaii, many of you will have the chance to attend a luau at Paradise Cove. If you haven’t heard about the opportunity, be sure to ask your Sailor or Marine about it. MWR has arranged for a wonderful event. We’re all very excited about our pending homecoming. But, I’ve asked your Sailors and Marines to stay focused on the task at hand. For all of you back home counting down the days and putting the final touches on the celebratory plans, thank you. You continue to do an outstanding job supporting us from home. Without your love and ongoing efforts, we couldn’t succeed. I truly believe that we have the easy job out here at sea. Those of you who remain at home and take care of families and homes have the hard job. You are all in our thoughts and hearts every day, and we are all looking forward to coming home and seeing you on the pier.