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Posted on 09/05/2003 3:36:30 AM PDT by snippy_about_it
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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The USS Tarawa LHA-1 by private invitation from the ship's OA (Meteorology Office) crew and FReeper bkwells  Welcome Home Brian and the entire Tarawa crew Link to USS Tarawa news stories On January 6th, 2003 FReeper bkwells (Brian Wells), Senior Chief aboard the USS Tarawa LHA-1, posted a thread on FR telling everyone that he was about to be shipped out and I took note of it. I made a decision to do my best at supporting Brian and his crew in his immediate unit, the OA department on board the USS Tarawa LHA-1 Amphibious Assault Ship. I contacted Brian initially by FReepmail and a wonderful relationship began with Brian and his immediate unit the OA Division on the Tarawa. We were in contact throughout their six month deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom and continued after they arrived home July 13th. It was an emotional roller coaster ride as I know we all felt during that time. During their six month deployment to OIF there was a period of 107 days that the ship did not have a port call. As the Tarawa headed for home after their outstanding performance in OIF, an invitation arrived in early June to come to San Diego for a private tour of the ship and to meet the OA crew. I was ecstatic to say the least. I immediately called SAM. Then two more invitations came from the crew. Who could say no. LOL. We began planning right away. Brian told us the ship would go into dry dock in late September and encouraged us to come before that would happen. After over 3 years on board the Tarawa, Brian would be moving on. He is now at NAS North Island for a couple of years of well-deserved shore duty and attending classes. The Tarawa came home to San Diego from OIF July 13th. Logistically between the Tarawa, SAM and I we came up with a date of September 2nd through the 4th to be in San Diego. We continued to hear from Brian and the crew and made plans for taking them all out to dinner. Our personal tour of the ship was scheduled for Wednesday. Jeff and Tom thought it would be best to have James pick us up at the hotel and drive us onto base and to the ship. As Tom put it "Chauffeur service and no chance of getting lost!" After the tour we planned on getting together at a called Claim Jumpers near Grossmont." We anxiously awaited the travel date, hearing from the Tarawa crew up to the last minute. It was hard to believe they seemed as excited as we were. As far as not letting you all in on it ahead of time, we know just as in life, with the military anything can happen. We decided to wait until our trip was completed and then report back as soon as we returned to Oregon and prepared the thread for Friday the 5th. SAM and Snippy's Diary Tuesday September 2nd, 2003 Snippy was wheels up at 7:04 a.m. EST Tuesday morning, SAM was wheels up at 7:10 a.m. PSTW and we were winging our way to San Diego. SAM arrived at 9:15 a.m. and Snippy at 9:55 a.m. We missed each other at the gate, both of our individual flights were early and we were at different gates than planned. SAM traveled with one carry on and headed down to the baggage claim area to find snippy at the baggage carousel with two huge suitcases and a carry on! Having found each other and retrieving the luggage we headed for the shuttle to the car rental office. We picked up the car and headed for the hotel in Mission Bay. One of the Tarawa crew, Rebecca would be on duty Wednesday and not be able to attend the dinner so we made plans in advance of the trip to take her and her husband out to dinner our first night in. We called once them once we arrived at the hotel to get directions and that evening we picked them up and headed to the restaurant of their choice, which was Miguel's on Coronado Island. Becca and her husband were very gracious and had flowers for snippy upon our arrival and we had beef jerky for them. Then off to dinner.  Crossing the beautiful Coronado Bridge is where we got our first glance of the USS Tarawa. We ate dinner outside while birds terrorized Becca, LOL. I don't suppose it had anything to do with SAM throwing tortilla chips around her chair. (He can be soooo bad.) We spent a very nice evening with a very sweet couple and enjoyed pleasant conversation. We drove them home after dinner and then we headed back to the hotel. Much to my chagrin SAM talked me into watching a movie called "28 Days Later", UGH!!! If you don't know what that movie is about just look up Zombies on google. Yuck, yuck, yuck. Wednesday September 3rd, 2003 The big day James was scheduled to arrive at 0830 to pick us up at the hotel. We awoke early, had breakfast on the balcony and headed down to the hotel's business center to check in with the Foxhole for a brief moment. As we were headed down the elevator, James called my cell phone to tell me he had arrived and we told him we were on our way. Just as we walked out James pulled up and off we went to the Navy Base.  Our "chauffeur" James from Texas Before parking at the base James gave us the nickel tour of the base. We saw the base movie theater, the commissary and some other ships docked there. It is evident the base takes the terrorism threat seriously because their were concrete barriers, tire puncture strips and armed guards at the many checkpoints.  The Hospital Ship Mercy James searched for a spot to park that was below E7. It is quite a long walk to the ship and bless his heart he was trying to get as close to the front of the parking as possible. We ended up "accidentally" taking a chief's parking spot. ;) After quite a walk we went through more security with our escort and had to walk the entire length of the dock as Tarawa was the last one after passing the Champlain and the Elliot.  DDG Elliot on the right, CG Lake Champlain on the left and then the USS Tarawa behind it. We walked 8 flights of stairs to get to the ship's airplane elevator on the aircraft deck level. After our escort saluted the flag and officers James signed us in at yet another security check point and we received our passes. We left the hanger bay area by first walking up a city block long steep ramp to the equipment deck then to another level up a stairway to the flight deck at the stern of the ship where the OA sailors were working. The ship is undergoing construction prior to going into dry dock. After introductions and welcomes Tom took over and we began our "Grand" tour of the USS Tarawa LHA-1.  Snippy sneaks picture of the ramp between hanger decks. On the way we passed Rebecca and Yvonne the only two women of the crew of 13 who were busy banding helium tanks. From here went down below first and then headed toward the flight deck to the bow of the ship and we climbed ladders and stairways and walked on the outer side of the island tower touring each level all the way to the top! We saw the ship's exercise room where over $100,000 dollars of equipment is housed and were told that when the Marines are onboard it is used 24/7! It is also one of the few air-conditioned areas of the ship. While proudly not bumping his head or tripping over doorways, SAM managed to trip over an exercise bike in the gym. LOL. He caught himself of course and was fine to carry on. He loved sliding down the interior steep stairwells though! From here we headed back to the stern and the island. On the island the first stop was the Admirals bridge. Here is where the Admiral fought the war when the Tarawa was the Flagship of the Coalition in OIF.  Snippy and SAM on the Captain's Bridge Next it was up to the Captains bridge with steering and communications. The captain's bridge has a wing. A section that juts out from the bridge kind of like a small balcony. Next up was the Air traffic control bridge on the side of the island. You can sit in the flight control seats to see all of the ship where flight control and coordination is performed.  Tom explains the operation of the Flight Control Station At the very top of the island is where the OA crew works. What a view from the very top, the roof, so to speak of the tower. Along the way we saw the Sparrow launcher, the Vulcan and 2 .50 -caliber machine guns (MA Deuce)! Tom also pointed out the ship's mast where a flag was flown that we will discuss on the thread later. Next Tom took us to the OA division office where Senior Chief Wells and the crew worked around the clock. A very small office that was in the process of being renovated and updated.  Door to the OA division Office where our Tarawa crew works We went down halls, up stairs, down stairs and couldn't imagine how one could get used to finding there way on a ship this size. We visited the mess deck where they eat, the flight deck and the well deck where they launch the LCAC's and LCU's and equipment such as tanks and armored vehicles for the Marines that the Tarawa transports. We toured the ship for almost 2 hours and then were turned back over to James for the ride back to the hotel. Before we left Tom told us dinner had been moved up and hour and would now be at 1530 as Chief Wells class schedule would allow an earlier than first thought dinner. We arrived right at 3:30 and Brian was waiting outside to escort us in. About six of what would be 11 for dinner had already arrived. We ordered drinks and waited for Senior Chief Wells and the others. They weren't far behind and we finally got to meet our fellow FReeper and one of the Navy's finest and welcome the crew home after a job well done. |
Only if Snippy and I are doing a good job of telling you all how much of a honor this was for us.
You two must be having a blast.
Yep, I've been on both ends of a Hail and Farewell, You're right it is very special and always emotional, even the "toughest of the tough" end up with something in their eye. They've always been heartfelt. The fact that the entire Division, except for one who was out of town came, shows how much Snippy means to them. One has even separated and is now a civilian.
She is one special Lady. I't been a pleasure to work with her and meet her in person
I knew that just finally meeting them in person and seeing the Tarawa was going to be emotional. I really wanted to keep my composure and was having pep talks to myself and even garnered a few from SAM.
Tuesday night with Rebecca and her husband I did fine, even after receiving the flowers. I thought I was home free on the crying stuff.
The next morning as we were headed down the elevator to meet James out front my cell phone rang and it was James saying he was here to escort us to the ship. I told him we were on our way and would be right there. I couldn't even repeat the phone call to SAM without crying. We paused for a few seconds, SAM trying his best to calm me with a pep talk and we headed for the the hotel entrance where James was. I did pretty good holding back the tears and continued to do so throughout the tour of the ship.
Dinner was a whole different story. I was especially anxious to meet who the crew and I affectionately call "Senior" when we talk about him, our own bkwells. As I mentioned earlier Brian Wells had happily gone on to NAS North Island and has classes now so therefore he wasn't available for the tour of the ship. Dinner would be the first time I would meet him.
I should have known something was up when one of the sailors (also named Brian) met SAM and I as we arrived at the restaurant and escorted us to the table some of them were already seated at. Brian M. pulled out the chair for me at the head of the table and said they were saving that seat for me, SAM was seated to my right.
When Brian Wells arrived with that big sweet grin (I've had to opportunity to see pictures of him and the crew prior to our meeting) I thought I would burst. I got the best, strongest and longest bear hug I think I've ever had and still I tried not to cry.
However when I was presented with the flag and Brian tried his best at sharing his thoughts, he finally said he was speechless and I just couldn't hold back. Of course, these guys are the greatest and I received a round of applause and shouts from them congratulating themselves because they achieved their mission of making me cry. LOL. These sailors are very sweet and knew how to make me more comfortable and none of it escaped me. They're wonderful.
The entire experience was overwhelming an after hugs and some wonderful personal well wishes, SAM and I got in the car and drove away. Yep, then I really fell apart. Talk about mixed emotions, happy to have met them and sad to be leaving. I think SAM deserves an award for standing by me and supporting me through this emotional roller coaster ride.
JINXY, I do realize how they feel as difficult as it was to understand when they were the ones doing all the sacrificing. They always were kind and expressed their appreciation in emails and were exactly the same in person only with a more personal touch. Thank you for your kind words.
Thanks to everyone for your support of SAM and I and your kind words today also. I'd really love to post individually to you all but I am really wearing down fast and need to get some sleep soon.
For you ladies out there let me just say this once. Sailors are the best huggers until somebody proves me wrong!!!LOL!!!
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