Trek to Philmont is a family affair... Corey in 05' and now Liam in 08'
brothers say goodbye - Jeremy back to France....
the Crew in Independence
the Crew at Philmont just before we leave...Monday, August 25, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Where in the world is James Devin...
Thought I'd start a section about Devin's journey as a Sailor on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Any comments or questions are welcome.
Latest update 9/21/08 - Devin is headed home - recent emails are about plans for some R&R in Hawaii! Of course the ship is not moving fast enough - a little home "itus" has set in. He sounds real good. Ann has been teaching since the beginning of the year and had her kids some some hand made pictures and well wishes - Devin has shared with his shipmates and was very moved by the jesture. He will be home October 27 for about a week...can't wait to see him.
Latest update 8/23/08 - Devin gets leave approved for end of October - Yipee!!...everyone is excited.
Here is a picture of Devin doing something - he said something about a "steel" beach party - I think the different departments of the crew leads competition with different activities - this one seemed to have something to do with a fire house...
Mike Monsoor, a Navy EOD Technician, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq , giving his life to save his fellow Seals.
During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin.
The slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the coffin arrived grave side, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to it. This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero.
This should be front-page news instead of the crap we see everyday.
Since the media wont make this news, I choose to make it news by forwarding it onto you guys. I am damn proud of our military. If you are proud too, please pass this on. If not then rest assured that these fine men and women of our military will continue to serve and protect.
Last update 5/4/08... in the Persian Gulf - weather horible - a little likefloating in a puddle of oil in a dust storm! but he also sound good and safe.
Last update 5/1/08...got a package from Devin - how exciting!...containing the busted iPod ONLY! Needless to say, Mom was disappointed to not get a hand written note!
We are watching the PBS series "Carrier"...well Dad is...Mom does at times with much trepidation...the latest episode has the right of passage called the "Crossing the Line Ceremony"...meaning - crossing the equator and the latest "Penny Press" (follow the link at the right of this page to the Abe) the Abe did the same thing on 4/24...Devin is now a "Shellback".
The "Carrier" series has been very moving...my good friend's son is training to fly F18's which would imply that he is headed to carrier duty as well...so we compare many notes about our son's experiences.
The following is a clip from the family newsletter that comes to us every month...
"After several weeks of flight operations and steaming to the west the ABRAHAM LINCOLN and several other ships from the Carrier Strike Group arrived for a much-deserved four-day port visit in Singapore. During that visit more than 200 Sailors volunteered their time to accomplish nine Community Relations (COMREL) projects. Additionally, more than 250 Sailors participated in a Home Hospitality Program sponsored by the American Association of Singapore. This organization is made up of Americans residing in Singapore, which open their homes to visiting Sailors for a home cooked meal or take Sailors to sight seeing in Singapore. Most notable, the LINCOLN enjoyed an incident free liberty port. Needless to say, I am very proud of the accomplishments and the conduct of the crew during our port visit.
LINCOLN next headed south toward the country of Jakarta for an air power demonstration for dignitaries from a number of allied countries in the area. The CVW-2 pilots put on an impressive demonstration that was enjoyed by our special guests and by the crew. Once again, the one thing that these dignitaries commented on the most was the hard work and professionalism demonstrated by the Sailors onboard LINCOLN.
After that we turned north and on the 24 of April, as the mighty ABRAHAM LINCOLN crossed the equator, 2200 Pollywogs where cleansed and accepted into the “Raging Main” as Shellbacks by Neptunus Rex in LINCOLN’s "Crossing the line Ceremony". This is a fun and innocent right of passage that men and women of the sea have done for hundreds of years. This is how it goes. Those Sailors that have crossed the line (equator) before and have been "cleansed" are known as Shellbacks. Those who have not are known as "Pollywogs". Before entering the "Raging Main", the domain of King Neptune, they must first be "cleansed" of their Pollywog slime so they can be accepted as a Shellback by King Neptune and his royal court. The role of King Neptune is played by the most senior Shellback onboard, which was AOCM Clayton, who became a Shellback in 1980. The event starts the evening before with the arrival of Davy Jones (King Neptune’s First Mate) and the Ghosts of Shellback’s Past that preside as judges over a
Pollywog Talent Show. Superior performance in the talent show means favorable consideration by King Neptune and his royal court. YN3 Mathews, a Sailor from Deck Department, won the talent show. His performance earned favorable consideration for all the Sailors in his department. The next morning starts early with breakfast for Pollywogs made by the Royal Chef. The rest of the Shellbacks from the crew dress in character as pirates of the “raging main” and they are charged with performing the “cleansing” ritual. Once a Pollywog has been “cleansed” they are brought before King Neptune and his royal court for acceptance into the “raging main” as a Trusty Shellback. As hot as it has been no one seemed to mind getting wet and a good time was had by all. I even had some new Shellbacks say “it was so much fun they wish they could do it once or twice a month”.
For now we continue steaming north on our way to the Persian Gulf and the mission at hand. Stay tuned for next month’s issue to find out “Where in the World is the ABRAHAM LINCOLN?”"
Last update...4/2/08.....iPod busted.....crossed international date line...somewhere in the south pacific!
Still at port before deployment mucking it up with the Sonics Cheerleaders and mascot Squash
Devin? Where did you get that cheesey grin?
John Avery, the guy next to Devin, is the one who gave us a great tour of the Abe when Liam, Corey and I visited the ship.
Thought I'd start a section about Devin's journey as a Sailor on the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Any comments or questions are welcome.
Latest update 9/21/08 - Devin is headed home - recent emails are about plans for some R&R in Hawaii! Of course the ship is not moving fast enough - a little home "itus" has set in. He sounds real good. Ann has been teaching since the beginning of the year and had her kids some some hand made pictures and well wishes - Devin has shared with his shipmates and was very moved by the jesture. He will be home October 27 for about a week...can't wait to see him.
Latest update 8/23/08 - Devin gets leave approved for end of October - Yipee!!...everyone is excited.
Here is a picture of Devin doing something - he said something about a "steel" beach party - I think the different departments of the crew leads competition with different activities - this one seemed to have something to do with a fire house...
Latest update 5/18/08 - I asked Devin to tell me a story. What a moving story it is...
Mike Monsoor, a Navy EOD Technician, was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously for jumping on a grenade in Iraq , giving his life to save his fellow Seals.
During Mike Monsoor's funeral in San Diego, as his coffin was being moved from the hearse to the grave site at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery, SEALs were lined up on both sides of the pallbearers route forming a column of two's, with the coffin moving up the center. As Mike's coffin passed, each SEAL, having removed his gold Trident from his uniform, slapped it down embedding the Trident in the wooden coffin.
The slaps were audible from across the cemetery; by the time the coffin arrived grave side, it looked as though it had a gold inlay from all the Tridents pinned to it. This was a fitting send-off for a warrior hero.
This should be front-page news instead of the crap we see everyday.
Since the media wont make this news, I choose to make it news by forwarding it onto you guys. I am damn proud of our military. If you are proud too, please pass this on. If not then rest assured that these fine men and women of our military will continue to serve and protect.
Last update 5/4/08... in the Persian Gulf - weather horible - a little likefloating in a puddle of oil in a dust storm! but he also sound good and safe.
Last update 5/1/08...got a package from Devin - how exciting!...containing the busted iPod ONLY! Needless to say, Mom was disappointed to not get a hand written note!
We are watching the PBS series "Carrier"...well Dad is...Mom does at times with much trepidation...the latest episode has the right of passage called the "Crossing the Line Ceremony"...meaning - crossing the equator and the latest "Penny Press" (follow the link at the right of this page to the Abe) the Abe did the same thing on 4/24...Devin is now a "Shellback".
The "Carrier" series has been very moving...my good friend's son is training to fly F18's which would imply that he is headed to carrier duty as well...so we compare many notes about our son's experiences.
The following is a clip from the family newsletter that comes to us every month...
"After several weeks of flight operations and steaming to the west the ABRAHAM LINCOLN and several other ships from the Carrier Strike Group arrived for a much-deserved four-day port visit in Singapore. During that visit more than 200 Sailors volunteered their time to accomplish nine Community Relations (COMREL) projects. Additionally, more than 250 Sailors participated in a Home Hospitality Program sponsored by the American Association of Singapore. This organization is made up of Americans residing in Singapore, which open their homes to visiting Sailors for a home cooked meal or take Sailors to sight seeing in Singapore. Most notable, the LINCOLN enjoyed an incident free liberty port. Needless to say, I am very proud of the accomplishments and the conduct of the crew during our port visit.
LINCOLN next headed south toward the country of Jakarta for an air power demonstration for dignitaries from a number of allied countries in the area. The CVW-2 pilots put on an impressive demonstration that was enjoyed by our special guests and by the crew. Once again, the one thing that these dignitaries commented on the most was the hard work and professionalism demonstrated by the Sailors onboard LINCOLN.
After that we turned north and on the 24 of April, as the mighty ABRAHAM LINCOLN crossed the equator, 2200 Pollywogs where cleansed and accepted into the “Raging Main” as Shellbacks by Neptunus Rex in LINCOLN’s "Crossing the line Ceremony". This is a fun and innocent right of passage that men and women of the sea have done for hundreds of years. This is how it goes. Those Sailors that have crossed the line (equator) before and have been "cleansed" are known as Shellbacks. Those who have not are known as "Pollywogs". Before entering the "Raging Main", the domain of King Neptune, they must first be "cleansed" of their Pollywog slime so they can be accepted as a Shellback by King Neptune and his royal court. The role of King Neptune is played by the most senior Shellback onboard, which was AOCM Clayton, who became a Shellback in 1980. The event starts the evening before with the arrival of Davy Jones (King Neptune’s First Mate) and the Ghosts of Shellback’s Past that preside as judges over a
Pollywog Talent Show. Superior performance in the talent show means favorable consideration by King Neptune and his royal court. YN3 Mathews, a Sailor from Deck Department, won the talent show. His performance earned favorable consideration for all the Sailors in his department. The next morning starts early with breakfast for Pollywogs made by the Royal Chef. The rest of the Shellbacks from the crew dress in character as pirates of the “raging main” and they are charged with performing the “cleansing” ritual. Once a Pollywog has been “cleansed” they are brought before King Neptune and his royal court for acceptance into the “raging main” as a Trusty Shellback. As hot as it has been no one seemed to mind getting wet and a good time was had by all. I even had some new Shellbacks say “it was so much fun they wish they could do it once or twice a month”.
For now we continue steaming north on our way to the Persian Gulf and the mission at hand. Stay tuned for next month’s issue to find out “Where in the World is the ABRAHAM LINCOLN?”"
Last update...4/2/08.....iPod busted.....crossed international date line...somewhere in the south pacific!
Still at port before deployment mucking it up with the Sonics Cheerleaders and mascot Squash
Devin? Where did you get that cheesey grin?
John Avery, the guy next to Devin, is the one who gave us a great tour of the Abe when Liam, Corey and I visited the ship.
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