TIGER CRUISE

 

        The Navy says she is 90,000 tons of diplomacy.  The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower is one the greatest aircraft carriers (My son Knight corrected me—THE GREATEST aircraft carrier) in the world.  The “Mighty Ike” leads a Strike Group that covers 2.5 million square miles of water including the Arabian Gulf and Sea, Red Sea, Gulf of Oman and Gulf of Aden.  They just returned from their latest combat and security mission to a much deserved hero’s welcome in Norfolk on July 3.  As the colossal carrier finally docked at the Norfolk Naval Ship Yards in front of thousands of cheering family members after being at sea for 13 of the last 16 months, I was having the experience of a lifetime.  I wasn’t standing in the cheering crowd watching the ship come in—I was actually on board the ship with almost 5,000 anxious sailors who were all so thrilled to finally be home!  In fact, I had been on the Ike since Monday and had seen and experienced things that most civilians can never even imagine.

        Our son, Knight, serves as a Chief Petty Officer on the Eisenhower and told me a number of months ago that a “Tiger Cruise” might be a possibility at the end of their long deployment.  I can’t find anyone who knows where the “Tiger” terminology comes from, other than an arbitrary Naval designation for civilians who are invited to board a ship for a cruise.  A sailor can invite a family member other than a spouse.  Knight invited me and Ken Severt, his father-in-law, as well as his brother-in-law, Heath. We knew that sometime around the end of June or early July the Tiger Cruise would be an option, but did not know the exact dates until a couple of weeks ago for security reasons.  Even then the dates could not be communicated by phone or emails. 

        After church on June 30, Joyce and I drove to Raleigh-Durham airport.  Joyce went on to our daughter’s (Della) house in Wendell and they came to Norfolk to meet the ship on July 3.  I flew from RDU to Jacksonville (via Chicago?) and arrived at the airport around 11:30 Sunday night.  On Monday morning I met Ken and Heath and we boarded a charter bus from the airport to the Mayport Naval port. 

        We arrived at the dock around 10:30 in the morning and I was surprised that the Eisenhower was not there.  But you could see her way off in the distance and since it was low tide and she has a 45-foot draft, they were waiting for high tide to dock. 

        No one is more organized than our military and they made sure no one was bored or hungry.  Under a big tent they had sandwiches and drinks that everyone enjoyed while a Navy band entertained us with great patriotic music.  We could hear the excitement building as the “Mighty Ike” was spotted moving in our direction and as she drew closer and closer it was evident just how massive the ship really is.  Commissioned in 1977, she is a 5-star nuclear powered aircraft carrier with a flight deck that is almost 1,100 feet long and covers over 4.5 acres.  The ship and air crew total over 5,500.  She can sail at over 30 knots, even fully loaded. 

        I had seen the Ike come back from deployments in Norfolk, but this was the first time I had seen the carrier with its full complement of aircraft.  There are 85-90 birds, primarily F-18 fighter jets.  It was an impressive sight!

        A number of sailors had elected to disembark at Mayport and so we witnessed some happy and tearful homecomings.  We simply cannot imagine how difficult long deployments are on family members.  Fathers, who have had babies born while they were away, are always allowed to disembark first.  A few years ago I saw a Navy mother reunited with her little 3 year old daughter after a long deployment.  I get teary just thinking about it. 

        The plan was that after all the departing sailors were off the ship, the Tiger sponsors would come ashore to find their Tigers.  However, there was this deluge of rain that starting falling—and continued to fall---it was raining cats and dogs and tigers, too!

        My flight out of Raleigh was delayed due to heavy rain, but you don’t delay a 90,000 ton aircraft carrier.  Knight found us in the middle of the monsoon and we were literally soaked to the skin by the time we got on board.  Not to worry though---every problem has a solution in the Navy.  A kind sailor who works for Knight took our wet clothes and put them in a dryer and another sailor spent several hours drying our shoes. 

        Once we had on some dry clothes, Knight took us to our berths.  The Tiger Cruise is not to make you comfortable.  You sleep where the sailors sleep, eat the same food, follow the same schedules—in other words, we experience what they experience.  We were placed in coffin racks.  They were 3 deep on either size.  I had the middle rack.  The first night I wasn’t sure I could even squeeze in it, and once I did I quickly discovered why it is so named.  There were maybe five inches   from my nose to the top of the rack.  You really felt like you were in a coffin and turning over on your side was an adventure!  These sailors sleep in these racks every night (or during the day for those who work at night) of the deployment.  Going to the “Head” (the bathroom) was another adventure.  You had to open a watertight door from our berthing quarters that placed you in a small room with an open manhole.  If you slipped and fell down the manhole, it would not be good.  Plus you had to negotiate around the steel cover that took the rest of the floor space in the tiny cubicle.  From there you opened the door to the head, where you would find showers, sinks, and toilets. 

 

 

        A person who is not in physical shape could not survive a Tiger Cruise.  You do a lot of walking and climbing.  All of the “stairs” are essentially vertical ladders and going from the crew quarters to the upper levels of the tower can mean a 10 to 12 deck climb.  We used to wonder why our son Knight was so skinny, but after following him around for three days on the ship—I knew.  And I was so thankful that I work out at the YMCA.

        You eat in the same mess (dining) as your sailor and this was where we had it made because we got to eat in the CPO Mess.  The first night we had t-bone steaks and huge crab legs—not to mention chicken and all the fixings.  I assumed that this was served to everyone, but I quickly found out that was not the case.  There are around 250 CPOs on this ship of over 5,000.  They have their private dining area where they are waited on by an efficient staff.  In the mornings we had eggs cooked to order or omelets, bacon, sausage, biscuits, gravy—mercy me!  It was very good.  After that wonderful meal the first night they later had an ice cream social!

        One of the most amazing events of the cruise was the air power display.  We found a great vantage point up high on the tower next to the flight control center.  The F-18 don’t fly off the carrier, they are catapulted.  In a blink of an eye, they go from standing still to over 130 miles per hour and they are airborne with a might roar of their powerful jet engines.  The F-18s put on quite a show. We saw them fly loops, upside down, refuel in flight, and fly in formation.  Helicopters hovered around the ship and flares were launched in the water.  But the most incredible moment came when I caught something coming from the east in the corner of my eye.  I looked just in time to see an F-18 flying so fast there was no sound.  She zipped across the front of the ship with laser speed and then it happened—a sonic boom!   We were in awe and overwhelmed by it all.  Finally, as the choppers displayed big American Flags, the F-18s flew over in precise formation.

 

        Later that afternoon we had the same vantage point as the dozens of F-18s departed the ship for their home base at NAS Oceana.  For the entire deployment these brave pilots had been flying combat missions and we watched, felt the heat from the jet engines, smelled the jet fuel, and saw the genuine emotion of leaving the ground crew who had supported them throughout this mission, knowing that in a few hours they would be reunited with wives and children for the first time in months. 

        After another wonderful meal in the CPO Mess, we watched a few episodes of “Duck Dynasty” with Knight and shared some good laughs before going up on the now empty flight deck for an evening display of the ship’s weaponry.  While the ship is always accompanied by a fleet of battleships and strike force vessels, it has its own firepower that was demonstrated in an awesome display of military might.  The scenario was an unknown and unresponsive vessel that could be potentially hostile.  First flares are shot in the direction of the vessel.  Then a warning is announced.  If there is still no response, the Captain can elect to attack.  Chills were going up and down my spine as the Captain’s voice boomed over the speakers, “Open Fire!”  I didn’t need a July 4 firework display!  It was incredible to behold!  And woe to the enemy, whoever they may be, if they are in the line of fire!  Knight arranged for us to have one of the 50 caliber casings as a souvenir.  

        We had the opportunity to tour the ships Combat Command Center and also Flight Operations.  The technology was astonishing.  I don’t think NASA could beat the modern technology onboard these war vessels.  I’ve never seen so many computer screens, digital and video displays, and high-tech stuff in all my life.  They can actually direct an F-18 to a precise landing on the flight deck with a six-inch margin of error.  This is necessary since they need to hook the recovery cable, otherwise they cannot stop.  My head was spinning when we finally decided we needed some ice cream!

 

        The incredible aircraft carrier, the mind-boggling technology, the awesome airpower, the chilling gun power were all overwhelming.  But when I was asked to name the most impressive thing I experienced on the Ike, I responded without hesitation, “The crew.”   The brave men and women who serve on the USS Eisenhower are by far the most committed, impressive, and competent service men and women I have ever known.  Every single sailor, from the lowest ranking sailor to the Captain, whom we had a chance to meet, was kind, professional, helpful, and extremely proud to be on the “Greatest Aircraft Carrier” in the world!  They asked me how I was doing, was I enjoying the cruise, could they do anything to help me, did I sleep well, did I like the food, and on and on.  And yet, here were individuals who sacrifice much more than I.  They are separated from their families.  They don’t see their children grow up.  They miss the everyday blessings of life we take for granted.  And they wanted to know how I was doing! 

 

        It makes me proud to be an American, proud of our military, proud of the brave men and women who serve with dedication and courage and great sacrifice, and proud of my son who has excelled as a member of the United States Navy.  And, I am grateful and so very thankful for each of every member of our military who keep us safe and preserve the freedom so many thousands have died to secure. 

        I was impressed that every night at 9:55 the chaplain comes on the speaker and delivers a brief devotion and says a prayer.  The prayers I heard were thoughtful, meaningful, and most appropriate to the occasion.  I didn’t realize that every night each member of this huge and mighty military vessel will pause to pray and reflect.  I was deeply moved.

        On the final night, after we had witnessed the awesome display of military might and power through guns and aircraft, we spent some time on the flight deck.   Military ships are dark at night for obvious reasons.  We looked up into the sky and saw one of the most incredible displays of power that is so mighty it puts all the guns and missiles and planes and bombs to shame.  150 miles out in the Atlantic, away from all artificial light, I saw the heavens in all of their majesty and glory and I stood in awe of the greatest power.  And as I reflected, I heard the words: 

O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth,
Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

² Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
You have ordained strength,
Because of Your enemies,
That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained,
⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
⁵ For You have made him a little lower than the angels,
And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

⁶ You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
⁷ All sheep and oxen—
Even the beasts of the field,
⁸ The birds of the air,
And the fish of the sea
That pass through the paths of the seas.

⁹ O Lord, our Lord,
How excellent is Your name in all the earth!