THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 16, 1996 TAG: 9610150405
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A10 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: AT SEA
SOURCE: BY WILLIAM ``SKIP'' PAETZ
LENGTH: 80 lines
September 26, 1996. Just another day for some. But for the crew of the guided missile destroyer Mitscher, this day marks the half-way point - or ``hump day'' - of our six-month deployment.
The Mitscher is underway in the Aegean Sea, participating in Exercise Dynamic Mix, a multi-national NATO exercise with military units from countries such as Belgium, Canada, France, the Netherlands and Turkey.
The day begins like any other, with reveille, officer's call, quarters and the daily dose of meetings and training sessions. The morning passes quickly and lunch is served. Then it's time to assume a five-hour watch as officer of the deck (under instruction).
This afternoon we will be busy with tactical exercises. Down in the combat information center the level of activity increases as a Mitscher radar picks up simulated incoming aircraft. The tactical action officer (TAO) calmly calls the officer of the deck on the bridge: ``Bridge, TAO. Come left to course 240 and increase speed to 20 knots.''
``Bridge aye,'' comes the reply, and moments later the whine from two of Mitscher's gas turbine engines increases as the ship begins to surge through the water on a new course.
Information begins to flow from the various watch stations in the information center to the tactical officer until, suddenly, the aircraft commences a missile-firing run towards Mitscher. Now the call is made for the air warfare coordinator to simulate an attact on the inbound hostile aircraft.
``Air, TAO. Take track 2452 with birds.''
``Air, aye. Taking track 2452 with birds.''
In seconds, a simulated missile streaks toward its target and the inbound aircraft is declared a missile kill.
With this portion of the exercise over, I have a chance to focus on our mid-deployment festivities this evening.
On June 28 the Mitscher sailed out of Norfolk with the Enterprise battle group en route to the Mediterranean Sea on a six-month deployment. ``Six-month deployment'' - that's a mouthful for all of us, a considerable amount of time away from family and friends. In the beginning, I kept thinking, Six months! Will I ever get through it?
Well, three months have gone by, and it seems like only yesterday that we left. The work has been challenging and rewarding, and the port visits have been spectacular. We've explored Barcelona, Spain; Haifa, Israel; Corfu, Greece; and Istanbul, Turkey. I've seen such wondrous sights as Gaudi's Cathedral, Masada and the Dead Sea, Achilles' statue, the Castle of Bled, the pyramids and the grand bazaar.
Three months ago I had six months to go. Today is hump day and the Mitscher will celebrate in style.
At 4:30 p.m. my watch is almost over. The boatswain's mate of the watch announces ``Hump Day festivities, mess decks'' over the ship's loudspeakers.
One member of the off-going bridge watch is responsible for sampling the evening meal, and today it's my turn. I head down the line, grab a tray and a meal evaluation form and hand my tray to the special guest on the serving line tonight, our executive officer, Lt. Cmdr. Brian Daugherty. He's wearing his personalized food service smock and a very big grin, cheerfully dishing out the evening meal to the crew.
Carrots, potatoes, rice, seafood newburg, corn on the cob, biscuits, and. .
``On the mess decks,'' so I grab a slice of pineapple upside-down cake and head out. Normally, the crew's dining facility is well-lighted. Today is special, though. The lights are low, tables are covered with tablecloths and mess management specialist Howard Milligan and the commanding officer, Cmdr. Ray Spicer, are carving away at a juicy roast of prime rib. To add to the event, music is playing in the background.
Our supply department food service team of mess management specialist really pulled out all the stops to make Hump Day an affair to remember. This is one meal I'll be happy to rate ``outstanding.''
The festivities don't end with the meal, however. As soon as the crew finishes eating, the First Class Association and the ship's Morale, Welfare and Recreation committee set up for our casino night. Using Bongo Bucks, the Mitscher crew passes the evening hours playing a variety of games, eating ice cream sundaes and munching on buttered popcorn. Not a bad way to end the day.
Sure, for some, it's just another day at sea. For me, it's one day closer to home. Only three months left to go, and it's all downhill. Or, as Cmdr. Spicer would say, ``We are 4,607 miles from Ches Light.'' MEMO: This column was written by Lt. j.g. William ``Skip'' Paetz, the
Mitscher's electronic materials officer. by CNB