USS CARR Families and Friends –
Day 118 – Sunday, October 9th
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Today we were supposed to arrive in Cartagena, Columbia; however, due to emergent tasking we are at sea boarding a vessel suspected of carrying drugs.
I can’t add much detail other than to say the vessel had been secured and a thorough search is underway.
Day 119 – Monday, October 10th
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Second day of the boarding. We are staying near the vessel being boarded and are using our small boat (RHIB) to ferry supplies and personnel back and forth. Additionally, we are using the helicopter to conduct surveillance of the area.
Congratulations to HMC Patrick Ehrhard our newest Helicopter Control Officer. HMC Ehrhard attended HCO school prior to deployment and has now had enough on the job training to complete his qualification. Completion of his qualification gives us a little extra flexibility in the watchbill.
Special thanks to EN2 Chris Collier and EN3 Elvin Lugo for installing two brand new freezer/refrigerator combos in the Galley and Wardroom. They continue to use their expert knowledge of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration to keep Carr’s support equipment going.
Day 120 – Tuesday, October 11th
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This morning we finally completed our boarding and headed off to get fuel – unfortunately we didn’t find any drugs…they may have tossed them overboard before we arrived.
After completing the boarding we headed off to rendezvous with the RFA Wave Rule (a British Oiler) take a significant amount of fuel – the last time we received fuel was just before departing Mayport. Great job to BM3 Melvin Cooks and BM3 Eric Jones who served as Petty Officer In Charge and Petty Officer In Charge Under Instruction. Their leadership was critical in ensuring the evolution was done safety and efficiently.
During our replenishment at sea, we experienced a casualty to one of our Gas Turbine Engines. Thanks to GSE1 Peter Meissner, GSE2 Boubaker Fofana, and GSM3 Brandon Tysinger who quickly replaced and made adjustments to the Power Lever Actuator to Gas Turbine Engine 1A – a critical component required to maintain the correct fuel pressure. Their efforts ensured 1A Engine was restored to full operation within 3 hours in order to support our continued mission
Once our fueling was complete we headed back west to pick up our Panamanian ship rider who is going to embark us throughout our operations down here.
Day 121– Wednesday, October 12th
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Today we are transiting to Cartagena, Colombia for supplies and our first opportunity for liberty in SOUTHCOM.
Day 122 – Thursday, October 13th
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Our liberty opportunity in Cartagena just turned into a gas and go. During our inbound transit to Cartagena we were informed that we had to conduct a brief stop for fuel and food and then immediately get underway to chase down a suspected drug runner. This was the first time Carr anchored in several months and Deck Division performed superbly. Great job to BM3 Travis Gardner – he did a great job as Petty Officer In Charge! During the visit, we loaded 4200 lbs of fresh fruits and vegetables – Carr can carry approximately 14 days of fresh fruits and vegetables…after that we have to shift to canned items. BZ to CS2 Brian Cook for doing a terrific job getting all the orders in on short notice. CS2 Cook’s quick and efficient planning ensured Carr got what we needed. Also, great job to the entire sea and anchor team who got us underway from an unfamiliar port at night – the evolution was safe and professional.
During the evening hours we found the motor vessel we were looking for – we remained over the horizon in order not to alert them to our presence. The fear is that they will see us and dump any drugs they have over the side.
Day 123 – Friday, October 14th
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We continued trailing the suspect motor vessel throughout the early morning hours. Just before sunrise we launched our helicopter and approached at high speed – taking station close to the vessel. We then put our small boat in the water to ensure we had full coverage of the vessel…now the waiting game begins as we wait for permission to board.
Despite conducting these operations, we still have in house training and routine events going on. FC2 Gary Freas did a super job as our Crew Serve Weapons Instructor. FC2 Freas conducted training on the .50 caliber and M240 machine guns for 86 crew members. His efforts allowed Carr to maintain armed watch teams capable of providing 360 degree coverage, whether in port or at sea.
Day 124 – Saturday, October 15th
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Early in the morning we received permission to board the vessel. The team did a great job quickly securing her and commencing their search. Later in the day the winds picked up unexpectedly and blew the vessel we were boarding into Carr – the good news is that nobody was injured and the damage was confined to some nets and a blade on the helo (which the air det has already replaced). Today was another long day for everyone involved in the boarding.
Great job to our Food Service Division for organizing logistics to keep our Sailors and the Coast Guard Sailors fed and hydrated throughout the day. BZ to GMSN Steven Joyce, SN Zachary Chambers, CSSN Willie Martinez and YNSN Nestor Noyolaruiz. In addition to his normal duties as one of Carr’s food service attendants, SN Chambers has been painting and preserving the mess decks in preparation for our NEY Award Food Service inspection scheduled for December.
SH1 Jason Zarcone, SH2 Justin Howard, and SHSN Ullyses Hernandezalcocer supported the ship’s mission by staying in the laundry past normal operation hours so that the boarding team members could all have clean dry clothes in support of multiple boardings. They washed and dried the boarding team’s uniform items everyday in order to ensure the health and comfort of our boarding team.
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CARR Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/FFG52
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http://www.facebook.com/pages/USS-CARR-Ombudsman/219688138070847?sk=wall
Melissa Lemons CARR FAMILY READINESS GROUP
http://www.facebook.com/USSCARRFRG
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Until next week, stay safe Carr Family and Friends!
CDR Patrick Kulakowski
Commanding Officer
USS CARR (FFG 52)
“Courage, Will, Determination”
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