USS CARR’s Last Replenishment at Sea and Flu Shots

CARR Families and Friends,

First off, we hope that all are families and friends affected by Sandy are safe! I encourage everyone to keep in contact with their Sailor to keep them updated on any potential storm damage. We may be asked to report family status via NFAAS – if that occurs; I will have everyone call home. Congratulations to EN3 Joshua Young and DC1 Jeremiah Robertson who reenlisted last week, congratulations to both of them and thank you for continuing to serve our Nation! Correction to last week’s email; last week I incorrectly typed OS2 Quinton McDonald’s first name. I have written Quinton 50 times as penance.

Day 143 – Sunday, October 21st
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Today’s focus was sending a team of our Electronics Technicians over to another FFG to help troubleshoot some of their electronics. Other than that, we continued to transit toward the rendezvous position with USNS GUADALUPE (T-AO 200). GUADALUPE is a HENRY J. KAISER Class underway replenishment oiler operated by the Military Sealift Command. GUADALUPE is the fourteenth ship of the HENRY J. KAISER Class and was built by Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans – she was launched on 5 October 1991.

Day 144 – Monday, October 22nd (RAS with USNS GUADALUPE)
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Back in August we celebrated completion of CARR’s last replenishment at sea; however, we were incorrect. GUADALUPE had a schedule change that brought them through our operating area and any time we can get fuel and food from a USNS ship we take advantage. With only a little over a month left, I feel safe saying this is our last underway replenishment. Great job to everyone working the refueling station, flight deck, and phone and distance line! ENS Joshua Stewart did a masterful job of driving CARR alongside and quickly maintaining station. Once steady, our Gunner’s Mates fired over shot lines, forward and aft. There was quite a bit of wind, making this a challenge – first shot up forward got caught in GUADALUPE’s mast; however, great job to GMSN John Hodges who fired a sweet shot over to GUADALUPE’s bow to facilitate hooking up the phone and distance line. Once we had received 64,000 gallons of Diesel Fuel Marine and 7,510 gallons of jet fuel, we broke away and took station on GUADALUPE’s starboard beam to allow other ships to receive fuel; USS CURTS (FFG 38), USS GARY (FFG 52), and USCGC BOUTWELL (WHEC 719) also received fuel today. We have now received over a million gallons of fuel this deployment. Once all the ships were topped off, HSL 48 Det 2 did a great job flying to support a Vertical Replenishment of CARR, CURTS, and GARY. In total, VENOM 502 delivered 39 pallets of food and parts among the three ships. CARR received stores, food (including ice cream), and flu shots.

Day 145 – Tuesday, October 23rd
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About a month ago we received our flu vaccine; however, the delivery was damaged in shipment so we had to reorder. Since we received a good batch yesterday, today was flu shot day. Great job by HM1 Randall McLain and HM2 Eric Nobriga for administering the Flu shots – no small task since we have some people who are a bit squeamish about needles. HM1 McLain and HM2 Nobriga sought our bashful Sailors and administered the shots on the Bridge, Combat, and elsewhere. Great job to HTC Joshua Linton who was busy today using his Hull Technician skills. This week he conducted repairs to our High pressure air compressor and start air cooling system for the engines. As CARR shows her age, it is a constant battle to keep up with 27 year old systems – many of which are the original piece/parts.

Day 146 – Wednesday, October 24th
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We took advantage of the availability of a P3 which was flying to conduct an air drop of parts to another ship in the area to get parts for us as well. In the late afternoon we lowered our Rigid Hull Inflatable Boat (RHIB) as the P3 made a low pass on our port side, releasing a parachute attached to a pod. Our RHIB then approached and recovered the package – great job to our boat crew consisting of LTJG Phillip Chayka, BM3 Eric Jones, EN3 Joseph Kruse, and BM2 Matthew Mudderman. Logistics Specialist Third Class DeWayne Gilkes was standing by on the boat deck to immediately receive, process, and distribute these parts so that the work centers could complete vital repairs. Proving that it is never too late to get a system working, today IT1 Richard Freese and ET2 Michael McCullick were able to get our Battle Force Email system up and running. That system was designed to allow ships to communicate with each other using radio waves to transmit data, like a very old, slow wireless modem. I think it is safe to say we are one of the only ships from Norfolk that actually has a working Battle Force Email system!

Day 147 – Thursday, October 25th
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While conducting a routine daytime patrol, VENOM 502 found a fast moving speed boat which was laden with packages and extra fuel barrels. After VENOM closed to investigate, the contact immediately altered course and attempted to evade by heading into territorial waters. VENOM 502 had our Airborne Use of Force (AUF) gunner on board and attempted to get the vessel to stop – first by verbal commands (warnings over radio circuits); however, when those efforts were not successful the gunner fired warning shots across the bow as well as aft of the speedboat. Since the vessel failed to stop, I granted them permission to fire disabling rounds into the outboard engines of the vessel. We monitored the event on CARR using video provided by the helicopter – a single .50 caliber bullet to each of the two 200 Horsepower engines immediately brought the vessel to a halt. We continued to close at high speed and then launched our RHIB with LEDET personnel embarked to board speedboat. In a coordinated effort, Sailors from both the USCG LEDET and CARR recovered the cocaine. In total, we recovered 1,719 pounds of cocaine with a wholesale value of about $15.6 million. Since the beginning of deployment, we have seized approximately 3,906 pound of cocaine and 4,134 pounds of marijuana, with a combined wholesale value of more than $39 million. We still have some time to add to this total! On a separate note, great job to CS2 Harrold Edge who recently took over as our night baker. I continue to receive a steady stream of comments that he has done a superb job at improving the quality of “midrats” (our midnight meal for personnel who work nights…and those who require 4 meals a day). Great job CS2 Edge!

Day 148 – Friday, October 26th
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At about 2 am we were all awoken by a casualty announcement over our general announcing system – a loss of our controllable pitched propeller…not a good thing. Great job to the EM2 Jereme Fuller (the on watch Engineering Officer of the Watch) for taking rapid action in accordance with our Engineering Casualty Procedures! While purifying the system’s oil, a seal in our purifier had failed which resulted in oil being diverted to a holding tank. Great job to GSMFN Kadeem Anderson, GSE2 Boubaker Fofana, and EN3 Brian Sutton for their quick response and hard work to restore our controlled pitch propeller to full capacity. During tonight’s night patrol found another suspect speedboat. As soon as they saw our helicopter they made a run for territorial waters at 35kts. Since this vessel was much closer to territorial waters, we were unable to intercept them. We were able to pass the information to the country’s Coast Guard – no word if they were intercepted by them inside territorial waters. Congratulations to EM2 Germaine Pelican – our Engineer of the Week 2 weeks in a row! Week in and week out EM2 continues to shine in Engineering Department.

Day 149 – Saturday, October 27th
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Today we conducted our last small arms gun shoot for qualification and proficiency. They efficiently conducted the gun shoot and ensured CARR has enough watchstanders qualified to carry weapons to support our post deployment leave plans when we return to Norfolk. BZ to FC2 Justin Campbell, GMSN William Carpenter, GMSN John Hodges, FC2 Cliff Jensen, FC1 Cody Koch, SN Joshua Quail, GMSA Aaron Reyesvilla, GMC Anthony Scott, and GM2 Jacob Scyoc. This evening we enjoyed another Pizza Night So far this deployment the crew has consumed 11,496 slices of pizza. Congratulations to the Food Service Attendant (FSA) of the Month, CTTSN Nathaniel Weston – Well done!

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Jessica Meissner OMBUDSMAN April Linton Co-OMBUDSMAN Jackie Lease FRG President Please join CARR along with our OMBUDSMAN and Family Readiness Group: CARR https://www.facebook.com/FFG52 OMBUDSMAN http://www.facebook.com/pages/USS-CARR- ombudsman/219688138070847?sk=wall CARR Family Readiness Group www.facebook.com/USSCARRFRG Sailors Name Department/Division USS CARR (FFG 52) FPO AE 09566-1506 ==========================================

Until next Sunday, stay safe CARR Family and Friends!

CDR Patrick Kulakowski
Commanding Officer
USS CARR (FFG 52)
“Courage, Will, Determination!”