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The Joint Team. — with ships from the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and
USS George Washington (CVN 73) Carrier Strike Groups and aircraft from
the United States Air Force and Marines operating in formation at the
conclusion of exercise Valiant Shield. Great Lakes Naval Museum gives A Big Bravo Zulu to Ken Harbit for his caption contribution...The Echo Remains! "I have only begun to fight!" - September 24 at 12:07pm. |
The
Sea, as I knew it for 11 years in the navy and as I see it now in the
later years of my life. It's heroes, the ones we heard about, the ones
we didn't, the ones serving with us, those that came before us and those
who came after us. The ships, named after our heroes, presidents,
battles and cities. The ships I served on, serviced and were part of the
"Task Force". Ships of today and ships of yesterday. And I just can't
leave out the stories and memories.
_near_Midway_Atoll_1967.jpg)
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| 05/07/76 - USS Longbeach CGN 9 - 14/06/80 |
I
don't know why I'm fascinated by the sea, it might be because I'm a
veteran of 11 years in the United States Navy and spent a lot of that
time underway. Life at sea is definitely not anything like life ashore.
At sea, you're either fighting for your life or bored stiff.
The
Sea is mentioned many times in the Bible. Jesus once walked on the
sea. I think the passage I like the most comes from Psalms 107: 23-31:
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end. Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
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"Eternal Father, Strong to Save" is a British hymn traditionally associated with seafarers. Written in 1860, its author, William Whiting, was inspired by the dangers of the sea described in Psalm 107. The song was popularized by the Royal Navy and the United States Navy in the late 19th century, and variations of it were soon adopted by many branches of the armed services in the United Kingdom and the United States. Services who have adapted the hymn include the Royal Marines, Royal Air Force, the British Army, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Marine Corps, as well as the navies of many Commonwealth realms. Accordingly, it is known by many names, variously referred to as the Hymn of Her Majesty's Armed Forces, the Royal Navy Hymn, the United States Navy Hymn (or just The Navy Hymn), and sometimes by the last line of its first verse, "For Those in Peril on the Sea". The hymn has a long tradition in civilian maritime contexts as well, being regularly invoked by ship's chaplains and sung during services on ocean crossings.
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bid'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea.
O Christ, Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
O hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea.
Most Holy Spirit, Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
O hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of love and power,
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Amen.
The first verse refers to God the Father forbidding the waters to flood the earth as described in Psalm 104. The second verse refers to Jesus' miracles of stilling a storm and walking on the waters of the Sea of Galilee. The third verse references the Holy Spirit's role in the creation of the earth in the Book of Genesis, while the final verse is a reference to Psalm 107.
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"I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky, And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by; And the wheel’s kick and the wind’s song and the white sail’s shaking, And a grey mist on the sea’s face, and a grey dawn breaking.
I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied; And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying, And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.
I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life, To the gull’s way and the whale’s way where the wind’s like a whetted knife; And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover, And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick’s over." - By John Masefield
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“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than those you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from safe harbor. Catch the wind in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark Twain
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Dreams are what life is all about. Fulfilling them is adventure, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Experiences give you strength, the more varied, the better. Experience also builds pride.
Pride is a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired; and consciousness of one's own dignity.
Pride
is what you earn in the United States Navy. Pride in yourself and
pride in the accomplishments of the organization. Pride in him or her
self is what gives a person a sense of honor, courage and commitment.
Once earned, pride never leaves. It is sometimes covered by other life
experiences or circumstances, but when everything else is gone, earned
pride in oneself will be there and give you cause and strength to stand
and face the world again, no matter what that world looks like.
Navy Pride: Honor, Courage and Commitment.
Six presidents, from my generation, who could credit the US Navy for helping them develop into the leaders they would eventually become: John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, James E. “Jimmy” Carter and George H.W. Bush.
"I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, 'I served in the United States Navy'." - John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
Learn more about President Kennedy's naval career: https://go.usa.gov/x7wbu
I spent 3 years (1973 - 1976) stationed on the USS Oriskany CV 34 - OE Division - NTDS SRC-16 technician. Then 2 more years (1976 - 1978) on the USS Longbeach CGN 9 - OE Division - NTDS SRC-16 technician.
_en_route_to_the_Western_Pacific_for_operations_off_Vietnam,_23_June_1967.jpg) | |
| USS Oriskany CVA 34 |
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| USS Longbeach CGN 9 |
I
didn't know it then, and didn't give it any thought, but my time in
the Navy could not have been bought. I guess we all feel the same after
we've spent a month at sea and a year away from home. The pride that
we feel is what it is all about. Saving our nation and keeping it free,
protecting our way of life and our liberty. And the friends we made
along the way...Would I do it again? Ah, any day! And to all my
shipmates -- ANCHORS AWEIGH!
We always call a ship a “she” and
not without a reason. For she displays a well- shaped knee regardless of
the season. She scorns the man whose heart is faint and shows him no
pity . And like a girl she needs the paint to keep her looking pretty.
-- anonymous- probably 18th century
The story of a future President of the United States. Smoke and fire upon the sea
The Last Watch
It is told in the Bible that once the Lord was in the fisherman's boat and a great storm came upon them, and the fishermen feared they would drown. The Lord said to them, have faith in Me. And thus it was they had the faith to survive. This same situation was and is repeated each day at sea.
No man has ever served at sea without knowing that each day could be his last and no one would even know where at sea he lay. No man served a day at sea without the knowledge that the ship he sailed might not survive to sail another day. But no man at sea let these fears overcome him. He knew his shipmates were beside him to help stand the watch, to plot the course, and to be the family and support we all need to meet and survive another day. They were his shipmates.
The First American Sailor - He taught us well
The fight song of the United States Naval Academy and march song of the United States Navy.
Lord, here my prayer,
send your angels,
to guard well, we sailors,
serving in your fleet,
protect us from harm or defeat,
give us guidance and wisdom,
to pursue diplomacy, instead of war,
peace, instead of hatred,
life, over death,
when I die, permit me appear first
at your gate,
allow the devil, to think, I am late,
and, before he realizes his mistake,
grant me entrance, and assign me to serve,
life eternal, in your heavenly fleet.
Author: Mac McGovern
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