This was a hectic morning for the supply department. Since there was no US military base nearby for port services, I needed to pay a private company for their support. This meant a rather large US Treasury Check needed to be written in a relatively short period of time. That had me a little on edge.
The other problem facing me in the near future was the fact that the crew had managed to go through the bulk of my cash on hand. Another port visit was coming up in about a week and I did not have much currency remaining. I was not able to obtain much in the way of ship stores given the lack of a military base so this had me worried as well.
Right before leaving we took on board a group of chiefs, they would spend the next week conducting a second LTT for the Supply Department. These were the same chiefs who conducted my first LTT several months earlier while the ship was still in Yokosuka. I was not looking forward to the upcoming week. I will start with that topic on my next post.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Manila Wetting Down
Going along with other typical military traditions like my commissioning ceremony or the several Hail and Fairwells attended lately, this is another celebration marking a momentous occasion for an Officer. A wetting Down celebrates the promotion of an Officer to the next rank. In this instance a Lieutenant junior grade (LTjg) and Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CWO3) were promoted to LT and CWO4.
Unlike commissioning ceremonies and Hail and Fairwells, the promoted Officers are responsible for paying the bill. The amount put aside should be equal to the difference between the Officer's old and new paychecks for a month. The higher ranked an Officer is, the more is expected from them. When multiple Officers are promoted the celebration can be large.
The event took place at the Mall of Asia. I had been to the second major mall several days prior on shore patrol. This one was different in that the items sold were mainstream like a mall you would find in a small city, only this one was far bigger. We arrived at the mall in the afternoon and had several hours to kill before the Wetting Down started. There was a movie theater inside the mall so after a little shopping, we went to see a movie. They are all in English so that was not an issue, the ticket was fairly cheap considering it was in 3D.
After the movie was over we ended up at a steakhouse, there was live country music being played with scenery from the American West. We could request country songs, unfortunately I do not follow country music. Most of us went to a bar down stairs to relax since this would be the last day in port. Afterward the group split up and I went to an interesting bar. Up to this point I had avoided that scene but this particular bar peeked my interest. All the staff were midgets so after you were done with your drinks, you could buy a midget bar t-shirt and have your picture taken with them. They had a wide assortment of beers from all over the world. A number of the crew showed up as we were drinking, that was an interesting night.
Unlike commissioning ceremonies and Hail and Fairwells, the promoted Officers are responsible for paying the bill. The amount put aside should be equal to the difference between the Officer's old and new paychecks for a month. The higher ranked an Officer is, the more is expected from them. When multiple Officers are promoted the celebration can be large.
The event took place at the Mall of Asia. I had been to the second major mall several days prior on shore patrol. This one was different in that the items sold were mainstream like a mall you would find in a small city, only this one was far bigger. We arrived at the mall in the afternoon and had several hours to kill before the Wetting Down started. There was a movie theater inside the mall so after a little shopping, we went to see a movie. They are all in English so that was not an issue, the ticket was fairly cheap considering it was in 3D.
After the movie was over we ended up at a steakhouse, there was live country music being played with scenery from the American West. We could request country songs, unfortunately I do not follow country music. Most of us went to a bar down stairs to relax since this would be the last day in port. Afterward the group split up and I went to an interesting bar. Up to this point I had avoided that scene but this particular bar peeked my interest. All the staff were midgets so after you were done with your drinks, you could buy a midget bar t-shirt and have your picture taken with them. They had a wide assortment of beers from all over the world. A number of the crew showed up as we were drinking, that was an interesting night.
Corregidor "The Rock"
Another first for me was the opportunity to go on an MWR guided tour. As great as it was to explore the country a little on my own, I wanted some history and culture mixed in. The Philippines played a vital role during the early part of WWII. The United States had a large presence in the country when Japan invaded. Most of the country was taken over in the course of a few days. The island fortress of Corregidor held out for 27 days.
Corregidor is not an easy place to visit. It sits in the middle of the bay with the only access being a small tour boat. After several hours of heavy pounding from waves that made many of the tourists seasick, we moored at the island. We arrived just prior to lunch so that was our first stop. The island has a modern hotel for those looking to spend more time there. That was where we enjoyed a delicious buffet. The view from the balcony was breathtaking. Our announcer was somewhat surprised to see a group of American sailors with a Japanese tour group. I thought it symbolic of how the region has changed in the last sixty years. The fact that Philippine, Japanese and American people and cultures now peacefully coexist after such a costly conflict serves as an example for other countries.
Lacking for modern weapons, ammunition, food and water and manpower, US and Philippine forces put up a valiant fight. The island had originally been intended to protect Manila Bay during WWI, though it never saw any action during that war. All the batteries had been constructed prior to the outbreak of the first world war. These were quickly taken out of action, leading the army to concentrate on defense. The main factor that lead to the island being able to hold out was an extensive tunnel system.
The bombing inflicted on the island reduced all buildings to rubble. Many of the bombed out remnants can still be seen. They stand as monuments to the ferocious fighting. The only reason fighting stopped was because the island ran out of water without any hope of resupply. This forced an unconditional surrender and Japan took control of the fortress.
The dock where General MacArther uttered his famous words "I will return," still remains in place. The mast where colors were hung during the hold out still stands today as well. In the first hours of General MacArther's return, the flag was returned to the same mast. Monuments and museums have been erected to showcase many of the historical artifacts found over the years. Many of the artifacts are still commonly used in today's military. Statues and plaques stand in memory of the divisions who fought and died on the island.
The island was returned to the possession of the Philippines after American forces pulled out. It had been held by many foreign powers over the years starting with a Spanish invasion. There is still a token military presence, in the form of a retired Officer living on the island who finds and restores artifacts for the museums.
Corregidor is not an easy place to visit. It sits in the middle of the bay with the only access being a small tour boat. After several hours of heavy pounding from waves that made many of the tourists seasick, we moored at the island. We arrived just prior to lunch so that was our first stop. The island has a modern hotel for those looking to spend more time there. That was where we enjoyed a delicious buffet. The view from the balcony was breathtaking. Our announcer was somewhat surprised to see a group of American sailors with a Japanese tour group. I thought it symbolic of how the region has changed in the last sixty years. The fact that Philippine, Japanese and American people and cultures now peacefully coexist after such a costly conflict serves as an example for other countries.
Lacking for modern weapons, ammunition, food and water and manpower, US and Philippine forces put up a valiant fight. The island had originally been intended to protect Manila Bay during WWI, though it never saw any action during that war. All the batteries had been constructed prior to the outbreak of the first world war. These were quickly taken out of action, leading the army to concentrate on defense. The main factor that lead to the island being able to hold out was an extensive tunnel system.
The bombing inflicted on the island reduced all buildings to rubble. Many of the bombed out remnants can still be seen. They stand as monuments to the ferocious fighting. The only reason fighting stopped was because the island ran out of water without any hope of resupply. This forced an unconditional surrender and Japan took control of the fortress.
The dock where General MacArther uttered his famous words "I will return," still remains in place. The mast where colors were hung during the hold out still stands today as well. In the first hours of General MacArther's return, the flag was returned to the same mast. Monuments and museums have been erected to showcase many of the historical artifacts found over the years. Many of the artifacts are still commonly used in today's military. Statues and plaques stand in memory of the divisions who fought and died on the island.
The island was returned to the possession of the Philippines after American forces pulled out. It had been held by many foreign powers over the years starting with a Spanish invasion. There is still a token military presence, in the form of a retired Officer living on the island who finds and restores artifacts for the museums.
Manila Shore Patrol
The day after the USS CURTIS WILBUR arrived in Manila was my duty day. The ship usually divides the crew into six duty sections. Each section should have enough people to get underway in an emergency. In foreign ports the sections are combined into three for some extra manpower if needed.
My assigned duty was early shore patrol. Shore patrol is broken down into two time periods, early and late. The patrol work in pairs to walk around the popular hangouts ashore and keep sailors out of trouble. I was assigned to a mall fairly far away from the ship. This would actually be the first time leaving the pier for me. Initially, I was not sure if this would be any different from shipmate or shore patrol in Japan.
The mall we went would probably be best defined as a luxury mall. In the five or six hours I spent walking around the mall, I only saw a couple members of the crew. I was surprised how expensive the items in the mall were. I had seen the prices of items being sold on the pier by street vendors, and wondered if items in the mall would be cheaper. I was wrong. The other aspect that surprised me was how heavily armed security was around the mall. They were openly carrying M16s around through the streets and parking areas. Not a new sight for me, but I wondered what American tourists would think about that.
The mall was not that much different than an American one. Many of the brands were American and English was common. American restaurants were scattered all over the mall along with popular clothing and fashion chains. We were told not to go into any of the drug stores as the ingredients used in their medicine were different than those on the ship.
I learned quickly that we had been restricted to a small area of the Philippines for a good reason. The areas we were allowed were far more affluent than much of the country. Thus the extra security measures being taken to keep much of the population from entering them. I was told not to carry a wallet or credit card because of the possibility of theft. I am not aware of any member of the crew being robbed while in port though.
My assigned duty was early shore patrol. Shore patrol is broken down into two time periods, early and late. The patrol work in pairs to walk around the popular hangouts ashore and keep sailors out of trouble. I was assigned to a mall fairly far away from the ship. This would actually be the first time leaving the pier for me. Initially, I was not sure if this would be any different from shipmate or shore patrol in Japan.
The mall we went would probably be best defined as a luxury mall. In the five or six hours I spent walking around the mall, I only saw a couple members of the crew. I was surprised how expensive the items in the mall were. I had seen the prices of items being sold on the pier by street vendors, and wondered if items in the mall would be cheaper. I was wrong. The other aspect that surprised me was how heavily armed security was around the mall. They were openly carrying M16s around through the streets and parking areas. Not a new sight for me, but I wondered what American tourists would think about that.
The mall was not that much different than an American one. Many of the brands were American and English was common. American restaurants were scattered all over the mall along with popular clothing and fashion chains. We were told not to go into any of the drug stores as the ingredients used in their medicine were different than those on the ship.
I learned quickly that we had been restricted to a small area of the Philippines for a good reason. The areas we were allowed were far more affluent than much of the country. Thus the extra security measures being taken to keep much of the population from entering them. I was told not to carry a wallet or credit card because of the possibility of theft. I am not aware of any member of the crew being robbed while in port though.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Manila Arrival
As I prepared for my first port visit I was not sure what to expect. This was a foreign country with new customs and traditions. Several of my crew had lived long periods of their lives in the Philippines so they were a great deal of help. My mind was split between the eagerness to set foot on dry land again and managing the upcoming stores onload as soon as the ship moored.
I assumed my usual duties as pilot escort for the arrival. The first change I noticed was when the water turned a greenish hue. I had never seen the ocean quite that shade before. Mountains covered in vegetation appeared on either side of the ship shortly after. I saw the remains of a WWII turret as we entered the harbor. Then unfortunately, I started to see the trash. That would come to represent a certain theme for Manila.
The ship moored without any problems, which was good because vendors were already set up and waiting for us on the pier. This would also be a taste of things to come. Shortly after mooring, there were several important tasks to be completed before liberty could be called. The trash needed to be taken out, stores onloaded and divisions briefed on expectations. This was all accomplished within a few hours. I was kept busy in disbursing converting funds from navy cash cards (debit cards) to cash. American dollars could be exchanged on the pier. The crew had been warned ahead of time to be careful in using Philippine ATMs, so my disbursing funds were drained much faster than I would have liked.
Most of the crew went out that first night we were in port. I elected to stay back and get some rest. We were scheduled to be in port for the next three days so I wanted to bide my time (and money). My other motive was to watch SUPPO interact with the husbanding agent and vendors. I am going to need that knowledge someday.
I assumed my usual duties as pilot escort for the arrival. The first change I noticed was when the water turned a greenish hue. I had never seen the ocean quite that shade before. Mountains covered in vegetation appeared on either side of the ship shortly after. I saw the remains of a WWII turret as we entered the harbor. Then unfortunately, I started to see the trash. That would come to represent a certain theme for Manila.
The ship moored without any problems, which was good because vendors were already set up and waiting for us on the pier. This would also be a taste of things to come. Shortly after mooring, there were several important tasks to be completed before liberty could be called. The trash needed to be taken out, stores onloaded and divisions briefed on expectations. This was all accomplished within a few hours. I was kept busy in disbursing converting funds from navy cash cards (debit cards) to cash. American dollars could be exchanged on the pier. The crew had been warned ahead of time to be careful in using Philippine ATMs, so my disbursing funds were drained much faster than I would have liked.
Most of the crew went out that first night we were in port. I elected to stay back and get some rest. We were scheduled to be in port for the next three days so I wanted to bide my time (and money). My other motive was to watch SUPPO interact with the husbanding agent and vendors. I am going to need that knowledge someday.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Operation Tailisman Saber Part III
Several events marked the end of Operations Tailisman Saber. First an Admiral from the carrier stopped by and ate lunch in the wardroom. He toured the ship and talked with all the divisions. It was a big moral boost for the crew when he passed out command coins. He outlined the successes of the operation and what his future plans for the seventh fleet were. It was the first time I had meet an Admiral since graduating from Supply Corps School.
Plans were set in stone for the upcoming port visit in Manila and command instructions were distributed to the crew. The Supply Department started to get busy again preparing for the upcoming visit. Supplies needed to be ordered for both the galley and store and parts delivered. Port services were negotiated based on the needs of the ship and crew. Mail needed to be routed or rerouted depending on where it was. Ship's laundry and barbershop started to work longer hours.
The culminating event for the crew had to be beer day though. It had been eagerly anticipated for much of the operation. At the forty-five day mark of an underway period, a ship is allowed a day of celebration with beer being provided. It is a much needed stress relief while still at sea. Every member of the crew not on watch is allowed two beers. No one was allowed to give their beer to any other person and a command instruction was sent out so no one could claim they did not know the regulations. The concern was that after two months at sea, the alcoholic tolerance of the crew would be low. The celebration went well without any problems and a steel beach picnic was set up for dinner topside. The crew was in high spirits and looking forward to the upcoming port visit.
Plans were set in stone for the upcoming port visit in Manila and command instructions were distributed to the crew. The Supply Department started to get busy again preparing for the upcoming visit. Supplies needed to be ordered for both the galley and store and parts delivered. Port services were negotiated based on the needs of the ship and crew. Mail needed to be routed or rerouted depending on where it was. Ship's laundry and barbershop started to work longer hours.
The culminating event for the crew had to be beer day though. It had been eagerly anticipated for much of the operation. At the forty-five day mark of an underway period, a ship is allowed a day of celebration with beer being provided. It is a much needed stress relief while still at sea. Every member of the crew not on watch is allowed two beers. No one was allowed to give their beer to any other person and a command instruction was sent out so no one could claim they did not know the regulations. The concern was that after two months at sea, the alcoholic tolerance of the crew would be low. The celebration went well without any problems and a steel beach picnic was set up for dinner topside. The crew was in high spirits and looking forward to the upcoming port visit.
Operation Tailisman Saber Part II
One of the major tasks for the USS CURTIS WILBUR ended up being plane guard. In the evening when the squadrons come back to the carrier to land one of the picket ships needs to trail behind. This is for several reasons but primarily for the safety of the pilots. The ship's command and control can communicate with the pilots if necessary, and at dusk the mast lights help pilots line up for their approach. If a plane were to ditch, we would be the rescue ship. The carrier would not be able to mount a rescue in anywhere near the amount of time it would take for a destroyer to reposition and put rescuers in the water.
The flight deck was also very busy during the operation. Ready deck became a usual announcement, this is when the nets around the aft flight deck are all lowered so the skids on a helicopter do not risk being tangled. Communication checks with the bridge are conducted and the flight deck crew musters to make sure everyone is ready ahead of time.
Over the course of a few weeks, the operation was played out with UN forces slowly dismantling the enemy forces. I will leave out the details, mostly because it had little to do with supply. Many drills were conducted both on-board and with the help of the other ships. The fighter jets conducted mock bombing runs on our wake at one point while I was on the bridge, that was exciting. We took turns boarding other ships, the Australian frigate also participated in that one. The crew was kept busy with practice exercises throughout.
The flight deck was also very busy during the operation. Ready deck became a usual announcement, this is when the nets around the aft flight deck are all lowered so the skids on a helicopter do not risk being tangled. Communication checks with the bridge are conducted and the flight deck crew musters to make sure everyone is ready ahead of time.
Over the course of a few weeks, the operation was played out with UN forces slowly dismantling the enemy forces. I will leave out the details, mostly because it had little to do with supply. Many drills were conducted both on-board and with the help of the other ships. The fighter jets conducted mock bombing runs on our wake at one point while I was on the bridge, that was exciting. We took turns boarding other ships, the Australian frigate also participated in that one. The crew was kept busy with practice exercises throughout.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Operation Tailisman Saber Part I
So I have spent the last few months mentioning this operation, the USS CURTIS WILBUR's schedule for the last half year was built around performing an important role in this event. I will break it down by the set up process, events that took place over the course of a couple of weeks and then the concluding ceremonies.
As an ally of a foreign nation, we follow their laws and customs while in their territorial waters. Australia had some unfamiliar restrictions and observances. The largest impact upon the Supply Department was in how we disposed of trash. In the open ocean, paper and metal is periodically dumped over the side. It quickly degrades in the ocean and no harm is done. A weight is tied around the refuse before being dumped over the side to ensure the waste sinks and does not foul our props. Plastic is compacted into discs and stored until they can be unloaded by a supply ship or port. In Australian waters, the locations of the dumps needed to be reported, many areas were protected because of impact on reefs.
One more additional duty was imposed on the ship. Upon sighting any marine mammals, i.e. dolphins, porpoises and whales or sea turtles, we were required to identify the animal, describe it's activity observed and record the location of the sighting. We did end up seeing one whale although the sighting was fast. There were two official videos describing this process shown to the watchstanders. One was from the US and the other was Australian. No comments on which was better.
The ship positioned just north of Darwin, Australia, not to be confused with the frigate that was still in the task force. Much of the time we could actually see land. There were several in-briefs given to the Officers prior to the operation's start. Much of the operation would be simulated given the need for a large amount of resources and manpower. The simulation and real life operations modeled themselves to represent a current threat that might be faced in the near future. With territorial laws established, the ship in the right position and the briefs done, the operation was about to begin.
As an ally of a foreign nation, we follow their laws and customs while in their territorial waters. Australia had some unfamiliar restrictions and observances. The largest impact upon the Supply Department was in how we disposed of trash. In the open ocean, paper and metal is periodically dumped over the side. It quickly degrades in the ocean and no harm is done. A weight is tied around the refuse before being dumped over the side to ensure the waste sinks and does not foul our props. Plastic is compacted into discs and stored until they can be unloaded by a supply ship or port. In Australian waters, the locations of the dumps needed to be reported, many areas were protected because of impact on reefs.
One more additional duty was imposed on the ship. Upon sighting any marine mammals, i.e. dolphins, porpoises and whales or sea turtles, we were required to identify the animal, describe it's activity observed and record the location of the sighting. We did end up seeing one whale although the sighting was fast. There were two official videos describing this process shown to the watchstanders. One was from the US and the other was Australian. No comments on which was better.
The ship positioned just north of Darwin, Australia, not to be confused with the frigate that was still in the task force. Much of the time we could actually see land. There were several in-briefs given to the Officers prior to the operation's start. Much of the operation would be simulated given the need for a large amount of resources and manpower. The simulation and real life operations modeled themselves to represent a current threat that might be faced in the near future. With territorial laws established, the ship in the right position and the briefs done, the operation was about to begin.
Luzon Strait Passage
With tensions calmed down a bit and the US Navy's ability to operate in the South China Sea reasserted, Tailisman Saber was the next mission. We needed to get to North Australia first and the fastest way to get there was through the Luzon Straits. The Luzon Straits is a narrow passage connecting the South China Sea to the Philippine Sea. It has strategic value as well as important natural resources, oil platforms are interspersed throughout the region.
The strait is within the territorial waters of the Philippines so their government was nice enough to provide the task force with an escort. The Philippine Navy sent a frigate and a corvette to guide us. So while in the strait, the task force included US forces, an Australian frigate, and a Philippine frigate and corvette. I am starting to realize how important it becomes to build and maintain international relationships with friendly nations.
The passage went exactly as planned. Although I did not have any specific role to play, I wanted to be on the bridge to watch the events take place. Since the strait is so narrow, all the ships lined up one after the other. The CURTIS WILBUR was positioned in front of the GEORGE WASHINGTON so I was able to have a great view of her. Several helicopters periodically passed over us as air cover. I could look from one side of the bridge to the other and see land in both directions, that was a first since leaving port. Upon leaving the strait we left the Pacific Ocean behind and entered the Indian Ocean. We would cross the Equator shortly after, which is a big deal, but deferred the celebration until coming back. I will go into that in a later post.
The strait is within the territorial waters of the Philippines so their government was nice enough to provide the task force with an escort. The Philippine Navy sent a frigate and a corvette to guide us. So while in the strait, the task force included US forces, an Australian frigate, and a Philippine frigate and corvette. I am starting to realize how important it becomes to build and maintain international relationships with friendly nations.
The passage went exactly as planned. Although I did not have any specific role to play, I wanted to be on the bridge to watch the events take place. Since the strait is so narrow, all the ships lined up one after the other. The CURTIS WILBUR was positioned in front of the GEORGE WASHINGTON so I was able to have a great view of her. Several helicopters periodically passed over us as air cover. I could look from one side of the bridge to the other and see land in both directions, that was a first since leaving port. Upon leaving the strait we left the Pacific Ocean behind and entered the Indian Ocean. We would cross the Equator shortly after, which is a big deal, but deferred the celebration until coming back. I will go into that in a later post.
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