Underway

CDRE Thomas Negus, USN  October 27 2010 11:13:10 PM

 

"All Departments make preparations for getting underway - Departments Heads make readiness reports to the Executive Officer on the Bridge!" barked out the invisible voice over loudspeakers throughout the ship.   USS IWO JIMA was getting ready to pull up the anchor and set sail for Suriname, a scant overnight trip down the coast.

 

Walking about the decks on this respite day between missions there is an easy feel of anticipation; anticipation at working in a new country - a new adventure - our eighth on this incredible journey; and a confidence from having done so much already.  Certainly Suriname will provide its own unique challenges.  We will again be anchored 16 miles off the coast since the gentle continental slope only slowly gets swallowed by the sea.

 

We conducted no flight operations today intentionally.  Because of the great distance between the ship and the shore, our missions in both Guyana and Suriname rely exclusively on air transportation.  This means that all involved in the maintaining, moving, controlling and flying of helicopters have been working exceptionally hard in a demanding environment, in an arena that has no tolerance for even the slightest imperfection.  So today was a day of rest - a one day weekend amid a three week run. 

 

Engineers far below returned to their chemistry tricks. Boilers once more breathe fire as they generate steam, driving 40,000 tons through the ocean as power has once again been conjured from elemental fire to drive us ever forward.

 

Cargo mates have already brought the last of the humanitarian pallets to the hangar bay for lifting ashore.  The cavernous storage areas now stand empty, steel walls echoing only memories of the palletized manifestations of hope and care they used to contain.

 

Meanwhile this great ship rocks rhythmically, ever seeking balance between steel and sea, while watch officers look out attentively beneath a brilliant night, giving their orders in reverent whispers.  Millions of tiny lights flicker against the black overhead, as if the heavens are seeking their own balance between dark and light. It is easy to understand how gods first came from the stars. It is easy to understand the captivation of the sea.

 

Tomorrow we arrive in Suriname, and all of the magic of this incredible enterprise called CONTINUING PROMISE will again unfold in a new area, as we meet and help new people, providing our message through our effort, our conviction through our sweat.

 

Tonight though we will revel in the mysteries of the sea.

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