Photo By Petty Officer 1st Class Anthony Koch | Cmdr. Joan Oldmixon, supply officer onboard USS Wasp (LHD 1), serves Tessa Liban, wife...... read more read more
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By Chief Petty Officer AnTuan D. Guerry,
USS Wasp (LHD 1) Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. — Sailors aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1) had plenty of reason to be cheerful as the ship hosted family and friends onboard for a holiday feast Dec. 25.
Wasp Commanding Officer Capt. Lowell D. Crow set the tone for the dinner emphasizing the importance of family onboard Wasp and at home. Crow said in many instances, shipmates are the closest thing to family some sailors may have.
"We are a family. All of us are family," Crow said. "Your sailors have spent a lot of time together over the recently completed three-month deployment, especially with working toward keeping this great warship ready. Your sailors go above and beyond every day. Having you here with them today is something that I'm honored and privileged to be a part of."
Chief Petty Officer Scotty Wallace, a culinary specialist, said preparing a holiday feast for the crew fosters a sense of family and builds crew morale.
"We have to stand duty, and stand the watch. Culinary specialists consider the entire ship to be family, so preparing this Christmas meal for those who are unable to make it home is our way of fostering a family atmosphere," said Wallace, Wasp leading chief petty officer Food Services Division."This is home for a lot of sailors, so we treat it accordingly; this is our family. If we have nothing else in common, it is the bond we share as shipmates and the camaraderie we build through events like this."
Petty Officer 3rd Class Edward Blackburn, a logistics specialist who's wife Laura came aboard for the dinner said having family onboard is special for all involved.
"Having this holiday meal means a lot," Blackburn said. "Even though some of us have duty, it's still good to be able to have family come aboard, have some good food and enjoy the holiday together. The ship is very family oriented, so it doesn't surprise me that they'd do something like this. It says a lot with us just returning home and just gives us all another opportunity to come together — especially for Sailors living onboard ... that's always good."
Jennifer Nickeson, spouse of CTR1 Daniel Nickeson, said the food was some of the best she's ever had on a ship. "The turkey was really good - nice and tender," said Nickeson. "It's also nice to be able to celebrate the day with [Daniel] while he is on duty."
Fifteen year old Rowena, daughter of Nickeson, said that she especially enjoyed the turkey, but was there for a more important reason.
"I have been on two other ships before but this is the first time I have been on Wasp and it's pretty neat," she said. "This is the first time all of us have been on a ship together to celebrate a holiday. It's nice that we are finally able to do so."
| Date Taken: | 12.25.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.25.2009 22:16 |
| Story ID: | 43149 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 471 |
| Downloads: | 271 |
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