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“Flight quarters, flight quarters, all hands man your flight quarters stations.” As orders are passed across the ship’s one main circuit (1MC), Sailors in Air Department scramble to gather personal protective gear, and prep for the days’ work on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74).
As Sailors transit the passageways to the flight deck, a lone yellow shirt peeks out of an office. Shaking hands and speaking words of motivation, Master Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Jack Hudson, a Sailor that has given more than 30 years to the Navy, 13 of those years served aboard John C. Stennis, prepares to start his day.
One would ask, “why 30 years?” The answer comes without hesitation and no sense of regret or lost time is seen through the facial expressions of Hudson as he answers.
“I think it’s the Sailors and the way they grow with you, I see them every day and I love helping them,” said Hudson. “Going on deployments, seeing the world and getting the wonderful feeling how you have helped people, by seeing the joy on their face, makes the time worth it.”
When you look at a career the way Hudson does, waking up early and spending long periods of time away from family to fulfill a greater purpose isn’t a chore; it is a piece of him, something that defines the man he has become, and something that instills a sense of pride that is contagious.
Time spent at sea is a sacrifice, one that is felt by both the Sailors and the Navy family that gives up birthdays, holidays, and special moments in life to support a career they may not fully understand.
“Make sure you take care of your families first, and then give your 100 percent every day on the ship and to the Navy,” said Hudson. “It is tough going away for deployments, and the biggest thing is communication.”
“When I’m at home I try to be easy going with the family,” said Hudson. “Sometimes Master Chief Hudson comes out of me when I’m at home with the kids, but when I’m home I love to clean, I like to make my wife happy and do those things for her and the kids.”
Mentorship and genuine care for the Sailors that serve with Hudson is the driving force that keeps him going daily. Every day moments, from material condition hour (MCH) to taps, Hudson makes sure the junior and senior Sailors that serve aboard John C. Stennis know that he cares about them.
“During cleaning stations I try to go around to each division, walk through all the berthings each day and talk to the Sailors,” said Hudson. “I’ll ask them what their plan is going into port, what they like to do on their off time and how their families are. I always remember a face or a name and where they’re from.”
Looking back at the journey that started back in the small town of Mexico, Missouri, Hudson has kept the same values to this day. Taking care of others, respect, and just plain being nice, permeates through his personality.
“I was a junior in high school, and the Navy recruiter called me and asked how much money I made an hour,” said Hudson. “At the time I was making $3.35 an hour and he told me the lowest paying job in the Navy pays $6.95 an hour, so I asked him when can I come down and see him. I went down there and I left that small town of about 11,000 people and went into the Navy.”
“Ask the Chief,” is a phrase used throughout the Navy and one that each Chief is taught from day one of selection. Hudson lives it daily, it is all he knows. Helping others, mentoring and developing those around him to one day take his place is evident in the lives he has impacted aboard John C. Stennis. You never know when someone will have such a profound impact on your career and life, and for Master Chief Navy Career Counselor Melissa Warren, that moment came early in her career.
“He provided me an opportunity to work as the air department career counselor as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Equipment) 1st Class, and that has completely changed my entire career,” said Warren. “I don’t think that I would be where I am today had he not seen potential in me, and given me an opportunity to do something that I was better suited to do to support the Navy.”
Those moments may seem small at the time, but can have a lasting effect on people, and carrying that experience and mentorship to where she is now has helped Warren to be the person she is today.
“Part of being in the Chiefs Mess is comradery, development, and mentorship, and Master Chief Hudson has been all of that to everyone in the mess for 13 years,” said Warren. “The countless number of people that have gone to him for mentorship or guidance, training and development has been immeasurable. He’s kind of been like a big father to everybody, with his mellow demeanor and approachability; he truly is one of a kind.”
For all Sailors, their career will come to an end. Whether moving on after the first term or completing a 30-year career, looking forward to the life beyond the Navy is something every Sailor will one day do. Taking the experiences, relationships and memories with him will be something Hudson will hold near and dear to his heart.
“I’m going to miss the Navy very much,” said Hudson. “I’ve been in for three quarters of my life and I love the John C. Stennis, it has been the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. I’m going to take some time off. I plan on working in the Bremerton area, and I want to give back to the community as much as possible.”
Even though a sense of sadness may linger along the passageway affectionately known as Jack Hudson Boulevard after he retires, the Chiefs Mess, Wardroom and Sailors of John C. Stennis will all take something from Hudson as the mission continues.
“I don’t think people truly understand how much sacrifice is involved with a 30-year career,” said Warren. “For everything he and his family have sacrificed, I just want to say ‘Thank you’.”
For more news on John C. Stennis, visit www.stennis.navy.mil or follow along on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stennis74.
| Date Taken: | 07.27.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 12.30.2018 08:14 |
| Story ID: | 305760 |
| Location: | BREMERTON, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 134 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Anchoring the Deck Plates for 30 Years, by PO2 David Brandenburg, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
