Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    In the Blink of an Eye

    The armed forces are America’s first line of defense. Military personal are stationed throughout the world, flying high in the skies, providing boots on the ground, and in the depths of the sea. In the blink of an eye, the military is called upon in the most dangerous situations.
    On September 11, 2001, Chief Machinist Mate Justin Rausch, then a third class petty officer, was stationed aboard the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5). The Elkton, Oregon native said the crew was preparing for a routine deployment scheduled for six days away when they received news of the 9/11 attacks.
    “We turned on the television right as the second plane hit the tower,” said Rausch. “My chief engineer looked at us and ordered us to get our engineering spaces ready because we were getting underway that day. Shortly after noon, the Captain sent out a personnel recall because we were deploying to the Middle East.”
    With short notice, Rausch quickly finished his work and got his gear ready to get underway.
    Rausch recalls how they had several Sailors stranded in New York because every flight was grounded at that time to prevent further terrorist attacks.
    “We were still on stand-down in preparation for the deployment so we were missing 50% of our crew, all we had was a skeleton crew,” said Rausch. “We were short on personnel for every watch station; I had to sleep and work in both the main engineering space and the oil lab.”
    After leaving her homeport in Norfolk, Va., Bataan stopped in North Carolina in order to pick up U.S. Marines and escort them directly to the Middle Eastern shores.
    “It was definitely a different time being in the armed forces at that time,” said Rausch. “When I first came in people were talking about Operation Desert Storm and Operation Desert Shield because it happened during their time frame.”
    Even now, Rausch thinks about the events that happened that day 17 years ago. Children born after 9/11 will soon be old enough to join the military.
    “Now, the older generation of military needs to teach the younger generation that atrocities like this is exactly why we never let our guard down,” said Rausch.
    Rausch now serves as a department leading chief petty officer onboard the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land (AS 39). In the face of tragedy, Rausch and his shipmates were ready in the blink of an eye, just as many others are throughout the armed forces every day.

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 09.11.2018
    Date Posted: 03.17.2019 23:22
    Story ID: 314572
    Location: PACIFIC OCEAN

    Web Views: 42
    Downloads: 2

    PUBLIC DOMAIN