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Sense of Purpose Prevails on Kitty Hawk

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030328-19
Release Date: 3/28/2003 2:02:00 PM

By Journalist 2nd Class Mark Elrod, USS Kitty Hawk Public Affairs

ABOARD USS KITTY HAWK, At Sea (NNS) -- Busy days are becoming more commonplace for some personnel aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), as the forward-deployed aircraft carrier continues to work in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The extended hours and increased workloads are most common for Hawk's weapons department, where Sailors deal with the aviation ordnance being used in OIF. "We're building a lot more bombs," said Aviation Ordnance Airman Apprentice Shawn Palmblad of bomb builders division. "So, we're a lot busier."

"It's actually more relaxed as far as stress is concerned, but our working hours are extended to 18 hours on and six hours off," said Aviation Ordnanceman 2nd Class Tom H. Carr, also of the bomb builders division. "There's constant moving, constant building, constant action."

Kitty Hawk aviation ordnance production control division personnel are also feeling the war's effects on their workloads. "There's 140 percent more effort put into the job," said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class (AW) Gary Justice, ordnance production control division supervisor. "The phones are ringing off the hook. It is like a big coordinated effort working in here. We have to coordinate for the aft bomb assembly, the forward bomb assembly, the flight deck, and we have to coordinate with carrier air wing ordnance as well."

In addition to the AIMD and weapons departments, Kitty Hawk's engineering department has to work a little harder to support the ship's current mission.

"Well, we have longer hours. But it is a necessity for more flight operations, because we have to make more steam," said Fireman Matthew J. Birdwell of engineering department. "It makes me feel proud to serve my country, to be an engineer and know that I power the ship."

For Kitty Hawk's hospital corpsmen, who provide medical care and training, keeping a business-as-usual routine can be beneficial to the entire crew. "I feel I help them out with the training that I give them with my knowledge of chemical and biological agents and treatments for casualities that could possibly occur in the event of a chemical, biological or shipboard attack," said Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class (SW/AW) Darren K. Williams.

America's oldest active warship, Kitty Hawk, with embarked Carrier Air Wing 5, are currently operating with coalition forces in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the multinational coalition effort to liberate the Iraqi people, eliminate Iraq's weapons of mass destruction and end the regime of Saddam Hussein.