Remembering Blue Angel Kevin Davis

On Saturday, during an air show in South Carolina, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Davis (pictured at right) died when his Blue Angels F-18 hit some trees and crashed into a Beaufort neighborhood.

It's tragic news to the Blue Angels, no doubt, but First Coast residents should also take a minute to reflect, because tens of thousands of us heard his voice during the 2006 NAS Jacksonville air show.

If you went to that show, and if you stayed to see the Blue Angels' performance, then you heard Davis' voice describing their awesome maneuvers over the PA system. As the then-pilot of Blue Angels 7 and the newest member of the team, he narrated rather than flew the air shows.

His other job, as the pilot of the squadron's two-seat F-18 Hornet, was to give media and VIP rides in the days leading up to the team's air shows.

That's how I met Davis. On a sunny day in October, I strapped into the rear seat of No. 7 for the most unforgettable experience of my life: an hour-long ride in a Blue Angels fighter. Davis flew the jet to about 60 miles off the coast of St. Augustine and proceeded to put the aircraft through a series of rolls, loops and turns that had my head spinning. If you saw the video on Jacksonville.com, he also had my head rolling at one point as I passed out during a high-speed turn. (To see the video, click HERE).

What I remember about Davis, mostly, was his voice coming over the helmet speakers. Telling me to flex before high-G maneuvers and answering question after question I had about the aircraft, about flying combat missions, about getting into the Blue Angels. He responded with humor and grace to all of them — even as he flung us about the sky.

On Saturday he was flying plane No. 6. He had graduated from narrator to pilot of one of the six F-18s that perform in each show. Sadly, it was his last flight.

I know Davis' family, the Blue Angels and the Navy are mourning today. The rest of us should take a few minutes and do the same. I know I will.

Jeff

VAW-125

Waaaay back in March when TU photographer Jon Fletcher and I rode the USS John F. Kennedy from Boston to Jacksonville, we spent a lot of time in Ready Room 4. On the door the ready room was the squadron symbol (posted above) for VAW-125.

The entire week we were aboard I kept meaning to research the squadron whose former ready room was serving as a media center for that final Kennedy voyage. (Fixed-wing aircraft haven't operated from the Kennedy since late 2005 or early 2006).

So just today when I had a minute I Googled the squadron. Here's what GlobalSecurity.Org had to say about them:

VAW-125, known as the "Torchbearers" or "Tigertails," was commissioned on October 1, 1968, at Naval Air Station, Norfolk. The squadron’s first sea duty was in the Caribbean with Carrier Air Wing Three aboard the USS Saratoga (CV 60). Following the Caribbean work-up cycle, the squadron left on its first major deployment to the Mediterranean Sea, in July 1969. Upon their return form cruise, VAW-125 became the first East Coast squadron to take delivery of the new E2-B "Hawkeye".

VAW-125 made several Mediterranean Sea deployments as part of Carrier Air Wing One aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) in the early 1970’s. In 1975, VAW-125 deployed with the newest version of the Hawkeye, the E-2C.

In December of 1976, Vice Admiral Greed, COMNAVAIRLANT, presented VAW-125 with the COMNAVAIRLANT Battle "E" for readiness, the CINCLANTFLT "Golden Anchor" Award for career retention, and the CNO Safety "S" Award. VAW-125 is believed to be the first Navy unit to win all three awards in the same year.

In August of 1990, the Tigertails were ready for deployment and responded to the invasion of Kuwait by deploying for eight months to the Red Sea with Carrier Air Wing Seventeen aboard USS Saratoga. After transiting in record time, they took up station and started flying around the clock in the support of Operation DESERT SHIELD. During Operation DESERT STORM, VAW-125 flew over 890 combat hours controlling strikes on Iraqi targets while providing AEW coverage for the Red Sea Battle Group. The Tigertails controlled VFA-81 F/A-18’s in the 17 January 1991 shoot down of two Iraqi MiG-21’s – the only Navy air-to-air MiG kills of the Southwest Asia campaign.

for the complete story, visit this link: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/navy/vaw-125.htm

also i've posted a US Navy file photo of the E2 Hawkeye the article talks about.

Jeff

hoping to see the Kennedy

I've been making calls this morning to Navy public affairs offices from Norfolk to Jacksonville in hopes of getting onto Mayport Naval Station and the John F. Kennedy. I am curious to see what the ship looks like now and to see the work going on to prepare her for long term storage up in PA. I'd love to hear from any Kennedy sailors or contractors who've been doing this work. Or if you've ever helped decomm another ship, drop me a line and tell me about it. Post a comment here or e-mail me at jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com.

Detainees to NAS Jax?

Today's Times-Union carries a story about consideration being given to closing Guantanamo Bay and moving the prisoners currently held there to various military bases in the United States (see page A-7). One of the bases on the list is Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Pensacola Naval Air Station is also on the list.

But the way I read the story is the idea is very much theory right now, not an actual proposal or bill being considered in Congress.

I'd be very curious to see how the community reacts to having accused terrorists, including possibly one of the masterminds of the 9-11 attacks, moved to Jacksonville.

Jeff

Jacksonville Marine in Iraq

I just wanted to give everyone a heads up this weekend's Times-Union will feature an interview with a Jacksonville native and Marine staff sergeant currently serving in Iraq.

Staff Sgt. Doug Bisson (that's him pictured above in the sunglasses; photo provided by the USMC) is in al Anbar Province training Iraqi military and police how to properly use their weapons. I interviewed him today via satellite phone from his base in the western part of that country.

The gist of it is that Bisson firmly believes that the training he and other advisers are providing the Iraq military is working and will eventually result in American forces being able to come home for good.

Battleships to Mayport?

In yesterday's post I asked readers to post comments or e-mail me (jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com) their wish list of ships that would come to Mayport to replace the John F. Kennedy. One reader wrote in that he'd like to see battleships.

I would too -- the only problem is the Navy doesn't have any active battle wagons anymore, so that will definitely be a wish unfulfilled.

But please, we'll be taking that informal survey in the next couple of months and publish the results here and in Jacksonville.com.

Jeff

Informal Mayport survey

OK this is a just-for-fun survey.

If YOU had the power to bring any one ship or mix of ships to Mayport to replace the John F. Kennedy, what would it/they be?

Me, I'd love to see a couple carriers, one or two amphibs (how about LHD-8 Makin Island, which is currently under construction??) oh and maybe one of those brand-new LPD's like the New Orleans?? (that's the New Orleans pictured above, photo courtesy of the US Navy).

Wishful thinking? OK, but what are YOUR wishes?

Post your wish list here on the blog or via e-mail to jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com. Feel free to include an explanation for your choices.

Jeff

Post-commissioning thoughts

I'm a little "hung over" in the aftermath of John F. Kennedy's Friday (March 23) decommissioning and the busy days and weeks leading up to it. And that's as a journalist. I can't really imagine what the ship's public affairs and media personnel feel this morning. Their lives were totally crazy getting the whole thing planned and executed.

I just had a few thoughts and blog comments to share this morning. One is the photo you see there above. That's Command Master Chief Charles Dassance. He's the Kennedy's highest-ranking enlisted sailor. The photo shows him holding the US flag shortly before he marched over to the ship's (now former) CO, Capt. Todd Zecchin. Both men told me afterward it was one of the most emotional moments of the morning for both of them.

Also, these two blog comments were posted this morning, both from YNCS Don Harribine, USN(Ret):


There is no such thing as the official Navy abbreviation for
PCU Post-commissioning Unit.
PCU stands for one thing and
thats Pre-Commissioning UNit.
They should not be confused as one in the same.
March 25, 2007 8:11 AM


The official Navy abbreviation of
PCU Pre-commissioning Unit should not be confused with the unofficial
abbreviation of PCU Post-commissioning Unit. The two are entirely different entities.
They are using PCU Post-commissioning unit for the crew of USS JFK as she goes through the
decommissioning process.

Don's comment was in response to my using "PCU" in one of the blog post headlines below. Don: I am grateful for the explanation.

And then there was this post from Rochelle DeAnda who missed Friday's ceremony at Mayport Naval Station:

"My husband was aboard the ship from '93-'97. We are heartbroken that we hadn't heard the ceremony was today. We would've been there. Now I'm desperately trying to find a video copy of the event! Too bad there wasn't a more organized announcement to former sailors, perhaps by mail ahead of time."

That's a bummer. Rachel, you can find lots of excellent photos and videos right here on Jacksonville.com. Just type in keyword "kennedy" and you'll see it all right there.

Jeff

Where was everyone?

The Navy was expecting 5,000 people, but only 1,500-2,000 showed up for the decommissioning of the USS John F. Kennedy on Friday.

JFK crew members who organized the two-hour event said they were overwhelmed with requests from Kennedy alumni and others who wanted to attend. But on game day most of them were AWOL.

After receiving a dozen or so e-mails from former sailors desperate to attend the event, I'd love to know why so many didn't show up.


Jeff

Post-Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy

The John F. Kennedy is no longer a United States Ship. Since being officially decommissoined shortly after 11 a.m. today, what once was the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy is now the Post Commissioning Unit John F. Kennedy.

The ceremony felt more like a funeral than anything else, since it basically amounted to putting the 39-year-old "Big John" to rest. It will spend the summer in Jacksonville being readied for indefinite mothballing in Philadelphia.

See this blog for more posts later today and Saturday's Florida Times-Union for complete photo and story coverage of the ceremony.

Jeff

Pre-decomm scene

We're here at Mayport Naval Station to cover today's USS John F. Kennedy decommissioning ceremony. Right now there are just a few hundred guests sprinkled among what looks like a sea of thousands of empty folding chairs. Sailors are going row by row wiping them down with sponges.

When I asked for the list of VIPs who will attend today, I was told by Lt. Cmdr. Dan Doolittle that the list in the program "is nowhere near accurate" because the planning has been very fluid and hectic.

He also told me that Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter isn't coming and that it looks like U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw isn't going to make it, either. However, Rear Adm. Denby Starling, commander of Naval Air Force Atlantic and Adm. John Nathman, commander of Fleet Forces Command, will be here.

The ship looks great. She's covered in red, white and blue bunting and there's a huge American flag flying over one of the ship's elevator spaces.

Jeff

Ex-JFK Sailor needs help -- FAST

Can anyone help this gentleman? FYI I have forwarded him the decomm rsvp e-mail address already. but if you have advice for him please e-mail him and let him know what to do to get into Friday's decommissioning.

here's the e-mail i got from him this morning:

Jeff, I know this is short notice but I need to attend the Ceremony. I was a MM onboard JFK from 1983-1989. She was my first ship. I arrived as a MM3 and left as MM1. I seen my first overseas port visit and 3 Med cruises. She is the best ship in the fleet. I sent email to PAO requesting confirmation for 2, My wife and I. I live in Jacksonville and hae base stickers to get on, but what else would I need?

Thanks
Norbert T Lonczak
MMC(SW/AW) USN Retired
nlonczak@msn.com

JFK Alumni Day

A Navy spokesman out at Mayport Naval Station told me Wednesday that the base is expecting hundreds of ex-JFK sailors at today's Alumni Day event, which runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Readers of this blog who couldn't make it would love to hear from those who did about how it was, what you saw and where on the ship you got to go. so please post comments here or e-mail me at jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com to share the experience and any photos you might have taken.

FYI, TU columnist extraordinaire Marks Woods is covering the event for the paper this morning, so be sure to read his column in Friday's Times-Union.

Jeff

I'd like to hear from you if. . .

. . . you're a former Kennedy sailor, have contacted the right folks about attending Friday's decommissioning and yet still haven't been able to RSVP.

Also, let me know if you've had any trouble getting through via e-mail (see past two blog postings for the addresses).

Finally, if you HAVE successfully gotten through and RSVP'd, post a comment here to let others know how it went and what advice you might have for them.

Thanks.

Jeff

For JFK Vets: decomrsvp@kennedy.navy.mil

Here's an e-mail Atlanta resident and former Kennedy sailor TJ Scott (see previous blog for more of his story) got from a Navy public affairs officer today. Please note that it also mentions an "alumni day" on Thursday at Mayport, where Kennedy vets can tour the ship. Also note that the e-mail (which is quite long) includes all the pertinent instructions for RSVPing for these various events:

From: Rebari, Rebecca L. LTJG (KENNEDY MEDIA)
[mailto:rebarirl@kennedy.navy.mil]
Sent: Tuesday, March 20, 2007 05:24 PM Pacific Standard Time
To: Scott TJ
Subject: RE: JFK decommissioning

Mr. Scott,
No need to bring your DD214! I am attaching an electronic invitation to
the decommissioning. However, I need you to RSVP ASAP to
decomrsvp@kennedy.navy.mil to ensure that you are on the attendees list.

The ceremony takes place Friday, 23 March at 1000-1200.
Please RSVP at decomrsvp@kennedy.navy.mil.

In addition there is a JFK Alumni Day on Thursday, 22 March from
0900-1300, which is the last time BIG JOHN will have tours, so if you
would like to bring friends and family, or take a walk down memory lane,
I recommend attending this day! Please RSVP at pao@kennedy.navy.mil.
We request that you keep your group to no more than 6 people between the
ages of 7-70. For those over 70, CO's approval is required.

The following information is requested:
Due to security, we need the names of every person in the group and the
last 4 digits of their social security numbers. If they need assistance
with base access, please provide your Vehicle information, including
drivers name, Color, Make, Model & Tag (Include the State). If renting
a vehicle they need to relay the vehicle information prior to entering
Naval Station Mayport.

In regards to the Alumni Day we will be an Industrial environment on the
22nd, therefore we'll only be able to show are guests the hangar bay and
flight deck. We have also included our CO's tour policy below.

Please have all guests read and understand:

I fully understand and assume all risks of myself and my guests involved
in touring USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67). I realize that a naval vessel
is an industrial site requiring proper/appropriate attire. As a guest I
agree to adhere to the following attire guidelines:

-No open-backed sandals, low or high heels or other footwear that can
easily slip off my feet

-Gym shoes, boots, sandals with ankle strap and casual footwear are
permitted

-No inappropriate clothing that is too revealing such as:

1. Bathing suits, Tank tops/wife beaters, Short-shorts or ultra-mini
skirts

2. Any clothing that is so loose it can easily get snagged or easily
fall off

3. No clothing with offensive slogans or images to include but not
limited to

4. Anything 'adult' orientated, Anything promoting the use of illegal
drugs or drug paraphernalia

I understand the following will not be permitted on board:

-Illegal drugs/drug paraphernalia, Alcohol

-Weapons of any kind including but not limited to: Knifes, Guns, Pepper
sprays, Tasers I understand all guests must be able to maneuver on their
own power without any walking aides such as crutches, a walker, cane or
wheelchair. Also, guests who are legally blind will not be permitted on
board.

I understand that all guests must be in good health in order to visit
the ship. No one will be allowed to board the ship if they have any
heart conditions (past & present), recent surgery or any medical
condition that required any visit or overnight stay in a hospital.

I also understand all guests must be at least 8 years of age and any
child who looks questionable and their parent(s)/guardian will be asked
not to participate in the tour. (Any guests over 70 years of age require
CO approval)

All guests must have some form of official picture identification. Any
non-U.S. citizens must be prepared to show appropriate paperwork or Visa
approving their visit into the U.S. I understand photographs are not
only allowed, they are highly encouraged. However, the following are
off limits at all times:

1. Any armed military member

2. Any security checkpoint

3. Other ships in the basin and the basin itself

Finally, the U.S. Navy is not liable for any injury incurred during a
tour should any of these guidelines be comprised.

Have a Fine Navy Day!
v/r,
LT Rebecca Rebarich
APAO, JFK Decom

Attn. JFK vets: There's still time

TJ Scott of Atlanta is going to be glad to hear this: Yes, veterans and relatives of the USS John F. Kennedy can still get on the invite list to Friday's (March 23) historic decommissioning ceremony.

That's the word from Lt. Walter Matthews. As the ship's public affairs officer, it is he who does the inviting.

To get invited, e-mail Matthews at pao@kennedy.navy.mil. If your e-mail bounces back, he said, keep trying: their e-mail system is overloaded sometimes. Approximately 5,000 are expected to attend the event, which begins at 10 a.m. and is expected to last up to two hours.

I say that Scott will be glad because he e-mailed me today saying he was worried about getting into the ceremony. Scott served on the ship from January 1974 to July 1976 as an electronics technician. He told me by phone that his plan is to just arrive at Mayport Naval Station Friday and hope for the best.

"I figured I'd show up at the gate, show them my DD-214 and say 'I want to go to this thing.'" [The DD214, he said, is a discharge paper that shows dates of military service and the last ship you served on.]

Well, hopefully it won't come to that. Good luck to TJ and all the other Kennedy vets trying to get into the big show.

Jeff

Sharing Kennedy experiences

The Times-Union has quite a spread on the USS John F. Kennedy, including a page one piece on what the loss of the carrier means to Jacksonville businesses, homeowners and others. Also there are interviews with Kennedy veterans about their memories of the aircraft carrier, which will be decommissioned on March 23. (See it all in today's paper and here at Jacksonville.com).

Reading all those stories reminded me of a gentleman I spoke with before I sailed on the Kennedy from Boston to Jacksonville. His name is Dick Koehler, of Jacksonville. That's Lt. Cmdr. Koehler in the photo above. He served on the Kennedy 1974-1976, as the maintenance officer for an A-7 attack jet squadrons.

The routine for Koehler consisted of long days, working 12 hours or more a day, seven days a week. Koehler spent 30 years in the Navy, and he said his time on the Kennedy was among the best. He said he loved the food, the camaraderie and keeping those jets flying.

"It was like being part of a floating city," he said.

We'd love to hear from other Kennedy sailors in the coming weeks. Feel free to e-mail me at jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com or post comments here on the blog for others to read.

Jeff

A Navy wife's story

A few days ago I posted a blog about TU photographer Jon Fletcher and I having come away from our five-day voyage on the USS John F. Kennedy with a deeper understanding of what service men and women go through during deployments. In the blog, I asked people to write in to share their experiences. Here's part of an e-mail I received from a local woman who's husband is in the Navy and currently serving at NAS Jacksonville:


Although I have only been a Navy wife for a little over 3 1/2 years now, I somewhat know what it’s like to have to go through deployments. I was 4 months pregnant with my daughter when my husband went on our first deployment together (I was left at home, he was on the USS JFK). It was horrible. I was going through the stage in my pregnancy when my hormones were all messed up and I cried for no reason at all. Just when I thought it couldn’t be worse, 3 Doors Down had that depressing song about military families and how they missed their naval wives/husbands. “I’m here without you baby.” That song sent me into tears every time I heard it. I feared for his life all the time. And he was only gone for three weeks!! It was what you call a trial run so they could make a go of the six-month deployment without any kinks. Thank God that by the time that six month deployment came around we had switched from sea duty to shore duty.

We'd love to hear more, so if you want to share your experience, please post it in a comment here on the blog or via e-mail at jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com.

Jeff

ps -- click HERE HERE HERE to see photos and video from the JFK's recent underway from Boston to Jacksonville.

pps -- here are the lyrics to the 3 Doors Down song she was referring to, called "Here Without You":



A hundred days had made me older
since the last time that I've saw your pretty face

A thousand lights had made me colder and I don’t think I can look at this the same

But all the miles had separate
They disappear now when I’m dreaming of your face

I’m here without you baby
but your still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
and I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby
but your still with me in my dreams
And tonight it’s only you and me

The miles just keep rollin
as the people either way to say hello
I've heard this life is overrated
but I hope that it gets better as we go

I’m here without you baby
but your still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
and I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby
but your still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl it’s only you and me

Everything I know,
and anywhere I go
it gets hard but it won’t take away my love
And when the last one falls,
when it’s all said and done
it get hard but it won’t take away my love

I’m here without you baby
but your still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby
and I dream about you all the time
I’m here without you baby
but your still with me in my dreams
And tonight girl it’s only you and me

JFK in Sunday's Times-Union

The Times-Union and Jacksonville.com are continuing their coverage of the USS John F. Kennedy. Check out this Sunday's newspaper for a story by staff writer Charlie Patton that looks at how the impending loss of the aircraft carrier is creating some anxiety in the communities near Mayport Naval Station.


Jeff

March 23 decommissioning

We're just a week away from the decommissioning of the USS John F. Kennedy, and I am wondering who KNOWS they are going to be attending the ceremony. If you have a ticket or written confirmation that you will be attending, please contact me here via posts or at jeff.brumley@jacksonville.com. Please be sure to include a brief explanation of your relationship to the JFK. Thanks.

Jeff