Approaching Jacksonville
Good morning from the USS John F. Kennedy. I guess that would be a LAST “good morning” from this ship, which is in the final hours of its final voyage.
The crew was excited last night. There was more levity in the passageways and dining and working spaces than I had noticed the whole trip. What a contrast to the frustration many experienced earlier in the week when we were delayed two days getting out of Boston.
But that is behind us and Jacksonville lies just ahead. I’ve received no official word about our exact location or the precise time we will arrive at Mayport Naval Station, but there’s been no word of any delays. So right now I am guessing somewhere around 9:30 or 10:30 a.m.
While I sit here blogging in a former squadron ready room (VAW-125, fyi), TU photographer Jon Fletcher is wandering the spaces getting still and video images of last things happening aboard the warship. Look for those images later here on Jacksonville.com and in Sunday’s Florida Times-Union.
At breakfast this morning we saw a lot of sailors, officers and enlisted, wearing their dress blues. That means they will be among the 1,100 or so who will man the rails as the ship enters the base (there are 2,300 sailors aboard, but many of them are needed to stand watches). It should be a sight to see. This will be the last-ever manning of the rails on this ship, which is being decommissioned March 23 after 39 years of service.
Stay tuned.
Jeff
The crew was excited last night. There was more levity in the passageways and dining and working spaces than I had noticed the whole trip. What a contrast to the frustration many experienced earlier in the week when we were delayed two days getting out of Boston.
But that is behind us and Jacksonville lies just ahead. I’ve received no official word about our exact location or the precise time we will arrive at Mayport Naval Station, but there’s been no word of any delays. So right now I am guessing somewhere around 9:30 or 10:30 a.m.
While I sit here blogging in a former squadron ready room (VAW-125, fyi), TU photographer Jon Fletcher is wandering the spaces getting still and video images of last things happening aboard the warship. Look for those images later here on Jacksonville.com and in Sunday’s Florida Times-Union.
At breakfast this morning we saw a lot of sailors, officers and enlisted, wearing their dress blues. That means they will be among the 1,100 or so who will man the rails as the ship enters the base (there are 2,300 sailors aboard, but many of them are needed to stand watches). It should be a sight to see. This will be the last-ever manning of the rails on this ship, which is being decommissioned March 23 after 39 years of service.
Stay tuned.
Jeff
posted by Jeff at
6:56 AM
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