Vol 03 No 54 | May 22, 2012

I T I: T S | S B P P | M L

STORY BY

CONTINUE ‘LEGACY’ ON PAGE 3Cover photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

MC2 (SW/AW) Byron C. Linder | Carl Vinson Staff Writer

Machinist’s Mate 1st Class (SW/SS) Sean Walsh, assigned to Reactor Department’s RX Division,

and his father retired Master Chief Machinist’s Mate (SS) Robert Walsh share many things in common beyond their last name and their pursuit of a career in Navy nuclear power. Today they both celebrate their birthdays, 30 years apart, and are ecstatic for the opportunity to be together aboard Carl Vinson.

Robert Walsh spent 23 years in the Navy. His career was

spent primarily on submarines and teaching leadership courses for submarines. His � rst visit to a carrier has proven to be a memorable one.

“� e only time I’ve ever seen a carrier before this was through a periscope,” Robert said with a chuckle. “� is is a great crew and a great ship.”

Robert was aboard the attack submarine USS Parche (SSN 683) May 22, 1984, which was moored in Bremerton, Wash. � at night, the nuclear reactor was shut down, shore

Vol 03 No 54 | May 22, 2012

I T I: T S | S B P P | M L

TigerCruise

A Family Legacy

Vinson Voice2

Photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Steel Beach PicnicSteel Beach PicnicSteel Beach PicnicSteel Beach PicnicSteel Beach PicnicSteel Beach PicnicSteel Beach PicnicSteel Beach Picnic

May 22, 2012 3

father’s re-enlistment on the submarine’s bridge.“A� er that, we submerged. � en we brought him over to

the ballast control panel and let him pull the emergency blow levers and blew us to the surface. I think that’s what hooked him,” Robert joked.

MM1 Walsh’s decision made him part of a family legacy already lived by his father, his grandfather as a radioman, his mother who had been a hospital corpsman, and his uncle who was a submarine nuclear machinist’s mate. In 2007, the Walsh men reversed their Tiger/Sailor roles when MM1 Walsh hosted his father aboard the attack submarine USS Alexandria (SSN 757).

“� at Tiger Cruise was good. � is one is totally freaking excellent,” Robert emphasized. “It’s not just the experience of watching airplanes, it’s being with this crew. � ese are great people and I’m happy he’s here.”

� e opportunity to celebrate a birthday together is mutually appreciated.

“I haven’t spent a birthday with him in a couple of years and I was really happy everything came together the way it did,” MM1 Walsh said. “I’m happy to have my dad aboard and I can’t think of a better way to end this deployment.”

“� ere’s been so many we haven’t been together, and to be at sea on top of that is just awesome,” Robert added. “Seeing him work his butt o� and hearing the guys and his Chief speak so highly of him means a lot to me as a Navy dad and a retired Master Chief.”

Tiger Cruises provide an in-depth look into a world many are not familiar with, and a return visit for those who served in the previous generation. But as the Walsh’s story emphasizes, it also strengthens the bonds of family.

FROM ‘LEGACY’ ON PAGE 1

power was hooked up, and the submarine was submerged next to the pier.

“You have a hatch with shore power cables and a telephone line. It’s my birthday, and I’m kind of bummed out that I’m here, so I try to call my wife. She doesn’t answer, and the corpsman tells me to try calling the hospital.”

A nurse answered the phone miles away at the Oakland Naval Hospital and reported both Robert’s wife and son had checked in.

“’My son?! Wow. Holy cow,’” Robert recalled as his response.

MM1 Walsh was born six weeks ahead of schedule. When MM1 Walsh’s mother had gone in to the hospital for an exam, she was told she’d have to have a Caesarian section.

“She asked the doctor if she could do it before midnight, and the doctor said ‘Sure,’” Robert recalled.

Growing up with a Navy dad, MM1 Walsh acknowledged the di� culty of his father’s repeated absences, but noted it prepared him for the challenges of his own Navy career.

“He was there when he could be,” MM1 Walsh emphasized. “We moved around a lot, and I got used to it. I didn’t really try to follow in his footsteps – I was going to be an electrician originally, but in boot camp I chose to be a mechanic because it � t my personality.”

“I’ll never forget the day I walked into the kitchen and there were papers on the table. He said, ‘Dad, I have to talk to you about these.’” Robert added. “I’m thinking it was � nancial aid paperwork to go to college, and it was paperwork to join the Navy and be a nuke.”

MM1 Walsh had been a Tiger aboard the attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700) and had the opportunity to attend his

Photo by: MC2 (SW/AW) James R. Evans | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Photo by: MCSN (SW) George M. Bell | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

Vinson Voice4

Tigers Cruise Around The VinsonPhoto by: MC3 (SW/AW) Rosa A. Arzola | Carl Vinson Staff Photographer

May 22, 2012 5

Schedule of Events for Tuesday, May 220500 – 0700 Breakfast0600 Reveille0700 – 1100 Air Wing Fly-Off / VIP COD from NASNI (To Be Determined)0730 – 0815 Cleaning Stations0900 – 1100 Tours #6 1000 – 1300 Lunch1000 – 2000 BINGO Ticket Sales (MWR Office)1100 – 1500 Scrub-Ex Flight Deck1400 – 1600 Tours #71500 – 1700 Helo Fly-Off1600 – 1900 Dinner1800 – 2000 Tours #82000 – 2200 BINGO2200 TAPS / Tiger Central breakdown

Vinson Voice6

DIALOGUES

STAFF

STA

FF|PUBLISHER|

|EDITOR IN CHIEF|

|EXECUTIVE EDITORS|

|MANAGING EDITOR|

|PHOTO EDITOR|

|GRAPHICS/LAYOUT|

|STAFF WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS|

CAPT. KENT D. WHALEN

MCC (SW/AW) MONICA R. NELSON

LT. CMDR. ERIK REYNOLDS

LT. ERIK SCHNEIDER

COMMANDING OFFICER

MEDIA ALCPO

PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

ASSISTANT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER

MC2 (SW/AW) BYRON C. LINDER

MC2 (SW/AW) JAMES R. EVANS

MC3 PHOENIX C. LEVIN

MCSN (SW) GEORGE M. BELL

D E C K P L A T E

| What Has Surprised You Most About Tiger Cruise? |

“How professional everyone is. They went beyond

expectations.”

“The number of stairs.”

“The planes breaking the sound barrier.”

TigerS h e r r y B r a c k e n

TigerC h r i s s y F o s t e r

“How willing the pilots were to serve information.

The pilots were very cordial, and answered all

of my questions.”

TigerA n t h o n y D a n i e l

TigerJ a c k W e v e r

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BAD NEWS BEARSWALL-ESECRETARIATTHE PRINCESS & THE FROGELFHOPTHE 70HAPPY FEET 2BAD NEWS BEARSWALL-ESECRETARIATTHE PRINCESS & THE FROGELFHORTON HEARS A WHO

THE FIGHTING SEABEESMAMMA MIATHE THREE MUSKETEERSPIRATES OF THE CARIBBEANMISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOLWE BOUGHT A ZOOTHE FIGHTING SEABEESMAMMA MIATHE THREE MUSKETEERSPIRATES OF THE CARIBBEANMISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL

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