The Carl Vinson Voice is an internal document produced by and for the crew of the USS Carl Vinson and their families. Its contents do not necessarily ref lect the official views of the U.S. Government or the Departments of Defense or the Navy

and do not imply any endorsement thereby.

See `Reunion` page 2

VOL 2 / NO 48 May 8, 2011

Inside this Issue: Master Chiefs | MCPON Message | Sailor in the Spotlight

Story by MC3 (SW) Lori D. BentUSS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

On the afternoon of April 28, Engineman 2nd

Class Timothy Baker, assigned to Reactor Department Auxiliaries Division, sat in Carl Vinson’s Air Transfer Officer (ATO) shack with his Division Officer Ens. Fred Ray waiting patiently for who he believed to be a Reactor inspector.

He was in for the surprise of his life.

Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Stella Baker, a Navy Reserve inventory control petty officer attached to Navy Logistics Support Group Forward, Camp Arifjhan, Kuwait, wasn’t aware what her a s s i g n m e n t

A Mother’s Surprise Reunion

A Mother’s SurpriseReunion

U.S. Navy Photo By MC3 Christopher Hwang

celebrating Mother’s Day in their own ways. And thanks to the ingenuity of two commands and their willingness to reunite a family, one Navy mom was able to create a memory that for her will always be priceless. This is a special moment and an amazing

Mother’s Day gift, said Stella. Both mother and son are aware of

the challenges involved with being a military family and spent a few hours catching up and making plans to get together in the future.

“As a Navy family, we can relate more. It’s good to have people close to you that you can talk to and they know what you’re going through,” said Timothy.

“I am very proud of my son and where he is in his life. He is following in the

footsteps and foundation that my husband and I have set for our family,” said Stella. “It shows that as a family, we have pride in our country and we are all willing to fight so our entire family will enjoy freedom.”

Carl Vinson Voice2

Publisher Capt. Bruce H. Lindsey

Commanding Officer

Executive Editors Lt. Cmdr. Erik Reynolds

Public Affairs Officer

Lt. Erik Schneider Deputy Public Affairs Officer

Managing Editor MC2 (SW) Ashley Van Dien

Photo Editor MC2 (SW) James R. Evans

Layout and DesignMC3 (SW) Megan Catellier

Staff Writers/PhotographersMC3 (SW) Lori D. Bent

MCSN Christopher HwangSTA

FFFrom `Reunion` page 1

Think you can come up with a clever, cunning or comedic caption for this photo?? If your caption is chosen, you can pick a movie to play on SITE TV Saturday at 2000. Submit your caption to “Media Suggestions” in the ship’s global. The

winner’s caption will be featured in Thursday’s paper.

entailed when she was told she was on her way to support a battalion of Marines in Bahrain. She boarded a plane and had no idea the destination was actually Carl Vinson and a Mother’s Day surprise a few weeks early.

“I was wondering why I was picked for the assignment but I was ready and willing to travel outside of the desert to be in a different area,” she said.

So she left the barren climate of Kuwait for the deckplates of Carl Vinson, and ran into the arms of her unsuspecting son.

“I didn’t even recognize her when she walked into the ATO shack,” laughed Timothy. “Seeing her is just very shocking. It’s been way too long.”

Stella and Timothy had not seen each other in more than one year due

to operational commitments.“He was a sight for sore eyes,” said Stella.“We didn’t anticipate seeing each other

again until after the deployment,” said Timothy. “I was just hoping that we would get to see each other while we were in the same area of the world.”

The pair had planned to meet in one of the ship’s 5th Fleet port visits, but changes in the ship’s schedule made implementing their plans difficult. Coincidentally, a planned visit for the elder Baker’s travel to Carl Vinson was the unexpected catalyst to a long-awaited reunion.

“We were trying to arrange for them to have some time together but it was out of our control when the ship’s schedule changed. We were aware that Petty Officer Baker’s mother was deployed in the area of responsibility (AOR) and communicated with her chain of

command to execute a way for them to see each other,” said Ray. “It just so happened that her command had business to conduct on our ship.”

Today, mothers around the world are

“I was just hoping that we would get to see each other while we were in the same area of the world.”

- E M 2 T i m o t h y B a k e r

CAPTION CONTEST

U.S. Navy Photo By MC3 Christopher Hwang

3May 8, 2011

to assist me and other watch standers at any time.”

The reactor plants may be challenging for many Sailors but Forster believes that being interactive and having something to break up the repetitiveness of a watch schedule rotation takes the monotony out of a long deployment.

“When I’m on watch, I focus on my tasks but when I’m off watch I am the ultimate new mom,” she laughed. “I am constantly showing photos of my son to almost everyone and sharing all his new tricks. It adds normalcy to a life at sea.”

Life out to sea for Forster means being a qualified reactor watch stander and a provider for her son.

“I took these orders when my son was six months old,” she explained. “I am a Sailor and a mother and I decided that both my responsibilities had to meet half way. I love both my jobs.”

Forster’s will-power exceeds that of an average Sailor and her determination to set a good example for her peers is unmatched.

“It’s tough to imagine leaving your child behind for any period of time, but she does not let it bring her spirits down,” said Semko. “It’s easy to tell how much she cares about being away from her child and she gets a lot of joy from being a parent. This joy pours over in the way she attacks her job.”

Self-sacrifice to support the mission is very valuable, and Forster is a testimony to the burdens on a military mother, said Stanton.

“Supporting her family is a great motivation and many people are unaware of the pressures we as Sailors deal with so we can provide for our loved ones. MM2 is a great example of that,” he said. “She also has the ability to interact with Sailors and share her experiences.”

Looking toward the future, Forster hopes to earn the rank of petty officer first class, become qualified in both the enlisted surface warfare specialist (ESWS) and enlisted aviation warfare specialists (EAWS) programs, and see her son on the pier when the ship returns to Naval Air Station, Coronado, Calif.

“I remind myself that there are other parents on board who are fighting the same battles I am, and we’re winning everyday we stay focused on completing our mission while also sustaining the motivation to be great parents,” said Forster.

Sa i l o r3

Story & Photo by MC3 (SW) Lori D. BentUSS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

POTLIGHTI N T H E Erin Forster

Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class

Setting sail on deployment is nothing new for Reactor Department Mechanical

Division Sailor Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Erin Forster, but this cruise has a different meaning for her, especially today, as she celebrates her first Mother’s Day at sea.

Forster signed a six-year contract with the Navy in 2006. She has been deployed on board USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 68) and served on shore duty at South West Regional Maintenance Center (SWRMC), San Diego. On June 6, 2010, she gave birth to her first child, Joey.

Down in the reactor plants of the Carl Vinson, she is a ship’s service turbine generator (SSTG) watch stander responsible for two of the four

generators that supply power to the ship. However, this is just one of two very important jobs that fall on her shoulders. In her pockets you can find numerous photos of her son, which she willingly shares with her Shipmates, and credits him for her success and determination to achieve the unexpected.

“She is a great Sailor and an excellent watch stander,” said Senior Chief Machinist’s Mate (SW) Soloman Stanton, Reactor Propulsion Division Leading Chief Petty Officer. “She has aggressively pursued her reactor qualifications and has set a standard for her peers. What she does every day is no easy task.”

Working in an environment that requires strict procedural compliance and attention to detail leaves no room for distractions. Forster uses this time to focus on her job responsibilities.

“Her work ethic is incomparable,” said reactor propulsion division officer Lt. David Semko. “She gets the job done and I can depend on her

Carl Vinson Voice4

Story by MC2 (SW) Ashley Van DienUSS Carl Vinson Staff Writer

Congratulations Master Chiefs

Carl Vinson welcomed four new Master Chiefs during a pinning ceremony in

the ship’s foc’sle May 6.Carl Vinson’s Command Master Chief,

CMDCM (AW/SW) April Beldo, opened the ceremony by greeting the crew and congratulating the selectees.

“Whether we are promoting a seaman to petty officer or promoting Senior Chiefs to Master Chief, it is always a good day,” said Beldo. “These new Master Chiefs are joining the top one percent of the enlisted ranks.”

Pinned by various ship’s force Master Chiefs and Commanding Officer Capt. Bruce Lindsey were Master Chief Quartermaster (SW/AW) Jonathan Myers, Navigation Department Leading Chief Petty Officer; Master Chief Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) William Houlihan, Media Department Leading Chief Petty

Officer; Master Chief Aviation Electronics Technician (AW/SW) Thomas Rousseau, Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department’s Production Control Leading Chief Petty Officer; and Master Chief Aviation Ordnanceman (AW) Richard Terrell, Weapons Department G-3 Division Leading Chief Petty Officer.

“It’s always an honor to recognize a fellow Master Chief on this very momentous occasion,” said Master Chief Logistics Specialist (SW/AW) Gilbert Ermitano, Supply Department Leading Chief Petty Officer. “I have always had faith in these four individuals and I am really glad to see them get selected, it is tough.”

Terrell said that he could not have made it this far without his support system at home and his Navy family.

“I couldn’t have done any of this without

the Chief ’s Mess and the Sailors I have lived and worked with,” said Terrell. “The Sailors have done it all, we have asked and they have done it. I love being able to teach them, and

standing beside them is the greatest honor anyone could ever ask for.”

Myers said that his new collar device is a visual representation of sustained and added responsibilities.

U.S. Navy photos by MC2 (SW) James Evans & MC3 Christopher Hwang

5May 8, 2011

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Battle of the Coral Sea ends with Japanese retiring from

area.

USS Wasp in Mediterranean launches 47 Spitfire aircraft to

help defend Malta.

Confederates destroy Norfolk and Pensacola Navy Yards.

Destroyer USS David R. Ray (DD 971) deters an Iranian

Navy attempt to board a U.S. merchant ship.

U.S. destroyers deliver f irst shore bombardment of

Vietnam War.

Navy Nurse Corps established.

Tripoli declares war against the United States.

Congratulations Master Chiefs“One star is for better taking care of Sailors,

which will we will continue to do,” said Myers. “The other star is for the mission, both in my department and across the deckplates.”

For Rousseau, reaching this milestone will enable him to achieve what he has been pursuing through his rewarding and challenging Navy

career. “It has always been my long term

goal of mine to complete 30 years active duty,” said Rousseau. “With this promotion I will now be able to achieve this goal. It felt awesome to see so many Sailors supporting us four during the pinning.”

Terrell encouraged the Sailors he will continue to mentor that, just as he set a goal and achieved it, they can do the same.

“The Navy offers every Sailor the same opportunities for growth, maturity and knowledge in life,” said Terrell. “If you have a dream, realize that dream, build a plan to reach it and never stop. It will come to you. Maybe not at all once or when you expect it, but it will come.”

U.S. Navy photos by MC2 (SW) James Evans & MC3 Christopher Hwang

Carl Vinson Voice6

MCPON Rick D. WestNAVY NEWS SERVICE

USS Carl Vinson’s Media Department is home to the 2010 Navy-wide Junior MC of the Year, Mass Communication Specialist (SW/AW) 3rd Class Stephen G. Hale II and winners of the following Chief of Information (CHINFO) awards: 1st place for Social Media Presence; Honorable Mention for 2010 Outstanding New Navy Writer, Mass Communication Specialist (SW) 3rd Class Lori D. Bent; 2nd place for Broadcast Television News Report and

3rd place for Broadcast Television News Feature, Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Isaac Needleman.

Deckplate Dialogues

OS3 Matt Smith BM3 James Back OSSN Josh Croyts

“How has your mom supported you this deployment?” DECKPLATE

“She sends me cards and letters in the mail and tells me how my

brother in iraq is doing.”

“She e-mails every day and keeps me updated on what’s going on

at home.”

“She mails me packages with candy, Steelers t-shirts and photos of my baby nephew.”

The functional characteristics of electrically

initiated ordnance causes Hazards of

Electromagnetic Radiation to Ordnance

(HERO).

Cross-connected Steam Plants: Both

propulsion plants are operating from one

reactor.

Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D.

West and his wife, Bobbi, Ombudsman-at-Large, released the following Military Spouse Appreciation Day message to the Fleet May 6.

“Shipmates and families, Bobbi and I would like to say thank you to all Navy spouses and families for your steadfast support of your Sailor, our great Navy and our nation.

We know that the lives of a Navy spouse and Navy family are unlike any other. The Navy asks for you to give us your husbands, wives, sons and daughters for months at a time. The Navy asks for your support and understanding of weekend duty, deployments, missed holidays and birthdays, and we owe you a huge debt for the sacrifices you make.

Your role in your Sailor’s life and the

Navy is vitally important to family readiness and has a direct impact on your Sailor, their job satisfaction, performance and retention. A strong family support structure enables your Sailor to excel both personally and professionally. Our Navy simply would not be the Global Force for Good it is without your contributions.

Communication is key. It’s important that you stay engaged with your Sailor and your Sailor’s command through your ombudsman and family readiness groups, as well as each other. We encourage you to take advantage of the numerous command, and fleet and family support center Web sites available, as well as Facebook pages and other media to stay up-to-date on the issues. Through these channels, you will be better connected to the programs and policies that affect your lives as Navy spouses.

Thank you, spouses and families, for what you do every day and for your continued service and dedication to your Sailor, our Navy and the United States of America.”

MCPON Sends Military Spouse Appreciation Day Message

7May 8, 2011

Sunday, May 8

Channel 6

Friday, May 13

Thursday, May 12

Saturday, May 14Wednesday, May 11

Tuesday, May 10

Monday, May 9

0815-Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows1045-Nothing Like the Holidays1300-College Road Trip1430-Happy Gilmore1615-Did You Hear About the Morgans?1800-The 701815-The Tourist2000-The 702015-Harry Potter: Deathly Hallows2245-Nothing Like the Holidays0100-College Road Trip0230-Destination Tokyo0500-The 700515-Happy Gilmore

0815-The 700830-Hot Shots1030-The Great Santini1230-The Express1445-Premonition1630-The Karate Kid1900-Hot Shots2100-The Great Santini2300-The Express0115-Premonition0300-Just Wright0500-Martian Child

0815-Chariots of Fire1030-Friday Night Lights1230-Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns1415-Fantastic Four1630-Lara Croft: Tomb Raider1815-Charlie St. Cloud2000-Chariots of Fire2215-Friday Night Lights0015-Tyler Perry’s Meet the Browns0200-Fantastic Four0415-Seven Pounds

0815-Rudy1015-Cast Away1245-The Blind Side1500-I, Robot1700-I am Legend1900-Rudy1800-Cast Away2030-The Blind Side2245-I, Robot0045-I am Legend0245-Avatar0530-Dance Flick

0815-The Dilemma1000-Moulin Rouge1215-Flash of Genius1415-The Family That Prey’s1615-Iron Man 21830-Doubt2015-The Dilemma2215-Moulin Rouge0030-Flash of Genius0230-The Family That Prey’s0430-Iron Man 2

0815-The Green Hornet1015-10,000 B.C.1215-Speed Racer1430-Leatherheads1630-Raiders Of The Lost Ark1830-Race to Witch Mountain2015-The Green Hornet2215-10,000 B.C.0015-Speed Racer0230-Raiders Of The Lost Ark0430-20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

0815-The Secret of Moonacre1000-The Roommate1145-Armored1330-CLEANEX!!!1530-Wild Wild West1730-Star Trek1945-Knight and Day2145-The Secret of Moonacre2330-The Roommate0115-Armored0245-Wild Wild West0445-Star Trek

Carl Vinson Voice8

Sunday, May 8

Friday, May 13

Thursday, May 12

Saturday, May 14

Wednesday, May 11

Tuesday, May 10

Monday, May 9

Channel 70815-The Mechanic1000-The Rite1200-Epic Movie1345-Tin Cup1600-Definitely, Maybe1800-The 701815-Fighting2000-The 702015-The Mechanic2200-The Rite0000-Easy A0145-Crank: High Voltage0315-Good Luck Chuck0500-The 700515-The Orphanage

0815-The 700830-Slow Burn1015-Gone Baby Gone1215-Salt1400-Love and Other Drugs1600-Death at a Funeral1745-Men of Honor2000-Slow Burn2145-Gone Baby Gone2345-Salt0130-Love and Other Drugs0330-She’s Out of My League0515-Death at a Funeral

0815-The Whole Nine Yards1000-Year One1145-The Last of the Mohicans1400-Kill Bill Vol 11600-The Hunting Party1745-Street Kings1945-The Whole Nine Yards2130-Year One2315-The Last of the Mohicans0130-Kill Bill Vol 10330-The Warriors Way0515-The Hunting Party

0815-40 Year Old Virgin1015-Stomp the Yard1215-Code Name: The Cleaner1400-Reservoir Dogs1545-Jonah Hex1715-Disturbia1900-40 Year Old Virgin2100-Stomp the Yard2300-Code Name: The Cleaner0045-Reservoir Dogs0230-Disturbia0415-Letters from Iwo Jima

0815-Hot Tub Time Machine1000-Illegal Tender1200-Terminator: Salvation1400-Sorority Row1545-The Ghost Writer1800-The Kite Runner2015-Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li2200-Hot Tub Time Machine2345-Illegal Tender0145-Sorority Row0330-The Last Exorcism0500-Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li

0815-The Good German1000-Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins1200-Blades Of Glory1345-Pride and Glory1600-Lakeview Terrace1815-Gran Torino2015-Enter the Dragon2200-The Good German2345-Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins0145-Blades Of Glory0330-Pride and Glory0500-Lakeview Terrace

0815-The Heartbreak Kid1015-500 Days of Summer1200-Mr. Woodcock1330-CLEANEX!!!!1530-Tropic Thunder1730-The Last Legion1915-The Heartbreak Kid2115-500 Days of Summer2300-Mr. Woodcock0030-Tropic Thunder0230-The Last Legion0415-Defiance