|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WHIRLWIND ROMANCE
WITH THE USS CHAFEE (DDG-90) |
|
|
It started a year ago helping raise funds for the Commissioning in Newport, RI. The Christening of the ship was in Bath, ME, 11 Nov 2002, in honor of John H. Chafee, U.S. Marine, WWII, Korea; Governor of RI, Secretary of the Navy, Congressman, Senator and Statesman. Learning that there were 62 women (2 Officers) on board with a total crew of more than 300, I realized that it would be quite an accomplishment to have the RI Unit 118 adopt the ship and become mentors to the women on board. With the permission of the Navy and the ship’s Captain, CDR Ailes, the unit adopted them and they adopted us. Truly thrilling! I started communicating with STGC Lisa Perry and the CO, planning for the commissioning with the women and the men of the USS Chafee. The ship arrived in Newport, RI, 13 October for the ceremonies and the wonderful memories began. Unit 118 ladies were welcomed aboard the Chafee with VIP treatment and lots of TLC that day. The ladies were amazed by the whole event. After the ceremonies, we adjourned to my house with 30 women of the ship for dinner and fun times, the rest remaining behind to stand the watch. What a wonderful time we all had! Our hospitality and the war stories we told them overwhelmed the ship’s crew and officers. The unit presented the women Rhode Island flags; lapel pins, along with a pin of the state bird, the Red Rooster; and the RI Women Veterans’ Memorial pin, as well as the sincere hospitality of |
Rhode Island and WAVES National.
Throughout the week we attended many festivities: Governor’s Party, Navy League party, welcoming party, ship’s Captain Award’s party, cookout and bonfire, trips to various entertainment, VIP breakfast, Naval Base party, War College party, all in honor of the Chafee. Governors from other states, Congressmen, Senators, VIP’s from Washington, D.C., and around the country were in attendance. I was honored to be sitting next to a Congressional Medal of Honor Marine (having served in Viet Nam) on several occasions. WOW! This is the third Congressional Medal of Honor recipient I’ve had the opportunity to meet in my life! We talked about his duties in Viet Nam and my duties fighting the protesters here in the U.S., during Viet Nam. More than 6,000 people attended the commissioning of the USS Chafee on 18 October. Right in the middle of it all was WAVES National’s own Ocean State Unit 118! All were in their caps and glory! What a wonderful bunch of gals! Boy! Did they have a great time! They were treated like VIP’s as the crew came out to greet them and seat them where they could be a part of it all! They were again overwhelmed by the ceremony and the tears flowed, bringing back memories of their days in the service. After the commissioning, they were bused to Kay Hall on the base for another party. Our 94 year old member was dragging the rest of us around, anxious to see and do everything. She did it, too! God Bless America and all of the ships at sea, including the USS Chafee! |
|
PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS
OF A GREAT DAY IN NEWPORT |
|
|
Arrival of the USS Chafee in Newport, RI, on 13 October 2003 resulted in
several special events for our Ocean State Unit of WAVES National.
We heard that its crew of 300 included 62 women, and because of our own
naval background, we felt an immediate kinship with them. It was
suggested we adopt the women of Chafee as friends and act as mentors to
them.
On Monday, 13 October, several of the young female sailors gave us our own private tour of the ship, after which we enjoyed an excellent buffet supper and reception at the home of Frank and Virginia Hanson in Newport. Frank Hanson was a member of the USS Chafee Commissioning Committee and is active in many Navy oriented events in Newport and Rhode Island. Ginny Hanson is the New England Regional Representative of WAVES National and a member of Ocean State Unit 118. Many members of our unit were thrilled to be present for the official commissioning ceremony at historic Pier 2 on the Naval Station, Saturday, 18 October. Even those members who are now experiencing difficulty getting around made the effort to attend such an important event! Classified as a guided missile destroyer, the ship was named in honor of the late Senator John Chafee, who served his country valiantly as a young Marine at Guadalcanal and Okinawa during WW II and again in Korea as a Marine Officer. After serving as a member of the Rhode island General Assembly, he was elected Governor of our great state and went on to serve as Secretary of the Navy and United States Senator. |
Senator John Chafee’s contributions to our nation were recognized
in speeches by several of the honored guests, including Rhode
Island’s current Governor, Don Carcieri, and Senators Jack Reed
and Lincoln Chafee, who is now serving in his late father’s senate
seat. The Chief Executive Officer of Bath Iron Works, where the
USS Chafee was built, praised his crew of skilled workmen. The
newly installed commanding officer of the ship, CDR John W. Ailes,
USN also addressed the audience assembled on the pier. He spoke of
his sincere appreciation for the legacy of John Chafee and the
skills of his young crew. Several other dignitaries made brief
remarks, all of which reminded us of why we are so proud to be
associated with the U.S. Navy. The Navy Band and Choir supplied
the music. The Sousa marches were exhilarating as always and many
in the crowd joined in singing as many of the words as they could
recall.
The commissioning ceremony, which dates back to 1775, was as impressive as ever with the hoisting of the new ship’s pennant and the stirring sound of the 19-gun salute. Even more impressive to most of the crowd assembled was the appearance of the beloved Senator’s widow, Virginia Coates Chafee and her extended family, including several grandchildren and of course her son, our present Senator, Lincoln Chafee, whom I regard as the voice of sanity on the subject of Iraq. |
|
|
