Journal of the Tiger Cruise

1/23/18

2246 - Nimitz Gate, Joint Naval Base, Oahu Hawaii

Hundreds of Uber, Lyft and taxis filled with exhausted Marines and Sailors, after their short ten-hour liberty, headed toward the distant gate. It was already dark. Suddenly, each had to slow at the sight of red brake lights flaring up in the darkness from the hundreds of vehicles ahead of them. Unknown to all of us was a new order, issued at 2200 hours (10 PM), for 100% ID check. Now all of the Tigers, because we didn't have IDs, were heading toward the USS Pearl Harbor and the USS San Diego with the new obligation to transition to the security building and procure proper identification.

As each vehicle approached, the guard firmly gave these tired military personnel their options to either abandon their Tiger or comply with the order. Each discussion at the gate also compounded the delay. As the clock ticked toward the enlisted personnel's 2300 (11 PM) mandatory deadline, scores of young men and women abandoned their vehicles and Tigers to sprint the three miles to their docked ships.

As a Tiger, it was immediately clear that what these men and women do is important; they believe in what they had been trained to do and feared not meeting the goals of the orders they were given. As I later learned, the fear was more about letting others down than of any personal concerns. They wanted to make sure the whole crew got back on time.

Fortunately, my son was an officer and could stay out until midnight, so we acquired our pass from a single guard in a large office that looked like a DMV. He was overworked and overwhelmed, but still kept his sense of humor in the situation. During this whole time, our cab sat with the meter running. Fortunately for us, the driver had been through this many times and assured my son that we could make it to the ship by midnight. By the time we were done getting a pass and got back to the gate, the crowd of enlisted personnel was gone, and we sped to the USS San Diego's brow with 15 minutes to spare.

My son, Capt. Ian Sonnenberg (I'll frequently refer to him as Ian), my brother-in-law, Craig Cooper, and I made our way up ramps and through side-port doors to my son's assigned quarters. We just followed Ian, often through double sets of water-tight doors. Hold down the top lever, pull up on the long handle of the first door and push it open, everyone getting into the small space between the doors, close the first door behind you by again pulling down the top lever then pulling down another large handle, then you can start to open the next door with the same repetitive sequence. We got to a point where we were a team traversing the labyrinth with choreographed precision. Up ramps, through doors, up ladders (stairways on steroids). Sometimes, the ladders had small round access holes that you could barely fit through. Finally, we arrived at 02-64-4-L, our quarters for nine days. The next few minutes were a blur of assigning space, unpacking, dressing for bed, picking our rack and hitting them hard. It was a good day with more to come.

1/24/18

0500 - USS San Diego, Hotel Two Pier, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam

We were up. It didn't take long to get out of the rack, shit, shower and save. Uncle Craig and I were on Central Time, ahead four-hours, so it felt like we slept in. My son, like the rest of the crew, didn't seem to care about the hour of the day. They just were concerned that they were on the same time zone, since they had traveled through 18 time zones out and, so far, 16 on the way back. The three of us worked around each other like so many had done before. You just made it work.

Breakfast was in the officers' wardroom at 0545. Eggs to order, turkey sausage and some fresh fruit. Not bad! They were out of orange juice. I thought to myself, what a nice problem to have. I can live without OJ.

By the way, the enlisted personnel get the same food as the officers, the seating is just a little nicer in the officers' wardroom.

0700 - USS San Diego Flight Deck

We mustered with my son's fellow Marines on the flight deck (this deck covers the stern of the USS San Diego). There is enough room here for four helicopters to land at the same time. In the dark of the dawn, lit by the open hanger's bluish-green lights, Major Payne praised the men and women for the safe and 100% on time return to the ship.

Accountability is valued by the top and respect for performance is appreciated by those who serve. The Major took time to compliment the crew on the success of the mission and to remind them that the trip to their home port would be busy. He also welcomed the Tigers and expressed his belief that we would see, as clearly as he does, the high caliber of this Air Combat Expeditionary (ACE) detachment. After a hardy "hoorah", everyone quickly went back to work.

My son showed Uncle Craig and me around the flight deck and hanger. Four Hueys (UH-1) and four Cobras (AH-1) were on board and took up 90% of the space.

Then my son showed us the small area at the very stern of the ship with "BLACKJACK RECOVER" stenciled on the non-skid surface of the landing area. I found it interesting that they would have this marked at all on the surface as the RQ-21 Blackjack unmanned system doesn't land on the deck, but is captured by a single vertical rope.

The stenciled location was my first indication of the transformational processes underway in the military to move to unmanned systems. The Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron One (VMU-1) has been put in place to pave the way for the new age of defense. Even getting the letters on the deck of this new vessel required a significant lift by Ian's unit and the other VMUs. The Marines' longstanding traditions are always challenging to change, but in just a few years the change in one of those traditions was literally stenciled onto the deck. The success of the 15 MEU reinforced the value of unmanned aviation. Times were changing in the Marines.

The next few hours went by like a blur. We went back to our room, got our coats and proceeded to the Mess Deck, which is an open area outside and about a third of the way from the bow. The Sailors assigned to man the rails during the ship's sail from Pearl Harbor were milling around and getting into position.

0800 - Mess decks

The USS San Diego got under way from the docks at Pearl Harbor.

Tradition holds that military ships pay homage to the USS Arizona and the USS Missouri as they pass.

The Sailors and Marines manned the rails of the USS San Diego in their Navy whites and Marine khaki uniforms. There was almost no talking and all commands were heralded from whistle blasts as we passed the two honored ships. To see this from shore must be impressive, but to stand among these men and women who are ready to give the same last measure was humbling. It is inspiring to think that after 27,838 days since December 7th we still remember, with such respect, those who gave so much. To stand next to the grandchildren who now aspire to similarly protect the World is truly an awesome experience. I could clearly see that these young people understood their role in not only this remembrance, but also in the aspirations of this great nation.

1200

As we sailed away...