Today was a really good day. The S.O. and I played golf, then because it was so hot she suggested we go to the pool. Which we did. While there I suggested that I take her out to dinner.
So back we come to the apartment, shower, and get dressed. She comes out of the bedroom wearing a really hot dress. She said she felt like wearing it-because we don’t get invited to any of the types of parties where she can wear such things any more.
To hell with Olive Garden-we are going upscale tonight. Which we did. Good wine, good food.
And did I mention she really looked good at dinner?
So no time to blog which is why I am taking the cheaters way out and leaving you with this post from Japan Probe. My personal opinion is that this could not have come at a worse possible time for the US Navy. I truly believe that one reason the CO and XO of USS George Washington got fired was because the powers that be had performed unnatural acts of all kinds for the past couple of years convincing the Japanese that nuclear powered ships were safe-100% safe- and then wham comes the GW fire and this.
But GW’s fire had nothing to do with the nuke plant.
True, but that does not matter to a certain entrenched part of the Japanese public. Now throw this in the mix……..and it will stir up all of the same old thoughts.
Speaking of which, what are yours on this, or any other subject.
Let us all know in the comments.
Dead. On.
Americans in Navy Blue have been doing a fine job of pissing off the Japanese street for several years.
The snowball’s growing. Hopefully it doesn’t crush anyone.
Cynic,
Talking to a contact that I have on the inside at staff CNAF, who told me it isn’t because of politics (though that may of been a small part of it) rather, they lied about the cause of the fire and the state of training of thier people. On top of that some of thier people got seriously hurt. Last I knew at least four were in Balboa Naval Hospital for some second degree burns and serious smoke inhalation.
My assoicate told me that the inital draft message stating the cause of the fire was rather from a stray spark from a motor the AC&R folks were working on in thier space ignited some oily rags. Not the actual cause a sailor too lazy to hike thier happy butt down to the smoking sponson. Also think of how much illegally stored hazmat was out and about to have started a serious fire like that? Where were the checks by Supply on the hazmat checked out? Where was that Division Chief (or Division Officer) enforcing the rules about not smoking inside the skin of the ship? What about the LPO? Why weren’t they doing something about that?
Training-It took the crew something like 12 hours to put out the fire. Last time a fire lasted that long on a carrier (at least in my modern memory), it was 30+ years ago on the Kennedy after she rammed the Belknap. There were numerous other training laspes as well to let the fire spread to all those various spaces. The minute the smoke and flames broke out the fire call should of spread and they should of gone to the closes inch and half line started to flake it out and begin to charge it to put the fire out.
I could honestly go on and on, but the CO and XO of the GW messed up big time, that is why they were replaced. I almost wouldn’t be suprised to see the DCA, Cheng, and some of the CPO Mess be replaced here in the future as well.
I could honestly go on and on, but the CO and XO of the GW messed up big time, that is why they were replaced. I almost wouldn’t be suprised to see the DCA, Cheng, and some of the CPO Mess be replaced here in the future as well.
SAP, I believe it (re: CPOs being replaced). And it all jives with what I heard from a mid-level enlisted man on the ship who was lamenting that everybody from the captain on down was pointing at everyone else: “No one is taking responsibility for anything that happened.” The info was shared not in a whining/complaining manner, but rather with a great deal of disappointment and embarrassment.
I don’t dispute any of it. I am just pointing out an unintended consequence. My friend in Japan who works for USFJ said they have been keeping their fingers in the dike because they are answering the same questions over and over again from the Japanese.
I concur with your causes and lapses that lead to the fire, I just think there is an added dimension as well. The new CO, he has a big burden to undo. Its gonna suck to be on GW, just like it sucked to be on KHK in 2002.
Which is not so good, because my daughter is dating a PO1 on GW now. How’s that for irony? I leave Japan and she may finally get over there.