The USS Nimitz
On the day we were mourning the loss of seven brave and selfless heroes of the space age and their miracle aircraft, I was given a rare opportunity of a personal tour of one of our nation’s other marvels.
The USS Nimitz is a floating city, housing thousands of other brave and dedicated heroes and an airfield-on-water designed to help protect American freedom. My youngest son served aboard the Nimitz before retiring from the Navy, and now my grandson is one of those dedicated heroes, preparing to leave port for points unknown before the week is out. The visit also brought back memories of another time. I was stationed on North Island as a young seaman in the late forties, now homeport for the Nimitz. The 2nd world war was a memory then, and the Korean conflict had not yet begun. I was lucky.
Awesome is the only way to describe this massive floating structure of steel and modern technology. The ship’s flight deck rests well over 100 feet above the water and the command center another 100 feet above that. Everywhere one looked there were young people going about their daily routines, tending to the ship and its compliment of aircraft which stand ready for instant immersion into combat when ready, should the need arise.
Escorted by my grandson, I walked from one end of the ship to the other, taking pictures as I went. From crew’s quarters through several food galleys and work-shops, up to the flight deck we walked, climbed and descended into the depths of the ship’s bowels, awe-struck at everything I saw. Fighter and reconnaissance -planes, helicopters and airwave jammers were parked, many being serviced.
How proud I am to live in a country that not only produces these magnificent mechanical marvels, but also produces the volunteers required to take them into harms way, while protecting every citizen’s right to support or protest our government and its actions. God bless America, and all it stands for. May God keep the personnel of the USS Nimitz safe while they venture forth to help protect us all.
©2003 Bill Effinger