George Washington Ahoy!
How many chances in a lifetime does one get to board a US “Flat Top” or aircraft carrier, much more a chef like me? Well, consider me twice lucky! It’s a truly amazing experience just to stand on the flight deck of such an awesome vessel — technically, a Nimitz-class carrier, considered to be the largest class of warships in the world. My last close encounter with one was seeing one in a war movie and actually holding a miniature scale model sold in a hobby shop.
The USS George Washington docked in Manila bay last week for a four-day goodwill visit to reinforce ties between our two nations. During the visit, the men and women who are the lifeblood of the enormous carrier will carry out different community projects tied with local civic groups — everything from aid in constructing a public library, reading books aloud to public school children to planting trees at a national shrine and painting and cleaning an elementary school. Sounds like a chore, right? But these men and women actually look forward to it, as though it was their R&R! Well, at least it will give them a chance to stretch their sea legs on land.
I had the honor of meeting these young, hardworking sailors who surprisingly come from all walks of life as well as different countries. In fact, a huge chunk of them are actually Filipinos. I was so impressed by how courteous the sailors were — snappily standing aside and giving way to us along the narrow corridors in the decks below, and greeting us with a sincere smile or a polite nod. US Ambassador to the Philippines Kristie Kenney says with pride that the crew actually looks forward to their visit and welcomes this opportunity to strengthen RP-US ties by serving our communities.
On the day of the tour, I was graciously welcomed by the US Embassy Press Attaché Rebecca Thompson together with her energetic assistant Angelica Cabahug. We were then escorted by a dashing naval officer in dress whites: Chief Petty Officer James O’Donnell, who is in charge of media relations for the carrier. I was with my TV crew, as well with other media journalists and various groups of high school students from Manila and neighboring cities. We rode on a patrol boat from the fleet landing specifically set up for the ship’s visit, located behind the Mall of Asia, and from there took a half-hour ride to board the 100,000-ton warship.
It’s amazing to note that The USS George Washington (nicknamed “GW”) is 1,092 feet (333 meters) long, 257 feet (78 meters) wide — about the size of one and a half American football fields. The super carrier can accommodate at least 80 fixed-wing and rotary wing aircraft, and has a flight deck 4.5 acres (or around 1.8 hectares) in size. From the highest tip of its antennas to the bottom of its keel, GW stands as high as a 24-story building; she has four distilling units that can make 400,000 gallons of potable water a day. According to hosts, the desalination process of converting sea water to steam and then to liquid is very thorough. Her food service divisions serve 18,000 meals per day, for almost 6,000 personnel onboard. By their healthy physiques and pleasing demeanors, it looks like the crew members are more than well–fed!
That takes a lot of meal planning but their head chef Warrant Officer Dave Webb has got it down to a science. (At first glance, the amiable Dave looks like Bruce Willis. And he doesn’t mind being called Bruce at all. Dave is actually married to a Filipina who hails from San Antonio, Zambales.) Dave is ably assisted by two Phil-Am culinary specialists — Jeffrey Legaspi and Heather Toquero.
I went inside the ship’s freezer (I couldn’t stay inside for more than five minutes due to the below-zero temperatures) and inside one of the dozen stockrooms (more than double the size of my classrooms), where they store enough food to last up to 45 days. I also took a look at the pastry department and the hot kitchen. (By the way, it should be called the “galley” because the word “kitchen” doesn’t exist in the Navy.) Wow! Once more, many of the cooks were Filipino, which just proves that cooking (and even more so, eating) is an inherent passion. That afternoon, the galley was busy preparing dinner for an exclusive party for around 550 US Embassy guests at the Hangar Bay (just below the flight deck that was cleared of the fighter jets and other aircraft). I got to sample a meat roll of bologna with cheese as one of the appetizers offered. Not bad. Sadly though, I was not able to sample any more of the food because we had to leave soon that day.
It was, of course, tiring but a thrill to climb up and down the stairs of the many decks below. (The term stairs is also avoided; instead they’re called ladders.) We asked chief O’Donnell why there are no elevators on board for the personnel. He said the repair and maintenance of an elevator system is an unnecessary headache that sailors have learned to live without. I also checked out the two or three mess halls and the Officer’s Mess. The enlisted men and the officers eat the same food — rank has no privilege when it comes to food on the GW. In one of the mess halls, we came across a tidy little table called the POW–MIA table. It is actually a permanent fixture in most, if not all, active US Navy warships. I’d like to share with you this touching write-up about this table:(see box on right)
The USS GW’s motto could just as well be “In God we trust, the rest we monitor.” They carry high-tech E2 Hawkeye planes equipped with radar surveillance. The Hawkeyes can gather information and disseminate it to the mother ship and other fighter planes — just one of the valuable services provided by the carrier, to keep danger at bay and to uphold safety and peace at all times.
I felt small and humble that day, not only because I was dwarfed by the expansive mobile airfield which could be called “a city at sea,” but more so because of the sincere dedication of the young men and women serving on board. Honor, courage and commitment are the core values of the USS George Washington, and I can sense that they all live up to these values with much fervor and loyalty. I salute these men and women, as well as our very own fellow Pinoys on board, for exhibiting this sense of patriotism. Although we didn’t have the pleasure to meet him, I would also like to thank GW’s commanding officer, Captain David Allan Lausman, for the hospitality and care that was extended to us. Hopefully, may the officers and crew of the USS George Washington always be well fed and nourished as they continue to keep our lands and seas safe and peaceful!
Pow–Mia Table
(Prisoner of War–Missing in Action Table)
We call your attention to this small table that occupies a piece of dignity and honor.
It is set for one symbolizing the fact that members of our armed forces are missing from our ranks. They are referred to as POWs or MIAs.
The Table Is Set For One
The table is small, symbolizing the frailty of one prisoner, alone against his or her suppressors.
The Table Cloth Is White
Symbolic of the purity of their intentions to respond to their country’s call to arms.
The Single Red Rose
Signifies the blood they may have shed in sacrifice to ensure the freedom of our beloved United States of America.
This rose reminds us of the family and friends of our missing comrades who keep the faith while awaiting their return.
The Red Ribbon On The Vase
Represents the red ribbons worn on the lapels of thousands who demand, with unyielding determination, a proper account of our comrades who are not among us.
The Lemon
Slice of lemon on the plate reminds us of the bitter fate.
And the bitterness felt in our hearts at the loss of their fellowship.
The Salt Sprinkled On The Plate
Reminds us of the countless fallen tears of the families as they wait.
The salt is all that is left of the tears shed when we were informed they’d never join us again in conversation.
The Glass Is Inverted
They cannot toast with us at this time.
Never again to be filled with the fruits of this earth.
The Chair Is Empty
They are not here.
The Candle Reminiscent Of The Light Of Hope
The light of hope that lives in our hearts to illuminate their way home, away from their captors, to open arms of a grateful nation.
The American Flag
The American Flag reminds us that many of them may never return – and paid the supreme sacrifice to ensure our freedom.
Last We Draw Attention To Their Hats
Never would they have entered this mess with it on.
We mean no disrespect by placing it on the table of honor.
Let us pray to the Supreme Commander that all of our comrades will soon be back within our ranks.
Let us remember — and never forget — their sacrifice.
May God forever watch over them and protect them and their families.
