26 April 2008

War Beckons

This post has been pulled, and an explanation will follow. Don't worry, we haven't been shut down. We're just working out the details of a new editorial process that I think will help with the consistency of the product. It's all part of that "Rules Which Must Be Followed" thing.

23 comments:

Unknown said...

I think this article is enough to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up and the stomach to turn!

Crowe said...

Here's wishing all of you home safely when your deployment is over.

Guy said...

Commander,

Best of luck, fair winds and following seas.

MichMom said...

You have an amazing way with words. This blog brought a tear to my eye (many tears). Reality has struck. Stay safe!!

cat said...

XO-
God bless you all as you reach your final destination, and may he keep you all safe from harm. This post got me, it got me were it really counts: I can't wait to get out to sea someday and do the things you guys do. Semper Gratus,
Cat

vet66 said...

I was speaking only this week about 'Bull' Halsey and his terrifying trip into Typhoon Cobra. His famous dictum "Hit Hard! Hit Fast! Hit Often!" still ring true. I always thought of him as the Naval version of Patton.

We also decided an updated version of his war strategy should be "Kill terrorists!"

Short and pithy!

David H. USN 1966-1972

maxxdog said...

Keep your powder dry and good hunting.

Desert Sailor said...

Vaya Con Dios brother.

Watch the horizon and the weather. The groundhog day you knew may deceptively seem similar but in all likelihood will be different this go around.

Keep the training hard and relevant. Ignore the temptations of the long reach of admin puke hell back Stateside. It CAN wait.

Sail safe and shoot straight!
DS

mb said...

We are so grateful to all of you. Are prayers are with you.mb

Steeljaw Scribe said...

Fast ships...harm's way...

Godspeed Lincoln CSG & good ship Russell.

- SJS

KL said...

Thank you for what you all do everyday!

jaya said...

Ahhh..

The West-Pacs of the early '80s on a leaky, rusty old Adams class DDG! The stuff of dreams for a young sailor, Olongapo, Pattaya Beach, Pusan and British Hong Kong. And the dreaded IO cruises where Diego Garcia was the only port. I'm so glad I served then, even if mail calls were few and far between. I imagine the ports are so different now, more like Diego Garcia than Olongapo. The beauty of the starry nightime skies may still be there but much else has changed, I'm sure and not for the better.

Fair winds and following seas as you traverse the ditch. Keep the sand out of your skivvies. Stay your course and let the dreaded foe steer shy. Put your rounds on target. Bring the fight to the terrorists!

BZ and heartfelt thanks for doing the job I'm too old to do.

FCC (SW) ret.

DDG-6
DDG-7

BostonMaggie said...

XO - You are a very powerful writer.

M Watts said...

I read your original post this morning, the honesty was refreshing.

Stay safe and know you are in our thoughts and various prayers. Thank you for keeping the Lincon CSG safe.

<3

Anonymous said...

Your original post was most welcome. Frankly, about the only things the Navy need worry itself about is plans for weapons, software code and ship & sailor positions being released.

This last post should never have been a problem - all we knew as readers is the ship was somewhere in the Persian Gulf, serving as one of too few Damocles' Swords against Iran and as a real weapon against terrorists. Well was said: Nuts!

And dammit, we are proud of you in America. Very proud and t'd off at your suppressors.

Cmdr. Chris van Avery, U.S. Navy said...

It wasn't pulled because of security concerns, and like I said, we're not going away any time soon. As mentioned before, we're breaking new ground and building policy and process from the ground up.

This post came down for dull procedural issues and we're working a new scheme to try and prevent similar events in the future.

Thanks for your patience.

RandomThoughtsAndWhines said...

Captain,
Thank you for creating this blog. It will be an educational tool for some, and an emotional lifeline for others.

I fall under the heading of a person who will read for emotional reasons. You have my most precious cargo on board the USS Russell: Ens. K.T. Borromeo is my daughter.

It was great to see her at the table during the March birthday dinner.

God bless you all. May the nautical star guide you safely in the Gulf and back home again to the islands.

mb said...

We're so glad your going to continue with the blog its like we were part of the ship too. Thanks again God bless you all. mb

Rod Adams said...

Chris:
Your blog is now famous. A story about it from the Honolulu Advertiser dated 28 April showed up on the Chief of Naval Information (CHINFO) Clips on 29 April. For people - like me - working inside the Beltway, the description of the disappeared post is a sobering reminder of what it means to "take risk" with funding personnel and maintenance accounts.

Keep up the good fight. Resolve your dull procedural issues and provide as much realism as you can. I sure wish I have visited early enough to read the full original post.

Tom Goering said...

Well I hope everything gets worked out - I'm placing a link to this blog from mine at navycs.com

NCCM(ret)

SJBill said...

You go, XO.

Atkinson Teacher said...

Love this blog. My nephew is serving on the USS Russell so I read it every day. I am also a teacher and I use it in my class every week.

My school would like to send letters and cards to the sailors and my students would like to send cards and a banner to you guys. How do I send the letters?

Do I need to send each letter individually or can we send one package and have the letters distributed?

Truthful James said...

You have found a way to communicate what we, stateside, need to know. Congratulations.

We can't be there, except in spirit and support as the USS Russell does serious and important work for the nation.

Do not let the periods of tedium wear down your readiness. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard will be testing your discipline as they send speedboats close aboard.

Keep your mine detection ears and eyes alert if you go through Hormuz and into the Gulf. Remember the lessons of the Van Riper exercise.

Every day you are accomplishing good things under the flag of liberty. Your eternal vigilance is its price.