Posted on 02/20/2004 4:13:40 PM PST by blam
Navy's in port for Carnival
Crews of two vessels will be among downtown's happy crowds through Fat Tuesday
02/20/04
By GEORGE WERNETH
Staff Reporter
About 400 sailors on two Navy warships arrived at Mobile on Thursday to submerge themselves in the last riotous six days of Mardi Gras.
The commanding officer of the Norfolk, Va.-based USS Stout, Cmdr. George Bonsall, said he put in the request to bring his vessel to Mobile this year for Carnival.
The Stout, a 505-foot-long guided missile destroyer with some 350 officers and crew, is the official 2004 Mardi Gras ship.
"I had the pleasure of bringing the mine countermeasures ship USS Sentry here for Mardi Gras in 1999," Bonsall said as the Stout headed up the Mobile Ship Channel. A Philadelphia native, Bonsall said he found Mobile's Carnival to be "absolutely outstanding."
"I requested to come up as soon as I could get her (the Stout) here," Bonsall said. "I've been to 104 ports in my 25 years in the Navy, and this is one of the finest."
The USS Osprey, a 188-foot-long coastal mine hunter based at Ingleside, Texas, with a crew of about 50 sailors, arrived earlier Thursday at Mobile Landing.
That ship will be open to the public for tours from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., today through Tuesday. The landing is located just south of Cooper Riverside Park on the Mobile waterfront.
Although the Stout is this year's official Mardi Gras ship, security concerns will keep it from being opened to the general public for tours. The Stout is armed with an array of weapons, including Harpoon, Tomahawk and Vertical Launch missiles.
The ship docked Thursday at Alabama State Port Authority's facilities, where it was greeted by the Robertsdale High School Band and Navy JROTC unit, along with the Azalea Trail Maids, USS Alabama Crewmates and local officials.
The Crewmates from Battleship Memorial Park tossed Mardi Gras throws to the officers and crew who manned the Stout's rails for the arrival.
The officers and crews of both ships will take part in Mobile's Carnival. The Stout's commanding officer said, "We're marching in two parades, and we're also attending a number of the balls and a Navy League reception."
Some 50 members of the Mobile Council of the Navy League and their guests boarded the Stout at sea off Dauphin Island early Thursday and rode the sleek gray ship up the glassy smooth waters of the Mobile Ship Channel.
Several members of the crew of the Stout are from Alabama. One of them, Petty Officer 2nd Class Montray T. Brewster, 25, of Ragland, said he had been to Mardi Gras in New Orleans but not to Mobile's celebration. "I'm curious to see the difference between Mardi Gras in New Orleans and how we do it in Alabama."
Command Master Chief Herman Murphy, 44, of the Stout, said, "We went to New Orleans for Mardi Gras last year, but Mobile is the start of Mardi Gras, and I'm looking forward to it."
A whirlwind tour of the Stout included a visit to the Communications Center. "This is where the magic happens," said Petty Officer 2nd Class Delfino Ballesteros, 21, of Los Angeles. "This is where we communicate. All messages come in through here, and all messages leave out through here." He said the Stout can communicate with "ships and other stations all around he world."
The Combat Information Center on the Stout is alive with green computer screens and a hub of activity. "This is where we fight the war," said Petty Officer 1st Class Joseph Wise, 30, of Norfolk. He said sailors manning the center use the electronics to determine if hostile ships or aircraft are a threat to the ship. "They determine if they're the good guys or the bad guys," Wise said. "Everyone in the CIC has to be aware of what's going on at all times."
The two ships will depart Mobile on Wednesday morning.
I don't know either. The local news here are just quoting the military line...an 'indiscretion.' He had been scheduled for a number of local Mardi Gras events, that's all I know.
My guess...he took civilians back to the ship, specifically, female guests. That's a hi-tech ship and civilians were not allowed to do 'tours' as is the case with many visiting ships? Another guess...he may have spent to much time away from his command?
Not likely. An officer with 25 years isn't likely to leave the watch bill "lacking." Hubby (retired USN O-5) seems to think this guy is a mustang - "104 ports in 25 years" only likely (according to him) if one starts out as enlisted. Perhaps some of his "enlisted ways" surfaced? (No pun intended) Maybe threw up on the mayor's wife? Public drunkeness (a very definite no-no under such circumstances)?
Just a guess...that's all.
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