> Subject: Email Home
> >
> > This is an e-mail from an Ensign stationed aboard the USS Winston
> > Churchill...
> >
> > Dear Dad,
> >
> > Well, we are still out at sea, with little direction as to what our
next
> > priority is. The remainder of our port visits, which were to be
centered
> > around max liberty and goodwill to the United Kingdom, have all but
been
> > cancelled. We have spent every day since the attacks going back and
forth
> > within imaginary boxes drawn in the ocean, standing high-security
watches,
> > and trying to make the best of our time. It hasn't been that fun I
must
> > confess, and to be even more honest, a lot of people are frustrated
at
the
> > fact that they either can't be home, or we don't have more direction
right
> > now. We have seen the articles and the photographs, and they are
> > sickening.
> > Being isolated as we are, I don't think we appreciate the full scope
of
> > what
> > is happening back home, but we are definitely feeling the effects.
> >
> > About two hours ago the junior officers were called to the bridge to
> > conduct
> > Ship handling drills. We were about to do a man overboard when we
got a
> > call from the LUTJENS(D185), a German warship that was moored ahead
of
us
> > on
> > the pier in Plymouth, England. While in port, the WINSTON S
CHURCHILL
and
> > the LUTJENS got together for a sports day/cookout on our fantail, and
we
> > made some pretty good friends.
> >
> > Now at sea they called over on bridge-to-bridge, requesting to pass
us
> > close
> > up on our port side, to say goodbye. We prepared to render them
honors
on
> > the bridge wing, and the Captain told the crew to come topside to
wish
> > them
> > farewell. As they were making their approach, our Conning Officer
> > announced
> > through her binoculars that they were flying an American flag. As
they
> > came
> > even closer, we saw that it was flying at half-mast.
> >
> > The bridge wing was crowded with people as the Boatswain's Mate blew
two
> > whistles- Attention to Port- the ship came up alongside and we saw
that
> > the
> > entire crew of the German ship were manning the rails, in their dress
> > blues.
> > They had made up a sign that was displayed on the side that read "We
Stand
> > by You". Needless to say there was not a dry eye on the bridge as
they
> > stayed alongside us for a few minutes and we cut our salutes. It was
> > probably the most powerful thing I have seen in my entire life and
more
> > than
> > a few of us fought to retain our composure. It was a beautiful day
> > outside
> > today.
> >
> > We are no longer at liberty to divulge over unsecured e-mail our
location,
> > but we could not have asked for a finer day at sea. The German Navy
did
> > an
> > incredible thing for this crew, and it has truly been the highest
point
in
> > the days since the attacks. It's amazing to think that only a
> > half-century
> > ago things were quite different, and to see the unity that is being
> > demonstrated throughout Europe and the world makes us all feel proud
to
be
> > out here doing our job. After the ship pulled away and we prepared
to
> > begin
> > our man overboard drills the Officer of the Deck turned to me and
said
> > "I'm
> > staying Navy."
> >
> > I'll write you when I know more about when I'll be home, but for now,
this
> > is probably the best news that I could send you. Love you guys.
///
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