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Deployment 2011 Volume 3 July 2011
HalfWayHome!nition the work doesnt stop once
we return to homeport and the ma-
jor planning begins to take effec
before we are pier-side. Everyone
discusses their goals and objec-
tives so that their maintenance does
not interfere with other divisions
Plans are made and changed on adaily basis. But its all in the hope
of utilizing the time we have avail-
able to conduct repairs, and just as
importantly, maximizing the time
everyone gets to spend with their
families after a long deployment
So now begins the downhill por-
tion of deployment! The beginning
of the end is here, new experienc-
es are waiting to be enjoyed, newchallenges wait to be overcome
and all are leading to a successful
return home.
Halfwayday. The words alone
conjure up various thoughts from
people around the ship. For some
it is the beginning of the end; for
others it is just the start of another
long, complicated, and stressful
process. Still others will tell you
it is just another day onboard USS
Howard. But no matter who you
talk to, it means that the trip is al-
most done. Halfway Day is the day
that the ship takes to celebrate andenjoy the fact that we have made
it halfway through the deployment,
and only a couple of months are
left before we go home to our fami-
lies. The Halfway Day of this de-
ployment was celebrated over the
course of 2 days. The Monday and
Tuesday before the Howard pulled
into Singapore was given over to
the relaxation and the stress relief
that can be Halfway Day. Withmany MWR hosted events such as,
Guitar Hero contest on the Mess
Decks, to Domino tournaments and
The Iron Chief awardees (where
everyone had the chance to bid
for their favorite, or least favorite,
Chief to serve on the mess line).
Sailors had time to enjoy a success-
ful rst half of deployment. While
some enjoyed the time to celebrate
the halfway mark, others began to
think about what comes after.
Now comes the time to start plan-
ning for the return and the work
that not only needs to be done prior
to pulling the ship back into San
Diego, but also the work that needs
to be accomplished after home-
coming. Whether it is the Boat-
swain Mates plan to paint the ship,
to the Electricians taking downmajor pieces of equipment to clean
out internal parts, to Weapons de-
partment moving guns and ammu-
By: IT2(SW) Stefani Wells
Howard Sailors man the rails as they leave their nal CARAT port in the Phillipines.
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Used 2 million gallons of H
2
O Traveled 15,000 nautical miles
Used 34,500 gallons of aviation fuel
Flown over 350 ight hours
Ordered 151 aviation parts and spent $1M in helicopter repairs
Burned 2 million gallons of fuel
Cracked 496,800 eggs
Consumed 375 gallons of ice cream
Drunk 76,120 pots of coffee
Knocked back 7,200 Monsters and Red Bulls
Sold 15,280 candy bars
Eaten 4,200 hamburgers
Spent $2.2M in ship parts and repairs
LT Martin, Combat Systems Ofcer
LT Torres, Operations Ofcer
LTJG Ellison, Navigator
ENS Stadler
ENS Carter
CWO2 SmilerCMDCM Brady, Command Master Chief
CTTC Brock
DCC Brandes
CS1 Garciarositas
CS1 Throm
SH2 Paradalopez
FC2 Franklin
GM2 Warner
OS2 Rogers
BM2 Lopez
FC3 Domingo
GSM3 Casner
AE3 Nario
EN3 McDowell
FC3 Buttereld
FC3 VigneuxETSN Floreslomeli
FCSN Snarr
MRFR Martinez
GMSN Pulliam
ENFN Campbell
OSSR Sanders
OSSA DeJohn
SR Mustoe
SA Teran
LCDR Shick, Combat Systems OfcerCMDCM Blackburn, Command Master
Chief
LT McCullar
DC1 Linderson
FC2 Castro
CTR2 Tempel
GSM2 Williams
GM2 Cadena
Welcome AboArd! FAreWell,Friends
Fair winds and following seas to the Howard
Sailors that have left us during the month of July
We extend a sincere welcome to the newest additions upon the USS How -
ard that have joined us this month.
Half-waytHrougHdeployment,
HowardHas.
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Attendants (FSAs). The skills
demonstrated by the ships CSs
provide for much of the ships mo-
rale. From the barbeques of the
Steel Beach picnics to the superbformal reception held in Indone-
sia, the Howards CSs take it all
in stride. FSAs, sometimes known
as Cranks, are there with them
through it all. Its a job that many
enlisted will face at some point in
their salty careers, and it certainly
shows the new faces to the crew
just how much their Supply depart-
ment does for them. FSAs spend
anywhere from 90-120 days work-ing some of the various jobs that
S-2 has to offer them. These jobs
can be anywhere from serving in
the wardroom to pulping the crews
trash down below. Its not always
easy, but its something that cer-
tainly leaves the Sailor with new
insight when they return to their
divisions.
Lastly, but certainly not the least,
are the Ships Servicemen (SHs)
of S-3. The SHs work diligently
Though not the rst thing that gen-
erally comes to mind when you
think of a warship, Supply Depart-
ment plays a vital role in keep-
ing the ship running smoothly.Between the three divisions, they
have a variety of tasks that they
perform on a daily basis.
S-1, the Logistic Specialists (LSs)
division, takes care of the ordering
of supplies for the ship. Everything
from simple brooms to large piec-
es of equipment needed to repair
vital systems is ordered through
them. They also handle the pro-cessing of outgoing and incoming
mail, something Sailors are always
looking forward to on deploy-
ment. The LSs also handle all of
the Hazardous Materials (known
as HAZMAT) on the ship, issuing
them out to sailors as they require
them.
We then have S-2, the division that
boasts the ships Culinary Special-
ists (CSs) as well as their tempo-
rary assistants, the Food Service
Departmentofthe month : SupplyBy: CTMSA Rebecca Marinacci
on many tasks including runnin
the ships store, selling all sorts
necessities and goodies to the Sai
ors onboard the Howard (includin
the much-appreciated Monsteand Red Bulls!). They also kee
the vending machines stocked wi
new treats and sodas for when th
ship store is closed. SHs run th
ships laundry, keeping Sailo
with fresh new uniforms for wor
each day - and provide haircuts s
that Sailors can keep looking goo
even after months at sea.
The Supply department onboathe Howard works hard every da
keeping Sailors well fed, cared fo
and happy. It might not seem lik
much from the outside, but onc
you get a chance to see their d
partment from the inside, you c
see just how vital Supply really i
While I will certainly be happy
return to my division and depar
ment, this one has left its own litt
mark on me. Keep on keepin o
Supply!
LS2(SW) Armstrong and CS3(SW) Gomez hard at work preparing food for CARAT.
IC3 Foster demonstrating the ner points
of cleanliness during his tenure as a Food
Service Attendant.
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Hello Crew and Family,
I would like to personally thank you
all for making me feel like a part of
the HOWARD team and welcom-ing me onboard right from the start.
It is an honor and pleasure to be the
Command Master Chief of one of the
nest Navy vessels in the eet. The
Chiefs Mess and Wardroom especial-
ly welcomed me with open arms and
the turnover process made it a very
smooth transition. I am excited to be
here and be a part of this great crew. I
look forward to serving with each one
of you and doing my part to make your
tour is a very successful and enjoyable
experience.
We will be faced with different chal-
lenges throughout the remainder ofthis deployment, but nothing that we
cant accomplish with a little team-
work and dedication. Keep working
hard and pushing through the many
obstacles that may stand in your way.
You are doing an excellent job, keep
up the hard work!!
To the families, thank you for your
support while we are away. Continue
to lean on each other in the time of
need. A strong family support system
is what each Sailor needs to be suc-
cessful throughout his or her career in
the Navy. I look forward to seeing all
of you upon returning to San Diego.
QUITTING IS NOT AN OPTION
LETS GET IT!! DO WHAT YOU
DO!!
Sincerely,
Master Chief Raymond LaCarlos
Brady
Command Master Chief
USS Howard pulled into Singapore on
July 20th to get some much needed work
done before it sailed off to support mis-
sions in 5th eet. Howard needed some
TLC after being out to sea for over three
months. A major paint plan was put into
effect hours after we pulled into port.
Boatswains Mates (BMs) Information
Technician (ITS) Engineers, Quarter
Masters (QMS) Fire Controlmen (FCs)
and many other rates on the ship were
out and about xing equipment, painting
and preserving. The BMs were provided
with 2 paint oats and 2 JLGs along with
people from other divisions to paint the
sides of the ship and the waterline. BM1(SW) Stephen Phillips and CTRSN Adam
Cunningham spent hours working on the
waterline with paint scrapers, sanders and
needle guns to get rid of rust, debris, salt
and repainted a good portion of the black
paint that denes the waterline. Opera-
tions Specialist worked very hard at get-
ting their topside spaces up to snuff. Cryp-
tologic Technicians (CTM, CTR, CTTs)
were busy xing antennas. ITs were
busy preserving their topside area. Ensign
Cheezem did an outstanding job, along
with IT3 Morrow, preserving the portside break. The QMs sanded, scrapped
and painted their bridge wings. The Engi-
neers xed a critical piece of equipment
called a MORPAC valve, which controls
ventilation in the ships Flammable Paint
Locker issue room.
While in Singapore we also replaced
the Ships Multi-Function Towed Array
(MFTA). This is the Sonar Techs latest
toy that allows them to virtually leave the
thunderous concert hall that is the Howard
with all her engines and noise and listen
for those sneaky sheisty submarines down
the street. Or in this case, several hundred
feet under the water and upwards of a mile
behind the ship, right where they like to
hide. states STG1 (SW) Christopher Har-ding. Its 100% fully operational, added
Anti-Submarine Warfare Ofcer, Ensign
Alex Litvachuk. In the 100+ degree heat
many Sailors were drinking water and try-
ing to stay hydrated and cool. Each and
every Sailor on Howard worked extremely
hard throughout the four day visit to Sin-
gapore in order to get the ship back where
is needed to be to enter 5th Fleet. Some
Sailors worked 14 hour days to make sure
their work got done. Not every port we
stop at is a liberty port. We knew com-
ing into Singapore that this was going tobe a working port and that a lot of things
needed to get done in a short amount of
time, said BM3 (SW) Meryl Vogel but
we did what we had to do and still got to
see some of Singapore. Universal Studios
was worth the trip!
uSS howarD ConDuCtS repairSanD
preServation while in-port SingaporeBy: BM3(SW) Meryl Vogel
worDSfromthe CommanD maSterCheif
Giving the 5 gun some TLC takes asteady hand and sturdy footing.
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were hosted in order to celebrate the
bonds made and to showcase the work
being accomplished to the local public.
While participating in CARAT Indone-
sia 2011, Howard had the opportunity
to host a reception that welcomed mili-tary, government and civilian ofcials
onboard from both the local Indonesia
public, as well as American leaders liv-
ing and working in Jakarta.
They were demanding port visits that
kept the crew busy, but they were over-
all very rewarding experiences. Its
not very often that you have the chance
to personally affect our nations rela-
tionship with other countries, said Lt
The USS Howard and her crew sailed
from port to port throughout Southeast
Asia for the rst half of deployment,
but it wasnt all fun, games and relax-
ing poolside. Instead, the crew actively
participated in four Cooperation AoatReadiness and Training exercises with
the Royal Thai Navy, the Indonesian
Navy, the Royal Malaysian Navy and
the Philippine Navy. With exercise
events ranging from social functions
to at-sea training evolutions, the entire
ship engaged in the effort to enhance
ties with these foreign navies through-
out a variety of naval exercises.
It was a great opportunity to work with
other navies, said LT j.g. Dan DeFre-val. It really exemplied our joint-
operating capabilities. They were ex-
tremely enthusiastic to learn and train
with us and in return, we had a really
positive experience in each of the coun-
tries we worked with and visited.
Each CARAT exercise consisted of a
series of workshops, discussions and
seminars focused on various military
efforts and how the US Navy and the
host nation navies can better work to-gether during future joint operations.
Additionally, a variety of dinners, re-
ceptions, welcome parties, sporting
events and community service projects
reCap: uSS howarDanD Carat 2011By: LT Alison Derr
j.g. Brick Christensen, Howard Liaison
Ofcer for CARAT Thailand and Indo
nesia.
As always, Howards commitment to
excellence showcased her immense talent, both at sea and in-port throughou
each of the CARAT exercises. Uphold
ing her reputation, Howard demonstrat
ed her professionalism and expertise in
Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and The
Philippines. Though the ship is leaving
Southeast Asia and heading west for
new operations, Howard and her crew
will continue to execute each mission
and tasking the same professionalism
and expertise.
(Above) Commande
Task Group 73.1,
CAPT David Welch
and CDR Andree
Bergmann recap wit
foreign military of-
cials.
(Left) When the
Captain tells you to
pull, you PULL!
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Bravo Zulu fromthe firSt ClaSS pettyoffiCerS aSSoCiation
The First Class Petty Ofcers Association would like to recognize the following Sailors for their dedication and
hard work during the rst few weeks of deployment. Keep it up!
For outstanding response as members of the Flying Squad to an actual Toxic Gas leak while in-port Philip-
pines. Their quick response prevented any personnel casualties and prevented further damage to the equip-
ment.
dC1 nelms, dC2 KruCiaK, Ht2 furrier, dCfn Hitt & Htfn gripp
er division
For his hard work in ensuring that the proper ammunition was utilized and the required maintenance was
performed on Howards crew served weapons in preparation for multiple gun shoots throughout the month of
July.
gm3 nomiCos
Cg division
For repairing tactical communications circuits that allow Howard to be STRIKE capable.
et3 oberosler& et3 avedisianCe division
For repairing small boat electronics and ensuring complete operational readiness.
et3 pHillips & et2 fielder
iC3 Colombo & iC2 wilbertFor repairing and restoring cease re alarms to complete operational status.
For assuming two collateral duties within CA Division typically held by more senior personnel. Thank you fo
all that you do and keep up the good work!!
stg3 betsCHCa division
CongratStothenew unDerway offiCer
ofthe DeCkS!ENS Jennifer Malherek, ENS Tara Cheezem, ENS Jon Lloyd, ENS Michael Austin, ENS Ashley Valanzola
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A wordfromourombudsmAn...
time to respond with lengthy responses to each person, receiving mail and other communication from home will help to boost
their spirits while deployed. Above all, remember that communication of some sort is key. It doesnt matter so much how you
communicate, just that you do.
Keeping children connected with their deployed parent is important. From letters to e-mails and phone calls, strong commu-
nication is the only way parents can stay connected to their kids. It is also the perfect solution to counter loneliness felt by a
parent during deployment. From traditional to modern concepts, parents on deployment have several ways to stay connected to
their children. In some ways, it can be like they never left. This not only establishes a stronger bond, it enables their children
to feel secure while their parent is away.
Keeping busy and involved in various activities that you like may help ease the wait. Socializing with others who are going
through the same feelings can help also. If you have not already constructed some type of countdown calendar, Half-Way
would be a great time to do so. You can make a calendar for yourself, children, extended family members etc. When you are
able to see everyday closer to homecoming it helps with the second half of deployment.
Preparation and planning for your family members return can be exciting and exhausting. Trying to overwhelm yourself with
details and expectations can become stressful. Remember to relax and look forward to your loved ones return. The second half
of deployment may pass by quickly for some and not as quickly for others. Always keep in mind that everyone has different
experiences and expectations.
Terra Cramer
USS Howard
Command Ombudsman
Hello Howard Family and Friends,
We are Half-Way through deployment! This time can bring to light a feeling of mixed
emotions and questions you may have. It is a time of celebration, excitement and plan-
ning for homecoming. It can also feel like a time of realization that there is still awhile
before homecoming and reuniting with your loved ones. The mid-deployment feelingof oating in time indenitely leaves some angry, some depressed, and some simply
exhausted. It is normal to feel many emotions and reactions to the reality of half-way.
It can be difcult at times to keep the lines of communication open during deploy -
ment but it is benecial for everyone. Regardless of the type of communication used,
encourage all of your family members and friends to stay in communication with your
crewmember regardless of how often they hear back. While they may not have the
happy BirthDay!
MAC(SEL) ZIELINSKI, SH1 ELENES,
DC1 SHIPPEE, GMSA CASEY, HM2
HOWARD, ET2 HYDE, ENS MALHER-
EK, BM2 LOPEZ, HMC VOLKART, ENS
LLOYD, EM2 JONES, OS2 MARTINEZ,
GSM2 BALLAH, GSM1 MARZAN,
LS2 ARMSTRONG, ET3 MAY,
DC1 NELMS, GM2 PAZ,
ET3 BENTANCOURT, CTT3 GAITHER,
STG2 ZABEZHINSKY
FC2 BEASLEY,
CTRSA CUNNINGHAM, LSSN
FERNANDEZ, STG1 HARDING,
ET3 MIKOLAY, SH1 WILLIAMS, PS2
THOMAS
Happy Birthday to Howard Sailors with
Birthdays in the Month of July!
July eSwS/eawSBM2 RENE ARDON
GM2 CRAIG WILLIAMS
LS2 LAURA ARMSTRONG
OS3 FLOWZELL JOHNSON
IT2 JAMIE MORROW
CS3 SELIA GOMEZ
CS3 LHENDIE ROCAMORA
EM3 BONNY TILEY
FC3 ALICIA SANCHEZ
LSSN JULIBER FERNANDEZ
AOAN ROSSON, JAMES
AMAN HEINS, SABRINA.
Congratulations to
the following Howard
Sailors on earning their
Enlisted Surface
Warfare
Specialist(ESWS) or
Enlisted Air Warfare
Specialist(EAWS)
qualifcations!
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HowardDragons:Thisishowwerol
Its always fun to see what new storeswe receive during Stores Onload.
Taking some time to strum a few songs on the ight deck.
Howard Sailors enjoy a reworks show from the missle deckon the 4th of July
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By: fC2(Sw) Cierra wyre
Words Home
Hey Victor, love and miss you lots! Stay out of trouble and keep momma safe for us! Hey there lovey dove. Here counting
down the days till I get to see your beautiful smile again. Be strong and God Bless you.
Love, Steve
Hey family. I hope all is well back at home. Dont miss me too much because in about 6 months youll see me allllllll the
time! \(^_^)/mwahahahaha. Love you and miss you all a bunch!
Love, Cierra
Hey Emily, I love you and miss you. I cant wait to be back home to see you and Amelia. I cant wait to hold her in my arms
for the rst time. See you soon!
Love, Casey
Hey J.J. I miss you and cant wait to see you. Love you son.
Love, Dad
Hey Matt, cant wait to see you. Lets take the cars out and cruise. Midget (Marcus), we have to catch up on some Ben 10. I
love you both and give mommy a big hug and kiss for me.
Love, Dad
Hi Kate! You are so brave and tough and a great mom. Miss you so much, hang in there! 2 tsp of sugar!
Love, Dan
To my little princess, my little monkey, and my little spoon. I love you so much and I will see you soon.
Love, Jake
Hey Girls, I miss you both so much. Laura, Im so proud of you, like always, you come out stronger than ever. Shelby, youre
getting to be such a big girl, take care of mommy and have fun on your rst day of school. I love you both, see you soon.
Love, Daddy(Chase)
Hey Teddy (Kurt). I miss you. Dont worry too much I have enough ramen noodles for now.
Love, Lislee
To Suzy Greenberg: Keep on rocking in the free world! To her children: Let each day be your masterpiece
Love, Ryan
Hey Larry, I miss you. Give peaches lots of lovens and Joshua be safe in Afghanistan.
Love, Ashley aka Sissy
Tania, happy anniversary my love! Miss you and I will be home soon. To Freddy and Ciana, daddy misses you guys a lot and
I cant wait to come home and play with you guys, listen to Mommy and be good kids so you guys could get more toys when I
get home.
Love, Fred
Hey Sandra,
Please keep sending pictures of Joseph, really looking forward to spending some time together. Have fun at Jonathons birth-
day party.
Love, Jerry
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Jr. Dragon Corner
Editor in Chief: LT Alison Derr
Assistant Editor: FC2(SW) Charles Slagle
Layout Editor: CTMSA Rebecca Marinacci
Staff Writers:ENS Ashley Valanzola
OS1(SW) Eric Peoples
FC2(SW) Paulina Castro
FC2(SW) Cierra Wyre
EM1(SS) Joseph Seina
IT2(SW) Stefani Wells
BM3(SW) Meryl Vogel
Dragon Times news sTaff
Q: How much does it cost for a pirate
pierce his ears?
A: A BUCK AN EAR!!!
Jr. Dragon Joke
of the Month
Jr. Dragon worDofthe month: HeaD
The HEAD, is the nautical term used
for the ships bathrooms. We Sailors
dont call it the bathroom, restroom, or
potty. Nope! Here on the open seas, its
the head!
ConneCt the DotStoComplete
the Jr. Dragon!
Caption: Do I hear $15 for this slightly used BM1.$20, $50, $100, $130! Going oncgoing twice.SOLD! Sold to the gentleman in the navy blue coveralls.err.
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