//essays and articles//
Unfortunately, every article I've written isn't included on this page, however two of my most recent appear here. Granted, the time frame between published articles is wide--my day job "the military" has kept me busy and I've focused my spare time onto building the plot, writing part of the book and learning the necessary computer skills to build this website. If I find some articles from my college days, I'll eventually include them here. The first article was written during Operation Iraqi Freedom around an April time frame. The second was written during workups (brief local deployment to "workup" or preparation to deploy.) The workups were well prior to the start of the war in Iraq.
The first article was written for the Truman's daily paper, and was picked up by the Navy News Service, published in several Navy related periodicals, as well as publication online.
ABOARD USS HARRY S. TRUMAN (NNS) -- Few pictures have captured the dedication and sacrifice of the Chaplain Corps than that of Father Mychal Judge, who died ministering to firefighters at the World Trade Center. Chaplains have always been among our bravest and can be counted on to comfort those in need, despite the danger.
In Operation Iraqi Freedom, Carrier Air Wing 3’s own Chaplain Alan Wilmot, an Alabama native, led the ready rooms in prayer at each brief and was an ever-present sight on the flight deck as its aviators launched into combat.
Originally, Wilmot had planned on being an Air Force chaplain, but there were no slots matching the Chaplains' particular denomination. Wilmot said that he was under the impression that the Navy was gone for six months, every six months, but said that it was his wife who suggested he give them another look.
“I did and I considered it like Moses’ burning bush, presenting a clear path that I had to take,” he said.
Serving the air wing during Operation Iraqi Freedom, he explained, went beyond leading them in prayer before each mission. Rabbi Moe Kaprow suggested I get my flight deck qualification.
The Rabbi had told him about the chaplains aboard USS Saratoga during the first Gulf War. "One chaplain was stationed on the bow, so he was the last thing aviators saw when they launched, and there was one at the stern. I began work on my qualification after we left Koper (Slovenia)," he said.
“Doing so gave me the opportunity to be on the flight deck without having to be baby-sat,” he said.
Chaplains wanted to give the aircrew a sense of calmness and serenity by his presence on the flight deck.
“Not to be self-serving,” he said, “but I have lost count of the number of people who have said thanks for me being up there."
Wilmot said that the most gratifying part of it was its reception by all of the aviators, even the ones that don’t normally attend service.
The Zappers of Electronic Attack Squadron 130 recently got the chance to show him their appreciation by giving Wilmot a ride in the Prowler. Prior to getting his flight deck qualification, ‘Chaps’ completed his water survival and ejection seat training prior to workups. While the chaplain has flown in the E-2 and S-3, he said he can’t tell a difference in cat-shots between the three, but he added, climbing into a Prowler with its large canopies gave him a sense of nostalgia.
Lt. Trevor Estes, the pilot on his flight, affirmed the squadron aircrew's feelings by saying, “It was important to fly him, because it showed our respect for what he did. He came and gave a prayer before each hop, and whether or not you are religious, it brought you to ease.”
Wilmot loved the flight and expressed his gratefulness that when his stomach had had enough, Estes took it ‘easy’ on him. The Zapper’s Skipper, Cmdr. Tom Payne, was eager to take ‘Chaps’ flying and gladly rode in the back with him for his flight, involving him in the mission by giving him the camera to photograph surface contacts.
As evidence by their prayers on the 1MC, Carrier Air Wing 3 has an incredible complement of chaplains whose ultimate goal is to reach all of the people aboard. When their prayers are offered each night, their words are always relevant to the crew. The bottom line, said Estes, is that, “Regardless of religious conviction, it was nice to see a man of God taking an active role in what we were doing.”
The next article was written for an Acadian weekly magazine, "Acadiana Lifestyles", and was published before we deployed on the USS Harry S Truman. This article summarizes some strong feelings. All of us believed that Saddam would use chemical weapons, which thankfully he did not. As for having them? Our Airwing struck targets that were producing small scale chem weapons. It doesn't take a warehouse full to qualify as WMD.
On a Saturday morning in June not long after I started college, a fraternity brother and I were at the beach in
“You ought to get a bumper sticker,” he suggested.
“What kind?” I asked.
“One that says ‘Grandson of a veteran, son of a veteran, veteran,” he said.
The statement was true and I liked the idea but I never had it made. As the sun rose, I talked about my grandfather, the Navy, flying as an Aircrewman during the Gulf War and my anxiousness to get back in as an officer to earn my wings of gold. Then we talked about veterans in general and what it was like for me growing up the son of a disabled Vietnam Vet.
This morning, about ten years later, two days before I board the aircraft carrier USS Harry S Truman for what is supposed to be only two weeks of training, I’m looking down at my smiling 7-month-old son and I am reminded of the sacrifices that veterans have made throughout history.
Veterans day is November 11th and it took the place of Armistice Day at the end of World War II. Veterans day honors those who have paid the ultimate price in life and limb as well as those that have given years of their lives in the military to help maintain a strong defense and protect our way of life. This Veterans Day is significant because peace beyond February is questionable and the probable future will create a slew of individual family tragedies that will accompany the losses of armed conflict.
Initially I’d begun a story about sacrifice from the humorous-poor ‘Cajun’ food on ship and using imitation crab for a gumbo cooked 10,000 miles away-to the greater sacrifices of those like Petty Officer Neil Roberts, the Navy Seal who was stranded behind enemy lines after an RPG hit his helicopter in
What the public can forget, and also a reason for Veterans Day, is that war isn’t required die for your country. I was reminded of this the same evening I discussed the risks involved in flying with fellow New Iberian Alex Patout, on September 10th.
“Every day we shoot off the pointy end strapped into a rocket seat and then come back and land,” I said.
“How do you cope with the danger?” he asked.
“You don’t think about it. If something happens, you hope to make the right decision and pray you survive the ejection,” I said.
That hour the carrier began launching alerts; which most thought was a drill. Soon after, the Truman’s Skipper, Capt. Grouthousen announced on the 1MC that aircraft #705, an S-3 Viking, was missing. Sleep for all was fitful that night and many of us dreamt they were found safe. After an all night search, aircraft wreckage was found in the morning along with the crews’ remains.
Overshadowed by the WTC anniversary little was mentioned of the accident in the news. On September 12th, the Truman Airwing gathered in the ships Foc’sle to remember the three comrades we’d lost.
The waves were not rough but our rank and file weaved in unison with the action of the waves against her skin like the poppies in ‘In Flanders Fields’, a World War I poem that ‘passes the torch’ to those that live to ‘carry on the fight’ and pleads for remembrance of the dead.
Each eulogy was powerful but for me one stood out above the others. LCDR “Stinky” Chalfant was remembered as a devoted husband and loving father of two girls ages 9 and 4. The last words to his wife arrived a day after his death on September 11th in a card along with a dozen roses. It simply said how much he loved them and he reassured them that he would be home as soon as his job was done.
I am not alone in my squadron, the ‘Zappers’, as the majority us are married with children. LT. Trevor “Balls” Estes’ third child was born around the same time as my son. We are aware that during the six month deployment ahead, we’ll miss their first words and steps.
The consequences of war are never cut and dry and the fallout from what Veterans must endure can affect them as well as their families. I’m apprehensive of what could happen to me and how it would affect my family as we near what I’d consider to be my third war.
My first began when my father left for
Though he survived
Growing up was different and I never wished for a different father, though I always wished what happened in
No one can question that war is traumatizing. Through time he has managed to effectively rehabilitate himself, but I believe that required him to suppress the memories of his past life. There are stories like this from every state in the union and it reads like a Greek Tragedy. Over time pain numbs and stories like these become ones that people simply shrug their shoulders and say, “That’s just too darn bad.”
A price cannot be put on individual suffering. With the possible use of chemical weapons in the next conflict, the type of injuries that would befall our servicemen is unspeakable. Chemical weapons haven’t been used en-masse since 1917 and Americans need to be aware of this possibility and prepare for the return of her Veterans no matter what their condition.
God, I like anybody, hope there’s no war. I haven’t had the chance to come home for crawfish and gumbo. I can promise you though; that the Louisianans I know will serve with honor and without question. In my heart I know the Acadians are first-class, Patriotic Americans and I know ya’ll will be ready to support us when we return.