Underway Training

30 July, 2010 - We spent the last week underway conducting various training events off the coast of Virginia.  We had a couple of assessment teams aboard as well as 22 Midshipmen on summer cruise and four prospective Commanding Officers from the Surface Warfare School in Newport, RI.

Conducting Underway Replenishment with USNS ARCTIC

It was a full week and I know everyone kept busy.  We had a break from the recent summertime temperatures and were able to spend some time on-deck.

Sailors cleaning the decks topside

Damage Control Drills

Flight Quarters

Sunset at Sea

Special Visit

Tim Allen - Last week we had the opportunity to give a tour to Mr. Tim Allen and several of his family members.  It was a great opportunity to talk about STOUT and also for the crew to meet Mr. Allen.

Tim Allen on the Bridge explaining how to get a few extra knots out of the main engines

There were several opportunities for autographs and to ask questions.  We wera able to tour the foc'sle, including the five inch gun and the VLS Launcher, the AEGIS Radar platform, the bridge, the wardroom, one of the main engine rooms, the mess decks, contral control station, the flight deck and the quarterdeck.  During the tour Mr. Allen was very engaged and had several suggestions on how we could tweak our systems to improve performance. 

Tim Allen taping an interview for AFN

Little more than an hour after he arrived it was time to wrap up the tour and get back to the dialy routine.   Several members of the crew were able to get a souvineer picture, ask a few questions or discuss one of the sceens in their favorite Tim Allen movie. 

Tim Allen with Petty Officer Spivey

Admiral Stout's Birthday

16 June, 2010 - It was a special treat to welcome aboard two of Admiral Stout’s sons, Hal and Pete Stout, and their some of their family members. 15 June is Admiral Stout’s birthday and we held a belated birthday party for him today. Born on 15 June 1903, in Dover Ohio, he would have been 107 years old. We had cake and ice cream on the mess decks to celebrate. Hal also volunteered to speak to the crew about Admiral Stout and some of his adventures.

Hal Addressing the crew

Hal and Pete Cutting the cake

Hal told us about the values Admiral Stout tried to live up to every day; Honesty, Compassion and Curiosity. It was great to hear first hand stories about the ship’s namesake, especially from someone like Hal. After cutting the cake on the mess decks both Pete and Hal, as well as their spouses, were able to talk with the crew and answer questions. At one point I asked them both how often they saw their father during World War II. In total Admiral Stout was home for about two weeks during the entire war. It is hard to imagine that kind of commitment, but that is what countless WWII veterans did to win the war. It made me very grateful for the sacrifices of those who endured those times.

Interacting with the Crew (note Admiral Stout's portrait in the background)

The visit helped the crew see Rear Admiral Stout in the eyes of his family instead of just through the inspiring stories portraied in the history books. We hope to have the Stout brothers back again soon; it was a delight having them onboard.

SEN Reed Visit

 11 June, 2010.   It's been a few weeks since I posted an article on the Blog.  STOUT has been moving from one event to the next as we make our way through several training events and maintenance periods.  The crew continues to do great things and I will highlight several of their accomplishments over the coming weeks.

Today we had the opportuinty to provide a tour to Senator Jack Reed, Rhode Island.

Senator Reed's visit to STOUT was part of a larger tour of several surface ships on the Norfolk waterfront.  He is taking over as the Chairman of the Sea Power Subcommittee on the Senate Armed Services Committee and came to Norfolk to see how things are going on the waterfront.  The crew worked hard to prepare for the tour and did a great job presenting the ship.  We were able to highlight all of the capabilities of STOUT and to provide a demonstration on Ballistic Missile Defense.  Below is a picture of Senator Reed in Combat Information Center.

It was a pleasure to host Sen Reed and several of his staff.  We wish him well as he continues his work in the Senate.

UK MOD Visit

December 7th, 2009 - UK Ministry of Defense for Science and Technology.  Admist our busy schedule of Training, Preservation and Maintenence we hosted Dr. Brian Wells, U.K. Minister if Defense for Science and Technology, for a shipboard tour and lunch.  We enjoy showing off STOUT and her capabilities and were happy to answer questions and explain basic system operations for Dr Wells and his team.  You can see the crew in action answering questions and demonstrating some of our capabilities. 

 

To commomorate Dr. Wells visit to STOUT, I presented him with a command coin.  In the picture above you can see me explaining the significance of our mascot, Yosemite Sam. 

For those of you who haven't heard the story we have to start clear back in WWII onboard USS CLAXTON, then CDR Harold Stout's ship.  Onboard CLAXTON CDR Stout had the bits decorated with a popular cartoon character, Little Beaver.  CLAXTON was part of DESRON 23, and of course DESRON 23 was led by none other that Arleigh Burke.  One day when Commodore Burke was touring CLAXTON he noticed Little Beaver painted on the bits and decided to adopt the mascot for the entire DESRON.  To this day DESRON 23 are known as the "Little Beavers" after the popular cartoon character of the 1940's.

Fast forward to the 1990's and the commissioning of USS ARLEIGH BURKE (DDG 51).  During the commissioning process Warner Brothers passed the rights of Little Beaver to USS ARLEIGH BURKE for use as their mascot.  When it came time for USS STOUT (DDG 55) to be commissioned a few years later the "Little Beaver" was already claimed.  Admiral Stout was also a big fan of Yosimite Sam, so Warner Brothers allowed STOUT to use this character as our mascot.  If you get the chance to visit STOUT you will see many likenesses of Yosemite Sam around the ship and on our command ballcaps.  And now you will know the story behind the symbol.

Christmas Party

3 December 2009 – STOUT Christmas Party.  The Holiday Season is upon us and to celebrate we came together for a great meal, music, dancing and camaraderie with our fellow shipmates and family members. Master Chief Campbell, Chief Templeman and the entire MWR Committee did an outstanding job coordinating the evening. Because of the great work of the MWR Committee we were able to give away many prizes throughout the evening including five large screen TV’s, several IPODs, Play Stations, Wiis and countless gift certificates. In all we gave away over $7,000 in prizes.

At the party we also announced Sailor of the Year, Junior Sailor of the Year and Blue Jacket of the Year award winners for 2009. Congratulations to these deserving Sailors.
 

Sailor of the Year

Junior Sailor of the Year

Blue Jacket of the Year

Olde Glory

11 November 2009 - Veterans Day. We took a few moments out of our busy underway routine this morning to muster the crew for a ceremony to honor all veterans. We had a simple Flag Passing Ceremony conducted in concert with the reading of the poem "Olde Glory." It was a touching ceremony and I believe truly honored all veterans. I have posted the poem below for all to enjoy.

OLDE GLORY

I AM THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. MY NAME IS OLDE GLORY.
I FLY ATOP THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDINGS
I STAND WATCH IN AMERICA'S HALLS OF JUSTICE.
I FLY MAJESTICALLY OVER GREAT INSTITUTIONS OF LEARNING.
I STAND GUARD WITH THE GREATEST MILITARY POWER IN THE WORLD.
LOOK UP! AND SEE ME!!!


I STAND FOR PEACE HONOR TRUTH AND JUSTICE.
I STAND FOR FREEDOM!!
I AM CONFIDENT, I AM ARROGANT, I AM PROUD.
WHEN I AM FLOWN WITH MY FELLOW BANNERS, MY HEAD IS HELD A LITTLE HIGHER - MY COLORS ARE A LITTLE TRUER

I BOW TO NO ONE!
I AM RECOGNIZED ALL OVER THE WORLD.
I AM WORSHIPPED - I AM SALUTED - I AM RESPECTED - I AM REVERED - I AM LOVED - I AM FEARED!!

FOR MORE THAN 200 YEARS, I HAVE FOUGHT IN EVERY BATTLE OF EVERY WAR; GETTYSBURG, SHILOH, APPOMATTOX, SAN JUAN HILL,THE TRENCHES OF FRANCE, THE ARGENNE FOREST, ANZIO, ROME, THE BEACHES OF NORMANDY, THE JUNGLES OF GUAM, OKINAWA, TARAWA, KOREA, VIETNAM AND IN THE HEAT OF THE PERSIAN GULF AND A SCORE OF OTHER PLACES.
LONG FORGOTTEN BY ALL, BUT THOSE WHO WERE THERE WITH ME.
I WAS THERE.

I LED MY SAILORS AND MARINES,
I FOLLOWED THEM, I WATCH OVER THEM, THEY LOVE ME.
I WAS ON A SMALL HILL ON IWO JIMA.
I WAS DIRTY BATTLE TORN AND TIRED BUT MY SAILORS AND MARINES CHEERED ME!!!!
I WAS PROUD!

I HAVE BEEN SOILED BURNED TORN AND TRAMPLED ON THE STREETS OF COUNTRIES THAT I HAVE HELPED TO SET FREE.
IT DOES NOT HURT FOR I AM INVINCIBILE.
I HAVE BEEN SOILED BURNED TORN AND TRAMPLED ON THE STREETS OF MY OWN COUNTRY AND WHEN IT IS DONE BY THOSE WHOM WITH I HAVE SERVED IN BATTLE. IT HURTS!!!
BUT I SHALL OVERCOME FOR I AM STRONG!!