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Greetings Abe Warriors! We’ve made it through an-other two weeks of winter. Despite the snow and delays, Big Abe and all of her crew are still hard at work. The Medical Department asked for volunteers for its blood drive. It was a monumetal sucess of shipmates help-ing shipmates. Bravo Zulu donators! Down in the FAF galley, the CS’s are not only keeping the grills fired up, but spicing up the menu with made-to-order menu options. Now, doesn’t that sound delicious! Big Abe lost a little weight this past month due to our shipmates in V-2. They saved the Navy money and time with their outstanding effort to remove Abe’s catapults. Good work Abe Warriors! It was another remark-able week of teamwork and motivation. Hooyah Navy!

From the Editor

Photo by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Five Sailors attached to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) experienced a once-in-a-lifetime career

opportunity when Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Johnathan W. Greenert served as presiding officer at their reenlistment ceremony held at Naval Station Norfolk, Jan. 25.

“What better a way to spend a Friday afternoon. I’m out of Washington D.C., and I’m about to reenlist sailors,” said Greenert in his opening remarks.

Greenert also highlighted the family members in attendance, “Thanks for all that you do, you are the winds beneath their wings.”

Greenert has been the CNO for 16 months. He has held various fleet support and financial management positions in his career. As CNO he is focusing his efforts on improving the Navy’s warfighting capabilities, developing Sailors professionally and maintaining the force’s readiness in order to support its assigned missions.

The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Michael D. Stevens, was also in attendance and offered his encouragement to the reenlistees.

“It’s a big deal to reenlist in the Navy for three, five or maybe six years. My hat goes off to you and I appreciate your continued service,” said Stevens.

The reenlistment ceremony is a way for Sailors to

make a personal commitment in a public forum to wear the uniform with honor, courage and commitment.

Ship’s Serviceman 1st Class LaJoy Battle, Hospital Corpsman 1st Class Tun Z. Min, Information Systems Technician 2nd Class Reginald F. Sanchez, Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Ryan C. Miller and Aviation Electronics Technician 3rd Class Michael R. Rabey were selected for reenlistment by Capt. Karl O. Thomas, Lincoln’s commanding officer.

“Re-enlisting today with the CNO is a once and a lifetime opportunity. This is going to be my last re-enlistment. I’m re-enlisting for a period of six years. I’m glad this could be so special,” said Battle. Battle currently works in S-3, the sales and services division on board Lincoln, as the assistant Leading Petty Officer (LPO).

“It’s been a long road looking back on all the years I’ve been a ship’s serviceman. I enlisted in August of 1999 and reported on board Lincoln on October 2007. I’ve been with Lincoln for three deployments, after that I knew I was staying in. Reporting as a second class petty officer and leaving Lincoln as a first class petty officer is a pretty big milestone,” said Battle.

An all-hands call followed the reenlistment. Greenert covered a range of topics including concerns about sexual assault, suicides, operational tempo and manning of ships at sea.

Story by Lt. j.g. Andriana Genualdi

Photo by MC3 Mason Campbell Photo by MC3 Jonteil Johnson

Sailors assigned to the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) donated blood at

a mobile blood donating facility at Naval Station Norfolk Jan. 23.

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Aaron Oswald, assigned to Lincoln and one of the many assistants in the blood drive, said the drive was part of the Armed Services Blood Drive Program (ASBP) Naval Medical Center Portsmouth.

Sailors registered for the blood drive and filled out an initial screening aboard Lincoln’s Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF). Once the initial screening was done Sailors transitioned to the mobile facility where they had a secondary screening and had their vitals checked. Following the blood iron levels test then they would choose their own donation bag from a box. A size 16 gauge needle was used to draw their blood.

“One pint is collected from each person,” said Oswald.

The ASBP donations are used for military service members and their families only. By supporting the blood requirements for military facilities, ASBP provides blood to support overseas units.

ASBP ensures that there is enough blood for medical treatment facilities and for combat operations.

According to Oswald, it’s important for the blood to be stored and readily available for patients at medical treatment facilities and for ships that are forward deployed.

Oswald said that donating blood is a simple process. The donor registers, fills out a few forms and completes

a simple medical screening, which includes a finger prick to test the donor’s hemoglobin. The donor then picks their blood bag and is sent to the donation area. Donors can even use the Internet sign up for the process in advance.

Lt. Heath Lucas donates blood regularly and had a great experience with the assistants from the ASBP.

“I give blood to support my shipmates and brothers and sisters in the armed services,” said Lucas.

“For all who would like to donate I say ‘good on you,’” said Oswald. “And thank you for supporting your brothers and sisters in arms.”

Photos and story by MCSA Kayla King

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BLOOD DRIVESailors Donate To SupportTheir Shipmates

Lincoln hosted a celebration Jan. 18, commemorating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event was hosted by

Lincoln’s Diversity Council in the mess decks on the Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF).

“This celebration is not only to highlight Dr. King’s achievements, but also to remind our Sailors of the importance of diversity,” said Lt. Michael Davis, Lincoln’s diversity officer. “Our institution is full of diversity, and holidays such as this one are a chance to get everyone together to celebrate an individual who spent his life promoting the very diversity we represent.”

Celebrating the national Martin Luther King, Jr. Day theme, “Remember! Celebrate! Act! A Day On, Not A Day Off!” the event included a cake cutting, informational displays, and a speech by Lincoln’s commanding officer, Capt. Karl O. Thomas.

“We see Monday as a day off from work, but it is important to take a moment on that day and reflect about why we have that day off,” said Thomas.

King was an important leader for nonviolent activism during the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal

and state policies and law.“It is because of Dr. King’s hard work and all his

contributions that I am here today,” said Senior Chief Information System Technician DarcellaCoopersanders. “It is important to take the time to honor his contributions, because without them our Navy would not be what it is today.”

In honor of King’s unfinished efforts, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day was established by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. The first observance was Jan. 15, 1986, the 55th anniversary of King’s birth. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush proclaimed the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday would be observed every year on the third Monday of January. On Aug. 23, 1994, Congress passed the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday and Service Act, designating the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday as a day of national volunteer service.

“Today’s event, just like every year, is a reminder of the characteristics and ideals that Dr. King embodied,” said Thomas. “It is important to honor and always remember his achievements, because they are the framework of the Navy’s principles of equality.”

Story by MC3 Kathleen L. Church

Holiday remembers ‘A Day On, Not a Day Off’

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MC3 Jonteil Johnson

MC3 Jonteil Johnson

MC3 Zachary Anderson

MC3 Zachary Anderson

MC3 Zachary Anderson

MC3 Zachary Anderson

One of the most challenging changes for a new Sailor reporting aboard a ship such

as the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) is adjusting to shipboard life. One tool that Lincoln’s Training Department uses to help Sailors transition smoothly to life aboard ship is Indoctrination.

Indoctrination, or INDOC, is a collection of classes that lasts two weeks. Along with sessions that introduce Sailors to the many departments and services aboard ship, INDOC also briefs Sailors on many other topics, including financial management, stress management and off-duty activities available through Morale, Welfare and Recreation. INDOC Sailors also were recently treated to a trip to some sites near the ship’s new home of Newport News: the Yorktown

Battlefield Victory Center, Lee Hall Reservoir, Lee Hall Mansion and Young’s Mill.

The first place Lincoln Sailors stopped at was Dam No. 1, later renamed Lee Hall Reservoir after Richard Decatur Lee, a well-known farmer. The reservoir and mansion are part of the Lee Hall village, the site of a Civil War battle that took place April 16, 1862.

Lincoln Sailors visited Victory Landing Park next, where they could glimpse the sight of a Civil War naval battle between USS Monitor and the Confederate Ship CSS Virginia (better known as USS Merrimack before the Civil War) March 9, 1862. This was the first time two ironclad vessels had met in battle. The entrance of Victory Landing Park is the Victory Arch, modeled after France’s Arc de Triomphe. This arch was built to

remember Newport News’ World War I Veterans.

Next, Lincoln Sailors visited Young’s Mill, owned by the city of Newport News. This was one of the first defensive positions for the Confederate Army in the Civil War.

The final place Lincoln Sailors visited was Yorktown Battlefield Victory center. This was the center of influential battles in both the Civil War and the American Revolution. Lincoln Sailors learned more about Yorktown’s importance in both wars in the visitor’s center where they saw a 15-minute video as well as exhibits.

“This tour really opened my eyes to the history of this area,” said Airman Christopher Dicinque, a Lincoln Sailor participating in INDOC. “I’m looking forward to learning more history.”

Lincoln’s INDOC ClassStory by MC3 Jonteil Johnson

Takes In Local HistoryMC3 Jonteil Johnson

MC3 Zachary Anderson

MC3 Zachary Anderson MC3 Zachary Anderson MC3 Zachary Anderson

Since arriving at Naval Station Norfolk from an eight-month deployment, the Culinary Specialists (CS) aboard Nimitz-class aircraft

carrier USS Abraham Lincoln’s (CVN 72) have undergone a transformation of sorts. After closing the ship’s galley and moving to the galley aboard the Floating Accommodation Facility (FAF) late last year, Lincoln’s CS’s have been getting more time to work on their recipes.

“A lot has changed since deployment,” said Culinary Specialist Seaman James Smith. “Our menu is actually quite different from what we served on deployment. We have quesadillas, fried chicken, burgers and all sorts of interesting dishes that are made to order.”

Smith said if McDonalds and Pizza Hut are always your lunch choices and you haven’t utilized the galley aboard the FAF then you’re truly missing out. He said that the CS’s in Lincoln’s galley are spending more time preparing food from scratch, not just opening up a package to warm up a meal.

The Navy, including the Lincoln, has moved away from making many of its meals by hand, using pre-

packaged foods to save time and money while deployed, according to Senior Chief Culinary Specialist Wilbert Strickland. But now that Lincoln is pier-side, that has changed.

“A lot of the time, with pre-packaged food, you don’t know what you’re getting,” said Strickland. “It’s loaded with sodium or preservatives but it saves time and money, both of which are in short supply on a deployment. When you’re scratch cooking, you know exactly what went into the food.”

For Lincoln’s CS’s, feeding the crew is not just about getting food to the Sailors. The return to port means that they can tweak recipes and that means having a direct, positive impact on morale.

“For most Sailors, the first and last person you see in a day is the culinary specialist,” said Smith. “Morale starts in our serving lines and in giving our Sailors the opportunity, once again, to express their pride through food. This will not only benefit the Sailors and the command, but give back that sense of pride and mission accomplishment to our culinary professionals.”

Story by MC3 Zachary S. Welch

Photo by MCSN Kayla King

Lincoln Cooks Keep The Grill Hot

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Out of the Frying Pan

Photo by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Photo by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Photo by MC3 Zachary S. Welch

Photo by MCSN Kayla KingPhoto by MCSN Kayla King

Photo by MCSN Kayla King

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Images of the Week

Photo by MC3 Jeremiah MillsPhoto by MC3 Zachary Welch

Photo by MC3 Zachary Welch

Images of the Week

Photo by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Photo by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Photo by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Photo by MC3 Zachary Welch Photo by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Photo by MC3 Jonteil Johnson

Photo by MC3 Jonteil Johnson

Photo by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Story and photos by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Lincoln Sailors Save Navy MoneyV-2 Division Removes Catapults

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Lincoln’s V-2 Division Removes Catapults, Saves Navy Money

Story and photos by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Only a few months into its refueling complex overhaul (RCOH), 30 Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) completed a

major step and saved the Navy a truck load of cash.Due to the effort of Lincoln’s V-2 Division Sailors,

all four catapults of the Lincoln’s flight deck were removed along with their bottom sheathing Jan. 18, saving the Navy almost $500,000.

“Not only is the catapult removal process unprecedented for ship’s forces during an RCOH period, but we also did it quickly,” said V-2 Division officer Lt. j.g. Matt McCauley.

V-2’s Sailors also removed the catapult’s sheathing bands and panels.

“That is almost 18 tons of steel in total, as well as the insulation or ‘lava-rock’ from the catapult’s trough,” Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (equipment) Frank Bartanowitz V-2 division.

V-2 division’s teamwork with shipyard workers

allowed them to begin their inspection for structural corrosion beneath the catapult troughs sooner. Lincoln’s V-2 Division saved 4,800 man-hours of labor from shipyard workers, saving the Navy $480,000.

“It’s difficult to remove more than 20 years of hardened grit in bad weather,” said Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (equipment) Salvatore Gumina. “Pure Teamwork is what makes this group of Sailors work so well, on or off land, underway or during RCOH.”

Teamwork is a hallmark of V-2, according to one of its Sailors.

“Whether people believe it or not, this is what we do. Teamwork is what we do day in and day out,” said Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (equipment) 2nd Class Joshua Smith.

V-2 Division is now taking on the task of removing the side sheathing in each catapult’s trough, which will save the Navy and the shipyard even more money.

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Lincoln’s V-2 Division Removes Catapults, Story and photos by MC3 Jeremiah Mills

Sailors assigned to USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) helped residents of New York recover from hurricane Sandy-related

damages during a community relations project Jan. 26, the second relief effort by Lincoln Sailors.

Lincoln Sailors teamed up with the New York nonprofit organization Friends of Firefighters to help clean up and recover homes in Brooklyn that were heavily damaged by flooding in the aftermath of the hurricane.

Sailors split into two groups at the start of the day, going to two homes to frame walls, tear out rotted floors and lay new floor boards.

“These guys worked very hard in helping these families,” said Lt. David Duprey, a Lincoln chaplain. “Friends of Firefighters is really appreciative for any help they can get. They are very touched that our

Sailors came and spent their weekend coming up to help families that were affected by the flood.”

After the hurricane, Friends of Firefighters started to organize projects to help firefighter families in the affected areas rebuild their homes. Firefighter volunteers from around the country have come together to contribute in any way they can, from distributing clothing and food, to rebuilding homes and clearing debris.

“We are overwhelmed by the consistent help that floods in from all around the country; not only around the country, but also firefighters from other countries who have come to help us in this time of need,” said Nancy Carbone, founder of Friends of Firefighters. “Having Lincoln Sailors here is not only monumental to the families they are helping directly, but their presence shows the entire community how much Sailors want to give back to the country they serve.”

Lincoln Sailors Help Sandy’s VictimsStory and photos by SN Phylicia Sorenson

Story and photo by MC3 Christina Naranjo

12 THE PENNY PRESS