Six ATM machines stand ready for use in one of the crew's dinning rooms.

Of particular interest is the fact that the average age of the Truman's 3000 person (6000 with embarked air wing) crew is 19.  This carrier is truly a self-contained floating airport.  Truman carries 7 types of aircraft:  F-14 Tomcats, F/A-18 Hornets, EA-6B Prowlers, S-3B Vikings, E-2C Hawkeyes, SH-60 Sea Hawks and C-2 Greyhounds.  These tactical aircraft number more than 80 and comprise from 9 to 10 squadrons.

Truman is more than just a highly mobile and flexible tool of diplomacy and a floating airport.  The carrier is also a fully functional and self-contained city.  It has a TV and radio station, a daily newspaper, fire department, general store, library, hospital, a college learning and computer center, a dental clinic, chapel, barbershops, jail (brig), post office with its own zip code, 2000 phones, ATMs and e-mail facilities, restaurants that serve 18,000 plus meals a day, a distillation plant processing 400,000 gallons of water a day, and all types of specialized shops from electronic to metal to a jet engine test facility.

Our briefing ended with our DVP group being assigned two escort officers, Master Chief Scott Star and Lt. Chuck Jones.  We were also given the following tentative  schedule:

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

22-23 March 2000

22 MAR 00

TIME               EVENT

1215        S-5 baggage working party muster with ATO

1230        Official party arrives via C-2, greeted by XO and escort officers.  Proceed to Flight Deck Aux BDS to receive EEBD training then proceed to Flag Bridge for XO's greeting.  After XO's greeting, proceed to lunch.

1245        Chief's Mess Lunch

1345        Freshen up in staterooms

1400        TV Studio to change into Flight Deck Safety Gear

1415        Flight Deck Control Receive Flight Deck Safety Brief

1445        Pri-Fly Brief/Tour

1515        TV Studio to debrief tour.  Fill out Paperwork

1530        Truman Room Brief/Picture

1545        Escort DV's to Wardroom III for light snacks and refreshments

1600        Distance Learning Center Tour/Brief

1630        Forecastle for First Lieutenant Brief

1700        Staterooms to freshen up

1730        HOD's Dinner in Wardroom III

1830        Metal Shop Tour/Brief

1900        Hangar Bay walk through.  Brief Hangar breakdown/stations

1915        Jet Engine Test Shop Tour/Brief

1945        Medical Tour/Brief

2015        Dental Tour/Brief

2045        HST Store to purchase memorabilia

2115        Staterooms to drop off memorabilia

2130        Bridge Tour/Brief

***Break into groups of 4.  Stage out of Flag Bridge.***

2200        Staterooms Secure

23 MAR 00

0615                Escorts wake up guests

0700                Aft Mess Decks/Gallery Tour/Brief

0730                Aft Mess Decks for breakfast w/the crew.  Meet with CMC (Escorts ensure DVs sit mixed with the crew)

0815                CATCC/CDC Tour/Brief

0900                Flag Bridge for presentation and farewell by XO

0915                ATO to prepare to transfer

            We were told the schedule was tentative because we could go and see whatever interested us so long as we did not interfere with normal ship operations or safety.  Having our new tentative schedule in hand, Master Chief Scott and Lt. Jones guided us to our rooms where we found our bags already waiting for us.  Our accommodations were in the "VIP" rooms, however, "VIP" here did mean "very important person."  Indeed, these were rooms that a senator, congressman or presidential cabinet member would be assigned.  Almost all the crew sleeps in dormitory type rooms.  The higher your rank the fewer people there are in your dorm and the more furniture you receive.  Only the Captain and XO have single rooms.

            Each room was equipped with metal furniture, i.e., bunk beds, a desk and chair, built in drawers, and a mirror and sink.  The room also had a t.v. which included a channel to view live deck action.  A small community bathroom with heads and showers was 50' down the hall.  Access to our room and bathroom was by an electronic card key lock.  Interestedly, even though we were several decks down, we did not need to watch the t.v. to know that a plane had taken off or landed as we could hear it.

If any seven things stand out in my memory of this adventure, they are the hundreds and hundreds of stairs, the thousands of feet of hallways, the constant restaurant activity and delectable meals, the flight deck activity, the constant noise, a lack of privacy, and the good manners and professionalism of the crew.

A typical hallway on the USS. Truman showing bulkhead after bulkhead which gives the illusion of looking into a walkway to infinity and beyond

            Generally speaking, going anywhere on a carrier will require the changing of decks and this is accomplished by what appears to be an infinite supply of stairs.  On Truman, a stair is to the ship as a grain of sand is to a beach.  Although the Truman has elevators, they are used to move munitions, patients, aircraft and other heavy items.  Indeed, on our way to our first meal in the Chief's Mess, we ascended to the Admiral's Bridge and then descended decks and transversed ½ the ship's length.  The hallways on the ship require one to constantly watch both your feet and head as you pass the bulkheads that divide the 190 modules that make up the ship.  These hallways are so long that they create the optical illusion that you are looking into a mirror that is reflecting a mirror behind you that is reflecting the mirror in front, i.e., the view appears smaller and smaller to infinity.

            The food on the Truman was incredibly good.  Meals are computed and plainly marked on the basis of calories and fat grams.  Interestingly, going through cafeteria type lines, a sailor can compute his calorie and fat intake by limiting the amount of food consumed.  The mess chiefs and their staff work constantly at providing a wide variety of nutritious and healthy food.  Indeed, they were successful in winning an award for having the best food in the fleet that year.  No liquor or beer is served on the ship.

            We ate in a variety of messes during our two days on board the ship, however, dinner on day 1 was the most memorable one as we ate with the officers in Wardroom III and had dinner served to us.  The Captain did not join us as it was his custom to eat on the Captain's Bridge.

            I had the good luck to sit across from the XO and between the ship's legal officer and head chaplain.  Our meal began with a customary blessing for the food, crew and ship.

            Hearing these officers speak, I learned firsthand that there is a unique camaraderie amongst Navy personnel.  It is based on tradition, custom and pride in themselves, each other, and their ship.  If any one thing became clear listening to the officers, it was that the officers and sailors had both a mutual respect for one another and an understanding that each person's success was dependent upon the actions of another.

            Clearly, the flight deck is the heart and soul of the Truman.  During flight operations, it is a hot bed of activity and a rainbow of crew colored shirts.  The seamen and equipment work together as would a well choreographed musical.  Colored shirts designate and make easily recognizable the functions of crew members.  White shirters are quality assurance and safety personnel, red shirters for crash, salvage and ordinance personnel, blue shirters for chain and cock runners, green shirters for arresting hook and catapult crews, purple shirters for fuel handing, and yellow shirters for deck officers, catapult officers and aircraft directors.

            Our DVP group was fortunate enough to be abroad during day and night CQs.  We were also fortunate to not only observe numerous traps and cat shots, but also, to observe them from the flight deck itself, the Captain's and Admiral's Bridges and from a choice outside viewing platform to the rear of the Captain's Bridge named "Vultures' Row."  It is this latter location that off duty crew congregate to watch deck action.

Truman's Fire Fighters stand ready just in case. Pilots consider this crew to be their guardian angels, and rightly so.

            Viewing the action from the flight deck can only be described as spectacular.  All of your senses come alive heightened by a surge of adrenaline.  Nature's wind and wind from the ship's 30k forward movement is observed on flags, clothing, and catapult steam.  Rolling and pitching are immediately noted by watching the ascending and descending deck move along the horizon.  Noise from the crew, catapults, trap wires, helicopters and planes are easily heard through foam earplugs and cranial ear protection.

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