Sitting there at the end of the pier was the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) towering over every other ship it dominated my sight. Even from far away it was massive but as I inched closer it began to take over the sky, eventually it even blotted out the sun leaving me standing shivering in its cold shadow. I was so enamored by it that I barely remember boarding, only a slight conversation while crossing the quarter deck. Inside the chill lingered as I looked around out the varying shades of black and grey as the pipes wheezed with the life of the ship. Petty officer Sendler was already there waiting for me along with the few others going to reactor division, he would be the one to lead me down into the labyrinth. Tightening the straps on my sea bag
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In the early morning hours when everyone was savoring that last good hour and a half before they had to roll out of their rack the 1MC (announcing system) crackled to life. Slightly awake I listened as a fire was called away in the ships laundry. I am sad to say that it took a moment for those of us who had heard it to realize that this was the space under our berthing but once we did we were up rousing everyone from their sleep. With the first few up and moving the door was ripped open filling the space with smoke as they evacuated. Myself along with two other sailors stayed behind rechecking every rack for people that may have been looked over. When we were sure that the racks were empty we regrouped and headed out. When a fire breaks out aboard a ship the fire team seals the area to prevent further spread of the fire till it can be put out and this unfortunately had taken place as we searched. With the normal route blocked people began to panic and raced toward the other main route forgetting that this side had been sealed for months as part of an operation to keep the ship cool. Reaching the hatch and finding it also closed some began to really break down, with the help of those who were still semi-calm I explained I knew another path that was probably not blocked as it was close to the fire hose the firefighters were probably going to use. Gathering ourselves we made our way to it finding out I was right. We managed to get out with no injuries even picking up a few stragglers from the others berthing as we
In the early morning hours when everyone was savoring that last good hour and a half before they had to roll out of their rack the 1MC (announcing system) crackled to life. Slightly awake I listened as a fire was called away in the ships laundry. I am sad to say that it took a moment for those of us who had heard it to realize that this was the space under our berthing but once we did we were up rousing everyone from their sleep. With the first few up and moving the door was ripped open filling the space with smoke as they evacuated. Myself along with two other sailors stayed behind rechecking every rack for people that may have been looked over. When we were sure that the racks were empty we regrouped and headed out. When a fire breaks out aboard a ship the fire team seals the area to prevent further spread of the fire till it can be put out and this unfortunately had taken place as we searched. With the normal route blocked people began to panic and raced toward the other main route forgetting that this side had been sealed for months as part of an operation to keep the ship cool. Reaching the hatch and finding it also closed some began to really break down, with the help of those who were still semi-calm I explained I knew another path that was probably not blocked as it was close to the fire hose the firefighters were probably going to use. Gathering ourselves we made our way to it finding out I was right. We managed to get out with no injuries even picking up a few stragglers from the others berthing as we