Dry Dock episode 6: The Climb (advertisement)

After hiking for over two hours, we weren't halfway there.  Photo by MCCM Jon McMillan.

I saw the MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) advertisement for the Mount Saint Helens climb back in February.  My immediate thought was "we have to get a camera crew up there." And so began a 4-month journey filled with more twists, turns, and unexpected surprises than I could have ever imagined.

Episode Six of the Dry Dock series will tell the story of a group of 12 Nimitz Sailors who attempt to summit the 8,365 foot active volcano, and what they learned on the way up.

Let's just say that things don't always turn out as planned.


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There are returning characters in episode six, so if you haven't been keeping up, here's the links to the previous five shows.

Episode 1: Arriving
Episode 2: Dry Dock
Episode 3: Overhaul
Episode 4: Many Hats
Episode 5: Adaptation

MCSA Ventura, MC3 Wray and I the morning of the climb. Photo by MCCM Jon McMillan.

Dry Dock episode 5: Adaptation

The barge is on the other side of Nimitz, think of a big, white floating box.  Photo by MC3 Ashley Berumen.

With all the work being done inside of the carrier, many offices have been moved to the barge.  Take a look at how life has changed for many Nimitz Sailors.  There's also some cool off-duty stuff going on...

Episode 5: Adaptation

Dry Dock episode 4: Many Hats

Logistics Specialist 1st Class Frances Estrada, from Brawley, Calif., clears debris from a foundation site for a house during a community relations project with Habitat for Humanity.  Photo by MCSA Alexander Ventura.

Episode 4 takes an intimate look at the lives of several Nimitz Sailors, on and off the ship.  Not trying to brag or nothin, but I shot and edited this beast on my own.  We need more people in the video department. /grin

Episode 4: Many Hats

Hero

Putting the wireless mic on.  Sorry, it's a bit blurry.

A huge perk of being an MC is getting the chance to meet really interesting people and tell their stories. Commander Harry Ferrier was an 18-year old radioman in the Battle of Midway.  I, along with two of my fellow MCs, recently produced a video story about this great man. 

WATCH THE VIDEO

I was the 37th Sailor to pose for a photo with him.

 
A few days after the interview, the Nimitz held a dinner in Ferrier's honor.  It's jobs like these that I look at and say "holy crap that was cool."

Alaska!

Photo by random tourist.

Mom and I are in Juneau, Alaska. This is the Mendenhall Glacier. I believe it's the only one in the country you can walk up to.  If you're stationed in Washington, definitely try to get up here.  Breathing the clean air is making me feel healthier already.


Sent from my Samsung Epic™ 4G

Newbies

The cycle of Navy life continues as new MCs arrive to replace old ones who have returned to the earth.  They're straight out of A school, and eager to take it all on.

First I took them to the mall for some ice cream. These little guys sure do love ice cream!