Sacrifices

I haven't seen Jodie in over a year. We only communicate through email, and I see her pics on the Stennis newsletter.

My brother called and informed me the Navy took him off reserve duty and placed him on active. He will soon leave to another country for a year. When my brother told my mother he would be leaving, she squeezed him and said, " I will keep you in my heart." The tears streamed down my face.

Our family believes serving our country is good and noble and right; however, the burden gets heavy; the sacrifice is great.

Jodie~Sailor of the Day~BSM Third Class

~Captian Johanson~JODIE BEALL~

Exciting news! Jodie was honored with Sailor of the Day. The Stennis has over 5, 000 Navy personnel, and she was named SOD. She received this honor for her careful, meticulous work, and leadership among her shipmates. We are so proud of her. The letter we received from the captain stated Jodie won this honor for her hard work and perserverance.

The news became more exciting when Jodie told us she is now an official Boatswain's Mate, Third Class. Boatswain's Mate is one of the oldest ranks in the Navy and is predominated by men. Jodie worked hard and endured much to make this rate, and now she is a third class.

Jo has many jobs and some of them are driving the Stennis, driving small boats for find man overboard, playing the pipes when the Captain comes onboard, and multitasking many jobs while working with a crew of her shipmates.

Jodie-the Boatswain's Mate

Jodie serves on the USS John C Stennis. It is an aircraft carrier based in Washington. She "drives" the Stennis, brings in the anchor chain, helps with the moorings, pulls watch. Jodie's team helps transport supplies from a moving supply boat to the moving Stennis using cables, hooks, and rope.

The Stennis is in the Persan gulf, and she is "taking care of business" (Jodie's words) for her country. Ray and I are extremely proud of her.

In one card Jodie sent me , she said the days are slow and repetitive. She and the other sailors are bored and have read everything on the ship. Jodie asked for books, mags, cds, etc; she said the sailors share all their reading materials with each other. I sent out a request for reading materials to my colleagues at work, and I was overwhelmed and touched by the response. Materials have poured in, and I will have many packages to send to my daughter and the other sailors!!

Jamie awarded Junior Sailor of the Year

At this command, Training Air Wing-4, the main objective is to train new pilots for the fleet.
Jamie's typical day is mustering at 6:30am. She mans up the tower and radar 15 minutes, prior to the field opening. Jamie gets the "hard stand" posted, does roll call, lights up the air field when it's still dark, and checks the runway. Then she clears the runway.

How's that for a small town girl from the country?