Roosevelt aircraft carrier crew enjoys a rest day with swimming, karaoke, movie

12/01/2001

By HRVOJE HRANJSKI
Associated Press Writer

ABOARD THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT - Worn-out sailors were treated to karaoke, ice cream and dips in the Arabian Sea on Saturday as the carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt took a break from launching planes over Afghanistan.

All the ship's 70 planes were grounded for 36 hours. The 4.5-acre flight deck became a playground for shooting basketballs or just strolling around in the sun in shorts, T-shirts and tennis shoes.

On the deck below, sailors waited patiently in a long line on an aircraft elevator for a chance to jump into the sea for a short swim. A Marine with a rifle kept watch in case of a shark attack.

"It's good to have a day of rest like this to recharge our batteries," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Sean Reece, 29, from Charlotte, N.C.

Among the swimmers was Rear Adm. Mark Fitzgerald, the Roosevelt battle group commander. Other crew members sang karaoke or held mock sumo wrestling matches in protective suits.

But not everyone was resting. The carrier's nuclear-powered engines were having a regular checkup. Navy and Marine mechanics were repairing aircraft, and loudspeakers called on sweepers to man their brooms.

In the last couple of weeks, the air campaign has focused on clearing the way for the U.S. Marines to deploy in Afghanistan. Navy F-14 Tomcats and Marine Corps F/A-18C Hornets continue to roam the country for al-Qaida and Taliban targets.

The planes were flying "holding positions," contacting U.S. forces on the ground – known as ground controllers – and dropping bombs where necessary, the carrier's commander, Capt. Richard O'Hanlon, said Wednesday.

"We're a 911 call for ground forward air controllers," he said.

O'Hanlon, a New York native, said there were still targets to be hit, such as vehicles, troops and tanks.

On Saturday, the crew was treated to a premiere of the newly released movie "Behind Enemy Lines," which was partly shot on another carrier currently in the Arabian Sea, the USS Carl Vinson. One of the actors, David Keith, recently toured the Roosevelt and the Vinson.

The movie's script could easily be related to the current war: a Navy pilot from the Vinson is shot down behind enemy lines during the Bosnian war.

On Friday, the Roosevelt celebrated Native American History Month with a mock powwow and cake-cutting ceremony. Several sailors from Creek, Navajo, Lumbee, Cherokee and Lakota tribes addressed the crew about their heritage.