Aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk on its way home for Christmas without two crew members

By HEATHER PATERSON
Associated Press Writer

ABOARD THE USS KITTY HAWK – After almost three months at sea, the USS Kitty Hawk is on its way home from the Arabian Sea to its base in Japan for Christmas – without two crewmen who died during the mission.

The aircraft carrier, based in Yokosuka, Japan, was sent into action Sept. 20 to act as a floating base for U.S. special forces operating in Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Because of secrecy surrounding the presence of the special troops, the Kitty Hawk's 3,200 personnel only broke their silence about their tour of duty on Monday.

Most of the air wing attached to the 40-year-old matriarch of the U.S. Navy carriers were left behind in Japan to make way for the extra troops, said Kitty Hawk Capt. Thomas Hejl, of Boca Raton, Fla.

"We weren't used to working with them (special forces) but it worked well," said Hejl, 46. "The special forces were successful because they're not known."

Traveling through the Strait of Malacca near Malaysia with the Kitty Hawk on Monday were the guided missile destroyer USS Gary and guided missile frigate USS Curtis Wilbur, also heading back to Japan.

Two young sailors from the Kitty Hawk died in accidents during the mission.

On Nov. 7, Bryant L. Davis, 20, a machinist's mate fireman apprentice, fell overboard. His body has not been recovered.

The investigation into the incident is continuing, said the Kitty Hawk battlegroup commander, Rear Adm. Steve Kunkle of Jacksonville, Fla.

A month later, fireman apprentice Michael J. Jakes Jr., 20, of New York City died after falling from his bunk. The cause of death has not been revealed.

Lt. Tuan Dang, 28, said Jakes was "a mild-mannered kid" whom everyone liked.

"Everyone treated him like a little brother so when he passed away it felt like a brother lost," said Dang, a native of San Francisco.

Some officers on board said they expect the Kitty Hawk to be deployed again to Operation Enduring Freedom.

"That's being discussed at very high levels," Kunkle said. "The biggest factor is what will the next stage of Enduring Freedom be. There are a range of options that the very highest levels ... are looking at."

AP-WS-12-17-01 1134EST