Remembering the captain
November 15th, 2011 | Carriers Commanding officers Memorial service Norfolk Naval Shipyard Norfolk Naval Station Photos | Posted by Bill McMichael
The photo says it all:
Family, friends and shipmates gathered together on board the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower during the Tuesday afternoon memorial service at Naval Station Norfolk for Capt. Tushar Tembe. Tembe, the commanding officer of the carrier Harry S. Truman, died unexpectedly Nov. 8 after collapsing as he was debarking his ship at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Tembe, 49, a naval aviator, assumed command of Truman last August. // U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Rob Rupp
Tembe memorial service
November 14th, 2011 | Carriers Memorial service Naval Air Force Atlantic Navy Norfolk Naval Shipyard Norfolk Naval Station Photos | Posted by Bill McMichael
The Navy will hold a memorial service at Naval Station Norfolk Tuesday at 1 p.m. aboard the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower to honor Capt. Tushar Tembe, who died suddenly Nov. 8 after collapsing at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., as he was debarking his ship, the carrier Harry S. Truman.
“For 27 years, Capt. Tembe has proudly served his country in the United States Navy,” Naval Air Force Atlantic said in a statement announcing the service. “We pause to reflect on the contributions he has made.”
The ceremony will include remarks from sailors “who have had the pleasure of serving with him,” AIRLANT said.
The Truman continues undergoing scheduled maintenance at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
A nice touch
November 11th, 2011 | Carriers Commanding officers Golf Morale Naval Air Station Oceana Navy Norfolk Naval Shipyard Photos Sports | Posted by Bill McMichael
Capt. Tushar Tembe was an avid golfer and was no doubt looking forward to playing in a local tournament he’d help plan that would pit golfers from his carrier, the Harry S. Truman, against players assigned to the carriers Dwight D. Eisenhower, Theodore Roosevelt and Enterprise.
Tembe, sadly, collapsed Nov. 8 while debarking the Truman at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Portsmouth, Va., and subsequently died — two days before the scheduled one-day tourney at Naval Air Station Oceana. Rather than postpone or cancel the event, the East Coast carrier commanders taking part — the Norfolk-based carrier George H.W. Bush is deployed — decided to honor Tembe by playing as scheduled Nov. 10 and by naming the tournament and top prize in his honor.
“This was the most appropriate thing to do,” said Capt. William C. Hamilton Jr., commanding officer of Enterprise, and a close friend of Tembe’s. “He planned this for us, and he would be so upset if we didn’t play. We’re here to honor him and I am proud to be here.”
“Capt. Tembe came up with the idea for this tournament,” said Aviation Ordnanceman 1st Class Jeffery Crawford, leading petty officer of Truman’s Morale, Welfare and Recreation department. “He was involved in every last detail of planning this event, and that’s why we decided to name it for him.”
Before hitting the green, the players held a moment of silence for Tembe and his family.
“Personally, this is a huge loss,” said Hamilton. “He was my golf buddy … my Navy buddy. We played golf together all over the world for the past 16 years. I’ll never swing another club now without thinking about him.”
Fittingly, Truman’s team won the inaugural Tembe cup. “We played inspired golf today,” said Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Scott Rossi, assigned to Truman’s Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department. “Working with and knowing Capt. Tembe made a big impact on me, and I was thinking of him all day as were my teammates and, probably, everyone out here today.”
Home after the storm
August 31st, 2011 | 2nd Fleet Carriers Enterprise Hurricane Navy Norfolk Naval Shipyard Norfolk Naval Station Photos Ships | Posted by Bill McMichael
The 27 ships that sortied out of Hampton Roads in advance of Hurricane Irene’s arrival last weekend began returning to Naval Station Norfolk and Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek Tuesday and are continuing to come back throughout the week.
The destroyer Bainbridge returns to Naval Station Norfolk after getting underway ahead of Hurricane Irene Aug. 25. // U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric S. Garst
Also returning to their berths are some of the 28 ships in various stages of maintenance that were sent to safe havens to ride out the Category 1 hurricane, which whipped the region with high winds and generated what the National Weather Service estimates was a 4 1/2-foot storm surge at Naval Station Norfolk.
The aircraft carrier Enterprise returns to Naval Station Norfolk after taking shelter at Norfolk Naval Shipyard during Hurricane Irene. // U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric S. Garst
The sortie was ordered by 2nd Fleet commander Vice Adm. Daniel Holloway as a safety precaution for the Hampton Roads fleet concentration area.
Good works in Jax
July 29th, 2011 | Carriers CNATRA Community relations Maritime operations Naval aviation Norfolk Naval Shipyard Photos Sea trials Ships | Posted by Bill McMichael
More than 40 sailors from the carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower spent the morning of July 26 sprucing up a resource center for the homeless in Jacksonville Beach, Fla., during a three-day port call in Mayport that began July 25.
Interior Communications Electrician Fireman Donovan Cooper picks weeds from the property of Mission House during a community relations project in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. // U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan Parde
The center, called Mission House, offers food and counseling services to the homeless in the Jacksonville area.
Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Glen Everette picks weeds in front of Mission House. // U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan Parde
Ike’s port call came in the midst of an underway period in the Atlantic following a nine-month maintenance availability at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. While at sea, the carrier successfully completed sea trials and has continued with additional training.
Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Jeremy Prestigiacomo shovels weeds at Mission House. // U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nathan Parde
Hopefully, these hard-working sailors received some well-deserved time off the rest of the day. After its three-day break, Ike got underway and continued air operations, helping CNATRA prepare naval aviators for future carrier-based operations.
A T-45C Goshawk training aircraft assigned to the Chief of Naval Air Training performs a touch-and-go aboard Ike July 28. // U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Rob Rupp