HAPPY 2007!!!

To kick off my postings of 2007, I'm displaying a sampling of pictures from R's deployment.......

Pulling into Brunei

(Island of Borneo)

When they crossed the equator on the way over, since it was his first equator crossing, R participated in the festivities as a "WOG"......

But on the way back, he was now qualified to participate as a "SHELLBACK"!!

Note the halo above his skull and cross bones---

as chaplain, he referred to himself as a "HOLY SHELLBACK!!!"

This picture was actually in one of the Navy papers! He worked with an organization and was able to get 3 Christmas trees for the ship!!

Some of the families had sent their sailor Christmas decorations, but many of them used "necessity as the mother of invention" to create their own---- warfare pins were hung on the tree with dental floss and, yes, a dashboard hula-girl someone had picked up in Hawaii was rigged for the angel!!

She has the Dubuque crest hanging on her arm.

Another exciting event on the way over was a storm!! This pic is taken from the bridge. And they were actually skirting AROUND the storm!!

Just to get a bit of perspective........ the deck is over 30 feet above the water line!

Pulling into Hawaii

Some fun in Australia

One of their outings in Borneo was to the rainforest.....

They boated down the river.......

Then climbed up scaffolding to the rainforest canopy!!

A couple of FUN ones in Dubai

Where's R??