Puget Sound, Norfolk Naval Shipyard Workers Depart USS George Washington

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Juan Pinalez, USS George Washington Public Affairs

SASEBO, Japan (NNS) -- Puget Sound and Norfolk Naval Shipyard workers began departing USS George Washington (CVN 73), during a brief port visit to Sasebo, Japan, April 5, after conducting routine maintenance during a two-week period while underway.

"We are dropping off 300 hundred shipyard workers because their work here is done," said Ken Koemmpel, the civilian maintenance project superintendent. "About 150 workers will remain to finish miscellaneous jobs, but most projects have been completed."

The shipyard workers have been aboard George Washington since the ship pulled out of her forward operating port of Commander, Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan, March 21. Washington pulled out to sea to continue routine maintenance due to the complex nature of the natural disaster that struck Japan March 11.

The decision to conduct the maintenance at sea, something many consider a "historic first" for the Navy, proved to be challenging, but the shipyard workers were confident in their ability to get the job done.

"There were approximately 600 individual jobs accomplished in the past few weeks - which equates to about 10,000 man-days, and that's quite a lot of work in a short amount of time," said Koemmpel. "It would normally take us about five weeks in port to get the same job done, and we did it in two weeks at sea with limited resources."

"We worked on the main engines, replaced lagging, upgraded electrical wiring and performed maintenance from bow to stern," said Joel Winborne, Norfolk Naval shipyard painter. "We painted more than I could imagine; we must have gone through three hundred gallons. I've done my job, and now it's time to go home."

While some of the shipyard workers are prior enlisted Sailors, the majority have never been to sea despite their decades of experience as shipbuilders. The two weeks underway aboard George Washington gave some of them a new found respect for the men and women who serve in the Navy.

"I've had a great time being deployed," said Michael Hagstrom, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard ship fitter. "I have a brother that's in the Navy, and I signed up to do a Tiger Cruise with him on the Lincoln—after my work in Japan was to be over. After the disasters stuck Japan, I'm glad to have gone underway with George Washington instead. I got the full Navy experience instead of a Tiger 'Fun' Cruise. I've gotten to see what it means to be a Sailor."

For many of the maintenance projects, George Washington Sailors worked side-by-side with their civilian counterparts, coming together as one team. On many of those projects, the craftsmen of Puget Sound and Norfolk Naval Shipyard served as teachers to their younger students.

"I'm responsible for every one of the workers on board, and I really appreciate the support the crew has shown, especially the senior leadership," said Koemmpel. "It's been a unique opportunity to do something that hasn't been done before, and for us to be able to support the crew and the ship in a time of crisis in Japan, really means a lot."

"What this past couple of weeks has shown is that whenever there is a crisis, the shipyard workers can come together and get the job done and on time, no matter what," said William Dewhirst, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard electrician.

George Washington is the Navy's only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier, ensuring security and stability across the western Pacific Ocean.