Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Lincoln Sailors Receive Holiday Mail


USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) received more than 77,000 pounds of holiday mail during a vertical replenishment at sea, Dec. 20.

Logistics specialists assigned to the Lincoln postal office and volunteers from around the ship sorted the 36 pallets of packages and letters by departments to ensure all the Sailors received their mail.

Chief Logistics Specialist Brent Lewis, Lincoln's postal officer, emphasized the importance of getting holiday mail to Sailors as efficiently as possible.

"For some Sailors, it's their first time being away from home and missing the holidays," Lewis said. "So to make it up to them, we bring Christmas to them ahead of schedule. And we won't tell their loved ones if they open their gifts early."

Lewis has been deployed before, and he knows firsthand the morale boost a holiday package or letter can give a Sailor.

"Just the feel of opening a box is joyful, and the excitement of finding out what's inside is even more of a thrill," he said.

Personnel Specialist 3rd Class Jennifer Brenke, assigned to Lincoln's personnel support detachment, said the efforts of the postal team will ensure the holidays are happier for Sailors like her.

"Being away from home, one simple package can mean the whole world to someone," Brenke said. "It just means that your family is looking out for you. Even though we're miles away, we can still be connected by one little box."

Lincoln, the flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9, is currently deployed to the 7th and 5th Fleet areas of responsibilities.

CSG 9 is comprised of Lincoln, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2, USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9, which includes guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).

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