VFA-34 Blue Blasters Honor Fallen Service Members

By Lt. j.g. Chelsea Decker, VFA-34 Public Affairs

USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, At Sea (NNS) -- The Blue Blasters of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 painted the names of fallen service members on their F/A-18C Hornets, March 23, to honor them.

Lt. Dustin Wood started the project, Feb. 28, after learning of the death of a high school friend and the severe wounding of a college roommate. Hoping to create a memorial that would provide a constant reminder of the sacrifices made by fellow service members, Wood solicited names of friends and family members lost in Operation Enduring Freedom from fellow Blue Blasters and Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 9 personnel.

"The day-to-day rigor of life on the carrier makes it easy for all of us to lose focus on our primary mission, supporting ground forces in Afghanistan," Wood said. "By replacing pilot names with those of service members killed in action (KIA), the Blue Blasters hope to provide some perspective on this vital mission and pay respect to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. The KIA names serve as a symbol of the pride, selflessness and teamwork that is prevalent throughout our strike group."

Intelligence Specialist 2nd Class Nathan Moore, also with VFA-34, said he was honored to sponsor a close family friend.

"It's easy to get bogged down about your own trivial things with living on the ship, and this is a great opportunity to drive home what we are doing out here. It prevents us from being detached by being on the ship while they are on land," Moore said. "It means a lot to the members who get to sponsor the name of a loved one on a jet."

VFA-34 is one of nine squadrons deployed with Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 2 aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) as part of CSG 9. CSG 9 is comprised of Lincoln, CVW 2, guided-missile cruiser USS Cape St. George (CG 71) and Destroyer Squadron 9, composed of guided-missile destroyers USS Momsen (DDG 92) and USS Sterett (DDG 104).

CSG 9 is deployed to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility conducting maritime security operations, theater security cooperation efforts and support missions as part of OEF.