Comments for I'm back home.

I'm back home.

2006-08-01T04:44:39Z

Sigh.

That was fun. Exhausting, but fun.

Home is the sailor, home from sea:
Her far-borne canvas furled
The ship pours shining on the quay
The plunder of the world.

Home is the hunter from the hill:
Fast in the boundless snare
All flesh lies taken at his will
And every fowl of air.

'Tis evening on the moorland free,
The starlit wave is still:
Home is the sailor from the sea,
The hunter from the hill.

Truly, her last full crew. If things work out, next time we take a picture like this it will be in Mobile Bay, and include survivors of her WWII & Mexican crews, with the Rodgers all spiffed up in her new duds!

]]> *In front, kneeling, left to right, Brewers Banditos - John Donovan, John Kowakowski, Ward Brewer, Ensign Sergio Fourzan, our liaison officer, who surrendered his week to us (his time graciously donated by Captain Jimenez, the Flotilla Ops Officer, who is standing under the tube of Mount 1), Ken Guiles, Jeremy Byers and Sean Quigley. Jim Nowak and Rob Harshbarger were taking the pictures, and suffered the fate of photographers... not being *in* the picture.

Comment from WESTPAC Warrior on 2006-08-04

2006-08-04T22:20:27Z

You guys are truly doing God's work. Fletcher's are real beauties. One thought - has any one on your team discussed docking, blasting and painting at a shipyard in the US? I mention this because of lead paint. I would think the spaces inside the skin of the ship have lead paint (along with asbestos) and also the hull coating and/or undercoating might be lead based. Removing it is expensive and time consuming due to US enviromental statutes. I work at a USN ship repair facility and we recently began an overhaul of a navy barge from the 50's that had some asbestos and a lot of lead paint. It was a headache and cost big $$$ to get the barge blasted and the abestos remove (Rodgers is probably full of PCB's in the electrical system too). Might be cheaper to do the exterior of the ship and the interior spaces you plan on opening to the public in a Mexican yard where enviromental controls might be less stringent and therefore less expensive. Not trying to tell anybody how to suck eggs, just offering a thought.

Comment from kristen on 2006-08-01

2006-08-01T15:11:14Z

Welcome back! Come visit me where you are always welcome.

Comment from John S. on 2006-08-01

2006-08-01T14:54:56Z

John has obviously been seduced by the gray side. Thanks for your whole team's efforts to preserve a slice of history. Can we call you shipmates now? Remember- Sailors have more fun....

Comment from AFSister on 2006-08-01

2006-08-01T14:25:01Z

I'm really looking forward to seeing the final result of your work, John. It'll be way kewl to watch the documentary!! What a great project to be involved with.

Comment from fdcol63 on 2006-08-01

2006-08-01T12:59:09Z

John, Welcome back! Thank you for working so hard to preserve a little bit of history.

Comment from Maggie on 2006-08-01

2006-08-01T11:49:24Z

Welcome home. Good job.

Comment from BloodSpite on 2006-08-01

2006-08-01T11:44:44Z

Awesome story, awesome picks, big guns, and margartia's Hell whats not to like about this? Get some rest sir!

Comment from Boquisucio on 2006-08-01

2006-08-01T11:42:43Z

Great Job Boss - Well Done.

Comment from Dan Howell on 2006-08-01

2006-08-01T11:34:17Z

Welcome home, young man. What took place in Mexico, I hope will be the spring board for the ships that Ward needs for his project for training First Responders in Terrorism off the ground. Once again, the Rodgers will be the leader of the pack. I hope that the storm brewing, will not hinder the arrival of the USS John Rodgers back home. MR. Storm Magnet is at it again..

Comment from ry on 2006-08-01

2006-08-01T06:13:01Z

Welcome home, BG. Enjoy the long and untroubled sleep of honest men.