Summer Cruise_Day 2

Training, Training, Training, and Qualifications – As we sail out to the operations area where we will conduct training with other Navy ships, we have taken time today to focus on some individual training and qualifications. Probably the most important training which all hands focus on is Damage Control Training. In addition to being good Sailors and knowing our basic seamanship, all Navy Sailors have to be fire fighters, ready to combat damage at all times of the day or night. Perhaps a no-notice General Quarters drill later in the week? Today we did basic damage control training all day long for our newest Sailors. We also did or still have scheduled training for our Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure team, training for our tomahawk cruise missile operators and anti-submarine warriors, and engineering drills. We also worked on small arms qualifications today and gave our Midshipmen an opportunity to shoot. -CO

Summer Cruise Day 1 - Seamanship Training

Seamanship Training – When it comes to training, GONZALEZ Sailors know we do more Seamanship Training than anything else, and I have always been very proud and impressed every time we have been called to demonstrate our seamanship skills (see our linked articles on Sailboat rescues last winter). So along those lines, today was a typical first day back at sea for us. After our sea and anchor detail transit to the Virginia Capes operating area, we conducted shiphandling training, small boat operations, and practiced man overboard recoveries. Today was a great day to work on line handling skills, give my newest small boat coxswain a chance to practice her skills, and put my newly qualified search and rescue swimmer through his paces. Our embarked USNA Mids also had an opportunity to participate in small boat operations and observe various man overboard recovery maneuvers. Pictures? Of course... - CO

Underway!

The sun shines on GONZALEZ as we are underway again conducting training in the Virginia Capes. For this underway, I am going to try and make a small blog post each day for our family and friends and highlight a few of our training evolutions. In addition to 8 new Ensigns and a whole host of new Sailors joining the ship in the last month, we also have 20 United States Naval Academy Midshipmen embarked. Should be a great underway! -CO

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all GONZALEZ Dads and Navy Dads everywhere! And congratulations to two GONZALEZ families who welcomed new Sailors to their families on Father's Day Weekend! It's great to be home and celebrate with family and friends this year, but I thought I would share a few photos and memories from last year's deployment when we celebrated Father's Day at sea in the Mediterranean. GONZALEZ had just left Souda Bay Crete a few days before and was enroute to Augusta Bay Sicily. In addition to our Sunday at sea routine, we held a special Father's Day celebration which included individualized gift bags for all the father's, music, a Steel Beach Picnic, video messages and songs from our families, and a flight deck movie. -CO

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GONZALEZ Family Update

There have been so many events and changes onboard the ship lately that I have been remiss in updating the blog. In the past month we have had more than our share of re-enlistments, award ceremonies, frockings, promotions, retirement ceremonies, and even a change of Command Master Chief. Fair winds and following seas to CMDCM(SW) Keith Thomas and welcome aboard CMDCM(SW/AW) Diane Ruhl! Of course, being so behind in updating the blog, I'm going to take the easy route and just show of sampling of all our events! I hope you enjoy the photos. -CO

Actor Tom Hanks Has Brush with Fame

On the 65th Anniversary of D-Day, I can't help but think one of the highlights of actor Tom Hanks' participation at the commemoration in France was getting to meet a Fighting Freddy Division Officer, Ensign Marcia Durrett. While temporarily assigned to USS PORTER (DDG 78) to work on her Officer of the Deck qualifications, Ensign Durrett participated in the D-Day commemoration with other PORTER Sailors and took advantage of the opportunity to give Mr. Hanks a brush with GONZALEZ fame.

Midway Day

This year the GONZALEZ Wardroom will again be dining together to commemorate the 67th Anniversary of the Battle of Midway. While deployed to 6th Fleet in 2008, DDG 66 paused in much larger fashion to commemorate the 66th Anniversary. Still some of my favorite photos... - CO