Postcards from Deployment: Christmas in the Sandbox

Greetings come today from our guest correspondent, Southern Air Pirate who is overseas with the Truman CSG which finds itself inport, Dubai, for the holiday.  As one who seemed to have consistently drawn the Christmas deployment card whilst on sea duty, herr Scribe can well relate to the ‘joys’ of a Christmas spent on the other side of the world away from family and friends and as such, very much appreciates the sacrifices our folks in uniform are making this holiday season.  So, from all of us here on the homefront to all of you on the frontlines all of our wishes for a Merry Christmas, a safe and prosperous year to come and a speedy reunite with your loved ones. – SJS

SJS,

 

    Here are some shots of the approach to Dubai port and what is called the "Sandbox". It looks a little smaller then what I was used to before. I haven’t been ashore there yet, was lucky enough to draw the duty on the first day. So it was hanging out doing maintenance on aircraft while waiting around for liberty call to happen. For those of your readers who don’t know, Dubai is located in the United Arab Emirates, a friendly nation in the gulf region. Being here is interesting for a number of reasons. The biggest thing is walking down the street and seeing on one side centuries old mosques with designs that could rival some of the cathedrals in Europe for age and beauty and then a couple of blocks down these huge, modern skyscrapers. The Emirates is actually composed of three separate Emirs that had decided to join together. Two biggest cities that I have visited here are actually across the river from each other. Jebel Ali and Dubai. One of the supposedly more interesting things to know about this place is that they have actually built a set of man-made islands just off the coast of both of these cities. One is called Palm, it looks just like a palm tree and it is so big that the folks in the shuttle or international space station can see it. The other they are manufacturing looks like a map of the earth. Also here in Dubai is that hotel that looks just like a spinnaker in full wind blown sprit. It is supposedly the only 5-star hotel in the world. I have not spent a day in it, but according to what I have read it is supposed to be nice (and expensive). The other cool thing that I love about Dubai is the Gold Suk, which you can buy good gold at cheap prices. That is if you are willing to negotiate and spend a few minutes doing so. Sort of like haggling for a car.

  

 

    The Sandbox is a place where one can enjoy liberty and drink, they have camels down there to be ridden, there is an MWR center with a Movie screen and lazy boys to watch some movie with, some game boxes to play games, and computer to be used to email on or video conference with family. There is an AT&T calling center and a laundry room. Finally there are some various American fast-food restaurants to buy a "little taste of home" from. Along with them there are various vendors selling such things as Hard Rock Dubai shirts, new CD’s or Movies, good electronics at cheap prices, game boxes and game software, tailors. Heck there is even a couple of guys willing to make a custom tailored suit for you. All of this at reasonable prices. So that is where we are spending our Christmas Eve. Thinking that it is Christmas Eve, here is a poorly done rendition of "Twas the Night before Christmas" for you and your readers.

      

 

Twas the night before Christmas and I settled down for a quick nap at the end of the flight schedule. I grabbed a shower, climbed into a pair of Bermuda shorts and a t-shirt in my berthing with 105 other people. All through out the ship the only people stirring were the night checkers and the duty watch standers. Our dirty clothes bags were hung at the foot of our racks with such care. Through out the ship’s crew danced thoughts of their homes and families. Just as I climbed into my rack the general announcing system screamed "CAG Paddles to the Platform, CAG Paddles to the Platform." I woke up with a start and climbed into my flight deck gear and went up on the roof. Off in the distance I saw a tiny man in a little sleigh being pulled by eight tiny reindeer with a bright red dot leading the way. I heard the boss scream "Now Man your Recovery Stations, Now Man Your Recovery Stations! Stand clear all foul lights. Paddles four row is cold!"

 

    I huddled near the edge with the rest of the crew and watched his approach. He started out a little high, but was able to cut off the power just near the end and caught the three wire. Out of the sleigh was a little man. His eyes twinkled in the lights of the flight deck from behind his goggles. His face was rosy red from being wind burned, and as he stepped out of the sleigh, he walked up to the first brown shirt and made some comments. As he laughed with the young plane captain his belly jiggled just like a bowl full of jelly.

 

    All of up on the roof looked at each other and pantomimed the same word, "Huh?” It was then that the 1MC announced "Santa Claus arriving!" This seemed to answer our initial questions. It was then that he went to work. He pulled out his bag and started to make his rounds. Out of his bag he pulled a package for the oldest salt up on the flight deck. It was package from his son with the game winning football and pictures of him making the winning interception. A package for the new father, it was a DVD from his wife of his newest child getting up and walking and saying "Da-Da". There were packages for the love sick romantic of his new wife, packages for the fresh faced kid from his buddies out of high school. In a matter of moments he was running all over the ship from the oh god level up on top of the signal bridge to the lowest levels of shaft alley giving out packages and letters all through out.

 

    His work was done in a matter of minutes for with in minutes of finding out about him, the crew massed to meet him in Hangar Bay two. Plenty of time people were passing out packages to their fellow shipmates and reveling in getting that quick joy of home. Once his packages had been delivered he walked over to the aircraft elevator and even before the equipment operator had a chance to touch his controls. Santa touched the side of his nose and in a flash the elevator was going down and coming back up with Santa on it. He climbed into his sleigh and as he taxied up the waist cat I thought I heard, "Come Home Safe and to all a Merry Christmas."

Sincerely,

Southern

Southern’s work center supe’s stocking – here’s hoping Santa doesn’t leave switches & coal…