Classmates-----Went to watch arrival
of subject ship this morning.....a very rainy day here in Pensacola.
Managed to take attached photo.....light rain falling with ship about a
mile from the pier....by the time I got back in the car a severe thunderstorm
was in progress......high winds and almost zero visibility.....the female
CO got her "baptism under fire" on ship's very first port call.
Here's an excerpt from base newspaper:
The Mustin's skipper, CDR. Ann Phillips, is the first female to command
a U.S. Navy warship from the laying of its keel to commissioning. The ship is named for the Mustin family,
whose service to the Navy goes back to 1896, to Capt. Henry C. Mustin, who
played a major role in making NAS Pensacola the Cradle of Naval Aviation.
"It's a great honor for the family, and we're all thrilled with this", said
retired Vice Admiral Henry "Hank" Mustin. "To see this warship going to
sea and taking the family name to sea into the 21st century gives us emotions
that are difficult to put into words."
All the best,
Steve Kaiser (1)
