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Dr. Del Tackett is the author, architect and teacher for Focus on the Family's The Truth Project, a nationwide initiative designed to bring the Christian worldview to the body of Christ.
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Hats Off to the US Navy: The Flight of the COD
Posted on August 6, 2007
Filed Under Personal |
Yeah, I’m an Air Force guy—served 20 years and saw a lot of impressive things. I even served in the bowels of Cheyenne Mountain, a self-contained military base consisting of 15 buildings, nestled deep inside hollowed-out caves protected by six-foot thick blast doors. [https://www.cheyennemountain.af.mil/thedesign05.htm] I’ve flown high-performance jets and milked cows; I’ve raised four kids and ridden the Tower of Terror at Universal Studios five times. I’ve been shot at, yelled at, thrown at. I’ve played college basketball and tennis. I’ve seen Carlsbad Caverns, the Cairo Museum and worked in the White House. I’ve changed diapers.
But nothing—absolutely nothing compares to what I have experienced aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln.
Fifteen lucky souls were given the rare opportunity to fly out to an aircraft carrier and spend several days aboard. Most of our group were heads of academic programs in nursing and engineering. We arrived separately in San Diego late Sunday afternoon, dined together, and spent the night in the VOQs (Visiting Officer’s Quarters) at the Fleet Anti-Submarine Warfare Center. Monday morning, we caravanned to North Island Naval Air Station where we received a mission brief for the Pacific Fleet carriers and Naval Air Forces.
After lunch together (amid warnings about eating too much before landing on a carrier), we headed to flight ops, where we received our pre-flight safety briefing, including a heads-up about the rapid deceleration and G-forces we would feel in the last few seconds of our flight as we were “trapped” upon landing. (I’m not sure it is proper to use the word “landing” when there is no “land”…maybe the better word is “decked”).
Having been appropriately briefed, we then plugged our ears with foam protectors, donned our helmets (craniums), goggles, and life vests with survival gear (in case the second to the most worse thing that could happen happened), and then climbed into the back end of a C-2 Greyhound, referred to as the COD (Carrier On-board Delivery). This is a dual prop aircraft that provides shore to ship cargo runs.
After getting strapped in, we took off to the west in search of the USS Abraham Lincoln, CVN-72, who was conducting training operations about 100 miles off the southern coast of California.
The deck of the Lincoln covers 4.5 acres. It is huge. She is nuclear-powered and carries a crew of 5,500. I’ll tell you more about her later, but she is most impressive and carries a most impressive crew of top-notch sailors. We can be very proud of what the Navy has done with our tax dollars.
As we approached the carrier and began our descent, I have to tell you that my heart was beating a little faster than normal—this isn’t part of my regular daily routine. In our pre-flight briefing, we were told that we would hear and feel the engines throttling up and down as the pilot was trying to keep the aircraft on a razor-thin glide slope that would hopefully bring us safely down to the carrier deck, pitching in the open sea. The next hope was that the tailhook would catch one of the four arresting cables (you can see them strung across the deck in my photo below), that the cable would hold and that we would be succesfully “trapped” on board, with our lunch still tucked securely inside our stomachs.
I’ll tell you tomorrow if we made it.
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20 Responses to “Hats Off to the US Navy: The Flight of the COD”
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So, if you worked at Cheyenne Mountain, the big question is: where’s the Stargate?
=)
Blessings on your trip! It sounds awesome!
You are a man of many talents, even changing diapers WOW…..can’t wait to hear the “rest of the story.”
Dear Brother Tackett,
We were delighted to see that you had some blogs on the USS Abraham Lincoln. On July 4th of this year the crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln held an open house at the Everett Naval Station (in Washington) for the public to tour. This is truly a magnificent aircraft carrier and we are so blessed that the Lord worked it out for us to see it, touch it, walk on it, ride on the elevator both up and down (that was a thrill)! What a neat experience and privilege for you to actually land on it and then bless us with your blogs on it! Thank you for sharing!
Dave and Carol
My husband, son and I attended the open house in Everett this July. Our son is in the Navy had just come home for 2 week leave before reporting to the Lincoln on July 17. The Lincoln was out to sea so he and his buddies did all the testing needing done before working on a carrier. The Sat after you flew out to the Lincoln so did my son and 12 of his new friends. We haven’t heard from him. Our friend said he will have alot more appreciation working on the carrier deck after he lands in the COD on one. Between that and the Battleship 21 training in Navy basic training he is having experiences he will never forget and new friends who he will have forever….jp
Dr. Tackett,
Earlier I wrote about being an airline pilot and seeing the glory of God in the heavens. Before Delta Air Lines, I was a carrier aviator in the Navy with 305 “traps”. Every Naval aviator who has landed aboard ship knows how many times he’s done it. Congratulations on becoming a tailhooker! After two cruises I never became bored flying around the ship and was always very impressed by the engineering marvel which is an aircraft carrier. I’m glad you had the chance to experience it first hand. However it still pales in reference to the glory of God in the heavens. Bless you, Dr. Tackett, and thanks once again for the truth project.
Mike Elmer
Have a blast, you have earned it. Be proud, God has blessed you because he has faith you will do right by what he has given you to do.
Dr. Tackett,
May God continue to use you and your gifts as you point those around you to our Saviour Jesus Christ. But you say diapers, you must be kidding????
Thanks so much to the men and women who serve and have served our country!
Have a great day!
Signed
Father of 4 and fellow diaper changer.
CONGRATS ON THE “RODGER BALL”
Yes, in all reality , there is only things that the navy can do and are able to do yet some you have served in it don’t want to hear about when they served because of the pain. Thanks for taking a look at a Navy vessel, They are magnificent indeed and I graduated with some that went to Vietnam on one of their vessels. Marsha Melder
Del:
Been there, done that… aboard the USS Forestal in the mid 1960’s. A young Chaplain I’d mentored through seminary had served aboard Abe Lincoln when the ship served in the Persian Gulf in the “shock and awe” phase of the war. We continue to pray much for our troops! Thanks, Del, for the memories! We’ve also been greatly blessed by TRUTH PROJECT in our Church!
In Christ,
Chaplain Ken Hyatt, USN (Retired)
Dear Del,
I am a retired Navy Helicopter pilot who spent most of his time at sea on small ships (Destroyers and Frigates). I can understand your exhilaration having landed on a flattop. I landed on them occasionally … only when I needed fuel.
When the excitement of your visit winds down, talk to some of the carrier guys and ask them how dangerous those ships are. Ask about the USS Forrestal (aka “Forest Fire”), USS Enterprise, and other major carrier accidents. Ask to see the Naval Safety Center’s video of those accidents. I think you will agree that God is protecting those guys, because if he wasn’t, none of those ships would be afloat today.
All sarcasm aside, I think you would agree that the carrier sailors risk their lives daily (even when not at war) to protect us. My hat is off to them!
Dear Del, Love your blog man!! In 1990 my son was part of the Air Wing aboard USS Carl Vinson CVN 70. He invited me to a Tiger Cruise. I flew from K.C. Missouri to Hawaii to meet the ship when it came in from a 6 month cruise. Met my son and enjoyed a couple days of liberty with him and got settled aboard ship. then spent 2 weeks on board as we cruised to San Diago. We got to see plenty of flight ops during that time. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Looking forward to your trip conclusion. God bless you and all that you do!!
Thanks for recognizing the amazing carriers and navy- my husband served 20 yrs in the Navy- his last “tour” was aboard the USS J.F.Kennedy. I had the honor of going aboard. Not much can compare to that.One cannot rightly understand the mind of a military man or woman -unless that one is involved in the military as well. They are a rare and to be treasured breed.
Dear Dr. Tackett,
We have just completed the Truth Project at the JAARS Center, where we work, an arm of Wycliffe Bible Translators. This has been one of the most powerful courses we have ever seen and in this day and age, most valuable. We plan to host small groups in our home and share your teaching with others as the Lord leads.
Our son, Richard, is a pilot in the Army, deployed in Iraq for his second term. We wonder if the Truth Project has been made available over there for viewing? Our son has had opportunity to build some good relationships with a few of the other pilots but we believe these tours would minister not only to him but also to many of the men there who are searching and finding themselves in need of understanding and the Lord’s touch. We know of no other such material.
May the Lord bless you and your family, and increase your ministry of teaching and challenging believers to love our Lord Jesus and those around us passionately.
In Christ, Rich and Judy Reid
I am retired Army. While serving in the Philippines in the late fortys, I was invited by the Captian of the USS Boxer to be a guest on a trip to Singapore. It was an honor. I learned to appreciate the carrier crews and the pilots. I still have my Certificate”Domain of the Golden Dragon” for crossing the 180th Meridian.
Dear Dr. T,
My father served as 3rd class electrician on board the USS Enterprize during WWII. It was the most decorated ship of the war; declared sunk 5 times in the papers… my poor mother. It did take some direct hits & killed a fellow electician. My dad was to relieve him for breakfast, but when he found out what was on the menu he said, “No thanks”. A few minutes later the ship was hit with something causing the compartment to flood. If that man had gone to breakfast, I would not be here.
Praise the Lord for thoes willing to risk their lives for us!
Kathy in NY
Dear Dr. Tackett I can’t wait for what will be happning on this great Ship thanks to you and your team May God bless you and as the Truth hits this ship may it lead many to the truth.
Dear Dr. Tackett, I stood on the keel plate of the Lincoln back in the mid 1980’s during the launch of the carrier Roosevelt. Those are truly amazing vessels… and amazing all that metal can float, too!
- Mark R.
Del: I had a duplicate opportunity here on the “right” coast on Aug 14 and flew on the COD out to the Harry S Truman. I absolutely concur it outdoes anything I ever experienced for thrill content. Tragically, however, one of the E-2C Hawkeye AWACS birds we watched launch and recover went down a few hours after we catapulted off the HST. Crew of 3, no survivors. It looks dangerous because it is. Eternal Father, strong to save, embrace these warriors and comfort their families.
My wife and I will be in Colorado Springs next month for an ADF conference, and Cindy Johnson is bringing us to Focus for a tour. Hope to meet you then!
We are half way through TTP with a group from our church, and we are being impacted mightily. May God continue to bless this annointed endeavor!
Tom Morr
Williamsburg VA