Voyage Ends: John Karcher, Aboard The USS John C. Stennis
Posted: 5:46 p.m. CDT May 16, 2003
Somewhere off the coast of California, Wisconsin sailors on the USS John C. Stennis are logging on and reading your messages on Channel 3000.com.
They were thrilled to have anchor John Karcher and photojournalist Don Cady aboard last week.
The Stennis crew is back at sea, honing their skills. Navy pilots are landing and taking off.
No one seemed to know exactly how many Wisconsin sailors were on board, but Karcher and Cady bumped into a lot of them.
Many haven't been home for months. They're happy to get a little TV time and share their mission with you.
"It's exciting to be part of the war on terrorism," said Peter Wright, a Sun Prairie native. "One of the main reasons I enlisted was the Sept. 11 events."
When the towers fell, thousands died, the enemy was identified, and the John C. Stennis crew was the first to get after them. Just seeing those bomb-laden jets leave ship gave them tremendous satisfaction.
"It really felt like you were doing your job at that point -- our job is to defend the country," said Greg Ylvisaker, a Watertown native.
For now, officers and sailors will have to be satisfied with keeping the combat edge in training off San Diego.
"The morale is still high, the retention is still high -- retention as re-enlistments in the Navy. It's good, it really is," said Barbara Mendoza, who works in public affairs. She was born in Milwaukee and grew up near Green Bay.
When Karcher met some of the Wisconsin crew, it was birthday party time for Alex Bogdan of Mount Horeb. His mom asked Karcher to take a cookie cake to him.
Duty now is different than during combat, and they miss battle stations in Afghanistan or Iraq where some wanted to go.
"We kinda felt left out -- I felt left out," Bogdan said. "I know we're providing a vital protection here to the west coast."
Cdr. Larry Fitzpatrick, who's spent 31 years in the service, said he enjoys being home, but "in all the years I've been in the Navy. When I haven't been where there's a conflict ... you always kinda get the itch."
The itch to serve and make the world a better place. It's what the thousands that live on the John C. Stennis do.
"We're willing, as Americans and as people in the Navy, to go and provide that protection not just for ourselves but for people in the rest of the world," Bogdan said.
In the last part of his series, Karcher said, "My mission on board was over -- wherever we turned on this sprawling ship we found men and women who live the oath... who sacrifice, for us."
READ: 
Part I | Part II | Part III
USS JOHN C. STENNIS
John Karcher brings you the story of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier -- and the Wisconsin sailors who keep it running.
John spent time aboard the ship off the coast of California and reported on everything from flight operations to the mess hall -- and how proud the sailors are to have served in the aerial assault in Afghanistan.
 Send A Message To The Crew! See John's Personal Pictures From The TripREAD: Part IPart IIPart III
VIDEO
 Shipmates: Ens. Baumann Does Tom Cruise Fly By?Cdr. Larry Fitzpatrick InterviewKarcher Delivers Care Packages To Wisconsin SailersJohn Karcher Gets Special Award From NavyJohn Karcher Brings Special Hat AboardJohn Karcher: Life Aboard The USS John C. Stennis
WEB SITES
 USS John C. Stennis Web SiteLearn More About Different CarriersHow Do Aircraft Carriers Work?See How Carriers Are Designed
Contact John Karcher |
"It's exciting to be part of the war on terrorism," said Peter Wright, a Sun Prairie native. "One of the main reasons I enlisted was the Sept. 11 events."
When the towers fell, thousands died, the enemy was identified, and the John C. Stennis crew was the first to get after them. Just seeing those bomb-laden jets leave ship gave them tremendous satisfaction.
"It really felt like you were doing your job at that point -- our job is to defend the country," said Greg Ylvisaker, a Watertown native.
For now, officers and sailors will have to be satisfied with keeping the combat edge in training off San Diego.
"The morale is still high, the retention is still high -- retention as re-enlistments in the Navy. It's good, it really is," said Barbara Mendoza, who works in public affairs. She was born in Milwaukee and grew up near Green Bay.
When Karcher met some of the Wisconsin crew, it was birthday party time for Alex Bogdan of Mount Horeb. His mom asked Karcher to take a cookie cake to him.
Duty now is different than during combat, and they miss battle stations in Afghanistan or Iraq where some wanted to go.
"We kinda felt left out -- I felt left out," Bogdan said. "I know we're providing a vital protection here to the west coast."
Cdr. Larry Fitzpatrick, who's spent 31 years in the service, said he enjoys being home, but "in all the years I've been in the Navy. When I haven't been where there's a conflict ... you always kinda get the itch."
The itch to serve and make the world a better place. It's what the thousands that live on the John C. Stennis do.
"We're willing, as Americans and as people in the Navy, to go and provide that protection not just for ourselves but for people in the rest of the world," Bogdan said.
In the last part of his series, Karcher said, "My mission on board was over -- wherever we turned on this sprawling ship we found men and women who live the oath... who sacrifice, for us."
READ: Part I | Part II | Part IIICopyright 2004 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
