By The Continuous News Desk

Published: February 26, 2010

Following are excerpts from a journal written by Josh Smith, 11 Connects news anchor, during his recent assignment on the U.S.S. Greeneville based at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Monday, January 11th
Tri-Cities Regional Airport Terminal
6:15 a.m.

So this is what 6 a.m. looks like outside a TV station.

Waking up early is par for the course for me.  If I’m not used to it after anchoring the morning news at WJHL-TV for 10 years, I never will be. 

This morning in the shower, my mind raced with the checklist for the day:  making it to the airport, making the connection in Atlanta for our flight to Hawaii, connecting with our contacts with the US Navy in Honolulu.

But as the hot water woke me up, the bottom line for the day ahead finally dawned on me.  After three years of planning, I am about to go to Hawaii to cover the U.S.S. Greeneville submarine.  After a string of no’s, yes’s, maybe’s, not yet’s, and hurry up’s, the light finally was green.  Not yellow.  Not red.

Green means go, as my 3 year old likes to say.

Why the U.S.S. Greeneville?  Fair question, and one asked by a friend who heard about my travel plans.  Sure, it’s named for the city of Greeneville, Tennessee, a city in our viewing area.  But why does a name – probably snagged by politician looking for votes – make a sub in the Pacific a matter of local interest, he asked?

My bosses at 11 Connects have supported this project because they see the value.  The story of the U.S.S. Greeneville is the story of the people of Greeneville.  They helped build it with parts produced at a now-defunct business called Greeneville Metal Manufacturing.  They captured the imagination of lawmakers – even the Secretary of the Navy – with their passionate, grass-roots effort to have it named for Greeneville, Tennessee.  And most remarkably, they stood proud even when the U.S.S. Greeneville plunged into shame after a tragic accident that triggered an international incident.

Simply put – it’s a great story.  It’s good TV.  And yes, it IS local news.  Here’s hoping that becomes perfectly clear when our stories start to air.

First, we have to gather the video, the sound, the interviews, and the information to meet our objective: a current and comprehensive update on the U.S.S. Greeneville, Tennessee.

Time to board the plane.  Please Delta – no lost luggage.  Especially the camera gear.

Monday, January 11th
Honolulu, Hawaii
10 p.m. local time

Hello Hawaii!

Smooth flights.  Luggage accounted for.  (Thank you Delta).  Yes, that was me standing at the outdoor rental car kiosk with mouth agape, staring at the lush green shrubs, the trees dripping with fuchsia blossoms, the glory of tropical paradise – and I hadn’t even left the airport parking lot.

My colleague Phillip Murrell and I agree, though, that arriving in Hawaii was bittersweet.  The warm breeze, green trees and colorful flowers were a fantastic break from the grip of winter back home.  But Phillip said it’s not the same without his wife.  My wife and kids need to see this. 

Someday….

Our hotel is about 1 minute from the airport - about 10 minutes from the Pearl Harbor Naval Base where we’ll meet our point of contact tomorrow at 7:30 a.m.

It’s 10 p.m. Hawaii time, 3 a.m. in the Tri-Cities.  Heading to bed and thinking of the morning news crew back at 11 Connects, already working hard on a new day’s newscast.