By The Continuous News Desk

Published: March 2, 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.

Wednesday 8:30 a.m.
On board the U.S.S. Greeneville

The firm but muted voice woke me.

“Olsen.  4:45.  2nd wake-up.“

Olsen, I knew was the supply chief on the U.S.S. Greeneville who’d been assigned to escort me around the boat.  He also was my neighbor across a narrow walkway in the rack (bed) just two feet away.

No alarm clocks needed on this submarine.  If you’re assigned to a “watch” – your shift in the sub’s control room – you can expect to be awakened with just enough time to rise, get dressed, and have a meal.  I’ve also noticed that sailors can place their names on a wake-up list, similar to a wake-up call in a hotel.

Breakfast in the ward room: southwestern omelet, hashbrowns, and coffee.  It’s stronger today than yesterday, apparently because a visiting Captain let the cooks know it was a bit on the weak side.  Just like yesterday’s lunch, pitchers of “Crystal Light” were back on the table.  No sodas or juice, I’m told, because they take up too much room and because, with the sodas, the Navy is pushing for a decreased caloric intake.

Our gracious hosts urged us to eat first.  But Phillip and I quickly realized that this would force working crew members to wait for their meal until we were finished.  “No - we’ll wait until the end of the meal hour,” I told our hosts.  They seemed to understand, even appreciate that.

The P.O.D “plan of the day” for our media visit is packed with tours and interviews.  More later.

Wednesday January 13th 11 a.m.
On board the U.S.S. Greeneville

The P.O.D. is D.O.A. 

The ship’s savvy Public Affairs Officer (who’s also the chief supply officer) decided to trash it after chatting with me about our “hopes and dreams” for our visit on the U.S.S. Greeneville. 

The original plan for the day included lengthy meetings – presentations really - with the ship’s senior leadership.  But Capt. Christian Buensuceso noticed in our brief time on the sub that we were most interested in meeting with and following around not just the sub leadership but the sailors who worked at all levels of the boat..

Today, he introduced us to Fireman Kalen Hatmaker, a 19-year-old sailor who just arrived on the sub.  Hatmaker, it turns out, is from Lake City, Tennessee, a small town in Anderson County.  He told me how, faced with the scarcity of jobs, he decided to join the Navy after graduating in August 2008.  Our first sight of Hatmaker came last night as he sat at the controls while the U.S.S. Greeneville made its initial dive somewhere off the coast of the Hawaiian Islands.

19 years old and driving a submarine?  It struck me that I was still getting proficient at driving my dad’s 5-speed truck when I was 19.

After his shift, Hatmaker agreed to let us follow him around as he ate his chow, studied to get his Dolphins (more on that later) and as he hit the rack.