Mercy and Might on the USS Carl Vinson
Upon reading in the Washington Post that the body of Osama Bin Laden was buried at sea aboard the USS Carl Vinson, I recalled that it was the same USS Carl Vinson that assisted victims of the Haitian earthquake. Along with the wounded, several pregnant women were treated. One pregnant Haitian woman was evacuated to the carrier where she later gave birth to a baby boy. To show her gratitude to the crew, she named her baby Vinson.
From the Time article "The Haiti Earthquake" dated January 22, 2010
Commander Kathleen Grudzien, the head nurse in the pediatrics floor on the second deck, says the ship was built to serve in war zones, pointing out that "the forward wards were for enemy prisoners of war." Grudzien says she saw a lot of catastrophic injuries in war zones and that the Haiti situation is more controlled... None that have come aboard have died on her watch, she says. Amid all the talk of crushed and broken bones, there is the occasional bright spot, says Grudzien. A young Haitian woman gave birth to a son aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Carl Vinson. Mother and baby Vinson are doing fine.
Yet another example of how the U.S. Armed Forces are not only superior to any military in power and courage, but in compassion.
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Dec '10
Re: Mercy and Might on the USS Carl Vinson
Passing this quote along today from a fellow class-mate and an officer in the USAF..
"Message to Congress: The celebrating that you are doing now was brought to you by the men and women you almost didn't pay last month."
May '10
Re: Mercy and Might on the USS Carl Vinson
That's a great quote, Johannes!
May '10
Re: Mercy and Might on the USS Carl Vinson
I love this story. Thanks for sharing, Karen.
Mar '11
Re: Mercy and Might on the USS Carl Vinson
VINSON was deployed on in the fall of 2001, and launched some of the aircraft that conducted the first attacks in Operation Enduring Freedom.
Fitting, I think, that the man whose acts of terror brought that operation about was buried aboard the vessel that projected American power into Afghanistan following his actions.