Enterprise (CVN 65) - Naval Cruise Book

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ERAL Campaign I.O. OPS I 95

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I he men of the Enterprise Carrier Air Wing Eleven team have a reputation for being generous in contributing to worthy charitable projects. They showed their generosity early in the 1 984 deployment by raising funds to purchase two computers for Miller Elementary School in Alameda and to fully equip a 10-team junior baseball organization for children at Alameda Naval Air Station. Later in the deployment following a port call at Subic Bay Naval Base, Enterprisemen demonstrated they were friends in deed to Filipino friends in need by donating more than $6,000 to aid in disaster recovery operations after deadly typhoons ripped through the Philipine Islands. Then, during their 93-day voyage in the Indian Ocean, the men of the Big E CVW-1 1 team once again displayed generosity when the call for their support came. This time, however, the cause was bigger in scope and the challenge much greater. The 5,400 men of the Enterprise CVM-1 1 team were challenged to pledge contributions to reach a $200,000 shipboard goal for the annual Combined Federal Campaign — and they had just 1 days, October 1 5-25, in which to do it. But, the men of the Big E CVW-1 1 team were more than equal to the challenge. They not only reached their CFC goal, but went on to amass more than a quarter of a million dollars — $240,000 to be exact — in contributions to aid the many CFC agencies that serve the needs of and provide benefits to people in a variety of situations. What is almost as significant as the amount of money raised and short time it took to do it, is the fact that Enterprisemen actually enjoyed doing their part to give a fair share in the campaign. The idea was to have fun with CFC as well as raise money, according to CDR jim Griffin of VAQ-133, the overall shipboard coordinator for the Big E CVW-1 1 effort. The fund-raising drive was planned as a diversion from the hectic daily routine of normal under- way operations. Enterprise Commanding Officer, CAPT R.L. Leuschner jr., set 100 percent crew participation as the main goal in the campaign. The fund-raising effort began on Oct. 1 5 with a kickoff ceremony and a cake cutting. During the ceremony CAPT Leuschner; the Executive Officer, CAPT J.J . Dantone Jr. ; Commander Carrier Air Wing Eleven, CDR D.L. Carroll; and Big E Command Master Chief, AFCM M.W. Weaver, made their CFC contributions to LT Loren Brooks, Ship ' s Company Keyman for the campaign. On Oct. 17, a special bingo game televised live over Enterprise TV to raise money for CFC unexpectedly became a media happening when viewers called the studio to bid with donations for the Aard- vark orange bow tie worn by NCI Vince Shay of VF-1 1 4, the show ' s Squad, discovered a unique way to beat the drum for CFC. Don- ning children ' s fireman hats and breaking out hammers, saws, a harmonica, cassette tape player and other instruments, the Flying Squad resembled a displaced Fisherman ' s Wharf street band as they gathered on the mess decks one day during lunch hour to serenade their shipmates. Of course, the roving Flying Squad troubadours ensured that their midday concert did not go unrewarded as they circulated a tin cup in which diners placed pocket change offer- ings for CFC. In the days following the telethon, officers, chiefs and leading petty officers could be seen about the ship swabbing decks, washing dishes in the sculleries and taking a turn on the field day in a head — apparently carrying out their end of the deal in exchange for the challenge contributions made to CFC by members of their division, department or squadron. On Oct. 1 8, the air wing and ship ' s company held a bake sale and flea market to provide additional cash to the CFC fund. Later in the day, VAW-1 1 7 sponsored 5- and 10-kilometer foot races on the flight deck, with entry fees being donated to CFC. the various events that were beginning to become commonplace on the ship were not only garnering more money in the campaign but were also providing at the same time entertainment for the crew. Our approach wasn ' t so much a ' campaign ' as it was a celebra- tion, CDR Griffin explained. We wanted something fun, active and quick to help us meet our $200,000 goal. It wasn ' t all fun and games. Behind the scenes, LT Brooks, Ship ' s Company Keyman, and CW02 Charles Gower, CFC Treasurer, juggled the routine in their normal Operations Department jobs to aid CDR Griffin. We sometimes worked ' round the clock keeping track of the donations flooding in and coordinating the different events with the ship ' s schedule, LT Brooks related. The whole th i ng could never have come off as we! I as it did without the excel lent support we received from everyone. Tne CFC drive was topped off with a benefit carnival on Oct. 25. All hands pitched in with innovative and creative ideas to transform the aft end of Enterprise ' s 4 ' 2-acre flight deck into the midway of a carnival, complete with booths offering hamburgers, hot dogs, chili, popcorn and soft drinks. And, there were a variety of game and other activity booths. One of the most popular activity booths was En- gineering Department ' s Delbert Dunker. The dunker featured a small seat suspended over a tank of water. Chiefs and officers took turns sitting in the seat. For a dollar, a customer had three throws with a Softball to hit a small target next to the dunker. When the target was struck, the occupant of the seat was dunked in the water. Many officers and chiefs got wet that day for the cause of CFC. Comedians, singers and instrumentalists had an opportunity to CoMBiiMED Fed emcee. Petty Officer Shay agreed to sell his tie to the highest bidder with proceeds going to CFC. The bidding went higher and higher as viewing crewman after crewman called in their offers. Finally, VF- 114 Commanding Officer, CDR Lyie Bien, and the men of the squadron bought the flashy tie for $1 ,000. With the completion of the bingo game and the sale of the bow tie, the program spontaneously turned into a telethon as Enterprisemen suddenly started appearing in the TV studio to present CFC chal- lenges. Laying cash on the barrel head, they challenged their officers, chiefs and leading petty officers to trade places in their jobs in return for generous CFC pledges. When all the donations were counted up at the conclusion of the impromptu telethon, a total of $10,000 was added to the growing CFC fund. The telethon, attracting the attention and stirring the interest of a majority of the Enterprise community via TV, played a big role in getting the campaign rolling. Though the CFC drive was approached in earnest, the efforts to collect money sometimes evolved into lighthearted, comic scenarios. For example, CW02 Ken Stone, Big E ' s fire marshal, and his group of shipboard firefighters, the Flying entertain their shipmates at the carnival talent show held on a makeshift stage on the flight deck in the late afternoon. The Executive Officer, CAPT Dantone, even got into the act, dazzling the audience with his yo-yo magic tricks. The highlight of the carnival — for at least a lucky few — was a raffle drawing at the end of the day. The Commanding Officer, CAPT Leuschner, and Command Master Chief Weaver drew tickets from a revolving barrel specially built by the ship ' s AIMD. The raffle included a grand prize of a new pickup truck or $5,000, two second prizes of round trip airl ine tickets to anywhere in the U.S.A. or $1 ,000, four third prizes of video cassette recorders or $500 and numerous lesser prizes. The figures show the drive was a tremendous success for the ship and air wing, CDR Griffin commented. But, the real success was the way in which the ship and air wing worked together to exceed the goal. It was the way countless individuals stepped forward to take responsibility for making the drive into a truly enjoyable event for everyone aboard Enterprise. And it was the way the entire Big E and Air Wing Eleven crew pitched in selflessly to help CFC. 94

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CFC 1 0K RUN 96 I.O. OPS