Serving Proudly In Our Armed Forces

Kyle Jarus, stepson of Diamond Materials Safety Director Waldon White, joined the Navy in January 1996, and received his basic training at Great Lakes in Illinois. He transferred to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and served as Mechanic First Class on the USS Leftwich, a Spruance Class Destroyer and the USS Russell. He has completed two tours of the West Pacific, which included the Persian Gulf, where he inspected ships for illegal shipments of Iraqi oil. Kyle resides in Hawaii and is now serving as a Brown Water Sailor, a crew member who transports Navy Seals and Special Operations Forces to their designated locations by water.

ABOARD USS KITTY HAWK AT SEA -- Americas most seasoned aircraft carrier, USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63), celebrated her 42nd birthday April 29.

Commissioned April 29, 1961, USS Kitty Hawk, affectionately known as the Battle Cat, has a long history of answering the nations call. Its the worlds only permanently forward-deployed aircraft carrier.

As the ship heads for home after taking part in Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Arabian Gulf, the birthday was celebrated with a cake cutting ceremony on the mess decks.

The first deployment of the ship was as part of the Cuban missile crisis, and since then, one emergency after another until Operation Iraqi Freedom today. Always up front, the mighty USS Kitty Hawk, said Capt. Thomas A. Parker, the ships 32nd commanding officer, who cut and served cake for the crew.
Hawk has logged nearly 32, 000 miles since January when she left Japan for the Arabian Gulf. The ship is scheduled to return to Yokosuka May 6.

There is no better birthday present than going home and relaxing with family, said Chief Navy Counselor (SW) Phyllis Bouie, as she enjoyed a slice of cake.
Serving Proudly on board is Seaman Recruit Vickie L. Crusan, of X-3 division, who in connection with Kitty Hawks departure from the combat zone, single-handedly prepared more than 3,200 field input pay documents associated with stopping combat zone tax exclusion and imminent danger pay, in less than 48 hours. Crusan is from Charleston, W.V. She has been in the Navy for 10 months and a member of the Halk/5 team for five months. Vickie L. Crusan is Jennifer Weiss cousin.