I was watching Carrier last night and remembering back to August 2001: The Nimitz was the first ship my son, Petty Officer Second Class Frank Arndt, was assigned to. At that time, the Nimitz was in the Newport News shipyard going through her midlife overhaul.

Father and son on Friends and Family Day aboard the USS Nimitz.

By 2001, the Nimitz had been doing sea trials, and on August 11 she hosted a Friends and Family Day, which is when the sailors can invite a few people to come aboard the ship. Less than a week after we were on the Nimitz, my husband had an accident that put him in the hospital for five months, and within a year he was dead — so that day has special meaning for us. It was the last time the three of us really did something together.

We had to be at the dock so early in the morning it was still dark, and I remember standing there in awe at the size of this ship. There were thousands of family members filling the hanger deck. We went about 30 miles out into the Atlantic, and in the afternoon a couple of planes came out and did a little air show for us.

Those of us who wanted to see the planes went up to the flight deck and lined up along one side by the bridge while the planes landed and took off from the other side. Even with the little yellow ear plugs they gave us the noise was still unbelievable. To show us what would happen if the hook on the back of the plane didn’t catch the cable, one of the jets came in, just skimmed the deck then took back off again. It was one of the most awesome experiences of my life. My son took us on a tour of the ship. Many of the places I saw on the show last night looked familiar. My son tells me he’s going to buy the “Carrier” DVD set.

Petty Officer Frank Arndt is sworn in at Bethesda Naval Hospital, Md., for his third tour.

My son is now one of the crew of the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), the last of the Nimitz class carriers being built. I’m now making plans to be one of his guests at the commissioning ceremony next January when the Newport News shipbuilders officially turn the ‘Bush’ over to the Navy. I can’t wait!

Florence Arndt
CSC Financial Analyst
Shaker Heights, Ohio