Mustafa Hafezzada
Anchors Aweigh My First Class Petty Officer told me that she was getting her Chief anchors in a week. She told me she would get her anchors on the USS Iowa and to make sure I would be there. Of course in support of my Chief I went, but I was even more excited about having a good reason to come aboard the USS Iowa.
The morning of the ceremony had been blisteringly hot. I began sweating first from seeing all the officers and chiefs and the heat only made me sweat even harder! While waiting for the ceremony to begin I came to realize the difficulties it must have been to be working on the Iowa. This is from the heat you feel being on the stern of the ship without any shade or any way to cover yourself from the sun. As the USS Iowa traveled to Korea and felt the intense heat of the Korean summers I could only imagine the hardships the sailor must have felt.
The ceremony began and all the newly appointed Chiefs received their anchors. I felt a renewed sense of pride in the Navy as the Chiefs sang “Anchors Aweigh”. The song resonated deeply with me because I had sang that song every day in basic training and did not realize the significance until I heard the new Chiefs pridefully sing. I did not remember how hard it was to continually be away from family and friends. These Chiefs have done that and they will continue to do …show more content…
I pretend to be one of the people with the group in order to listen to what the guide is saying. I quickly notice that this is a tour for visitors from other countries. As I listen to the tour guide I realize that he does not specialize in the USS Iowa nor has he served in the Navy. He begins talking about how the officers do not do anything and the enlisted people talk to each to each other only to joke around. I decide that I am not going to listen to him and just converse with the very diverse crowd that I am