Fair Winds and Following Seas!

 

On January 21, 2022, Spud was promoted to Lieutenant, Junior Grade (LTJG, 02). He had been an Ensign (ENS, 01) for two years. His promotion was right on track.

Old rank of Ensign 

 New rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade

The Colonel, Spud's fiancée and I attended the ceremony which was held aboard Spud's ship, the USS Thomas Hudner (DDG 116) in the wardroom because of inclement weather. 

Ship's crest, photo and rank images from the Internet

Spud gave us a quick lesson on how to board the ship before we stepped onto the gangplank. We had to walk partway up the gangplank, face the U.S. flag on the fantail, pause for a few seconds, continue up the gangplank and ask permission to come aboard before stepping onto the ship. A ship's bell was rung when The Colonel came aboard and his presence was announced over the ship's loudspeaker. He was the highest ranking person on board at the time.

Spud took us to the wardroom and soon after we arrived, it began to fill up with other sailors who wanted to be present for Spud's promotion. There was little room left when Spud's Captain and Executive Officer arrived.

The promotion ceremony was a short one. There was to be another sailor being promoted along with Spud, but she was ill and could not attend. After the ship's captain said a few words, Spud raised his right hand and renewed his oath of office.

The Colonel, Spud's fiancée and I pinned Spud's new rank onto his uniform.

When he had his new rank on, Spud then said a few words to those in the ward room. 

Spud's new rank.

Proud parents and fiancée.

Spud's captain granted him permission to give The Colonel, Spud's fiancée and I a tour of the ship. We climbed up and down narrow, metal stairs and stepped over bulkheads as we toured the ship (sorry, no pics of inside of the ship). Before we toured the ship's deck, Spud had us put his new rank on his jacket. It was still windy and a bit damp out.

After the promotion ceremony, we all headed back to the house so that Spud could change into civilian clothes before we went out for a celebratory lunch (we had the most delicious ramen bowl meal I have ever had...nothing at all like the ramen we all had during our college days). While back at the house, we gave Spud his promotion gift.

The Colonel's dad was in the navy during the Korean War, and when Spud sent us a picture of himself aboard his ship, The Colonel remembered seeing a picture of his dad taken 68 years earlier aboard his ship. The pictures were strikingly similar. That's when The Colonel had the idea to make the gift for Spud. He enlisted Yam's help to "meld" the two pictures together and then had the results printed on canvas. Spud was thrilled with his gift.

Both Spud and his Gpa have their work uniforms on and there is a ship, a destroyer in the background of each picture. Spud's Gpa passed away about a year before Spud entered the navy. He would have been so very happy for and proud of him. He would have loved Spud's gift too.

The Colonel and I were extremely delighted to be able to attend Spud's promotion. Next rank is Lieutenant, those two years will fly by!

Fair Winds and Following Seas to the new Lieutenant, Junior Grade!