ABOARD THE USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN — Many sailors aboard this massive warship found themselves with extra work because of President Bush’s two-day visit, but the excitement of the visit erased any thought of complaining.
On Thursday, Airman Ronald Fawson’s imposing bulk blocked a door posted with a white sign reading: "Area Secured: Presidential Access Only."
Fawson normally works as a bomb builder on the Everett-based carrier.
The experience left him "stoked," Fawson said. "It’s just knowing that someone of his stature in on board the ship," he said.
Bush wasn’t the only big name on board. A few minutes before he arrived, national security adviser Condoleezza Rice and White House press secretary Ari Fleischer passed Fawson.
Rice stopped next to the North Ogden, Utah, native to tell bystanders about her trap landing aboard an S-3B Viking. Wearing a Lincoln flight jacket with her name and title stitched on the front, she said it was her best landing of the two traps she has made.
Fawson stood by wearing the stoic expression of someone serious about security.
A few minutes later, he smiled when he reflected on the presidential visit.
Although he hadn’t seen his commander in chief yet, Fawson said he was happy he would be off duty in time to catch the speech.
"This has to be a highlight, although going home after 10 months at sea is also exciting," Fawson said.
Navy photographers aboard the Lincoln were busy shadowing the president and other notables on the White House staff as Bush toured the ship and watched flight operations.
At 2:30 p.m. PST, Navy One — the last aircraft to leave the Lincoln — departed.
It was the same S-3B Viking that had brought Bush to the warship, piloted by Cmdr. John Lussier, executive officer of Sea Control Squadron 35. In the back seat was Lt. Ryan Phillips, a naval flight officer and assistant operations officer for the "Blue Wolves."
The Viking, with a large cartoon of a wolf wearing spurs and a missile in his holster, was freshly painted with the words "George W. Bush, Commander in Chief" under the starboard side window of the anti-submarine fighter.
A loud cheer broke out on the flight deck after the S-3B went "feet wet" over the Pacific Ocean.
Thirty-five aircraft left the Lincoln Thursday, all were heading to Lemoore, Calif.
Four decks below the flight deck, air crews from the departing squadrons were getting ready to step off the ship when it pulls into port today in San Diego. Wooden pallets were stacked high throughout the three hangars; more than 1,200 will be used to pack up computers, tools, small refrigerators and everything else belonging to the departing squadrons.
Even though some sailors were missing most of it, they were still electrified by the visit.
"There were like goose bumps: The president is on the ship," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Seth Hoover, who was packing his personal things into a big brown paper bag.
Hoover, of Madison, Wis., didn’t see the president. But he took time out from helping a shipmate move a guitar amplifier to watch the television coverage of Navy One landing and the president stepping out onto the flight deck to greet sailors.
Standing in Hangar 1, Petty Officer Brad Dark wasn’t complaining. He said Bush’s visit bought them extra time. Usually, the aviation storekeepers from the squadrons have just a day to pack everything up to be moved. The president’s visit gave them almost an extra day.
All told, 31 semitrailer trucks will be needed to move the squadrons’ gear. Four trucks will head to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station to catch up with the four Prowlers from Electronic Attack Squadron 139 that left Tuesday.
"It’s almost like being a roadie for a rock group," Dark said.
One deck below, Petty Officer Dan Mark, a photographer’s mate, was getting ready to put photographs taken of Bush and his White House staff into an 8-by-10 keepsake album for the president. The spiral-bound black book was embossed with a copper-colored rendition of the Lincoln’s penny logo.
No photos had come in yet.
"It’s going to be a long day," Mark said.
Other photographers in the Lincoln’s photo lab would be shooting the president’s visit, he added. But Mark wasn’t worried about missing the show.
"We get CNN, so we’ll watch it like everyone else."
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