The September 11th attack
Pearl sailors head into harm's way

After saying goodbye at dockside, Jenny Gausch and her children, from left, Janielle, Jeanine and Jordie watch the Port Royal heading to sea. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

By Will Hoover
Advertiser Staff Writer

A half-hour before the USS Port Royal got under way yesterday, gas turbine mechanic second class Robert Gear staged a "sneak attack" by dashing up from the engine room, down the brow and out to the pier for a rapid-fire family embrace.

Jim Reyes kisses wife Ava goodbye. Reyes is a member of the USS Port Royal crew, which left Hawai'i yesterday. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

"They fired the engines, and he sneaked off to come out here. We hung around hoping he'd get one chance to come off the boat. A quick kiss and a hug and last goodbyes, and that was it.

"This has been tough on us. I know he'll be safe, but in the back of your mind you have fear."

It was one of those moments when the burden of military sacrifice becomes poignantly and painfully evident.

Yesterday, five days before Thanksgiving, the Port Royal left its home base at Pearl Harbor to join the USS John C. Stennis aircraft carrier battle group in support of the military mission in Afghanistan.

For 410 men and women aboard, it means they won't be spending Christmas with their families.

Patricia Gear said that in addition to missing Thanksgiving and Christmas, her husband would be separated from his family for four of six family birthdays — hers, two of their four children's, and his own.

She said the Port Royal had been scheduled for deployment in January, but after Sept. 11 she suspected things would change. So, she wasn't surprised when word came a month ago that the Port Royal would leave two months early.

The scene at Bravo Pier was similar to other ship deployments, except that the veil of military secrecy since the Sept. 11 attacks had been lifted enough for the news media to be there as couples and families said their goodbyes.

Also different was the knowledge that this time the Port Royal would be going into harm's way.

Robert Gear gave his wife, Trish, a smooch, and Nicholas Barnett, Paige Gear, Caitlin Gear and Ryan Barnett squeezed in, as the USS Port Royal prepared to sail in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

He said the ship's mission is to "escort and protect the carrier, and to provide strike capabilities for the battle group."

There were tears, smiles, flags, streamers, songs, 10,000 orchids, lots of old-fashioned patriotism, and even 101 red, white and blue Rainbow Pigeons circling overhead. The mood was appropriately festive. But it was clear to most present that the world is a different place than it was a little more than two months ago.

Fire controlman third class Michael Hernandez and his wife, Tricia, had been through deployment goodbyes before, but this one had special significance.

"With everything that's going on in the world, this deployment is different," said Hernandez. "We have a mission this time, rather than going out there and trying to keep peace."

In addition to his wife, the sailor was saying so long to his sister, Liz Alvarez; his 1-year-old boxer, Koa; and his 3-year-old Jack Russell terrier, Kela. Both dogs were smartly clad in American flag T-shirts.

"We had an early Thanksgiving last weekend," said Tricia Hernandez. "This is hard, but I have my best friend, Liz, here so hopefully things won't be too bad."

Stacy Minster, 20, and electronic technician third class Antonio Munoz hugged long and spoke little. The young lovers have known each other nine months.

"I'm still in denial," Minster finally admitted. "He's not going. I'm hoping something will happen in the next hour and they won't go."

But go they did.

The Aloha Tower Entertainers supplied song and hula. Capt. Mark "Buz" Buzby, commander of Pearl Harbor Destroyer Squadron 31, took the microphone at one point to offer a few words of encouragement to those aboard the Port Royal. Buzby got a cheer from sailors and family alike when he ended with: "Take the fight to the enemy and make them wish they hadn't done what they did on Sept. 11."

At 10 a.m. Chris Vance, 17, hunkered down by himself several yards away from the rest of the crowd and watched the Port Royal head for the open sea as those on the pier sang "Aloha 'Oe." Sailors manned the rail as it got under way.

"My dad's on there," he said. "He's the chaplain, Robert Vance. They call him 'Chaps.' We hugged before he left. He told me to take care of my mom."

Vance watched the ship sail out of sight.

"I'm not that worried," he said. "I have confidence."