It’s great to be home!

After a very enjoyable Tiger Cruise from Hawaii, John

Paul Jones settled into a 30 day stand down.  The work never really

stops, but we kept things to a minimum as the stand down provided

the only real window of time for us to get some much needed maintenance done by off ship personnel prior to our INSURV in December.  As sailors came back from their two week leave periods, I could see they were able to reconnect with family and friends, and recharge their batteries for the upcoming 6 weeks of hard work, long hours, inspection practice, and of course the inspection itself.

 What is INSURV (Inspection and Surveys)? INSURV is a congressionally mandated inspection that occurs to every ship every 3 to 5 years.  The reasoning behind the inspection is that the tax payers (all of us) deserve to know and be reported on the status of the navy to ensure that the taxes we all pay are being well spent and well preserved.  It is THE most important and difficult inspection sailors will participate in as every inch, piece of machinery and program is inspected by a group of experts.  These groups of experts are Limited Duty Officers, Chief Warrant Officers and contractors (usually ex-LDOs and ex-CWOs).   Because they do these inspections all year round for years, they actually know the DDG class of ship better than anybody.  That is what makes it so tough.

            Though we have added about an hour to the work day, this was not done with out thinking of the big picture.  Thanksgiving will go as planned and the federal holidays will still be honored between now and INSURV.  So ensure your sailor relaxes during those down days as he/she will have greatly deserved it and will need those days to again recharge.

            After INSURV, JPJ will roll into its pre-deployment/Holiday leave period. Another 30 days that will be well deserved for two very big and obvious reasons.  I look forward to meeting many of you at the ship’s holiday party on 29 Nov.  The MWR officer has assured me it will be a memorable evening with even more prizes than last year’s event.  Again, it is great to be home and be sure to let your sailor know how proud you are of them.  They are nothing but extraordinary each and every day and for that I am very, very proud of them. 

Christopher K. Barnes

CDR, USN

Commanding Officer 

CMC’s Corner

Hello JOHN PAUL JONES Family and Friends,

You would think things would slow down some now that we are back from deployment

but it’s been anything but slow.  With POM, CMAV and schools hopefully everyone

did get a chance to relax some.  Wildfires caught everyone off guard but thankful

all JPJ Sailor’s families and friends are all safe! Holiday season is upon us

already, how time flies when you are back home with family and friends.  Have a

Happy Thanksgiving!  If you are traveling during the holidays please be careful and plan ahead.  I’m hoping to see all of you at the JPJ Christmas party 29NOV07, I heard there are a lot more door prizes this year than last year!  I would like to personally recognize some outstanding JPJ Sailors on their recent achievements.  Good job shipmates and keep up the great work!

COMDESRON 23 Bluejacket of the Quarter:  BMSN Pietras

Navy Commendation Medal:

LT Spencer

Navy Achievement Medal:

ET1(SW) Pahl                  SK1(SW) Robinson

CS2 Bernal                    GSM2(SW) Cross

MR2(SW) Gatchalain            PS2(SW) Gonzalez

HT2(SW Goodwin                CS2(SW) Hartley

QM2(SW) Long                  OS2 Libby

STG2(SW) Miller               STG2(SW) Nichols

FC2(SW) Phillips              ET2(SW) Stoudemire

GSM2(SW) Villatorovalides     GSM3(SW) Drummer

CS3(SW) Hemingway             SN Schwartz

Letter of Commendation:

SKSN Atchison                  SN Cagle

BMSN Chapman                  ET3 Garcia

SN Gorospe                    SN Hendrix

BMSN Hernandez                SN Houston

SN Mendiola                   QMSN Powers

Advancement:

FC3 Blake               ET3 Garcia

Announcing new JPJ Baby:

SK1 Robinson’s wife Myriam gave birth to their son Zubair on 10OCT07.

GMSN Wright’s wife Brandi gave birth to their son Connor on 20OCT07

FC1 Cox’s wife Heather gave birth to their son James on 25OCT07.

Very Respectfully,

CMDCM(SW) Karol M. Kramer

OMBUDSMAN’S CORNER

Dear JPJ Families and Friends:

I hope that you have enjoyed some well deserved time off with your sailor.  I know that life

in our house has been quite hectic but enjoyable.  November is a time to remember to be thankful for what we have in our lives, and for those that were affected by the wildfires this holds especially true.  With this in mind, I hope that everyone is safe and healthy. 

The wildfires were a great reminder that we all need to be prepared for natural (and man-made) disasters.  This holds especially true since we have a deployment coming up.  Being prepared includes creating both an emergency plan and a kit.  Some great ideas for how to be prepared for disasters can be found at www.cnrsw.navy.mil/ampmc/ or www.redcross.org under the “Get Prepared” topic on the left hand side of the webpage. 

The holiday season, for many people, is a boisterous time of year filled with decorations, parties, and meals galore.  While we all love the festivities that we share with friends and family, please remember to keep safe. Remembering to follow basic safety rules will help keep the enjoyment of the season.  Safety tips such as not overloading electrical outlets, maintaining food safety, making sure your fireplace is clean and prepared for use, and not drinking and driving can really help keep your holiday season safe and the merry times going.

The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone.  Remembering that you have successfully completed one deployment will help deal with the anticipation of the next deployment and the holiday season.    Everyone has different thresholds for stress and handles it in different ways.  Some of the best tips I have heard for dealing with stress were to find ways to have fun, get plenty of rest and exercise, prioritize, stay within your means when shopping, and be realistic about what can/will happen.    No matter how you deal with your stress over this holiday season, if you feel overwhelmed please make sure you ask for help.

I hope that everyone has a safe and happy month. 

Heather Cox

Command Ombudsman

Holiday Season Safety

The National Safety Council offers these suggestions to help make your holiday season merry and safe.

Decorations

Wear gloves while decorating with spun glass "angel hair." It can irritate your eyes and skin. A common substitute is non-flammable cotton. Both angel hair and cotton snow are flame retardant when used alone. However, if artificial snow is sprayed onto them, the dried combination will burn rapidly. When spraying artificial snow on windows or other surfaces, be sure to follow directions carefully. These sprays can irritate your lungs if you inhale them.

Fireplaces

You should not try to burn evergreens or wreaths in the fireplace or in a wood stove to dispose of them. They are likely to flare out of control and send flames and smoke into the room. Also, do not burn wrapping paper in the fireplace because it often contains metallic materials which can be toxic if burned.

Candles

Never use lighted candles near trees, boughs, curtains/drapes, or with any potentially flammable item.

Toys and Gifts

Be especially careful when you choose toys for infants or small children. Be sure anything you give them is too big to get caught in the throat, nose or ears. Avoid toys with small parts that can be pulled or broken off. If you are giving toys to several children in one family, consider their age differences and the chances that younger children will want to play with older kids' toys.

Older adults

Select gifts for older adults that are not heavy or awkward to handle. For persons with arthritis, make sure the gift does not require assembly and can be easily opened and closed. Choose books with large type for anyone with vision impairment.

Plants

Small children may think that holiday plants look good enough to eat. But many plants can cause severe stomach problems. Plants to watch out for include: mistletoe, holly berries, Jerusalem cherry, and amaryllis. Keep all of these plants out of children's reach.

Food and Cooking

The holidays often mean preparing large meals for family and friends. Wash hands, utensils, sink, and anything else that has come in contact with raw poultry. Keep in mind that a stuffed bird takes longer to cook. For questions concerning holiday turkey preparation and cooking call the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-800-535-4555. Refrigerate or freeze leftovers in covered shallow containers (less than two inches deep) within two hours after cooking. Date the leftovers for future use.

Alcohol, Parties and Driving

Being a smart party host or guest should include being sensible about alcoholic drinks. More than half of all traffic fatalities are alcohol-related. Use designated drivers, people who do not drink, to drive other guests home after a holiday party.

Stress

The holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year. You can't avoid stress completely, but you can give yourself some relief. Allow enough time to shop rather than hurry through stores and parking lots. Only plan to do a reasonable number of errands. When shopping, make several trips out to the car to drop off packages rather than trying to carry too many items. Take time out for yourself. Relax, read, or enjoy your favorite hobby at your own pace.

Permission to reprint granted by the National Safety Council, a membership organization dedicated to protecting life and promoting health.                              Source:  "Holiday Safety Tips."  National Safety Council.  31 October 2007.   < http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/holseasn.htm>.       

Family Support Group News

Dear JPJ Families and Friends,

I hope this newsletter finds you all well rested and having spent quality time with your sailors. I also hope that you are all safe after the wild fires devastated San Diego County. We will be announcing the new day and time shortly.  Thank you to all of you who took the time to vote. I will be securing a location for this meeting and future meetings this week.

With such a quick turn-around for the ship we will be planning a lot of activities for the coming months so I hope you will join us at the meeting and maybe even sign up for a committee or two. We have a lot of funds left from the shoebox auction so we will be able to plan more activities for the upcoming deployment. We of course will also be discussing future fund raising activities too so that we can keep the fun coming.

Hope you all have a great month!

Julie Gushlaw, JPJ FSG President

Fsg_53@yahoo.com

Navy Trivia:

What term is used to refer to the Chief’s Mess?

                                    A. The Galley

                                    B. The Forbidden Territory

                                    C. The Goat locker

                                    D. The Head

Save the Dates!

November is National Diabetes Month : American Diabetes Association calls for greater awareness to the 75 million Americans who have diabetes or are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes

What

Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and around the world. One in four Americans has diabetes or is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. Every week during American Diabetes Month this November, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) will highlight these “Many Faces of Diabetes.”

• Caregivers (November 1-3) Supporting a loved one with diabetes can present its own unique challenges.
• Employees (November 4-10) Promoting healthy lifestyles in the workplace can help to prevent type 2 diabetes and its complications, saving companies thousands of dollars a year.
• Diabetes around the world (November 11-17) Worldwide over 246 million people have diabetes. By 2020, that number is expected to rise to 380 million.
• At-risk populations (November 18-24) One in two minorities born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime if current trends continue.
• Youth and Type 1 Diabetes (November 25-30) Youth diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have the most urgent need for care. The new ADA Planet D campaign will provide resources and networking to those youth and their families.

In addition, the ADA will recognize the “Many Faces of Diabetes” worldwide on World Diabetes Day:

• World Diabetes Day - The ADA is a proud supporter of the United Nations (UN) Resolution on Diabetes, which was driven by the International Diabetes Federation. The Resolution invites supporters to fight the diabetes epidemic through public awareness and the development of policies for the prevention, treatment, and care of the disease. The UN issued World Diabetes Day for November 14. Contact ADA to speak with an expert about the global diabetes epidemic, particularly as it relates to the growing prevalence in the U.S.

Who

ADA is the leading non-profit health organization dedicated to preventing and curing diabetes and to improving the lives of the nearly 21 million children and adults currently living with the disease.

When

November 2007

Why

Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death by disease and currently has no cure. Greater awareness can prevent development of type 2 diabetes and diabetes complications.

Source:  " November is American Diabetes Month."  American Diabetes Association.  31 October  2007.           < http://www.diabetes.org/pr-american-diabetes-month-alert-092607.jsp>.    

Navy Trivia Answer: C

GOAT LOCKER - Entertainment on liberty took many forms, mostly depending on the coast and opportunity. One incident which became tradition was at a Navy-Army football game. In early sailing years, livestock would travel on ships, providing the crew fresh milk, meats, and eggs, as well as serving as ships' mascots. One pet, a goat named El Cid (meaning Chief) was the mascot aboard the USS New York. When its crew attended the fourth Navy-Army football game in 1893, they took El Cid to the game, which resulted in the West Pointers losing. El Cid (The Chief) was offered shore duty at Annapolis and became the Navy's mascot. This is believed to be the source of the old Navy term, "Goat Locker."

Source:  Smith Sr., Daniel. "Navy Historical Facts and Trivia."  State Guard Association of the United States.  4 September 2007.     <http://www.sgaus.org/hist_fac.htm >.       

TOP TEN SAFE TURKEY TIPS

SEPARATE FOODS - Don’t cross-contaminate

1. When you shop, keep the turkey away from other foods in your shopping cart.

2. Place the turkey below other foods in your refrigerator in order to prevent other foods from becoming contaminated with juices from the turkey.

3. Use a separate cutting boards for cooked foods and raw foods.

4. Never put the cooked turkey on the unwashed plate that previously held the uncooked turkey.

CLEAN your hands and food surfaces often.

1. Wash your hands with hot soapy water before you touch the turkey and after you use the bathroom, change diapers, and play with pets.

2. Wash all cutting boards, dishes, kitchen tools and counter tops with hot soapy water after you finish fixing the turkey.

COOK foods to safe temperatures.

1. Cook the turkey thoroughly. Use a food thermometer to check for doneness.

2. Cook whole turkey unstuffed (or dark meat only) to 180°F

3. Cook a turkey breast to 170°F

CHILL foods promptly.

1. It is best to thaw the turkey in the refrigerator, NOT at room temperature.

Thaw a whole turkey in the refrigerator.

8 to 12 pounds	1 to 2 days
12 to 16 pounds	2 to 3 days
16 to 20 pounds	3 to 4 days
20 to 24 pounds	4 to 5 days

In a pinch you can also thaw the turkey in cold water. Cook the thawed turkey immediately.

• Put prepared foods and leftover turkey in the refrigerator within two hours.

• Split large amounts of leftovers into small bowls and cool them in the refrigerator.

Source:  " TOP TEN SAFE TURKEY TIPS."  City of Newton’s Health and Human Services Department.  31 October 2007.

< http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/Health/turkey_safe.pdf >.       

CONTACT YOUR SAILOR:

Sailors love snail mail!  Although we have the convenience of email, don’t forget to send letters and packages to your loved one at sea!  Send mail to:

Service Member’s Name

USS JOHN PAUL JONES (DDG-53)

FPO AP 96669-1271

Remember…sailors love snail mail!

November 2007