NORFOLK, Va.- A 2018 Carmel High School graduate and Carmel, Indiana, native returned home June 16, marking the end of a seven-month deployment aboard USS Harry S. Truman. Since departing its homeport of Norfolk, Virginia in November 2019, the aircraft carrier sailed in the Arabian Gulf, Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Charles E. Conners is a hospital corpsman aboard the carrier. As a hospital corpsman, Conners is responsible for monitoring individuals for occupational radiation exposure with the reactor plant and x-ray machines, and ensuring reactor personnel onboard are medically fit for duty and do not have disqualifying conditions.
“My favorite part of my job is building relationships with the sailors on the ship who come in as patients and being able to provide great service that could potentially make someone’s terrible day just a little bit better,” said Conners. “I love getting patients to laugh and learning about where they came from, and almost get exposed to a totally different culture by just a simple conversation.”
Following a scheduled return from deployment in March, after operating in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations, Truman remained underway in the Western Atlantic as a certified and ready carrier force ready for tasking. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, the Truman continued to conduct operations underway, minimizing the potential spread of the virus aboard the ships, in order to maintain maritime stability and security and ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests.
Truman sailed more than 56,000 nautical miles, deploying dynamically to support dual-carrier operations, air defense exercises, anti-submarine warfare exercises, and interoperability with joint services and with allies and partners. The ship also completed multiple strait and choke point transits, to include the Strait of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal and the Bab-el Mandeb Strait, while operating under three Combatant Commanders – U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), U.S. European Command (EUCOM), and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
“My proudest accomplishment on deployment is assisting in the creation and issuance of anti-COVID policies and procedures that spanned for a total of four months,” said Conners. “This resulted in Harry S. Truman having a total of zero cases of COVID-19 onboard for a crew that amounted to 5,000 plus personnel.”
“My favorite part of my job is building relationships with the sailors on the ship who come in as patients and being able to provide great service that could potentially make someone’s terrible day just a little bit better,” said Conners. “I love getting patients to laugh and learning about where they came from, and almost get exposed to a totally different culture by just a simple conversation.”
Following a scheduled return from deployment in March, after operating in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operations, Truman remained underway in the Western Atlantic as a certified and ready carrier force ready for tasking. As the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the globe, the Truman continued to conduct operations underway, minimizing the potential spread of the virus aboard the ships, in order to maintain maritime stability and security and ensure access, deter aggression and defend U.S., allied and partner interests.
Truman sailed more than 56,000 nautical miles, deploying dynamically to support dual-carrier operations, air defense exercises, anti-submarine warfare exercises, and interoperability with joint services and with allies and partners. The ship also completed multiple strait and choke point transits, to include the Strait of Gibraltar, the Suez Canal and the Bab-el Mandeb Strait, while operating under three Combatant Commanders – U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), U.S. European Command (EUCOM), and U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
“My proudest accomplishment on deployment is assisting in the creation and issuance of anti-COVID policies and procedures that spanned for a total of four months,” said Conners. “This resulted in Harry S. Truman having a total of zero cases of COVID-19 onboard for a crew that amounted to 5,000 plus personnel.”
Truman demonstrated the Navy's continuing regional commitment to EUCOM and CENTCOM areas of responsibility by hosting 80 embarked guests, including political and military leaders from eight ally and partner nations. These embarks directly supported U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet theater security objectives and greatly enhanced U.S. relationships and partnerships with multiple NATO ally and partner nations and Gulf Cooperation Council members.
“I’m so very proud of all our sailors!” said Capt. Kavon Hakimzadeh, commanding officer of Truman, “Their resilience, perseverance, and utter dedication to mission has been nothing short of exemplary. It has been my greatest honor to serve as Truman’s commanding officer this deployment!”
According to Navy officials, maintaining maritime superiority is a vital part of a Navy that is present today and prepared for tomorrow. The impact affects Americans and their interests around the world, as more than 70 percent of the Earth is covered by water and 90 percent of all trade travels by sea.
The foundation of the Navy the nation needs includes a focus on warfighting, warfighters and the future of the fighting force.
Sailors’ jobs are highly varied aboard Truman. More than 6,000 men and women serve aboard the ship during deployment keeping all parts of the ship running smoothly. Each crewmember performs a number of tasks outside of their traditional job or rating.
“I ensure all 3,000 plus personnel on this ship are medically qualified to deploy and are up to date on immunizations, blood draws and physicals,” said Conners. “I also respond to medical emergencies that occur onboard, and I’m responsible for knowing proper decontamination and first aid procedures in the reactor spaces if anyone should become contaminated or injured.”
Throughout the deployment, Truman performed numerous training exercises to develop tactical competencies. From carrier strike force operations as the flagship of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, to exercises with partner navies and forces, the ship developed key skillsets to maintain readiness and interoperability. While conducting stability operations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, the strike group was called upon during an international crisis to assert American commitment to the region and act as a primary de-escalatory catalyst.
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Conners, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Conners is honored to carry on the family tradition.
“On my mother’s side, my great-grandfather was the commanding officer of an LST, a tank landing ship, during WWII and my grandfather was a colonel in the Army Reserves,” said Conners.
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Conners, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of a service tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance. Their efforts will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations of sailors who will follow.
“I joined the Navy to get real word experience in health care and to be exposed to things and places I wouldn’t be able to have if I had immediately went to college,” added Conners. “I credit my high school, Carmel High School, and the career center I went to my senior year, J. Everett Light Career Center, in providing strong figures who encouraged and inspired me to pursue the Navy, even though joining was literally a last minute decision. They also inspired patriotism in me and to be proud to serve my country and give back to a country that has privileged me with so much already.”
“I’m so very proud of all our sailors!” said Capt. Kavon Hakimzadeh, commanding officer of Truman, “Their resilience, perseverance, and utter dedication to mission has been nothing short of exemplary. It has been my greatest honor to serve as Truman’s commanding officer this deployment!”
According to Navy officials, maintaining maritime superiority is a vital part of a Navy that is present today and prepared for tomorrow. The impact affects Americans and their interests around the world, as more than 70 percent of the Earth is covered by water and 90 percent of all trade travels by sea.
The foundation of the Navy the nation needs includes a focus on warfighting, warfighters and the future of the fighting force.
Sailors’ jobs are highly varied aboard Truman. More than 6,000 men and women serve aboard the ship during deployment keeping all parts of the ship running smoothly. Each crewmember performs a number of tasks outside of their traditional job or rating.
“I ensure all 3,000 plus personnel on this ship are medically qualified to deploy and are up to date on immunizations, blood draws and physicals,” said Conners. “I also respond to medical emergencies that occur onboard, and I’m responsible for knowing proper decontamination and first aid procedures in the reactor spaces if anyone should become contaminated or injured.”
Throughout the deployment, Truman performed numerous training exercises to develop tactical competencies. From carrier strike force operations as the flagship of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, to exercises with partner navies and forces, the ship developed key skillsets to maintain readiness and interoperability. While conducting stability operations in the CENTCOM area of responsibility, the strike group was called upon during an international crisis to assert American commitment to the region and act as a primary de-escalatory catalyst.
Serving in the Navy is a continuing tradition of military service for Conners, who has military ties with family members who have previously served. Conners is honored to carry on the family tradition.
“On my mother’s side, my great-grandfather was the commanding officer of an LST, a tank landing ship, during WWII and my grandfather was a colonel in the Army Reserves,” said Conners.
As a member of the U.S. Navy, Conners, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of a service tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance. Their efforts will have a lasting effect around the globe and for generations of sailors who will follow.
“I joined the Navy to get real word experience in health care and to be exposed to things and places I wouldn’t be able to have if I had immediately went to college,” added Conners. “I credit my high school, Carmel High School, and the career center I went to my senior year, J. Everett Light Career Center, in providing strong figures who encouraged and inspired me to pursue the Navy, even though joining was literally a last minute decision. They also inspired patriotism in me and to be proud to serve my country and give back to a country that has privileged me with so much already.”