Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

What can I say, I am a pretty funny guy.
Shisha (or hookah as it is called in the States) is a Middle East trademark and widely available. It is a flavored tobacco that has been smoked for centuries. You would probably recognize it as the stuff the caterpillar was blowing rings with in Alice in Wonderland.

Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, is not quite as sprawling and modern as Dubai but it was still an amazing place. They are also building an indoor snowboarding venue. There is always a brown haze in the air in the Middle East - a combination of heat and sand. There is very little pollution though. The UAE requires citizens to purchase new vehicles every few years (subsidized). It is also against the law to drive around in a dirty car, you never see them.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Dhows are everywhere in this area, much like they have been for hundreds of years.
The royal family has massive paintings and murals of themselves posted throughout the city. Many, like this one, take up the entire sides of buildings. Some stand alone and are over 10 stories high.
The skyline. That is the world's tallest building jutting up there on the left. The Burj Dubai is still under construction and now stands at 1792 feet (the final height is a tightly held secret).

http://www.burjdubai.com/

Dubai is an amazing city, absolutely mind-blowing. Last year they had 30 percent of the world's construction cranes in that city alone. There are literally buildings and raods being built in all directions. It is clean, modern and growing at an amazing clip. The heat is pretty steep though. We hit the record for deployment - 133 degrees - there. Dubai has the world's tallest building (as of August) and the world's only 7-star hotel. They also built this massive building where they created a mountain and snow. It was quite a site to walk in from 130 plus temps to see people bundled up in coats, snowboarding. Thats Dubai.

Deployment 2007

We left for our 7-month deployment last week. We aren't supposed to talk about where we are or where we are going; especially on a publicly-viewed web site like this one... but suffice to say, its gonna be hot where we are going. You can email me by clicking on the link in my profile. We also get mail out to sea, the address is on the ship's web site (www.o-kane.navy.mil). I can't put up any pictures while we are underway because we have such limited bandwith, but I should be able to write periodic updates. Well, here's to hoping 7 months goes by quicker than normal.

Missile Fire

I was able to get some shots from RimPac '06 (July). Another ship took these pictures of us shooting two SM-2. The Standard Missile is our primary air intercept weapon. The Naval Station on Kuauai shot two drones at us. We tracked them and launched two missiles to intercept and destroy them. One missile actually made skin-to-skin contact, a rarity. Generally they explode in the near vicinity of the target, either destroying it or severely diabling it.

Missile Fire 2

On its way to the big boom.

Speed at Sea

We had a drag race on our way back to Hawaii from San Diego. Its not very often we get to go flank speed, which is 30+ knots (35 mph) for a destroyer. DDGs are capable of producing 100,000 shaft horsepower. Its good times and we kick up a big 'rooster tail' at the tail end of the ship. We ended up winning, mostly because we kept going after the other ships had some engineering casualties. nice little wake.
lining up
It is hard to tell here, but the props kick up water 20+ feet into the air. That rooster tail was taller than me stading on the deck. For those interested, here is a page detailing the specs of the USS Hopper. It is the same class ship as the O'Kane.

http://www.hopper.navy.mil/specs/configuration.htm

Halloween and beyond

Nacho Libre x 2
We went hiking a few days later.
A postal worker and an injun with a blade she probably shouldn't be caring around.
Halloween in Honolulu is a big event, people pack the streets. You see some crazy costumes.

Pulling in...

The morning we pulled in from our 6-week underway.
The island in the early morning mist.
The fantail.
A few sonar techs, all smiles before a few well-deserved days off.

Exercise Torpedo Recovery

We shot a dud torpedo during one of our exercises. I was actually the operator that fired it. We get excited by stuff pretty easily. We then had to retrieve and stow the torpedo.
Cleaning and stowing.
A funny shot I threw in. Me taking a cat nap during a general quarters drill, don't tell on me.
A few of us in front of the torpedo launhcers right after we shot.

Exercise Torpedo Recovery

Wrestling with a torpedo is always fun.

Steel Beach Picnic

Steel Beach Picnics happen when we are out to sea for an extended period. We basically bring grills topside and enjoy a lazy afternoon off. There is grub, music and you can wear civilian clothes for a few hours. It is a nice break from drills and exercises.

Its not abnormal for me to have a mouth full of food.

Steel Beach Picnic

Lazy sonar techs...
You never knew that a Vertical Launching System could be used to hold soda and potato salad.
Even the overcooked burgers are great in the middle of the ocean.

San Diego

Together again.
Half the Pile clan, the mentally retarded half...
Military material.
Allie, probably on her cell phone.

San Diego

Mom and Allie

+ Dad
Ben and Audre were trying to get as close to the water as they could...

San Diego

I was able to spend a few hours with family when we pulled into San Diego. Spent the first night at Greg and Kim's house. The crew watching American Idol bloopers, a must see.
Two of my favorite babes - mom and my cousin Melanee.

Last sight of land BBQ

We had a BBQ a day or two before we got underway for COMPTUEX. I'm holding Bobby's little one.

He definitely doesn't lack attention. Stewie having her turn.

A few of the gang.

Out to sea...

It has been a while since I have been able to put up new pictures. We have been off the coast of California participating in an exercise called COMPTUEX. Its been six weeks of non-stop exercises. We are finally on our way back to the island. We have been training with the John C. Stenis strike group, the battle group we will be deploying with in January. I have quite a few good pictures, they should be up when I get back. They let us go without shaving for the last few days underway. Its funny that something so small can make everybody that much happier. Going five days without shaving is almost as good as getting a pay raise.... well, maybe not.

With the completion of COMPTUEX, the JCS strike group (including the O'Kane) is now surge capable. If something of importance occurs in the world, we would be the first strike group deployed (up to 96-hour notice) in the Pacific Fleet.

here are some interesting links:

"Stennis Completes COMPTUEX"
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/news/2003/12/mil-031204-nns04.htm

"Stennis Strike Group Approaches 'Surge Readiness'"
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=26060

"Stennis Strike Group Takes ASW from Classroom to Ocean"
http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=25620

JCS Strike Group Web Site
http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/