On June 24th 2008, The Temecula Valley Young Marines and members of the USS George Washington participated in the Christmas You Missed Event at the Armed Services YMCA. That is where CO Guiles met Master Chief Ford from the USS George Washington. At the event they got to talking about the Young Marines, CO Guiles explained about how much community involvement the Young Marines are involved in, as well as Operation DVD. CO Guiles asked Master Chief Ford if the Young Marines could bring the ship’s crew some DVDs to help start a library. Master Chief Ford told CO Guiles he would talk to his Command Master Chief, Master Chief Clark if the Young Marines could come on board for a tour. A few days went by and sure enough Master Chief Ford said he had it all cleared for the Young Marines who to go onto the USS George Washington and they even had a little surprise for the Young Marines. The date was set for July 8th by CO Guiles and Master Chief Ford. One of our Parent Volunteers Mrs. Simms locked on a fifteen passenger van and a twelve passenger van to take the Young Marines and the DVDs down to San Diego.
At 0800 on the 8th of July the Young Marines that participated in the Christmas You Missed Event were ready to roll down to San Diego for their tour of the USS George Washington. At the units drill on Sunday CO Guiles explained the importance of Community Service and that sometimes their can be a reward for what they do. This was a great surprise for those who volunteered for the Christmas You Missed Event. The CO drove one van with the males while Mrs. Guiles followed in another with all of the females. The vans pulled up to the gate at Naval Air station Coronado and after a brief moment were let in. The vans pulled up to the Kilo pier by the USS George Washington. Master Chief Ford got clearance and the vans pulled in. CO Guiles went one way while Mrs. Guiles went another way. Mrs. Guiles dropped of 5 full Operation DVD Boxes with 1,200 DVDs, 150 CDs and a few books for the ship’s crew and library. Then Mrs. Guiles and the females drove over to where the male Young Marines were formed up. Once we were in place and all formed up Master Chief Ford explained that the USS George Washington was actually stationed in Japan but they recently had a fire onboard that did a great deal of damage and luckily no one was seriously injured 
, 
, 
, 
. After the Master Chief’s introduction of the ship he introduced a couple of his fellow crewmen Petty Officer First Class Fescenmyer and AT1 Sayers 
. These were our escorts throughout the tour of the ship. Before we could proceed any farther Master Chief Ford gave all of the Young Marines, Staff and Volunteers stickers so that they could access the ship 
. With the stickers passed out and on, Young Marine MSgt. Guiles called the unit to attention and they gave a loud motivation check (I believe every Sailor stopped what they were doing at this point to see what was going on). As the Young Marines were marched to the ship everyone would stop and point some clapped or gave thumbs up and others just stared at the Young Marines. As we got to the gang plank we met up with the Junior Sailor of the Year Petty Officer First Class Fyffe who introduced himself and would also be an escort for half of our tour 
, 
. We also met the ships PAO Seaman Pavlovich. He immediately started snapping away with his camera. Before the Young Marines stepped onto the gang plank they were given a brief class on saluting the National Ensign and how to ask permission to board the ship and saluting the Officer of the deck 
, 
. Without faltering the Young Marines did just as they were instructed in no time we were all aboard the ship and ready to take a tour. Our first stop would be the forward galley. Chief Petty Officer Barr who gave the Young Marines a tour of the galley and how things were done to serve 5,000 + Sailors at sea 
, 
, 
,
. The Young Marines were then escorted into the line and were treated to some fine Navy chow 
, 
, 
, 
, 
. Once on the Mess deck we met up with Petty Officer First Class Greene who was with us to help out. The Young Marines were treated like Kings and queens on the mess deck (Mostly due to the high volume of traffic). Once we were done with chow we were led throughout the ship and we popped back up in the hanger bay 1. Master Chief Ford gave us some more great classes and then we were off. We stopped by an amazing mural of George Washington that was painted by the ship’s crew on their off time 
, 
. Then it was over to the quarter deck where we all took some pictures 
, 
, 
, 
, 
. Next, Petty Officer Fyffe led us up to one of many Fire stations and showed us around and explained what the equipment does 
, 
. When Petty Officer Fyffe was finished we followed Master Chief Ford up to the Flight deck 
, 
, 
, 
. The Master Chief went into in-depth detail with the Young Marines and explained the flight deck operations to them. The Master Chief took us to the National Ensign at the aft of the ship where the unit took a picture 
, 
,
. We stopped by a training aircraft for some pictures 
, 
when one of the Force Protection personnel came by the CO asked the Master Chief if the Security Force could have a picture with him and he said no problem we have to make it quick 
(Master Chief Ford even gave the security force a badge like his). The Master Chief said we were going to our final stop which is the Captains Bridge. Before we did we all stopped for a picture under the ships designator “73” 
. Up the ladder wells we went and into the bridge. The Master Chief gave a few short classes 
and the rest were handled by Petty Officer Dugger 
,
,
. We were educated about how the bridge operates and how the ship maneuvers and navigates. The Young Marines were allowed to walk around the bridge for a few pictures 
, 
, 
, 
, 
. Master Chief Ford remembered the CO talking about our units Corpsman. The Master Chief had Petty Officer Fescenmyer take Mr. Smith, YM/1st Sgt. Guiles and YM/LCpl. Masters down to ships hospital to meet the Hospital personnel and get a few pictures 
,
, 
. The rest of us followed Master Chief Ford up to the top level and learned about the signal flags and used the big eyes (Super Binoculars) to view the USS Midway across the bay 
, 
, 
, 
. We followed Master Chief Ford from the O4 level all the way back down to the Hanger Bay 
, 
where we met up with the other Young Marines coming from the Hospital. The end of the day was here and the Young Marines were taken down to the chow hall where they were given Gatorades and then a special treat from the Command Master Chief. Everyone was presented with a ship’s hat 
, 
, 
. An original one-time hat with the USS Washington the American Flag and the Japanese Flag 
. The USS Washington will be the first nuclear powered ship to be allowed in Japan. The Young Marines were not expecting anything like this they thought they were just getting a tour. The time came for us to depart the ship we followed Master Chief Ford up to the hanger deck and with a quick disembarking class everyone asked permission to go ashore, saluted 
, walked to the gang plank, saluted the national ensign 
, and walked down to the pier. The CO had the Young Marines give a loud Ooh Rah!! for the ships crew, Petty Officer Fescenmyer and Seaman Pavlovich. Master Chief Ford walked the Young Marines back to their vehicles and the Young Marines gave the Master Chief a final Oooh-Rah!! Master Chief Ford did tell the CO that the Ships command was worried about having a lot of kids onboard the ship with all of the work going on. But said the Master Chief “I cannot tell you how well behaved and well mannered your Young Marines are”. The CO said thank you and it was indeed a pleasure to have been a guest of the ship. OOH-Rahh!!! Young Marines another exciting adventure for our Young Marines to have enjoyed. Semper Fi and safe travels to the crew of the USS George Washington. Thank you for the best tour that we have had yet of any Naval Vessel.
There are more pictures on the units photo page of this great adventure
