By way of introduction, I am Command Chaplain for the USS BLUE RIDGE and Fleet 
Chaplain for Commander SEVENTH Fleet (C7F). The USS BLUE RIDGE (BR) is the 
flagship for Commander SEVENTH Fleet, Vice Admiral Metzger. His area of 
responsibility (AOR) oversees all U.S. Naval vessels and U.S. Naval operations from the 
International Dateline to the east coast of Africa, excluding the Persian Gulf (that is the 
FIFTH Fleet), from the Arctic to the Antarctic. The SEVENTH Fleet covers the largest 
AOR of any fleet, and is the only fleet where the majority of the ships are forward 
deployed in foreign ports. The BR is homeported in Yokosuka, Japan. 

I am chaplain for the 750 personnel that make up the officers and crew of BR and the 250 
personnel that make up the staff of C7F. In addition, I have supervision over the 
chaplains on other vessels in the SEVENTH Fleet and coordinate chaplain coverage for 
all U.S. Naval exercises in the C7F AOR. I have served in this position already for two 
and a half years, and I detach to become the Command Chaplain of Naval Air Station, 
Brunswick, Maine upon completion of this deployment at the end of June 2001. Thus, 
this is my last deployment aboard USS BLUE RIDGE, and it may well be my last 
deployment in the Navy. I have been in the Navy in one form or another since September 
1973, having served as an enlisted active duty Sailor, an enlisted Naval Reserve Sailor, a 
Naval Reserve Chaplain, and since 1987, an active duty U.S. Navy chaplain. During the 
years that I was an enlisted Naval Reserve Sailor, I was completing my college education 
and attending the seminary to prepare myself for a call as a Pastor in The Lutheran 
Church-Missouri Synod.

Preparation for the three-month deployment that we affectionately call Southern Swing 
(so called because we visit countries in the southern part of the C7F AOR) began months 
before getting underway on 20 March 2001. For each deployment, I publish a 
Deployment Handbook. This is a booklet for Sailors and their families to prepare for 
prolonged separations. It includes such topics as: Things to Talk about in Preparation, the 
Family Meeting, Helping Children Cope, Family Information Worksheets, Family 
Assistance and Support Team, Ombudsmen, Careline, Electronic Mail, American Red 
Cross, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Fleet and Family Support Center, Chaplains, 
Emergency Leave, Home Maintenance, Official Legal Documents, Family Finances, 
Automobile Checklist, and Important Telephone Numbers. 

Approximately six weeks before the deployment, two Predeployment Briefs are held, one 
in the evening and one in the morning. As Command Chaplain for both BR and C7F, I 
coordinate these events. All hands are required to attend one of the two Predeployment 
Briefs, and family members are strongly encouraged to attend. During the evening 
Predeployment Brief, we had a separate brief for children ages four to eighteen, and we 
had childcare available for children ages four and under. The Predeployment Briefs 
included presentations from the SEVENTH Fleet Chief of Staff on the deployment 
(where we will go and what we will do), the BLUE RIDGE Commanding Officer, the 
Command Master Chief Petty Officers, the Ombudsmen, and representatives from the 
Legal Office (discussing legal documents like powers of attorney and wills), the 
American Red Cross, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, the Fleet and Family 
Support Center, and the Family Assistance and Support Team. In addition, I discussed the 
Emotional Cycle of Deployment, which includes seven stages that families normally go 
through during prolonged separations. 

My regular duties include conducting Sunday worship services (a Lutheran Service of 
Holy Communion and a General Protestant Service of the Word), counseling, delivering 
emergency Red Cross messages, running the Ship's Library, and provide training on Core 
Values, Suicide Prevention, and Anger and Stress Management. I also have been a 
regular speaker at the Yokosuka Naval Base Area Ombudsman Training and at the 
Department of Defense Schools in the area on such issues as suicide prevention and 
helping families cope with deployments.

The last two Sundays before getting underway for Southern Swing 2001 were especially 
meaningful, because on each of the Lord's Day Services of the Word, I had the privilege 
of administering our Lord's Sacrament of Holy Baptism. Using the Ship's bell from the 
bridge (the pilothouse) as the baptismal font, which is a long-standing naval tradition, 
three children of crewmembers were baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Spirit. At both Sunday services, almost all the members of the parents' 
divisions filled the Library (where we conduct our Sunday worship services), and had the 
opportunity to hear and see God work through Word and Sacrament.

The last week before deployment is always very hectic, particularly for the chaplain. The 
first stage of the Emotional Cycle of Deployment begins about six weeks before getting 
underway. Anxiety starts to build as families work to prepare for the separation. The 
second stage of the Emotional Cycle is the week before getting underway. The tension 
escalates to a climax as families just wish the separation would begin. Couple arguments 
and fights are not uncommon, and marital counseling increases. In addition, others kinds 
of counseling increase as Sailors try to deal with the anxiety of going on a long underway 
period with the possibility of unknown dangers that are inherent with work on ships at 
sea. 

Julie, my wife, and I held a final Chapel Fellowship Party at our home in Yokosuka 
during this final week. Each month while the Ship was in port Yokosuka over the past 
two and a half years, we hosted at our home an evening meal and gathering for all the 
Sailors who attend worship services and Bible studies on board the BLUE RIDGE. Since 
we are leaving Japan upon the Ship's return in June, March was our last Chapel gathering. 
My wife and I were extremely touched by a gift that the Sailors gave us. During our stay 
in Japan, we collected several prints by a Christian Japanese artist named Sadeo 
Watanabe (several of his paintings are hanging in the classrooms at Concordia Seminary, 
St. Louis, MO). Watanabe paints scenes from the Bible in a distinct Japanese style. 
However, we were unable to find a painting of Christ on the cross by Watanabe. 
However, my Sailors did, and presented it to Julie and me at this final gathering in our 
home (there were almost 40 in attendance). Julie was in tears, and I even had one or two 
rolling down my cheek (don't tell anyone).

The final preparations were especially hectic for my family as well. Because of our 
departure from Japan in late June, Julie will make all the preparations for our move and 
supervise the packout of our personal effects from our home in Japan before I return. 
Special powers of attorney had to be arranged, family meetings were held to plan for the 
coming events, and a calendar of events for the next three months was established so that 
Julie will be able to make all the proper arrangements. During my absence, my wife will 
also be the primary parent for our three children (Greta - 17, John - 14, and Nathan - 12) 
as they complete the final quarter of this school year. In addition, Julie teaches English to 
Japanese students at the Japanese National Defense Academy, at a community center in 
Yokohama, and several private students as well. This has given her many wonderful 
opportunities to share the Gospel.

The day of our departure finally came on 20 March, and I joined other officers on the 
bridge of the Ship as we waved good bye to our family members who were standing on 
the pier waving back. It wasn't long after the Ship was at sea that the third stage of the 
Emotional Cycle set in: depression over the loss. This can last for several weeks. 
However, for those of us who have experience with deployments, it only takes a few days 
before we settle into a routine, which is the fourth stage in the cycle.

My routine at sea consists of morning prayer, checking e-mail, attending meetings, 
counseling or visiting throughout the Ship, Daily Devotions (at 1115 each day in the 
Ship's Chapel using "Portals of Prayer" and averaging five Sailors in attendance), 
exercise, working on Bible studies or Sunday's sermon, more counseling, meetings, or 
admin work, and each evening at 2000 (8:00 p.m.) I conduct a Bible study (averaging 8 
to 10 each night). On Sundays I conduct a Lutheran Service of Holy Communion at 0900 
(usually with five to eight in attendance - we use "Lutheran Worship" Divine Service II, 
First Setting and the CD set "Every Voice a Song" from CPH; the hymnals were donated 
by Messiah Lutheran Church, Middletown, Ohio, Pastor Thomas Chopp), and a 
Protestant Service of the Word (usually with 30 to 50 in attendance at sea; in liberty ports 
on Sundays the numbers are usually lower because many Sailors "hit the beach"). 

In my next report I will discuss our first port visit to Shanghai, People's Republic of 
China. Until then, may God bless and keep you in His loving care.

In Christ,

John C. Wohlrabe, Jr. Commander,
Chaplain Corps,
United States Navy