Defending Freedom

By Robert S. Carlisle

Defending Freedom chronicles Ensign Tom Grahams journey of faith as he encounters various trials following his graduation from the Naval Academy and reporting to his first ship, the USS Russell, an Aegis destroyer based in Pearl Harbor Hawaii. And Paul, a naval aviator, shows Tom through his lifes example what it means to discover freedom from sin through a life centered on Jesus Christ. Two women enter Toms life and show him the true meaning of love: Elle, his girlfriend whom he meets during his initial training in Newport Rhode Island, and Terri, his best friend Pauls fiance.

Written for his teenage sons by a retired Navy Commander and 88 graduate of the Naval Academy, author Robert Carlisles first novel takes you on a journey around the world following the events of 9/11. Defending Freedom sheds light on the hardships of life in the Navy during this difficult time in our nations history. But it also contains a message of hope to those suffering through lifes difficult circumstances and a treatise on why Christians should always be ready to defend the freedom found in Christ.

Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2)

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Nov 7, 2013
• ISBN: 9781490812991

Robert S. Carlisle

Robert Carlisle is a retired naval officer and '88 graduate of the United States Naval Academy who served over 20 years in the Navy both on active duty and in the reserves. Over the course of his career, he served as a surface warfare officer on several ships including two nuclear engineering tours onboard the USS ENTERPRISE and the USS NIMITZ. He has traveled around the world and lived in Italy and Spain after being recalled to active duty from the reserves to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. He now works as a defense contractor in the Washington Navy Yard and is a survivor of the shooting tragedy that occurred in Building 197 on September 16, 2013. Mr. Carlisle met Kim, his wife of over 23 years, during his initial nuclear power training tour in Idaho Falls Idaho. Because of their commitment to God and to each other, their marriage has survived through years of separation and numerous moves to bases all over the US including Hawaii. They have three teenage sons and currently reside in Damascus Maryland.

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Copyright © 2013 ROBERT S. CARLISLE.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-1300-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-1299-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013918912

WestBow Press rev. date: 11/01/2013

Contents

Chapter 1-   Graduation

Chapter 2-   Rocky Mountains, Roads, and Rivers

Chapter 3-   New Beginnings

Chapter 4-   Living the Dream

Chapter 5-   Trial by Fire (and Family)

Chapter 6-   Needs of the Navy

Chapter 7-   Splice the Main Brace

Chapter 8-   Red Sky in the Morn

Chapter 9-   A Gathering Storm

Chapter 10-   Calm in the Eye of the Storm

Chapter 11-   Cyclone Tracy

Chapter 12-   On Angels’ Wings

Chapter 13-   Calming the Storm

Chapter 14-   A New Dawn

Notes about this book

About the author

Dedication

To my sons Nathan, Joel, and Kyle. Consider this story the best fatherly advice that I could ever give you.

CHAPTER 1

Graduation

Tom could feel a trickle of sweat run down his back as he stood rigidly still in the sweltering heat. Although it was only the end of May, summer weather had come early to Maryland. The heat and humidity had already claimed a few victims. However, this wasn’t the scene of a military battlefield, but Worden Field, the hallowed parade ground of the United States Naval Academy. Scattered here and there across this field were several midshipmen who passed out from having committed the sin of locking their knees while standing at attention during the Color Parade, the last formal parade of the year prior to graduation. Midshipman First Class Tom Graham, soon to be Ensign Graham, was presiding in front of his men as the 20th Company Commander, a position he literally wore on his sleeve since his rank was denoted by three slim gold stripes that adorned his parade uniform. His rank and position meant he did pretty well for himself during his tenure at the Academy. Six feet tall with pleasing good looks, steely blue eyes and light brown hair, success always seemed to come easily to him. However, those who knew him well also thought that he could have achieved much more if he only worked a little bit harder.

His eyes quickly swept the bleachers and reviewing stand while he waited patiently for his cue to order his company to march forward. He had no idea where his parents might be, but he did know that they wouldn’t be together. They had divorced years ago, just prior to his entering high school. He and his mother lived comfortably enough during his high school years near Washington D.C. in affluent Montgomery County Maryland. His dad was now living in California in Silicon Valley with his new blonde bride who was half his age. He painfully reflected on the time when he left eight years ago. Robert Graham had made his fortune in one of the many technology firms that lined the I-270 corridor northwest of Washington D.C. However, he wanted to be his own boss and managed to get the backing of a venture capitalist to start his own company in Silicon Valley. Tom’s mom Wendy had no intention of leaving her high power career as a K Street lobbyist so the two decided to go their separate ways. What hurt Tom the most was that he was never part of the equation when deciding the fate of their marriage.

As Tom’s eyes swept the crowd, they met those of Joe Wiseman, who was looking for his son and Tom’s best friend Paul. Paul was standing just behind Tom, towering over him with his six foot three frame. Paul was the ying to Tom’s yang. He possessed his father’s meekness, Joe being a pastor of a small church in Kalispell, Montana. Paul always reminded Tom of a bridled horse, strong and full of energy, but kept under rein and channeled for a particular purpose. As tall and rugged as the mountains of Montana, Paul had a quality about him that Tom always envied despite his own success and popularity. He seemed to accept all whom he met at face value, never judging but always seeking to know each person for who they were and valuing the best qualities about them.

Four years earlier, the two had hit it off the moment they met each other. Tom remembered the day as if it were yesterday. During plebe summer they lived on the same floor of Bancroft Hall, the home of the Brigade of Midshipman. Being the largest dormitory in the United States, this imposing and grandiose granite building made up of eight connected wings is more affectionately known as Mother B. Plebe summer consisted of six weeks of mental and physical anguish prior to the start of the academic year. Mornings began with two hours of physical fitness training before breakfast. During the day in the hot and humid Maryland summer, the plebes were ushered from one end of the ‘Yard’ to the other, learning close order drill, basic seamanship, and about what life was like in the Navy. Presided over by the senior class, otherwise known as the Firsties, the plebes were also subject to several traditional rituals. One of these rituals was the chow call which is performed prior to any meal. Plebes stood at attention in designated areas of the hallway in Mother B and, at ten and five minutes prior to assembling in formation to march into King Hall, the mids’ mess hall, they would shout at the top of their lungs all the information an upper classmen would need to know such as the uniform for formation, the menu of the upcoming meal, and the duty officers of the day, ending with the warning, Time, tide and formation wait for no man!

Tom was racing to reach his spot in the hallway at twelve minutes before noon when he heard from behind him the dreaded words, Plebe, halt! He quickly did an about face and looked upon the sneering face of his squad leader. Let’s have a contest between you and Midshipman Wiseman from 11th Company, Graham. Hey, Wiseman, come here! Paul dutifully came running up from the end of the hallway. You two face each other and whoever finishes last will be giving chow calls in front of my room ’till the end of the summer, understand?

Yes sir! the plebes acknowledged together.

When they heard the clock tick to ten minutes before noon, they both started yelling at the top of their lungs, Sir, you now have 10 minutes for noon meal formation… Maybe it was having to stare at a freshly shaven head, a plebe’s standard haircut given to them during Induction Day, or the fact that they couldn’t help spitting into each other’s faces, but the result was the same for each of them. They both burst out laughing and couldn’t finish the chow call if their lives depended on it. For the rest of the summer, they gave chow calls in front of Tom’s squad leader’s door. Nothing helps build a stronger bond than adversity, and since they both faced the same threat every day, three times a day, they naturally formed a friendship that lasted throughout their four years together.

Providence smiled on this friendship as well, since following their plebe year, they were placed in the same company. This allowed them to be roommates, and there was hardly a weekend when the two wouldn’t be out together. However, this relationship also seemed to defy logic since Tom was known to enjoy all that the world had to offer, while Paul was known as the dutiful pastor’s son. Their classmates used to joke about Paul being Tom’s guardian angel. On more than one occasion, Paul would miraculously save his friend from some idiotic stunt he would try to pull in a drunken stupor and get him tucked in safely back in the bowels of Mother B. However, Tom rewarded his friend by helping him academically and due to his tutoring, Paul was able to graduate high enough in his class standing to fulfill his dream of becoming a naval aviator.

Tom’s goal was to be a surface warfare officer, or in other words, a ship driver. This decision was driven by his adventures onboard a ship the previous summer. Prior to their senior year, each midshipman is given the opportunity to gain experience in the Fleet. Tom managed to get assigned to the USS HARPERS FERRY, an amphibious ship homeported in San Diego. However, Tom was sent to Hawaii since the HARPERS FERRY was taking part in the world’s largest naval exercise, the Rim of the Pacific or RIMPAC exercise, which was being run out of Pearl Harbor. His month onboard was a flurry of excitement as he got to witness first-hand how the Fleet operated with other navies from around the world including Canada, Australia, Chile, Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom. He fondly remembered several memorable moments at sea such as watching the sunset on an endless horizon with the taste of sea salt on his lips from the ocean spray. Or the unique color of blue the ocean had far from land. He found it hard to describe to others. It was a unique shade of deep blue and when the sun glittered on it just so, it was looking into the iris of God’s eye. So, several weeks prior to graduation, on service selection night, when every first class midshipman selects his warfare specialty, he chose to be stationed on an Aegis destroyer, the USS RUSSELL, homeported in Pearl Harbor.

Tom’s meandering thoughts about the past and his near future ceased when the Navy band’s tune changed and he picked up on the cue to move his company forward. With his loudest voice, he commanded, Company, forward march! He couldn’t help but feel a little pride as he led his company in front of hundreds of adoring families, girlfriends, and senior naval officers as they passed in front of the parade field bleachers and the reviewing stand. Nevertheless, he also felt a sense of relief as he finally led his company off Worden Field and onto the road that ran past the Chapel and back towards Mother B. This was his last evolution as Company Commander. The only event left of his Academy career that remained was graduation. In just a couple of days, he and Paul planned to drive cross-country to Kalispell Montana to burn up the thirty days of leave they earned prior to reporting to their initial training duty stations. Paul was eventually heading to Pensacola Florida to earn his naval aviator wings and he was destined for division officer school in Newport Rhode Island before heading to his ship in Hawaii.

When they reached the steps in front of Bancroft Hall, Tom gave the command, Company, halt! He then turned his head, and with a wide grin on his face, challenged Paul, Last one in is a rotten egg! The race was on to fulfill another Academy tradition. After the last parade of the year, despite being in their formal parade uniforms, the Firsties would make for the nearest body of water and immerse themselves in jubilant celebration. In their case, this would be the water fountain just outside of Lejeune Hall near the Academy’s main gate. Paul, being slightly taller and more athletic, reached the fountain first. He was rewarded with a flying tackle from Tom. As they emerged dripping wet, the two were suddenly caught up in a wave of emotion. The reality that their lives were soon to be forever changed hit them like a thunderbolt. Looking at each other, they spontaneously embraced and allowed their feelings to bubble up to the surface. Tears flowed freely adding more moisture to the water and sweat already dripping down their faces.

CHAPTER 2

Rocky Mountains, Roads, and Rivers

Four days after tossing their covers in the air at Navy-Marine Corps stadium following graduation, the two friends were heading west on Interstate 90 through Wyoming in Tom’s Porsche Boxster. Blowing through the small western town of Buffalo, the road turned north towards the Montana border. It was here where Tom got his first look at the Bighorn Mountains. These rocky crags were unlike anything he had seen before. Created by the upheaval of a dome of molten magma beneath the earth’s crust, the steep slopes and rocky striations were created by the subsequent cooling of the magma, which effectively shrank the dome and allowed the earth’s crust to collapse upon it. As the sedimentary crust on top wore away due to erosion, the earth’s geologic history hidden below became exposed for all to see. Tom had a difficult time keeping his eyes on the road, glancing as often as he could at the sheer magnificence of this range of mountains that were unique to the Rockies.

Hey, pull over at the Fort Kearney exit coming up, Paul pleaded. You’re making me nervous. At this speed and your gawking, we’re going to end up at the bottom of some ravine.

Sorry, I think I’ll take you up on your offer. I do need to get out and stretch my legs. Tom pulled over at the site of the old Army fort that once protected the transcontinental railroad from the Lakota and Cheyenne Indians. Up to this point, the two had made great time, stopping only to eat and to grab a few winks at rest areas along the way. They had also taken advantage of the wide open western roads and pushed way past the speed limit on several occasions.

Not quite the hills of western Maryland, are they? These even put Mount Rushmore to shame. No wonder they call those the Black Hills. Tom remarked, placing special emphasis on the word ‘hills’.

Wait until you see the peaks in Glacier. There’s a reason they’re called the Alps of America. I must admit though, I am awestruck every time I look at this particular mountain range. God sure created quite a masterpiece here, didn’t he?

Honestly Paul, these mountains took millions of years to become like this. How can you say they were created by God in a day?

Paul stared at the range, and then gazed at the sky as if seeking a sign from heaven to answer a question debated for thousands of years, and more than a few times within the confines of their room back in Bancroft Hall. Over the last four years, they had often debated over the existence of God. Looking at these mountains, Paul reminded himself of a verse from Matthew. …if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. He wished for the thousandth time that he could convince his friend that not only did God exist, but that he loved him and had a special plan for his life. But the resistance he met on each occasion was rooted in a lack of a father’s love and guidance and a mother’s indifference. It seemed as solid as the rocks towering before them.

Honestly Tom, I wasn’t there when it happened, so I don’t’ pretend to have all the answers. Paul paused for a moment then continued, I will say however, by faith I believe that God can do anything, even create the Earth itself. In the Bible, the analogy of a potter molding clay is used several times. That’s the way I’ve always thought of His Creation. A verse in Hebrews says, ‘By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.’ Now let me ask you a tough question Tom. Who do you think Jesus was?

Tom didn’t even hesitate, spewing out what his mother often