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GIRL'S E-MAIL BRINGS SAILORS CLOSER TO HOME.


Byline: Dennis McCarthy Dennis McCarthy may refer to:
  • Dennis McCarthy (composer), (born 1945), an American composer
  • Dennis McCarthy (congressman), (19th century) Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1885
  • Dennis McCarthy MBE (radio presenter), British radio presenter
 

A young sailor aboard the USS USS
abbr.
1. United States Senate

2. United States ship

USS abbr (= United States Ship) → Namensteil von Schiffen der Kriegsmarine
 Constitution on duty in the Persian Gulf Persian Gulf, arm of the Arabian Sea, 90,000 sq mi (233,100 sq km), between the Arabian peninsula and Iran, extending c.600 mi (970 km) from the Shatt al Arab delta to the Strait of Hormuz, which links it with the Gulf of Oman.  a few months ago sat in the ship's safety office one day getting ready to tear open a care package that had just arrived from Palmdale.

Don Fleming's buddies gathered around him, looking on jealously as the 28-year-old safety officer began to pull out packages of M&Ms, Snickers
''This entry is about the confectionery named Snickers. For other uses, see Snickers (disambiguation).


Snickers is a sweet bar made by Mars, Incorporated.
 bars, and other assorted candies and cakes.

But it wasn't until he got to the Twinkies that they really began to turn green with envy.

``Twinkies!'' said one. ``How'd you get Twinkies? My wife doesn't even send me Twinkies.''

Fleming looked up at his buddies and smiled.

``I wrote a letter to a kid,'' the young sailor said.

That kid sits in front of her computer Thursday, checking out the latest news updates online.

Krystal Hubble takes note of the Chicago Cubs game score in the team's first playoff game Noun 1. playoff game - one game in the series of games constituting a playoff
game - a single play of a sport or other contest; "the game lasted two hours"

playoff - any final competition to determine a championship
 Wednesday night - a loss to the Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field. . Her new friend from Chicago will be disappointed, but he'll want to know.

The 9-year-old then checks out the latest weather forecasts down in Florida since Hurricane Georges This article is about Atlantic hurricane of 1998. For other storms of the same name, see Hurricane Georges (disambiguation).
Hurricane Georges (IPA: [ʒɔʒ] 
 blew through much of that state, causing heavy damage. The Florida guys on ship have family down there, she knows.

The kid makes notes of what the extended weather forecast will be for much of her own state. The California guys love to commiserate com·mis·er·ate  
v. com·mis·er·at·ed, com·mis·er·at·ing, com·mis·er·ates

v.tr.
To feel or express sorrow or pity for; sympathize with.

v.intr.
 with each other about the great weather they're missing back home.

In a few minutes, Krystal e-mails all this information and more to half a dozen sailors aboard the USS Kitty Hawk Two ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Kitty Hawk:
  • The first Kitty Hawk (AKV-1) was a cargo ship and aircraft transport that served during World War II
  • The second Kitty Hawk (CV-63) is the lead ship of the Kitty Hawk
, now based in Japan.

``I let them know by e-mail what's going on What's Going On is a record by American soul singer Marvin Gaye. Released on May 21, 1971 (see 1971 in music), What's Going On reflected the beginning of a new trend in soul music.  in their hometowns,'' Krystal says. ``They're all my friends now, and I want to help them, just like they're all helping us by being out there.''

A few feet away, Candy Johnson, Krystal's mother, can only shake her head as she watches her daughter go to work again - being the eyes and ears back home for some young sailors who took the time to write a letter to a kid.

``She was watching TV one day about four or five months ago, and there was a story about the USS Independence Six United States Navy ships have borne the name USS Independence. This name refers to the desire to be free of domination by others.
  • The first Independence was a 10-gun sloop bought in 1775 and wrecked in 1778.
 on patrol in the gulf,'' Candy says, as Krystal works on her e-mail news.

``They flashed the ship's address in case anyone wanted to write the sailors. The next thing I know, Krystal's at the computer writing out 10 different letters.

``She addressed them `to any sailor who wants to be pen pals with a kid,' '' Candy said.

Two months later, one letter arrived. It was from a young safety officer named Don Fleming, who was serving aboard the Constitution.

``Krystal came running into the house from the mailbox so excited,'' Candy says. ``She couldn't wait to tear open the letter and start reading it.

``When she finished she said, `Mom, he gave me his e-mail address.' The next thing I know she's e-mailing him with all sorts of questions, like has he ever gotten seasick or lost out there?'' Candy says, laughing.

It took two months for these new pen pals to first hook up by U.S. mail. It took 24 hours for them to continue their new long-distance friendship by e-mail.

On her own, Krystal began writing food companies, telling them she was pen pals with a young sailor out in the gulf and that she'd really like to send him a great care package full of goodies.

``Before long, we began to get coupons for all sorts of free things, like M&Ms, Snickers bars and Twinkies,'' Candy said.

After receiving that care package, Don e-mailed Krystal back and told her what a hit her Twinkies were with the guys.

And, by the way, he said, the Constitution would be docked down at San Diego Aug. 1 - on its way back to Washington for decommissioning Decommissioning is a general term for a formal process to remove something from operational status. Some specific instances include:
  • Ship decommissioning
See also:
.

He would love Krystal and her family to be his guests aboard ship for a tour, Don said. He was really looking forward to meeting her.

They did - the kid and the young sailor. The whole Johnson family fell in love with Don, inviting him to stay with them when he gets back to the states for some shore leave.

Krystal turned out to be a hit with a lot of the guys on the Constitution - guys like Don, who would be transferring over to the USS Kitty Hawk, now on patrol off the coast of South Korea.

Guys from Chicago, Florida and California getting the latest ball scores and weather forecasts by e-mail from a little girl in Palmdale.

CAPTION(S):

photo

PHOTO Krystal Hubble holds a photo of Don Fleming, a sailor she chats with by e-mail.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News
COPYRIGHT 1998 Daily News
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 1998, Gale Group. All rights reserved. Gale Group is a Thomson Corporation Company.

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Publication:Daily News (Los Angeles, CA)
Date:Oct 2, 1998
Words:793
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