Blog

May 19, 2023

Spending a night on the USS Wasp

When offered the chance to sail into town with a massive naval vessel for Fleet

When offered the chance to sail into town with a massive naval vessel for Fleet Week, as they say, you don't have to twist my arm!

Add to that the bonus of a helicopter ride to meet up with that vessel out at sea, well let's just say, you had me at helicopter.

It started with the flight from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. It was a 40-minute ride out to sea, passing landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Verrazzano Bridge along the way. Soon, there was no land in sight. The journey took us about 50 miles off the coast of the city, where the USS Wasp was continuing its two-day journey from Norfolk, Virginia.

It is commanded by Captain Nakia Cooper, who was the first one to greet videographer Nick Wetzel and I as we left the chopper after a smooth landing on the Wasp's flight deck.

The Wasp is a Navy amphibious assault ship, which carries Marines when deployed. It can hold upwards of 3,000 sailors and Marines. Since we would be staying the night, we were shown our stateroom. It can hold up to five sailors or Marines in bunk beds.

We were able to see the other side of flight operations, watching helicopters land as other visitors arrived. It is quite the operation, with the flight crews wearing color-coded shirts indicating their duties that day. Meals were enjoyed in the wardroom, the mess hall for officers.

The Wasp is like a city on the water. There's a gym, a library, a store with snacks and other essentials, and a barber shop.

Petty Officer First Class Christian Nelson, of the Bronx, runs some of the ship's businesses, including the laundry, which comes in handy when sailors get into their dress whites for the trip into the New York Harbor.

"My sailors kick butt, so we make hard to make sure the ship looks good, so that way we can enjoy events," said Nelson, who was looking forward to seeing friends and family and having some pizza.

After a long day of flying and tours, it was time for some shuteye. I opted for the bottom "rack" of the bunk beds.

I’ve actually never been on a cruise, so this was my first time sleeping on a boat, other than napping on the Staten Island Ferry when I used to occasionally take it to high school, when staying with my dad on the island.

I didn't sleep long, but did sleep well.

Before we knew it, a beautiful sunrise welcomed a new day, and other naval ships heading into the harbor had met up with the Wasp.

As sailors and Marines "manned the rails" in their dress uniforms, it was time to say hello to New York City.

Crew members we met along the way looked forward to the visit, including Charis Squire, who works as the Navy equivalent of a paralegal, a legalman first class.

"To know that we actually have the opportunity to go out and interact with the public and just get to see the people that we are protecting and serving, I think that it's an honor," said Squire.

Christopher Green, who hails from Western New York, was returning to his home state for the first time in a while.

"I haven't been to New York City since I was 14 years old, so it's definitely monumental for me to be back to New York City," said Green, a personnel specialist first class.

Mass Communications Specialist Second Class Jonathan Wideman tells the stories of the Wasp and the Navy.

He is headed to my alma mater, the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University in July, where he will spend a year in an advanced military visual journalism program.

Wideman says he likes to call New York a second home.

"I think this will be a great chance for people to see what it is like to be a sailor in another city outside of Norfolk," he said.