Staying Connected

McCarty

Continuing feature

Staying Connected E-Mail from those serving

our country

United States Navy Operations Specialist First Class Petty Officer Allen L. McCarty is deployed for six months with the USS Shreveport (LPD-12) to conduct maritime security patrols in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

OS1 (SW) McCarty is the leading petty officer of Operations Intelligence Division. His duties include utilizing surface radar, air radar, communications, navigation, and ship counter-defense measures. A 1996 graduate of Carroll High School, he joined the Navy in June 1996 and has been stationed at Great Lakes Naval Station, Dam Neck, Va., Q school, five years in San Diego, Calif., and the Naval Station in Norfolk, Va.

His parents are Bill and Debbie Mc- Carty of Rossville and Terri Jones of North Manchester. Grandparents are Bill and Mary McCarty of Cutler. He has a sister, Jaime Stetler of Decatur, and a five-year-old daughter, Kayla, of Chicago, Ill. McCarty writes…

First of all, let me say thank you for your support of our troops. Believe it or not, we don't hear that too much from anyone other than our immediate family, and it really means a lot to us.

I left for my current assignment in early January. I can't say where I will go from this point on and I am not able to say if I might be stopping anywhere along the way during this assignment.

Those things I miss most are my daughter, fiancé, family and friends and the every day luxuries that we tend to take for granted.

The things I enjoy most about my deployment

are

McCarty

getting away from the city life…you can actually see almost every constellation at night and sunrise and sunsets are amazing.

I was asked how long I was going to stay in the Navy. I expect to be in the Navy not a day past 20 years!!! (I plan to retire from the navy at my 20-year mark.)

The last time I was home was late January of 2006.

The food quality depends on who is cooking…no…for the most part it's pretty good…keep in mind that the cooks have to prepare for close to 1,000 sailors and marines in a two-hour span.

There are several things for me to do for relaxation. I like to play my guitar, watch movies, listen to music, and sometimes just stare at the ocean surrounding us (kind of has the same relaxing feeling as watching fish in a fish tank).

Again, thank you for your support and I greatly appreciate what you do for us in the Comet.

Very Respectfully,

OS1 (SW) Allen McCarty

McCarty says hello to his family and friends and would like to hear from them while he is deployed. He can be reached by email at: amccart@lpd12.navy.mil. Letters and packages can be sent to: OS1 Allen McCarty, USS Shreveport (LPD- 12), OPS Dept./OI Div., FPO AE 09587- 1714.

The Comet invites anyone serving our country in the military and other vocations to email us at dlowe@carrollcountycomet.com with their story.