USS Columbus and USS Ohio Submariners Pitch in for Makeover

USS Columbus and USS Ohio Submariners Pitch in for Makeover

Since 02-02-05

Excerpted from NSL Update 12-10-04

By Mary Anne Mascianica, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility Public Affairs

BREMERTON, Wash. (NNS) -- A Kingston, Wash., family benefited from the generosity and teamwork of Navy volunteers when ABC's hit TV show, "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" built them a new 3,200 square foot custom home Nov. 10-17. Nearly 200 crew members from USS Columbus (SSN 762) and USS Ohio (SSGN 726), together with Seabees from Bangor, Wash., and some crew members' spouses, were among the first to answer the call when the show asked for local volunteers to help with the project.

The family, a widow and her three daughters, had been living on their property in a utility shed with no running water, cooking on a camping stove and depending on their neighbors for showers, since their house burned down in March.

Despite the chilly, wet, windy weather, the six-bedroom home was built, furniture moved in, and the landscaping completed, including a fountain and hot tub, in a week's worth of around-the-clock labor. Thanks to the Sailors' teamwork with the construction company, a neighborhood eyesore was quickly transformed into a $500,000 home now located on a manicured piece of property.

Chief Machinist's Mate (SS) Scott Harkins from Columbus took the lead to organize volunteers, and Ohio agreed to partner with the boat named for its own namesake's state's capitol to form "Team ColumbusOhio." "We had several meetings during the two weeks prior to the event beginning, and I was overwhelmed from the start," said Chris Larsen, location manager for the show. "Chief Scott Harkins from Columbus and Ohio's Senior Chief Dan Brannon had crew members jumping to volunteer. Before I knew it, there was a 24/7 watch bill made out with four shifts and posted. I was stunned! They took over and ran with the ball like I've never seen before."

The Seabees from Bangor came through in a big way as well, providing more heavy equipment and more bodies to help. "We started by delivering 80 Columbus and Ohio Sailors in our four, 15 tons trucks the first day. We brought in dozers to demolish the old burned out home and utility shed the family had been living in," said Master Chief Utilitiesman Christopher P. Murphy. "We also put up tents for the production crew's living, working and eating spaces, and we put in a drinking water tank. The teamwork coordination it took to pull this all together was pretty tremendous."

The Sailors worked every job the production crew needed help with - the landscaping, painting and anything else.

“We have assisted with the retaining walls and laying pavers in the garden area," said Senior Chief Sonar Technician Michael W. Harrell, an Ohio crew member. "Our guys have been here working eight-hour shifts, then back to the boat for their duty and then squeezing in sleep when they can. There is always someone here around the clock doing whatever they need us to do, whenever they need it done. The only thing we have not done is cook the food! The logistics and coordination is absolutely amazing; it just shows you what can be accomplished with good planning and a good team. It has also been a pleasure to help out the community. ”

Even those Sailors who were not quite as handy with a hammer and nail found other ways to help out with the project. “We have assisted the production crew anyway we can: crowd control, assisting in building the garden boxes, digging post holes—everything and anything,” said Fire Control Technician 1st Class Sean Timothy Frost, a Columbus crew member.

The end result was even more than the show's producers and even the host could have asked for, and they were thankful for the Sailors who helped give the family a new start. "This is one of the largest, most beautiful houses we've built, and for an unbelievably deserving family ... It was a tremendous effort, and when we sent out a call for help, the Navy answered," said Extreme Makeover: Home Edition's host, Ty Pennington. "The submarine crews from USS Columbus and USS Ohio did an amazing job! It was so cool to see so many guys from Columbus and Ohio turn out and pitch in to help make this event happen! An absolutely fantastic bunch of guys--they made such a difference! Thank you so much, everyone from Columbus and Ohio--you were all so amazing--the Navy is awesome!"

"Words fail me--I just don't have enough words of praise---for the caliber of the men we've been dealing with from both Columbus and Ohio," Larsen said of his new friends. "The quality of their work ethic, making things go right--these Sailors have impressed us beyond all expectations. The quality and caliber of people they represent are rare--they represent the best in human nature. It's nice to be associated with that. We've been overwhelmed by them."