CO Weed (Captain Daniel Weed, Commanding Officer of Naval Base Yokosuka, Japan)-Tuesday mid morning

Part of being a guest here includes meeting with the CO (Commanding Officer) live and in person and one-on-one. I have never done this before and had no idea what to expect. I spent the last few days putting together my bio (you can read I here and search for "rachaelmiriam" and "bio share" but you might need a gmail account…) which I placed in a bright yellow folder (RP2 Barnes suggested I use a yellow folder to convey a sense of my sunny disposition…RP’s are the best part of what I do here…more on them another time though) and carried it to command hill (well, RP2 Barnes drove me over). I was introduced to the secretary and I waited for the CO to come along. What does one do when meeting a CO? I decided to go with speak when spoken to.

Well, Captain Weed was energetic and enthusiastic. He read my bio and was impressed which I was embarrassed by (and a little proud of). He then said he wants me to consider this my home and said he would be emailing my father to work out any complication that might arise in getting me back to Yokosuka for Passover. I told him I would try to come if he would join us for seder. Now, there are all kinds of channels to go through to make this happen and many conversations to have first with Andrew and my family and my Master Chief and Rear Admiral Robinson and and and and…but just being asked was really exciting.

I thought Captain Weed was really interesting. He clearly loves his chaplains which is unusual for a base (from what I hear). Rumor has it, bases do not always know what to do with chaplains. Whereas deployed folks (generally Marines) know exactly what to do with chaplains…use us for our red phone to God. People in war know what to do with someone whose profession is prayer. In peace time and locations, the position is less clear. Captain Weed struck me as a wise and religious man. He seemed to get that the need for guidance of all kinds is great especially amongst young sailors alone in a foreign country.

It was a pleasure meeting him and a real honor. A real highlight of my experience here in Yokosuka. And, if anyone wants to get in good with a CO in the Navy, send this man some New York city pizza!! He misses it.