William R. Grant’s 10-year high school reunion is this month, but he’s not going to make it.
He’s stationed somewhere in the Pacific Ocean on a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier.
‘I hope everyone has a nice reunion,? said Grant, 28, Aviation Electrician’s Mate Second Class on the U.S.S. Nimitz.
‘I miss Clarkston, and my family and friends ? I’m just doing my job but the people who really deserve the love and thank you are the families of the military members. If it were not for their support we wouldn’t be able to do our job.?
Grant grew up in Springfield Township and graduated from Clarkston High School in 1999. He graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice, and joined the Navy in 2005.
‘I wanted to do something different and take care of some things before I got too old,? he said. ‘It’s an opportunity to get out and see different places.?
He received his Navy apprentice technical training in San Diego and graduated at the top of his class, earning an early promotion.
‘I studied a lot,? he said. ‘It has a lot of math. I’m not good in math, so I made it my personal challenge.?
He is on his third deployment with the Nimitz, nuclear-powered carrier CVN-68, with a crew and air wing of more than 5,000 sailors and airmen.
‘It was hard at first,? he said. ‘It’s not a cruise ship. It’s a warship at sea.?
In addition to regular duties, everyone works two hours a day cleaning the ship, an hour in the morning and another at night.
‘We keep it pretty clean,? Grant said. ‘We have some creature comforts, cable TV and decent meals.?
His job is to keep electronics working on seven squadrons and various detachments of fighters, support planes and helicopters.
‘It’s a fun job,? he said. ‘It’s a constant challenge ? it could require rebuilding an entire computer system, or as simple as changing a battery. It’s never the same.?
He works on every plane and helicopter in the carrier’s air wing, including F/A-18 Super Hornet attack fighters, E-2C Hawkeye radar planes, and Seahawk helicopters.
‘Whatever aircraft are embarked ? planes, helicopters, whatever they give me,? he said. ‘My job is to make sure the planes are working and doing what they’re supposed to be doing.?
During its most recent tour, the carrier provided air support to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, and participated in training exercises with the Republic of Korea.
‘I have a lot of respect for what we’re doing ? it’s vital,? he said. ‘I’m very fortunate to have the opportunity to serve my country.?
The deployment included shore leave in Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and other ports.
‘It’s nice to get off the ship,? he said. ‘I like to take the tours, take the opportunity to learn about different cultures.?
Shore leave also included opportunities to provide humanitarian relief, with which Grant is a goodwill ambassador.
‘We painted homes in India, took care of churches in San Diego,? he said. ‘We’re there because we’re good ? we help people. That’s how I feel about it.?
Community relations are an important mission for the Navy, he said.
‘We’re here to do good, and show they can count on U.S. Navy to be there and help out,? he said.
Following this deployment, Grant’s next assignment will be shore duty, hopefully as an instructor in Washington D.C., where his wife, Kari, and their 2-month-old son William live.
‘I’m looking forward to that,? he said. ‘It’s difficult to be away. It would be nice to be home every night.?
He’s looking into small business loans and other veterans? benefits, but plans include reenlisting in the Navy, he said.
‘Especially with this economy,? he said. ‘The Navy has been nothing but good to me. It helps me provide for my family ? a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs. That’s what’s important.?