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Crew members of frigate, submarine have proposal, baby talk on their minds
By CHRIS LAMBIE Staff Reporter
Thu. May 8 - 5:34 AM
It was bended knee and babies when a submarine and a frigate returned to Halifax on Wednesday from long trips to different corners of the world.
Lt. Eric McCallum started things off by running off HMCS Corner Brook to propose to Amber Bissell, who he first met more than six years ago when they were students. He came up with the idea to propose during "long days on patrol" in the sub.
"I just couldn’t stop thinking about her," said Lt. McCallum, Corner Brook’s combat systems engineering officer.
He bought an engagement ring in Puerto Rico. But the proposal was a surprise for Ms. Bissell.
"I knew he was the one on the first date," she said. "I knew it was coming eventually."
On the night before Corner Brook returned from three months at sea, Lt. McCallum said he started worrying a bit about the proposal.
"I’m happy she said yes," he said as almost 60 crew mates cheered the couple from the submarine after he turned around and gave them the thumbs-up signal.
The sub spent 42 days patrolling the Caribbean looking for drug smugglers.
"We saw lots of ships, reported lots of things, but I really can’t get into any specifics," said Lt.-Cmdr. Chris Robinson, Corner Brook’s skipper.
Operating in warm waters has posed a problem in the past for Canada’s Victoria-class submarines.
But on this trip, the crew managed to keep the sub "not cool, but reasonable," Lt.-Cmdr. Robinson said, noting the average temperature in the living space was about 30 C, and it ranged between 50 C and 60 C in the engine room.
"One of the big successes of this trip was how well the boat performed in warm water," he said.
About an hour after the submarine arrived, the frigate HMCS Charlottetown returned from six months in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea.
Rachel Moore was waiting dockside with her baby, Hunter, who was born on Valentine’s Day. Her husband, Leading Seaman Alex Moore, coached her through labour using the ship’s satellite phone.
"He at least felt part of it; it was the best thing we could do," Ms. Moore said.
The sailor was obviously excited by the birth of his first child. He had the boy’s name tattooed on his forearm during a visit to Cyprus.
"It feels fantastic to be home," the sonar operator said as he cradled his baby in his arms for the first time and then held him up to show the cheering crew.
"He’s so cute. He takes after my wife, clearly. It feels great to see him."
Charlottetown left Halifax in November as part of Operation Altair, Canada’s maritime contribution to the U.S.-led Operation Enduring Freedom.
"I’m very proud of the ship’s company," said Cmdr. Patrick St-Denis, the ship’s skipper.
"We’ve accomplished a lot conducting maritime security operations in the Persian Gulf."
The ship approached 103 vessels and the Canadian sailors boarded nine suspicious vessels during their stint in the area. They seized more than six tonnes of hashish, and saved more than 25 people stranded at sea.
The narcotics were destined to finance terrorism, Cmdr. St-Denis said.
Charlottetown was in-theatre for 133 days; 116 of them were spent at sea.
"We had the highest operational tempo of all coalition warships," he said.