Kearsarge Crew Enjoys Super Bowl

USS KEARSARGE, At Sea (NNS) -- Sailors and Marines celebrated Super Bowl XLVII Feb. 3, while underway aboard amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3).

The hangar bay was turned into a Super Bowl party, where food and drinks were served and the game was projected onto the aircraft elevator door for Sailors and Marines to watch.

"Despite all the important things going on, and all the long hours we work, the ship is looking out for us," said Cryptologic Technician Collection 3rd Class Jamal Brown, an avid Baltimore Ravens fan.

The party was organized by the First Class Petty Officer Association, the Coalition of Sailors Against Destructive Decisions (CSADD), Morale, Welfare and Recreation and Supply department, who came together to provide all of the food for the evening.

"We are on the ship around the clock, so it's good to have something that everyone can have fun with," said Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Cori Fong, a member of CSADD. "It's hard work, but everyone's having good food and having a good time watching the game."

This is the third consecutive year Kearsarge has been underway during the Super Bowl and the third year Sailors and Marines aboard have been treated to a party for the game.

"This is my third Super Bowl on the ship so it's almost as much a tradition as the Super Bowl on the outside," said Brown. "I appreciate the captain making sure that everybody can take a minute, sit down and feel normal for a second."

Kearsarge is participating in Composite Training Unit Exercise (COMPTUEX) off the East Coast of the United States in preparation for a scheduled deployment this spring.