Guided-missile destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87), part of the Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group (Ike CSG), conducted a replenishment-at-sea (RAS) with Military Sealift Command fleet replenishment oiler USNS Laramie (T-AO 203), July 25.

This RAS became a Zinni family affair as Ensign Joseph "Joe" Zinni, Mason's strike officer, and his younger brother, Midshipman 3rd Class Charles "Nick" Zinni, assigned to Laramie, participated while underway in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations (AOO).

Their father, Capt. Jerome "Jerry" Zinni, commanding officer of Forward Deployed Regional Maintenance Center (FDRMC), also works under the U.S. 5th Fleet AOO, coordinating maintenance efforts in Naples, overseeing detachments in Spain and Bahrain, and reporting directly to the Navy Regional Maintenance Center commander.

"I am very proud of both of my sons," Capt. Zinni said. "I am thrilled to see both Joe and Nick operating underway at the tip of the spear this summer in the 5th Fleet AOO. It's exciting to hear that my sons were both able to participate in the recent underway replenishment. Joe just graduated from Maine Maritime Academy last year, and Nick has been studying there for the last two years. The entire Zinni family is very proud of both boys and their contribution to the Navy."

The Zinni family's tradition of serving in the United States military spans back to World War II and is as vibrant today.

Ensign Zinni explained how "proud" he was to be "working with family while deployed."

"My family has been serving the country for several generations," he said. "I knew I always wanted to be in the Navy like my father."

It was a special moment for Ensign Zinni as he celebrated his birthday by conning Mason's approach to Laramie.

"I have not been disappointed once to be at sea during my birthday," he said. "This year was special because it was the first year that I saw family for it! I read my brother's ship would be conducting a RAS with us and was ecstatic. I got to conn Mason alongside Laramie and show my brother how it's done."

The Zinni brothers took advantage of their proximity and were able to communicate while on station.

"It was an even better surprise and a real treat when our commanding officer allowed me to use the sound powered phone to talk to my brother," Ensign Zinni said. "It was one of the best birthdays I have ever had. It just goes to show there is no better gift than family."

Mason remains committed as one of the centerpieces of the Great Green Fleet initiative, which emphasizes use of energy conservation measures as a key combat enabler to allow ships to go farther, stay longer and deliver more combat capability.

Ike CSG includes the CSG-10 staff, aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), embarked squadrons and staff of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff, guided-missile cruisers USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and USS Monterey (CG 61), and DESRON 26 guided-missile destroyers USS Stout (DDG 55), USS Roosevelt (DDG 80), USS Nitze (DDG 94) and Mason.

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For more news from USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), visit http://www.navy.mil/.