Life aboard a United States Navy ship is something few get to experience. Those dedicated men and women who do choose to serve are tasked with living and working in close quarters on the open ocean for weeks or even months at a time.
With only each other to rely on, the assignment can be a difficult and sometimes lonely endeavor for those aboard the ship. The selfless duty is just another part of what makes these sailors an integral part of defending America’s freedoms.
In a CNN exclusive, viewers are taken aboard a U.S. Navy missile cruiser with unfiltered access not often granted. It offers a glimpse at what life is truly like for the sailors aboard the ship.
Check out the segment below:
CNN’s Brooke Baldwin traveled thousands of miles on four separate airplanes and a helicopter to finally arrive on USS Anzio. Once onboard, she was greeted by lead commander and longtime friend Bobby Rashad Jones.
The Navy granted Baldwin rare and exclusive access to the sailors currently deployed in the Arabian Gulf. Those assigned to the ship sleep, eat, work and train while simultaneously being tasked as the primary defender to USS Harry S. Truman.
CNN’s Brooke Baldwin gets an exclusive tour of the USS Anzio, and catches up with a longtime friend serving in the Persian Gulf. (CNN/YouTube)
In showing off his own humble bunk, Jones explains the purpose of the various mementos he keeps scattered around.
“You just kind of have stuff that you want to keep to keep you focused on why you’re doing this,” Jones explains. “If me being out here separated from my family ensures the safety of millions back home, then it is worth it,” Jones says.
“It makes you realize what you’re fighting for.”
CNN’s Brooke Baldwin gets an exclusive tour of the USS Anzio, and catches up with a longtime friend serving in the Persian Gulf. (CNN/YouTube)
On board the ship, the crew form a brotherhood. They rise together, eat together, train as one, and ultimately must be able to count on one another no matter what.
Down below, Baldwin was given the chance to check out the sleeping quarters and the mess hall. While the accommodations are far from comfortable, it is all part of the job for the sailors.
CNN’s Brooke Baldwin gets an exclusive tour of the USS Anzio, and catches up with a longtime friend serving in the Persian Gulf. (CNN/YouTube)
Baldwin explains that while the ship may be the temporary home for hundreds of crew members, it is still primarily a military vessel capable of attacking and defending at a moment’s notice.
“If called upon, the USS Anzio has missiles onboard capable of hitting targets in Iraq and Syria more than 1,000 miles away,” she says.
In commenting about her experience aboard the ship, Baldwin called it “life-changing.” She said she was grateful for the chance to visit her friend while showcasing the sacrifices made by those in uniform.
