CHS students find each other on carrier

Former Carson High School students Angelica Rangel and Pablo Flores-Alas had been stationed on the aircraft carrier USS George Washington for two weeks before they recognized each other. She was standing watch outside the "brow," where sailors get on and off the ship, when she thought he looked familiar.

"She was just staring at me, and I was like, 'What the heck is she staring at?' and then she said 'What's your name?' and I knew who she was when I heard her talk," Flores-Alas said. The two are spending two weeks at home before going back to the ship in Norfolk, Va. They got together at Rangel's northeast Carson City home on Thursday.

Rangel, a 1998 graduate of Carson High, is a 2nd class petty officer fire controlman on the ship. She operates and maintains the NATO Sea Sparrow missile system, which uses 16-foot projectiles to defend against incoming missiles and aircraft.

She met Flores-Alas at school in 1995. His family moved to Dayton in 1996, and he finished school there. He's an aviation support equipment technician, which means he operates hydraulic systems, tow tractors and electronic units.

"The wings of the F-14s, F-18s, E2 Hawkeyes, Prowlers - they've got hydraulics all over the place so we use our equipment on them," he said. "Same thing with the helicopters."

The motto for their nuclear-powered aircraft carrier is "Over 90,000 tons of diplomacy where ever ... when ever ..."

It's no wonder they didn't realize they were both aboard for a few weeks - they are just two of about 3,200 people stationed on the ship. When the full airwing is aboard, the population swells by another 2,480. Yet the ship is a well-knit community.

"There might be about 6,000 people on board when you cruise, but after a while you start to recognize just about everybody," Flores-Alas said.

There are other young Northern Nevadans on the George Washington. Crystal Dunn, who graduated from Carson High in 1999, is an electronics technician. Mark Hawkins, who works with the ship's two nuclear reactors, also graduated from Carson High in 1999. Amy Alotta, class of 1998, was on the George Washington before being transferred. Rhiannon Hicks of Gardnerville is also on board.

Rangel said the ship is like a big city with six gyms, big-screen movies in the dining hall and "steel beach" picnics on the flight deck. During a recent talent show, there were hip-hop dance performances. Golfer Tiger Woods made a visit in March, sitting in jets, signing autographs and hitting balls out to sea.

Sailors had more serious things in mind when they were deployed to the Persian Gulf on Jan. 20, however. The 1,092-foot ship moved around the gulf, sending aircraft into Iraq and Afghanistan.

"That's our primary mission, to support the planes and get the ordnance on target," Rangel said.

Even though they were with a battle group of about 35 ships, most of the time they were surrounded by nothing but blue ocean.

"Every once in a while, some of the littler ones - like destroyers - would pop up, but they'd disappear after a while," said Flores-Alas. "So basically it feels like you're alone out there most of the time."

The friends are glad to be back in Northern Nevada for a while where they can see their families. Watching with pride Thursday were Angelica Rangel's brother and mother, Pedro Rangel and Aida Madrigal.

Flores-Alas is happy to see his mother and father, Martha and Salomon Flores, and his three sisters and two brothers.

"And I have an older half brother who is in the Marines," he said.

The sailors will depart from Reno-Tahoe International Airport on Tuesday. Their ship will be in the yards at Norfolk, Va., for an overhaul for almost a year.

Rangel wants to come home again in October.

"Just for a week, to see the Nevada Day Parade and everything," she said. "I miss it."

Contact Karl Horeis at khoreis@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.