A former Wagoner resident is one of the crew keeping a Navy aircraft carrier running.
Navy Petty Officer 1st Class LUKE E. SANCO, 29, the son of Samuel and Patricia Sanco of Wagoner, serves aboard the USS Independence (CV 62). The ship is the Navy's only forward-deployed aircraft carrier stationed in Yokosuka, Japan.
Sanco, a mechanic, operates and maintains the steam turbines used to power the ship. Although the job requires long hours, Sanco likes what he does.
"The best part of my job is seeing that my guys have a sense of pride in their work," said Sanco, a 1984 graduate of Wagoner High School.
The 36-year-old ship has kept Sanco busy the past several months, as it spent almost 150 days at sea. During that time, Indy's engineers have led the charge, as the ship has traveled nearly 15,000 miles in 1995 and taken the crew to exotic ports such as Hong Kong and Pattaya Beach, Thailand.
Providing operational steam to the ship's four aircraft catapults, food service galleys, water heaters and the four main propulsion plants is a small part of the responsibility of the 700-man engineering department. The coverall-clad sailors also provide the ship with fresh water (they produce about 380,000 gallons a day), serve as the primary fire fighters in the case of an emergency and keep the 81,000-ton ship cool by operating the eight mammoth air conditioning units.
Soon the Indy engineers will be taking the ship through an annual Operational Propulsion Plant Examination, which will test their ability to effectively operate the engineering plant during normal and emergency situations.
Later this summer, Independence is scheduled to return to the Arabian Gulf in support of Operation Southern Watch for a routine deployment.
Indy is no stranger to the Gulf region, as it was the first aircraft carrier on station during Operation Desert Shield in 1990, and has returned twice to the area since the Gulf War.
Serving as the flagship for Battle Force, Seventh Fleet and the showpiece for Commander, Seventh Fleet, Indy flies her colors high in her homeport of Yokosuka. Although serving overseas requires sacrifices from the crew of Independence, Sanco enjoys it.
As Independence continues to prepare to mnissions, Sanco recommends the Navy to his friends.
"The Navy is a good opportunity for education, travel and hands-on experience. I think the most valuable thing is the many different opportunities you are given to become a leader who can make a difference in this world," he said.
Sanco has been in the Navy 11 years.
"I joined the Navy to start planning for my future and see different parts of the world," Sanco said.
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