You're on an aircraft carrier - it's almost Christmas - Where do you shop?

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Getting Ready for Christmas on an American Aircraft Carrier - Shopping at Sea

ABOARD THE USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (AP) - U.S. sailors fighting the war on terrorism from the Arabian Sea know Christmas is coming - and they're shopping at the ship's store and with vendors who've come aboard with jewelry, clothes and Persian rugs. In the process, the 5,500-member crew of the USS Theodore Roosevelt have run up a a bill in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.

"I bought my mom and sister Teddy Roosevelt sweat shirts, and my dad and uncle T.R. hats," said Airman Apprentice Kenneth Hassler, 19, of Salem, N.J. "They see it (the Roosevelt) on the news and like the fact that I'm helping my country fight and are proud of me. They want the stuff to remember it."

The ship's store sells baseball caps, coffee mugs and clothes emblazoned with the carrier's logo, as well as watches, compact discs, cigarette lighters and electrical goods.

On average, the store takes in around $20,000 per day, but so far this month it has raked in up to $30,000 per day, said Lt. j.g. Jon Limbert, the carrier's sales officer.

The store took in $48,000 in a one-day sale after Thanksgiving, he said.

The sailors have also been able to buy goods from vendors who have come from Italy, Spain, Bahrain and Dubai. One from Bahrain sold $45,000 worth of Persian carpets in a week, Limbert said.

"It's good to have something that is not typical of the ship," said Limbert, who is originally from Houston. "It's big business, it's a captive audience."

All the vendors' goods are screened by security before being taken aboard the Roosevelt. The tradespeople come in groups of two to five and spend up to a week on the ship.

Normally, vendors only go aboard when the ship is visiting ports, but because the Roosevelt is on active duty, they were called out specially.

The Navy, which receives 12 percent of the vendors' sales revenue, sometimes helps the traders transport their goods, but the vendors have to pay their own fares to Bahrain. From there, they are flown to the carrier.

"The crew gets a lot out of it. It's a morale issue for us more than anything," Limbert said.

Shopping on the Internet, which has been available on the carrier for three years, is also popular with sailors.

Despite the choices, however, some find it hard to find that special something to send home.

"It's very difficult to shop when you are away," said Storekeeper 1st Class Kristen Cote, originally from Gardner, Mass. "I purchased some jewelry from vendors and will make up the rest when I go home."

Others are doing the same - preparing for a second Christmas in March, when they are scheduled to return to the United States.

"I e-mailed my wife with present suggestions and she said, 'No, not to worry.' She would rather do it when I get back home," said a senior chief who only wanted to be identified as Andy.

However, Andy has taken advantage of the carrier's television studio to record a Christmas message on video to send to his two daughters and son.

"It will mean a lot to them," said Andy, who read a Christmas story in the recording. "You never really get used to (being away for Christmas)."

The Roosevelt, which has its own postal service, is one of three U.S. battle groups in the Arabian sea. The other two are led by the USS Kitty Hawk and the USS Carl Vinson.

-- Anonymous, December 11, 2001

Answers

I hope there is some screening of those rugs before they are offered for sale. Oriental rugs can be just a huge scam.

-- Anonymous, December 12, 2001

"I bought my mom and sister Teddy Roosevelt sweat shirts, and my dad and uncle T.R. hats," said Airman Apprentice Kenneth Hassler, 19, of Salem, N.J. "They see it (the Roosevelt) on the news and like the fact that I'm helping my country fight and are proud of me. They want the stuff to remember it."

I would think they'd rather have the kid, right?

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2001


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