Sailors Pay Tribute to Ike Shipmate

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Nearly 600 Sailors and Marines from commands across Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana lined Tomcat Blvd., from the Aviation Historical Park to the base chapel, to pay tribute to the Carrier Air Wing 7 command master chief.

Command Master Chief (AW/SW) Jeffrey J. Garber died of apparently natural causes June 20 while aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) (CVN 69). The ship is currently deployed in support of operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Memorial services were simultaneously held on board the ship and at the Oceana Chapel of the Good Shepherd June 27.

Garber was remembered as someone who truly cared about his Sailors, served as a role model, trusted friend and loving father by family, friends and co-workers during the standing-room only service.

Calling Garber "a Sailor's Sailor," retired Vice Adm. Alfred G. Harms Jr. said the command master chief was a role model, who "consistently made a difference in the lives of countless shipmates."

With his honesty, willingness to do whatever needed to be done and listening ability, Garber "was as authentic and as decent a human being I have ever known," said Harms.

Garber, a Nebraska native, was also remembered for his love of all things relating to the "Cornhuskers." Harms joked if Garber had known when he first enlisted that aviation ordnancemen (AO) wear red shirts on the flight deck, he would have picked the AO rating instead of ship's serviceman -- red being the primary school color of the University of Nebraska.

"That very same type of loyalty and passion highlighted his love for his work and it also highlighted his devotion to his shipmates whom he nurtured," said Harms.

"Jeff's strong, principled leadership, his uncompromising professionalism, genuine compassion for others and dauntless uplifting spirit were the making of legend," said Harms.

Garber's former commanding officer at Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 34 also memorialized his former command master chief. "'Shipmate' goes a long way in describing who Jeff was and what he meant to me. Jeff Garber was the finest shipmate I've ever had the honor of serving with. He was a man who had risen to the top of his profession but never lost sight of, and even more importantly, truly believed it was all about taking care of Sailors, shipmates. There wasn't a Sailor in VFA-34 who Jeff didn't know personally," said Cmdr. Scott Knapp, who is now stationed at the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy.

Knapp added Garber, who served as the CMC for the "Blue Blasters" from 2006 – 2008, not only knew his Sailors' first names but also about their families and their hometowns. Sharing several examples, Knapp said Garber's interest in his Sailors was "not because he felt obligated but because he genuinely did care." Looking at the hundreds in attendance, Knapp noted "many of those folks directly affected [by the master chief's leadership] are here to honor Jeff today."

Knapp addressed Garber's three children directly as he also recognized their father's devotion to his family. "He was the dad who was all about supporting you, whatever you were into – acting, soccer, singing. You name it and he was all about it. You need to know how proud of you he was," said Knapp.

"He would brag with pride, not only about your accomplishments but what great people you've become," he added.

For Knapp, the characteristic that set Garber apart was "his profound honesty ... honesty of character. He absolutely excelled in the Navy, in his church, with his friends, his family because he was true to who he was -- that was a smart, funny, kind, caring human being."

Force Master Chief Frederick Pharr shared two of the many phone calls and e-mails he personally received in the week since Garber's death. Pharr also read a letter from the Navy's top enlisted Sailor, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West, expressing what Garber meant to the Navy.

"Jeff will be missed. We can't replace him. We can only try to emulate him," said Pharr.

It was the tribute by 17-year-old Tayler Garber that brought many attending the service to tears. Calling her dad "the greatest man I have ever known," Tayler said he was also the "closest thing to a super hero," that she, her sister, Paige, and brother, Josh, had ever known.

She shared memories of her dad playing his guitar and singing with her and how he still found a way to play tic-tac-toe with her even while deployed. As she fought back tears, Tayler Garber said," I'm grateful for the 17 years I had with my dad."

CVW-7 Deputy Commander Capt. Roy Kelley echoed other remarks about how Garber spent hours counseling, mentoring and training Sailors. "CMC Garber had the unique ability to focus on the key issues; truly putting our Sailors first in everything he did," said Kelley.

"Let me say Jeff Garber had a heart for people. Jeff spoke kindly to every person he passed on the ship. He took time to counsel anyone in need. He would help me fill laundry bags with cold sodas and then he would lead me to the hottest, most miserable places on board the ship and we passed out refreshments. Jeff had a gift of humble leadership that attracted many people to him. He had the gift of servanthood; he looked out for his people, he took care of them. He was passionate about everything he did. He generated a contagious optimism as he worked to steer the team toward our operational goals.

"Jeff used his God-given talents every day and all of us, in one way or another, have benefited from it. I'm absolutely sure as he passes from this life into the next that God will greet him and say, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant,'" concluded Kelley.

Garber was honored with a two-plane flyover following the memorial. Five folded flags were presented to family members as the service concluded with a Navy Bugler playing "Taps."

During a reception at the Officers Club, Kelley presented the Legion of Merit posthumously to Garber's wife, Amy. She was also presented a special shadowbox to honor Garber's 24 years of service, on behalf of 1,800 chief petty officers messes across the Navy.