Photo By Lt. Kelli Roesch | Command Master Chief Mark E. Kraninger of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Five...... read more read more
CAMP MOREELL, Kuwait -- Seaman Eric E. Kraninger of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Eleven out of Gulfport , Miss. shrugs and smiles through the constant teasing by his fellow Seabees.
Every Seabee at Camp Moreell knows his father is the highest ranking enlisted leader of the Battalion, Command Master Chief Mark E. Kraninger of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion Five out of Port Hueneme, Calif. What can Eric say? "With a name like Kraninger, people make the connection and if they don't, they ask," joked Kraninger.
Although the Kraningers are in different Battalions stationed on opposite sides of the United States, for a few short days they briefly crossed paths at a Camp Moreell in the Kuwait desert. Granted, father and son will only have a few spare minutes here and there to see each other, nonetheless they make the best of it. BUCN Kraninger said, "Mostly we just hang out and talk."
Master Chief Kraninger keeps a respectful distance to let his son learn to deal with challenges like any other Seabee. "I try to keep a hands -off approach, "he said. "I stay out of his business, but I listen to him like any dad would in this situation. We're professionals, so we do our jobs, but when we're off duty we talk about things," said Master Chief Kraninger. "Eric gets enough grief because his dad's the Command Master Chief," he chuckles then adds, "I don't try to solve his problems." If anything, the "special treatment" BUCN gets is not a good thing.
Construction is seemingly in the Kraninger's blood. BUCN Kraninger spent a few summers working for his grandfather who is a General Contractor in Nora Springs, Iowa. Still, the idea of becoming a Seabee wasn't originally part of his plans. In fact it was the quite opposite. "At first I said I'm never going to join the military, but about half way through my senior year of high school I started to think about it," BUCN Kraninger said. True to form, Master Chief Kraninger let his son make his own decision, but gave him the tools to make the best decision for him. "Eric knew a lot of what I went through with the deployments I made and how tough it can be," said Master Chief Kraninger. "I had a few other Seabees sit down with him and give him their perspectives on each rate in the Seabees so Eric would have other opinions of what he might expect, "he said. Ultimately Eric Kraninger joined the Navy as a Builder and as a surprise during "A" school graduation, Master Chief Kraninger took off the "Navy" issued ballcap and replaced it with his Navy cover. BUCN Kraninger then joined his new Seabee shipmates in Gulf Port, Miss., and Master Chief Kraninger returned to his unit in Port Hueneme, Calif.
While spending this past Christmas together, the Kraningers discovered they were both being deployed. Until just a few days ago they had no idea they would be in the same camp at the same time. Eric was not absolutely sure that his dad was actually coming so he was doing what many motivated Seabees do in their spare time; Eric was in the gym working out when his father found him to personally deliver the surprise.
Master Chief Kraninger was touring the camp with the battalion commanding officer, when he saw his son. Not missing a beat, the tough Seabee Master Chief demanded to know, "Where's your SCWS pin?" The Kraningers shook hands while the young Seabee tried to give his dad the Master Chief a good explanation as to why he had not earned the pin yet.
Master Chief Kraninger came to the desert armed with a care package and all of the questions his wife wanted answered. How is he? Does he look good? What does he need? The dad part of Master Chief said Eric was fine and the Master Chief part in him said their son would have to make his own way. His advice to his son from the beginning had been simple. "I told him to do what's asked of you, keep yourself squared away, and know your job, "said Master Chief Kraninger. BUCN Kraninger remembers another piece of advice, "My dad jokingly said, 'If you get in trouble, I don't know you!'"
Because of his name, everyone who gets a chance mercilessly teases the younger Kraninger that they will tell his dad about whatever fictitious misbehavior they can think of or worse yet, jokingly accuse him of tattling their misdeeds to his Master Chief father. BUCN Kraninger is good natured so he always smiles and goes along with the jokes. He knows it will not last long, any day now his dad will transfer to Afghanistan for six months while he stays put. He's not sure when he will see his dad again, but knows he's lucky to see part of his family. After his dad leaves, BUCN Kraninger is back to his back-breaking work and being just another Seabee far from home.
| Date Taken: | 03.03.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 03.24.2009 10:13 |
| Story ID: | 31529 |
| Location: | CAMP MOREELL, KW |
| Web Views: | 492 |
| Downloads: | 318 |
This work, Seabee Command Master Chief and His Seabee Son Reunite in the Desert, by LT Kelli Roesch, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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