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July 23, 2007

MSC ammunition ship begins "Operation Popcorn"

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Military Sealift Command civil service Capt. Robert Holley, master of ammunition ship USNS Flint, checks the inventory list of popcorn cases. More than 2,500 cases of popcorn were shipped to Flint as part of Operation Popcorn. Operation Popcorn is a gift donation by the Boy Scouts of America and the Weaver Popcorn Company of Indiana. Cases of popcorn will be shipped to Sailors deployed around the world. --U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Maebel Tinoko

A Military Sealift Command ship that routinely delivers ordnance to Navy ships will soon deliver a very different type of cargo: ammunition ship USNS Flint will distribute 250,000 bags of donated microwavable popcorn.

The 564-foot Flint, which supports the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet, will supply the popcorn to Navy ships at sea and will pass a portion of its edible cargo to other MSC ships that will help to deliver it to thousands of sailors and Marines aboard other Navy ships around the world.

Termed Operation Popcorn, the delivery of 3,000 cases of the buttery treat - in addition to already-planned ammunition - will be made by Flint's civil service mariners.

The donation was a result of a coordinated effort between the Boy Scouts of America, Support Our Troops organization and Weaver Popcorn Co., which gave the $70,000 worth of popcorn for Navy sailors and Marines serving far from home.

"I am only too happy to be able to support this operation," said civil service Capt. Robert C. Holley, master of Flint.

The ammunition and popcorn were loaded at Naval Magazine Indian Island, Wash., July 20 and 21. Flint will deliver the popcorn over the next three weeks. Cases of butter, butter light and kettle corn will be given to each ship.

Flint and other MSC civil-service crewed ships provide ammunition, fuel, food, spare parts and other supplies to Navy ships at sea.

The Defense Logistics Agency considers transportation requests for donated goods of this kind. Requests can't be accommodated unless space is available and operations aren't affected.

Military Sealift Command operates approximately 110 noncombatant, civilian-crewed ships that replenish U.S. Navy ships, chart ocean bottoms, conduct undersea surveillance, strategically preposition combat cargo at sea around the world and move military equipment and supplies used by deployed U.S. forces.

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