Jewish captain guides USS Truman aircraft carrier

By Jonathan Tobin, the Jewish Exponent

One thing is constant about life on an aircraft carrier: the noise.

The roar of jet aircraft engines on the deck is complemented by other sounds heard throughout the ship and below deck: the explosive booms coming from the catapults launching planes and the reverberations of the restraining wires on the steel deck that enables others to land.

Yet the sound that seems to garner the most attention on board the USS Harry S. Truman is, ironically, among the softest they will hear: the even tones of Capt. Herman “Herm” Shelanski.

“I’ve never heard him even raise his voice,” says one of Shelanski’s officers, who admits that this low-key style is hardly typical of naval behavior when it comes to the person in charge. “But he’s always in command of the situation. He’s the sort of a person who makes you want to meet or exceed his expectations.”

Another officer, referring to the captain’s average height of approximately 5 feet, 7 inches, says Shelanski’s “physical stature isn’t so big, but his presence is huge. Everyone on board feels it.”

Shelanski, a native of Wynnewood, Pa., is a 27-year Navy veteran who has risen from a young aviator piloting E-2 Hawkeyes to being the commanding officer of one of the Navy’s elite weapon systems.

Read the entire article here.

8 comments

  • YeHudit B.S. Shavach

    I salute you!

    YeHudit

  • YeHudit B.S. Shavach

    How one can not be proud of this great guy?

    We need more like him!

    YeHudit

  • I THOUGHT THERE WERE CERTAIN AREAS OF THE MIDDLE EAST THAT UNITED STATES JEWISH PERSONEL WERE NOT ALLOWED TO SERVE .

  • I am told we’re not allowed to serve in Munchkinland, but that could be a vicious rumor floated by flying monkeys.

    Seriously, though, Saudi Arabia at one time was going to deny entry to “Jewish persons,” though it already denies entry to Israeli passport holders. I’m not sure if that edict still stands or not. But I don’t believe that there’s DoD governance that prohibits Jewish personnel from serving where others can.

  • paul ouslander

    TO Captain Shelanski, aboard the USS Harry S Truman. Best wishes and good health for a job well done.

    Paul Ouslander Post 215 Phila, pa.

  • Paul Ouslander

    I am trying to find someone that can inform all service people that they can become members of JWV at no cost. It would also be good for them to get mail and care packages.

    Hope you can help.

    Thanks, Paul

  • Joshua Koren

    Joshua is stationed in Virginia but is currently serving on the USS Harry S. Truman.

    Josh is a member of Congregation Beth Shalom of Corona, CA where he became a Bar Mitzvah.

  • Simon Wagstaff

    Calm and collective is one of the best approaches

    http://www.asagroupltd.com