Cook turned gunner

I always love an opportunity to fire heavier weapons from the ship's fantail.

PACIFIC OCEAN (July 5, 2009) Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Nicholas Zaricor, from Vancouver, Wash., fires a .50 cal machine gun with Aviation Ordnanceman Airman Marcus Gilmore, from Colorado Springs, Colo. during a gun shoot demonstration for Tiger Cruise participants aboard the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Tiger Cruise gives the family and friends of Sailors and Marines stationed aboard the ship a chance to share the underway experience.

John C. Stennis is en route to San Diego, Ca. to offload Carrier Air Wing 9 before returning to her homeport in Bremerton, Wash. Stennis is returning from a scheduled six-month deployment to the western Pacific Ocean.

U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Kenneth Abbate.