NAVAL AIR STATION NORTH ISLAND – Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) welcomed former George Washington chaplain retired U.S. Navy Capt. Thomas R. Atkins and his bride Gayle Holmes for their wedding aboard the ship while moored at Naval Air Station North Island.
The USS George Washington is currently performing a hull swap with the USS Ronald Reagan at the North Island base. A hull swap is a practice used by the U.S. Navy to move sailors between ships.
Atkins started his extensive armed forces career in the Army as a field artilleryman, serving in Vietnam and Germany. After serving in the Army, Atkins made a switch in career choices and pursued ministry, but he was far from finished with the military.
“After my ordination as a Presbyterian pastor, I was accepted into the Navy chaplaincy in 1979,” said Atkins. “I served until my retirement in 2003.”
“We are very excited to have our marriage ceremony onboard,” said Holmes. “We are thankful for that great and meaningful privilege.”
