Captain Christopher "Chowdah" Hill of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea has been actively posting pictures and videos of both him and his crew on social media sites such as Instagram and X alongside quick updates. The Associated Press visited the ship to confirm that all has been well on board.
“I think it’s been about two or three times in the past six months we’ve allegedly been sunk, which we have not been,” Hill told the AP. “It is almost comical at this point. They’re attempting to maybe inspire themselves through misinformation, but it doesn’t work on us.”
The journalists reported a bit of rust on its side and a pipe leaking in the kitchen. Other than that, they said the aircraft carrier was in good condition sans damage from any strikes.
Hill has been posting lighthearted pictures to his social media accounts after Yemen's Houthi rebels have used their own social media accounts to falsely report successful strikes on the ship. The aircraft carrier has led the US response to the rebels' attacks on commercial vessels and warships in the Red Sea, which they have said are in the name of ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
In response to the latest instance of a false claim, Hill posted images of cinnamon rolls and muffins in the ship's bakery.
“The whole intent of the social media outreach was to connect with families, to bring them closer to the ship,” Hill said. “So if I can post pictures of sons and daughters, husbands and wives out here, or even fathers and mothers, get it out there, it just kind of brings the family closer to us. And again, that’s our support network. But it also took on another role because everyone else was watching to see what we’re doing.”
The captain takes requests from family members and loved ones of the soldiers on board through social media and will post pictures of them eating cookies on the bridge with a message back to them.
Hill has frequently posted Captain Demo to his feeds, a labrador-golden retriever mix who serves as an emotional support animal aboard the carrier for the sailors.
The captain often incorporates the celebration of Taco Tuesdays in his posts, a tradition he says he will never give up. AP reports he takes pleasure in writing this as the Houthi forces monitor his social media postings.
“We’re going to celebrate ‘Taco Tuesdays’ because it’s my absolute favorite day of the week. That will never end,” he said. “If you call that an information warfare campaign, you can. It’s just who I am, you know, at the end of the day.”
Hill said that despite the worries on board surrounding munitions and extended deployment, his sailors have remained ready to battle and he intends to continue his style of leadership.
“I came to a revelation at some point in my career that, one of the things that all humans require is to be loved and valued,” Hill said. “So I shouldn’t be afraid, as a leader, to try to love and value everybody, and also to expect other leaders that I’m responsible for to love and value their sailors.”
