Chaplain Bio
Chaplain Tom Panariello is a Navy veteran and served as an Aviation Electrician with Antisubmarine Warfare Squadron VS-38. During multiple WESTPAC deployments on board the USS Constellation, CV-64, he served as a flight deck troubleshooter for his squadron.
Upon leaving the Navy, Tom spent 40 years in the technology industry holding both engineering and managerial positions. During those 40 years he has also served bi-vocationally in various ministry roles. He is a graduate of DeVry University and Global University, Berean School of the Bible. Prior to retiring, he most recently served as Assistant Pastor at River of Life Church, Doylestown, PA overseeing Pastoral Care.
September 2026 - General Quarters
I can still hear the call to General Quarters even though my time on the USS Constellation was over 45 years ago! A distinct two-tone wailing siren sounds throughout the ship, followed by the iconic voice broadcast over the 1MC public address system:
"General Quarters, General Quarters, all hands, man your battle stations!"
It’s the U.S. Navy combat alert. It orders every sailor on a warship to drop routine tasks and rush to their assigned defensive, weapons, or damage-control posts.
General Quarters is sounded during actual enemy threats from aircraft, missiles, surface ships, or submarines. It’s also called during non-combat hazards like heavy storms, thick fog, or tight ship-to-ship refueling. Drills are frequently practiced as a timed exercise to ensure the crew can secure the ship for battle within minutes.
Everytime General Quarters was called during my tenure on the USS Constellation it was a drill - except for one time! On June 26, 1980, the USS Constellation collided with a Bangladesh merchant freighter in the Arabian Sea. The accident occurred early in the morning while the USS Constellation was executing an underway replenishment alongside the Navy oiler USS Passumpsic.
At the time, the USS Constellation was on a historic, record-setting 110-day consecutive at-sea deployment at Gonzo Station in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, which was established following the November 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage takeover in Tehran, Iran.
Although neither vessel was formally found at fault, under international maritime law, a vessel engaged in replenishment has the right-of-way over standard commercial transit traffic. The minor collision was generally attributed to the merchant ship passing too close to the Navy’s resupply formation, combined with the carrier’s inability to make sudden course corrections while tethered to the oiler.
Fortunately, no injuries or personnel casualties were reported on either vessel.
The USS Constellation crew was prepared for this unexpected event because they drilled and knew exactly what to do in such an emergency.
The Bible tells us of an upcoming emergency event that everyone of us will face. An event that we all can prepare for now. We read in scripture that “as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the Judgment” - Hebrews 9:27.
We will all face God when we pass from this life to the next. Scripture is very clear on the specifics leading up to this event and most importantly how to prepare for it:
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** "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." -Romans 3:23
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** "For the wages of sin is death..." - Romans 6:23a
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** "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." - Romans 5:8
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** "...but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23b
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** "If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." - Romans 10:9
Don’t dismiss this spiritual call to General Quarters. Please take time to consider this call to action and place your faith in Jesus Christ - your place in eternity will be dictated by the decision you make now.
Please know, there is a Chaplain at DAV86 available to meet, talk or just grab a cup of coffee with.
Chaplain Tom Panariello