So far, this is the only class of ships in decades that the Navy has held to a naming pattern--all of the ships named so far have had two word name parts. Wonder how long this will hold?

Does anyone know if the pictorial for USS SALT LAKE CITY's 20th Anniv. is at Norfolk or Groton post office?

ABOARD USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) -- USS George Washington’s (GW) (CVN 73) aircraft exerted pressure on anti-Iraqi forces in the Iraqi city of Fallujah April 28, with repeated bombardments from Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 136 and VFA-131, and Fighter Squadrons (VF) 11 and VF-143.

Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7’s F/A-18 Hornets and F-14 Tomcats dropped 13 GBU-12 guided bomb units on enemy positions, helping U.S. Marines of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force defend their positions against insurgent attacks.

Continued air support from GW remains vital to the success of Marines on the ground who are working hard to bring security and stability to Fallujah.

All aircraft returned safely, marking this the latest of several successful bombing missions carried out by CVW-7 from George Washington, currently the only aircraft carrier in the Arabian Gulf.

GW departed Norfolk Jan. 20 and arrived on station almost two months ago to contribute to the ongoing global war on terrorism.

USS O’Brien To Return To San Diego

By Jim O’Donnell, Stars and Stripes

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The USS O’Brien, forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan, since 1992, will return to its former permanent base of San Diego in early May, Navy officials announced Tuesday.
The 27-year-old O’Brien is to be decommissioned later this year as part of the Navy’s plan to phase out all Spruance-class destroyers, according to a U.S. Naval Forces Japan news release.

The O’Brien’s replacement will be the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald, the release said.

The Fitzgerald, now permanently based in San Diego, Calif., is to arrive in Yokosuka in late July, according to the release.

Ship officials reached Wednesday afternoon were unable to comment on what will happen with the ship’s crew. Some options allow O’Brien sailors to stay in Yokosuka, while others have the sailors move with their ship.

“It will be hard to leave Japan” and the forward-deployed naval forces, said O’Brien’s commanding officer, Capt. Gene F. Harr, in an e-mail response to questions. “But we, the crew of O’Brien — past and present — are all the richer for our experiences, which will undoubtedly make us better citizens in our own country, given our insight on world affairs.”

Ed D.10975
Hey that sounds great.
Did I ever tell you my son was thinking about putting in for an open billet with the Angels, but at the time they wouldn't let him transfer from Helos. Would have been the only east coast duty station he had in his Navy career.

As a Surface Strike Group (SSG), Ramage, Ross and Elrod will participate in regional exercises with allies, make diplomatic port calls and respond to any contingency, including those associated with the ongoing war on terrorism.

Under their present configuration, they will serve as an independent, imposing force with a menacing strike capability. If the world situation requires, they are fully capable and ready to join any carrier or expeditionary strike group if called upon.

The two ships will relieve USS Firebolt (PC 10) and USS Chinook (PC 9), which are currently serving in the Persian Gulf.

Typhoon and Sirocco will be forward deployed for approximately 18 months to conduct U.S. 5th Fleet operations in support of the global war on terrorism.

The crews will be on a six-month crew swapping rotation. The crew swap initiative increases the Navy’s forward presence. By deploying ships to a theater of operations for 18 months and swapping crews at six-month intervals, the Navy gains an additional 90 days of on-station time per vessel.

These ships have a crew of 24 enlisted and four officers and due to their shallow draft, agility and quick speed, the PCs are a perfect choice for duty in the Persian Gulf theater.

By Photographer’s Mate 2nd Class (AW) Amanda J. Stuart and Journalist 1st Class Karen M. Golembieski, USS Boxer Public Affairs

ABOARD USS BOXER (NNS) -- USS Boxer (LHD 4) will be returning to its homeport of San Diego April 29, after completing a three-and-a-half month deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

This was Boxer’s second deployment in less than a year’s time, during which Boxer provided amphibious lift of essential personnel and equipment for 1st Marine Expeditionary Unit and 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Upon arrival in the Persian Gulf, Boxer spent five days offloading more than 200 U.S. Marine personnel and their equipment onto Kuwait Naval Base. In total, Boxer transported and offloaded 16 CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopters from Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 466, 150 trucks with trailers, several aircraft towing vehicles and associated support equipment, and multiple large containers of ammunition.

“Our mission was to deliver 16 helicopters and other supplies that Marine Aircraft Group 16 needed for their base of operations,” said Operations Department Leading Chief Petty Officer Senior Chief Operations Specialist James E. Marshall, of Ralls, Texas. “We got short notice to deliver. The crew stepped up and did what we needed to do. They completed the mission flawlessly. We were able to support a rapid turnover and support the Marine Corps insertion in the field to give the Army some help.”

After the offload, Boxer’s crew began their journey back to San Diego, making short port visits in Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Goa, India; Sembawang, Singapore; Sasebo, Japan; and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

In addition to taking a break from the rigors of life at sea in these ports, Boxer Sailors continued to invest themselves by completing some much-needed ship preservation and maintenance. The crew put in many hours painting the exterior of the ship and replacing valves in engineering spaces, which greatly improved and sustained their quality of life.

“We replaced eight low pressure drain valves for the auxiliary steam system,” said Chief Machinist’s Mate Trent Roberts, of Austin, Texas. “The valves were leaking and could have caused a heat stress situation in the engineering spaces now that we are traveling to tropical waters.”

Before traveling to the warmer climate of Hawaii, Boxer completed her final operational mission for the deployment, which was to exchange two landing craft air cushion (LCAC) vehicles that had been brought from San Diego with two from Sasebo. Assault Craft Unit 5 took charge of the two Sasebo LCACs, which Boxer is transporting back to Camp Pendleton, Calif., for a routine overhaul.

In Hawaii, the final stop before home, Boxer embarked several members of the Afloat Training Group, Pacific, to conduct the Command Assessment of Readiness and Training (CART), which tests Boxer’s battle readiness.

“CART is a snapshot of how well we’re doing our training and systems maintenance,” said Boxer’s Damage Control Assistant Lt. Cmdr. Steven W. Ligler, of Spooner, Wis. “Although engineering and damage control get a lot of attention, primarily due to the highly visible drills we conduct, pretty much everyone has a stake in the process. How we train ourselves and maintain our gear directly affects how well we can execute the ship’s mission.”

After more than three months of hard work, followed by a rigorous assessment process, Boxer will return home following a job well done.

Those dealing with new member Joseph Imbat should use a little caution.
If anyone would like details please e-mail myself or Larry Wendell

jake-dan@capecodmouse.com

Perhaps next year we can agree on a venue that is closer for the Nathan Hale folks.. perhaps somewhere nearer to Philly so that the DC folks don't do all the driving and the CT and north folks can make it. I bet that Howard Tiffner and Decatur Chapter can find something in the PA, DEL, NJ range.

I need material in all categories. Do you have anything that you can send to me?

I hope to see a lot of people at the Regional in Bethesda. If you have anything, I would be glad to accepot it in Bethesda.

Stewart, I hope to stop by en route home. Look forward to seeing you with or without covers.

The Steve Kovacs covers are great opportunity. He did wonderful work for a few years about 10-15 years ago.

For would-be sponsors here is a list of ships events of this date from the Naval War College Library's website. A bit of redundancy but it's something that could be considered for historical covers.
The following events occurred on this day in ...
Ship Event
1906 OREGON (Battleship-3) Decommissioned
OREGON (BB-3) Decommissioned
OREGON (Coast Battleship-3) Decommissioned
OREGON (IX-22) Decommissioned
1914 MACHIAS (PG-5) recommissioned
1934 ERICSSON (CGC-5) Returned
WAINWRIGHT (CGC-24) Returned
WILKES (CGC-25) Returned
ERICSSON (DD-56) Returned
WAINWRIGHT (DD-62) Returned
WILKES (DD-67) Returned
ERICSSON (Destroyer-56) Returned
WAINWRIGHT (Destroyer-62) Returned
WILKES (Destroyer-67) Returned
1940 SABINE (AO-25) Launched
WALKE (DD-416) Commissioned
1942 MONTICELLO (AP-61) Conversion
1943 BARBER (APD-57) Laid Down
BARBER (DE-161) Laid Down
(NO NAME) (LST-27) Launched
(NO NAME) (LST-167) Commissioned
(NO NAME) (LST-204) Commissioned
(NO NAME) (LST-487) Commissioned
PUFFER (SS-268) Commissioned
1944 MAKASSAR STRAIT (ACV-91) Commissioned
GENERAL H H ARNOLD (AGM-9) Launched
GENERAL R E CALLAN (AP-139) Launched
MAKASSAR STRAIT (AVG-91) Commissioned
MAKASSAR STRAIT (CVE-91) Commissioned
MAKASSAR STRAIT (CVU-91) Commissioned
HEYLIGER (DE-510) Laid Down
(NO NAME) (LST-554) Commissioned
(NO NAME) (LST-667) Launched
(NO NAME) (LST-688) Commissioned
(NO NAME) (LST-696) Launched
(NO NAME) (LST-704) Laid Down
(NO NAME) (LST-906) Commissioned
CORPORAL (SS-346) Laid Down
1945 GRAND CANYON (AD-28) Launched
WAXBILL (AM-414) Authorized
GRAND CANYON (AR-28) Launched
BELLONA (ARL-32) Decommissioned
DAEDALUS (ARL-35) Launched
(NO NAME) (DE-89) War Loss
(NO NAME) (LST-1079) Launched
PAYETTE COUNTY (LST-1079) Launched
(NO NAME) (LST-1136) Decommissioned
(NO NAME) (LST-1139) Commissioned
(NO NAME) (LST-1143) Launched
1946 RIVERSIDE (APA-102) Decommissioned
BLAND (APA-134) Decommissioned
STEVENSON (DD-645) Decommissioned
DAMATO (DD-871) Commissioned
1947 COWIE (DD-632) Decommissioned
COWIE (DMS-39) Decommissioned
1948 (NO NAME) (LST-159) Sold
1951 HAILEY (DD-556) Recommissioned
CAPERTON (DD-650) Recommissioned
MARSHALL (DD-676) Recommissioned
PORTERFIELD (DD-682) Recommissioned
HALSEY POWELL (DD-686) Recommissioned
GREGORY (DD-802) Recommissioned
RAYMOND (DE-341) Recommissioned
MAURICE J MANUEL (DE-351) Recommissioned
ALBERT T HARRIS (DE-447) Recommissioned
1953 NIMBLE (AM-459) Laid Down
NIMBLE (MSO-459) Laid Down
1954 JUBILANT (AM-255) Decommissioned
JUBILANT (MSF-255) Decommissioned
1956 BOTETOURT (APA-136) Decommissioned
1960 CAPERTON (DD-650) Decommissioned
ROBISON (DDG-12) Launched
TULLIBEE (SSN-597) Launched
1964 GALLUP (PG-85) Laid Down
GALLUP (PGM-85) Laid Down
1967 ROARK (DE-1053) Launched
ROARK (FF-1053) Launched
1968 PUGET SOUND (AD-38) Commissioned
HALSEY POWELL (DD-686) Commissioned
HALSEY POWELL (DD-686) Decom/Loaned
1972 TRUETT (DE-1095) Laid Down
TRUETT (FF-1095) Laid Down
TRUETT (FFT-1095) Laid Down
1975 CARBONERO (AGSS-337) Intentionally Sunk
CARBONERO (SS-337) Intentionally Sunk
1979 UNDERWOOD (FFG-36) Awarded
CROMMELIN (FFG-37) Awarded
CURTS (FFG-38) Awarded
DOYLE (FFG-39) Awarded
HALYBURTON (FFG-40) Awarded
MCCLUSKY (FFG-41) Awarded
KLAKRING (FFG-42) Awarded
THACH (FFG-43) Awarded
1990 RICHARD E BYRD (DDG-23) Decommissioned
1992 HARTFORD (SSN-768) Laid Down

Sorry it's so long but it's proof that every day is a great day for naval covers.

Don't we have a regional in DCarea this weekend. Are the details posted anywhere?

Navy Will Cut Sailors And Ships, Official Says

By Dale Eisman, The Virginian-Pilot

WASHINGTON — The Navy’s top leadership has decided to pursue radical changes in the size and shape of its forces, likely resulting in the service’s shrinking by “thousands of sailors” and scaling back plans to add a substantial number of ships in the next few years, a senior Navy official said Friday.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the high-ranking official suggested that the success of a “sea swap” experiment, in which crew members have been rotated to keep destroyers on station overseas for up to two years, has led Navy leaders to conclude they can provide the combat power the nation needs with fewer ships than the 375 they had projected.

The Navy now has 295 ships.

In a 90-minute session with reporters, the official sought to “connect the dots” on a series of hardware and manpower initiatives sketched out in recent speeches by Adm. Vern Clark, the chief of naval operations.

The ambitious agenda, much of which would need the blessing of Congress, apparently was a major focus of a meeting of more than 200 admirals at the U.S. Naval Academy earlier this month. The official said it is aimed at making the Navy, and the Marine and Army forces it supports ashore, more agile in pursuing terrorists as well as fighting more traditional land and air forces.

The plan dovetails with Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s calls for military “transformation” and the development of forces that can respond more quickly to crises. It puts a premium on the deployment of relatively small groups of Marines, watched over by a network of unmanned planes and protected by Navy fighters and new naval guns that will be able to hit precise targets from 100 or more miles offshore.

The plan also calls for development of “sea bases,” built around a fleet of 12 aircraft-carrier-sized cargo ships with flat decks that could launch large cargo planes to deliver equipment to forces ashore.

“Sea basing” has been one of Clark’s major goals for more than two years. The official said Navy leaders have concluded that the problems the United States encountered last year in securing permission to launch attacks on Iraq from Turkey are likely to be repeated in other countries as American forces pursue terrorist groups.

By stationing forces at sea, the United States avoids having to seek permission from other governments to strike at those terrorists, Clark has said.

The official suggested that the first of the new cargo ships could show up in the Navy’s 2006 budget plan. Along with them, the Navy and Marines are pursuing a new amphibious assault ship, with enough deck space to accommodate perhaps 20 of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighters the two services are developing in conjunction with the U.S. Air Force.

Those planes, which are to have a range of about 800 miles, also are vital to what the official said is the “persistent precision” needed to protect smaller groups of Marines ashore. The official said that while no new target for the size of the fleet has been set, the Navy also remains committed to several major new shipbuilding programs, including a next-generation aircraft carrier, a high-tech destroyer and a high-speed littoral combat ship that could ferry troops and equipment to potential combat zones.

The service lacks the money to pay for all those programs, the official acknowledged. To help close the gap, he said, officials are considering the elimination of three or four of the 12 “Expeditionary Strike Groups” now used to keep Marine forces forward deployed.

By periodically flying in replacement sailors and Marines rather than ferrying the ships to and from Norfolk or San Diego, the service can keep as many Marines forward with eight strike groups as it now has with 12, the official suggested. The 12 strike groups are equally split between the East and West coasts.

The Navy also is studying additional forward basing, including the movement of an aircraft carrier to Guam, where it would be closer to potential trouble spots in the western Pacific and the Arabian Gulf. Officials have refused to speculate on whether that carrier would come from the Atlantic or Pacific fleet.

Five of the Navy’s six Atlantic carriers are based in Norfolk.

In addition to trimming several of the strike groups, the Navy is looking to save money by continuing to cut manpower levels, the official said. With salaries, pensions and health-care costs dramatically rising, “this department cannot keep doing things the way we’ve been doing them in the manpower business,” he asserted.

The DDX destroyer now under development is to sail with just 125 sailors, one third as many as today’s destroyers, and the CVN-21 aircraft carrier is to have 900 fewer sailors than today’s flattops. For every 10,000 sailors trimmed , the Navy can save $1.2 billion annually for other initiatives, the official said.

“The manpower calculus is changing right before our eyes,” the official added. The service is pointing toward an enlisted force dominated by college-trained professionals, some of whom will enter the Navy at ranks that sailors normally take years to achieve, he said.

Hope everyone had a great week end.

What is your eBay seller ID?

Don

Elgin, Enjoy and safe trip.

Good weekend to all.

Hi Larry

Hi John

Secretary of the Navy, Gordon R. England, has named DDG 100 in honor of Medal of Honor recipient Rear Adm. Isaac Campbell Kidd, USN.

Kidd was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on March 26, 1884 and graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1906. His distinguished career included participation in the World Cruise of the "Great White Fleet" 1907-1909 aboard the battleship USS New Jersey. He also served in the battleship USS North Dakota, and the cruiser USS Pittsburgh. He served as aide and flag secretary to the commander in chief, Pacific Fleet, the first of his many staff assignments and was an instructor at the United States Naval Academy from 1916-17.

During and after the First World War, Kidd was stationed aboard battleship USS New Mexico, and later he had staff and Naval Academy service. He was executive officer of the battleship USS Utah and commanded the support ship USS Vega until his assignment as Captain of the Port at Chrisobal, Panama Canal Zone from 1927-30.

Promoted to the rank of Captain, he was chief of staff to commander, Base Force, U.S. Fleet in 1930-32. After three years at the Bureau of Navigation in Washington, D.C., he was commander Destroyer Squadron One, Scouting Force, in 1935-36.

Captain Kidd next attended the Naval War College and served on the College staff. He was commanding officer of the battleship USS Arizona from September 1938 until February 1940. He was promoted to Rear Admiral and assigned as commander Battleship Division One and chief of staff to commander, Battleships, Battle Force.

On Dec. 7, 1941, he was killed in action on board USS Arizona during Japanese Navy’s attack on Pearl Harbor. Kidd was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Pearl Harbor attack. He was the first flag officer to lose his life in World War II, and the first in the U.S. Navy to meet death in action against any foreign enemy.

Two previous U.S. Navy destroyers have been named in honor of Kidd. USS Kidd (DD 661), 1943-1974, which is still afloat as a memorial at Baton Rouge, La.; and USS Kidd (DDG 993) which served the nation from 1981-1998.

DDG 100, the newest ship to bear the name Kidd, is being built by North Grumman Ship Systems in Pascagoula, Miss. The Kidd is a Flight IIA variant of the Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, and incorporates a helicopter hanger facility into the original design. The ship can carry two SH-60B/R helicopters. Guided-missile destroyers operate independently and in conjunction with carrier strike groups, surface action groups, expeditionary strike groups and replenishment groups.

Information on the U.S. Navy’s guided missile destroyers is available at http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/factfile/ships/ship-dd.html

Photos of Rear Admiral Isaac C. Kidd, USN are available:

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/pers-us/uspers-k/ic-kidd.htm

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/images/h48000/h48579k.jpg

The USS Kidd (DD-661) Museum in Baton Rouge information is available at http://www.usskidd.com/

Roger
The Martins are good and the Wisconsin cancels were excellent also

Stamps can be viewed at this site, you'll have to scroll down the page aways. Still no location as to where in New London the Camp was.
http://www.raster.it/stefano/a/stamps/cinderella81-90.htm

Here is a link from the local all news all the time radio stations' website:

:http://wcbs880.com/topstories/topstoriesny_story_112065538.html

Thanks for th einfo about the USS NEW JERSEY Chapter meeting too, John. Will definitly try to get to that one.

Ron Reeves

Would never consider being called "Chief" as being derogatory,
Navy would go down hill fast without their Chiefs.
But than again maybe I'm a little prejudice!!

If you have time to kill, go to the Archives and research some of the ship's logs or photos.

Jake, as hard as it is to believe WWII ended nearly 60 years ago and our covers from the 1930s are approaching 70 years. when I started collecting even the classics weren't that old. Don't know if we have any CT historians.

Speaking of HEALY, she departs for AWS '04
later this month, her mailing address:
FPO AP 96667-3918

HALEY operates in Alaskan waters: her
mailing address: P.O. Box 190657,
Kodiak, AK 99619

Hi John

Army To Christen Ship In Honor Of Black Civil War Hero

By Herb Frazier, Of The Post and Courier Staff

The Army will christen a supply ship today in honor of Robert Smalls 142 years after he commandeered a Confederate steamer and turned it over to Union sailors blockading Charleston's harbor.

The Maj. Gen. Robert Smalls, a logistics support vessel, will be the first Army vessel named for a Civil War hero and the first to bear the name of a black American.

"Robert Smalls for all of us has been the impetus for our backbone," said Smalls' great-granddaughter, Helen Boulware Moore of Bradenton, Fla. "He has given us a real legend and spirit."

The ship will be christened in a ceremony at the V.T. Halter Marine shipyard in Pascagoula, Miss.

As the senior member among some 50 of Smalls' relatives at the christening, great-granddaughter Helen Stinson Greenlee of Pittsburgh will smash a bottle of champagne on the ship's hull.

The Robert Smalls will be the second military vessel in two years to be named for a black South Carolinian.

The guided missile destroyer William Pinckney is named for a black World War II Navy hero from Beaufort, which also is where Smalls was born. The Pinckney is one of 10 Navy ships named for black Americans. The Coast Guard has two vessels named for black people.

At age 23, Smalls was a pilot for the Confederates. He commandeered the Planter, a transport steamer loaded with armaments, from a Charleston dock on May 13, 1862.

Onboard were his wife, children and 12 other slaves. As the steamer left the harbor, he gave the correct whistle signal. When a Union ship prepared to fire on the Planter, Smalls raised a white flag and surrendered.

In the North, Smalls was hailed as a national hero. A newspaper called the ship "the first trophy from Fort Sumter." Smalls and others aboard the Planter were awarded prize money.

After the Civil War, Smalls became a major general in the South Carolina militia, a state legislator and a five-term U.S. congressman. He participated in drafting the constitution in a state in which he had been a slave.

Mount Pleasant resident Damon Fordham, a researcher at Drayton Hall Plantation, said Smalls' action was one of the earliest incidents of black military heroism.

"It was the cornerstone for Robert Smalls' amazing political career, which is often overlooked," said Fordham, who has studied Smalls for several years.

"Most people don't know that he argued against Ben Tillman for the disenfranchisement of blacks in South Carolina in 1895 at the South Carolina constitutional convention. Although he lost the debate, he and the other black congressmen of the time made impressive arguments against the reduction of black political power."

In 1993, Kitt Haley Alexander of Alexandria, Va., began a quest to find something significant to do with her life. While she studied for a master's degree in photography at the Savannah School of Art and Design, she met one of Smalls' great-granddaughters, Dolly Nash, at a Black History Month event in Savannah.

Alexander asked Nash, who was then 71, if she could photograph her. Nash had a more interesting project for Alexander. She told Alexander about Smalls' heroism during the Civil War and his subsequent statesmanship.

Seven years ago, Alexander began the quest to have a military ship named in Smalls' honor and tell his story.

When it was announced in early February that the Army would name the supply ship in Smalls' honor, Alexander wrote in an e-mail to friends that: "Dolly, Smalls' great-granddaughter, is over the moon, as am I. When I called her, I said, 'We've got us a ship! We did it! We did it!' "

Dolly Nash died March 17.

"I am devastated that she is not here," said Alexander, who is the founder and chairwoman of the Robert Smalls Legacy Foundation. "It is her inspiration that caused me to do this work. She devoted her life to telling his story, and she passed her torch to me."

Bill, They have reopened the Navy Museum on base. It's esentially the same as it was before closing for repairs a few years ago. Well worth the visit. There is also an "art" museum and a USMC museum as well as Naval Historical Center.

Someone else chose when I am doing my two weeks this year. I've missed the Cherry blossoms, not really in DC at the Navy Yard and I drive pass Anecostia and the sewer treatment plant back to Andrews where I'm staying this week.

Dave Kent:
Talked to another knowlegible Crosby fellow last night. He was very familiar with the USS BRISTOL covers as well. He confirmed and was in agreement with all that you and with what others have told me about these covers having had to have been back dated weeks or months after the fact. (He went a bit further and surmised that they may have been cancelled after the Bristol was sunk.) At any rate, I plan on taking all the info I have gleaned from you and others and put together an article in the LOG about these Crosby/USS BRISTOL covers, with several illustrations of the covers. Thanks for your help!!

Are you in DC at the time of the Cherry Blossom Festival?

Here is the scan again

http://www.capecodmouse.com/temp/sneeky/Sicily.jpg

Except for two periods when the Kennedy will be in dry dock in Norfolk, Va., the Kennedy will be based at Mayport for the remainder of its life.

At one time, JFK was thought to be going to Japan to replace KITTY HAWK. If they can't get a nuke carrier based in Japan, look for a large deck amphib to be based there in a few years.

Jake:
Thanks! Got your email.

Larry Brennan:
It was hot here in the North Georgia mountains today as well.

Roger W.
See your e-mail, your offer has not been forgotten.

Dave Kent:
Thank you for your Email and all the information on the "Gang of Four". I strongly suspectd that those covers had to have been backdated, by at least several months.

Jake:
Didn't get a reply to my last email?

Hows it going??

Chuck French: Thanks, I have the AYLWIN
cover with Cuban Cruiser PATRIA markings.

e sink: The Int'l. Ice Patrol address in
my April column "Hooligan News" - I used
Philatelic Petty Officer, USCG Int'l. Ice
Patrol, 1082 Shennecosset Road, Groton,
CT 06340-6094
Too late for SHIRASE this year! Send me a
SASE and I'll send you their address and
instructions. Don't have info nearby! I
usually send the covers in late October.
What I suggest is that you get some mint
Japanese stamps 110 yen each cover (air),
I usually send three covers,as they may
have two or three different cachets.

A Very Good Day To All !!

Greg F.
here is a scan of the JPJ, MFM Cover
http://www.capecodmouse.com/temp/sneeky/Sicily.jpg

Dave Kent:
Good point about the decision makers vs. navy cover collectors. I can just see them changing their minds for under 2,000 naval cover collectors. I'm still convinced that even if stores keepers end up doing the postal work on ships, we will still be able to get cancels for our collections. I really don't see it as a "dooms day" for our hobby. Even if we were not able to get cancels in the future, the are still millions of navy covers out there to collect. Will our hobby "go down the tubes"?? I seriouly doubt it....there will always be pictorial cancels for ship events and anniversaries to collect.

Yes it is Blue and is of the Lion & Pagoda design

Our Editor having noted last night here that I'm down to one article on his spike for future LOGs, one of those I need to write up is my visit w/ Fay Muridge in 2002. I'd tracked her down via a sister-in-law whose name popped up in a GOOGLE search. She lives between Seattle and Tacoma. Basically she was an artist who designed cachets, including naval covers. She got into naval covers 'cuz her sister's boyfriend was a founder of the USS PORPOISE Ch. 23 in Tacoma in the 30's. She and her sister are both listed as Ch. officers in the 1936 USCS roster. Much of her work was for DC Bartley's JPJ Ch. 2, but she also did cachets for Walter Czubay and for Alex Hesse's Argonauts Crew in ANCS. Some of her designs were reproduced by others into the 1960's, at least.

Thanks, guess that takes care of the cachet maker, now still need a date

Dave Kent
Came across a cover from the USS Sicily CVE118, appears tobe a Type 2 cancel with no date or year in the cancel, first time I've had one like this.
It has a JPJones Chapter cachet Saying "U.S.Fleet in Asiatic Waters", with the intials "MFM" in lower right of the cachet. Can you please help with a date for this cover.

A very Good Day To All!!!

Bob and I have co-authored a book on Naval covers and cancels related to the CZ and Panama in 1991. The book won the Cardinal Spellman Silver Medal for Philatelic Literature. The USCS co-published this book along with the Canal Zone Study Group(philatelic club). You should be able to get a copy of it from whoever handles/sells USCS publications.

If you look in past issues of the LOG, you will find an article by yours truly(Roger Wentworth) entitled "U.S. Submarine Base, Coco Solo, Canal Zone". This article has post card illustrations of submarines in the canal, cancels from submarines with Coco Solo in the killer bars, and naval cover cachets related to the Coco Solo Submarine Base.

I have passed on all this info to you twice now in the chat room and not received a response from you that you received/read it, or that you were even interested in it.

For John Young - I came across a USS Aylin Decatur Chapter cacheted cover dated May 12, 1935. The cachet says "The Republic of Cuba sends the Crusier Patria to salute the USS Olympia, Philadelphia, PA". In diamond boxes on either side, it states "Dewey Day" and "Mother's Day"; Killer bars (T-3) read "Mother's Day/Phila, Pa". It is back-cancelled with markings from the Patria.

What is the date in the G Washington cancellation that you just received?

This has been a good year for quality articles. John Young has been doing some heavy research on the Decatur Chapter 4 cachet sponsors. I am working on my own article on Coco Solo, CZ and went through all of the LOGs at the National Archives last month. Duty must have been very challenging there from the number of sailors brought up for courts Martial and sent to Portsmouth NH brig.

Note: the data below are taken from the REPORT OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL, “to be forwarded to the Bureau of Navigation on last day of calendar month” These are bound in, folded, in the annual volumes of Deck Logs. They are *not* present for most months.

The purpose appears to be to record all holders of rates and qualifications, and all changes in same in month. This is *not* the Muster Roll, which records every enlisted member of the crew and any changes in the quarter being reported. The REPORT OF ENLISTED PERSONNEL seems to pertain more to what billets are filled and which are not. Section 5, for example, returned as ‘none’, is “Men by Ratings on Temporary Duty.” (This does not appear to pertain to armed guard detachments, tho’ as the forms are bound in folded, usually, in quarters, it’s hard to work with them.)

One section of the report is headed “Divers” and seems to list all possible qualifications (as distinct from ratings). (These seem to be the sort of thing referred to by the National Geographic book in WWII as “Distinguishing Marks”, as distinct from “Specialty Marks” which indicate Specialty Ratings and as such are part of Petty Officer sleeve insignia. Distinguishing Marks don’t include Petty Officer grade. The “Divers” list runs:
Pigeonmen
Lighter-than-Air Duty
Watch and Clock Repairman
Electric Welders
Parachute Men
Aviation Instrument Men
Instructors of Recruits
Instructors of Service Schools
Cooks Qualified as Bakers
Sound Motion Picture Technician
Optical Repairman
Radioman Qualified in Aircraft
Mail Clerk
Qualified Submarineman
Foreign Language Interpreters and Translators
Motion Picture Projectionists
Operators of Special Machinery
Laboratory Technicians
Dental Technicians
Misc.

Except for MAIL CLERK and SOUND MOTION PICTURE TECHNICIAN, all MONOCACY reports seen have “none” entered for the “divers” list; the only reports bound with the Deck Logs for 1932 and 1933 are noted below.

MONOCACY PR-2

31 March 1932

MAIL CLERKS CATO, Paul David S1c Mark 3.8
POLLARD, George Malcolm Y1c Mark 3.9
[Pollard appears on the line opposite qualified submariners, but than line is recorded as “none” in all other reports, and as there is an “s” on MAIL CLERKS it seems safe to assume there were 2.]

30 June 1932

MAIL CLERK CATO, Paul David QM3c 260-40-41 Mark 3.6

31 March 1933

MAIL CLERK CATO, Paul David QM3c Mark 4.0

30 June 1933

MAIL CLERK DAVIS, Clayton D. QM1c Mark 4.0

SND.MOTION PICT.TECH: LANDRY, Albert Joseph EM1c Mark 4.0

30 September 1933

MAIL CLERK CLARK, James W. 267-65-62 GM1c Mark 4.0

SND.MOTION PICT.TECH: LANDRY, Albert Joseph EM1c Mark 4.0

By Mark D. Faram
Times staff writer

The days of getting stamps or money orders from a postal clerk on board many surface ships are coming to an end. As part of the effort to reduce shipboard manning, Vice Adm. Timothy LaFleur, who commands all surface forces, said in an April 6 message that postal clerks no longer will serve on cruisers, destroyers, frigates, amphibious transport docks and dock landing ships.The move won’t affect PCs on aircraft carriers, amphibious assault ships and submarine tenders. “The plan calls for the remaining postal clerks to detach at their normal rotation date,” said Lt. Cmdr. Pat McNally, spokesman for Naval Surface Forces in San Diego. There are no plans at the moment to move anyone early, but after the PCs transfer, postal work on small boys will be done by a “postal petty officer,” likely a storekeeper or ship’s serviceman, McNally said.LaFleur made the decision after evaluating the results of optimal manning tests on the destroyer Milius and cruiser Mobile Bay.Both ships recently completed deployments without a postal clerk onboard and, McNally said, neither experienced problems in mail service or passing postal inspections. “I think it is an excellent idea,” said Postal Clerk 2nd Class (SW/AW/SS) Samuel Rogers, who works in the post office onboard the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk.“They don’t get much mail on small ships,” Rogers said. “They don’t sell many money orders either.”He says he hopes the move will mean more postal clerks will be assigned to aircraft carriers and fleet mail centers, where there’s a shortage of personnel.“When I was stationed in Bahrain, there was a shortage of PCs, and [we] had some SKs and SHs working in the fleet mail center,” he said. “Last year on the ‘Hawk,’ we were undermanned, too.”Altogether, roughly 150 postal clerk billets are being eliminated from surface ships. Surface Forces Command has yet to decide if it will eliminate all or some of those billets from its PC allowance.“Since they own the billets, they can redistribute as they see fit,” said Cmdr. Matt Wisniewski, head of enlisted plans for the Navy’s Chief of Personnel in Arlington, Va.Currently, 448 of nearly 900 postal clerks are on sea duty, he said.Eliminating the PC billets was one of two options considered when the Navy first started experimenting with optimal manning on destroyers in 2001. According to the Naval Supply Systems Command Web site, a second option, favored by Atlantic Fleet, was to keep postal clerks onboard and use them as storekeepers when they weren’t handling postal duties. “That’s what I’d recommend they do,” said retired Master Chief Postal Clerk Michael Bertalan. “I think they’re making a mistake removing them altogether.”Bertalan spent 27 years in Navy post offices, including a tour as a postal inspector, and agrees that postal clerks don’t always have work to do. As a result, they were easy targets for elimination.“I think it’s easier to train a PC to do supply duties than to try and make an SK or SH into a postal clerk,” he said. “When I was a postal inspector, most of the problems I found were when they had non-PCs handling money and the mail.“You’re dealing with two sets of regulations here, both the Navy’s and the U.S. Postal Service,” he said.Rogers says money- and mail-handling issues may have been problems in the past, but he adds that he doesn’t think it will be an issue with training for new collateral-duty postal petty officers in both Navy and U.S. Postal Service regulations. “You can just install a machine to sell the stamps and then open a separate window in the ship’s store to sell money orders,” Rogers said. The move also could pave the way for a merger of postal clerks into either the SK or SH ratings.“It’s just being looked at now, and the rating manager is doing preliminary commonality studies,” Wisniewski said. “No decisions have been made.”“I would welcome the merger,” Rogers said. “For me, it’s cool — I can study SK and SH stuff and maybe make first,” he said.“If it were up to me, I’d combine all supply [ratings] and let us all compete. The best will stay, the weak will go.” Mark D. Faram covers enlisted personnel issues. His e-mail address is mfaram@navytimes.com.
--------------------------------------
Contributed,
YNCS Don Harribine, USN(Ret)

John Young:
Referencing your info on the Japanese "Shirase"
and International Ice Patrols, would appreciate if you could please provide address and procedures (or source)for obtaining such covers.
Thanks. esink@comcast.net

Thanks !! will drop you an e-mail later.

Only info I could see on that "Cinderella Stamp" Was Camp Dewey, when I get it in my grubby hands will make a scan of it, as there is alot more writting on it that does not show inthe seller's scan.

Chuck French
By chance do you remember a Chief Thornberry that was aboard the Bairoko in 1952?

Only info I could find on the net that might have something to do with it is, there was a school in New London for Reserve Junior Officers, maybe it is in relation to some part of that school.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (April 17) - Descendants from North and South have come to the city where the Civil War began to bury the crew of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, the first sub in history to sink an enemy warship.

The crew was scheduled to be buried Saturday in a ceremony expected to attract thousands of re-enactors.

A funeral procession, in which coffins draped in Confederate flags will be pulled on horse-drawn caissons, will make its way almost five miles from Charleston's waterfront Battery to Magnolia Cemetery.

Fourteen Southern governors who were invited to the ceremony declined to attend. Most cited scheduling conflicts, but some observers say they may be wary of the political implications of attending an event with thousands of Confederate re-enactors.

About 40 relatives of Hunley crew members were in Charleston Saturday.

Emma Busbey Ditman of Silver Spring, Md., said she learned about 12 years ago that she had a relative aboard the Hunley. She is the great-grandniece of crewman Joseph Ridgaway, who was born on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

"It's been very emotional. My father died when I was a little girl and I knew almost nothing about father's family when I was a child," she said. "For me, it's finding my family."

The hand-cranked Hunley made history on Feb. 17, 1864, when it rammed a spar with a black powder charge into the Union blockade ship Housatonic.

But the sub never returned from the mission. It was found off the South Carolina coast nine years ago and was raised in 2000 and brought to a conservation lab at the old Charleston Naval Base.

The crew that will be buried Saturday was the third crew to die aboard the submarine.

The first crew drowned in the fall of 1863 when water from the wake of a passing ship flooded the sub at its mooring. A few weeks later a second crew, including designer H.L. Hunley, died during a test dive.

The crewmen to be buried Saturday will be buried next to the other crews in a plot shaded by oaks and palmettos.

Rebecca Farence of Harrisburg, Pa., said crewman Frank Collins was her great-grandfather's half cousin.

"These are just extraordinary men - brave and strong who did a marvelous thing," she said.

for aviation and amphib collectors, a little more detail about deployed units.

Yokosuka, Japan (Apr. 12, 2004) - Small barges maneuver the 7th Fleet command and control ship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) into a Naval Ship Repair Facility dry dock. Blue Ridge is scheduled to undergo an extensive dry dock maintenance period for several months. Blue Ridge is forward deployed to Yokosuka, Japan. 7th Fleet command ship duties have been temporarily transferred to USS Coronado (AGF 11) which deployed from its homeport of San Diego, Calif., earlier in the year.

Souda Bay, Crete, Greece (Apr. 12, 2004) - The Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Dallas (SSN 700) receives cargo during a brief port visit to Souda Bay. Commissioned in 1981, Dallas is the first Los Angeles-class submarine to have a Dry Deck Shelter (DDS). Dry Deck Shelters provide specially configured nuclear powered submarines with a greater capability of deploying Special Operations Forces (SOF). DDSs can transport, deploy, and recover SOF teams from Combat Rubber Raiding Crafts (CRRCs) or SEAL Delivery Vehicles (SDVs), all while remaining submerged. In an era of littoral warfare, this capability substantially enhances the combat flexibility of both the submarine and SOF personnel.

The current photos are good news sources for deployed ships.

Jake/Dave, Could Camp Dewey be related to something like NJROTC or Sea Scouts?

Interesing note in the NY Council World Ship Society about the recent find of postcards in the wreck of the WWI German cruiser Karlshure.

I had a bit of fun last night appearing on the Abrams Report to discuss the status of the Soldier being held hostage in Iraq. It was interesting how the whole thing was set up in less than an hour from when I first received the producer's call to air time. Let's hope and pray that this has a good ending for all the MIAs.

Thanks Mate for a GREAT LOG

The newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Nitze will be christened on Saturday, April 17, 2004, during a 1 p.m. EDT ceremony at Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine.

Sen. Susan M. Collins of Maine will deliver the ceremony’s principal address. Leezee Porter will serve as sponsor of the ship named for her husband. In the time-honored Navy tradition, she will break the bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen Nitze.

The ship’s name honors Paul H. Nitze, whose distinguished government career included serving as the 57th secretary of the Navy from 1963 to 1967. Secretary of the Navy Gordon R. England said, "Paul Nitze is a great American patriot.
Throughout a lifetime of service he has been a trusted advisor to our country's presidents and other leaders. Ambassador Nitze stood the watch and bravely defied the fascists and communists who threatened freedom during World War II and the Cold War. His contributions to the Navy and our nation are many and we are honored to
have this fine ship bear his name."

As the Navy secretary, Nitze raised the level of attention given to quality of service issues. His many achievements included establishing the first personnel policy board and retention task force obtaining targeted personnel bonuses, and
raising command responsibility pay. Nitze also became a strong advocate for officers' advanced education opportunities and worked to enhance greater integration of senior Navy staff by moving the chief of naval operations' office
next to his own.

Born in Amherst, Mass., on Jan. 16, 1907, Nitze graduated "cum laude" from Harvard University in 1928. After working in investment banking where he was known as a Wall Street prodigy, he left that industry in 1941 to enter government service. During the period 1944-1946, Nitze served as director and then as vice
chairman of the U.S. Strategic Bombing Survey for which President Truman awarded him the Medal of Merit.
From 1953 to 1961, Nitze served as president of the Foreign Service Educational Foundation while concurrently serving as associate of the Washington Center of Foreign Policy Research, the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University. In 1961 President Kennedy appointed Nitze assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs and in 1963 he became the secretary of the Navy, serving until 1967.

Following his term as secretary of the Navy, he served as deputy secretary of defense (1967-1969), as a member of the U.S. delegation to the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) (1969-1973), and assistant secretary of defense for
international affairs (1973-1976). He was President Reagan's chief negotiator of
the Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (1981-1984). In 1984, Nitze was named
special advisor to the president and secretary of state on arms control. For more than forty years, Nitze was one of the chief architects of U.S. policy toward the Soviet Union. President Reagan awarded Nitze the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1985 for his contributions to the freedom and security of the United States.

Nitze, designated DDG 94, is the 44th ship of 62 Arleigh Burke class destroyers currently authorized by Congress. This highly capable multi-mission ship can conduct a variety of operations, from peacetime presence and crisis
management to sea control and power projection, in support of the National Military Strategy. Nitze will be capable of fighting air, surface, and subsurface battles simultaneously. The ship contains myriad offensive and defensive weapons designed to support maritime defense needs well into the 21st century.

Cdr. Michael Hegarty of Oklahoma will become the first commanding officer of the
ship with a crew of approximately 32 officers and 348 enlisted. Bath Iron Works is
building the 9,200-ton Nitze, which is 511 feet in length, with an overall beam of
66 feet, and a navigational draft of 33 feet. Four gas turbine engines will power
the ship to speeds in excess of 30 knots.

Ed and Dave, I agree that there is confusion about the value of making PCs supply ratings or vice versa. It probably has more to do with number of overall billets and the power of the folks managing the program. On the reserve side a whole program, the Naval Control of Shipping Units, were closed because they didn't have a strong flag sponsor. This was a program designed for merchant marine officers, graduates of Kings Point and the state maritime schools. No mission no support no future.

I remember going nearly a month without mail on board ship as we sailed around Africa. It's arrival was welcomed by all hands, and a dramatic prayer by our senior chaplain. On the otherhand, it was a quiet 20+ days at sea for the PCs. People still bought stamps, money orders and put main in the system but there was not much else to do. When the mail finally arrived by COD there were lots of helpers from the different departments to expedite delivery of the stale mail. Let's hope that they keep the postmarks; it really doesn't matter if the sailor is a rated PC or not as long as he/she is cooperative.

Keel hauling
A naval punishment on board ships said to have originated with the Dutch but adopted by other navies during the 15th and 16th centuries. A rope was rigged from yardarm to yardarm, passing under the bottom of the ship, and the unfortunate delinquent secured to it, sometimes with lead or iron weights attached to his legs. He was hoisted up to one yardarm and then dropped suddenly into the sea, hauled underneath the ship, and hoisted up to the opposite yardarm, the punishment being repeated after he had had time to recover his breath. While he was under water, a "great gun" was fired, "which is done as well to astonish him so much the more with the thunder of the shot, as to give warning until all others of the fleet to look out and be wary by his harms" (from Nathaniel Boteler, A Dialogicall Discourse, 1634). The U.S. Navy never practiced keel hauling.

Mike, Good evening.

Acknowledgements

The Naval Historical Center and the Ships History Branch of the Naval Warfare Division express their sincere and heartfelt thanks to Admiral James L. Holloway III, United States Navy, Retired, Chairman of the Naval Historical Foundation, whose generous grant made the Online DANFS Project possible. The Naval Historical Foundation contracted with Input Solutions, Inc., to convert the entire Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships into electronic format, and then donated the finished product to the Navy.

Editorial Note

The Ships History Branch of the Naval Warfare Division researches and writes the multi-volume Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, available in many libraries in the United States and abroad. Compiled like an encyclopedia, each volume includes summary histories of U.S. Navy ships from certain sections of the alphabet. The volumes also include an assortment of appendices on small craft, dictionary entries for Confederate Navy ships and various essays related to naval ships. The first volume, covering ships starting with the letters A-B, was published in 1959. The first edition of the series completed in 1981 with the publication of Volume VIII (letters W-Z). In 1991 a ninth volume, Volume IA, revised the histories beginning with the letter A from the original Volume I. A future Volume IB will revise the histories beginning with the letter B.

Although digital versions of DANFS entries have been available on non-government websites for some time, the Online DANFS Project makes the official version of all 10,000+ entries available for the first time. Initially, the online histories are simply reproductions of the original published material. Since many of these entries are incomplete or out-of-date, the Online DANFS Project continues as historians of the Ships History Branch update these histories and add new material. Priority is being given to completing entries for Volume IB, updating histories for ships currently in commission, and finishing histories of ships that were still serving at the time their entry was originally published. Other entries will be revised to correct errors and improve the overall quality of the series.

Find an Error?

To report errors in individual entries or to make suggestions for improvement contact the Ships History Branch at:

Naval Historical Center (SH)
Washington Navy Yard
805 Kidder Breese Street SE
Washington Navy Yard, DC 20374-5060

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

04 February 2004

Every Wed (underway) 0830- 1000 Hrs
dated 16 SEP 1959

It's a rating that has been around for only 20 years or so. Probably they were YNs before. I remember we had a bunch of Chaplains' Assistants on board ship but can't remember their ratings. Must have avoided the brig.

Trying to survive the last minute tax crunch, never my favorite hobby. Don't know how I could survive without Turbo Tax.

I have aske CMDR. Cooper about this rumor about PC's being removed from the smaller ships, and have as yet not heard back from him. He has indicated that he will get back to me. I will post his answer when I get it.

I called a friend of mine, who's son is a PC2 on a destroyer in Mayport, and he tells me his son will look into this as well, but at this time his son has not "officially" heard this information, nor has any of his fellow PC's on other ships in Mayport heard of this.

Perhaps the system will revert to the old style and the navy will designate mail clerks who have different ratings. The mail still has to move and someone will have to cancel it. Only the question of bonds and items like money orders and registered mail could stop this.

Postal clerks unfortunately do not help put ordanace on target.

For that matter nor do superannuated JAGs.

As I understand the situation,removing the PCs from these ship types has been in the works for more than six years, which exonerates the "present administration" from being blamed for its "inception" at least.

On Thursday April 8th I received a phone call from a Navy Times reporter named Mark Faram. He stated he was looking for imput from active and retired Postal Clerks regarding the Navy's decision last month to start removing the Pc's from the Small Boys and small Shore Stations and replacing them with Yeomen or some other rating. Unfortunately, he called on the same day of his deadline! So I didn't have much time to react. I was able to contact Mike Bertalan and Abe Quinones and they were able to give the reporter some input.
Mike and Abe have since passed on to a lot of you in the Association what they said to the reporter., and quite a few of you have indicated very strongly your desire to let the reporter know your views also!
As I have stated above, his deadline was Thursday April 8th. However, I think that if enough of you do in fact contact him in the next week or two, he may decide it is worth a follow up story.
Therefore I am posting his name, Phone Number, and email address here at this time so you may contact him if you so desire!
Navy Times
Mark Faram
mfaram@navytimes.com
703-750-8645"

There are some interesting articles about thermography and hand held heaters smaller than hair dryers in a magazine about rubber stamps. Seems that questions of inks and thermographs are issues for those hobbists too.

A good way to protect displayed prints and stamps under glass is to buy special glass that reduces the glare and protects somewhat. Direct sunlight is always a problem.

Ron - Did you ever hear from the Eisenhower, Roosevelt, Churchill, and Normandy?

The Dutch invented the Commodore rank about 1652 during one of their naval wars with England. They found they needed officers to command squadrons but did not want to create more Admirals, perhaps to avoid paying Admirals' salaries. A Commodore's pay was only about half that of an Admiral. The word comes from comendador, which means "having command over others" and might be of French or Spanish origin. The Dutch leader William of Orange introduced the rank to the British navy after he became King William III of England in 1689. Sometime later the British merchant marine began calling the senior officer of a merchant fleet Commodore. The Dutch also used the broad command pennant, a wide swallow-tailed pennant, that has become identified with Commodores in many navies, merchant fleets and yacht clubs.

Our Navy used Commodore as an honorary title from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War for Captains commanding two or more ships operating together or had other significant additional responsibilities.

In 1862 Commodore became an official rank and the Navy promoted 18 Captains. They wore the single star on their epaulettes. In 1866 they began wearing the two-inch stripe on their sleeve cuffs. The broad stripe was inspired by the Commodore's broad pennant and, in effect, transferred it from his ship's masthead to his sleeve, a practice also adopted by many other navies and yacht clubs.

Commodore was a command rank in our Navy from 1862 to 1899. After that it was a rank to which Captains who had served in the Civil War were retired. The rank was reestablished on 9 April 1943 for World War II service, and 147 officers held it as a temporary rank. After the war the flag rank structure reverted to its prewar form. By 1 January 1950, no commodores remained on active duty.

When the Defense Officer Personnel Management Act (DOPMA) became law in 1982, O-7 officers were designated commodore admirals. The Navy selected 38 Captains to wear the broad stripe and single star. In 1983 the Defense Authorization bill changed the title to commodore. With President Reagan's signature on the Fiscal year 1986 Defense Authorization bill, O-7 officer were again called rear admiral (lower half).

Many Thanks for your time and help in this matter. You can reach me at jake-dan@capecodmouse.com

hechler.wolfgang@t-online.de

I hope it will work.

Rich Nallenweg: Finally sent out this after-
noon answers to your question on your type z
cancels. Sorry for the delay!

I learned about this battle by reading Larry Forrester's book, "The Battle of the April Storm".
If you can find a copy, it's a good read. And there are numerous web sites with pictures and information.

Jake - I work two evening shifts a week now - so I missed the sunshine as I was in bed but I heard a lot of wind howling.

Could ya live with all the sunshine we had today??

Sounds like it was good duty
Much like I had on the VF only four of us in the shop

Did you spend all your time on the west coast???

I found a couple of mates who served in port Lyautey same time I was there and did remember him and a couple of others that he served with

Did you ever get my e-mail on the Mail Clerks web site???

Florida’s proposal was selected by Naval Sea Systems Command from four different offers made by five states last year, said NavSea spokeswoman Pat Dolan.

The Pensacola proposal calls for sinking Oriskany in 212 feet of water more than 22 nautical miles from shore, with its island superstructure intact, as a fishing reef for charter boats and recreational diving attraction, a Florida environmental official said.

The flying scenes are great -- they were done mostly in Key West by VF84. The shot with the F14A diving to kill the Zero nearly resulted in the loss of that Tomcat. The pilot Fox Farrell told of his unintended great recovery on the deck. Grumman spent a fortune to help with the filming at the flight scenes were used in the Intrepid museum for years.

The prior DVD of the movie wasn't that good but still it was a lot better than the VHS tape. I must have seen the previews a dozen times on our way home from the IO in 1980. The plot may not have been as popular as Topgun but many of the actors were real crewmembers. It's interesting to see how shipmates looked a quarter century ago.
Thanks for posting this tidbit.

Roger W is right about costs. The rule of thumb in retail is that the price is 3x the cost to the seller.

I envy your trip to the Great Wall; perhaps someday. The Pyramids were wonderful. I'd love to go back and see Egypt but not sure if it will be safe in this lifetime.

Great April LOG and interesting review of the new data sheet by Jim Woodley who introduces us to interesting things from Navy History [and the Naval War College Libarary].

Steve, Safe trip home and happy cover hunting to all.