Joe mentioned the fpo as 09587-1718

May 30, 2005 (L.A. TIMES)
IN BRIEF / MARYLAND
At 103, Former Sailor to Represent WWI Vets

Memorial Day parade organizers were considering using actors to represent veterans of World War I when they learned about 103-year-old Lloyd Brown — one of the last living veterans of the war.

Brown plans to ride in a parade today in Washington to represent the rest of the 4.7 million members of the U.S. armed forces who took part in the Great War. The Charlotte Hall, Md., man is one of the 30 veterans still living, according to an unofficial estimate by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Brown said he was 16 when he lied about his age so he could join the Navy in 1918. His Maryland driver's license still lists his birth date as Oct. 7, 1899, instead of 1901, the correct year.

allen

Interesting news from the PacNW. Tell John Young be patient with his cigar free life; my father quit cigarettes after 40 years of 2+ packs per day.

By Master Chief Journalist (SW) Kevin Copeland, Commander, Naval Surface Force, U.S. Atlantic Fleet Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- USS La Salle (AGF 3) was formally “laid to rest” during a pierside decommissioning ceremony at Naval Station Norfolk, May 27.

Since 1994, La Salle had served as the flagship for Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet, based in Gaeta, Italy.

“The USS La Salle has carried her message of democracy for 41 years, and she has done it masterfully,” said Rear Adm. Mark R. Milliken, director, Navy International Programs Office, guest speaker and former commanding officer of USS La Salle. “Today, we are not just decommissioning the “Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast,” we are saying thank you. Thank you to those who have served, and to those who will go on to serve in another capacity in this great Navy. For you are now, and forever will be, a part of history.

The ship’s commanding officer, Capt. Herman A. Shelanski, echoed the admiral’s comments, but also wanted to extend his appreciation to the crew.

“I want to thank the superb crew who successfully met all of its challenging commitments. They participated in numerous multinational exercises, countless days at sea conducting Maritime Intercept Operations, and they were essential to the defense of Athens against terrorist activity during the Summer Olympics," he said. "We’ve been as far away as Ireland and the Black Sea, where we improved relationships and fostered goodwill. This couldn’t have happened without the expertise and hard work of all of the La Salle Sailors."

La Salle was relieved of its flagship duties by USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) during a change of flagship ceremony in Gaeta, Feb. 25. The ship arrived in Norfolk March 17 for the decommissioning process.

Commissioned as an amphibious transport dock ship Feb. 22, 1964, USS La Salle (LPD 3) served as the flagship for Atlantic Amphibious Forces during the Dominican Crisis in 1965. In 1966, La Salle became the first ship of her size to successfully recover and return a Project Gemini space capsule to Cape Canaveral, Fla. After an extensive overhaul in Philadelphia in 1972, the ship was re-designated as a miscellaneous command ship (AGF), and assumed duties for Commander, Middle East Force. During this time, the ship was painted white to reflect the hot sun and was affectionately nicknamed, “The Great White Ghost of the Arabian Coast.”

In 1979, La Salle assisted in the evacuation of 260 American and foreign national civilians from the Iranian seaport of Bandar Abbas, and subsequently became the focal point of U.S. activity in the Persian Gulf at the outset of the Iranian Hostage Crisis. The ship returned stateside in late 1980 for the first time in almost nine years. After undergoing an extensive overhaul in Norfolk, La Salle returned to the Persian Gulf and became the flagship for Commander, Middle East Forces in June 1983. In 1984, the ship conducted mine sweeping operations in the Red Sea in response to attempts to disrupt shipping lanes, and in 1986, conducted contingency operations in the Gulf of Aden during Yemen’s civil war.

After the Iraqi missile attack on USS Stark (FFG 31) in May 1987, La Salle provided the primary fire fighting rescue assistance to the ship. During Operation Desert Shield, the ship assumed the responsibility of commanding and coordinating the multinational Maritime Intercept Force. Soon afterwards, La Salle returned to Norfolk to begin an overhaul to prepare it for duties as the 6th Fleet Flagship.

Since assuming those responsibilities Nov. 8, 1994, La Salle has been fully engaged in operations throughout the Mediterranean and Black Seas in its role of supporting Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet and Strike Force and Logistics South. In providing this operational support, the ship played a huge role in fostering goodwill and understanding between the United States and Western Asian, Middle Eastern and Southern European Mediterranean countries,

Following the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, La Salle became fully engaged in the war on terrorism, serving as 6th Fleet’s big deck in supporting Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

One of the ship’s last major assignments was supporting NATO-led efforts to control the international waters off Greece during the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.

The ship has received 35 unit awards, including six Meritorious Unit Commendation Medals, six Navy “E” ribbons, four Armed Forces Service Medals, four Navy Unit Commendation Medals, three Navy Expeditionary Medals, three Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, two Humanitarian Service Medals, one Combat Action Ribbon, one NATO Medal, one Kosovo Campaign Medal, a Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, and a Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

La Salle will be towed to the Philadelphia Navy Yard early next week to await its final disposition.

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2005 - Iraqi and coalition forces are searching for three detainees who escaped from the Abu Ghraib theater internment facility near Baghdad, Iraq, before sunrise today.

At about 5:50 a.m., during a normal headcount, prison guards discovered three detainees missing.

A quick-reaction force conducted a comprehensive search of the interior and exterior perimeter of the prison facility and alerted Iraqi security forces and police and other coalition forces. The search revealed two holes in the compound's fence, but the detainees were not found, U.S. military officials in Baghdad reported.

All other Abu Ghraib detainees were accounted for.

Elsewhere, Operation New Market continues in Anbar province, where U.S. Marines and sailors and Iraqi security forces have been searching buildings and businesses in Haditha, trying to locate terrorists, weapons and ammunition caches. More than 1,000 Marines and sailors are participating in the operation. They have established checkpoints in and around Haditha to prevent insurgents from leaving. They found one weapons cache, consisting of a rocket-propelled-grenade launcher, a machine gun and ammunition buried in a palm grove north of the city.

On May 25, insurgents attacked Marines and Iraqi forces with small-arms fire in the central part of the city. Six insurgents were killed in the engagement and two Marines were wounded. Locals identified one killed attacker as an imam, who reportedly fired on the Marines and Iraqi forces with an AK-47 assault rifle.

In other developments today:

An Iraqi child was killed as insurgents and multinational forces exchanged fire during an engagement in northern Iraq.

Task Force Liberty soldiers discovered two weapons caches at separate sites southwest of Bayji. The caches included 30 155 mm artillery rounds and 20 155 mm rounds.

Hello Sailor! NYC Fleet Week Begins

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NYC Fleet Week 2005
Fleet Week Events
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

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May 26, 2005 7:30 am US/Eastern
(1010 WINS) (NEW YORK) The Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum is co-hosting New York City’s 18th Annual Fleet Week celebration May 25th to May 31st.

Many of the exciting Fleet Week activities that have become synonymous with the event will be staged at the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum on 12th Avenue & West 46th Street, with others scheduled throughout the five boroughs of New York.

In partnership with New York City, the United States Navy and the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum, over a dozen Navy and Coast Guard ships will visit New York Harbor during Fleet Week. In addition, there will be military demonstrations, athletic competitions and many other exciting activities over the course of the seven-day celebration.

One highlight of the week’s activities is the Memorial Day ceremony held on the flight deck of the Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum. Veterans and active military personnel from all five branches of the armed services join in the museum’s tribute to the men and women who have made the supreme sacrifice for their country. The ceremony includes the playing of Taps, a ceremonial wreath laying, 21-gun salute, the unfurling of a 100 foot American flag and a fly-over of military aircraft in the missing man formation.

Fleet Week event favorites include the Parade of Ships, stem to stern relay race and tug-of-war crew competitions, live demonstrations of military skills, and the Best Chow Competition.

The Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum is proud to participate in New York City’s 18th Annual Fleet Week and to continue its mission to “honor our heroes, educate the public and to inspire our youth.”

The following Fleet Week 2005 events are free and open to the public.

DAILY EVENTS

Naval Submarine School Display 7:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. Pier 88 (Manhattan)
Navy Recruiting District Display 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Pier 88 (Manhattan)
U.S. Coast Guard Display 8 a.m. - 7 p.m. through May 30 Intrepid Pier
Navy Environmental Exhibit 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. through June 1 48th St. and Hudson River (Manhattan)
Navy Recruiting District Simulator Open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. while ships are in port Homeport Pier (Staten Island) Public Ship Tours Noon - 5 p.m. Thur-Tues Pier 88 (Manhattan) and Stapleton Pier (Staten Island)

Wednesday, May 25, 2005

Navy Recruiting Exhibit (SEAL Motivator) 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Pier 88 (Manhattan)

**Parade of Ships**
USS Shreveport (LPD-12)
USS Cape St. George (CG-71)
PNS Tippu Sultan (D 185) - Pakistan
USS Carr (FFG-52)
USCG Katherine Walker (WLM 552)
USS Porter (DDG-78)
Navy Afloat Laboratory "Starfish" (YP-679)
PNS Moawin (A 20) - Pakistan
USCG Vigorous (WEMC 627)
USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67)

9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Hudson River The most optimal viewing locations for the Parade of Ships are at Fort Hamilton between 8:45 and 11 a.m., and at Battery Park between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. The flyover can be viewed from 11 a.m. to noon

Thursday, May 26, 2005

U.S. Marine Corps Demonstration 10:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m. Cunningham Park, Union Turnpike and 196 St. (Queens) Blessing of the Fleet 11 a.m. - Noon Homeport Pier (Staten Island)
U.S. Marine Corps Demonstration 1 - 3 p.m. Clove Lakes Park, Clove Rd. & Slosson Ave.
Public Ship Tours Noon - 5 p.m. Pier 88 (Manhattan) and Stapleton Pier (Staten Island)

Friday, May 27, 2005

U.S. Marine Corps demonstration 10:30 a.m. - 1230 p.m. Riverbank State Park, 679 Riverside Dr.
Marine Day in NYC Noon - 6 p.m.
Bryant Park U.S. Marine Corps demonstration 1 - 3 p.m. Orchard Beach Pelham Bay Park (Bronx)
Public Ship Tours Noon - 5 p.m. Pier 88 (Manhattan) and Stapleton Pier (Staten Island)

Saturday, May 28, 2005

Public Ship Tours Noon - 5 p.m. Pier 88 (Manhattan) and Stapleton Pier (Staten Island)

Sunday, May 29, 2005

Greenpoint Parade 9 a.m. to Noon 519 Leonard St., Brooklyn
Forest Hills Memorial Parade Noon - 3 p.m. Forest Hills, Queens
Maspeth Memorial Day Parade 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. 56-18 69th Street Maspeth, Queens
College Point Memorial Parade, crew of USS Mahan and Marines to participate 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. 26th Ave. and College Point Blvd. College Point, Queens
Public Ship Tours Noon - 5 p.m. Pier 88 (Manhattan) and Stapleton Pier (Staten Island)

Monday, May 30, 2005

Pelham Memorial Day Parade 11 a.m. Pelham, NY
Glendale Memorial Day Parade 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Glendale, NY
Brooklyn Memorial Day Parade 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. 79th St. and 3rd Ave. Brooklyn
Bayville Memorial Day Parade 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Bayville, NY
Staten Island Memorial Day Parade 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. Staten Island
Manhattan Memorial Day Parade 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. Manhattan
Little Neck Memorial Day Parade 1 p.m. Little Neck, Douglaston
City Island Memorial Day Parade 2 - 5p.m. City Island, Bronx
Public Ship Tours Noon - 5 p.m. Pier 88 (Manhattan) and Stapleton Pier (Staten Island)

Tuesday, May 31, 2005

Public Ship Tours Noon - 5 p.m. Pier 88 (Manhattan) and Stapleton Pier (Staten Island)

Wednesday, June 1, 2005

Fleet Week Ships Depart

Courtesy: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum

Current and former Marines cheered as Director Henrietta Holsman Fore and other dignitaries struck the coins in the Proof Room where the silver dollar will be produced. The official launch of the Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar will be at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., on July 20, U.S. Mint officials said.

This is the first time the United States has honored a branch of the military with a commemorative coin, according to information provided by the Mint. Surcharges from the sale of 2005 Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollars will be paid to the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation to help construct the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico.

The obverse, or "heads" side, design of the coin features the raising of the American flag at Iwo Jima from the famous photograph by Joe Rosenthal during World War II. On the reverse, "tails" side, is the Marine Corps eagle, globe and anchor emblem and motto, "Semper Fidelis" - Latin for "always faithful."

"The coin design is simple and heroic," Fore commented at the ceremony. "The Iwo Jima image is the storied symbol of the Marine Corps heroism, courage, strength and versatility. It exemplifies Semper Fidelis to an appreciative nation every day around the world."

"We are honored to be the first military service to receive a commemorative coin issued by the United States Mint. And we are particularly pleased that proceeds from this coin will help build the Marine Corps National Museum in Quantico," said Marine Corps Assistant Commandant Gen. William L. Nyland. "I can think of no better way to honor our Marine men and women than to capture the proud history and heritage of the Marine Corps in a museum that will forever educate visitors from around the world about the role the Marines have played throughout world history, and will continue to play in the future."

Congress authorizes two official commemorative coins annually, and only the United States Mint may produce them. The Marine Corps 230th Anniversary Silver Dollar is the second and final commemorative coin that the United States Mint will produce in 2005. The Chief Justice John Marshall Commemorative Silver Dollar was launched earlier this year.

Richard Jones,

Sorry. That was a failed BlackBerry message intended to suggest that you visit NAS Whidbey Island if it fits your schedule. The Navy Lodge on the Seaplane base appears to be convenient.

Enjoy the Convention.

http://www.domeisland.com/benson-gleavesclass/nuc492.html

Thanks for the tip on asking about covers.

Makes the cost of the hotel room a lot cheaper, even though the Post is paying for it.

Now hope I can make a hook up with the son, that his squadron will not be on forward deployment during the summer

Think you maybe right on the carrier visits, most of the East Coast Essex Class put into Boston at one time or another, but thought I remember reading the Forrestal had paid Beantown a visit or two??

Here's the text of the Commendation:

“For outstanding heroism in action against enemy Japanese forces off Komandorski Islands, Bearing Sea, on March 26, 1943. With the only heavy cruiser of our small task force dead in the water following a fierce three-and-one-half-hour battle, the U.S.S. BAILEY led a determined torpedo attack against the superior Japanese surface force which was still closing our ships. Unprotected by friendly aircraft and without benefit of darkness or a smoke screen, she steamed forward at maximum speed, leading two other destroyers through a heavy barrage of hostile gunfire and concentrating her fire on the enemy’s leading heavy cruiser. Struck in rapid succession by two 8-inch shells and damaged by numerous near hits as she closed to within 9,000 yards, she launched five torpedoes and turned to retire just before two additional shell hits flooded her and rendered one engine inoperative. The only destroyer to release her torpedoes, the BAILEY succeeded in damaging one heavy cruiser and in turning back an overwhelming enemy force at the most crucial point of the battle. Her meritorious record of achievement is evidence of her own readiness for combat and the gallantry and seamanship of her officers and men.”

See you in Portland. Tom Armstrong
PS I'm bring many covers, booklets and some plaques. 3 hour drive from here.

Must have been a great site seeing her come in.!!
Were the Marines in Dress Blue, or Greens??

From what I saw on the tube, looks like they had a real big turn out on visitors?

A machine cancel from DD-492 USS BAILEY 10/29/43.

http://members.cox.net/clmartin1/USSBailey.jpg

Can't find this cancel in the Cat. I'm assuming that it was not cancelled on the ship, but on land. What kind of machine cancel is it? A variety of a type 7?

BAILEY has an interesting story. On March 26, 1943, in the Battle of the Komondorski Islands in the Aleutians, it chased down the Japanese cruiser NACHI and exchanged gunfire with it! NACHI hit BAILEY with 8" shells, but did not do any significant damage. BAILEY hit NACHI with 5" shells, but Morison's account does not specify the damage inflicted. (from Samuel Eliot Morison, "Aleutians, Gilberts and Marshalls, June 1942-April 1944" [Vol. VII, History of US Naval Operations in World War II]) BAILEY was awarded a Navy Unit Commendation for this action.

Ed you got a big week end up there with the JFK in port

Rich,

You're right but PA went the wrong way last year in the national elections. I have some cautious optimism that WG JRB can survive and think that it should. It's sad to watch the military abandon the Northeast, where the primary targets of terrorists remain. Also, I cannot understand the continued concentration of government resources and personnel in the Beltway. Putting all your eggs in a small basket is not the best way, just like putting all the feet in a few concentrated centers. The BRAC hearings on CSPAN are interesting. If PA can't keep a base open is there any hope?

Saturday is Armed Forces Day.

The Seabee is at Memorial Chapel in Davisville,R.I
The have made a nice memorial park there.
Davisville is near Quonset Pt.
Davisville was the original Home of the Seabees
You can read more about it here
http://www.nsva.org/Davisville.htm
As well as seeing the BEE under construction
Here isanother site with better photos on the Seabee Park at Davisville
http://www.seabeesmuseum.org/

New York Times
May 18, 2005
Pg. 1
Adrift 500 Feet Under The Sea, A Minute Was An Eternity
By Christopher Drew
APRA HARBOR, Guam, May 16 - Blood was everywhere. Sailors lay sprawled across the floor, several of them unconscious, others simply dazed. Even the captain was asking, "What just happened?" All anyone knew for sure was that the nuclear-powered attack submarine had slammed head-on into something solid and very large, and that it had to get to the surface fast.

In the control room, a senior enlisted man shoved the "chicken switches," blowing high-pressure air through the ballast tanks to force the vessel upward. Usually, the submarine would respond at once. But as the captain, Cmdr. Kevin G. Mooney, and top officers stared at the depth gauge, the needle refused to budge.

Moments before, they had been slipping quiet and fast through the Pacific. Now, they were stuck, more than 500 feet down.

Ten seconds passed. Then 20, 30.
"I thought I was going to die," Commander Mooney recalled.
It would be close to a minute, but an excruciatingly long minute, before the submarine's mangled nose began to rise, before the entire control room exhaled in relief, before the diving officer, Chief Petty Officer Danny R. Hager, began to read out a succession of shallower depths.

"I don't know how long it was," Chief Hager said, "but it seemed like forever."
Last week, Navy investigators reported that a series of mistakes at sea and onshore caused the 6,900-ton submarine, the San Francisco, to run into an undersea mountain not on its navigational charts. One crewman was killed, 98 others were injured, and the captain and three other officers were relieved of their duties as a result of the Jan. 8 crash, one of the worst on an American submarine since the 1960's.

But what is becoming clear only now, from the first interviews with Commander Mooney and 15 other officers and enlisted men, as well as a review of Navy reports, is how much worse it nearly was, and how close the San Francisco came to being lost.

The submarine crashed at top speed - 33 knots, or roughly 38 miles an hour - about 360 miles southeast of Guam. The impact punched huge holes in the forward ballast tanks, so the air being blown into them was no match for the ocean pouring in. The throttles shut, and the vessel briefly lost propulsion. As the emergency blow caught hold, mainly in the rear tanks, the sub was just drifting in the deep, its bow pointing down.

Luckily, the thick inner hull protecting the nuclear reactor and the crew's quarters held. But within was pandemonium - bodies pinballing, heads striking steel in the warren of lethally sharp surfaces in impossibly tight spaces. There was so much blood on the instruments and on the control-room floor that the place, Chief Hager said, "looked like a slaughterhouse."

Then chaos gave way to improvised heroism and a perilous, and finally futile, effort to rescue the most grievously injured sailor.

The merely battered ministered to the badly hurt, turning the mess hall and the officers' wardroom into instant clinics, ripping off shirts to use as tourniquets and creating splints from cleaning brushes. When they realized that the only hope for the dying man, a young machinist's mate named Joseph A. Ashley, was to get to a hospital, sailors cut off railings and fixtures to thread his stretcher through narrow areas. They then rigged pulleys in an effort to hoist him through the sail, at the top of the submarine, and onto a helicopter hovering just above.

To avoid detection, submarines travel silent and largely blind, relying heavily on charts, and their interpreters, to navigate the undersea landscape. The meeting of this submarine and that mountain beneath the Pacific was in many ways a stroke of hauntingly rare bad luck: everyone relied on the one chart, from a panoply of them, that lacked even a hint of the looming danger. But the submarine's fate was also the result of a confluence of simple shipboard errors.

The Navy has placed the blame on the captain and the crew, and Commander Mooney says, "I accept full responsibility." He acknowledges several critical mistakes, including going too fast, taking insufficient depth soundings and failing to cross-check the route with other charts.

Yet the fact that those errors happened on a boat with a highly rated commander suggests a more nuanced calculus of responsibility, raising questions about the relatively primitive state of undersea charting and the training and support of submariners.

Petty Officer Ashley's father, Daniel L. Ashley, a Navy veteran, refuses to let the Navy off the hook. Sitting in his home outside Akron, Ohio, one recent morning, with a memorial of flags and photographs on the family organ, Mr. Ashley said he had forgiven Commander Mooney and the crew.

"I know what these men have to live with for the rest of their lives," he said. "I feel the same pain."
But if the Navy's systems for supporting submarines had not also broken down, he said, "this would not have happened, and my son would be alive today."

A Normal Saturday
As the San Francisco prepared to shove off in early January, spirits were high. Since taking over in December 2003, Commander Mooney had pushed his 136 sailors through four months of repairs and two intelligence missions. The San Francisco, previously known as a troubled boat, was winning praise in the Navy as a "Cinderella story."

Now the submarine was headed for Brisbane, Australia, and its first liberty stop under the 40-year-old captain, a graduate of Duke University and a submarine officer for 19 years. One thing, though, was bothering him, he recalled: the basic routing instructions seemed to be late. So he told his navigators to call the Seventh Fleet in Japan and hurry them along.

The goal of the routings was to ensure that no other Navy ship would cross the submarine's path, and they laid out a wide track to follow. But some officers had come to view these navigational guides as suggesting a measure of safety. And as the San Francisco left here on Friday, Jan. 7, the team plotting the precise route within that track focused on a single set of charts that, Navy officials agree, usually gave the most detailed view of the seabed.

Since submarines generally do not use active sonar, with its telltale pings, a good picture can be critical in avoiding mountain ranges rising from the seabed. Relying on charts, though, has always been somewhat hit or miss. Only 10 percent of the oceans have been charted by Navy survey ships. Many charts only include obstacles spotted by warships, commercial vessels or even 18th-century explorers like Captain Cook.

One poorly charted area was south of Guam, where the Navy started basing subs in 2002. So by Saturday morning, when the San Francisco entered the Caroline Islands mountain chain, there had been talk of special precautions among some of the men. But to the plotting team, the winding route down to Australia looked wide open.

To the rest of the crew, it was just a normal Saturday, which meant cleaning the boat. Lunch began at 11 a.m. - hamburgers, French fries, baked beans - and at 11:25 Commander Mooney went to the wardroom, where the officers ate. The crew's work shift changed five minutes later, and when a line formed outside the mess, several men, including Petty Officer Ashley, decided to have a smoke first in the vessel's tail.

Sailors said this was typical of Petty Officer Ashley, 24, an unabashed country boy who loved motorcycles, Jeeps and the boat's diesel engine, which he cared for.

His nickname was Cooter, after a mechanic on the old television show "Dukes of Hazzard." He was also known for his wicked Michael Jackson imitation, which one sailor called "moonwalking in cowboy boots."

That afternoon, the plan was to slow down for drills, so with everything humming along, Lt. Cmdr. Bruce L. Carlton, the navigation officer driving the submarine, decided to get ahead of schedule by bumping up to full speed and going deeper.

A sounding taken at 11:30 a.m. confirmed what was on the charts - the ocean was 6,000 feet deep there - and the submarine began to glide down to 500 feet from 400 feet. At 11:38, a decision was made to go to 525 feet, and a junior officer recommended another sounding. But Commander Carlton did not think that was necessary, the Navy reports indicate, and none was made.

Blood and Chaos
Chief Hager, wry and wiry at 39, unbuckled his seat belt and hopped up to jot a note on a card taped to the jet-black control panel. Suddenly - it was just after 11:42 - he felt his grip on a drawer handle tighten as the submarine shuddered.

Then "came the real deal," he said, a thunderous blast and what felt like a warp-speed gale whipping through the submarine as it froze in its tracks.

The force spun his body around - like Spiderman twisting against a wall, he said - and his hand punched through a plexiglass gauge cover. His seat ripped out of its runners and crushed his leg. Then one of the quartermasters, who had been monitoring the charts 15 feet away, came catapulting into view. He ended up knocked out on the floor, blood pouring from his forehead.

A few feet away, three more men were unconscious. One - the junior officer who had just suggested the extra sounding - was bleeding from his head and leg, and could hardly breathe. Commander Carlton, who was still in charge, had been thrown into a passageway, and blood streamed from the right side of his face as he scrambled back to the command center.

In the wardroom, Commander Mooney had been pinned into his seat, while a cook came over his shoulder and crashed into a television screen 10 feet away, cracking it in two places. Within seconds, the captain was rushing up a ladder to the control room, where the effort to blow the submarine to the surface had just begun.

Hundreds of papers that had popped out of binders were streaking dark red on the floor, and the microphones were crackling with injury reports. By 11:44, the submarine had finally broken the surface, with the captain scanning through a periscope. No ships. No wreckage. Nothing.

"I realized at that point that we had survived a collision with the bottom that was just unbelievable," Commander Mooney said. But, he said, he "literally had no idea" what it was doing there.

And no time to figure it out: there were also serious injuries in the crew's mess, the engine rooms and the smoking room - the other relatively open areas where men had gone flying. From the bridge atop the sail, Commander Carlton could see that the bow was damaged, raising fears of flooding.

"We were in shock," Commander Mooney said. But everyone was running on instinct and training. Damage-control parties quickly reported that the inner hull was intact, the torpedoes and cruise missiles unscathed. The captain radioed for help and turned the boat back toward Guam. In the stern, men began bringing the injured forward, toward the wardroom and the mess.

In the smoking room, Petty Officer Ashley had been thrown about 20 feet, fracturing his skull against either metal equipment or a bulkhead doorjamb. Two sailors crouched over him.

"I didn't know what to do," said one of them, Bryan Barnes, a 22-year-old electrician's mate. "So I just held his hand and talked to him until doc came back."

When "doc," the ship's medic, James H. Akin, arrived, he knew instantly that they had to get Petty Officer Ashley off the boat.

Racing to Save a Life
A submarine at sea is a self-contained world in a steel bubble. One thing it does not have, though, is a doctor; the medic, an enlisted man with basic medical training, handles the run of everyday illness and injury. Now, in a full-out emergency, the medic's first job was to get Petty Officer Ashley immobilized on a stretcher so he could be carried to the crew's mess.

There, the chief of the boat, William Cramer, the senior enlisted man, was commanding the cleanup. His men unfurled large rolls of terry cloth to sop up the slippery goo of blood and capsized lunch, and shoved the broken plates and glasses into the galley. In the wardroom, Lt. Craig E. Litty, himself a former medic, quickly set up a triage center, where he helped bandage most of the injured men.

Corpsman Akin, at 6 foot 4 and 280 pounds the largest man onboard, set up his medical supplies on the salad bar in the mess. He stitched up the men with the worst lacerations. And he tried to keep Petty Officer Ashley alive.

The medic says he knew he was probably nursing a dying man. Still, Petty Officer Ashley held on. For 21 hours, Corpsman Akin monitored his vital signs, kept his air passages clear, and gave him oxygen and morphine. Sailors took turns holding his hand. At one point, someone brought in a CD player and put on some Hank Williams Jr.

The first rescue ship, the Coast Guard cutter Galveston Island, arrived at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday. But by then, squalls had moved in, and it seemed too dangerous to try to shuttle Petty Officer Ashley over in a small boat.

The alternative seemed hardly less daring: using a helicopter to lift the wounded man and his stretcher out of a hatch on the top of the submarine's sail.

By now, a second ship, the Stockham, had arrived. It carried more doctors and two helicopters. Around 9 a.m., as one of the helicopters hovered 10 to 15 feet above the submarine, it dangled a doctor and a corpsman into the submarine to help prepare Petty Officer Ashley for the move. The pilots had to rely on a spotter in back to keep the copter clear of the pitching submarine.

"He was giving drift calls, saying 'Cut left,' 'Come right,' 'You're getting too close,' " said one of the pilots, Ricke Harris.

Inside the submarine, Chief Cramer ordered a path cleared for the stretcher. Several men unbolted or cut off ladder railings and lockers. By late morning, men were stationed in doorways and stairwells to pass the stretcher along; one even crawled underneath and supported the stretcher on his back through the narrowest spots.

They climbed up one level and under the sail, and then another group took over, heaving on a rope and pulley to lift the stretcher up the 25-foot sail. The first effort failed when Petty Officer Ashley's breathing tube came loose. With his condition deteriorating, a second try made it to the top.

That was when the men had an awful realization: the hatch atop the sail did not quite open the full 90 degrees. No matter how much they tried, angling this way and that, the stretcher would not slip through.

A surgeon, Chris Cook, was then lowered by cable from the copter. But Petty Officer Ashley's heart stopped, and the men began CPR. Half an hour later, at 1:11 p.m., Dr. Cook pronounced him dead. Still, one of the sailors kept pounding.

"I looked at him and said, 'We're sorry,' " Dr. Cook recalled. " 'There's nothing more we can do.' "
Hard Lessons
When the San Francisco pulled into Guam on Jan. 10, its bow slinking low in the water, the flags on other submarines were at half-mast, their crews lining the decks in tribute.

Looking at a picture of that moment, Commander Mooney speaks with pride of the way his crew brought the boat home. But an image discovered on the voyage back also remains seared in his mind, he says, one that helped seal his dismissal and spark broader questions about the Navy's navigational training and support.

That image is a small, light-blue circle on a white background. It signifies a potential hazard two to three miles from where the San Francisco crashed - close enough, Commander Mooney says, that if he had known about it, he would have tried to skirt the area or asked for a new routing. Charting experts now believe that hazard was the mountain, and that its location was imprecisely reported in the days before satellites made navigational fixes more precise.

Commander Mooney said he first heard about the hazard from his boss onshore a few hours after the grounding. It is, in fact, on every chart of the area except for the one that the boat was using - the one that usually provided the most detailed picture of the seabed contours.

That revelation has been embarrassing to the Navy and the Pentagon office that prepares the charts. Moreover, investigators have found that the officer who gave the submarine its basic routing also relied only on that one chart.

Under Navy rules, the captain and his crew are solely responsible for the safety of their ship. After all, in wartime, submarines must operate without help from shore.

The captain acknowledged that he and his crew should have cross-checked the charts. But some of his officers say it was common to grab what seemed the best chart and run down the center of the basic track, as the San Francisco did. They also said they were not alone in believing that the routings were based on more substantial navigation checks. "I look at it as just a lot of really bad luck," said Lt. Cmdr. Rick Boneau, the San Francisco's executive officer.

Commander Boneau, Commander Carlton and an assistant navigator were relieved of their duties, and three enlisted men were reprimanded. Commander Carlton did not respond to requests for comment.

But Navy reports have found that the sea charts are not updated frequently enough and that the routings are often delivered late, limiting the time for onboard navigation checks. The accident has also stirred concerns - dating back to the advent of nuclear submarines under the legendary admiral Hyman G. Rickover - that Navy training places more emphasis on engineering than on skills like navigation.

The approach to keeping the reactor safe is to build in redundant checks and test sailors constantly. But even though inspections had found some navigation deficiencies on the San Francisco in 2004, the reports said, squadron officials in Guam did nothing to make sure the problems had been fixed.

Since the accident, the Navy has briefed hundreds of officers on the lessons to be drawn. Capt. Matt Brown, the spokesman for the Pacific Fleet, said the Navy is also looking at other changes to improve safety.

Some of the younger sailors said they had not realized how close they had come to dying until they saw the San Francisco's mutilated bow at the dry dock here.

"Your jaw just kind of dropped open, and you wondered why you were still alive," said Mr. Barnes, the electrician's mate who held Joseph Ashley's hand right after the collision. As many as 10 sailors have asked not to return to submarine duty.

Commander Mooney is working a desk job until he can retire next year. Last month he visited Petty Officer Ashley's grave in a family plot on a hillside in West Virginia. The captain and the sailor's father said a prayer together as they placed a Navy marker by the grave. They embraced.

Then, the captain left one final offering - his command star, buried in the dirt.

There's a ton of those shafts all over the Mojave. If you ever want a very nice trip, go north up Hwy 395 and stop at Randsburg/Red Mountain- Shafts, abandoned mining, equipment laying everywhere- very interesting place. Further north is Owens Valley, home of Manzanar. My brother and I visited in 1994, but not much was there. Now they've begun to restore it, so it may be worth visiting.

Larry B. was right on "Stingers" being the 59th nickname.

Think I said before my dad was a Seabee during WWII, but was never in a combat area. His younger brother not so lucky, he lots of combat all over the Pacific with a Navy torpedo squadron of TBFs he flew as an aerial gunner on the "Stinger Gun" so called because of its location,aft belly just behind the bomb bay, looked just like a stinger on a bee, also would some times double as radio operator.
He like my dad returned to us safely after the war.

Dorothy and I are leaving for Portland OR tomorrow morning at 6 AM. Once the convention is over, we will be in NY (June 1st). All mail is now being forwarded to Bklyn where it will be held until I pick it up.

The Sales Circuit will resume operations in Bklyn as soon as I unpack everything from the PO Box and the convention.

Here is a brief write up on the Seabee unit you were asking about

59th NCB

Commissioned at Norfolk, Va., on Dec. 29, 1942, the 59th Battalion left Norfolk Feb. 28, 1943 and arrived at Hueneme on March 4. Leaving there March 21, the outfit sailed from San Francisco March 24 and arrived at Hilo, Hawaii, March 30. The Battalion operated at Kanuela, Hawaii, until April 20, 1944. Returning to Pearl Harbor the next day, the Battalion sailed for Guam in three echelons, leaving June 1, June 6 and June 18. The first echelon landed on Guam on July 27, with the remaining units landing on July 30, Aug. 2, 3, 10, 14 and 18. War's end found them still stationed on Guam

Pat Dolan, a spokesman for Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC, confirmed the “controlled” sinking took place at approximately 11:30 a.m. on May 14.

As Stewart mentioned, the High Desert does have great weather year round. Too bad it is full of lunatics. If you ever saw Terminator II, the part where Linda Hamilton's eccentric friend was staying in an Airstream trailer on a lot surrounded by broken down vehicles, tires, and junk is an all too familiar sight in the High Desert. In fact, that scene was filmed in Lucerne Valley, a notorious haven for drug dealers, meth labs, bad bikers, loners and freaks. However, it doesn't begin to rival Adelanto.

Don't know about the specifics but I've seen some SeeBee stuff with "bees", as in bumble bees and the like, dressed up as sailors and SeeBees, with exaggerated stingers. Perhaps it was the nickname of the 59th NCB. I really know little about SeeBee stuff.

GAETA, Italy (NNS) -- USS Mount Whitney (LCC/JCC 20) got underway May 17 to conduct certification exercises with NATO’s Joint Command Lisbon battle staff embarked.

The exercise, Allied Action 05, is a command post exercise to practice the procedures for planning and mounting an operation based on the NATO Response Force (NRF) and Combined Joint Task Force (CJTF) concepts.

This is the first operational exercise Mount Whitney is supporting since taking over as the U.S. 6th Fleet and NATO command ship. As one of the most sophisticated Command, Control, Communications, Computer, and Intelligence (C4I) ships ever commissioned, Mount Whitney incorporates various elements of the most advanced C4I equipment. This support provides the embarked commander the capability to effectively and reliably communicate with assigned forces.

“The ship stands ready to once again demonstrate our ability to serve as a state-of-the-art command and control platform for an embarked NATO battle staff,” explained Capt. Ladd Wheeler, commanding officer of Mount Whitney. “With our hybrid USN Sailor/civilian mariner crew as a backdrop, this ship is truly operating as one team to bring increased capability to the 6th Fleet area of operation.”

Mount Whitney deployed to the European theater with a new hybrid crew that includes 300 total personnel, including 157 U.S. Navy Sailors and 143 MSC civilian mariners (CIVMARS) – down from the 576 Sailor billets previously manning the ship. By supplementing the crew with CIVMARs, the Navy is operating the command ship at a reduced cost and employing captured uniformed personnel billets on forward combatant vessels.

"This is a great opportunity for us to help Joint Command Lisbon receive its NRF certification, because communications will play a big role in the success of the exercise," said Information Systems Technician 2nd Class (SW) Rachelle P. Larsen, a technician in the ship's computer information systems department.

"Working with joint communications is a challenge because we have to learn what they need and get them set up to successfully accomplish the mission," Larsen said. "It's also very rewarding. I have a lot of interaction with the NATO staff, so I learn about people and their cultures while I'm working on their computers."

Mount Whitney is homeported in Gaeta, Italy.

Sherman did not burn down Atlanta. Fires were started by retreating rebels in an attempt to slow Sherman down.

Roger, Do you have any covers with General Sherman. The father of Urban Renewal

They are just going to rewire the whole house from the street to a new central hub and then all TVs.
BellSouth DSL was causing too many problems with down signals and third-world customer support.

USNS BIG HORN T-AO 198 FPO AE 09565-4072

Maine will be visited by three U-S Navy ships this summer.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- That's according to U-S Senator Olympia Snowe, who says the ships will visit Portland, Boothbay and Belfast during summer festivals.
According to the senator's office, the first ship to come will be the U-S-S Vicksburg, a 567-foot guided missile cruiser that will be at the Boothbay Windjammer Festival from June 20th to the 24th.

The U-S-S Iwo Jima, an 844-foot amphibious assault ship, is scheduled to visit Portland for the city's Fourth of July celebration.

The U-S-S Cape Saint George, another 567-foot missile cruiser, is scheduled to be in Belfast from for the Belfast Bay Festival from July 20th to the 24th.

Jeff Curtis: I have always sent my request for PC's OSCs to the XO, and gotten good results.

We're experiencing some problems with our Windows based code on the Unix based server. We've purchased new software to resolve these problems and will have them resolved very soon. Temporary Page Buttons are now located on each page to assist in navigation of the site. Auction 7 can be viewed at:

http://navalpostalhistory.com/subcoverauctions.htm

Thank you to all those who have paid their invoices in a timely manner. We have only 4 outstanding invoices from Auctions 4 - 6. There is one unpaid invoice from Auction 4 (ended April 18), 2 from Auction 5 (ended April 25) and 1 from Auction 6 (ended May 2). If you have an unpaid invoice, please remit payment. Considering we've sent more than 225 invoices from Auctions 1-6, this is OUTSTANDING! Thank you again for all those who pay their invoices so quickly!

Auction 8 will include approximately 125 Polar lots and 75 Naval lots. There will be no Auction held during the week of May 23. The USCS is holding their Annual Convention at PIPEX in Portland, Oregon from May 27-29, 2005.

http://www.stampshows.com/portland_nfsc.html

As always, we need your Naval / Polar covers / items to auction in future auctions. If you would like to submit items for auction, please contact me at:
lafoe@comcast.net or (317) 750-3221

Thanks!

For all of you: you should joinMPHS. dues $20 toSecy Mr. R.T.Kinsley 5410 Fern Loop West Richland WA 99353-9806

Now, if they would just give us nuclear facilities at Mayport, we could get two carriers back from Norfolk. We did have Saratoga and Forrestal befor Kennedy.

(WASHINGTON) A Pentagon plan announced Friday would close Fort Monmouth, tossing thousands of people out of work there, while adding jobs at some of the state's six other military bases.

State and local officials vowed to fight the planned closure of the base in Monmouth County, which has mostly civilian employees.

"I am sorely disappointed with this list, and I will fight like hell to change it," said Rep. Rush Holt. "I'm not about to let the Pentagon's error put the fort and the soldiers it serves in harm's way."

The installation can be taken off the closure list if the majority of the nine-member commission appointed by President Bush to oversee the base closing process decides to do so.

Fort Monmouth would lose all its 5,272 military and civilian jobs, according to the list released by the Pentagon.

Eatontown Mayor Gerry Tarantolo said he had been dreading such a decision.

"It's a major disappointment. I think it's a poor decision. But obviously this is just the beginning of the fight," he said. "The battle starts today."

Under the Defense Department plan, two of the state's facilities are targeted to lose some jobs: the Naval Air Engineering Station at Lakehurst, which would lose 186 jobs, and Naval Weapons Station Earle, which would lose 61 jobs.

Four of the state's seven installations would gain a total of 1,850 jobs. Picatinny Arsenal would gain 693 jobs, McGuire Air Force Base 535 jobs, Fort Dix 353 jobs and the 177th Fighter Wing in Atlantic County 269 jobs.

In all, under the Pentagon's plan, New Jersey would lose 3,760 jobs.

Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-Harding, whose district includes Picatinny, was elated.

"Picatinny researches and develops new technologies which are being used by our soldiers and Marines today on the front lines to better protect themselves and fight terrorism," he said.

The Pentagon also wants to close three reserve facilities in New Jersey, cutting 91 jobs: the Inspector/Instructor Center in Ewing, the Kilmer U.S. Army Reserve Center in Edison and the SFC Nelson V. Brittin U.S. Army Reserve Center.

New Jersey's congressional delegation, which banded together to keep the installations open, blasted the decision to close Fort Monmouth.

"Closing Fort Monmouth is bad for New Jersey and bad for America," said Sen. Jon Corzine, D-N.J. "We have a very powerful case to make before the commission. The base is critical to protecting our nation in the ongoing war on terror and its missions contribute to the safety of every single American."

Democratic Reps. Holt and Frank Pallone, whose districts include Fort Monmouth and are home to its employees, were determined to get the post off the list. New Jersey has been successful before in persuading the nine-member Base Realignment and Closure Commission to remove a state base from the closure list, when McGuire was taken off in 1993.

Pallone said Fort Monmouth has played a vital role in the war against terror.

"After first-responder communication systems became inoperable on Sept. 11, Fort (Monmouth)-designed communications were used in search and rescue missions," Pallone said. "The essential brain power that perfected these technologies cannot simply be replaced or transferred some place else."

Tarantolo, the Eatontown mayor, said a lobbying effort will be attempted to persuade officials to save the base, which he said contributes billions of dollars to the local, county and state economies.

Down the road from the base's front gate, the manager of Sno Brite Laundromat, June Quammie, said her business will suffer.

"It'll definitely hurt," she said.

In Connecticut, four military bases, including the U.S. Naval Submarine Base in Groton, are on the Pentagon's list.

They also recommended closing Sgt. Libby U.S. Army Reserve Center in New Haven, Turner U.S. Army Reserve Center in Fairfield and the U.S. Army Reserve Center Maintenance Support Facility, Middletown. The Bradley International Airport Air Guard Station would be realigned.

The proposed actions would affect nearly 8,600 Connecticut jobs, nearly all of them from the Groton base.

U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman called the recommendation "irrational and irresponsible."

"It insults our history and endangers our future," Lieberman said. "It is right here in southeastern Connecticut where the heart and soul of America's submarine force lives. If this base were ever closed you would never replace it. It's a nuclear base. You would never build one again like this."

Gov. M. Jodi Rell said she was shocked by the recommendation. "We've invested millions of dollars in that base, but more important, the military has also made huge investments," she said. "You don't put $300 million into a base and walk away from it. It makes absolutely no sense."

The move comes despite months of lobbying from Connecticut officials who say the submarine base -- which began construction in 1872 as the Navy's first submarine base -- is crucial to the region because of its $2.5 billion effect on the economy.

It is homeport to 18 attack submarines and also home of the Naval Submarine School, three submarine squadrons staffs and other support facilities.

State Sen. Gary LeBeau, D-East Hartford, co-chairman of the Commerce Committee, called the decision "devastating news for the state of Connecticut. We are talking 7,000 military jobs and 1,000 civilian jobs."

He said the decision smacked of politics.

"The rumors I had been hearing were in a different direction, that it would be a partial closing, but the 'blue states' really took it on the chin," LeBeau said. "There is certainly a political aspect to this."

During the third base closure round in 1993, the Pentagon recommended the base be shut down, but three months later, after furious lobbying by the state officials and the Congressional delegation, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission reversed the decision and removed it from the list.

Connecticut lawmakers have been meeting regularly with high ranking Navy and Defense Department officials, stressing the importance of keeping the base open. Losing the base, they argued, could force nearby Electric Boat -- where submarines are built -- to close or move. EB employs about 1,100 people in Groton, Conn., and Rhode Island.

A recent Pentagon report suggested that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld wants a Navy fleet of 324-342 ships, which would likely include an attack submarine force of about 49 ships, six fewer than today.

The commission will hold public hearings before presenting its recommendations to President Bush by Sept. 8.

Here's the list of base closings in the New York, New Jersey Connecticut announced by the Defense Department:

New Jersey:

Fort Monmouth
Inspector/Instructor Center, West Trenton
Kilmer U.S. Army Reserve Center, Edison

Connecticut:

Submarine Base New London
Sgt. Libby U.S. Army Reserve Center, New Haven
Turner U.S. Army Reserve Center, Fairfield
U.S. Army Reserve Center Maintenance Support Facility, Middletown

New York:

Armed Forces Reserve Center, Amityville
Army National Guard Reserve Center, Niagra Falls
Carpenter U.S. Army Reserve Center, Poughkeepsie
Defense Finance and Accounting Service, Rome
Navy Recruiting District Headquarters, Buffalo
Navy Reserve Center Glenn Falls
Navy Reserve Center Horsehead
Navy Reserve Center Watertown
Niagra Falls International Airport Air Guard Station

List in full:

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=754414

Maybe Clemmens will go to Balitmore; he hasn't been there before and Lee Mazilli is doing a great job. He would reduce the average age of the Yankee starters, however. With him they'd be almost as old as the Rolling Stones.

Polar Covers - Lots 1449-1459, 1525-1541, 1659-1722,1820-1822 & 1846-1848

Submarine Covers - Lots 1460-1524, 1542-1658, 1827-1829 & 1845 (Gow Ng)

Ship Covers - Lots 1800-1819, 1823-1826 & 1830-1844 (groups)

Beck Cachets - Lots 1723-1799

http://navalpostalhistory.com/subcoverauctions.htm

Remember... in case of tie bids, the bidder with the earliest time stamp wins the lot... Bid Early!

Please forward this e-mail to other cover collectors.

May 11, 2005 7:12 am US/Eastern
(1010 WINS) NEW YORK Since he began his bid to preserve America's wartime correspondence, historian Andrew Carroll has collected tens of thousands of letters _ so many he says he has a separate apartment to house them.

Now, six and a half years after he launched the Legacy Project, Carroll is giving the 75,000 letters to the New York-based Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History for safekeeping.

``We could not be more excited about this,'' James Basker, the institute's president, said before a Tuesday evening event celebrating Carroll's donation and new book, ``Behind the Lines: Powerful and Revealing American and Foreign War Letters _ and One Man's Search to Find Them.''

At the event, excerpts of the book were read by Kurt Vonnegut, Jane Pauley, Gary Trudeau and Ann Curry, among others.

Carroll, who became interested in preserving correspondence after his own family's letters were lost in a fire in 1989, edited ``War Letters'' (2001), a best-selling collection of letters from conflicts spanning from the Civil War to Bosnia.

In his new book, Carroll includes letters written by people in other countries _ a decision he says he made after veterans urged him to do so. The letters range from the funny to the heartbreaking.

Pauley read a letter written by a German woman during World War I appealing to the ``Leader of the Company'' to grant her husband a leave of absence ``because of our sexual relationship.''

``I would like to have my husband just once for the satisfaction of my natural desires,'' she wrote _ and Pauley read to the chuckling crowd at the New York Society for Ethical Culture. ``I just can't live like this anymore. I can't stand it.''

Pauley and Trudeau, who are married, read a back-and-forth written correspondence between a woman and her husband, who responded to her letters by typewriting his terse responses directly onto her handwritten pages and sending them back.

Novelist Kurt Vonnegut Jr., who survived the bombing of Dresden as a prisoner of the Germans, read a letter he wrote to his father and sister in 1945; Frederick Douglass IV read two letters, one written by his great-great-grandfather, the abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Sean Harapko read a letter written by his 23-year-old brother, Josh, who was killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed during a training mission at Fort Drum, N.Y.

``I just hope that I made you proud, and if I don't come home for any reason I just want you to know I'll always be with you,'' Josh Harapko wrote to his mother while preparing for Operation Anaconda in Afghanistan, a year before he died.

News anchor Ann Curry read excerpts of a correspondence that told the story of two fathers _ one Japanese, one American _ who fought on opposing sides during World War II and reconciled when their children wanted to get married.

``I'm here tonight because I'm a child of war,'' Curry said before beginning her reading. ``My mother was a poor rice farmer's daughter who became a war bride. My father was a poor wheat farmer's grandson who became part of the occupation forces in Japan.''

She said her parentage made for ``a strange and wonderful childhood.''

The Gilder Lehrman Institute's collection already contains more than 60,000 historical documents, including letters written by George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln.

Royalties from Carroll's book will be donated to organizations that help veterans and their families and other nonprofit groups.

Th Princeton CVL23 was actually an Independence Class light carrier, a new class of carriers converted from cruiser hulls not one of the Essex Class "Fast Carriers", fact is none of the Essex Class carriers were sunk during WWII

Great news today, in fact it makes me feel like one of the luckiest men in the world, as our American Legion Post voted to send me to the American Legion National Convention in Honolulu, paying for my flight there and the hotel room for the week.
This will probably mean that after sixteen years I'll get to see my number two son who is stationed at Kaneohe MCAS/NAS on the other side of the island from Honolulu.
Guess twenty years of giving of my time to the Post has paid off big time

You may be interested in looking at Vol. 73 of the Naval War College's Blue Book series, Annotated Supplement to the Commander's Handbook on the Law of Naval Operations.

Para 8.6 [pp. 428-29] deals with targeting, special proection and protected places and objects. Pages 498 et seq. deal with the 1954 Hague Convention Symbols and protection of Cultural Property in Event of an Armed Conflict. It also discusses the 1907 Hague Symbol. It is mostly technical in application not studious or deep in origin. The footnotes, however, may be helpful.

Craig, My wife also is a librarian. She now is at a boy's high school in town. It's the same school exGovernon McGreevey attended and nearly within walking distance of the house.

The Department of Defense announced today the death of a sailor who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Petty Officer Third Class Jeffery L. Wiener, 32, of Louisville, Ky., died May 7, in a combat related incident. Weiner was a Navy hospital corpsman assigned to II Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF).

He apparently was able breach British security at the dock and then board a small ferryboat that carried crew members to the Truman, which was anchored a short distance from the shore.

Navy officials believe the intruder was on board the ship for about half an hour before he was caught. The incident occurred April 9.

Security personnel searched the area where the intruder was caught and found that he had not planted any explosives or caused any damage. It was determined that he was not a terrorist.

British law enforcement officials identified the intruder as Abdoul Masmoud Yessoufou, and told CNN that he also had tried to breach security at British airports and other military facilities.

Navy officials said that the intruder was a 37-year-old man of West African descent.

U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service personnel and security officials from the Royal Navy will focus on how the intruder was able to breach the port's security and then get on the ship without showing identification papers, officials said.

The Navy tightened security around warships in port after the October 2000 bombing of the USS Cole. That attack in Yemen killed 17 crew members.

Thanks much. I may get a hold of you in the near future. Let me guess: The Navy, like the Army, has put out instructions on how to avoid destruction of cultural property. For the US, this concept goes back to the 1863 Lieber Code. Of course, in times of true warfare, Military Necessity overrules culture. Whenever this occurs, controversy follows: Monte Cassino, Dresden, Cologne, etc. I'd like to see the policy, it would be interesting.

San Francisco struck an undersea mountain about 360 miles southeast of its Guam homeport because its leaders and watch teams failed to develop and execute a safe voyage plan, the command investigation into the incident concluded.

"The findings of fact show that San Francisco, while transiting at flank (maximum) speed and submerged to 525 feet, hit a seamount that did not appear on the chart being used for navigation," the 124-page report said of the incident in the vicinity of the Caroline Islands.

"Other charts in San Francisco’s possession did, however, clearly display a navigation hazard in the vicinity of the grounding," it said. "San Francisco’s navigation team failed to review those charts adequately and transfer pertinent data to the chart being used for navigation, as relevant directives and the ship’s own procedures required.

"If San Francisco’s leaders and watch teams had complied with requisite procedures and exercised prudent navigation practices, the grounding would most likely have been avoided. Even if not wholly avoided, however, the grounding would not have been as severe and loss of life may have been prevented."

Machinist's Mate 2nd Class Joseph Allen Ashley, 24, of Akron, Ohio, died aboard the submarine Jan. 9 from an "inevitably fatal" severe head injury sustained during the accident.

"Earlier evacuation or arrival of medical officers would not have changed the outcome for [Petty Officer] Ashley" the investigation said in regard to the two additional medical personnel flown aboard by helicopter and two attempts to medically evacuate him by helicopter.

Another 97 of 137 crew members reported injuries ranging from minor bruising and muscle strains to two who suffered dislocated shoulders. Sixty-eight of them were evaluated and treated aboard, while the remaining 29 were treated at Naval Hospital Guam when San Francisco returned to port under its own power Jan. 10. Just three of them were admitted overnight for further evaluation and treatment.

As a result of the collision, U.S. 7th Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert relieved Cmdr. Kevin Mooney of his command of San Francisco Feb. 12 following non-judicial punishment proceedings in Yokosuka, Japan. Mooney also received a letter of reprimand.

But Greenert, in his endorsement of the investigation, also praised Mooney’s prior record and performance following the impact.

"Although the grounding incident compelled me to punish [him] and remove him from command, in my opinion it does not negate 19 years of exemplary service," the admiral wrote. "Prior to the grounding incident, USS San Francisco demonstrated a trend of continuing improvement and compiled an impressive record of achievement under [Mooney’s] leadership. Moreover, the crew’s post-grounding response under his direct leadership was commendable and enabled [the sub’s] recovery and safe return to port."

Greenert also criticized the executive officer and navigation team for their share of the responsibility, saying their "failure to adequately and critically review applicable publications and available charts led to submission of an ill-advised voyage plan and hindered the commanding officer’s ability to make fully informed safety-of-ship decisions."

Six crew members were punished March 22 by Capt. Bradley Gehrke, commander of Submarine Squadron 15 on Guam, to which San Francisco was assigned. None were identified due to privacy reasons, but they included enlisted, senior enlisted and officer. The punishments included reduction in rate and punitive letters of reprimand.

San Francisco remains in drydock in Apra Harbor, Guam, under repair.

The Nimitz CSG includes Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11, Destroyer Squadron 23, the Aegis-equipped guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton (CG 59), the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Higgins (DDG 76) and USS Chafee (DDG 90), the fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10), and the Los Angeles-class attack submarine USS Louisville (SSN 724). All of the ships in the Nimitz CSG are homeported in San Diego, Calif., with the exception of Chafee and Louisville, both homeported in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Bridge, homeported in Bremerton, Wash. Higgins departed May 6.

Nimitz is the flagship for the strike group commander, Rear Adm. Peter Daly, commander, Carrier Strike Group 11. On deployment, Nimitz is also home to Commander, Destroyer Squadron 23, commanded by Capt. Gordan Van Hook, and Carrier Air Wing 11, commanded by Capt. Tom Cropper.

I am getting articles from some new writers for future issues. I already have articles in hand for the August issue.

If you are planning on submitting an article for the LOG during this year, I guess, you need to start writing.

Have an idea? Send me a rough outline or review the LOG Index series for the past 5 years to see if the topic has been addressed. I can always use articles for Atlantic and Mediterranean operations.

You, the writers and researchers are what makes the Log a success!

Yes, Churchill was a head of FDR in his assessment of Stalin. But the question remains whether the US possessed both the will and means to continue a war in Europe against a one-time ally. There is also the matter of the believe that Soviet would be needed to subdue Japan.

Sunday, May 8, 2005

_Crew blamed for grounding US sub_

The crew of a US submarine that ran aground in the Pacific Ocean in January did not adequately review navigation charts, a Navy report says.
The grounding could have been avoided if the crew had observed "prudent navigation practices", it says.

A sailor died and several were injured in the accident 600km (350 miles) south of the island of Guam, one of the most important US Pacific bases.

The nuclear reactor on the USS San Francisco was not damaged.

-Data not transferred-

The vessel was on its way to Australia, when it ran aground and suffered severe external damage.

The submarine hit a mountain while submerged 157m (525 feet) below the ocean's surface.

The mountain did not appear on the chart being used for navigation.

But other charts displayed "a navigation hazard in the vicinity of the grounding", the US Navy's 124-page report said.

It blamed the team for not reviewing those charts adequately and for not transferring "pertinent data" to the chart being used for navigation.

"Even if not wholly avoided, however, the grounding would not have been as severe and loss of life may have been prevented," the report said.

The Los Angeles-class submarines are 109.73m (360 ft) long and are classed as attack vessels, designed to counter enemy submarines or surface vessels. They are equipped with a single nuclear reactor.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/americas/4527459.stm

Published: 2005/05/08 16:09:28 GMT

© BBC MMV

Noted hours of silence here Friday night and Saturday.

The Baltics enjoyed liberation by the Soviets at the beginning of WWII, then capture by Germany and finally reliberation and incorporation into the Soviet Union. Remember the Run over Countries stamps. The aftermath of WWII was a great tragedy for the world, particularly the people of Eastern Europe. The Roosevelt Administration at Yalta did not strive for the goal of freedom. I think Churchill was far ahead of the ill Roosevelt in recognizing the horrors of the Soviet Union and particularly Stalin. Fortunately, we kept the Soviets out of the occupation of Japan. Still we lost most of mainland China, Manchuria, Korea to the forces opposed to freedom and human rights.

Yes, nuke Russia in '45. I'm sure the Roosevelt admin. was thinking of that option.

I never was in the Navy, but my great-uncle served on California during the late 30s, and then a PT boat. He never wanted to talk about his war experience. I'm also a distant relative of William B. Cushing. And, my uncle served on Delta in Vietnam.

Special release from U.S. Navy Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Department of Defense announced May 5 the death of a Marine who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Capt. Kelly C. Hinz, 30, of Woodbury, Minn., died May 2 from injuries received when the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft he was piloting crashed in Iraq while flying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif. His unit was embarked aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

This follows the May 4 announcement of the death of Maj. John C. Spahr, 42, of Cherry Hill, N.J., who also died May 2 from injuries received when the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft he was piloting crashed in Iraq. Spahr was also assigned to VMFA-323, Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.

By Journalist 2nd Class Kimberly Stephens, USS Theodore Roosevelt Public Affairs

USS THEODORE ROOSEVELT (NNS) -- A ceremony held aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) (TR) May 4 recognized the ongoing friendship between Spain and the United States with the joining of a Spanish ship to the TR Carrier Strike Group.

Alvaro de Bazan (F 101), a medium-size Spanish frigate, is now officially a part of Carrier Strike Group 2.

“We are pleased and honored to welcome Alvaro de Bazan to Norfolk, Va., and into the TR strike group,” said Commander, Carrier Strike Group 2 Rear Adm. James A. Winnefeld. “This project was born in 2003 with the highest leaders of the Navy, and the Memorandum of Understanding was signed a week ago. The magnificent ship arrived here to start phase one of training.”

High-ranking officials from the Spanish navy, marine corps, air force and army attended the ceremony along with U.S. officials from Joint Forces Command, Fleet Forces Command and U.S. 2nd Fleet, as well as the under secretary of the Navy.

Both the United States and Spain have been victims of terrorism, with the 2001 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center in New York City and the 2004 train bombing in Spain.

“The upcoming deployment is a symbol of friendship,” said Under Secretary of the Navy Dionel M. Aviles. “Both countries have suffered terribly at the hands of terrorists. It is important we cooperate and our militaries are strong to fight the war on terror.”

“We belong to two nations whose friendship goes way back,” said Spain’s Minister of Defense Jose Bono Martinez. “The first admiral of the U.S. Navy was of Spanish origin (Adm. David Glascow Farragut), and Europe will never forget that it was the United States that saved us from totalitarianism.”

It was a Spaniard who spoke of the legalities of the seas.

“The sea belongs to no one, but everyone in human kind as whole,” said Martinez. “The sea unites us in history and today as common allies in NATO. I am so moved by the freedom promised by TR Carrier Strike Group, and now it is joined by Spain.”

Sailing with TR is not the first time Bazan has joined with the U.S. Navy. In July 2003, it took part in a combined Combat Systems Ship Qualification Trials with the Aegis-class destroyer USS Mason (DDG 87). Bazan is the first European ship with the Aegis anti-aircraft system, making it comparable to the destroyer.

“We will treat this magnificent warship as we treat our own,” said Winnefeld. “You can rest assured we will protect the sovereignty of this national Spanish asset.”

Having Bazan and TR come together in one strike group is a way to promote interoperability between two NATO countries. Small training exercises are conducted throughout the fleet, but a six-month deployment is what will give the United States and Spain the opportunity to work together in a more real-world situation as well as learn how to overcome any communication boundaries the two navies may share.

Congress Assumes Leadership Role in Halting Demise of
U.S. Naval Fleet and Shipbuilding Industry

The U.S. Congress, led by Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS), Trent Lott (R-MS), Susan Collins (R-ME), Olympia Snowe (R-ME), John Warner (R-VA), George Allen (R-VA), Bill Nelson (D-FL), and Mel Martinez (R-FL), took major steps in the FY05 Emergency War Supplemental and the FY06 Budget Resolution to halt the sinking of the U.S. naval fleet and naval shipbuilding industrial base.

Senator Thad Cochran, Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, with strong support from Senators Lott, Collins, and Snowe, included a provision in the Emergency War Supplemental, H.R. 1268, that precludes the Navy from changing its acquisition strategy for the DDX surface combatant to a winner-take-all approach. This provision, which was adopted by the House in conference with the Senate, requires the Navy to maintain two American surface combatant builders for the DDX program and future multi-mission surface combatant programs for the Navy. While the Navy maintains that it can reduce the cost of the DDX by having one shipyard build all of the ships in the program, Congress recognized that short term savings would be more than offset by higher costs in all surface combatant programs if the Nation lost one of its premier surface combatant design and construction yards.

Read the Rest of This Article

2. Yesterday would have been my parents' 60th wedding anniversary -- they nearly made VE Day. My father's PC left after the wedding and before the reception for the Pacific. There were no groomsmen at the reception but a lot of drunken sailors heading out of New York on a 173 foot ship for the second phase of the war.

The last similar date was 9/9/99? How about 4/4/04? Next year 06/06/06. Lot's of ways to have fun and play the game.

If you are interested in these items, please let me know and I will put you in touch with the seller.

Who do you think lobbied for this?

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
April 29, 2005

Memorandum for the Secretary of Defense

SUBJECT: Redesignation of the United States Naval Reserve to the United States Navy Reserve

Pursuant to the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375), I approve the redesignation of the United States Naval Reserve to the United States Navy Reserve.

GEORGE W. BUSH

I'm just finishing _Battle of the Atlantic_ by Morison. I've got the whole set of History of the US Navy in WWII, and _Hitler's U-Boat War_ by Blair. My dear wife takes care of me well on my B-days. Anyway, I think the Battle of the Atlantic is exceptionally under-appreciated in WWII history. I'm looking forward to that Canadian stamp.

USNR now USNR

The White House released a Memorandum signed by President Bush directing that the United States Naval Reserve be redesignated as the United States Navy Reserve. Think of all the new business cards and letterhead stationary that will have to be printed. (4/29/05).

From Multi-National Force-Iraq Combined Press Information Center

BAGHDAD, Iraq (NNS) -- Early this morning local time, search teams located the body of a pilot from one of two missing U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 aircraft from USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).

The aircraft had been flying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom when contact was lost at approximately 10:10 p.m. May 2.

The status of the second crew member is unknown at this time and search efforts continue.

There was no initial indication of hostile fire in the area at the time contact was lost. The incident is under investigation.

fdcs

July 30, 2005 USS Halsey (DDG 97)

November 12, 2005 USS Bainbridge (DDG 96)

ldcs

May 27, 2005 USS LaSalle (AGF 3)

July 1, 2005 USS Vincennes (CG 49)

September 22, 2005 USS Cushing (DD 985)

October 28, 2005 USS Belleau Wood (LHA 3)

2005 USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67)

Prices at the auction were on the low side.

Huber was there with an attractive booth.