While coalition forces have been operating regularly off the Horn of Africa on the east coast in recent years, Navy ships have kept up steady visits to the west coast recently as well.

According to information from Naval Forces Europe/6th Fleet in Naples, Italy, Barry arrived Wednesday in Lagos, Nigeria to “help strengthen the two navies’ emerging partnership,” on the occasion of the Nigerian Navy’s 50th anniversary.

Two military cargo planes carrying a mobile field hospital landed Tuesday in Yogyakarta, closest to the quake area in central Java, after cracks in the airport runway were patched.

A disaster assistance response team from the U.S. Agency for International Development is being readied and the amphibious assault ship Essex, which has extensive medical facilities, is en route to the area, White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.

Does anyone know why Congress would mandate this? And what the other ship name is?

Great time and look forward to the articles Ned and you are writing

After our great convention I was disappointed by the stamp show. I stayed only an hour and the pace of things was slow. I wanted to buy some of the newly issued stamps, particuarly the $1, $2, and $5.00 souvenier sheets but the USPS lines were impossible at 11AM. Lots of USPS employees around but not enough selling stamps. No such problem at the USCS convention with one helpful USPS employee who bent over backwards to be cheerful and cooperative. The pace of stamp collecting is far too slow for our youth who want to be outdoors and multi task. My 19 year old daughter, Mary Kate, remarked that I was one of the younger people at the Stamp show, a sad commentary -- even if a bit of an exaggeration but she was the youngest we saw by a good number of years.

SteveS, not sure if it is safe to drink NJ wine. I'll have to substitute something from NY.

Got to meet new members and place names and faces together after mailing or emailing for years.
Member traveling the farthest came from Germany.

I had one new article hand-delivered and the beginning of another outlined.
John Young and Ned Harris will begin a new series starting in December.

USPS had a station at the convention and had the new 39-cent Purple HEart stamp and the 37-cent issue, along with the Show Pictorial cancellation.

Denver area next year.

For those of you not attending the convention, you should plan to attend one in the future. 2007 will be in Denver, 2008 in Charlotte. A convention brings together a great number of naval dealers and collectors and the comraderie is really something special.

Sad to hear that there are no tables for the dealers at the show in DC. Hope that gets fixed today. Otherwise, I may change my plans. The big show is at the DC Convention center -- it's in the center of the city-- an interesting transitional area. Good office spaces, nice parks filled with homeless, booze bottles and crack pipes abound. That's our nation's capital.

The tower from the top of the spy submarine USS Parche now sits in the center of the maritime park taking shape on Bremerton’s downtown waterfront.

A large crane moved the 60-ton tower, known as a sail, into place Tuesday morning at the intersection of Pacific Avenue and First Street. The sail is 20 feet tall, 31.5 feet long and 30.5 feet wide at its widest point.

Despite steady rain, a small crowd of people gathered to watch the hunk of an underwater vessel fly through the air and come to rest in front of Building 50, the future home of Bremerton Naval Museum.

The ship, named in honor of Adm. David Glasgow Farragut, pulled into NS Mayport's port today (May 25), just over two weeks before its June 10 commissioning ceremony.

Way too dragged out - 20 minutes or more between ships on the river unlike past years.

While the Coast Guard and NYC police boats were on the river there was only about a third of what was out there prior to 9/11. Maybe the security is more covert now.

Compared to the older Shreveport the new LPD San Antonio is enormous. Couldn't get a shot of them together - darn.

Close as I was to Ground Zero I still could not get myself to go there where a friend of mine from FDNY Ladder 3 was killed that day.

I am proud that my daughter has a frame of ships in action. It was her idea and she executed it. I expect her to beat me!!!

My health is failing. Can't betoo much longer now. 90 is beyond belief and expectation. I keeep busy. Plan an "irs party" in memory of Mary. I grew the flowers and she arranged them. The Iris Society of Mass has a great sale of iris in July; if anyone wants information on it let me know.

A fire aboard a destroyer being built at a Mississippi shipyard could further delay completion of the ship, which was damaged last August by Hurricane Katrina.

The fire broke out on the morning of May 20 aboard the destroyer Truxtun at Northrop Grumman Ship Systems’ Ingalls shipyard. The cause of the blaze is under investigation, said company spokesman Brian Cullin.

Cullin said the fire began in the operations center on the second level of the ship’s superstructure. Smoke and flames reached at least to the deck above, behind the bridge area.

About 70 employees working on the destroyer at the time the fire broke out were evacuated from the ship, Cullin said. None was injured in the blaze, he said.

The shipyard fire department fought the blaze alongside firefighters from nearby Pascagoula, and it was brought under control after about 90 minutes.

Big Part Of U.S. History Sailing Into Town
Monday, May 22, 2006
WBAL Radio as Reported by Angela Jackson

A new replica of one of three ships that carried Jamestown's founders is making her way to Baltimore.

The Godspeed sets out today from Jamestown, Virginia for an 80-day sail to six East Coast ports to commemorate the 400th anniversary of America's first permanent English settlement.

"This is a sail up the East Coast," said Richard Lewis, National Public Relations Manager for the Virginia Tourism Corporation. "Ports of call being, besides Baltimore, Alexandria, Philadelphia, New York City, Boston, and Newport, Rhode Island."

The Godspeed will feature a "Landing Party" with live performances, historical exhibits and cultural displays. She is scheduled to be in Baltimore June ninth through 12th.

The Discovery and The Susan Constant are the other ships that brought English colonists to Virginia. The replicas of those ships are not touring with the Godspeed.

With hundreds of years of history to cover in the classroom, Lewis said he understands if teachers are not able to cover this part of America's past.

"There is so much history over 400 years that it really is hard to give all of it full attention," he said. "One of the great things you can do as a parent to teach your children about Jamestown is to bring them down to see the Godspeed."

In addition to learning about America's beginnings, Virginia tourism officials will be giving out free packets of Virginia peanuts when the Godspeed is docked at the Inner Harbor. The giveaway is an effort to promote one of that state's favorite and most nutritional snacks, according to Lewis.

May 18 , 2006 Admiral Ulrich''s Remarks at Medal of Honor Ceremony
SPLIT Croatia -- We are gathered today to reflect on the valor of one man on one fateful day.

We are gathered today to celebrate the lasting power of one giving act by one selfless man.

On a day more than 64 years ago - a day now remembered as The Day of Infamy - confusion, chaos, and carnage were to be seen everywhere.

In the ordinary, the reach for survival overcomes the grip of fear. But, in the extraordinary, common men become uncommon. They cast fear aside. They accepted duty and time did not allow for survival.

We call such men and women heroes, and it is our tradition as Americans to remember them, for this generation and those to come.

Medals are cast, plaques engraved, and stones are cut. This is right and just.

But, it is all too rare that we see the act of one man become the passion and spirit of many.

But, so it has become of Peter Tomich. A Chief Petty Officer whose character and devotion to his shipmates compelled him to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Honor, courage, commitment – Navy core values - he had all those in life. He gave them to us in death. His valor inspires us to this day and his spirit has become the patron of those who follow in his wake as Sailors, and as Chief Petty Officers.

What is a Chief? Peter Tomich was a Chief. No more needs to be said.

So today, after a search spanning decades, we present his family the Medal of Honor – our nation''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''s highest military decoration. Medals serve to focus the memory, and memories give life to legacies that inspire and become part of our heritage.

To today"s Chief Petty Officers - you were given a hero. You made him your patron. You chose well.

It would be unfair to ask you to do what Peter Tomich did. It would be fair to ask you to be ready to do what Peter Tomich did.

Do not feel ashamed if you forget the where, the whats and the hows. But, you will never be forgiven if you forget the why.

We live in a dangerous world. Our cause is just and our freedom loving partners like Croatia are many.

Indeed, the Tomich legacy touches all of us who wear the cloth of our nations. Will we be ready? Will we answer Peter Tomich’s charge when called upon?

May 18 , 2006 Medal of Honor Presented Aboard USS Enterprise
SPLIT, Croatia- Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe Admiral Harry Ulrich presented a Medal of Honor, awarded posthumously, to the family of Chief Watertender Peter Tomich during a solemn ceremony on board USS Enterprise (CVN 65) May 18.

Retried Croatian Army Lt. Col. Srecko Herceg Tonic received the award on behalf of Tomich. Tonic is the grandson of Tomich's cousin John Tonic. Tomich and the elder Tonic immigrated to the United States from what is now Bosnia-Herzegovina on the Croatian border.

Commander Enterprise Carrier Strike Group Rear Adm. Ray Spicer says it was an honor and privilege to help deliver the medal to Tomich's family in their home country on behalf of the United States government.

"Many people on both sides of the Atlantic, including some gathered here today, contributed to the successful conclusion of a long process to present this Medal of Honor to the family of Peter Tomich," Spicer said.

Adm. Ulrich agreed, and mentioned the power of Tomich's Croatian heritage. "Chief Watertender Peter Tomich's selfless heroism and steadfast courage represented the very best of his native country, and his adopted one as well," the Admiral said.

Tomich was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on the battleship USS Utah during the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Dec. 7, 1941. After sustaining a severe torpedo hit to the hull of the battleship, Tomich returned to his station in the boiler room to evacuate the personnel and shut down the boilers before the Utah sank. Tomich sacrificed his own life to save the lives of his shipmates.

Submarine postmarks in recent years are rare but this is a congressional election year and time to try again to get cancels from the boats and small ships that historically don't have postmarks.

I started limiting the numbers of covers that I send to a ship/sub to 5-6 covers per mailing about two years ago, except when I have an agreement with a particular PC to do more for me. Only 2-3 PC's in the last twenty years have ever quoted me the five cover regulation.

I recently got some covers back from the USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN and USS VICKSBURG which included notes from the Storeskeepers who serviced them. In their letters they both expressed a desire to good job for collectors. so, there is hope, after all! LOL!

I agree that asking for C.O. autographs via the PC on a surface vessel is a bit much. Collectors should ask the C.O. himself. I do ask PAOs on submarines to do this for me, with fairly good results. But submarine crews are much more closely knit than surface vessel crews.

The seagoing buoy tender Sequoia will arrive in Shanghai on Sunday as part of U.S. participation in an international maritime navigation conference, the Consulate said in an announcement.

“This will be the first port call in China of a U.S. Coast Guard cutter,” it said.

CL06 will provide the opportunity for the U.S. and other forces to operate in a multi-national environment, refine coordination, and improve interoperability.U.S. Navy participation will be lead by Commander, Amphibious Squadron Two, Capt. Donna Looney, and will include amphibious assault ship USS Bataan (LHD 5), homeport in Norfolk, with embarked staff, guided-missile frigate USS Taylor (FFG 50), homeported in Mayport, Fla., and amphibious dock-landing USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), homeported at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va.

SEND REQUESTS FOR CANCELS TO:

FLEET WEEK NEW YORK STATION
SPECIAL EVENTS, ROOM 2029B,
421 8TH AVE.
NEW YORK NY 10199-9998

Kind of glad you shipped some of this rain up to Dan, to give us a break, at least we had "Sun" today, seemed rather strange.

Big push by city officials of Fort Worth to
have a Freedom Class ship named after that
city. I would push for Jamestown to have a
ship in the LCS-1 Class named after that city
to honor the four hunderdth year of the
founding of Jamestown in 2007.

Ted Minter#09017

I got this link form my local radio stations' webpage. It is about the sinking o fthe USS Oriskany. I only ahve dial up, so I don't have a prayer of viewing it. If the above link will not work, go to www.wbal.com to get it . At least for the rest of the night, it should be on the webpage of the radio station.

Re: Evrett Walster. At the 1958 USCS Convention in Boston his son won the junior award. I was his compitition.

Everything I read tells me that Reagan and Dulles are two different airports.

I'm coming to DC and landing at Reagan on Thursday afternoon.

Nearly 600 sailors aboard three East Coast-based ships will deploy this week to take part in the 34th annual Baltic Operations exercise, known as BALTOPS, the Navy’s 2nd Fleet announced.

The U.S. ships are the Mayport, Fla.-based frigate Robert G. Bradley, the Norfolk-based cruiser Vella Gulf and the support ship USNS Roy M. Wheat, which operates out of Jacksonville, Fla. All told, nearly 2,000 personnel, 15 ships, two submarines and 30 aircraft from allied and Partnership for Peace nations are participating in the exercise, which is aimed at improving interoperability. It begins in Sweden on June 5 and ends June 17 in Germany.

I am flying in to Reagan this time;

Take YELLOW train in to DC and get off at GALLERY PLACE. Switch to red line to SHADY GROVE. Get off at either BETHESDA or MEDICAL CENTER STATIONS. This ride only costs about $1.40.

IF you are going to tour the city, a $10.00 METRO pass gets you around for a few days. $20.00 last me a week with lots of rides to hotel and back to ARCHIVES.

METRO MAP
http://www.wmata.com/metrorail/systemmap.cfm

The National Guard is out in MA and ME for the flooding and the rain continues. It's a pleasant if bit cool morning in DC.

http://www.metwashairports.com/dulles/parking_transportation_3/ground_transportation

to view the different alternatives from Dulles. I arrive Wednesday late afternoon at Dulles. There is no direct Metro link, but there is a shuttle bus available that links to Metro, this is on the web page I've indicated above. The shuttle bus is $9 plus the Metro fee. The other alternative is the Super Shuttle. And the last alternative is taxi. I'm leaning towards taxi as I'm not sure I want to hassle the shuttle bus and hauling a suitcase around Metro since their is a transfer involved and it will be the heart of rush hour. The Shuttle Bus is $25 plus fee per passenger for a shared van, $65 for an exclusive van. Since I arrive at rush hour, I'm not sure I want to take a shared van and take forever to get to the hotel. The taxi has an estimate of $50. I'm not sure any of the alternatives are what I'd call great. (Greg, Reagan Airport used to be National.)

http://www.navalcovermuseum.org/wiki/index.php?title=Cachet_Maker_Alton_%28Budd%29_M_Arrington

Thanks.

John Young - why give in to high prices, including Yankee tickets? I'd buy the News if I had less than a 6th grade education. As for the Post - I would not insult a bird by using it to line a cage.

ABOARD USS ENTERPRISE, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Enterprise (CVN 65) played host to a special delegation of Moroccan dignitaries, high-ranking military officers and media May 12.

Abdulwahed Radi, Moroccan speaker of parliament, was among those aboard to tour Enterprise and observe flight operations.

The party also met with Commander, Enterprise Carrier Strike Group, Rear Adm. Ray Spicer and toured Big E's navigation bridge, primariy flight control, hangar bay and foc'sle.

Enterprise Commanding Officer Capt. Larry Rice said the visit was part of U.S. efforts to strengthen enduring and emerging partnerships in the Mediterranean Sea.

"Hosting the Moroccans was a fantastic way for the U.S. to demonstrate our resolve in growing and furthering the relationships between us and our coalition allies and partners," said Rice.

Enterprise is currently underway on a scheduled six-month deployment along with Commander, Carrier Strike Group 12 in support of the global war on terrorism.

Just found some interesting stuff in the archieves about the loss of Liscome Bay, including an action report from Gridley, Captain Rommel, was the OOD.

It would be great if we could get someone to volunteer work on our site.

From current edition of Navy Times

Karen Wallster, hope you visit again and see the notes posted. I presume you found us after doing a search on your Grandfather's name. He was more than the 2nd VP, he was President 50/51. Please send me an e-mail, tedpaul@ix.netcom.com. I sell the old Logs and may be able to find a few in the "Old LOG Vault" that have some information about Everett Wallster.

Pizza down the street at the convention sound like fun. The show closes at 6:00 and the awards at the Hospitality suite are at 8:30 PM. We have a good number of single frames this time so be sure to look them over and decide to exhibit yourself. I found a new cover just last week to put in mine.

USS Kearsage LHD 3
USS Anzio CG 68
USS Ramage DDG 61
USS Mason DDG 87
USS Nitze DDG 94
USS Klakring FFG 42
USS Shreveport LPD 12
USS San Antonio LPD 17
USCGC Seneca WMEC 906
USCGC Sturgeon Bay WTGB 109
HMS Scott H 131

In the mid-afternoon of 17 December 1927, the U.S. submarine "S-4" collided with the USCG destroyer Paulding. The submarine
sank immediately in 110 feet of water, off the coast of New England. The crew of the sunken submarine sent Morse code messages for help.

Soon, many rescuers arrived at the scene to render assistance. Included in the group were two veteran hard hat divers: Chief Torpedoman Fred Michels and Chief Gunner's Mate Thomas Eadie.
Through the evening of 18 December, Chief Michels dove to the sub trying to connect an air line and provide more oxygen to the trapped men. Soon the salvage ship heard Chief Michels gasping that he was trapped and to send Chief Eadie down with cutting gear.

Chief Eadie was in a bunk, out from exhaustion of working a complete shift on the ocean floor trying to free the sub Sailors. Within minutes, he was heading for the bottom. He found Chief
Michels tangled in the wreckage, but still alive. As he cut Chief Michels loose, Chief Eadie ripped his diving suit on some jagged steel. The suit quickly filled with icy ocean waters.

Chief Eadie called out to the salvage ship:
"Don't pull me up -- pull up Mike."

Both divers made it to the surface without stopping and were placed into a decompression chamber where they recovered from their ordeal.

Chief Eadie was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his rescue of Chief Michels which was a "display of extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession above and beyond the call
of duty."

Courageously Testing New Waters

On the morning of 23 May 1939, USS Squalus, the Navy's newest and most modern submarine, headed for the testing grounds. That afternoon, USS Scupin picked up a distress signal. The submarine
had sunk.

The Navy rushed its rescue units to the scene, including a rescue diving "bell" which had never been tested. Four volunteer divers proved the bell worked under the most difficult conditions.
Chief Machinist's Mate William Gadders, Chief Boatswain's Mate Orson L. Crandall, Chief Metalsmith James H. McDonald, and
Torpedoman First Class John Mihalowski rescued 33 officers and enlisted men, nine Sailors or less per dive, with this new rescue chamber.

For their extraordinary courage, the Navy awarded Chiefs Gadders, Crandall, McDonald, and Petty Officer Mihalowski the Congressional Medal of Honor. These were the last Medal of Honors to be awarded for peacetime submarine rescue operations.

Honor in the Ultimate Sacrifice
Chief Waterman Peter Tomich headed below decks of USS UTAH to assume the watch after morning quarters on 7 December 1941.
Shortly after 0800, Chief Tomich thought he heard some unusual noises. They came from the first explosion, probably aft of the superstructure, that rocked the ship and threw some of the
Chief's men to the deck. By 0805 USS UTAH was rocked with more explosions and started a slow roll to port. Chief Tomich knew the ship was sinking and he had to get his men out of the boiler room. He stayed at his post until all the boilers were secure and all of his men were out of the spaces. At 0812, USS UTAH rolled completely over trapping many crew members below decks. For his actions, the President awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Chief Watertender Peter Tomich.

The Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island, is named in honor of Chief Waterman Peter Tomich.

Good Sailors Make Good Citizens

Civic and Community Involvement Encouraged
Chief Waterman Peter Tomich headed below decks of USS UTAH to assume the watch after morning quarters on 7 December 1941.
Shortly after 0800, Chief Tomich thought he heard some unusualnoises. They came from the first explosion, probably aft of the superstructure, that rocked the ship and threw some of the
Chief's men to the deck. By 0805 USS UTAH was rocked with more explosions and started a slow roll to port. Chief Tomich knew the ship was sinking and he had to get his men out of the boiler room. He stayed at his post until all the boilers were secure and all of his men were out of the spaces. At 0812, USS UTAH rolled completely over trapping many crew members below decks.
For his actions, the President awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Chief Watertender Peter Tomich.
The Senior Enlisted Academy in Newport, Rhode Island, is named in honor of Chief Waterman Peter Tomich.

More than 400 men and women who worked at the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard will be gathering for a reunion June 3 on an historic ship that some of them built.

A ship tour, reception, dinner and dancing will be on the now retired battleship New Jersey, the centerpiece of the Battleship New Jersey Memorial and Museum on the city's Delaware River waterfront.

Retired Navy Capt Jon C. Bergner, former commander of the Navy's oldest shipyard when it closed 10 years ago, will be the main speaker.

Thank you for your emails. Obviously the collection would likely not sell as cachets, early cancels were not individually pictured. They are from my Father, Richard Buchwald, artist, cachet designer, publisher. In the day he was an ANCS ARGONAUT, in addition to his own cachets there are many originals by, Grandy, Crosby, Gow, etc. Additionally he was an ANCS NAVIGATOR prior to 1940, active in Cleveland Cover Club. Cleveland was the 'best location in the nation', opposed to vying with Detroit for status as the poorest major metropolitan city in the country.

I know of the next ANCS show in Bethesda, MD later this month. What do you advise?"

I advised him that the convention was a good place to talk about the collection and possibly get it appraised. I also advised him that this site is a good place to talk about it.

I have to apologize for letting my membership lapse. Check is in the mail. My wife was suppose to take care of it. Nuff said.

I'll never leave the fold as long as I can help it. My back surgery went (3 level fusion) well and I'm returning to work soon.

Best,

Craig

This is Howard Wallace, a long time but quiet member. I wanted to know if anyone needed a roommmate at the Clarion on May 26, 27, & 28. I couldn't get the special rate although there is space in the hotel. I was hoping to save money as this willbe an expensive trip for me coming from Texas. My email address is ho-de-wa7@att.net. Thank you

Lagarto was last seen May 3, 1945, in the southern Gulf of Thailand while preparing to strike an enemy convoy. Japanese records later indicated that the minelayer Hatsutaka reported sinking a U.S. submarine on that date.

Last May, nearly 60 years to the day after Lagarto was lost, British diver Jamie MacLeod reported finding Lagarto sitting upright in about 225 feet of water in the southern part the Gulf of Thailand. MacLeod traveled to Wisconsin this weekend to attend the ceremony and to share his remarkable story with family members.

For Floyd Harrington of Lehi, Utah, the experience brought a much-needed sense of closure. Harrington was 10 years old when his brother, Motor Machinist's Mate 3rd Class George Clark Harrington, was killed aboard Lagarto. He carried a lot of uncertainty with him until he gathered in Manitowoc this weekend.

“It settled a lot of things,” said Harrington. “We never knew what happened.”

That was a sentiment echoed by many of the family members who attended the ceremony, hosted by the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.

“For every single family here, this has been one of the most important events of their entire lives,” said Nancy Kenney of Lake Leelanau, Mich., whose father, Signalman 1st Class William T. Mabin was lost on Lagarto.

Kenny, working with museum director Norma Bishop and her staff, have been successful in finding family members of 51 of the 86 men lost. More than 150 of the family members traveled to Manitowoc to attend the ceremony.

“It is moving to know that even six decades after their death, the men who served in Lagarto are still loved and still missed,” said Pacific Fleet Submarine Force Commander Rear Adm. Jeffrey Cassias, who delivered the keynote address at the ceremony.

During the ceremony, there was a “tolling of the bell” for each of the 86 crew members, a gun salute, and a flag presentation to the family members.

The Navy plans to send the diving and salvage ship USS Salvor (ARS 50) to the site during exercise CARAT Thailand in June to attempt to confirm the discovery.

Lagarto was one of 28 submarines built in Manitowoc, Wis., and one of 52 submarines lost on patrol during World War II.

USNS Range Tracker (T-AGM 1) 1961-69
USNS Range Recoverer (T-AGM 2) 1960-72
USNS Longview (T-AGM 3) 1960-74
USNS Richfield (T-AGM 4) 1960-70
USNS Sunnyvale (T-AGM 5) 1960-74
USNS Watertown (T-AGM 6) 1961-72
USNS Huntsville (T-AGM 7) 1961-71
USNS Wheeling (T-AGM 8) 1962-79
USNS General H. H. Arnold (T-AGM 9) 1964-82
USNS Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg (T-AGM 10) 1964-83
USNS Twin Falls (T-AGM 11) 1964-68
USNS American Mariner (T-AGM 12) 1964-66
USNS Sword Knot (T-AGM 13) 1964-71
USNS Rose Knot (T-AGM 14) 1964-68
USNS Coastal Sentry (T-AGM 15) 1964-71
USNS Coastal Crusader (T-AGM 16) 1964-76 (Redesignated T-AGS 36 in 1969)
USNS Timber Hitch (T-AGM 17) 1964-68
USNS Sampan Hitch (T-AGM 18) 1964-68
USNS Vanguard (T-AGM 19) 1966-98 (Redesignated T-AG 194 in 1980)
USNS Redstone (T-AGM 20) 1966-93
USNS Mercury (T-AGM 21) 1965-76
USNS Range Sentinel (T-AGM 22) 1971-97
USNS Observation Island (T-AGM 23) 1979-Present

A few weeks ago I posted a note about a cover I found addressed to Passed Midshipman Watson Smith, USN in USS Arctic in 1855 just before her participation in the relief expedition to assist Dr. Kane's relief expedition. The responses, particularly from Hal Vogel, were most helpful. Now I have found another cover addressed to Mr. Watson Smith "U.S. Steam Ship Fulton, Norfolk, VA." I assume that it was subsequent -- the cover bears a three cent Washington imperf. [probably Scott's No. 10] and is cancelled NY Hork Dec. 1 ... [no year].

Here is the DANFS entry for the second USS Fulton:
(SwStr: t. 720; l. 180'; b. 34'8"; dr. 13'; s. 10 k.; cpl. 130; a. 4 32-pdr.)

The second Fulton, a side wheel steamer, was launched 18 May 1837 by New York Navy Yard; and commissioned 13 December 1837, Captain M. C. Perry in command.

Fulton cruised the Atlantic coast, aiding ships in distress, conducting ordnance experiments, and training officers in gunnery. A major event of her early service came on 23 November 1838, when she bested the British steamer Great Western in a speed contest off New York. Decommissioned at New York 23 November 1842, Fulton lay in ordinary until 1851, when she was rebuilt and her machinery completely replaced.

Fulton was recommissioned 25 January 1852 for duty in the Home Squadron, and sailed from New York 22 February for the West Indies. During the next 6 years, aside from necessary repair periods in the yards at Washington, Norfolk, and Boston, Fulton ranged from the Caribbean to the Gulf of St. Lawrence, transporting Government officials, protecting merchantmen against search on the high seas, and joining in the search for Albany (January through May 1855) and the expedition to Nicaragua in 1857 to break up William Walker's filibustering activities. The next year Fulton's commanding officer obtained the release of five American merchant ships held at Tampico, Mexico, by revolutionary forces.

From October 1858 to May 1859 Fulton joined in operations commanded by Commodore W. B. Shubrick during his negotiations to improve relations with Paraguay, sailing La Plata and the Parana and Paraguay rivers.

After lying out of commission at Norfolk from 7 May 1859 to 30 July 1859, Fulton cruised off Cuba to suppress the slave trade until laid up at Pensacola in mid-October 1859. Captured by the Confederates when they took the Pensacola yard on 12 January 1861, Fulton was considered for use in the Confederate States Navy, but was never fitted out. She was destroyed in the evacuation of the yard by the Confederates upon Federal reoccupation 10 May 1862.

According to Cmdr. David Kirk, Louisville’s commanding officer, the crew remained focused and enthusiastic despite leaving after returning from a six-month deployment five months prior.

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- U.S Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) arrived here May 2, making its first stop during a humanitarian assistance mission to the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Meeting the arriving ship at the pier, Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, told members of the media and Mercy crew members that accomplishing the mission will be all about teamwork.

The commander of Mercy’s overall mission is Capt. Bradley Martin. Capt. Joseph L. Moore is in command the ship’s medical treatment facility and its medical staff. In charge of the ship and its crew is civil service mariner Capt. Robert T. Wiley, ship’s master.

The ship and crew of doctors, dentists, veterinarians, nurses, and corpsmen plan to offer a number of medical, dental and veterinary services and other humanitarian assistance to men, women and children in villages normally lacking access to such treatment.

Like all naval forces, Mercy can rapidly respond on short notice to a wide range of humanitarian missions or other crises. The deployment offers the Navy the opportunity to train the ship’s crew, medical staff and nongovernmental organization partners for future operations.

In addition to the Navy medical assets deploying with Mercy, the ship is also serving as an enabling platform for numerous embarked NGOs, such as the Hawaii-based Aloha Medical Mission.

Mercy’s deployment is expected to last about five months.

The future of the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy has been shaky to say the least. Right now, lawmakers in Washington are discussing what's next for the 37-year-old aircraft carrier, the third-oldest in America's twelve-carrier fleet.

A plan being pushed by Sen. John Warner (R-VA) calls for down-sizing the Navy's fleet, which would shut down Big John for good.

Despite all of that, the Kennedy went back out to sea Tuesday.

She headed out of Naval Station Mayport at around 10 a.m., steaming toward a spot off the coast where she'll spend the next week or so.

A spokesman says her crew will be running "proficiency operations," which means basic seamanship training, firefighting drills, and other exercises designed to keep sailors sharp.

The changes would take effect in the spring of 2007 if approved by the independent Postal Rate Commission.

"The Secret Capture"

U-110 met its end on May 9, 1941 when it was captured . This is what most people view as the most important capture of the entire war and it was so secret that even the crew of U-110 did not know of it! U-110, under the command of Kptlt. Fritz Julius Lemp, had been attacking a convoy along with U-201 (Oblt. Adalbert Schnee) when Lemp left his periscope up too long (probably to confirm a kill, he sank two ships on that day amounting to 7500 GRT) and the escort HMS Aubretia spotted it and rushed to the scene dropping depth charges.

U-110 survived the first attacks but then HMS Bulldog and HMS Broadway came and joined in the hunt. U-110 was forced to surface and HMS Bulldog immediately went onto ramming course (its commander realized at the very last moment that a capture might come off and tried to avoid hitting U-110 which he almost did) which Lemp noticed and ordered "Abandon Ship". Lemp figured that since the boat was going to be rammed (and presumably sunk) its secrets were safe within it. Only when he was in the water did he realize that the boat was not sinking and attempted to swim back and prevent capture and that was the last seen of him. Many say he was shot in the water by a British sailor but that may not be at all true.

The British made several journeys between U-110 and HMS Bulldog to collect whatever they could get their hands on inside the boat. This must have been a real treat as U-110 was abandoned in a hurry and being a IXB class she did not sink as rapidly as VIIC would likely have done. It is very likely that numerous U-boats were sunk using the material found inside U-110.

The day after the boat was captured someone realized that the allies already had the most important part of U-110, namely the secret documents and Enigma machine and that the Germans might find out that the British had the boat soon and, assuming the worst, change all codes and cipher system. The boat thus "accidentally" sank when being towed to Britain. 15 men were killed in the action and 32 captured. Lemp himself did not survive as noted above.

NB Enterprise is not NIMITZ class, she is the first and unique nuke with eight not two reactors. She's 45 years old.

ABOARD USS LAKE CHAMPLAIN (NNS) -- Despite political tensions among Iran and other countries, exchanges between the Iranian navy and coalition forces in the northern Persian Gulf are "fully courteous and professional," said Capt. Christopher Noble, during an interview here.

Noble, the commander of Coalition Task Group 58.1, is charged with protecting Iraq's oil terminals, located in Iraqi territorial waters.

However, exchanges with ships manned by Iranian Revolutionary Guardsmen are not as professional, and the Iranian ships test the coalition on occasion. "But it's still a crisp relationship, and they know why we're here," said Marine Brig. Gen. Carl B. Jensen, commander of Coalition Task Force 58. Jensen has responsibility for security and stability in the northern Persian Gulf.

One of the oil terminals, the Khawr al Amaya, is just a few kilometers away from the border with Iran. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Maui, one of four patrolling the area, was less than a kilometer away from Iranian waters.

U.S. Navy officials differentiate between the Iranian navy and the Revolutionary Guards. The navy has primary responsibility at the Straits or Hormuz and the Central Persian Gulf. "They are very professional mariners; they are very courteous," Rear Adm. Michael Miller, commander of Carrier Strike Group 7, said. "The radical nature of their government is not reflected in the behavior of their ships at sea."

Miller's command is centered on the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and launches aircraft to support coalition forces in Iraq and maritime security operations in the gulf. He said his command interacts with the Iranian navy every day. "We're right off their coast, and the Arabian Gulf is not that wide," he said. "Out here, there is a solid core of professionals that we see every day, and it is not something that is inflammatory at all. In fact, it is transparent."

Iranian navy personnel understand the modus operandi of ships at sea, and the craft sailing in the central gulf and at the straits are larger decks staffed by professionals.

Those in the northern gulf are typically small boats manned by the more radical elements of Iranian society. They routinely shake down and beat Iraqi fishermen who stray into their waters, coalition officials said, and will test the boundary between Iran and Iraq. But "disruptions here are in no one's best interest," Jensen said. "And the Iranians realize this."

The longer-term issues between Iran and the United Nations are part of the ongoing political debate, officials said. But for the time being, relations on the high seas should continue to be courteous and professional.

By Chief Journalist (SW/AW) David Rush, Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Families of crew members serving on the ill-fated World War II submarine USS Lagarto (SS 371) will gather May 6 in Manitowoc, Wis., to honor the men whose submarine went missing six decades ago and was only recently located by divers.

Rear Adm. Jeffrey B. Cassias, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet's submarine force, will serve as the keynote speaker at the ceremony held at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, where Lagarto was built. Jamie MacLeod, a British wreck diver who located the Lagarto wreck in the Gulf of Thailand last year, will also be on hand.

For 60 years, crew members' families did not know the exact circumstances surrounding the 86 submariners who perished. Lagarto was last heard from May 3, 1945, as it was preparing to attack a Japanese convoy under heavy escort. Japanese war records later revealed that the minelayer Hatsutaka reported sinking a U.S. submarine at roughly the same time and location.

In May 2005, MacLeod and a group of commercial divers found Lagarto in the Gulf of Thailand sitting upright in 225 feet of water. A large rupture in the port side bow area confirmed that Lagarto had apparently been struck by a depth charge.

But there was something else that MacLeod's team noticed that caught their attention: an open torpedo tube door, with an empty torpedo tube. It seemed to suggest that Lagarto had gone down fighting.

62-year old Arthur H. Keeney III of Engelhard, N.C., said the discovery of Lagarto has given him a new connection to a father he never knew.

“It has made my father's high school and Academy yearbooks and other family memorabilia more alive and personal," said Keeney. "Moreover, I'm pleased for my mother, who, now 84, can reflect on the earlier stages of her life when Bud was part of it.”

Keeney said he’s looking forward to meeting with other Lagarto family members at the upcoming ceremony.

“I will truly enjoy meeting other people, particularly the children, who are kin to other Sailors who knew my father and who also gave their lives in service to our country," he said.

Sailors from the staff of Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet, have flown U.S. flags over the World War II Submarine Memorial at Pearl Harbor for this event. Cassias will present the flags to family members at the May 6 ceremony.

"We owe a great debt to these men, and to all of the World War II submariners," said Cassias. "In the world's darkest hour, they faced the greatest risks and demonstrated the most noble courage to preserve the freedom of our nation."

Last May, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed a proclamation making May 3, the day the submarine was presumed sunk, as USS Lagarto Remembrance Day in perpetuity. Museum personnel are making plans to record oral histories of veterans and the surviving family members.

Lagarto was one of 52 submarines lost on patrol during World War II.

For related news, visit the Commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/subpac/.

Mercy humanitarian mission to begin

By U.S. Pacific Fleet public affairs

Posted: 04/19/2006

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PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii – The U.S. Naval hospital ship USNS Mercy is scheduled to depart its San Diego homeport on Monday, April 24, in support of a five-month humanitarian assistance mission to the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia.

Following logistics stops along the way, Mercy should arrive in the Philippines in mid- to late May.

The ship’s mission is being coordinated with host nations in the region and is being carried out in conjunction with non-governmental relief organizations to provide medical, dental and other humanitarian assistance programs ashore and afloat.

“The deployment of USNS Mercy to Southeast Asia and the Western Pacific exemplifies the United States’ commitment to working together with our friends, partners, and the regional community,” said Adm. Gary Roughead, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet. “By deploying the Mercy, we are training our medical crew in order to better prepare them to respond in times of disaster relief and armed conflict.”

Mercy is deploying with civilian mariners, military personnel, and members of non-governmental organizations. The Mercy humanitarian mission will be led by Capt. Bradley Martin. The commanding officer of the Medical Treatment Facility on board is Capt. Joseph L. Moore. Civilian mariner Capt. Robert Wylie is the ship’s master.

The medical crew on board Mercy (T-AH 19) is trained to provide general surgery, ophthalmology surgery, basic medical evaluation and treatment, preventative medicine treatment, dental screenings and treatment, optometry screenings, eyewear distribution, public health training and veterinary services.

A Seabee detachment from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 40 from Port Hueneme, Calif., will perform civic action repair and minor construction projects in the host countries.

The Navy Showband from Norfolk, Va., will join Mercy while deployed. The band will provide outreach and entertainment to local populations where assistance work is taking place.

Last year, Mercy performed a similar mission following the December 2004 tsunami that struck Southeast Asia. Medical personnel on board performed 19,512 medical procedures for more than 9,500 patients in Indonesia, East Timor and Papua New Guinea.

“Many Americans are from the Asia-Pacific region, and we have strong ties to family members, friends and co-workers with roots in the region,” said Roughead. “It is natural we should want to be good neighbors.”

Like all naval forces, Mercy can rapidly respond to a range of situations on short notice. Mercy is uniquely capable of supporting medical and humanitarian assistance needs and has been configured with special medical equipment and a robust multi-specialized medical team to provide a range of services ashore as well as on board the ship.

More information on Mercy can be found on the Pacific Fleet Web site, www.cpf.navy.mil.