Thanks for the info on Dr. Locy and the cover.

USPS
Attn: Customer Services
Jacksonville, FL 32203-9998

After being commissioned in Mayport, Fla., the Navy’s newest, most modern Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer will be in port for a four-day visit July 1–4.

Also recived covers back from USS ENTERPRISE today and USS McCAMPBELL.

.

USS Honolulu, currently on its final deployment, will provide the bow for USS San Francisco, according to Pat Dolan, spokeswoman for Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, D.C. Both are Los Angeles-class submarines.
The San Francisco arrived in Bremerton Sept. 9, 2005 to await permanent repairs. Scheduled to begin in November and be completed in September 2008.

“We will be in Norfolk for at least two and a half years” said Fahs. “After that, we will be in Kings Bay, Ga. for however long strategic requirements need Alaska there.”

Why Brooklyn? Is the Manhattan cruise ship terminal too busy now?

PSC 470

FPO AP 96534

By all logic and reason we Southerners should be EVEN CRAZIER than we actually are.

Bruce D. Liddell

USNS Lewis and Clark is the first of an expected class of 11 dry cargo-ammunition ships.

With modular cargo holding and handling systems, the Lewis and Clark can replenish combat ships at sea with ammunition, food or fuel in one mission and then be quickly reconfigured for an alternate mission, such as a humanitarian sealift of supplies.

"Many collectors search for Northampton covers and postage stationary. I always find them at stamp shows. I believe the reason you have trouble finding CA 26 between 1937 to 41 is that the ship went into modernization on dry dock for many months in California, I think it was for 18 months and the crew was furloughed, but many remained to work on the new paint job. Armament was improved and increased along with the latest technologies and that was secret business. What went out as mail was probably censored for that time. Remember it was built during peacetime, and had to adhere, or at least follow the guidelines of the peace accord of WW1. The oncoming WW 2 changed all that when things began to boil up in 1940."

The enlisted surface devices and the written designstors are much after the swo device

You stole my posting on the SW/AW about being qualified to wear both pins, you see this today with a lot of the Senior POs who are real "go getters"

The name Sacagawea will honor the Lemhi Shoshone woman who acted as guide and interpreter for Lewis and Clark on their expedition into the Northwest region of the United States. This well documented expedition of two years and 6,000 miles opened routes to vast new territories throughout the American West which allowed passage for American settlers and traders.
Legendary for her perseverance and resourcefulness, Sacagawea (1788-1812) provided invaluable assistance to the explorers through her knowledge of topography and edible roots and plants previously unknown to European-Americans.

She single-handedly saved the expedition's records after they had fallen into the Missouri River when their canoe capsized. If she had not rescued these journals, much of the record of the first year of the expedition would have been lost to history. This act demonstrated her dedication to the journey's success. Two harbor tugs, YT 241 (1942) and YT 326 (1942-1945), have been named Sacagawea.

Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, will deliver the ceremony's principal address. Lucy Honena Diaz and Rachael Lynne Ariwite, familial descendants of Sacagawea, will serve as co-sponsors of the ship. The launching ceremony will be highlighted in the time-honored Navy tradition when each sponsor breaks a bottle of champagne across the bow to formally christen the ship "Sacagawea." Amy Mossett, a Mandan-Hidatsa member of the Three Affiliated Tribes of North Dakota, will serve as honorary matron of honor.

The USNS Sacagawea is the second ship in the Navy's new 11-ship
T-AKE Class. T-AKE is a combat logistics force vessel intended to replace
the current capability of the T-AE 26 Kilauea-Class ammunition ships, T-AFS 1 Mars-Class combat stores ships and, when operating with T-AO 187 Henry J.
Kaiser-Class oiler ships, the AOE 1 Sacramento-Class fast combat support ships. The USNS Sacagawea is 689 feet in length, has an overall beam of 105 feet, a navigational draft of 30 feet, and displaces approximately 42,000 tons. Powered by a single-shaft diesel-electric propulsion system, the ship can reach a speed of 20 knots.

Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea while providing replenishment services to U.S., NATO and allied ships, the USNS Sacagawea will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a worldwide forward presence. Ships such as the Sacagawea provide logistic lift from sources of supply either in port or at sea from specially equipped merchant ships. She will transfer cargo (ammunition, food, limited quantities of fuel, repair parts, ship store items, and expendable supplies and material) to ships and other naval warfare forces at sea.

As part of the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force, the ship will be designated USNS. The term stands for United States Naval Ship. Unlike their United States Ship (USS) counterparts, USNS vessels are manned primarily by civilian crews working for the U.S. Navy Military Sealift Command, Washington, D.C.

Aviation Warfare Specialist pin came into effect in 1980 according the Navy history site, so imgine the Surface Warfare pin was around the same time or shortly before

I clearly have complimented your work, most recently I wrote here:

lbbrennan Saturday, June 17, 2006 at 14:28:43 70.111.159.210
Roger W. some nice add ons, particularly if they are the ship's seal or crest. I don't want to be a pest but why a fleet boat for the Scorpion memorial cancel and why water wings for a submarine event?

Read the words carefully -- you need not quibble if the cachets are add ons or not. My point about accuracy is that when you have a submarine you probably should use dolphins and when you have a surface ship you should use water wings. When you have a SSN use a SSN and when you have a SS use the proper type of SS.

I thought that these covers were markedly superior to the mermaids and to the maps that often have inaccuracies and deface the cancel. If you wish to dwell on the negatives I would have omitted the laudatory words. In any event, the style of those covers generally was superior.

Would you like to become a member? :)

I have even seen memory quilts made from the shirts, trousers, and other articles of closing associated with the deceased.

Steve Shay,
Thank you for the link. I'll check it out.

It even shows the "half" Dirigible Pilot wings Larry references. As he says, there are lots of resources on the web for illustrated rank and insignia.

Did a quick search on Google re Father's day and a all the hits are about the same, here is one.

"The idea for creating a day for children to honor their fathers began in Spokane, Washington. A woman by the name of Sonora Smart Dodd thought of the idea for Father's Day while listening to a Mother's Day sermon in 1909.

Having been raised by her father, William Jackson Smart, after her mother died, Sonora wanted her father to know how special he was to her. It was her father that made all the parental sacrifices and was, in the eyes of his daughter, a courageous, selfless, and loving man. Sonora's father was born in June, so she chose to hold the first Father's Day celebration in Spokane, Washington on the 19th of June, 1910.

In 1926, a National Father's Day Committee was formed in New York City. Father's Day was recognized by a Joint Resolution of Congress in 1956. In 1972, President Richard Nixon established a permanent national observance of Father's Day to be held on the third Sunday of June. So Father's Day was born in memory and gratitude by a daughter who thought that her father and all good fathers should be honored with a special day just like we honor our mothers on Mother's Day".

BBL company just came in

If you check out this photo of our son Ret. Senior Chief, you will see the Aviation Warfare Pin above his left pocket, same idea as Surface Warfare, only its for Aviation

http://www.capecodmouse.com/temp/sneeky/Kelvin%20Jacobs%20ADCS.jpg

Dear Sir,
I recently visited your website after trying for a very long time to locate a picture of the U.S.S
Rombach a Destroyer Escort my dad was on back in and forgive me for not knowing the dates exactly 1944-1947.Like most men in the war my dad never really talked too much about that part of his life.Anyway,after searching some U.S.Naval Archieves on different Government Websites I came up empty.They had nothing at all about the ship,not even it`s name or number appeared on any list.I got an e-mail from a government site in which a Naval Officer told me more than likely the ship had been decomissioned and srapped.No pictures.How sad is that? Well without dragging this out too much longer.A couple of years after my dad past away in 2000, my oldest sister who had no idea I was looking for this picture hands me a bag and low and behold is this full size picture of the U.S.S ROMBACH.
When I told her that I was looking for it for a long time she said that she just thought that I would probably want it.I thank God for my wonderful grandparents for saving it and for my sister as well for being closer to them to receive that among other things after they past away.Well being it`s Father`s Day, I figured I might in some way,Honor the man I miss so much by making a copy of that picture for you to put and keep in your archieves since I couldn`t find it. God Bless our men and women in our Armed Forces and keep up the great job of preserving our Naval and Maritime History.Too many of us forget too soon the sacrifices our brave men and women have made in the past and continue to make today. Thanking You In Advance
Henry L.Grau

.........
I thought you might enjoy this. I have responded to Mr. Grau with information from DANFS on the USS ROMBACH, information how to get his father's records from St. Louis and asking him for permission to post the picture at various places on the web. Any body have a cover from USS ROMBACH?

One of my most treasured pictures of my father came from his sister. It was what he called his "invasion photo". Evidently needed for an identification card he and all other soldiers had to have for the Normandy invasion.

CNO Calls For New Maritime Strategy

NEWPORT, R.I. (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Mike Mullen called June 14 for the development of a new maritime strategy to guide the Navy through the challenges of globalization and the war on terrorism.

Hailing the Navy’s Cold War maritime strategy as necessary for its time, Mullen stressed that the world has changed greatly since the collapse of the Berlin Wall and that new challenges brought on by globalization required the Navy to adapt its thinking.

“Today’s uncertainty and today’s threats are of an entirely unique sort, caused and perpetuated by new challenges, challenges brought on...by the collapse of that wall and the unstoppable, unrelenting pace of globalization,” said Mullen. “We therefore need a new maritime strategy for this era and for this war - for our time and the incredible and growing challenges that we face.”

The CNO made his remarks at the Current Strategy Forum in Newport, R.I. Held annually at the Naval War College, the Current Strategy Forum provides a forum for the open exchange of viewpoints from both military and civilian leaders on important national issues. This year’s theme was "The Changing Nature of National Influence in the 21st Century: Implications for the Navy.”

Three major effects of globalization are driving the need for a new maritime strategy, Mullen told attendees.

"The first is the undeniable expansion of interdependent world markets and economies on a truly global scale that binds nations, corporations and peoples together," he said. "We are all connected now. We trade with our enduring allies, just as we do with nations for whom our friendship is still burgeoning."

With most governments deriving their legitimacy from economic stability and with most of the world's goods still traveling over oceanic routes, Mullen argued, navies and maritime security will remain vital.

"It is not by happenstance,” he reminded the audience, “that our vision for the Navy includes the need to keep sea lanes open and free."

The second great effect of globalization, Mullen said, is a “race for energy” that compounds and complicates the natural friction evident in market-based economies.

“I don’t mean to suggest here that a world war for oil looms on the horizon,” he said, “but we would be foolhardy not to factor into our planning the impact that energy competition and the future state of energy sources have, and will have, on our security.”

Globalization has also promoted the rapid and unfettered spread of ideology, Mullen warned, making easier than ever before the proliferation of ideas, values and cultural norms “that can - and sometimes do - promote conflict.”

“Globalization, with all its benefits, has empowered what some have called fourth-generation enemies - terrorists, proliferators of WMD and other weapons, organized criminals, smugglers, drug traffickers and pirates,” he said.

Mullen said the elements of the new maritime strategy must be founded on the belief that the United States is a maritime nation and that there are three enduring strengths of naval forces: to influence, to anticipate and flexibly respond, and to build friends and partners.

“Where the old Maritime Strategy focused on sea control, the new one must recognize that the economic tide of all nations rises, not when the seas are controlled by one, but rather when they are made safe and free for all," he said.

The CNO made it clear, however, that while "protecting trade routes is an absolutely necessary function of a naval force, it is far from sufficient."

The Navy’s continued role in humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and pre-conflict operations are equally important to enhancing maritime security and fostering economic stability, said Mullen. Those missions must be included in the new strategy, he argued.

"Markets also require stability. So we need to think critically about how naval forces support the joint, inter-agency, and international effort to intercede effectively when societies are torn asunder by the influence of radical ideologies...and destructive behavior," he noted. "And there perhaps is no greater influence than the stability we can provide when disaster strikes."

Mullen introduced the concept of Global Fleet Stations as one idea to help create such a flexible capability. The idea is to forward deploy, where invited, a small fleet of shallow-draft ships and support vessels to littoral and riverine areas where most allies and partner nations operate their navies.

“Imagine the power of having a cadre of foreign area officers that understand the language, build friendships, engender cooperation and undermine the very conditions often exploited by those who wish to fracture the peace,” he said. “Imagine a hub where all manner of Joint, Inter-Agency, International Organizations, navies, coast guards and non-governmental organizations could partner together as a force for good.”

Mullen also told the audience that the idea of a 1,000-ship navy - a fleet comprised of ships and capabilities from many law abiding nations, standing watch over the seas together - is gaining traction among the leaders of many of the world’s navies and will be a cornerstone of the new strategy.

"Where the previous Maritime Strategy was designed to defeat a single enemy - and our new one must retain the ability of the joint and coalitions forces to do that - we must also unite all freedom-loving nations to defeat a diverse array of fourth-generation threats," Mullen said. "Today, we are sailing with navies and working with agencies...in different ways than we ever would have imagined just a few years ago."

The CNO was adamant about the need to start working on the strategy right away, saying he wanted it completed over the next 12 to 18 months.

“I will not rest easy – none of us should – until we have that maritime strategy signed, sealed and delivered to the fleet.”

The USPS is destroying stamp collecting. I went to the convention in DC and then to the Stamp show at the DC Convention Center. After working my way in I followed the signs to the USPS area to purchase the souvenir sheets on Sunday. There were dozens of USPS folks walking around the show and encouraging purchases and postmarking -- free revenue since there is no expense in moving handback philatelic mail. The line for purchase must have been nearly an hour. There were few clerks selling the stamp creating a bottleneck at the outset. McDonald's does a much better job of marketing. Today people lack the interest and patience in waiting for the mail or enduring unnecessary lines.

Go to this URL and click on Hawaii Christening for the video streaming

http://www.thesubreport.com/

Roger, Further irt your query Item number: 9531720844 shows a consfusing mix of silver and gold surface warfare device on a cover commemorating submarines. For what it is worth dolphins might have been more appropriate.

Water wings refers to the surface warfare device worn by officers -- in gold -- and enlisted -- in silver -- above the left shirt pocket or above the ribbons with a dress uniform.

Good evening and happy father's day bill and Richard.

P.S. The 25-letter name field is too short for my full moniker, John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith.

(1) If I sign in as "John Jacob Jingleheimer Smith" how do you know I'm not him?

(2) If, under a fake name, I post messages using a sergeant-major's vocabulary, how do you know who did it?

(3) If you block my IP, then B-F-D. I use an antique dialup line that generates a different IP address at every login.

I don't disagree with the policy, but like Greg Jacobs I think it's unenforceable.

Bruce D. Liddell

Got to take off over to Stampoffers, had a couple of lots that sold today, so time to send out some winning bidder notices.

C-Ya Later Gator

Warm one down here todaay, must be real warm up there in the city

Hope you gentlemen are having a good week end

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (NNS) -- Navy divers completed six days of diving operations June 16 on wreckage in the Gulf of Thailand believed to be that of the lost World War II submarine USS Lagarto (SS 371).

Divers will send photographs and video of the submarine to the Naval Historical Center in Washington for further analysis.

The divers' observations appear to confirm the discovery made in May 2005 by British wreck diver Jamie MacLeod.

"Without a doubt, it's a U.S. submarine, a Balao-class," said U.S. 7th Fleet Diving Officer, Cmdr. Tony San Jose.

San Jose and his fellow divers reported identifying twin 5-inch gun mounts both forward and aft, a feature believed to be unique to Lagarto. They also reported finding serial numbers and the word "Manitowoc" engraved on the submarine's propeller. Lagarto was one of 28 submarines built in Manitowoc, Wisc.

The operations were conducted from the rescue and salvage ship USS Salvor (ARS 52) with embarked divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1, based in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Japan-based mine countermeasures ship USS Patriot (MCM 7) assisted by first pinpointing the location of the wreckage with its SQQ-32 sonar and remotely-operated Mine Neutralization Vehicle.

The mission to positively identify Lagarto was carried out as part of the Thailand phase of the exercise Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training, or CARAT. A Royal Thai Navy liaison officer was embarked aboard Salvor to assist during the mission.

San Jose said that the diving operations were very challenging because of short bottom times, strong currents and limited visibility. Due to the depths involved, the dives had to be conducted with mixed gas.

"We are deeply grateful to the divers of MDSU 1 and USS Salvor for their efforts to confirm this discovery and bring closure to the families of Lagarto's crew," said Pacific Submarine Force commander, Rear Adm. Jeffrey Cassias.

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 escorts. Japanese war records later revealed that the minelayer Hatsutaka reported sinking a U.S. submarine at roughly the same time and location.

Cassias met May 6 with Lagarto family members at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc, where a memorial service was held to honor the lost crew. Last year, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signed a proclamation making May 3, the day the craft was presumed sunk, as USS Lagarto Remembrance Day in perpetuity.

“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.”

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

A former ammunition ship, USS Butte, also is scheduled to be sunk by a submarine.

The 44-foot boats are part of the Foreign Military Financing program, through which the U.S. government equips and arms its allies. Since early 2003, with the establishment of the now 1,500-strong Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa, Djibouti has quickly become one of the most strategic of those allies.

The 5 boats were former Coast Guard vessels.

Happy father's day on Sunday.

I just received word from the USPS that they have
accepted the pictorial cancel for USS Nevada 20th anniversary--16 August. The cancel will be available at 2000 Vassar St, Reno, NV 89510.

Cheers,
Duane.

Paul Helman: Still in Caolinas! Upon return I'll
check the cover.

Probably will go out to Outer Banks and search for USS ATKA covers on the beach. During one of her first visits (1955 or DFII) to Antarctica, they dropped postcards (plastic envelopes) to see
where currents would bring them. Everytime I'm near the beach, I'm either looking for seashells
or ATKA covers. The postcards were to dropped in the mail- similar to business reply by some college in Michigan.

Officials issued a request for information June 14 asking for “unique and innovative ideas or approaches that have been developed outside of the government … that encompass a comprehensive review of the Military Postal System.”

They’re seeking ways to improve global mail operations, the proposal states, by improving service and reducing the Defense Department’s cost.

I've been trading on E-bay for seven years, both as a buyer and seller, have only had one money problem in those years, be it cash, check, money orders or Paypal, my preferred method when dealing with overseas buyers and sellers, it was a Dollar in cash, that never got to a seller in Israel who knew he had prolems with his PO in receiving payments,so he sent me the stamps anyway, he has since gone to using Paypal.

I have found on stamp and cover auction sites most all you deal with are pretty honest, but then again I very rarely buy anything on line that doesn't have a picture of it.
Because of this reason missed out on some covers I really want