FIRST CALL: Notes & Ramblings From The Pilothouse

"OLD SALTS"
Photo courtesy of Naval Historical Center

If this edition of The HOIST seems a bit light this month, blame it on me.
File this one under "I told you so"...

After years of being a good PC owner, faithfully backing-up my hard drive, scouring it religiously with spyware and virus scanners, heeding intently the advice of online and offline experts, and even using alternate browsers to avoid getting hit with trojans, viruses and hijackers (I'm a faithful Opera, Firefox and Sea Monkey user), I neglected to do one thing...update my operating system with patches and fixes.

Result? I got nailed big time with a browser hijacker earlier this month.

Y'know, the one that turns your desktop screen bloody red with the biohazard graphic and the words "YOUR PRIVACY MAY BE IN DANGER!" Then I got the plethora of IE popups taking you to sites trying to sell you their version of a spyware/adware/malware scanner that promises to fix it once and for all for the low price of [insert amount here]. Yikes...

So, I figured, 'Hey, no big deal...I'll just run [insert anti-virus/spyware product name here], and that'll be the end of it'! So I did. And it went away. Then a couple hours later, it came back.

[Insert favorite expletive here]

I then ran that, and other well-known sweepers and virus-killers, but it just kept regenerating. They kept multiplying like Star Trek tribbles doing the Wild Thing while having a feast on quadro-triticale grain. I even went to the many boards out on the Wild Wild Web to look for help. From what I read, it could be eliminated...but it would take time. LOTS of time.

[Insert second favorite expletive here]

Well, I wasn't going to let some piddly trojan horse ruin my day. And I wouldn't go down without a fight. I bought my rig four years ago from my local mom 'n pop computer store, hadn't updated the BIOS since then, and figured I could salvage what I can off the main hard drive and wipe the drive.

My lovely wife was noticing my increased frustration with trying to eliminate the pesky trojan horse; which was driving me at times to the brink of going all Jet-Li-Jackie-Chan-Chuck-Norris-Wu-Tang-Clan over the creators of the malware. Then she said: 'Why don't you buy yourself a new computer?'

Wow. My wife, keeper of the financial books in our family, rarely grants me that kind of blanket permission.

So, with her voice still ringing in my ears, I salvaged what files I could to my removable hard drive. I ordered a fairly decent new rig (with 64-bit technology) from another local mom 'n pop computer store, and got it a few days later. I got the new OS loaded and now I'm back.

I loaded back what I could, but not everything survived -- like a few letters to the editor, some stories I had in the works, some pictures and a few legacy programs. Yes, I still wanna kick myself in the behind for not being more on-top of installing all those updates on the old machine that woulda slammed-shut the back door on the trojan invasion.

The lesson learned here? Keep your OS software up-to-date.

So, dear reader, my apologies again if this issue feels a mite light, but I'll have lotsa stuff come September.

Until next time...

Jon Yim
Editor

Featured Upgrades This Month

Advanced Search

We have uploaded the first stage of our advanced search facility. From the Search Tab click the button 'Advanced Search' (top right):

From there you can specify complex multi term searches across all the fields on the profile left page (Personal Details, Service Details, Employment and Status). We will extend this to include right page data (Medals, Colleges, Basic Training, Assignments and Combat) soon.

Some examples of searches that are now possible:

- Members called James who had Rank PO2
- Members with NEC 9502 who joined in the last 30 days.
- Fallen Sailors called Jackson
- Electricians Mates now in the Defense and Space Industry

Shipmates Address Book
From the Home Tab there is a handy new tool that will format all your shipmates details (optionally with photos) for printing.

Move Photos between Events
If you have uploaded your photos to your profile but wish you had organised them better, you can now move photos between entries on the right page of your profile. To do this view the photo gallery, click Edit on the photo concerned and then select a new profile item in the 'Filed Under' field and save:

New Photo Storage
We ran out of disk space on our main server due to the huge number of photos uploaded and so have relocated them all to a seperate storage facility. If you are linking to any of your photos hosted by TWS using HTMl you will find that the old links will no longer work - the new links are of the form:

http://navyphotos.togetherweserved.com/2733.jpg

Senate Confirms Mullen, Cartwright for Top Military Jobs

WASHINGTON -- The Senate confirmed Admiral Michael G. Mullen and Marine Corps General James E. "Hoss" Cartwright as chairman and vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, respectively, Aug. 3.

Mullen will assume the top U.S. military post, held by Marine Gen. Peter Pace since September 2005. Pace is slated to retire Oct. 1.

Cartwright assumes the No. 2 military post held by Navy Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, who retired July 27. Cartwright is on the job now, with his formal swearing-in expected later this month.

Mullen currently serves as the Chief of Naval Operations, and Cartwright has been commander of U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM).

In nominating them to the top two military posts June 28, President George W. Bush called them "experienced military officers who are highly qualified for these important positions."

The president noted that Mullen's and Cartwright's nominations come at a critical time for the United States.

"America is at war, and we are at war with brutal enemies who have attacked our nation and who would pursue nuclear weapons and would use their control of oil as economic blackmail and intend to launch new attacks on our country," he said. "At such times, one of the most important decisions a president makes is the appointment of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff."

As the country's highest-ranking military officer, the chairman serves as the principal military adviser to the president, the defense secretary, the National Security Council and the Homeland Security Council, Bush noted. He also is responsible for ensuring the readiness of U.S. military forces.

At STRATCOM, Cartwright has been responsible for America's nuclear arsenal; missile defenses; space operations; information operations; global command and control; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and efforts to combat weapons of mass destruction, Bush said.

He has met these responsibilities "with honor, skill and integrity," the president said, noting that he will apply these same principles in his position as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs.

During their confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee July 31, Mullen and Cartwright pledged to do their best to represent the men and women of the U.S. military.

Mullen told the senators he would represent the nation's soldiers, Sailors, airmen and Marines and their families "with the full measure"of his "effort, to listen, to learn, and to lead."

As chairman, Mullen will spend much of his time focusing on U.S. military operations in Iraq. He told the senate committee he plans to visit the U.S. Central Command area soon to help him understand the conditions on the ground.

Mullen said he also faces the challenge of resetting, reconstituting and revitalizing U.S. forces, particularly the ground forces. The U.S. military remains the strongest military on Earth, he told the Senate committee, but it is not unbreakable.

"Force reset in all its forms cannot wait until the war in Iraq is over," he said.

The admiral said he also sees the need to balance strategic risks of the future to relieve demands on the force.

Navy Assists With Minnesota Bridge Collapse Recovery

MINNEAPOLIS -- Divers from Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit (MDSU) 2 from Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek in Norfolk, Va., completed their part of the I-35 bridge collapse recovery efforts in Minneapolis recently.

The 17 divers and a five-person command and control element from Navy Expeditionary Combat Command spent 15 days working with local, state and federal authorities to find the missing victims of the collapse.

"We came to do our job and we did not want to leave any families with questions unanswered about what happened to their loved ones," said Master Chief Navy Diver (MDV/SCW) Henry Stark.

The divers' efforts helped in the recovery of eight victims missing since the collapse. Hennepin County Sheriff Richard W. Stanek expressed that those involved in the rescue "all have very heavy hearts," but were relieved that the missing victims were located.

Several officials, including President George W. Bush and Secretary of Transportation Mary E. Peters thanked the divers for their efforts both in the search and recovery process as well as for the compassion they showed the families.

"You did incredible work but you also showed incredible compassion for the families," said Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak. "I know a little bit about the conditions you had to work in and the families obviously knew too. They've been one by one thanking you from the bottom of their hearts. They really appreciate the work you did."

As of press time, the Navy divers spent the last few days packing and loading their equipment, assisted by Citizen-Airmen from the 133rd Aerial Port Squadron, assigned to the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard. They are scheduled to return to Norfolk by the end of the week.

"It's been a learning experience," Navy Diver 1st Class(DSW/SW) Joshua Harsh said. "You can't even begin to express to the families how much time and effort you put into doing your job and how it was all worth it in the end because you know you helped give closure to the families."

Navy divers, along with members from the Army, Army National Guard, and Air National Guard, assisted in recovery efforts at the site of the Aug. 1 bridge collapse. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates approved a request from Transportation Secretary Mary Peters. Military assistance was coordinated through an on-site coordination officer from the U.S. Northern Command.

The westbound Interstate 35 bridge over the Mississippi River collapsed during the evening rush hour.

Swirling currents and low visibility were treacherous conditions for the Navy and civilian divers, state officials said. In addition, steel rebar and concrete from the bridge also posed a threat, as they could snag hoses or trap divers.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials are continuing their work with local officials to aid the search-and-recovery effort. Corps engineers lowered the level of the Mississippi River two feet to lessen the current at the site, officials said.

National Guardsmen working under state orders also are providing support and expertise at the site, defense officials said.

"The overall coordination and support we've received from local, state and federal authorities have been absolutely tremendous," Stanek added. "The efforts that folks have been putting forth have been non-stop."

While agencies like the Defense Department and FBI had to be called in from out of state, local agencies have been working on-site from the beginning. Each arriving agency integrated quickly into the recovery process.

"When you bring in a military organization, you get quick, concise and crisp answers to questions," Stanek said. "Whatever issue has come up, whatever the operation for the day or the evening has been, we've been able to communicate directly and strategize on how to get over any obstacles. You couldn't ask for a better cooperation than that."

While the teams worked together, they each brought different skill sets to the job that helps them complete their individual tasks in support of the overall mission.

"There came a point where the divers for the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office in scuba gear maxed-out their capabilities, so we had to ask for additional assistance. (The Defense Department) brought in the best of the best, which I believe are the Navy dive and salvage (teams)," Stanek said. "They did not disappoint us a bit, and in fact went beyond our expectations as far as what they could do both operationally in terms of debris removal, the equipment they brought on site and the speed in which they deployed."

While the bridge collapse is a first in terms of collaboration on this scale for many members of the different agencies, they bonded together in support of the mission.

"I think that the command staff that was brought in from DoD, the divers themselves, and the command staff I have on site from the sheriff's office bonded from day one," Stanek said. "I think that's really what has made this work happen. Our job of working with the victims, our job of working with the policy makers and the citizens of this great state is to give them some comfort and confidence that we're taking to the task at hand, which is reuniting the families with their loved ones."
Compiled from combined Navy news releases
- Photos courtesy DoD & Joint Combat Camera Center

Some Returning GIs Getting Boot For "Personality Disorders"

By Shayla Brown
Hoist Correspondent

Earlier this year, ABC World News reported Army Soldiers being assessed after one or more combat tours being diagnosed with a personality disorder and discharged. Since that time, more and more reports of incidents of poor or no care, and substandard facilities have caused many to questions arise in the role the government is taking in managing the needs of those returning from combat.

As of this past June, over 24,000 service members have been discharged from the military under the character and behavior disorders policy according to an article published in Stars and Stripes. Service members discharged under this policy for Personality Disorders (PD), which are considered pre-existing conditions, are considered ineligible for disability pay and benefits. In short, they will not receive care or medical treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Some have even been forced to pay back re-enlistment bonuses they received while on active duty.

According information obtained from the Mayo Clinic's website: "People with personality disorders have traits that cause them to feel and behave in socially distressing ways" And these behaviors are evident prior to the age of 15. The same website defines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as "a type of anxiety disorder that's triggered by an extremely traumatic event." The symptoms of both conditions can be similar, however PD would exist in service members prior to deployment.

Recently, the Austin American-Statesman reported in a recent article that "though accurate for some, experts say, the personality disorder label has been used as a catch-all diagnosis to discharge personnel who may no longer meet military standards, are engaging in problematic behavior or suffer from more serious mental disorders." For returning veterans, the diagnosis can make it harder to obtain adequate mental health treatment if they must first show they have another problem, such as post-traumatic stress disorder.

"It's an absolute disgrace to military medicine," said Bridgette Wilson, a former Army medic who is now an attorney in San Diego, serving mainly military clients. "I see it over and over again, the dramatic misuse of personality disorder diagnosis. It's a fairly slick and efficient way to move some bodies through."

As a general policy, service members are evaluated to assure they are able to manage the stresses of combat prior to deployment. If they are found to have behavioral problems during the screening process, they are not allowed to be deployed. However, this does not seem to be the case in the amount of recent discharges. Service members have been allowed to deploy, but if signs of behavioral problems arise upon return, they are discharged for pre-existing conditions of PD.

Some service members return from combat and do not receive the care they need, only to be left feeling abandoned or hopeless. There have even been reports of suicides by soldiers who felt hopeless when they did not get the support they needed from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

One such case was that of Marine Lance Cpl. Jeffrey Lucey who died in June 2004 after returning from combat deployment. In May of that year, the Lucey family had their son involuntarily committed for psychological care, over their concerns of his behavior after returning from combat. The Veterans Affairs hospital he was committed to released him after three days. An interview conducted by Amy Goodman, found on www.democracynow.org, Jeffrey's parents explained, from what they learned, that throughout the three day period of hospitalization he received no counseling from a psychiatrist, and was only signed in and out by one.

On June 5, a few weeks before his death, Lucey's family tried unsuccessfully to admit him for care a second time. The VA declined. The night before he hung himself his father described in the interview, "I was exhausted, Jeff was exhausted, but he kept talking, and then finally he asked me if he would be able to sit in my lap. And so, (for) forty-five minutes we rocked in silence."

LCpl. Jeffrey Lucey died June 22, 2004, having hung himself in his parent's home. He was 23 years old.

The Washington Post estimates as of this past March that 52,375 Iraq war veterans have been evaluated at VA facilities for suspected PTSD. As of June, the VA's backlog of disability payments ranges between 400,000 and 600,000. The initial delay in time to process a claim can be 177 days. The average delay for the appeals process is 657 days.

A class action lawsuit was filed last month on behalf of veterans to address the lack of care received. The Complaint states, "This lawsuit stems from the shameful failures of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and other governmental institutions to meet our nation's legal and moral obligations to honor and care for our wounded veterans who have served our country. Because of those failures, hundreds of thousands of men and women who have suffered grievous injuries fighting in the ongoing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are being abandoned."

The suit continued by saying that unless "systemic and drastic measures are instituted immediately, the costs to these veterans, their families, and our nation will be incalculable, including broken families, a new generation of unemployed and homeless veterans, increases in drug abuse and alcoholism, and crushing burdens on the health care delivery system and other social services in our communities."

GUEST EDITORIAL: Steering By The Stars Is A Lost Art

By LCDR Phil Taylor, USN (vet.)
Photo courtesy of the author

LOS ALAMOS, NM -- One of the most enjoyable tours I had as a junior officer (LT) was navigator aboard a Knox-class FF in Pearl Harbor, USS BADGER (FF-1071). At the time (mid-80s), aboard Third and Seventh Fleet ships, anyway, navigators were department head billets. For a junior officer who hadn't yet attended Department Head School, it was a great opportunity to get some important leadership experience.

And, while I had N and X Divisions (QMs, YNs, PNs, HMs, the PC and the NC1), I confess more affinity toward the QMs. After all, those were the guys I spent the most time with. They were bridge watch standers, too, and I spent more time on the bridge than anyone else aboard.

As anyone who's ever been a haze gray underway sailor knows, there is no such thing as "privacy" aboard ship. Oh, we all know about guys who find solace down in the shaft alley, the forward fire pump, the sonar spaces or after steering (not to mention some rather ingenious hammocks rigged in certain fan rooms), but I think we'd all agree that "alone time" is a rare commodity while deployed. Further, I'm convinced that it was the rare promise of privacy aboard ship that was one of the aspects about celestial navigation that I enjoyed most.

In a typical day's work of navigation while underway, I'd start the day very early. Roughly an hour before sunrise, I'd drag my tired ass out of the rack, head to the pilot house, go over the stars I'd pulled out the previous night for the morning sextant observations, shoot the stars, complete all the calculations, and plot the fix. This took some time, and Id normally get to lock myself in the chart room, just aft of the helm.

Ah, the chart room! What a great place! It was air-conditioned which, in the hot and sticky IO was a true refuge. Oh, did I mention it was quiet? We also had a little "battery storage" reefer that housed more sodas than batteries. It was in the chart room that I'd practice the arcane black magic that is celestial navigation. I'd enter all the sextant altitudes onto a strip form, do all the arithmetic, and derive a celestial line of position (LOP) for each body (star, planet, sun, moon) that I'd "shot."

I'd punch through the pubs -- Nautical Almanac, Air Almanac, H.O. 229, H.O. 249 -- all to figure out one thing: Where, on this tiny line in a vast ocean thousands of miles from a dot underneath a particular celestial body, were we?

Maybe it's just me, but I found that ability rather cool.

That is why I read, with some dismay, about the Naval Academy's decision some years back to modify its celestial navigation curriculum. Sure, they were going to continue to expose the Midshipmen to celestial navigation, but instead of getting to feel the joy/pain/frustration of crunching the numbers on a strip form, all they were going to have to do is feed their sextant observations into a computer. The computer, then, would do all the number crunching and spit out the appropriate LOPs. What would take me the better part of an hour to do, could now be performed in less time than it's taken me to describe it.

Celestial navigation is one of those esoteric disciplines that technological advances has rendered almost obsolete. Low-cost, battery operated GPS receivers can give you a fix with heretofore unimaginable accuracy. No more pub-punching and number crunching. No more wizardry in looking at your LOPs, and divining which, of two to three LOP intersections is your most likely position.

So...what's the down side?

I can think of only one instance during my 18 month navigator tour where I had to utilize a celestial LOP. BADGER was steaming independently south from Pearl Harbor to Pago Pago (American Samoa) on the first leg of a "show-the-flag" mini-deployment to the South Pacific. I was the OOD when Main Control came over the 21MC saying that they had a fire in the air casing, were shutting down, and to go to GQ. A cascade of bad things started to happen when we lost main steam. We lost the SSTGs, the diesel failed (still don't know exactly why) and the battery back-up failed -- all resulting in a loss of 400 Hz power throughout the ship. When that happened, our gyro started to tumble. No SATNAV. No radar.

In less time than it's taken to type this, we found ourselves, navigationally speaking, back in the 17th century.

We spent the next five hours or so adrift. I realized that in order to get a reliable SATNAV (no GPS in those days) fix, once we got power restored, that I would have to input an assumed position that was within 20 miles or so of our true position. While keeping a good DR (dead reckoning) was an essential first-step, I thought we'd increase our chances by throwing in a sunline. My thinking was that, where the sunline crossed our DR (after accounting for set and drift), we'd have a fairly high-confidence EP (estimated position) that I could subsequently plug into the SATNAV.

Well, it (navigation fundamentals) all worked. Our gyro couldn't be stabilized until we reached port in Pago Pago. Until then, we were steering by magnetic compass. Because of the loss of gyro, the best our radar could provide was relative bearings, however range resolution was unaffected. SATNAV was providing fixes that jived with our DR. Nevertheless, I was still nervous until we reached radar landfall more-or-less when/where I said we should. The crisis was over.

These days, of course, there are no steam-driven tin cans. Your hand-held battery-operated GPS doesn't depend upon 400 Hz power. Even if you're so inclined to actually shoot sextant observations, you only have to feed into a program the times and sextant readings, and let the computer do the rest. Hell...you don't need to know the constellations, ocean currents, prevailing winds or the myriad "things" our oceangoing forefathers had to commit to memory. You don't need to punch 25 pounds of publications to derive an LOP. Your hand-held gee whiz gizmo will do all that for you.

But, consider this. After four years cutting meat, a meat cutter ought to be able to tell the difference between a slab of ribs and a tenderloin...right? And, shouldn't a sailor who's stood four years worth of mid-watches be able to look up at the night sky and point out Pegasus and Scorpio?

Maybe it ain't exactly necessary...but ain't it...well...right?

The Doctor Is In!

By Dr. Jack Smith
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Clinical and Program Policy and Acting Chief Medical Officer
TRICARE Management Activity

With summer drawing to a close, parents are enrolling their children in school, students are entering college and health care workers are preparing for the upcoming flu season. Now is the perfect time for all service members, retirees and their families to catch up on their immunizations.

August is National Immunization Awareness Month, and we are encouraging all TRICARE beneficiaries to take the time to review their individual and family immunization records with their physician.

TRICARE and its team of health care professionals realize the important role of immunizations as part of a healthy lifestyle. Beneficiaries can receive all necessary vaccinations through military treatment facilities, TRICARE network and non-network providers.

Why are immunizations important?
Immunizations are important to overall public health. With the exception of safe drinking water, there is no other health improvement strategy with such a tremendous effect on reducing disease and improving health.

Vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths still occur in the U.S., affecting children, adolescents and adults. Pneumococcal disease – for example – still causes thousands of deaths and 175,000 hospitalizations each year in the United States alone. Together, pneumonia and influenza are the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, and the sixth leading cause of death among people 65 years of age and older.

Immunizations are critical for mission readiness. If you are a service member who is deploying overseas, you should receive all required immunizations before arriving in country. If you are not current on immunizations, you should obtain indicated vaccines at your unit’s medical facility immediately upon arrival to ensure you remain healthy throughout the deployment.

Who should be immunized?
Immunizations are important, regardless of age, sex, race, ethnic background or country of origin. Recommended vaccinations begin at birth and continue throughout life. By staying up-to-date on your immunizations, you can protect yourself from life-threatening conditions while also protecting your family, friends and community from their spread.

When should one be immunized? Children are particularly vulnerable to infection, which is why they should be kept up to date with required immunizations and necessary boosters throughout life. Immunizations are not only important for your child’s health but also a requirement for school attendance. If you have not already scheduled your children an appointment for immunizations, you should do so as soon as possible.

Tips of the Month
Don’t forget to stay up to date with immunizations!

TRICARE provides age-appropriate vaccines recommended and adopted by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices.

For children and adolescents in the United States, the following immunizations are considered routine. Not every listed vaccine is recommended for everyone, however.

Hepatitis B (HepB)
Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (various combinations include DTaP, DT, Td, Tdap)
Polio (IPV)
Human Papillomavirus (HPV, Gardasil)
Varicella (chicken pox)(Var)
Measles, mumps and rubella (given together as MMR)
Influenza
Rotavirus (Rota)
Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib, not the same as viral flu)
Pneumococcal conjugate (PCV)
Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPV)
Hepatitis A (HepA)
Meningococcal conjugate (MCV4)
Meningococcal polysaccharide (MPSV4)

The current routine immunization schedule for various age groups can be viewed and downloaded from the CDC website at: www.cdc.gov/vaccines/.

August is Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
Did you know that more than 12 million kids suffer from some type of vision impairment?

TRICARE reminds parents and caregivers that:
A child's eyes should be examined during regular pediatric appointments and vision testing should be conducted for all children starting around age 3.

Sports are the leading cause of eye injuries to children. Make sure your children wear protect eyewear when participating in all sports and recreational activities.

If a child is having trouble seeing the blackboard or trouble seeing pictures or the words in a book, learning, as well as participating in recreational activities will suffer.

PHOTO LOG: Views Around The Fleet This Month

Lt. Col. Andrew J. Murray (left), commanding officer Marine Corps Security Force Company Kings Bay, speaks to Deb and Dan Dunham, the parents of Cpl. Jason Dunham, after a barracks dedication ceremony for their son. Dunham was stationed at SUBASE Kings Bay before joining 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, in Twentynine Palms, Calif. Dunham received the Medal of Honor for heroic actions in Karabilah, Iraq, April 14, 2004. USMC photo by Cpl. Lucian Friel -- see Around The Services for the full story

Cmdr. Chris Higginbotham, commanding officer, U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard, escorts Adm. Vladimir Masorin, commander in chief of the Russian Navy, as he reviews the Navy and Marine Barracks honor guards at a recent full honors welcoming ceremony at the Washington Navy Yard's Leutze Park. Photo by MC1 Chad J. McNeeley

An SH-60 Seahawk, from Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron 14, releases flares at part of an air power demonstration above USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63). The demonstration was not only a showing of the capabilities of the aircraft from Carrier Air Wing 5, but was also intended to entertain those aboard. USS Kitty Hawk is in her third month of deployment from Fleet Activities Yokosuka, Japan. Photo by MC2 Joseph R. Schmitt

Firefighters from U.S. Naval Support Activity (NSA) Souda Bay help fight a brush fire near the mountain village of Lakki in western Crete. NSA dispatched six firefighters and three emergency vehicles to the scene along with two active-duty Sailors and one civilian employee for ground support and to operate the fire apparatus. Photo by Paul Farley


Steelworker 3rd Class Ben Hickok, assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 7, uses a circular saw to trim the frame of a roof for a new medical clinic in Sasamunga, the Solomon Islands. NMCB-7 Seabees are attached to the amphibious assault ship the USS Peleliu (LHA 5) in support of Pacific Partnership, a four-month humanitarian assistance mission to Southeast Asia and Oceania that includes specialized medical care and various construction and engineering projects. Photo by MC2 Paul D. Williams

Coordination between U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection, and crews from a U.S. Navy P-3C Orion and the frigate USS Dewert (FFG 45), resulted in the seizure of an estimated $352 million of cocaine during a chase and boarding operation on a self-propelled, semi-submersible smuggler vessel in the Eastern Pacific earlier this month. Photo courtesy U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Flag bearers bow their heads in prayer during a burial at sea ceremony aboard Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). Lincoln conducted the solemn and sacred tradition of burial at sea for 11 former service members during her transit home to Everett, Wash. Lincoln completed carrier qualifications, Tailored Ship's Training Availability and Final Evaluation Problem during a scheduled work-up off the coast of Southern California. Photo by MC3 James R. Evans


Canadian Forces (CF) Lt. Leigh Aris prepares a surgical patient for blood work aboard Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20). Comfort is on a four-month humanitarian deployment to Latin America and the Caribbean providing medical treatment to patients in a dozen countries. Photo by MC2 Elizabeth R. Allen


Sailors from Expeditionary Logistics Unit ONE and the 21st Operational Weather Squadron, Sembach, Germany participated in the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France. Left to right: ATCS(AW) Robert Armer, PR3 Lahoya Harrison, AT3 Steven Milton, AT2(AW) Ismael Rodriguez, AT2(AW) Patrick Bruce, AT2 Rollin Valdez, AT2 Daniel Moore, AT3 Mark Goralski, AT1 Daniel Garrelts, LCDR Carl Hink, AT1 Joseph Prickett, AT2 Timothy Gillespie, AO3 Ramon Nieves, IT1(SW) Andrey Olsen, PS2(AW) Natalie Soares, AZ1(AW) Kent Engelhart, AG3 Leanna Casulla, AMC(AW) Jesus Lopez. Photo courtesy of LCDR Carl Hink

Coast Guard Celebrates 217th Year, Over 1.1 Million Lives Saved Since 1790

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard announced for its 217th birthday at a ceremony in Grand Haven, Mich. on August 4, that 1,109,310 lives have been saved since its establishment in 1790.

Since 1924, the residents of Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg, Mich., have recognized the Coast Guard, the smallest of the armed forces, with an annual celebration. The festivities include Coast Guard cutter tours, a children's parade, a downtown carnival, nightly entertainment, a parade, a family picnic, and fireworks.

"When things are at their worst, America's Coast Guard is at its best," said Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff. "What began as a revenue enforcement agency with a fleet of ten cutters established by Alexander Hamilton more than 200 years ago has evolved into the world's premiere multi-mission, maritime and military service. It's fitting that we celebrate the Coast Guard's 217th birthday this August 4th as we recognize its brave men and women for saving more than 1 million lives over the course of its long and storied history."

"As America's lifesavers and guardians of the seas, Coast Guard men and women commit themselves every day to serving our nation and its people with selfless courage and unflinching determination," said Adm. Thad Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard. "This year we celebrate a remarkable milestone in our history as more than one million lives have been saved by the Coast Guard since 1790. What began as America's only lifesaving service charged with the dangerous duty of saving sailors from shipwrecks along our coasts has evolved into a modern-day, multi-mission Coast Guard that demonstrates the same commitment to saving lives that it did more than 200 years ago."

The Coast Guard is one of America's five armed forces and traces its founding to Aug. 4, 1790, when the first Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling, and protect the collection of the federal revenue.

Responsibilities added over the years included humanitarian duties such as aiding mariners in distress. The service received its present name in 1915 when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the U.S. Life-Saving Service and U.S. Lighthouse Service to form a single maritime agency dedicated to saving lives at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws.

"The saying A life lived for others is a life worth while' truly summarizes being a member of the Coast Guard," said Capt. Jim McPherson, a Coast Guard spokesman. "For 217 years our brave Lifesavers rowed through the surf to save lives or flew through storms to make daring rescues. Although the technology has advanced the common theme through the years is the heroism of Coast Guard women and men."

The number of lives saved was calculated by the Coast Guard historian's office through research of logs and records from the Coast Guard, the Revenue Cutter Service, the U.S. Life-Saving Service, the U.S. Lighthouse Service and other agencies that eventually became the modern Coast Guard.

In addition to tallying the total number of lives saved, the historian's office has compiled a list of the top ten rescues in the Coast Guard's history. The list shows the breadth of the Coast Guard's efforts to save lives in peril on the seas for over 217 years.

DECK LOG: USS Tennessee (ACR-10) & USS Memphis (CA-10)

By HM1 Sandra A. Dunlap (vet.)

Armored cruisers, also known as second-class battleships, were among the first warships built when navies transitioned to steel in the late 1880s and 1890s. French and Russian armored cruisers were in use by 1895. The United States however, launched it's first armored cruiser in 1889, the USS Maine, which was ultimately lost in the explosion in Havana harbor that triggered the Spanish-American War of 1898.

During the latter 19th Century and early 20th Century, the US Navy was in the process of modifying and redesigning the cruisers to handle newer weapons and improve the inadequate protection of Pennsylvania class cruisers. The United States built thirteen armored cruisers with construction and use, peaking in the years 1906-1908; with a number of engineering schemes were being evaluated during this time. Congress, irate over the rapid growth of ships it had authorized, put definite limits on size.

On July 1, 1902, Congress authorized two armored cruisers with a maximum tonnage of 14,500 tons. These became the Tennessee-class cruisers. USS Tennessee (ACR-10), later renamed USS Memphis (CA-10), was the first of these new cruisers authorized under the act.

Built by the Cramp Shipbuilding Company, her keel was laid in Philadelphia in June 1903 and launched in December 1904. Commissioned at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard in July 1906, the ship was sponsored by Annie K. Frazier, daughter of the Governor of Tennessee. Captain Albert O. Berry was the ship's first commanding officer of Tennessee's complement of 41 officers and 850 enlisteds, which later increased to 921 when she served as a flagship.

USS Tennessee at-anchor, circa 1907
- Photo courtesy Naval Historical Center

THE SHIP
Tennessee was 504 feet 5 inches long with a breadth of 72 feet, 10½ inches, with a mean draft of 25 feet and a displacement of 14,500 tons. Her coalbunkers normally held 900 tons but could hold up to 1,992 tons. Coal-fired Babcock boilers powered two 4-cylinder vertical inverted triple expansion engines that drove twin, three bladed screws. She had an indicated horsepower (IHP) of 28,600 and a maximum speed of 22.16 knots. The main battery was comprised of four 10-inch, .40 caliber breech-loading rifles and sixteen 6-inch .50 caliber rapid-fire guns.

Her secondary battery consisted of twenty-two 3-inch rapid .50 caliber rapid-fire guns, two 3-inch antiaircraft guns, four 3-pound saluting guns, two 3-inch field pieces, six .30 caliber semiautomatic guns, and four submerged 21-inch torpedo tubes.

Armor plating on Tennessee ranged from three inches on the belt and deck, to nine inches on the turrets and conning tower. Areas of the belt did contain 5-inch armor, as did the barbettes (the circular housing covering the turret rotating mechanism) and some turrets.

DEPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS:
USS Tennessee's first major deployment was as an escort ship for USS Louisiana (BB-19) and President Theodore Roosevelt on a Panama Canal progress inspection tour.

In June 1907, she was present for the tercentennial Jamestown Exposition which commemorated the first permanent English settlement in America. Tennessee left Jamestown along with USS Washington (ACR-11) to join the Special Service Squadron operating in the Atlantic, arriving off Royan, France later that month. The Special Service Squadron was to demonstrate a show of force as part of the "gunboat diplomacy" policy of the Roosevelt Adminstration, also known as "The Big Stick."

Her deployment to the Special Service Squadron was short, returning to Hampton Roads in August 1907.

Tennessee was then selected to participate in the Pathfinder Cruise, a 'scouting' mission that would precede the historic Great White Fleet's around-the-world cruise by two months. RADM Uriel Sebree chose Tennessee to be his flagship (Second Division, Pacific Fleet) in early October and the Pathfinder Cruise set sail.

On Oct. 28, she crossed the Equator and up to December, made port calls to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Montevideo, Uruguay; Punta Arenas, Chile; Callao, Peru; and Acapulco and Pichilinque Bay, Mexico.6 On Dec. 28, 1907, she reached Magdalena Bay, Mexico where she waited for the battleships.

Upon arrival on the west coast, Tennessee operated out of San Francisco, CA until July 1908. She sailed north to Bremerton, WA where she underwent repairs and that included the installation of electric range finders and other fire control equipment. Returning to join the fleet in San Francisco, she then sailed for Pago Pago, Samoa on Aug. 24, along with seven other heavy ships of the 1st and 2nd Pacific Fleet Divisions. The fleet arrived in Samoa on Sept. 28.

While in the Western Pacific, Tennessee, along with other ships conducted fire control experiments and tests before departing for Honolulu, and arriving there in late October.

In mid-November, USS Tennessee and the second division, steamed to back to Magdalena Bay for gunnery exercises. It was in 1908 that the ship received the coveted Spokane Trophy. The award, commissioned by the citizens of Spokane, Washington was in memory of sailor John Robert Monaghan, who died while saving the life of a naval officer in Samoa in 1899.

It was originally intended for excellence in turreted gunnery in the Atlantic Fleet, but President Roosevelt and Secretary of the Navy Victor Metcalf made the decision to award it to the battleship or cruiser with the highest merit score in turret gunnery. The award, still presented today, now covers excellence in overall combat systems readiness and combat operations.

Following the completion of gunnery practice, the division, led by Tennessee, continued south to Central and South America. The division briefly stopped at Colon, Panama to check canal progress. Eventually the Tennessee and the other warships of the division steamed south to Lota, Chile before turning and heading north.

The northward voyage brought a port call in Coquimbo, Chile late in Jan. 1909. At this time, Tennessee provided a fire brigade to assist residents in extinguishing a major fire in the city.

Continuing northward, Tennessee and other warships made stops in Peru and Costa Rica before returning to San Francisco. Once again, after arriving at her Pacific Coast homeport, she was sent north to Bremerton. While in the yards, she underwent repairs and modifications to her armor before returning to San Francisco.

In whites on Christmas Day aboard USS Tennessee (ACR-10) off of Beirut, Syria, 1914.
First sailor on the left is GM2c Donald M. MacCallum (my grandfather), all others are unknown.
- Personal collection of Sandra A. Dunlap

TO BE CONTINUED IN SEPTEMBER'S DECK LOG

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