FIRST CALL: Notes & Ramblings From The Pilothouse

RANDOM NOTES:
I agonized for a few weeks over my gateway piece for this edition of The HOIST. I had originally planned to write something along the lines of, "In 1775, General George Washington took control of three armed schooners in an effort to intercept British supply vessels. Continental Congress had been reluctant to pass a resolution calling for an American Navy. However, because of Washington's initiative, the Congress approved the resolution and added more ships to the fledgling Navy."

"A bit stuffy, almost something from a school book," I thought.

So, like all good writers, I tried again. This time I wrote something that sounded a bit autobiographical. "Hey...Not too bad looking for a 232-year-old, huh? I'm in pretty decent shape after all this time..."

The only thing missing was Rodney Dangerfield. Not to slight the late comedian, but it just didn't pan out.

Then I stumbled upon the 1906 lyrics from our unofficial service song (and the Navy's march), "Anchors Aweigh":

Stand Navy out to sea, Fight our Battle Cry;
We'll never change our course, So vicious foe steer shy-y-y-y.
Roll out the TNT, Anchors Aweigh. Sail on to Victory
And sink their bones to Davy Jones, Hooray!

Anchors Away, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.
Farewell to foreign shores,
We sail at break of day-ay-ay-ay.
Through our last night on shore, Drink to the foam,
Until we meet once more.
Here's wishing you a happy voyage home.

Blue of the Mighty Deep; Gold of God's Sun
Let these colors be till all of time be done, done, done,
On seven seas we learn Navy's stern call:
Faith, Courage, Service true, with Honor, Over Honor, Over All.
- Music by LT Charles A. Zimmerman, lyrics by MIDN Alfred H. Miles

I couldn't have written it any better...

BEFORE YOU RUN-OFF TO CELEBRATE...
The Powers-That-Be here at NTWS wanted me to remind you about your SERVICE picture on your profile. They would HIGHLY APPRECIATE posting a photo of yourself -- in-uniform -- on your SERVICE profile segment. Your recruit graduation portrait, official portrait, or any clear, sharp (as in "focused") photo of yourself in uniform will do. And remember, it MUST be a JPEG image.

If you don't have access to a scanner to make a digital file of your picture, I'm sure there's shipmates here that do own one and would be glad to help if you asked. I own a scanner myself, and if anyone needs to have their picture scanned for their SERVICE profile shot, drop me a line either by private message or my NTWS address (editor@navy.togetherweserved.com). I'll be glad to give you a hand.

That's it. Why are you all still here??? Go celebrate...SAFELY!

Until next time...

Jon Yim
Editor

Mullen Takes Helm As JCS Chairman

By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON -- Navy Admiral Michael G. Mullen took the helm earlier this month as the 17th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, vowing to work to give servicemembers "clear direction, outstanding equipment and focused policies" to accomplish current missions and prepare for future ones.

Mullen paused following his swearing-in ceremony at Fort Myer, Va., to honor members of the armed forces, particularly those "in harm's way spreading the promise of a brighter future."

"You are our greatest asset. Your bravery and your commitment are our nation's greatest gifts," Mullen said, addressing the 2.4 million active, Guard and reserve members of the armed forces. "You are true heroes who, understanding that your missions are demanding, dangerous and often deadly, still raise your right hand with a promise and an oath to continue building on the legacy of service endearing you to the people of this nation."

This support will be critical, Mullen said, as he, his vice chairman, Marine Gen. James "Hoss" Cartwright, and the service chiefs and combatant commanders work together to develop and execute a strategy that supports U.S. national interests in the Middle East.

Mullen promised to reset, reconstitute and revitalize the military, especially the ground forces, to confront this challenge, while balancing risks around the globe to prepare for the future. "Fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan will one day end," he said. "We must be ready for who and what comes after. That's the promise we've made."

President Bush praised Mullen as the man to carry out that promise by carrying the torch passed by the retiring Marine Gen. Peter Pace.

Bush cited Mullen's broad talents and experience: serving on a destroyer during intense operations in Vietnam, commanding three ships, serving as commander of all U.S. naval forces in Europe then Joint Forces Command before becoming chief of naval operations.

Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates thanked Mullen for his "willingness yet again to answer your country's call."

As Mullen answers the call, Bush noted, he brings personal experience of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and an understanding of "what's at stake in the war on terror."

"He was on duty at the Pentagon when Flight 77 made its doomed plunge. He felt the plane slam into the building. He saw the carnage and devastation, and like all who worked there that terrible day, he still carries the pain and the loss," the president said. "Admiral Mullen was there when war reached America's shores, and he brings the talent, vision and judgment needed to help us fight and win that war."

Mullen recognizes the strength of the joint military in waging that war and believes "every member of our armed forces is, as he put it, 'part of one team and one fight,'" Bush said.

He called Mullen "a man of decency and honor" who "will bring judgment and candor to decisions that may mean the difference between life and death for young Americans who are serving our nation."

As Mullen begins his service as chairman, Bush said, he's fortunate to have the example set by Pace, "one of the most respected and accomplished military leaders I have ever known."

Pace praised his successor, noting that he and Mullen were midshipmen together at the U.S. Naval Academy and that Mullen introduced Pace to his future wife, Lynne.

"Mike Mullen is as fine an officer as this nation has ever produced," Pace said. "He has a keen intellect; he has the grit and the ability to speak his mind and to speak in a way that is clearly understood."

While acknowledging that he regrets relinquishing his post, Pace told Mullen he's "so proud that you are the one who will take on the responsibilities as 17th chairman."

Mullen thanked Pace for his leadership as chairman and said he is honored to follow him in carrying out the legacy of military service. "You led in a tough time, perhaps the toughest, and it's been a great honor serving with you," Mullen said. "I'm ready to take the watch, but I do not take it alone. With me is the supporting cast of over 2 million soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen who also promised to serve."

Featured Upgrades this Month

Shooting Medals
We now support the Shooting Medals for your profile - these are displayed as part of your ribbon rack:

To add shooting medals to your profile, edit your service details.

Spell Check

For the forums we have enabled spell check for browsers other than Internet Explorer. To use this feature click the check mark button on the text editor.

Photo Sorting

There are new options to choose the desired sort order when browsing photos:

New CNO Delivers First Message To The Fleet

WASHINGTON -- Admiral Gary Roughead offered his first message to the fleet since assuming duties as the 29th Chief of Naval Operations on Sept 29. The text of his message is provided below:

The opportunity to continue to serve and to lead our Navy is the highest honor for any naval officer. Assuming the leadership of our Navy from Adm. Mike Mullen is a great privilege. His vision, drive, and commitment to those who serve have positioned us well today and for tomorrow. I know all of you join me in wishing him and Deborah every success as he takes up his new responsibilities as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

I am of the fleet. It is where I began and where, for the past four years, in the Atlantic and Pacific, I have had the privilege of leading our operational forces, Navy and joint. I have watched our Sailors perform magnificently from the high end of warfare to the most extensive humanitarian operation ever undertaken by our military. I am inspired by our individual augmentees and others on the ground. They are a new dimension of our navy and one in which we can all take pride. We are truly a ready, agile, and global Navy.

My priorities have been and will remain, maintaining our current readiness, building a Navy for tomorrow, and that which underpins all we do, our people -- Our Sailors, our civilians and our very special families, whose hallmarks are sacrifice and self-reliance.

Current readiness.
Maintaining our warfighting readiness will ensure we are an agile, capable, and ready force. We are continually generating forces for the current fight and are deploying and employing our navy much differently than in years past. We are simultaneously providing ready naval forces and personnel for joint force commanders, sustaining forward presence, fulfilling commitments to allies, and responding to increasing demands in regions where we have not routinely operated, specifically South America and Africa. Our global blue-water Navy, centered around carrier strike groups, expeditionary strike groups, and submarines is unmatched, and will continue to be our cornerstone. Our Fleet Response Plan will increase our operational availability and allow us to operate with more flexibility.

A Navy for tomorrow.
The means and methods of conflict and the security environment undergo constant change. Technology and new approaches are advancing rapidly. Our ships, submarines, aircraft, weapons, and networks must outpace potential adversaries. The cost of future systems and the ability of our overall acquisition processes to pace the speed of technological innovation will challenge our ability to deliver a balanced force. Accordingly, we must be exacting in developing requirements, mindful of the factors that increase cost, and disciplined in our process to be effective, efficient, and timely in delivering future capability.

People.
Our people are the foundation for all we do. All we acquire is of little worth without the people who give it value. Our policies and practices must enable us to attract, recruit, retain and fulfill the men and women of America, and our Navy must reflect the diversity of our nation. The demographics, attitudes, and expectations of our population are changing and we must understand that dynamic. Our policies must advantage us and address the many rewards of service, and we must be unwavering in our obligation to take care of those who serve in our navy and the families who support them. This is particularly important today for those serving in individual augmentation assignments.

Those are my priorities, but there is another dimension to our future. We have a unique historical, organizational, and operational relationship with the U.S. Marine Corps. Our forces train, deploy, and fight together. Our capabilities, programs and personnel issues are inextricably linked. I am committed to the Navy and Marine Corps partnership and to making it
even stronger and more relevant for the future. We can do much for our country as a Navy-Marine Corps team.

Although we are at war, I see more opportunity than challenge and more in our future than in our past. I look forward to leading our Navy. I am eager to meet all that is before us, and to serving with you as we face the future and seize the opportunities ahead.

SECNAV's Birthday Message To The Fleet

Two hundred thirty-two years after the Continental Congress voted to commission a swift sailing vessel with ten carriage guns and an appropriate number of swivels, the United States Navy now reigns supreme as the most powerful Navy in the world. But a Navy is only as good as the people who train, maintain, and operate the fleet that the nation has built.

It is you, the Sailors and civilians of our Navy, who shoulder the burden and make the sacrifices that have made this success possible.

The U.S. Navy has an impact on the world that goes beyond what you may realize. From deterring aggression to protecting sea lanes to projecting power ashore to offering humanitarian assistance to victims of natural disasters, your work is vital to the security of the United States.

As those who have volunteered to serve, you put on the uniform everyday and dedicate your lives to a noble cause. On this 232nd birthday of the United States Navy, take quiet pride in knowing that your service and your sacrifice will continue to do honor to a great nation.

Thank you for your service and may god bless you, your families, and our nation.
- Donald C. Winter
Secretary of the Navy

CNO's Birthday Message To The Fleet

As we celebrate and commemorate the 232nd birthday of our Navy, I thank all who are serving today, military and civilian; to our families who stand by and support us; and to our fellow sea service, the U.S. Marine Corps. We are a great team ready today and preparing for tomorrow.

From our humble beginning with six frigates more than 200 years ago, we have become the most dominant and influential naval force ever to sail the world's oceans. We ensure freedom of the seas, project power in support of national interests and support allies and partners around the world. We are at once powerful, yet compassionate when reaching out to others in need. While the tools of our profession; ships, airplanes, and submarines are impressive; they are of little worth without our people who give them value. It is you, every Sailor, Navy civilian and family member serving around the world or here at home, who truly keeps our fleet on a steady course today, and sets the course for generations to come. Your commitment to service and individual readiness makes us the Navy we must be. On duty and off, you are the face of our Navy and nation.

Happy birthday, shipmates. I am proud of who you are and what you do. Thank you for your service and that of your families.
- ADM Gary Roughead
Chief of Naval Operations

TAPS: ADM William J. Crowe Jr.

WASHINGTON -- Former Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, retired Admiral William James Crowe Jr., died Oct. 18, at Bethesda Naval Hospital. He was 82.

"Today our nation has lost a great patriot," said the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Donald C. Winter. "Adm. Crowe served our nation, and the men and women of our armed forces since the day he was commissioned in June of 1947. Whether acting as admiral, chairman, or ambassador, Adm. Crowe's leadership and counsel were sought and valued by presidents and world leaders alike. He was a man of great conviction and dedication who helped guide our country during challenging times. He touched numerous lives and will be sorely missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to Shirley and the Crowe family."

A 1946 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Crowe's 43-year career started in the diesel submarine community and ended in 1989 when he retired after serving as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Most notably, Crowe helped to determine the military policy many consider to have hastened the end of the Cold War.

"On behalf of the men and women of the U.S. Navy, I extend our sincere condolences to the Crowe family," said Adm. Gary Roughead, Chief of Naval Operations. "Adm. Crowe was the finest example of a true gentleman and naval officer who served his country with distinction. He cared deeply about people, and always approached his duty and life with enthusiasm and a unique sense of humor. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Adm. Crowe."

Crowe began his career with an initial sea tour aboard USS Carmich (DMS 33). After completing submarine school in 1948, he qualified in submarines in March 1950 in the diesel submarine USS Flying Fish (SS 29). Almost all of his follow on sea assignments were aboard diesel submarines.

By 1954, Lt. Crowe served as Assistant to the Naval Aide to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. After leaving Washington in 1956, he returned to sea duty as executive officer of the USS Wahoo (SS 565) in Honolulu.

In January 1958 Crowe was appointed to lieutenant commander and soon became the personal aide to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Plans, Policy and Operations. This appointment would introduce him to the Navy's role in international politics and set firmly establish his career direction.

By 1960, Crowe received his first command -- the Navy's newest diesel submarine -- USS Trout (SS 566). By 1962 Crowe was promoted to commander and later selected as one of the Navy's first candidates for a doctorate in social sciences.

After receiving a masters and doctorate in politics from Princeton University, Crowe received his Ph.D. in 1965 and returned to submarine duty as Chief of Staff to the Commander of Submarine Squadron 3.

In 1967, Crowe was promoted to captain. Four years later, he volunteered for service in Vietnam. He served first as an adviser and then as senior adviser to the Vietnamese Riverine Force in Mekong Delta. He returned to Washington in 1971. By 1973, Crowe was promoted to rear admiral. In June 1976 he assumed command of the Middle East force, based in Bahrain in the Persian Gulf.

Crowe was promoted to vice admiral in 1977 and was appointed the Navy's Plans, Policy and Operations Deputy. After receiving his fourth star, Crowe became Commander in Chief of Allied Forces Southern Europe in 1980 and assumed the additional responsibility of Commander in Chief of U.S. Naval Forces, Europe in 1983. In the same year, Crowe became Commander in Chief of the Pacific Command.

Crowe was selected as the 11th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shortly after then-President Ronald Reagan met him during a brief stopover en route to China.

During Crowe's chairmanship, Reagan met with Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev and suggested they rid Europe of all intercontinental ballistic missiles. This proposal ultimately led Crowe to initiate dialogue with the Chief of the Soviet General Staff. Together, they worked to lessen the likelihood of an accidental armed conflict between the countries.

Crowe's tenure as Chairman also included adopting new rules of engagement in response to a string of terror attacks throughout Europe. Crowe allowed U.S. units to respond to apparent threats rather than waiting until they were fired upon.

Crowe retired in 1989 and served as ambassador to the United Kingdom 1994-1997. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000.
- Navy News Service

Navy SEAL Awarded Medal of Honor

By MCSN Michelle L. Kapica
Naval Special Warfare Command Public Affairs

WASHINGTON -- The family of a Navy SEAL, Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy, will be presented the Navy Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House this month.

The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.

Murphy's father, Daniel, will accept the award on behalf of his son. Murphy will receive the award posthumously for his extraordinary, selfless heroism and steadfast courage while leading a four-man, special reconnaissance mission deep behind enemy lines east of Asadabad in the Hindu Kush of Afghanistan in June 2005.

"We are thrilled by the President's announcement today, especially because there is now a public recognition of what we knew all along about Michael's loyalty, devotion and sacrifice to his friends, family, country, and especially his SEAL teammates," the Murphy family said in a statement. "The honor is not just about Michael, it is about his teammates and those who lost their lives that same day."

Murphy was the officer-in-charge of the SEAL element, which was tasked with locating a high- level Taliban militia leader to provide intelligence for a follow-on mission to capture or destroy the local leadership and disrupt enemy activity. However local Taliban sympathizers discovered the SEAL unit and immediately revealed their position to Taliban fighters. The element was besieged on a mountaintop by scores of enemy fighters. The firefight that ensued pushed the element farther into enemy territory and left all four SEALs wounded.

The SEALs fought the enemy fearlessly despite being at a tactical disadvantage and outnumbered more than four to one. Understanding the gravity of the situation and his responsibility to his men, Murphy, already wounded, deliberately and unhesitatingly moved from cover into the open where he took and returned fire while transmitting a call for help for his beleaguered teammates. Shot through the back while radioing for help, Murphy completed his transmission while returning fire.

The call ultimately led to the rescue of one severely wounded team member, Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Marcus Luttrell, along with the recovery of the remains of Murphy, Gunner's Mate 2nd Class (SEAL) Danny Dietz and Sonar Technician 2nd Class (SEAL) Matthew Axelson.

Eight more SEALs and eight U.S. Army "Nightstalker" soldiers comprising the initial reinforcement also lost their lives when their helicopter was shot down before they could engage the enemy. The entire battle, the culmination of Operation Redwing, resulted in the worst single-day loss of life for Naval Special Warfare personnel since World War II.

The sole surviving SEAL, Marcus Luttrell, wrote a book about the battle after he left the Navy this summer. In his book, Luttrell credited all three of his teammates for their heroism, including Murphy's sacrificial act that eventually led to his rescue.

Murphy will be inducted into the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon during a ceremony later this month. His name will be engraved beside the names of some 3,400 other service members who have also been awarded the nation's highest honor.

Awarded by the President in the name of Congress, the Medal of Honor was created in 1861 as personal award of valor for members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Another version was created for the Army and ultimately the Medal of Honor was presented to more than 1,500 Civil War veterans. With the creation of the Air Force in 1947, that service created its own unique Medal of Honor design for Airmen.

The History of an American Family -- A Story of Heroes (Part 2)

By LaShayla Brown
HOIST Correspondent

Darwin "Mac" McKee, known as Mac by friends, joined the Navy in October 1964 at the age of 17, and with the support of his family; he embarked on a career that would define a chapter in the history books.

After leaving high school, Mac McKee joined the Navy, making the three-day trip by train to RTC San Diego from Iowa for recruit training. While Mac was in boot camp, the Gulf of Tonkin Incident took place. "That's the first time we realized we may be involved in a war. We were all huddled around a radio in our boot camp barracks when they reported the incident," he explained.

Completing recruit training, he remained in San Diego and was temporarily assigned to NTC Security-Base Police while awaiting for orders to his first ship. Mac was ready for life as a Navy Sailor, anxious to try-out his own sea legs he earned as a child while his father was stationed in California.

When orders came, he found out he was headed to Da Nang, Vietnam. When Mac told his father of his orders, his dad asked, what kind of ship "Da Nang" was. "Because he had never heard of it," Mac said.

In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson dispatched large numbers of troops to South Vietnam. Mac knew he would be part of the build up of forces there that year. At the time Mac didn't know, nor did he have any idea what he would be doing once he arrived at Da Nang.

Before Mac left for deployment to Vietnam, he headed for indoctrination -- a few weeks of weapons training at the sprawling Marine base at Camp Pendleton. "I wasn't sure what to think about Da Nang when we left for Vietnam." he recalls."(I) wasn't positive what I would be doing there when I got there. But I knew the extra training we took before leaving had something to do with it, but had no idea that I would be doing the things normally done by Marines."

"For all I knew, we would be standing pier security and not back in the bush of an old abandoned French camp," Mac added.

With his training complete, Mac loaded-up and headed to Vietnam. After a three-and-a-half day layover on Wake Island and a refueling stop in the Philippines, Mac found himself sitting in a plane circling over Da Nang. They were circling the airfield because a burning helicopter needed to be removed from the runway.

"My first thought was: 'If they can hit that chopper, how in the hell are they going to miss this big tub?'"

Once safely on the ground, he spent the day checking in at what local Sailors referred to as the "White Elephant," headquarters for Naval Support Activity. He spent his first night in Vietnam sleeping in six-tier racks aboard USS Navarro, a troop transport anchored there. The next morning, Mac received his orders for Camp Tien Sha, an abandoned French military base that was being rebuilt by US troops -- putting him close to the well-known GI landmarks of China Beach, Monkey Mountain, and Son Sa Village.

After Mac and the other sailors arriving with him had found their new duty assignment, he was assigned to Camp Security. For the next year Mac would serve in a Marine capacity at Camp Tien Sha, one of the first naval units to provide their own security. When Mac and his shipmates were not standing watch, they were repairing buildings, filling sandbags, building bunkers, building towers, reinforcing the perimeter, or going out on occasional foot patrols.

"We had no Marines on the camp, as they were needed elsewhere," Mac says of his duty without even a hint of complaint.

Conditions at Camp Tien Sha were spartan, as there was no hot water or refrigerators. Mac explained he could get all the beer and soda he wanted -- provided you drank it warm. For his entire 12-month tour, Mac worked 7 days a week, and kept a 16 to 20-hour a day schedule. He remembers one four-hour liberty where someone got hold of some cold beer and steaks. There were some other small joys, too; including a dance with actress Ann-Margaret during a 1966 USO tour, which made him the happiest man in the world.

Like his father, Mac always found time to care for others. He and two shipmates took to building a new home for a young Vietnamese boy named Cau Van Tran, fondly known around their camp as Jimmy, who would help them out on-occasion. At the time it was the nicest home in the village.

While his Camp was a buffer for Da Nang, it came under siege only once during Mac's tour. When word was received that Viet Cong and NVA regulars were moving toward the camp from Monkey Mountain, his camp commander called-in for fire support. A destroyer and cruiser anchored off the coast answered the call, opening up with their guns and stopped the approaching enemy forces.

Of his time in Vietnam, Mac said, "I wouldn't take a million bucks for the experience, and wouldn't take 10 times that much to do it again." And when his time was up, he returned home and finished his enlistment before leaving the Navy.

Today, Mac is married to the love of his life, and has children and grandchildren that he is more than enamored with. A few years ago, he retired from the jewelry business he owned for health reasons when he could no longer work. These days he spends a large amount of time at home. His parents have both passed on, and when he speaks of them, you can still hear the love and admiration in his voice.

Mac explains his service with no complaints, just facts. He doesn't brag about making history at Camp Tien Sha. He is proud of having served his country -- and equally proud his father's and uncle's military service. He has a soft spot for Veterans. Mac explains as he bids me goodbye that Vietnam veterans always say "Welcome Home" instead of goodbye when they leave each other, because they never got a welcome when they returned from combat.

Welcome home Mac.

NTWS Ships Store - For All Your Navy Shipmate Swag!

Visit to our online NTWS Ships Store for all your cool Navy swag - Shirts, Jackets, Hats, Jewelry, Footwear, Medals, Patches and much, much more!

(The Ships Store can also be found under the "Navy Store" tab or on the left hand Home Page just as you log into NTWS)

Over 9,000 quality Items at the lowest prices...and a 30-day, money-back guarantee! Here's some new items that just arrived in our store:

• Navy Golf Shirts (Various logos and colors)
  
• Belleville US Army Insulated Combat Boot
• Jostens Classic Men's U.S. Navy Ring - Rectangle Stone
• US Navy Ship Art Prints (2000 ships to choose from)
  

Thank you for your support of the NTWS Ships Store. All Store proceeds go towards promoting the NTWS website, bringing more Sailors to the TWS Community.

PHOTO LOG: Faces of the Fleet

Senior Chief Aviation Electrician's Mate Steven Cobb cools off under the wing of an aircraft on the flight deck of nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 65).
- Photo by MC3 McKinley Cartwright


Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Elizabeth Garcia-Vargas mixes brownie batter in the commanding officer's galley aboard amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7).
- Photo by MCSN Christopher L. Clark

Musician 2nd Class Kelly Dacosta, attached to the Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20), plays the saxophone with the U.S. Navy Showband at the Cultural Center in Paramaribo, Suriname.
- Photo by MCSN Jeff Hall

Machinist's Mate 1st Class Jeff Peterson, of Navy Customs Battalion Sierra, hugs his children after returning home to Naval Base Norfolk. - Photo by MCSN Seth Scarlett


Aviation Boatswain's Mate (Fuel) 3rd Class Bryan Oliveria takes a JP-5 fuel sample aboard nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). - Photo by MCSN Sarah E. Bitter


Mineman 1st Class Courtney Haralson, assigned to the High Speed Vessel (HSV 2) Swift, briefs and checks the members of Number One hose team before an engine room fire drill. - Photo by MC1 David Hoffman

DECK LOG: USS Tennessee (ACR-10) & USS Memphis (CA-10), A Tragic End

By HM1 Sandra A. Dunlap (vet.)

A Tragic Ending
The Dominican Republic was in the midst of rebellion and unrest, much as Haiti had been the previous year. In her latest role as peacekeeper, the USS Memphis (CA-10) arrived off Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic on 23 JUL 1916, as the flagship for RADM Charles F. Pond during this deployment.

It was uneventful until 29 AUG 1916 which led to the wreck of the Memphis, the near loss of the gunboat USS Castine, casualties that included 43 dead and 204 injured and heroic actions which eventually resulted in the awarding of a Navy Medal of Honor 16 years after the fact.

The Series of Events
Sunday afternoon, 29 AUG 1916 was clear and calm, with no storm warnings issued. Lying at anchor in Santo Domingo Harbor, an open and unprotected anchorage, were USS Memphis and USS Castine (PG-6), a Machias class gunboat. Rear Admiral Pond and the ship's liberty party were ashore. At about 3:30 in the afternoon, the commanding officer, Captain Edward L. Beach, upon a report from the executive officer about local sea conditions, ordered Memphis' steam power be increased so that she could leave the harbor for the open sea.

What should have taken about 40 minutes to be accomplished, tragedy befell the ship before she could leave the anchorage. A sudden rise in sea level was followed by a series of closely-spaced waves, very similar the action from a tsunami. As the Memphis was lifted successively higher with each wave that rolled into the harbor, she was beaten against the harbor bottom and inundated by water. Seawater flowed in though ventilators, gun ports, and the stacks while the constant pounding on the harbor bottom dislodged and punctured her boilers.

At this point, Memphis could not get up steam to run the engines and leave the anchorage. The largest of the waves struck the Memphis at about 4:30pm. Normally, would be 25 feet of water below her keel but by then, she was dragging her anchor and striking her bottom hard against the harbor floor. At around 5pm, she was hard aground in Santo Domingo Harbor, near the cliffs.

The events of this day resulted in 43 sailors perishing. Three were washed overboard when waves began to strike the Memphis. Another 25 men were in a recreation party motor launch on their way back to the ship -- it foundered in heavy seas and all hands were lost.

Eight more drowned in three small boats. These were sent to sea or sank while trying to reach shore. Seven more were killed in the boiler rooms as the boilers broke apart or were dislodged during the beating. Marines, sailors and local citizens, who rigged lines from ship to shore, evacuated those remaining on board.

Due to the heroic actions of Lieutenant Claud A. Jones, the engineering officer aboard Memphis, more sailors did not die in the engineering spaces.

At great risk to himself, he continued to remain at his post in the engineering compartment, attempting to get the engines running . When the boilers and pipes began to explode, he and two others went into the firerooms to move men out -- carrying and dragging the injured to the relative safety of the engineroom.

Sixteen years later, Jones, now a commander, was awarded the Navy Medal of Honor; presented to him in 1932 by President Herbert Hoover.

A board of naval and civilian experts examined the wreck. They concluded that Memphis was not economically feasible to salvage and repair due to her age and military value. All salvagable items from the ship were removed and sent back to the United States.

Memphis was struck from the Navy's list of ships on 17 DEC 1917. On 17 JAN 1922, she was sold to A. H. Radetsky Iron and Metal Co., of Denver, CO for scrap.
- USS Memphis/Tennessee photos courtesy of the Naval Historical Center collection

'Tis The Season To Mail Early!

By Jon Yim
Hoist Editor

If you want to get gifts to your special someone deployed overseas, and with the holiday season quickly approaching, so are the deadlines to mail those cards and packages.

According to officials at the Military Postal Service Agency (MPSA), an extension of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), these are the following holiday mailing deadlines:

- Nov. 13 for surface mail (mail going by truck or ship).
- Nov. 27 for space-available (SAM).
- Dec. 4 for parcel airlift (PAL).
- Dec. 11 for Priority Mail, first-class letter and cards.
- Dec. 18 for Express Mail.

For packages to arrive by the start of Hanukkah, at sundown Dec. 4, they should be mailed by Oct. 23.

The maximum weight allowed for any parcel shipped through the military postal system is 70 pounds and must not have more girth than 130 inches, but each mail category has its own limits. For example, mail sent by space-available basis (SAM) can't be more than 15 pounds and 60 inches in length and girth combined, according to the MPSA Web site.

You can compare mailing options for your overseas-bound packages on the U.S. Postal Service's Web site.

In addition to deadlines, several other factors must be considered when sending mail downrange. For example, each country has customs regulations that apply to all incoming mail, covering everything from restricted food items to reading materials.

Military units may also have additional restrictions concerning incoming mail imposed by unit commanders relative to size and weight to ensure logistics support can handle the heavy mail load.

MPSA officials said mail volume going through their facilities starts picking up around September.

During the holiday season a variety of objects pass through the military postal system on their way downrange. Just about everything that can be mailed -- from small refrigerators to microwaves -- gets shipped by MPSA. "People send nearly everything through APOs/FPOs but a kitchen sink," said a senior MPSA official. "And I wouldn't be surprised if they tried."

Some other handy mailing tips from the USPS and MPSA:

* Packages must be addressed to an individual service member. Mail cannot be delivered to "any service member." Use the member's full name, military organization or unit and APO/FPO address.

* NEVER include the country name in any part of the address when using an APO/FPO address.

* Choose a box strong enough to protect its contents, and use plenty of cushioning material -- such as air-popped popcorn or shredded newspaper.

* Consider using the Postal Service's free Military Kit -- eight boxes of three different sizes popular for mailing to military personnel, along with mailing labels, tape and U.S. Customs forms. Kits can be obtained by calling toll-free to (800) 610-8734. Choose option 1, and when a live agent responds, ask for Care Kit 4.

* Write the delivery and return addresses on one side of the package.

* Place a return address label inside the package.

For more answers to your holiday mailing questions, call the U.S. Postal Service toll-free at (800) ASK-USPS, or the Military Postal Service Agency at (800) 810-6098.

AAFES "Gifts from the Homefront" Campaign To Help Lighten Holiday Postal Load

In order to help facilitate the mailing process and avoid many of the obstacles that come with the traditional care packages, the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) created "Gifts from the Homefront," a campaign that allows anyone to make a direct and tangible contribution to military morale with a gift certificate that can be redeemed for nearly anything a specific servicemember wants.

"A package from home is certainly nice, but cookies get stale and fragile electronics can break," said Army Lt. Colonel Dean Thurmond, AAFES' chief of communications. "A 'Gift from the Homefront' gift certificate can alleviate a great deal of burden for the post office and sender while ensuring Soldiers, Airmen, Marines and Sailors are able to get exactly what they desire or need."

AAFES, the military's premier retailer, currently operates 53 retail facilities in support of operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. While inventories can vary from location to location, most facilities carry a full assortment of health and beauty items, toiletries, snacks and drinks.

"Gifts from the Homefront" can be sent to deployed troops by logging on to www.aafes.org or calling 877-770-4438.

From there, the gift certificates are sent to individual servicemembers (designated by the purchaser) or distributed to "any servicemember" through the Air Force Aid Society, American Red Cross, Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, Fisher House, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, Operation Homefront, Operation Interdependence® or the USO.

"Gifts From the Homefront" gift certificates can be redeemed at exchange facilities worldwide.

As of last month, some 92,900 "Gifts from the Homefront" gift certificates have been sent since the Department of Defense approved the exchange support campaign in March 2003. More than 23,500 of these have been delivered to servicemembers and their families via AAFES' 10 charitable partners.

Enjoyed This Newsletter?

Please forward this link to other Sailors you know, and your friends and family!

http://navy.togetherweserved.com/usn/newsletter2/12

As NTWS continues to grow, so does its potential to find old Shipmates and new friends; as well as creating a vibrant and enjoyable Naval Community representing all eras, from WWII to present-day.

WARBOOK

DESCRIPTION:
Wooden hull, three-masted frigate. The oldest commissioned ship in the U.S. Navy. One of six frigates authorized to form the United States Navy for use against the Barbary pirates.

FEATURES:
Built to be powerful enough to defeat an enemy of equivalent strength and fast enough to outsail a stronger opponent.

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Builder: Colonel George Claghorn, Edmond Harrt's Shipyard, Boston, MA.
Date Deployed: October 21, 1797.
Unit Cost: $302,718 (1797 dollars).
Propulsion: 42,710 sq. ft. of sail on three masts.
Length: 204 feet (62.16 meters) (billet head to taffrail); 175 feet at waterline (53.32 meters).
Height: Mast height: foremast, 198 feet (60.33 meters); mainmast, 220 feet (67.03 meters); mizzenmast, 172.5 feet (52.56 meters).
Beam: 43.5 feet (13.25 meters).
Displacement: 2,200 tons.
Speed: 13+ knots (approx. 14.95 miles per hour, 24 km. per hour).
Crew: 450, including 55 Marines and 30 boys (1797 crew complement).
Armament: 32 24-pounder long guns; 20 32-pounder carronades, two 24-pounder bow chasers.
Landing/Attack Craft: One 36-ft. long boat; two 30-ft. cutters, two 28-ft. whaleboats; one 28-ft. gig; one 22-ft. jolly boat; and one 14-ft. punt.
Anchors: Two main bowers (5300 lbs.); one sheet anchor (5400 lbs.); one stream anchor (1100 lbs.); and two kedge anchors (400 to 700 lbs).
Homeport: Charlestown Navy Yard, Boston, MA.

Pride In The Past - Faith In The Future

Sincerely,
The NTWS Administration Team
http://navy.togetherweserved.com