NAVYzology

Fallen Navy SEAL Jon Tumilson Mourned By His Dog Hawkeye At Funeral

2011-08-26T09:49:00.000-07:00

Fallen Navy SEAL, 35 year-old Petty Officer Jon T. Tumilson, one of 30 Americans killed in Afghanistan on August 6th, 2011 during a rocket-propelled grenade attack that took out a Chinook helicopter, was mourned at a service in Rockford, Iowa, attended by 1,500 family members, friends and his dog Hawkeye.

The Labrador retriever was such an important part of Tumilson's life that the friends and family of the San Diego resident called the dog his "son."

When Tumilson's friend Scott Nichols walked to the front of the room to speak, Hawkeye followed, Today.com reports. "As Nichols prepared to memorialize his friend, Hawkeye dutifully laid down near the casket," Scott Stump writes. Below is a video report on the funeral service (as seen on FreedomsLighthouse.net:

Here is a link to the portraits and an article on the 30 troops killed in the attack that Jon was in:
http://news.yahoo.com/photos/photos-oriented-alphabetical-order-last-name-top-left-photo-095700812.html

U.S. Navy Seals Take Down Osama bin Laden--GO NAVY!

2011-05-02T19:57:00.000-07:00

During the first week of my duty in the U.S. Navy beginning in August 1972, I sat through a battery of 55 tests which were used to determine aptitude, mental skills and psychological state. At the end of that first week and directly due to the results of all the testing I had taken, attempts at recruiting me for Nuclear Submarine duty and (later that same day) to consider training for becoming a member of the UDT Seals program (as it was called then) were offered to me. I remember being shown the UDT training film which pitched the eliteness of the former UDT Seals organization. At the time I decided it was not for me, but I have always wondered if I could have made it into their membership. I was not surprised when I discovered that the highly trained United States Navy Seals carried out the mission to kill Osama bin Laden early on Monday morning, May 2, 2011 (or late on Sunday May 1 depending on where you were in the world). Some reports suggested that there were at least forty of them and they left Ghazi air base in Pakistan in three MH-60 helicopters. Their destination was the garrison town of Abbottabad and it was a team equipped with intelligence gatherers and navigators with hyperspectral imagers.

The operation lasted 40 minutes and, according to a few reports, 22 people were either killed or captured. Osama bin Laden suffered bullet wounds on the left side of his face. One of the helicopters experienced mechanical failure and was destroyed by US forces. The Seals did not suffer any casualty. They had been training in Afghanistan for this specific operation for the past one month.

This was the Seal Team Six, known for its strategic exploits. Its official name is Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU) – a name which not many are familiar with. They are better known at their home base Dam Neck in Virginia as just DevGru. Here is an ABC-TV video profile of Seal Team Six (ST6).

The Abbottabad target was known to the intelligence collectors since August last year. Long before President Obama gave the final go ahead on April 29, the Seal Team Six knew about the mission. They had chosen a similar one-acre compound at Camp Alpha in an isolated part of the Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. Trials were carried out from the beginning of April.

Seal Team Six is a part of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), primarily carrying out covert operations of great strategic significance. The JSOC is a powerful collection of special mission units and task forces. All these units including the Seal Team Six report to the President and operate globally. Given the classified nature of some of these Presidential directives, their missions are more often than not covert and occasionally even clandestine. A timeline of the operations history of Seal Team Six and its predecessors can be found here by clicking on this link.

And the Seal Team Six may have some reputation but there are other JSOC groups which are never really heard of unless, of course, an operation goes horribly wrong. It is a known fact that scores of JSOC men died in Pakistan over the past several years but their deaths have been announced in a way to create the impression that they were killed in Afghanistan.

Given that the operation was kept completely secret and nobody knew what was going on till the time gunfire erupted in the compound of the walled Abbottabad house means two other JSOC units had taken maximum precautions. These are the Technical Application Programs Office and the Aviation Technology Evaluation Group. It is now universally accepted that since 9/11, the JSOC units have become the most effective in dealing with terror.

On Monday morning itself, CIA director Leon Panetta thanked the National Security Agency (NSA) and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) for their help in this particular operation. It appears that NSA somehow realized without Pakistani authorities getting to know that there was no phone or net service in the compound. It is now clear that the Seal Team Six had foreknowledge of what the compound was exactly like long before the helicopters landed.

The U.S.S. Carl Vinson (CVN-70) had the task of disposing of Osama bin Laden's remains. Here is a complete description in detail on that particular operation from the news desk of the U.S. Navy ship that was assigned this task by clicking on this link.

Lest we forget, here is a timeline of Osama bin Laden's decade long reign of terror which is available by clicking on this link from Voice Of America. Also, from the same news source, its claimed the CIA is diligently sifting through the "robust trove of material" found at the bin Laden compound...more details by clicking on this link. Also, here is a video of the huge crowds that gathered to sing the National Anthem in front of the White House upon hearing of bin Laden's death.

PBS FRONTLINE will be conducting a television/online broadcast on May 3rd, 2011 at 9PM EST featuring a program entitled "Fighting For bin Laden" which will give two inside views of the fight against al Qaeda and the Taliban. Here is a 60-second video re-cap from ABC-TV on the hunt for Osama bin Laden.

To: United States Navy Seals 'Seal Team Six'(ST6) and ALL Sailors and Soldiers involved in the associated OPS to "Bring Down bin Laden"
From: NAVYzology
"Anchors Aweigh, my boys, Anchors Aweigh.

Farewell to college joys, 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."
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY. GO NAVY!

Highlights of Naval Academy Midshipmen at Annapolis celebrating news of the successful mission conducted by Navy Seals:

(source: navy.mil, indiatimes.com, youtube.com, wikipedia.org, various xxx.mil sites, shadowspear.com, voanews.com and related info sites)

FRANK BUCKLES Last WWI American Veteran Dies

2011-02-28T15:12:00.000-08:00

Yup...The Marines turned him down as under-age and under the required weight...The Navy passed him up as well due to his flat feet, but sure enough The Army took him in August 1917...posted on "The Art Of Manliness Trunk" website I came across the announcement that the last surviving American Veteran from World War I, Frank Buckles, has died at the age of 110 years on Sunday February 27th, 2011...As the article on the website states: "Yesterday, the last living American WWI veteran died at age 110. Frank Buckles lied about his age to join the Army in 1917 and went to war as a 16 year old. He volunteered to drive ambulances because he heard that was the fastest way to get in the action. After the war he worked for a steamship company and was captured as a civilian by the Japanese during WWII and kept as a prisoner of war. Later in life he ran a cattle ranch and was still riding his tractor until age 104. Buckles was the last WWI soldier to die. I remember my dad saying that when he was growing up, the Veteran’s Day and Fourth of July parades were filled with WWI vets. And then they slowly disappeared. Today, WWII veterans are vanishing in the same way. Of the 16 million people who served in WWII, only 2 million are still with us today. And they are dying at a rate of 1,000 a day. So if you know an old veteran, be sure to take the time to have him tell you his story before he and his history pass forever from the earth."

My grandfather, Harold VanZandt Watters, served in the U.S. Army, too, during 1918 and now the last of his generation of Americans that went to World War I has perished. Yet, as of this date, there are still two remaining veterans of WWI living in the known world, Claude Choules of Australia, who served in Britain’s Royal Navy and English-woman Florence Green, a former member of Britain’s Women’s Royal Air Force. May God Bless Them All and Thank You For Your Service. Every time you come across a Vet during your walk through life, be sure to THANK THEM FOR THEIR SERVICE! 'NufSed.

Access Frank Buckles's New York Times Obit by clicking this link.

Battles Of WWII...USN, USMC, USAAF Were Great...But Thank God For US ARMY, Too!

2011-02-27T14:53:00.000-08:00

Yes...all of our Armed Forces have contributed greatly to our history...this is a tip-of-the-hat to the United States Army...got to thinking of all the major battles they were involved in during World War II as well as the Navy and Marines...Battle Of The Bulge, D-Day, Invasion Of Berlin to name a few...so, like i said...Thank God for the U.S. Army, too! Came across this site advertising history-oriented vacations on this subject (no, I am not getting compensated for this just found it interesting). Check out the U.S. Army's WWII history here, in-person...and plan a special vacation to revisit these events, one trip that "will give you a tour you'll never forget!": http://www.beyondbandofbrothers.com/

Major Battles of World War II which includes all of the Allied Forces:

BATTLES -- DATES
Atlantic September 1939 - May 1945
Berlin April 16 - May 2, 1945
Britain July 10 - October 31, 1940
Bulge December 16, 1944 - January 25, 1945
El Alamein (First Battle) July 1-27, 1942
El Alamein (Second Battle) October 23 - November 4, 1942
Guadalcanal Campaign August 7, 1942 - February 9, 1943
Iwo Jima February 19 - March 16, 1945
Kursk July 5 - August 23, 1943
Leningrad (Siege) September 8, 1941 - January 27, 1944
Leyte Gulf October 23-26, 1944
Midway June 3-6, 1942
Milne Bay August 25 - September 5, 1942
Normandy (including D-Day) June 6 - August 25, 1944
Okinawa April 1 - June 21, 1945
Operation Barbarossa June 22, 1941 - December 1941
Operation Torch November 8-10, 1942
Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941
Philippine Sea June 19-20, 1944
Stalingrad August 21, 1942 - February 2, 1943

Solstice Lunar Eclipse Of 2010 Recalls Meeting of Korean Conflict Navy Veterans

2010-12-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

With the event of the Winter Solstice Lunar Eclipse of 2010 (where the shadow of the earth from the sun falls on the moon), a momentary meeting between two U.S. Navy Veterans of the Korean Conflict was brought to my mind...why you ask? (photo by NAVYzology: Korean Conflict US Navy veterans Neil Armstrong on left and Richard J. Watters, Sr. on right meet in 1983) Well, as I gazed up at the red/orange-colored sky at 0217 hrs CST on Tuesday 21DEC2010 here from a Chicago suburb, I revelled in the experience of something that will only happen "once in my lifetime" (the next one like this will not occur this far north in the horizon for about another 400 years, although the next winter solstice lunar eclipse will happen in the year 2094). I realized while trying to peer at the moon through overcast heavens, that this was the case for my father too, the late Richard J. Watters, Sr., a U.S. Navy veteran of two wars (World War II & the Korean Conflict), when father met Astronaut Neil Armstrong (also a U.S. Navy veteran of that conflict) a few years after becoming the first man to set foot on the moon. It was a once-in-a-lifetime event for my father, a man born in 1927, the year of the biggest aviation achievement to that date, the non-stop flight of Charles Lindbergh from New York City to Paris. My father was emceeing a company-related event in 1983 for the firm he worked for as an executive at the time which was the AMOCO Corporation, where Armstrong was the guest speaker at that particular event. In the years since his historic walk on the moon, Armstrong rarely was ever seen making public appearances. My father, Richard J. Watters Sr., got the chance to briefly talk with the astronaut and among other things asked him what he thought of the movie that had recently debuted, The Right Stuff (the 1983 film about Chuck Yeager and the creation of the Mercury 7 Astronauts for America's space program of the 1950-1960s). Basically Armstrong allegedly told my father that the reality of the training they had gone through was not quite as the movie had portrayed...anyway the experience for my father, as I stated earlier, was a once-in-a-lifetime event, much as the viewing of the 2010 Lunar Eclipse had been for me. The U.S. Naval Academy has produced over 50 astronauts for the NASA space program (about one third of all astronauts) and there have been a few Marine Aviators in the program as well. Earlier this year, Neil Armstrong received the honor of Naval Astronaut Wings aboard the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69), a ship which I had been offered the honor of serving aboard as a member of its first crew in 1976 (what is called a "plank owner") as an enticement to re-enlist, but I was anxious to return to civilian life. Now the Lunar-Aviation-Watters connection has come full circle, as my son, Richard J. Watters III is currently the Director of Sales & Marketing for Great American Travel and RocketShipTours which is a private company in partnership with XCOR Aerospace,Inc. that hopes to be the first firm to offer commercial space travel to the general public for the low low ticket price of only $95,000 for a one hour space flight. And to think all I wanted to do was look at the moon.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day for 2010!

2010-12-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

The December 7th, 1941, Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was one of the great defining moments in history... It is often referred to as “The Day that will live in Infamy.” In one carefully planned and well executed stroke the Japanese Empire removed the United States Navy's battleship force as a possible threat and propelled the United States into the Second World War as a full combatant.

By late November 1941, with peace negotiations clearly approaching an end, informed U.S. officials fully expected a Japanese attack into the Indies, Malaya and probably the Philippines. Completely unanticipated was the prospect that Japan would attack east as well.

On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, the incoming Japanese attack planes were detected by radar and reported, but were mistaken for an incoming group of American planes due from the mainland. While on practice maneuvers outside the harbor that morning, an American destroyer spotted a Japanese submarine attempting to sneak into the harbor. The submarine was fired upon, immediately reported and ignored.

About 360 Japanese attack planes had launched at dawn from aircraft carriers in an attack force of about 33 ships. At 7:55 a.m. the first bombs and torpedoes were dropped. After two hours, the U.S. sustained 18 ships sunk or severely damaged, about 170 aircraft destroyed, and there were more than 3,000 casualties. Japanese casualties were minimal.

On Dec. 7, 2010 all U.S. flags at federal, state and public facilities in the United States will be flown at half-staff, in commemoration of the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. This historic day will allow all Americans to remember the infamous attack by Japanese forces on the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor, as well as celebrate the valor and dedication shown by a brave generation of Americans during the World War II. December 7, 1941, according to U.S. Navy Chief Admiral Michael G. Mullen, was “not just a day of infamy, but in many ways it was a day of discovery for America and for the world. It changed us, it hurt us, but it also made us stronger, as did Sept. 11.” A list of events for Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is avaiable by clicking here: http://www.examiner.com/holidays-in-national/pearl-harbor-day-2010-tributes-memorials-and-events

The U.S. Congress, according to Public Law 103 308, has officially designated the seventh day of December as the National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. On this solemn occasion, the nation pays homage to the perseverance and heroism shown by many in the face of extremely overwhelming odds. This holiday allows the nation to commemorate the sacrifices made by the valiant members of the US Armed Forces, as well as to celebrate the victory over the forces of fascism, oppression and isolationism. This day also bodes well for igniting the patriotic spirit in each of us.

FDR & the "Day Of Infamy"...also the "Remember Pearl Harbor" song:

(source: sierrasun.com, youtube.com, nationalgeographic.com, examiner.com)

D-DAY 66TH ANNIVERSARY 2010-Operation Neptune

2010-06-06T12:40:00.000-07:00

Here, 66 years later (06JUN2010) we remember the D-Day invasion of World War II...to this very day, Operation Neptune is still the largest amphibious operation in the history of the world. It was the assault phase of Operation Overlord, the name given to the liberation plan that included the Normandy landing...also commonly known as D-Day (June 6th, 1944).

OPERATION NEPTUNE
Approximately 195,700 personnel were assigned to Operation Neptune: 52,889 US, 112,824 British, and 4988 from other Allied countries. Eight ships were sunk and 1,068 sailors and Coast Guardsmen died. Roughly one-fifth of all U.S. casualties on the first day of the invasion were Navy. "Victory or defeat at Normandy would determine the future — not just for France or Europe, but for all humanity, for freedom, for liberty," as noted by Gordon England, the U.S. deputy secretary of defense and former secretary of the Navy. The Normandy invasion would not have been possible without the Allied naval forces, which remains the largest naval armada ever assembled. The weather was poor, the seas rough, the water was littered with bodies of dead troops, some shot, others drowned by their gear, Gordon England stated. "Yet somehow, in the midst of this chaos and carnage, each of them bravely did his duty. They were all heroes."

THE INVASION FLEET
Operation Neptune, the Naval operation of Overlord, became the largest invasion fleet of World War II. The fleet consisted of 8 allied navies of United States, Britian, Free French, Poland, Norway, Greece and Netherlands, the invasion fleet comprised of 6,939 vessels:1,213 warships, 4,126 transport vessels (landing ships and landing craft), 736 auxiliary craft and 864 merchant vessels. the Allied invasion fleet was divided into two Naval Task Forces: Western (Rear-Admiral Alan G Kirk) for Utah and Omaha beachs and Eastern (Rear-Admiral Sir Philip Vian) for Gold, Juno and Sword beachs. From June 6th to June 26th Operation Neptune played a vital rolled the suport of theNormandy beach until its breakout. Also it help out in the the Mulberrier harbours and Pluto cross channel pipeline.

D-DAY INAVASION SHIP LIST
Here is the list of Warships that took part in Operation Neptune:

Battleships
7 ships(seven battleships took part; four British and three US)
USS Arkansas, BB-33
USS Texas, BB-35,
USS Nevada, BB-36, Utah Beach ( Pearl Harbor survivor).
HMS Nelson (Held in reserve until June 10).
HMS Ramillies
HMS Rodney
HMS Warspite

Heavy Cruisers
5 ships(Five heavy cruisers took part, three from the United States and two from Britain)
USS Augusta (Flagship of Rear Admiral Alan Kirk - Lt. General Omar Bradley embarked)
HMS Frobisher
HMS Hawkins
USS Quincy
USS Tuscaloosa

Light Cruisers
20 ships(17 British light cruisers took part along with two of the Free French navy, and one of the Polish navy)
HMS Argonaut
HMS Ajax
HMS Arethusa
HMS Belfast (Flagship of Rear Admiral Frederick Dalrymple-Hamilton)
HMS Bellona
HMS Black Prince
HMS Capetown
HMS Ceres (Flagship of U.S. Service Force)
HMS Danae
HMS Diadem
ORP Dragon (Polish, damaged in July and then used as a blockship in "Gooseberry" breakwater)
HMS Emerald
HMS Enterprise
Georges Leygues (Free French)
HMS Glasgow
HMS Mauritius (Flagship of Rear Admiral Patterson)
Montcalm (Free French, Flagship of Rear Admiral Jaujard)
HMS Orion
HMS Scylla (Admiral Vian's flagship, mined and seriously damaged, out of action until after the war)
HMS Sirius (In reserve until June 10)

Destroyers and escorts
135 ships (eighty-five British and Dominion, 39 US, 7 Free French and 7 other Allied)
HMCS Algonquin (Canadian)
USS Amesbury
USS Baldwin
USS Barton
HMS Bleasdale
HMS Boadicea (torpedoed and sunk 13 June)
HMCS Cape Breton (Canadian)
USS Carmick
HMS Cattistock
HMCS Chaudiere (Canadian)
Commandant Detroyat (Free French, Flower class corvettes)
Commandant Drogou(Free French""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""")
USS Corry (sunk during the invasion)
HMS Cottesmore
USS Doyle
HMS Eglinton
HMS Faulknor
USS Frankford
HMS Fury (mined 21 June and not repaired)
HMS Glaisdale
HMS Grenville
USS Harding
USS Hobson
HMS Jervis
HMS Kelvin
HMS Kempenfelt
HMCS Kitchener (Canadian)
ORP Krakowiak, (Polish, former HMS Silverton)
Kriezis (Royal Hellenic Navy, of the Flower class)
La Combattante (Free French, former HMS Haldon)
L'Avebture (Free French, of British built River Class frigates)
L'Escarmouch (Free French)
Lobelia (Free French, British built Flower class crovettes)
USS Laffey
USS McCook
HMS Melbreak
HMS Middleton
USS Murphy
USS O'Brien
HMS Pytchley
Renoncule (Free French, Flower class corvettes) Roselys (Free French)
USS Satterlee
HMS Saumarez
HMS Scorpion
HMS Scourge
HMS Serapis
HMCS Sioux (Canadian)
ORP Slazak (Polish)
HMS Stevenstone
HNoMS Stord (Norwegian)
HNoMS Svenner (Norwegian, hit by German torpedo and sunk off Normandy at dawn, 6 June)
HMS Swift (mined and sunk 24 June 1944 off Normandy)
HMS Talybont
HMS Tanatside
USS Thomson
Tombazis (Royal Hellenic Navy, Flower class)
HMS Ulster
HMS Ulysses
HMS Undaunted
HMS Undine
HMS Urania
HMS Urchin
HMS Ursa
HMS Venus
HMS Verulam
HMS Vigilant
HMS Virago
HMS Whimbrel
HMS Wrestler (damaged by a mine and not repaired)

Other warships
508 ships (352 British, 154 US and 2 other Allied):
USS Bayfield, attack transport
HMS Bulolo, H.Q. ship for Gold Beach carrying tri-service commanders and staff
HMS Centurion, old battleship sunk as a blockship in "Gooseberry" breakwater
Courbet, Free Naval French Forces, old battleship sunk as a blockship in "Gooseberry" breakwater
USS Charles Carroll attack transport
HMCS Cowichan, Canadian minesweeper
HMS Durban (light cruiser used as a blockship in "Gooseberry" breakwater)
HMS Erebus, monitor (2 - 15 inch guns)
HNLMS Flores, Dutch gunboat
HMS Hilary, H.Q. ship for Juno Beach carrying tri-service commanders and staff
HMS Largs, H.Q. ship for Sword Beach carrying tri-service commanders and staff
HNLMS Soemba, Dutch gunboat
HMS Lawford, frigate (bombed and sunk)
HMS Roberts, monitor 2 - 15 inch guns
HNMLS Sumatra (Dutch, decommissioned due to crew shortages and losing her guns to HNMLS Flores and Soemba, used as blockship in"Gooseberry" breakwater)
HMS Bulolo, H.Q. ship
The British 9th and 159th minesweeping flotillas and U.S. 7th Minesweeping Squadron provided minesweeping protection. A distant anti-submarine screen to the operation was provided by HMS Onslow, Offa, Onslaught, Oribi, Melbreak and Brissenden. Additional protection from E-boats was provided by various Motor Gun Boat flotillas.

Ships of WESTERN AND EASTERN TASK FORCES:
WESTERN TASK FORCE
HMS Erebus (target Battery of Barfleur and La Pernelle)
HMS Black Prince (target Battery of Morsalines)
USS Tuscaloosa (target Battery of Ozeville)
USS Quincy (target Battery of Fontenay)
USS Nevada (target Battery of Azeville
USS Bayfield (Headquarters ship at sea UTAH beach)
HMS Hawkins (target Battery of St. Martin de Varreville and Maisy)
HMS Enterprise( UTAH beach
Soemba Dutch (UTAH beach)
USS Texas(target Battery of Point du Hoc)
HMS Glasgow ( OMAHA beach)
USS Augusta(Headquarters Western Task Force)
USS Ancon ( Headquarters at sea OMAHA beach)
Georges Leygues French (OMAHA beach)
Montcalm Free French(target Port en Bessin)
USS Arkansas (OMAHA beach)

EASTERN TASK FORCE
HMS Ajax (target Battery of Longues)
HMS Argonaut (target Battery of Vaux sur Aure)
HMS Emerald (target Battery of Arromanches)
HMS Orion(target Battery of Mont Fleury)
HMS Bulolo ( Headquarters at sea GOLD beach)
Flores Dutch gun boat (target Battery of Asnelles)
HMS Belfast(target Battery of Ver sur Mer)
HMS Diadem(target Bettery of Moulineaux)
HMS Hilary(Headquarters at sea JUNO beach)
HMS Largs (Headquarters at sea SWORD beach)
HMS Scylla ( Headquarters Eastern Task Force)
HMS Danae (target Battery of Ouistreham)
ORP Dragon Polish Battery of Colleville sur Orne
HMS Frobisher(target Battery of Riva Bella)
HMS Arethusa (target Battery of Merville)
HMS Mauritius (target Battery of Le Mont)
HMS Roberts(target Battery of Houlgate)
HMS Ramillies (target Battery of Benerville)
HMS Warspite (target Battery of Villerville)

Landing Ships & Craft
XAP: 3
APA (Transport, Attack Type): 7
Landing Ship, Infantry (Large): 18
Landing Ship, Infantry (Medium): 3
Landing Ship, Infantry (H): 18
Landing Ship, Infantry (Small): 6
Landing Ship, H (Large): 5
Landing Ship, H (Small): 9
Landing Ship, Dock: 3
Landing Ships, Tank: 236
Landing Craft Tank: 768
Landing Craft Tank (Armoured): 48
Landing Craft Tank (Rocket): 36
Landing Craft Tank (Concrete Buster): 5
Landing Craft Tank (High Explosive): 16
Landing Craft, Infantry (Large): 208
Landing Craft, Infantry (Small): 39
Landing Craft, Headquarters: 18
Landing Craft, Flak: 29
Landing Craft, Gun (Large): 25
Landing Craft, Engineer: 6
Landing Craft, C: 9
Landing Craft, Assault: 486
Landing Craft, Assault (Hedgerow): 45
Landing Craft, Support (Large) (2): 10
Landing Craft, Support (Large) (1): 4
Landing Craft, Support (Medium): 26
Landing Craft, Support (Small): 36
Landing Craft, Vehicles and Personnel: 839
Landing Craft, Mechanised (1): 128
Landing Craft, Mechanised (3): 358
Landing Craft, P (Large) (Smoke): 144
Landing Barge, Flak: 15
Landing Barge, Vehicles (2): 228
Landing Barge, Ordnance: 100
Landing Barge, Engineer: 60
Landing Barge, Water: 20
Landing Barge, Kitchen: 10

(source: wikipedia.org, normandymonument.org, youtube.com)

23rd Fleet Week NYC 26MAY-02JUN2010 Schedule

2010-05-28T15:22:00.000-07:00

Its the 23rd Annual Fleet Week in New York City; be sure to check out the schedule of events here; little late with this but better than never; everyone have a good Memorial Day Weekend 2010...

All events are free, unless they are held at the USS Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum which means you’ll need to buy tickets to enter the museum (though admission to the Intrepid is free for active and retired military). All events are held in Manhattan, unless otherwise indicated.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010:
8:30 a.m.
Parade of Ships
Where: Hudson River on Manhattan’s west side
7 p.m.
USMC Flyover at NY Mets game
Where: NY Mets Field
Thursday, May 27, 2010:
8 am-5 pm
Free Ship Tours
Where: Pier 88, 48th St/West Side Highway
Where: Stapleton Pier, SI
7-9 am
USMC display
Where: USS Intrepid

8 am-6 pm
F-18 Flight Simulator
Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Display

USCG Static Displays
Where: Pier 88, 12th & 46th St
Where: Homeport Pier, Staten Island (Static Display)

9-9:30 am
Flag Raising & Morning Colors
Where: New York Public Library
10 am-noon
USMC MAGTF Air/Ground Demo
Location: Coney Island, Brooklyn
11 am-noon
SI Blessing of the Fleet
Where: SI Piers
11 am-1 pm
USCG SAR Helo Demo
Where: NY Harbor near Homeport Pier, SI
6-8 pm
Marine Forces Reserve Band Concert
Where: Central Park Band Shell
Friday, May 28, 2010:
8 am-5 pm
Free Ship Tours
Where: Pier 88, 48th St/West Side Highway
Where: Stapleton Pier, SI
8 am-6 pm
F-18 Flight Simulator
Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Display

USCG Static Displays
Paramount Top Gun Video Kiosks
ONR Static Display
Where: Pier 88, 12th & 46th St
Where: Homeport Pier, SI (Static Display)

9 am-4 pm
USMC Day in Times Square
Where: Times Square
11-11:30 am
USCG SAR Helo Demo
Where: NY Harbor near Homeport Pier, SI
2:30-6 pm
USMC MAGTF Air/Ground Demo
Where: Orchard Beach, Bronx
5-6:15 pm
Navy Band Northeast performs at Times Square
Where: Times Square
Saturday, May 29, 2010:
8 am-5 pm
Free Ship Tours
Where: Pier 88, 48th St/West Side Highway
Where: Stapleton Pier, SI
8 am-6 pm
F-18 Flight Simulator
Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Display
USCG Static Displays
Paramount Top Gun Video Kiosks
ONR Static Display

NRD NY Static Display
Where: Pier 88, 12th & 46th St
Where: Homeport Pier, SI (Static Display)

9 am-4 pm
Marine Day
Where: Battery Park
Noon-1 pm
MWR Intrepid Cup Sports Tug-O-War
Where: Intrepid Pier
1-3 pm
Navy Band Northeast Concert
Where: Staten Island Pier
Sunday, May 30, 2010:
8 am-5 pm
Free Ship Tours
Where: Stapleton Pier, SI
8 am-5 pm
USMC Static Display
Where: USS Iwo Jima
8 am-6 pm
NRD NY Static Display
Where: Staten Island Piers
8 am-6 pm
USCG Static Display

Where: Homeport Pier, Staten Island

9:30-11:30 a.m.
Catholic Mass
Where: St Patrick’s Cathedral
Noon-2 p.m.
MWR Intrepid Cup Jousting Competition
Where: Intrepid Pier 86

4 p.m.
Pier 88 Static Displays
Where: Pier 88, 12th & 46th St.
6-7:15 p.m.
Navy Band Northeast in Times Square
Where: Times Square
Monday, May 31, 2010:
8 am-5 pm
Free Ship Tours

Where: Pier 88, 48th St/West Side Highway
Where: Stapleton Pier, SI

8 am-5 pm
USMC Static Display
Where: USS Iwo Jima
8 am-6 pm
F-18 Flight Simulator
Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Display
USCG Static Displays
Paramount Top Gun Video Kiosks
ONR Static Display

NRD NY Static Display
Where: Pier 88, 12th & 46th St
Where: Homeport Pier, SI (Static Display)

9:40-11 am
Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Day Observances

Where: Soldiers and Sailors Memorial, Riverside Dr & 89th St, Staten Island

10am-4pm
Raising Citizens: Meet & Greet with US Military
Where: Children’s Museum of Manhattan
10am-4pm
Sailors and Marines at the Bronx Zoo
Where: Bronx Zoo
11 am-2 pm
Kings County Memorial Day Parade

Where: 3rd Ave & 87th St, Bay Ridge, Brooklyn

11 am-2:30 pm
Allied Veterans Memorial Day Parade
Where: Ridgewood/Glendale, NY
11 am-6 pm
Staten Island Memorial Day Parade
Where: Hart Blvd/Forest Ave

12-1 pm
Manhattan Memorial Day Parade
Where: Broadway/Dyckman Streets
2-5 pm
Memorial Day Parade: Bronx City Island
Where: City Island, Bronx
Tuesday, June 1, 2010:
8 am-5 pm
Free Ship Tours
Where: Pier 88, 48th St/West Side Highway
Where: Stapleton Pier, SI

8 am-6 pm
F-18 Flight Simulator
Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Display

USCG Static Displays
Paramount Top Gun Video Kiosks
ONR Static Display
NRD NY Static Display
Where: Pier 88, 12th & 46th St

Where: Homeport Pier, SI (Static Display)

8 am-noon
USMC World Trade Center Run
Where: Federal Hall to Ground Zero
3-4 pm
USMC Reenlistment / Promotion Ceremony
Where: WTC Site

7 pm
Karaoke Party @ Hard Rock
Where: Times Square
Wednesday, June 2, 2010:
Ships and service members depart New York City

[Image Above: 100526-N-5878L-074 NEW YORK (May 26, 2010) Sailors and Marines salute Ground Zero as the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD7) arrives to participate in Fleet Week New York 2010. Approximately 3,000 Sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen are participating in the 23rd Fleet Week New York, which will take place May 26 through June 2. Fleet Week has been New York City's celebration of the sea services since 1984. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Eric Lockwood/Released)]

For more amazing Navy photos, check out the official Navy photo gallery at
http://www.navy.mil/view_photos_top.asp
or the official Flickr page at
http://www.flickr.com/photos/usnavynvns/

Memorial Day History As Of 2010-"Remember The Fallen"

2010-05-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

It has come to my attention that Our President will NOT be attending/observing Memorial Day 2010 at the Arlington Cemetary ceremonies this year, but will be going on vacation instead...this is very disappointing to hear, Mr. Obama. I am not political really but would hope the leader of our nation would show some respect to those that made the ultimate sacrifice and attend the ceremonies there. It is a significant and important gesture that should be made by Our President. This aside and to the real purpose for this article...during my several years with the U.S. Navy (and as a member of the United States Navy Drum and Bugle Corps), I many times played Taps over the gravesite of fallen Sailors, Soldiers, Marines and Airmen in the Vietnam Era not knowing the history of the Official Memorial Day...these were all Memorial Days for me. Just wanted to mention that there is currently a shortage of buglers that are needed for the burial ceremonies these days for Veterans and an organization out there has heeded the call...its known as Bugles Across America and they need volunteers and donations...please help if you can. So, "Remember The Fallen" this Memorial Day 2010 and here from the U. S. government's website for the Department Of Veterans Affairs is a summarized origin and history of the upcoming 2010 holiday, Memorial Day...

"Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of an organization of Union veterans — the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) — established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

The first large observance was held that year at Arlington National Cemetery, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.

The ceremonies centered around the mourning-draped veranda of the Arlington mansion, once the home of Gen. Robert E. Lee. Various Washington officials, including Gen. and Mrs. Ulysses S. Grant, presided over the ceremonies. After speeches, children from the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Orphan Home and members of the GAR made their way through the cemetery, strewing flowers on both Union and Confederate graves, reciting prayers and singing hymns.

Local Observances Claim To Be First Local springtime tributes to the Civil War dead already had been held in various places. One of the first occurred in Columbus, Miss., April 25, 1866, when a group of women visited a cemetery to decorate the graves of Confederate soldiers who had fallen in battle at Shiloh. Nearby were the graves of Union soldiers, neglected because they were the enemy. Disturbed at the sight of the bare graves, the women placed some of their flowers on those graves, as well.

Today, cities in the North and the South claim to be the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1866. Both Macon and Columbus, Ga., claim the title, as well as Richmond, Va. The village of Boalsburg, Pa., claims it began there two years earlier. A stone in a Carbondale, Ill., cemetery carries the statement that the first Decoration Day ceremony took place there on April 29, 1866. Carbondale was the wartime home of Gen. Logan. Approximately 25 places have been named in connection with the origin of Memorial Day, many of them in the South where most of the war dead were buried.

Official Birthplace Declared In 1966, Congress and President Lyndon Johnson declared Waterloo, N.Y., the “birthplace” of Memorial Day. There, a ceremony on May 5, 1866, honored local veterans who had fought in the Civil War. Businesses closed and residents flew flags at half-staff. Supporters of Waterloo’s claim say earlier observances in other places were either informal, not community-wide or one-time events.

By the end of the 19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 throughout the nation. State legislatures passed proclamations designating the day, and the Army and Navy adopted regulations for proper observance at their facilities.

It was not until after World War I, however, that the day was expanded to honor those who have died in all American wars. In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress, though it is still often called Decoration Day. It was then also placed on the last Monday in May, as were some other federal holidays.

Some States Have Confederate Observances Many Southern states also have their own days for honoring the Confederate dead. Mississippi celebrates Confederate Memorial Day on the last Monday of April, Alabama on the fourth Monday of April, and Georgia on April 26. North and South Carolina observe it on May 10, Louisiana on June 3 and Tennessee calls that date Confederate Decoration Day. Texas celebrates Confederate Heroes Day January 19 and Virginia calls the last Monday in May Confederate Memorial Day.

Gen. Logan’s order for his posts to decorate graves in 1868 “with the choicest flowers of springtime” urged: “We should guard their graves with sacred vigilance. ... Let pleasant paths invite the coming and going of reverent visitors and fond mourners. Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic.”

The crowd attending the first Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery was approximately the same size as those that attend today’s observance, about 5,000 people. Then, as now, small American flags were placed on each grave — a tradition followed at many national cemeteries today. In recent years, the custom has grown in many families to decorate the graves of all departed loved ones.

The origins of special services to honor those who die in war can be found in antiquity. The Athenian leader Pericles offered a tribute to the fallen heroes of the Peloponnesian War over 24 centuries ago that could be applied today to the 1.1 million Americans who have died in the nation’s wars: “Not only are they commemorated by columns and inscriptions, but there dwells also an unwritten memorial of them, graven not on stone but in the hearts of men.”

National Moment Of Remberance To ensure the sacrifices of America ’s fallen heroes are never forgotten, in December 2000, the U.S. Congress passed and the president signed into law “The National Moment of Remembrance Act,” P.L. 106-579, creating the White House Commission on the National Moment of Remembrance. The commission’s charter is to “encourage the people of the United States to give something back to their country, which provides them so much freedom and opportunity” by encouraging and coordinating commemorations in the United States of Memorial Day and the National Moment of Remembrance.

The National Moment of Remembrance encourages all Americans to pause wherever they are at 3 p.m. local time on Memorial Day for a minute of silence to remember and honor those who have died in service to the nation. As Moment of Remembrance founder Carmella LaSpada states: “It’s a way we can all help put the memorial back in Memorial Day.” "

Here is a link to U.S. War Memorials and other related information, "In Memory Of Our Honored Dead".

Marine Whitehouse West Wing Sentries "Duty For Defense"

2010-04-11T12:09:00.000-07:00

The Marine Sentry at the WhiteHouse West Wing...a duty/assignment of great honor and pride for a Marine...During the Ronald Reagan Administration of the 1980s my Brother-In-Law, Richard Uphoff, was in charge of the sentries guarding the Oval Office for a time. He and his Men stood at the ready to protect the President; it was not just of a ceremonial nature that they stand at attention there...they are the last line of defense of the President when he is in attendance at the Oval Office in the WhiteHouse. Upon his Honorable Discharge from the Marine Corps, Richard was granted about a 20 minute audience with President Reagan. The photo to the left is a picture of Richard Uphoff shaking hands with President Ronald Reagan (circa 1986) the day of his Honorable Discharge from the United States Marine Corps.

Here is a video to give one an idea of what that duty is all about...

(I borrowed this from one of my favorite military blogs on the Marines "USMC81" by Wally Beddoe).

Navy Week In Phoenix AZ 22MAR-29MAR2010 Event Schedule

2010-03-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

Come and check out Navy Week being celebrated in Phoenix, AZ from 22MAR2010 to 29MAR2010...here is the link to the events schedule:
http://www.navyweek.org/phoenix2010/soe.html

U.S. Navy Week In Review Video (27FEB2010-05MAR2010)

2010-03-08T16:29:00.000-08:00

Here is the U.S. Navy's Week In Review Video for 27FEB2010 - 05MAR2010...enjoy:

(source: dailymotion.com and U.S. Navy)

Pearl Harbor 07DEC1941 - Aircraft Carriers On Duty At Time Of Attack

2009-09-02T04:05:00.000-07:00

Its 68 years later after the start of WWII on September 1, 1939 when Nazi Germany attacked Poland...America entered the war after the surprise atack by the Japanese Empire on December 7th, 1941...Ever wonder how many aircraft carriers were assigned to the Pearl Habor Naval base at that time??? According to research done by Jack McKillop of Bluejacket.com, the U.S. Navy had seven (7) aircraft carriers (CVs) and one aircraft escort vessel (AVG) in commission. The CVs were considered warships and the AVG was considered an auxiliary vessel. In addition to these eight ships, the keels of five other CVs had been laid. The names, history, status and aviation units of each of these ships is described below.

USS LEXINGTON (CV-2)

The keel of this ship was laid down at the Fore River Shipbuilding
Co., Quincy, Massachusetts on 8 Jan 21 as Constitution, Battle Cruiser,
First Line Number 1 (CC-1). Because of the limitations defined in the
Washington Naval Treaty signed in 1922, she was authorized to be
completed as an aircraft carrier on 1 Jul 22 and was renamed Lexington.
The Lexington was launched on 3 Oct 25 and commissioned 14 Dec 27.

On 7 Dec 41, the Lexington Air Group was composed of:

Bombing Squadron Two (VB-2) with 15 Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless

Fighting Squadron Two (VF-2) with 16 Brewster F2A-3 Buffalos

Scouting Squadron Two (VS-2) with 1 Douglas SBD-2 and 14 SBD-3
Dauntless

Torpedo Squadron Two (VT-2) with 12 Douglas TBD-1 Devastators

In order to augment the air defenses for Midway Island, USS Lexington
departed Pearl Harbor on 5 Dec with 18 Vought SB2U-3 Vindicators of
Marine Scouting Bombing Squadron Two Thirty One (VMSB-231) aboard.
Along with the heavy cruisers USS Chicago (CA-29), USS Portland (CA-33)
and USS Astoria (CA-34) and five destroyers, the Lexington formed Task
Force 12.

The plan was to approach within 400 miles (640 km) of Midway and fly
the Marine squadron off to land on the island; Lexington would then be
free to continue training/scouting. This position would have been
reached by mid-morning of 7 Dec. Upon learning of the Japanese
attack on Pearl Harbor, the Lexington launched search planes to hunt for
the Japanese fleet, and at midmorning headed south to rendezvous with
USS Indianapolis (CA-35) and USS Enterprise (CV-6) task forces to
conduct a search SOUTHWEST of Oahu until returning to Pearl Harbor on 13
December.

USS Lexington was sunk by aerial bombs and torpedoes during the
Battle of the Coral Sea, 8 May 42. Her name was struck from the
Naval Register on 24 June 42.

USS SARATOGA (CV-3)

The Saratoga was a sister ship of the Lexington and her keel was
originally laid down as a Battle Cruiser, First Line Number 3 (CC-3) on
25 Sep 20 at the New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, New Jersey.
She was ordered converted to an aircraft carrier and reclassified
CV-3 on 1 Jul 22. Saratoga was launched on 7 Apr 25 and
commissioned on 16 Nov 27.

On 7 Dec 41, USS Saratoga was just entering San Diego after an
interim dry docking at Bremerton, Washington. The Saratoga Air Group
consisted of:

Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3) with 21 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless

Fighting Squadron Three (VF-3) with 7 Grumman F4F-3 and 2 F4F-3A
Wildcats

Scouting Squadron Three (VS-3) with 22 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless

Torpedo Squadron Three (VT-3) with 12 Douglas TBD-1 Devastators

USS Saratoga survived World War II and was used as a test ship at the
Bikini A-bomb tests in Jul 46. She sank in Bikini Atoll on 25 Jul 46 and
her name was struck from the Naval Register on 15 Aug 46.

USS RANGER (CV-4)

The Ranger was the first U.S. Navy ship to be designed and built from
the keel up as an aircraft carrier. Her keel was laid at the
Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co, Newport News, Virginia on 26
Sep 31. She was launched on 25 Feb 33 and commissioned on 4 Jun
34.

USS Ranger was returning to Norfolk, Virginia from an ocean patrol
extending to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, British West Indies when the
Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. At that time, the Ranger Air Group
consisted of:

Fighting Squadron Five (VF-5) with 18 Grumman F4F-3 and 1
F4F-3A Wildcats

Fighting Squadron Forty One (VF-41) with 17 Grumman F4F-3
Wildcats and 2 North American SNJ-3s

Scouting Squadron Forty One (VS-41) with 8 Vought SB2U-1 and 2
SB2U-2 Vindicators

Scouting Squadron Forty Two (VS-42) with 9 Vought SB2U-1 and 6
SB2U-2 Vindicators

Torpedo Squadron Four (VT-4) with 3 Douglas TBD-1 Devastators

Speed was sacrificed for other essentials under the Washington Naval
Treaty reducing the efficiency of the Ranger as a fleet carrier. She
spent the war in the Atlantic until 1944 and then was used as a training
carrier. She was decommissioned 18 Oct 46. Her name was struck
from the Naval Register on 29 Oct 46 and she was sold for scrap 28 Jan
47.

USS YORKTOWN (CV-5)

The keel of the Yorktown was laid down on at the Newport News
Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia on 21 May
34. She was launched on 4 Apr 36 and commissioned on 30 Sep
37.

USS Yorktown was at Norfolk, Virginia on 7 Dec 41. The Yorktown Air
Group consisted of:

Bombing Squadron Five (VB-5) with 19 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless

Fighting Squadron Forty Two (VF-42) with 18 Grumman F4F-3
Wildcats

Scouting Squadron Five (VS-5) with 19 Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless and
2 North American SNJ-3s

Torpedo Squadron Five (VT-5) with 14 Douglas TBD-1 Devastators

USS Yorktown was sunk by aerial bombs and torpedoes during the Battle
of Midway, 7 Jun 42. Her name was struck from the Naval Register
on 2 Oct 42.

USS ENTERPRISE (CV-6)

The Enterprise was a sister ship of the Yorktown. Her keel was
laid at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News,
Virginia on 16 Jul 34. She was launched 3 Oct 36 and
commissioned 12 May 38.

USS Enterprise departed Pearl Harbor on 28 Nov 41 on a mission to
deliver 12 Grumman F4F-3 Wildcats of Marine Fighting Squadron Two Eleven
(VMF-211) to Wake Island. The Enterprise, with the accompanying
three heavy cruisers and nine destroyers, comprised Task Force 8 (TF
8). The Marine fighters were launched on 2 Dec when the Enterprise
was 75 miles (120 km) north of Wake Island. She then turned east
and headed back to Pearl Harbor where she was due to arrive on 6
Dec. Due to a storm, Vice Admiral William Halsey, commander of TF
8 in Enterprise, ordered reduced speed thus delaying the carrier's
arrival at Pearl Harbor until 7 December.

On 7 Dec 41, the Enterprise Air Group consisted of:

Bombing Squadron Six (VB-6) with 17 Douglas SBD-2 Dauntless

Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6) with 16 Grumman F4F-3A Wildcats

Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) with 10 Douglas SBD-2 and 8 SBD-3
Dauntless

Torpedo Squadron Six (VT-6) with 18 Douglas TBD-1 Devastators and
2 North American SNJ-3s

At 0618 hours on 7 Dec 41, Enterprise launched SBDs of VB-6 and VS-6
to search a sector 045 to 134 degrees for a distance of 150 miles (240
km) and to then proceed to NAS Pearl Harbor on Ford Island. A
total of 18 aircraft arrived over Pearl Harbor during the Japanese
attack. One was shot down by U.S. antiaircraft fire, four by the
Japanese and one crash-landed. The remainder landed at either NAS
Ewa or NAS Pearl Harbor.

The Enterprise survived World War II and was decommissioned on 17 Feb
47. She was reclassified as an attack carrier (CVA-6) on 1 Oct 52
and antisubmarine warfare support carrier (CVS-6) on 8 Aug 53. Her name
was struck from the Naval Register on 2 Oct 56 and her hull was sold for
scrapping on 1 Jul 58

USS WASP (CV-7)

The Wasp was built at Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corp, Quincy,
Massachusetts. Her keel was laid down on 1 Apr 36. She was
launched 4 Apr 39 and commissioned on 25 Apr 40.

USS Wasp was at anchor in Grassy Bay, Bermuda on 7 Dec 41. The Wasp
Air Group consisted of:

Fighting Squadron Seventy One (VF-71) with 18 Grumman F4F-3
Wildcats

Fighting Squadron Seventy Two (VF-72) with 17 Grumman F4F-3
Wildcats, 2 Vought SB2U-2 Vindicators and 1 North American
SNJ-3

Scouting Squadron Seventy One (VS-71) with 4 Vought SB2U-1 and 13
SB2U-2 Vindicators and 2 Douglas TBD-1 Devastators

Scouting Squadron Seventy Two (VS-72) with 18 Vought SB2U-3
Vindicators

USS Wasp was hit by two torpedoes fired from the Japanese submarine
I-19 on 15 Sep 42 while operating off Guadalcanal Island in the Solomon
Islands. The flaming hull was torpedoed and sunk by the U.S.
destroyer USS Landsdowne later that day. Her name was struck from the
Naval Register on 2 Nov 42.

USS HORNET (CV-8)

The Hornet was built at Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co,
Newport News, Virginia. Her keel was laid on 25 Sep
39. She was launched 14 Dec 40 and commissioned 20 Oct
41.

Based at Norfolk, Virginia, USS Hornet was undergoing training
cruises during Dec 41. The Hornet Air Group consisted of:

Bombing Squadron Eight (VB-8) with 19 Curtiss SBC-4 Helldivers

Fighting Squadron Eight (VF-8) with 19 Grumman F4F-3 and 2 F4F-3A
Wildcats

Scouting Squadron Eight (VS-8) with 20 Curtiss SBC-4 Helldivers

Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8) with 8 Douglas TBD-1 Devastators
and 7 Naval Aircraft Factory SBN-1s

The SBC-4 Helldivers operated by VB-8 and VS-8 were biplanes with a
maximum speed of 237 mph (379 km/h).

USS Hornet was sunk by torpedoes and bombs off Santa Cruz Island on
26 Oct 42. Her name was struck from the Naval Register on 13 Jan
43.

USS LONG ISLAND (AVG-1)

Long Island was built at Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co.,
Chester, Pennsylvania. Her keel was laid 7 Jul 39 as the merchant
vessel SS Mormacmail. Launched on 11 Jan 40, she was acquired by
the US Navy on 6 Mar 41. Converted to an AVG at the Newport
News Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Co, Newport News, Virginia, she was
commissioned USS Long Island, AVG-1, the first Jeep Carrier, on 2 Jun
41.

USS Long Island was based at Norfolk, Virginia on 7 Dec 41. Aboard
was Scouting Squadron Two Hundred One (VS-201) with 12 Curtiss SOC-3A
and 1 SOC-1A Seagulls and 7 Brewster F2A-3 Buffalo.

USS Long Island survived World War II. She was reclassified an
auxiliary aircraft carrier (ACV-1) on 20 Aug 42 and an escort aircraft
carrier (CVE-1) on 15 Jul 43. Decommissioned 26 Mar 46, her name
was struck from the Naval Register on 12 Apr 46 and she was sold on 24
Apr 47. Her new owners converted her back to a merchant ship and
she sailed in that configuration for a number of years.

In addition to the eight commissioned
vessels listed above, the keels of five Essex Class carriers had been
laid down. These five ships, all of which survived World War II,
were:

USS ESSEX (CV-9)

Essex was under construction at the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry
Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia. Her keel had been laid on 28 Apr
41.

Essex was launched on 31 Jul 42 and commissioned 31 Dec 42. She
decommissioned 9 Jan 47 and recommissioned 15 Jan 51. She was
reclassified as an attack aircraft carrier (CVA-9) on 1 Oct 52 and an
antisubmarine warfare support carrier (CVS-9) on 8 Mar 60.
USS Essex decommissioned for the last time on 30 Jun 69. Her name
was struck from the Naval Register on 15 Jun 75 and she was sold for
scrap.

USS YORKTOWN (BON HOMME RICHARD) (CV-10)

Bon Homme Richard was under construction at the Newport News
Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia. Her keel
had been laid on 1 Dec 41.

Bon Homme Richard was renamed Yorktown on 26 Sep 42 to commemorate
USS Yorktown (CV-5) (see above). The second Yorktown was launched 21 Jan 43
and commissioned 15 Apr 43. She was decommissioned 9 Jan 47 and
reclassified attack aircraft carrier (CVA-10) on 1 Oct 52. Re-commissioned in Feb 53, she was reclassified antisubmarine warfare
support carrier (CVS-10) on 1 Sep 57. USS Yorktown decommissioned
for the last time on 30 Jun 70 and her name was struck from the
Naval Register on 1 Jun 73.

Yorktown is currently a memorial at Patriots Point, South Carolina.

USS INTREPID (CV-11)

Intrepid was under construction at the Newport News Shipbuilding and
Dry Dock Co., Newport News, Virginia. Her keel had been laid on 1
Dec 41.

Launched 26 Apr 43 and commissioned 16 Aug 43, Intrepid was
decommissioned on 22 Mar 47. She was re-commissioned 9 Feb
42, and reclassified attack aircraft carrier (CVA-11) on 1 Oct 52
and antisubmarine warfare support carrier (CVS-11) on 8 Dec 61.
USS Intrepid was decommissioned for the last time on 15 Mar 74 and her
name was subsequently struck from the Naval Register.

Intrepid is currently a museum in New York City.

USS LEXINGTON (CABOT) (CV-16)

Cabot was under construction at the Bethlehem Steel Co, Quincy,
Massachusetts. Her keel had been laid on 15 Jul 41.

Cabot was renamed Lexington on 16 Jun 42 to commemorate USS Lexington
(CV-2) (see above). Launched 26 Sep 42 and commissioned 17 Feb
43. Lexington was decommissioned on 14 Apr 47.
Lexington was reclassified as an attack aircraft carrier (CVA-16) on 1
Oct 52. Re-commissioned 15 Aug 55, she was reclassified as an
antisubmarine warfare support carrier (CVS-16) on 1 Oct 62; as
a training aircraft carrier (CVT-16) on 1 Jan 69; and as an
auxiliary aircraft landing training ship (AVT-16) on 1 Jul 78.
Lexington was decommissioned 8 Nov 91 and is now a museum at Corpus
Christi, Texas.

USS BUNKER HILL (CV-17)

Bunker Hill was under construction at the Bethlehem Steel Co.,
Quincy, Massachusetts. Her keel had been laid on 15 Sep 41.

Bunker Hill was launched 7 Dec 42 and commissioned 25 May 43.
Decommissioned 9 Jul 47, she was reclassified attack aircraft carrier
(CVA-17) on 1 Oct 52; antisubmarine warfare support carrier
(CVS-17) on 8 Aug 53; and auxiliary aircraft transport (AVT-9) on 15 May
59. Her name was struck from the Naval Register on 1 Nov 66 but she was
retained as a moored electronics ship in San Diego until being sold for
scrapping in Nov 73.

References:
Pawlowski, Gareth L.: Flat-Tops and Fledglings, A History
of American Aircraft Carriers. South Brunswick, NJ and New York, NY: A..S. Barnes and Company, 1971.

Terzibaschitsch, Stefan: Aircraft Carriers of The U.S. Navy, Second Edition. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1989.

Pearl Harbor 07DEC1941 - U.S. Navy Ships In Port During Attack

2009-09-02T02:51:00.000-07:00

Well, the year 2009 marks the 68th anniversary of the beginning of World War Two...although WWII technically started with the attack on Poland on September 1st, 1939 by Nazi Germany, the isolationist Americans at the time did not get involved until the surprise attack by the Empire of Japan in December of 1941...Ever wonder how many and what ships were in port during the "Day Of Infamy" Japanese sneak attack on the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7th, 1941??? According to extensive research by Jack McKillop, author of the website Bluejacket.com, here is a listing of the ships that were there during the attack and their eventual disposition in history:

U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard Vessels in Waters of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii, December 07, 1941
Most everyone has heard of the battleship Arizona but few know that there were a total of 145 Coast Guard and Navy vessels in the waters of Oahu, Territory of Hawaii on 7 December 1941. The names and designations of the 145 vessels and the eventual fate of each vessel, where known, is detailed below. Ships names prefaced with USCGC (United States Coast Guard Cutter) or USS (United States Ship)
were commissioned ships. All others were in service:

WARSHIPS (50)

---> BATTLESHIPS (8)
USS Arizona, BB-39:
sunk 7 Dec 41; U.S. National Memorial at Pearl Harbor

USS California, BB-44:
sold for scrap 7-59

USS Maryland, BB-46:
sold for scrap 7-59

USS Nevada, BB-36:
sunk in weapons test 7-48

USS Oklahoma, BB-37:
capsized 7 Dec 41; Raised 1943, not repaired; parted tow line
enroute San Francisco and sank 5-47

USS Pennsylvania,
BB-38: scuttled off Kwajalein 2-48

USS Tennessee, BB-43:
sold for scrap 7-59

USS West Virginia,
BB-48: sold for scrap 8-59

---> HEAVY CRUISERS (2)
USS New Orleans,
CA-32: sold for scrap 9-59

USS San Francisco,
CA-38: sold for scrap 9-59

--->LIGHT CRUISERS (6)
USS Detroit, CL-8:
sold for scrap 2-46

USS Helena, CL-50:
sunk in Kula Gulf, 7-43

USS Honolulu, CL-48:
sold for scrap 11-59

USS Phoenix, CL-46: to
Argentina 10-51; sunk during Falklands War

USS Raleigh, CL-7:
sold for scrap 2-46

USS St. Louis, CL-49:
to Brazil 1-51

--->DESTROYERS (30)
USS Allen, DD-66: sold
for scrap 9-46

USS Aylwin, DD-355:
sold for scrap 12-46.

USS Bagley, DD-386:
sold for scrap 10-47

USS Blue, DD-387: sunk
off Guadalcanal 8-42

USS Case, DD-370: sold
for scrap 12-47

USS Cassin, DD-372:
sold for scrap 11-47

USS Chew, DD-106: sold
for scrap 10-46

USS Conyngham, DD-371:
sunk as target 7-48

USS Cummings, DD-365:
sold for scrap 7-47

USS Dale, DD-353: sold
for scrap 12-46

USS Dewey, DD-349:
sold for scrap 12-46

USS Downes, DD-375:
sold for scrap 11-47

USS Farragut, DD-348:
sold for scrap 8-47

USS Helm, DD-388: sold
for scrap 10-47

USS Henley, DD-391:
sunk in Huron Gulf 10-43

USS Hull, DD-350: sunk
by typhoon 12-44

USS Jarvis, DD-393:
sunk off Guadalcanal 8-42

USS Macdonough,
DD-351: sold for scrap 12-46

USS Monaghan, DD-354:
sunk by typhoon 12-44

USS Mugford, DD-389:
sunk off Kwajalein 3-48

USS Patterson, DD-392:
sold for scrap 8-47

USS Phelps, DD-360:
sold for scrap 8-47

USS Ralph Talbot,
DD-390: sunk as target 3-48

USS Reid, DD-369: sunk
off Leyte, PI 12-44

USS Schley, DD-103:
scrapped 1946

USS Selfridge, DD-357:
sold for scrap 11-46

USS Shaw, DD-373: sold
for scrap 1946

USS Tucker, DD-374:
sunk off Espiritu Santo 8-42

USS Ward, DD-139: sunk
off Leyte 12-44

USS Worden, DD-352:
sunk off Amchitka 1-43

--->SUBMARINES (4)
USS Cachalot, SS-170:
sold for scrap 1-47

USS Dolphin, SS-169:
sold for scrap 8-46

USS Narwhal, SS-167:
sold for scrap 11-45

USS Tautog, SS-199:
sold for scrap 7-60

MINE WARFARE SHIPS (23)

--->HIGH SPEED MINESWEEPERS (4)
USS Perry, DMS-17:
sunk off Palau Is 9-44

USS Trever, DMS-16:
sold for scrap 11-46

USS Wasmuth, DMS-15:
sunk off Aleutian Is 12-42

USS Zane, DMS-14: sold
for scrap 10-46

--->LIGHT MINELAYERS (8)
USS Breese, DM-18:
sold for scrap 5-46

USS Gamble, DM-15:
scuttled off Guam 7-45

USS Montgomery, DM-17:
sold for scrap 3-46

USS Preble, DM-20:
sold for scrap 10-46

USS Pruitt, DM-22:
sold for scrap 1946

USS Ramsay, DM-16:
sold for scrap 11-46

USS Sicard, DM-21:
sold for scrap 6-46

USS Tracy, DM-19: sold
for scrap 1946

--->MINELAYER (1)
USS Oglala, CM-4: to
Maritime Commission 7-46

--->MINESWEEPERS (6)
USS Bobolink, AM-20:
sold 10-46

USS Grebe, AM-43:
destroyed by hurricane 1-43

USS Rail, AM-26: to
Maritime Commission 1-47

USS Tern, AM-31: sold
7-47

USS Turkey, AM-13:
sold 12-46

USS Vireo, AM-52: to
Maritime Commission 2-47

--->MINESWEEPERS, COASTAL (4)
Cockatoo, AMc-8: to
Maritime Commission 9-46

Condor, AMc-14: to
Maritime Commission 7-46

Crossbill, AMc-9: to
Maritime Commission 3-47

Reedbird, AMc-30: to
Maritime Commission 11-46

PATROL SHIPS (13)

--->GUNBOAT (1)
USS Sacramento, PG-19:
sold 8-47

--->MOTOR TORPEDO BOATS (12)
PT-20: stricken for
obsolescence, 12-44.

PT-21: stricken for
obsolescence, 10-43.

PT-22: badly damaged
in storm, 1-43; scrapped.

PT-23: reclassified as
small boat, 10-43.

PT-24: reclassified as
small boat, 12-44.

PT-25: reclassified as
small boat, 10-43.

PT-26: reclassified as
small boat, 10-43.

PT-27: reclassified as
small boat, 12-44.

PT-28: wrecked in
storm, 1-43.

PT-29: stricken for
obsolescence, 12-44.

PT-30: stricken for
obsolescence, 3-44.

PT-42: stricken for
obsolescence, 12-44.

--->AUXILIARY SHIPS (28)
AMMUNITION SHIP (1)
USS Pyro, AE-1: sold
for scrap 3-50

CARGO SHIP (1)
USS Vega, AK-17: sold
for scrap 8-46

DESTROYER TENDERS (2)
USS Dobbin, AD-3: sold
1951

USS Whitney, AD-4:
sold for scrap 3-48

GENERAL STORES ISSUE SHIPS (2)
USS Antares, AKS-3:
sold 1947

USS Castor, AKS-1:
sold 12-68

HOSPITAL SHIP (1)
USS Solace, AH-5: sold
1948

MISCELLANEOUS AUXILIARIES (3)
USS Argonne, AG-31:
sold 1951

USS Sumner, AG-32: to
Maritime Commission 9-46

USS Utah, AG-16:
capsized 7 Dec 41; remains a partially submerged hulk off west side
of Ford Island on the opposite side of the island from battleship
row.

OCEAN-GOING TUGS (4)
USS Keosangua, AT-38:
sold 7-47

USS Navajo, AT-64:
sunk east of New Hebrides 9-43

USS Ontario, AT-13:
sold 4-47

USS Sunnadin, AT-28:
to Maritime Commission 1-47

OILERS (2)
USS Neosho, AO-23:
sunk in Coral Sea 5-42

USS Ramapo, AO-12: to
Maritime Commission 7-46

REPAIR SHIPS (3)
USS Medusa, AR-1: sold
for scrap 8-50

USS Rigel, AR-11: sold
1950

USS Vestal, AR-4: sold
for scrap 7-50

SEAPLANE TENDERS (2)
USS Curtiss, AV-4:
sold 1-72

USS Tangier, AV-8:
sold for scrap 7-61

SEAPLANE TENDERS, DESTROYER (2)
USS Hulbert, AVD-6:
sold for scrap 10-46

USS Thornton, AVD-11:
beached and abandoned off Okinawa 4-45

SMALL SEAPLANE TENDERS (2)
USS Avocet, AVP-4:
sold 12-46

USS Swan, AVP-7: to
Maritime Commission 10-46

SUBMARINE RESCUE VESSEL (1)
USS Widgeon, ASR-1:
sold for scrap 1948

SUBMARINE TENDER (1)
USS Pelias, AS-14:
sold 1971

UNCLASSIFIED MISCELLANEOUS (1)
Chengho, IX-52:
returned to owner 1946

--->SERVICE CRAFT (27)

DISTRICT YARD CRAFT (2)
YP-108

YP-109

FERRYBOAT (2)
Manuwai YFB-16: Moored
Bravo Pier Southwest Loch. Struck 9-17-54.

Nihoa YFB-17: Moored west
side of Ford Island, south of USS Tangier. Out of service 4-61.

FUEL OIL BARGES (4)
YO-21

YO-30

YO-43

YO-44

GARBAGE LIGHTERS (3)
YG-15

YG-17

YG-21

GATE VESSEL (1)
YNG-17

HARBOR TUGS (8)
Hoga, YT-146: leased
to Oakland, California 1973-75

Nokomis, YT-142: sold
1973

Osceola, YT-129: sold
1973

Sotoyomo, YT-9:
destroyed 2-46

YT-119

YT-130

YT-152

YT-153

MOTOR TUG (1)
YMT-5

NET TENDERS, BOOM (5)
Ash, YN-2: sold 1962

Cinchona, YN-7: sold
1962

Cockenoe, YN-47: to
Maritime Commission 7-47

Marin, YN-53: to
Maritime Commission 3-47

Wapello, YN-56.

TORPEDO TESTING BARGE (1)
YTT-3

WATER BARGE (1)
YW-16

--->COAST GUARD VESSELS (4)

BOAT (1)
CG 8
CRUISING CUTTERS (3)
USCGC Reliance
WPC-150: sold 6-48

USCGC Taney WPG-37:
struck 12-86. Now in Baltimore, Maryland Maritime Musuem

USCGC Tiger WPC-152:
sold 1948

References :
Brochure listing all the ships that were in PH during the attack
supplemented with information from various volumes of :
Naval History Division, US Navy Department : Dictionary of
American Naval Fighting Ships, 8 Vols.: Washington, DC: US Government Printing
Office, 1959-1981.

What Is A Sailor?: "Once I Was A Navyman"

2008-12-28T21:58:00.000-08:00

Once I Was A Navyman...

I like the Navy. I like standing on deck during a long voyage with sea spray in my face and ocean winds whipping in from everywhere - the feel of the giant steel ship beneath me, it's engines driving against the sea is almost beyond understanding. Its immense power makes the Navyman feel so insignificant but yet proud to be a small part of this ship, a small part of her mission.

I like the Navy. I like the sound of taps over the ship's announcing system, the ringing of the ship's bell, the foghorns and strong laughter of Navy men at work. I like the ships of the Navy - nervous darting destroyers, sleek proud cruisers, majestic battle ships, steady solid carriers and silent hidden submarines. I like the workhorse tugboats with their proud Indian names: Iroquois, Apache, Kiowa, and Sioux - each stealthy powerful tug safely guiding the warships to safe deep waters from all harbors.

I like the historic names of other proud Navy Ships: Midway, Hornet, Princeton, Sea Wolf and Wasp. The Shenandoah, Hunley, Constitution, Missouri, Iowa and Manchester, as well as The Sullivan's, Enterprise, Tecumseh and Nautilus - all majestic ships of the line. Each ship commanding the respect of any adversary.

I like the bounce of Navy music and the tempo of a Navy Band, "Liberty Whites" and the spice scent of a foreign port. I like shipmates I've sailed with, worked with, served with or have known: the Gunner's Mate from the Iowa cornfields; a Sonarman from the Colorado mountain country; a pal from Cairo, Alabama; an Italian from near Boston; some boogie boarders of California; and of course a drawling friendly Oklahoma lad that hailed from Muskogee; and a very congenial Engineman from the Tennessee hills.

From all parts of the land they came - farms of the Midwest, small towns of New England - the red clay area and small towns of the South - the mountain and high prairie towns of the West - the beachfront towns of the Atlantic, the Pacific and the Gulf. All are American; all are comrades in arms. All are men of the sea and all are men of honor.

I like the adventure in my heart when the ship puts out to sea, and I like the electric thrill of sailing home again, with the waving hands of welcome from family and friends waiting on shore. The extended time at sea drags; the going is rough on occasion. But there's the companionship of robust Navy laughter, the devil-may-care philosophy of the sea. This helps the Navyman. The remembrances of past shipmates fill the mind and restore the memory with images of other ships, other ports, other experiences of past voyages. Some memories are good, some are not so good but all are etched in the mind of the Navyman, and most will be there forever.

After a day of work, there is the serenity of the sea at dusk. As white caps dance on the ocean waves, the sunset creates flaming clouds that float in folds over the horizon - as if painted there by a master. The darkness follows soon and is mysterious. The ship's wake in darkness has a hypnotic effect, with foamy white froth and luminescence that forms never ending patterns in the turbulent waters. I like the lights of the ship in darkness - the masthead lights, the red and green sidelights and stern lights. They cut through the night and appear like a mirror of stars in darkness. There are rough stormy nights, and calm, quiet, still nights where the quiet of the mid-watch allows the ghosts of all the Sailors of the world to stand with you. They are abundant and unreachable, but ever apparent. And there is always the aroma of fresh coffee from the galley.

I like the legends of the Navy and the Navymen that created those legends. I like the proud names of Navy Heroes: Halsey, Nimitz, Perry, Farragut, McCain, Rickover and John Paul Jones. A man can find much in the Navy - comrades in arms, pride in his country. A man can find himself and can revel in this experience.

In years to come, when the Sailor is home from the sea, he will still recall with fondness the ocean spray on his face when the sea is angry. There will come a faint aroma of fresh paint in his nostrils, the echo of hearty laughter of the seafaring men who once were close companions. Now landlocked, he will grow wistful of his Navy days, when the seas were the largest part of him and a new port of call was always just over the horizon.

Recalling those days and times, he will stand taller and say: "ONCE I WAS A NAVYMAN!"

E. A. Hughes

FTCM (SS), USN (Ret.)

Original version: 1958

Revised: 1978

(source: http://www.midwaysailor.com/military/navyman.html)

What Is A Marine?: "The Finest Fighting Machine"

2008-12-28T01:41:00.000-08:00

Wally Beddoe, CPL USMC 81-85

This is probably the most succinct answer one could ever possibly give when asked the question "What is a Marine?". Here is a reprint from a blog article of the same title, authored by a Marine veteran, Wally Beddoe, on his blog "USMC81 - A collection of Marine Corps, Leadership, and Technology tidbits..." (http://usmc81.blogspot.com/2008/12/what-is-marine.html); this blog is very good at giving the Marine perspective and a sampling of life in the Corps...I highly recommend reading the postings available as they give great insight into the Marine experience (Wally also has the honor of being the first "NAVYzologist" or follower of this blog! Thanks for signing on), to wit:

What is a Marine?

Over two centuries of romping, stomping, hell, death and destruction. The finest fighting machine the world has ever seen. We were born in a bomb crater, my mother was an M-16 and my father was the devil. Each moment I live is an additional threat upon your life.

I’m a roughish looking, roving soldier of the sea. I’m cocky, self-centered, overbearing and I do not know the meaning of fear for I am fear itself. I am a green amphibious monster made of blood and guts who arose from the sea. Whose sole purpose in life is to perpetuate death and destruction upon the festering anti-Americans throughout the globe, whenever it may arise, and when my time comes, I’ll die a glorious death on the battlefield, giving my life to mom, apple pie, and the American flag.

We stole the eagle from the Air Force, the anchor from the Navy, and the rope from the Army. On the 7th day when God rested we overran his perimeter and stole the globe, and we’ve been running the show ever since. We live like soldiers, talk like sailors, and slap the hell out of both of them at the same time. Fighter by day, lover by night, drunkard by choice, and a United States Marine by an act of God.

Semper Fi.

Navy and Marine "Brothers In Arms"

2008-12-28T00:59:00.000-08:00

When I was in service many years ago, I had the distinct honor of being both a member of the Naval Dental Corps as a tech and temporary attachment to the Marine Corps as a field medic for the Fleet Marines. At one point I even wore a Marine green uniform with my Naval Petty Officer insignia on it and this would draw all kinds of second looks from both Sailors and Marines alike. I know what it is like to be a part of both organizations. I have great and equal respect for both the Navy and the Marine Corps and have missed the camaraderie ever since; nothing like it in civilian life. When I read this article it caused me to recall my experiences with both branches of the service and it awed me...the manner in which this brother, a member of the Navy, honored his Marine sibling and both of these branches of the service. This article is a reprint from the Los Angeles Times of 11OCT2008 entitled "Iraq: Navy Brother Visits Spot Where Marine Brother Was Killed":

When Marine Lance Cpl. James Swain was killed during the battle for Fallouja in late 2004, his brother decided to honor him by joining the Navy and becoming a corpsman.

Benjamin Swain, a Navy petty officer third-class, is now deployed near Fallouja with the 3rd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment.

And recently an officer who knew James took Benjamin Swain to the spot where his brother was mortally wounded.

"Being there and just being able to see the places where he spent his last hours meant being able to connect with him in some way," Swain told the American Forces Press Service.

His brother would be pleased at how Fallouja has changed, Swain said. "He would probably joke and say something like 'it's safe around here because of me.' "

-- Tony Perry, in San Diego

Photo: Navy Corpsman Benjamin Swain (left) and Maj. Jeffrey McCormack visit the spot in Fallouja where Lance Cpl. James Swain was shot. Credit: Lance Cpl. Casey Jones

The Marines Need Your Help with "Toys For Tots"

2008-12-13T14:22:00.000-08:00

The U.S. Marine Corps Annual "Toys For Tots" 2008 campaign is being adversely affected by the bad economy this year. They need your help. For example, even in Washington, DC, our nation's capital, the effort is deeply in trouble this year. In spite of donations by businesses earlier this year there, they are still in dire need to supply about 82,000 children with toys for the season. Even the money collected by the Marines in the DC area only amounts to about $13,000 so far (as of 13DEC08)...well behind last year...the collection bins are almost empty, too. If there is any way you can help, please do so by donating a new unwrapped toy to the nearest collection center. The Marines have had this program in place since 1947 (61 years) to help less fortunate children. Instead of the Marines saving us for a change, you can save the Marines this time. Visit their website for more information (http://www.toysfortots.org).You can locate the nearest drop-off site by clicking this link: http://www.toysfortots.org/donate/toys.asp Thank You. OOO-RAH!

Click here for a historical chronology of Marine Corps Toys For Tots Foundation.

"The Marines and You...Save The Day Again"

"The Marines and Christmas Morning...Since 1947"

"Excuse Me, Are You Santa Claus?"

Editor's Note: In case someone is wondering why are the Marines being presented on this blog about the U.S. Navy, it is because they are administrated by the U.S. Department of the Navy. The United States Marine Corps chain of command goes to the Secretary of the Navy, but the Marines fight as a separate service component (or military branch) from the Navy. Marine Corps units are commanded by Marine Corps officers, and Marines conduct joint Navy/Marine Corps operations with the U.S. Navy.
The Marines are naval in character because of their tradition of sea service on naval vessels and their charter under Title 10 of the U.S. governmnet code to train for and conduct amphibious operations from the sea. The Marines are not a subordinate organization to the U.S. Navy, but an equal service component of the U.S. Department of the Navy.

Remember Pearl Harbor - 67 years later

2008-12-07T13:32:00.000-08:00

The 7 December 1941 Japanese raid on Pearl Harbor was one of the great defining moments in history. A single carefully-planned and well-executed stroke removed the United States Navy's battleship force as a possible threat to the Japanese Empire's southward expansion. America, unprepared and now considerably weakened, was abruptly brought into the Second World War as a full combatant.

Eighteen months earlier, President Franklin D. Roosevelt had transferred the United States Fleet to Pearl Harbor as a presumed deterrent to Japanese agression. The Japanese military, deeply engaged in the seemingly endless war it had started against China in mid-1937, badly needed oil and other raw materials. Commercial access to these was gradually curtailed as the conquests continued. In July 1941 the Western powers effectively halted trade with Japan. From then on, as the desperate Japanese schemed to seize the oil and mineral-rich East Indies and Southeast Asia, a Pacific war was virtually inevitable.

By late November 1941, with peace negotiations clearly approaching an end, informed U.S. officials (and they were well-informed, they believed, through an ability to read Japan's diplomatic codes) fully expected a Japanese attack into the Indies, Malaya and probably the Philippines. Completely unanticipated was the prospect that Japan would attack east, as well.

The U.S. Fleet's Pearl Harbor base was reachable by an aircraft carrier force, and the Japanese Navy secretly sent one across the Pacific with greater aerial striking power than had ever been seen on the World's oceans. Its planes hit just before 8AM on 7 December. Within a short time five of eight battleships at Pearl Harbor were sunk or sinking, with the rest damaged. Several other ships and most Hawaii-based combat planes were also knocked out and over 2400 Americans were dead. Soon after, Japanese planes eliminated much of the American air force in the Philippines, and a Japanese Army was ashore in Malaya.

These great Japanese successes, achieved without prior diplomatic formalities, shocked and enraged the previously divided American people into a level of purposeful unity hardly seen before or since. For the next five months, until the Battle of the Coral Sea in early May, Japan's far-reaching offensives proceeded untroubled by fruitful opposition. American and Allied morale suffered accordingly. Under normal political circumstances, an accomodation might have been considered.

However, the memory of the "sneak attack" on Pearl Harbor fueled a determination to fight on. Once the Battle of Midway in early June 1942 had eliminated much of Japan's striking power, that same memory stoked a relentless war to reverse her conquests and remove her, and her German and Italian allies, as future threats to World peace. (source: http://www.history.navy.mil)

U.S. Navy "Periods Of History" Timeline

2008-11-25T18:57:00.000-08:00

Documents here are linked to the U. S. Navy's government website... and are arranged by the periods of Navy history presented chronologically for ease of access: The Battle Streamers contain a brief history of the Navy's role in the war, conflict or operation (source - http://www.history.navy.mil/wars/index.html )

Revolution, 1775-1783	Quasi-War, 1798-1801	Barbary Wars, 1801-1805, 1815	War of 1812, 1812-1815	Slave Trade Patrols, 1820-1861	Anti-Piracy Patrols, 1822-1830s	Indian Wars, 1835-1842
Mexican War, 1846-1848	Civil War, 1861-1865	Spanish American War, 1898	Philippine Insurrection, 1899-1902	China Relief- Boxer Rebellion 1900-1901	Latin American Campaigns, 1906-1933	World War I, 1917-1918
Yangtze Service, 1926-27, 1930-32	China Service, 1937-39, 1945-57	World War II, 1941-1945	Cold War	Korean Conflict, 1950-1954	Vietnam Service, 1962-1975	Desert Shield-Desert Storm, 1991

Post 1991 Conflicts