® Serving the Hampton Roads Navy Family Vol. 18, No. 1, Norfolk, VA FLAGSHIPNEWS.COM January 7, 2010 Obama condemns terrorist attack, reaffi rms U.S. resolve BY DONNA MILES Obama vowed to ensure all involved in the at- American Forces Press Service tempted attack will be held accountable, but said that’s just part of a broader responsibility he took WASHINGTON — on as he came to offi ce last January to protect the President Barack Obama American people’s safety and security. condemned the Dec. 25 ter- “On that day I also made it very clear: Our na- rorist attempt on the United tion is at war against a far-reaching network of States in his fi rst 2010 week- violence and hatred, and that we will do whatev- ly radio address, vowing to er it takes to defeat them and defend our country, Photo by MC1 Chad J. McNeeley President bring those involved to jus- even as we uphold the values that have always Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses the Barack Obama tice and outlining steps the distinguished America among nations,” he said. U.S. Air Force Academy Falcons football team on Dec. 30, 2009, before their administration is taking to protect the American “And make no mistake, that’s exactly what we’ve appearance in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas. The Falcons people. been doing.” defeated the University of Houston Cougars 47-20 on New Years Eve. Speaking from Kailua, Hawaii, the president said Obama cited a revised strategy that aims to bring the Christmas Day attempt provides an important a responsible end to the war in Iraq and increase reminder of the sacrifi ces Americans are making in resources in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where al Mullen underscores Afghanistan and the importance of bipartisan sup- Qaeda is based. He said he’s set a “clear and achiev- port for all who protect the United States. able mission: to disrupt, dismantle and defeat al Obama blamed an al Qaeda affi liate for recruiting, Qaeda and its extremist allies and prevent their re- the importance of the training and arming Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, turn to either country.” the suspect in the incident on a Northwest Airlines The president paid tribute to seven CIA mem- academy experience fl ight bound for Detroit. bers killed in Afghanistan, and acknowledged that “This is not the fi rst time this group has targeted reviews must continue to determine what hap- BY JOHN J. KRUZEL discussions I had with players us,” Obama said, noting that in recent years it has pened, and why. American Forces Press Service were about these games,” he said. bombed Yemeni government facilities and West- As questions are asked and debate goes on, “They’re very proud of the teams ern hotels, restaurants and embassies, including he urged that it be focused on making necessary FORT WORTH, TX. — On and what they represent.” the U.S. Embassy, in 2008. changes required to protect the country. hand for a pair of service academy The chairman said one of the “So, as president, I’ve made it a priority to “As we go forward, let us remember this: Our ad- football bowl games in Texas, Navy things he reminds players of is the strengthen our partnership with the Yemeni gov- versaries are those who would attack our country, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the institutions and the country they ernment -- training and equipping their security not our fellow Americans, not each other,” he said. Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscored represent – a sense of scale and forces, sharing intelligence and working with them Rather than giving in to fear, cynicism or parti- the symbolism of the matchups for magnitude that young players of- to strike al Qaeda terrorists,” Obama said. sanship, “let’s work together, with a seriousness of troops around the world. ten fi nd hard to comprehend. The fruits of this collaboration had begun to be purpose, to do what must be done to keep our coun- But he also emphasized the im- “My recollection of being at that realized even before the Christmas Day terror at- try safe,” he urged Americans. “As we begin this portance of looking at an age is you don’t realize per se how tempt, he said. Training camps have been struck, New Year, I cannot imagine a more fi tting resolu- academy experience special cadets or mid- leaders eliminated and plots disrupted. tion to guide us – as a people and as a nation.” as a potential shipmen are, for launching and who they careers as mili- represent,” tary offi cers. Mullen said. “These The chair- games are man said Burke, other Sailors to watched his pres- around the ence at world and the game the play- here, and be honored on stamps ers playing in them later at the Texas know that so that they Bowl in Houston, in BY RANDOLPH E. SCHMID was hailed as a “sailor’s sailor” represent great institu- which the Naval Acade- The Associated Press Distinguished who defi ned what it meant to be tions,” he said in an interview my faced off with Missouri, Sailors stamp series: a naval offi cer: “relentless in com- before the Armed Forces Bowl was to remind them of the reso- WASHINGTON — Adm. Ar- bat, resourceful in command, and that pitted the Air Force Academy nance of their mission and to show leigh Burke will be honored on U.S. In February, the U.S. revered by his crews.” against the University of Houston. the nation’s appreciation for their postage stamps this year, along with Postal Service plans The Arleigh A. Burke stamp Mullen, who returned recently service. others such as Nobel Prize winner to release a booklet of features a detail from a photo- from a trip to Iraq and Afghanistan, A day earlier in a pep talk to the Mother Teresa and Pulitzer Prize stamps featuring four graph of Burke (1951). Beside said the games in which service Air Force team, Mullen shared an winner Bill Mauldin. U.S. Sailors. the photograph is a depiction of academies appear resonate with anecdote about meeting a former Other new stamps will honor the crest of the guided missile military personnel stationed in the center on the Falcon team who Oscar-winning actress Katharine destroyer USS Arleigh Burke Middle Eastern and Central Asian had planned to conclude his ser- Hepburn, singing cowboy Gene 1936) was an outspoken reformer (DDG-51), which was commis- countries. vice in the Air Force after his stint Autry, artist Winslow Homer, the and innovator who helped shape sioned in 1991. “I just returned from being over- Negro baseball leagues, the Sun- the Navy into a modern fi ghting seas for a week and some of the See MULLEN, A9 day funnies and the Hawaiian force. rain forest, the Postal Service an- Sims continued to write and nounced. lecture about naval reform until The post offi ce releases a series his death in 1936, at which time of commemorative stamps every the New York Herald Tribune de- Pentagon discuses year, honoring people, places and clared that he had “infl uenced our institutions. These stamps remain naval course more than any man Photo courtesy of USPS service member on sale for a limited period and are who ever wore the uniform.” The John McCloy widely collected. Navy has named three destroy- Described by a shipmate as “like Burke will be part of a four-stamp ers after Sims. The most recent, a bull” who couldn’t be stopped, voting law changes set featuring distinguished Sailors. USS W. S. Sims (DE-1059), was John McCloy (1876 - 1945) has the He was a top destroyer command- commissioned in 1970. distinction of being one of the few BY JIM GARAMONE election official so it can be er in World War II and played a role The William S. Sims stamp fea- men in the nation’s history to earn American Forces Press Service counted,” Bob Carey explained in modernizing the Navy. tures a detail from a photograph two Medals of Honor for separate during an interview yesterday. Joining him in the set are William of Sims (1919). Beside the photo- acts of heroism. WASHINGTON — Laws have In the general population S. Sims, commander of U.S. naval graph is a depiction of the crest McCloy retired from active duty changed and service members about nine out of every 10 ab- forces in European waters during of the destroyer escort USS W. S. in 1928 after a thirty-year career who want to vote need to be sentee ballots are successfully World War I; John McCloy, one of Sims (DE-1059), which was com- in the Navy and “a lifetime of ser- aware of these changes, the cast, the director said. “Only the few men in the nation’s histo- missioned in 1970. vice on all the seven seas,” as the director of the about six or sev- ry to earn two Medals of Honor for Kansas City Star put it. His ser- Federal Voting en out of every 10 separate acts of heroism; and Doris vice record notes that in 1942 he Assistance Pro- One of the bigger military ballots Miller, recognized for his actions at was advanced on the retired list gram said. changes in the process are successful- Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, and to lieutenant commander after be- Generally, mil- is that military voters ly returned,” he the fi rst African-American recog- ing “specially commended by the itary personnel must send in a federal said.