Sign Up for the San D iego C ongres s 1 4 —1 6 O c t 2 0 0 4 ! NONUESW S See insert Vol. X X I, N o. 1 On the Web at www.navalorder.org Spring 2004 CG Sends: I am pleased to report that we have NOUS Congress 2004 finalized hotel arrangements for the 2004 Congress. It will be held at the newly remodeled Marriott Mission Gears Up for San Diego Valley Inn with 350 high rise view rooms, all with balconies. The meeting Plans for the upcoming 2004 Naval Fleet W eek reception aboard the USS space and facilities are outstanding, as Order Congress in San Diego from 14 œ Midway (CV-41), a decommissioned air- well as the food and beverage venues. 16 October continue to develop. Coin- craft carrier run as a historical attraction The best part? They are offering our Or- ciding as it does with Fleet W eek San in San Diego Harbor. This event will be der a special military rate of $99.00 per Diego, the timing for our Congress could truly special. Another Fleet W eek at- room, plus complimentary parking. The not be more fortuitous. Many events traction will be the Navy‘s own Blue room rate will also be available 3 days and activities related to Fleet W eek will Angels, flying at the Fleet W eek air prior to, and 3 days following, our Con- be available for Companions to enjoy, in show held at MCAS Miramar over that gress. Be aware that your reservations addition to the outstanding program be- weekend. Sunday, 17 Oct, will be the must be made as far in advance as possi- ideal time to see these naval aviators ble to lock in this rate! So, Companions, strut their aviation stuff as the Congress make your Congress travel plans will have closed, freeing Companions to quickly and get on board. take in the air show. If that has little ap- W e have modified our Congress pro- peal, there are still San Diego‘s out- gram this year so there will be no standing tourist attractions renowned the planned activity following the luncheon world over. These attractions include on the final day. Hence, you can choose the San Diego Zoo, Sea W orld, Balboa to go sightseeing, hang out pool side, go Park, or the Gaslamp Quarter in the shopping, or take the "Tijuana Trol- downtown area. ley" to Mexico–it stops at our hotel Congress attendance fees remain every 15 minutes and the senior round similar to those of the past several years. trip fare is only $2.00. San Diego is a Prior to 1 September, a rate $195/person great Navy town with lots of interesting Downtown San Diego has been set, with late signers paying sights, so plan now to be with us on the (photo © Photohome.com). $225/person after 1 September. So, in third weekend of October! the spirit of any good bargain hunter, Since I took command in Newport, ing put together by the San Diego Con- sign up early and take advantage of the we've had a major National Office gress Committee. price break. CAPT Elaine Allen and the change. LT Phil Ciaffa has relieved The most crucial piece of the puzzle rest of the organizing committee encour- Chris Cummings as our Registrar Gen- has been put in place with the hotel se- age all Companions to make the trip to eral. He has been hard at work up- lection. The Congress will be held at the San Diego! Just use the insert in this grading our membership database. This Marriott San Diego Mission Valley and newsletter and send in your application has proven to be a bigger task than he an incredible NOUS Congress rate of today. ever imagined! Good news, we are as- $99/night has been agreed upon. Any- sured that that hill is behind us. one familiar with hotel rates Sem per P aratu s ! As I promised at my installation, I will instantly recognize the value of this deal. Throw in complimentary parking, have begun visiting our Commanderies (Submitted by SEN Robert W. Mitchler) and Companions might never leave San and attending one of their regularly This is the period when our Congress Diego. Unfortunately, the rate only ap- scheduled meetings. To date, I have vis- hears testimony from the government plies to the period three days prior and ited Monterey, San Diego, and . agencies relating to their 2005 budgets. succeeding the Congress. This rate is I hope all you Commandery Command- That process is a grueling one, especially available through 13 September, so ers will continue to keep me informed of when there is a request for an increase in make plans and reservations accord- your local meetings and activities so that funding. Let's take a look at our United ingly. I can join you at a future date. States Coast Guard and how their 2005 Plans for speakers have not been an- Our new JAG, RADM Doug Moore, budget request is being presented. nounced, yet, but one of the special is hard at work finalizing our IRS Non- Several weeks ago the Commandant events Congress attendees will be in- Profit 501(c)(3) Category application (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 2) vited to attend on Friday, 15 Oct is a ... energy products. N av y -M arine C orps 9) Maintained more than 50,000 federal (Continued from page 1) aids to navigation along 25,000 miles of C ou nc il H os ts SE C N A V of the USCG, Thomas H. maritime transportation highways. Collins, appeared before the House Sub- 10) Responded to over 19,000 reports of The Navy-Marine Corps Council met committee on Coast Guard and Maritime water pollution or hazardous material this week and heard from several Sea Transportation. Following the normal releases. Service leaders including Secretary of courteous greetings to the Congressmen, 11) Completed the most difficult re- the Navy Gordon England, Master Chief Admiral Collins announced the Coast supply of McMurdo Station (Antarctica) Petty of the Navy Terry Scott Guard's fiscal year (FY) 2005 budget during Operation Deep Freeze in 40 and Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps proposed authority of $7.46 billion, a years. USCGC Polar Sea and USCGC John Estrada. nine percent increase over FY-2004. Healy smashed through 50 miles of ice Scott and Estrada spoke of the exem- Before proceeding to discuss the FY- more than 13-feet thick to enable U.S. plary performance of today's Sailors and 2005 budget request, Admiral Collins scientists to continue their studies of the Marines and highlighted programs and requested a few moments to discuss Earth's climate. initiatives aimed at maximizing their some of the Coast Guard's accomplish- These eleven specific accomplished ability to accomplish necessary mis- ments during the past year. Reading missions of our USCG during FY-2004 sions. these accomplishments caught my atten- once again points out how the USCG Vice Chief of Naval Operations tion and greatly impressed me. has daily assignments and are "on sta- ADM Mike Mullins and LtGen Robert As you know, the USCG was trans- tion" 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Magnus, USMC, Assistant Commandant ferred from the Department of Transpor- That is what our USCG is mandated to for Programs and Resources, discussed tation to the new Department of Home- do as a routine and normal performance the Administration's FY05 budget pro- land Security. Its mission, however, re- of duty. posal and its impact on their respective mained about the same. Integrating into the new Department services. Both addressed the increasing During the past year, Admiral Collins of Homeland Security, the USCG has cost of military manpower and the recent reported some main accomplishments of satisfactorily blended into this "one (Continued on page 4) the USCG as follows: team-one fight" motto. This proved to 1) Interdicted over 6,000 undocumented be during the developing events in Haiti. New Companions migrants attempting to enter the country The Operation Able Sentry was led by by sea. USCG Rear Admiral Harvey Johnson 12/31/2003 – 4/20/2004 2) Prevented more than l36,000 pounds and demonstrated the USCG is indeed ATLANTA of cocaine, over 14,000 pounds of mari- "on station" and doing a job W ELL GYSGT James M. Ensor, USMC(Ret) juana and more than 800 pounds of DONE. ILLINOIS hashish from reaching U.S. shores. Mr. Gregory J. Banach 3) Aggressively conducted more than FLORIDA FIRST COAST CG Sends... IT3 Seth A. Allen, USNR 36,000 port security patrols, including (Continued from page 1) LT James F. Kennedy, USN(Ret) 3,000 air patrols, 8,000 security board- M s. Sheila M. M cNeill ings and over 7,000 vessel escorts. and we'll hope for good news shortly. Mr. Raymond H. Pfeiffer 4) Deployed the largest contingent of (W e need this designation in order to MONTEREY Coast Guard personnel overseas since have major corporate and/or trust donors CDR Richard M . Brown, III, USN(Ret) LT Ryan B. Ernst, USNR the Vietnam W ar to support Operation qualify as "tax free.“) It is an important step, and one we all feel confident will CDR M ichael J. Holden, USN(Ret.) Iraqi Freedom, including 11 cutters, two CAPT S. Starr King, USN be accepted by the IRS. shore-side support units and over 1,200 NATIONAL CAPITOL personnel. All hands, please remember to carry YN1 Michael W . Krzmarzick, USN(Ret) 5) Saved the lives of nearly 5,100 mari- the new Membership Brochure and Ap- Mr. Burton S. Olson plications whenever you are "out and LCDR Steven R. Sinclair, USNR ners in distress and responded to more EM1 Charles W . Stewart, Jr., USN(Ret) than 31,500 calls for assistance. about.“ It's a great way to talk up the Naval Order and to provide on-the-spot NEW MEXICO 6) Boarded more than 3,400 fishing ves- BG W illiam E. Fields, NM ARNG(Ret) sels to enforce safety, environmental and membership information to prospective, M s. Priscilla Hart economic laws. qualified individuals. Also, always wear NEW PORT 7) Mobilized 64% of the Coast Guard your Naval Order "rosette" on your jack- Mr. Lawrence C. Hall ets in order to identify your Naval Order CDR Arthur W . Stauff, USNR Reserve Force to enhance protection of NEW YORK our ports, waterways and critical infra- membership and create questions asking "what does that rosette signify?" Mr. Theodore C. Baer, Jr. structure during heightened states of COL Louis E. Cherico, USMCR alert, and to support the Combatant So everyone make your plans Mr. John K. Sands Commanders. now...... I'll see you San Diego in Oc- Mr. Richard H. W agner tober ! SAN DIEGO 8) Kept critical shipping channels clear M s. Erica A. Gapp of ice in the Great Lakes and New Eng- Sincerely, Fred C. Hawkins, Capt. USNR (Ret.) land ensuring the availability of critical (Continued on page 4) Catching Up with the Comm anderies NJROTC Awards Program in order to support the Naval Order‘s mission to First Coast œ Members of the Com- Project which is being spearheaded by preserve, promote, celebrate and enjoy mandery made a visit to the USS John F. the National Foundation for W omen the history and heritage of the United Kennedy(CV-67) on 27 MAR at Naval Legislators Veterans Affairs Team. States Naval Services. The award to be Station Mayport. The group was greeted There was a kick-off conference for the presented each May will be the "Admiral on the Pier, gonged aboard, and immedi- Illlinois Veterans Oral History project in David G. Farragut Award" for inspira- Springfield, Illinois, on 24 FEB. tional leadership and conduct. A certifi- The Commandery will be working cate and a US saving bond will be pre- with Illinois State Reps. Eileen Lyons sented to the outstanding cadet meeting and Mary E. Flowers who are Co-Team these requirements. Leaders on the NFW L Veterans Affairs Texas œ The Commandery held its an- Team. NFW L Team Leaders have been nual banquet on 24 JAN in Houston. At focusing on interviewing disabled W orld this event, the Nimitz Award for leader- W ar II veterans since Nov 2003 and will now expand their efforts to include vet- erans of the Korean and Vietnam W ars and other conflicts. Interviews are col- lected by volunteers on audio and video- tape, or submitted on paper. Original diaries, letters, maps, movies and photo- graphs are also collected. Check out the From left: Campbell McCarthy, Charlotte project web site at: http://www.loc.gov/ Hill, Tony Ross, Sharon Ross, Anna folklife/vets/kit.html Streeter, Sandy Taylor, Greg Streeter, Monterey œ On 17 Feb, the Com- Alexa Streeter, Dick Streeter, Frank mandery recently celebrated the 9th An- From left: RADM Showers, CAPT Conlin, Floyd, Mike Manko, Kathy Besag, Floyd niversary of its chartering. CAPT Paul CAPT Martine Myers, and CAPT George Grandson, Frank Besag, Pat Manko Trejo, USNR(Ret) passed his duties as Holyfield. Commandery Commander to CAPT ately treated to a delightful lunch fol- Kenneth Johnson, USN(Ret), who re- ship was bestowed upon RADM Mac lowed by a most enjoyable tour of the cently relocated from Virginia. Assist- Showers by CAPT Carter Conlin. ship. Finally, we departed with a gener- ing CAPT Johnson is Vice Commander, Over 26 œ 28 FEB, the Commandery ous packet of information on "Big John." CAPT Jeff Kline, USN, who chairs the participated in the annual remembrance The Commandery commends the Public W arfare Innovation Studies program at ceremonies for the USS Houston (CA- Affairs staff for their graciousness and 30) at the USS Houston Memorial in professionalism which made the visit downtown Houston. Over 200 people particularly enjoyable. attended the ceremonies, which included Illinois œ The annual Pearl Harbor Day 18 survivors this year. dinner/program of the Commandery also served as the nomination and election of Signing Off... officers for 2004. The following Com- This is my final issue as Editor of the panions were elected: Commander: NOUS Newsletter as we have found an Robert W . Mitchler, Vice Commander: From left: CDR Lambing, CAPT Kline, intrepid soul to take over at the end of W . Bruce W alker, Treasurer: Allen CAPT Hawkins, CAPT Johnson, and my commitment. My relief, CAPT Kate Lipscher, Recorder: Lee Van Der CAPT Trejo. Gray, USNR, is a Companion in the Hulst, Surgeon: Charles L. Rice, Judge HRD Commandery and I wish her great Advocate: Francis X. Reilly, and Histo- the Naval Postgraduate School, and Sec- luck in this endeavor. My heartfelt rian: Doug Smith. retary, CDR Clarence Lambing, USN thanks go out to RADM Tom Brown, The following were elected to serve (Ret). Officiating at the ceremony was CAPT Jim Brooke, CAPT Jan Arm- on the Illinois Companions Council: Mi- the Commander General, CAPT Fred strong, Chris Cummings, and, in remem- chael D. Besancon (Immediate Past Hawkins, USNR(Ret). brance, Ric Teague. CAPT Hawkins and Commander), Edward A. Bobrick, Mrs. Sheila M. McNeil, the National LT Phil Ciaffa have been terrific for the Charles S. Downey, Howard Fried- President of the Navy League, joined the short time of our overlap–thank you. man, Victor S. Gulliver, Louis Nusin- Naval Order through the Monterey Com- And, finally, I want to thank all the folks son, F. Donal O'Brien, Patric W . Rast- mandery. Mrs. McNeil, a life member who contributed material over my tenure all, Margaret A. Ryan, Alden T. of the Navy League since 1966, was as Editor œ you made my life a lot eas- "Bud" W ulff, and Robert L. Zralek. elected National President in June 2003. ier! The Illinois Commandery announced The Commandery has agreed to par- CAPT Gray, I stand relieved… its support for the Veterans Oral History ticipate in the Monterey High School V/R, Chuck Berry Navy-Marine Corp Council Rem em bering Okinawa NATIONAL CAPITOL and MONTEREY Companions: debate on military end strengths, and (Courtesy of SEN Robert W. Mitchler) Check out your new Commandery web- highlighted the skyrocketing cost of Okinawa was the largest amphibious sites: DoD health care programs and its rela- invasion of the Pacific campaign and the NAT: http://www.navalorder.org/ tionship to funding for readiness and last major campaign of the Pacific W ar. monhomepage.htm other accounts. More ships were used, more troops put MON: http://www.navalorder.org/ Secretary England also spoke about ashore, more supplies transported, more nathomepage.htm efforts to restructure the armed forces bombs dropped, and more naval guns and plans to reduce Navy billets by fired against shore targets than any other Does your Commandery want one? 7,900 in the coming year, citing the ser- operation in the Pacific. More people Contact CAPT Jim Brooke at : vices' ability to operate more efficiently died during the Battle of Okinawa than JBrooke3@ cox.net and effectively with 21st century equip- all those killed during the atomic bomb- ment and technology. He also noted the ings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Casual- SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: high morale of our Sailors and Marines ties totaled more than 38,000 Americans LT Philip R. Ciaffa who are serving with a genuine sense of wounded and 12,000 killed or missing, P.O. Box 31069 purpose. more than 107,000 Japanese and Okina- Santa Fe, NM 87594-1069 The Naval Order was represented by wan conscripts killed, and perhaps or [email protected] CAPT Jim Brooke, Past CG and NOUS 100,000 Okinawan civilians who per- IGNORE ADDRESS BELOW !! Representative to the Council, CNOCM ished in the battle. (SW ) Harry Kantrovich and several oth- Okinawa proved to be the bloodiest NOUS News is published quarterly by the General ers. battle of the Pacific W ar. Thirty-four Commandery, Naval Order of the United States, allied ships and craft of all types had P. O. Box 271, M errifield, VA 22116-2741. been sunk, mostly by kamikazes, and RADM Thomas F. Brown III, USN(Ret.), Com- New Companions... mander General and Publisher 368 ships and craft damaged. The fleet Mr. Charles L. Berry III, Editor, NOUS News (Continued from page 2) had lost 763 aircraft. Total American 1805 Crocker Street, #1; Houston, TX 77006. CDR Thomas M . M cManus, USNR(Ret) casualties in the operation numbered E-mail: cberrya6e@ sbcglobal.net over 12,000 killed [including nearly Mr. F. Ross Adkins GMGC Joseph J. Bacciocco, USNR(Ret) 5,000 Navy dead and almost 8,000 Ma- CHANGES OF ADDRESS GMGC W arren W . Bacciocco, USNR(Ret) rine and Army dead] and 36,000 Please advise the NOUS Registrar General of all CW O2 Howard M. Backus, SC USN(Ret) wounded. Navy casualties were tremen- changes of address. Doing so will assure delivery not W alter C. Bell, DDS dous, with a ratio of 1 killed for 1 only of NOUS News but of other important mail Mr. Raymond J. Fazzio from the General Commandery. wounded as compared to a 1 to 5 ratio W O1 John D. Garvey, CSMR Mr. Chris Cummings, Registrar General CAPT Larry D. Henson, USNR(Ret) for the Marine Corps. There were more Naval Order of the United States Mr. David L. Ringler than 26,000 non-battle casualties. Not P. O. Box 508, Alief, TX 77411-0508 Mr. W illiam G. Schultz surprisingly, the cost of this battle, in E-mail: navyvet@ sbcglobal.net TEXAS Mrs. Susan M. Gallimore-Denton terms of lives, time, and material, E-m ail the General Com m andery weighed heavily in the decision to use You can save on postage and help the Order do like- W ESTERN NEW YORK wise by using e-mail. (please!).

RADM John F. Paddock, USNR(Ret) the atomic bomb against Japan just six

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