ussbristoldd857.org 21 March 2019 USS BRISTOL DD857 VETERANS ASSOCIATION SPRING 2019 ARLINGTON is given a wreath pin that is worn IN THIS ISSUE CEMETERY on their lapel signifying they served Jeopardy Question: as guard of the tomb. There are Arlington only 400 presently worn.The guard On Jeopardy the other night, the Cemetery……………..1 must obey these rules for the rest of 1. How many steps does the guard their lives or give up the wreath take during his walk across the pinEvery guard spends five hours a USO Rallies Around Service tomb of the steps: It alludes to the day getting his uniforms ready for Members During Typhoon twenty-one gun salute which is guard duty. the highest honor given any Relief.2 military or foreign dignitary. 2. How long does he hesitate after ETERNAL REST GRANT THEM Don’t Wash that Coffee his about face to begin his O L O R D A N D L E T Mug……2 return walk and why? 21 seconds PERPETUAL LIGHT SHINE for the same reason as answer UPON THEM. Driver’s n u m b e r o n e . 1 Seat…………………….4 3. Why are his gloves wet? His gloves are moistened to prevent his In 2003 as Hurricane Isabelle was approaching Washington,DC, our The Battle Off losing his grip on the rifle. US Senate/House took 2 days off Samar……………5 4. Does he carry his rifle on the with anticipation of the storm. On s a m e s h o u l d e r a l l t h e the ABC evening news, it was Inside the Wild Ride of the time and ,if not, why not? He reported that because of the dangers carries the rifle on the shoulder from the hurricane, the military USS away from the tomb. After his members assigned the duty of Chopper…………………… march across the path, he executes guarding the Tomb of the Unknown …..14 an about face and moves the rifle to Soldier were given permission to t h e o u t s i d e s h o u l d e r . suspend the assignment. They 5. How often are the guards respectfully declined the offer, "No Humor in changed?Guards are changed every w a y, S i r ! " S o a k e d t o t h e Uniform……………..16 thirty minutes, twenty-four hours a skin, marching in the pelting rain of d a y , 3 6 5 d a y s a y e a r . a tropical storm, they said US Navy Undersea 6. What are the physical traits of that guarding the Tomb was not just Museum…..19 the guard limited to? For a person an assignment,it was the highest to apply for guard duty at the tomb, honor that can be afforded to a service person. The tomb has been Amazing Story of he must be between 5' 10' and 6' 2' tall and his waist size cannot patrolled continuously, 24/7, since Bravery……..19 exceed 30.They must commit 2 1930. years of life to guard the tomb, Harry Reisen live in a barracks under the tomb, God Bless and keep them. Journal…………..20 and cannot drink any alcohol on or off duty for the rest of their lives. I'd be very proud if this email Kenneth Hickman They cannot swear in public for reached as many as possible. We can the rest of their lives and cannot b e v e r y p r o u d o f o u r m e n Memorial….22 disgrace the uniform or the tomb in and women in the service no matter any way. After two years, the guard where they serve. !1 ussbristoldd857.org 21 March 2019 USO Rallies Around Service many units were in tents. Water and throughout the month of November, Members During Typhoon electricity was scarce throughout the the USO also provided service Relief entire island, and there were no members with a full Thanksgiving flights or ocean cargo ships going to meal on Tinian, along with fun either island to deliver goods. games with prizes and giveaways. Tech. Sgt. Christopher Ruano, Without internet, residents and Guam National Guard service members alike were cut off The Northern Mariana Islands from their friends and family as they continue to recover from Typhoon By Danielle DeSimone continued relief efforts. Yutu, but service members began leaving in mid-December and made When the fifth-strongest tropical In response to the military it home just in time for the holidays. storm in recorded history made mobilization to Saipan and Tinian, landfall in a U.S. Commonwealth, the USO Pacific team mobilized as …………………………………….. the U.S. Armed Forces were ready to help – and so was the USO. well. Just over one week after Typhoon Yutu made landfall, USO DON’T WASH THAT On Oct. 24, 2018, Typhoon Yutu hit Guam was able to arrange flights, COFFEE MUG! the U.S. Commonwealth of the cargo assistance and ground November 25, 2013153 transportation that was otherwise CommentsFeatured, History, Northern Mariana Islands of Saipan Newschief, coffee, coffee mess, and Tinian, where 52,000 U.S. not available to other organizations. funny, navy, navy chief citizens and nationals currently live. USO shipments arrived, including The tropical storm left catastrophic USO Care Packages, snacks, water, damage in its wake. Most homes c o o l e r s , m i c r o w a v e s a n d and businesses were destroyed from entertainment equipment. The USO either the storm itself or from also worked around the clock to flooding, trees were torn up by their ensure their on-site team would have roots, roads impassable and there access to internet on the island. By Nov. 10, USO staff and supplies were no utilities – electricity, water The obsession began over seven and internet were completely wiped were at the ready, and a temporary years ago. In 2006, I began at the out. USO lounge was opened in an Hampton Roads Naval Museum as a abandoned hotel on Saipan. wide-eyed intern, ready to take on the new and fascinating world of As soon as the storm passed, service naval history. I thought the coffee members from the Army, Navy, Air mess at work was reserved for staff Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard This temporary USO lounge served and volunteers only. I did not feel and the Guam National Guard were as a site of relief and relaxation from comfortable partaking in the the deployed service members on delicious brew until somebody told immediately deployed to the islands me I could. When I finally got the to begin relief and recovery efforts. the island. Aside from having a green light, I happily brought my clean, dry space to spend downtime coffee mug in the next day, eager to Photo credit 9th Mission Support in, service members also had access drink from the well all working class souls go to each morning. Command to board games, television, coffee, The destruction left in the wake of water, snacks and Wi-Fi so that they This was my first experience with Typhoon Yutu on the southern end could remain connected to family “Navy coffee.” It was hot and strong. Very strong. The thickness and friends at home. of the island of Saipan. of it closely resembled crude oil. It tasted both wonderful and terrible at However, conditions were tough. On The USO is committed to keeping the same time. Your mind can trick Saipan, more than 500 service service members connected to home you into believing anything. When a supreme pot of joe is brewed, members bedded down in an in other ways as well. While units many of the volunteers would call it abandoned hotel, while in Tinian, continued in their relief efforts “Signal Bridge Coffee,” recalling !2 ussbristoldd857.org 21 March 2019 the nostalgia of long nights and blogger noted, “You may not be able Several recent articles about the many cups consumed. to embrace your loved ones while practice surfaced on the internet on you are gone, but at least you can message boards and military news After that first morning of coffee, I still taste the same coffee you drank blogs. One blogger from the went to the break room to wash my the day you left.” Military Times (Broadside Blog) cup and let it dry for the next day’s wrote about it this past August. angry fix. As I washed out my cup, To many in the military, this is “There are only a few things you I felt the sting of glaring eyes from nothing new. Ask anybody who need to know about Navy coffee, behind my back. I’m sure whoever served or is currently serving in the and most of it involves the cup,” the it was, they could sense my military, and they will likely give blogger writes. “You do not wash a hesitation. I turned around to see you a story about an experience Navy coffee cup. Ever.” GMC Dana Martin, the museum’s i n v o l v i n g t h e p r a c t i c e o f active duty OIC. He had a puzzled, “seasoning” their cup. Navy Chiefs, I took Chief Martin’s advice, but not concerned look on his face. Chief however, are considered by many to at first. For the first few weeks Martin was grizzled and salty. He be the most Spartan of stalwarts to following our confrontation, I was by far one of the saltiest sailors the unwashed coffee mug.