February 2020 Patriot News
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YYY E L L O W RRR I B B O N MMM INISTRY FEBRUARY 2020 VOLUME 12, ISSUE 2 CAVU Colonel Steve Martin Inside this Issue: Sitting by the sea, an old man lic service and he wanted to do thinks back over the course of his part for his country. At 18 Military Terms, Abbrevia- 1 his life – one unique in the years old, much to his parent’s tions, and Acronyms annals of history. He has chagrin, Bush became the young- lived a full life – loved and est naval aviator and was sent to CAVU 1-4 respected by many. He the Pacific. His parents thought Proposed New Dental Benefit 2, 4 watches the rhythm of the he was too young, and though sea with seagulls floating by tall, very skinny. He entered Winter Safety Tips (part 1) 2 on the ocean breeze. This is flight training to be a carrier pilot Valentine’s Day Military his favorite place in the specializing as a torpedo bomber. 3 Tribute world, out by the ocean. It’s peaceful and scenic and he CAVU – perfect flying conditions. Did You Know: Origins of Navy That was the note on the mission 3 thinks back over his life. He Terms, part 8 notices a small plaque he had board as the pilots had been briefed about their upcoming mis- This Month in Military History 4 placed at this very spot years ago. Once it was a motiva- sion on the morning of September tional symbol, pointing to 2, 1944. At 7:15 am, Lieutenant future possibilities; now it’s mostly a reminder Junior Grade (LTJG) George Bush was sitting of achievement gained, and a life well lived. in the cockpit of his TBM-1C Avenger waiting CAVU are the lone letters on this plaque and it to lift off the deck of the USS San Jacinto . stands for Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited - Also occupying his aircraft was LTJG Ted perfect flying conditions. He thinks back to White and Radioman Second Class John years ago and his time as a Navy pilot and how Delaney. White, a good friend to Bush, volun- CAVU seemed to be a common link between teered and was approved to join the mission his military training and the long life he has in Bush’s plane as the tail gunner. Their mis- lived in the years since. He is almost never sion would take them to the Japanese held alone these days; it goes with the territory of island of Chichi Jima to bomb a critical Japa- being a former President of the United States; nese communications site. Chichi Jima was a but CAVU brings back one strong memory of key strategic stronghold of the Bonin Islands being completely and desperately alone. (30 islands) 540 nautical miles from Tokyo, George Herbert Walker Bush, Forty-One as he Japan. The island provided support for the is known, thinks back to a morning many, other Bonin Islands and its two communica- many years ago. CAVU…. tions sites atop two mountains were key sur- veillance points for the Japanese Navy. Bush George H.W. Bush ( pictured above, center ) and his fellow aviators were a part of Admiral joined the United States Navy shortly after his Marc Mitscher’s Task Force 58 responsible for 18th birthday. Following the Japanese attack eliminating Japanese resistance in preparation on Pearl Harbor, millions of young men volun- for the invasion of Iwo Jima in February 1945. teered for military service. Bush had been born into a family that had a tradition of pub- CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 marking: To maintain con- tact on a target from such a position that the marking unit has an immediate of- Pray for our Military Family: fensive capability. Chaplain Brian Palmer and Family - US master: The commanding Army, serving the Lord in Fort Hood, TX officer of a US Naval Ship, a Merry Dare Goodwin - US Navy, serving aboard the USS Decatur commercial ship, or a gov- Justin & Kimberly Reece - US Air Force, ernment-owned general stationed at Pensacola NAS agency agreement ship op- Timothy & Hope Robinson - USMC, sta- tioned at Camp LeJeune, NC erated for the Military Sgt Aaron David de Serres - USMC, deployed Sealift Command to in the Middle East transport DOD cargo. PAGE 2 Volume 12, Issue 2 THE PATRIOT NEWS CAVU (Continued from page 1) At 8:00 am, Bush, along with three TBM-1C After a moment, his “Avengers” ( depicted at right ) from the parachute untangled USS Jacinto and four F6F-3 “Hellcats” from from the tail of the air- gun- the USS Enterprise , began their bombing craft and he parachuted boat run on the communications facilities at to the ocean, although at until it Chichi Jima. As then President Bush re- a higher speed than nor- left the sce- called many years later, they encountered mal due to the missing ne. Commander heavy flak. Just as Bush was releasing his panels. Melvin radioed a four 500 lb. bombs, his plane was hit by pre-arranged dis- flak. He then saw flames on the wing of his When Bush hit the water, he tress call that he had a pilot in the aircraft; he turned the plane back toward swam to the raft that had also ejected water and the pilots stayed overhead until the ocean hoping to be able to get it back from the plane. As he entered the raft, he they were getting low on fuel. to the San Jacinto. Once out over the noticed that the raft paddles had become ocean he noticed that the flames were detached in the fall and were not with the Once the planes had to depart, Bush was nearing his fuel tank and he knew that raft. He would later find that his fresh now completely alone in the ocean. Bush they only had a few moments before the water supply also became detached and later recalled that he was “sick to his fuel ignited. He radioed back to White and was lost. He immediately began his search stomach, injured, concerned about his Delaney, “hit the silk” for White and Delaney. Later he would crewmen and scared.” He said he thought meaning parachute from learn that only one was able to of his parents, prayed and looked for his the plane. He turned the leave the plane and that para- lost crewmen. The tides were pushing the plane so that the wind chute did not open before hit- raft toward Chichi Jima and the Japanese wouldn’t hinder White and ting the water. Both crewmen who would be merciless to a pilot that had Delaney from egressing were killed. just bombed them. He sat in the raft, at from the rear of the plane. the mercy of the sea - with no friends, no Flying overhead were three of supplies, and hopelessly alone. At 11:56 He then ejected the canopy Bush’s wingmen, Lieutenant and stepped out on the am, Bush saw a periscope come up out of Doug West, Lieutenant Milt the water. He was afraid that he was wing. He pulled his ripcord Moore, and Commander Don as he was leaving the plane about to be captured by a Japanese sub- Melvin. West spotted Bush in marine. A few minutes later, the subma- (too early) and the para- the raft and noticed that he was CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 chute caught on the tail of rine USS Finback pulled alongside Bush and bleeding. One of his crewmen pulled him from the water. He had been the plane ripping out some dropped a medical kit that Bush of the panels in the para- in the water for well over three hours retrieved. LT Moore noticed when rescued. chute. In the process his that a Japanese gunboat had also head hit one of the rear elevators of the spotted Bush and was heading toward his plane causing a nasty gash in his head. position. Both West and Moore strafed the CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 Proposed New VA Dental Benefit by military.com author Jim Absher A proposed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot offer a reduced rate on dental insurance through their program would help all veterans access free or dis- VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP). VADIP, how- counted dental services in their local communities. ever, is scheduled to end in 2021 and is only available Currently, VA only provides dental care to veterans to veterans enrolled in VA healthcare or families en- who have a service -related dental problem, are for- rolled in CHAMPVA. mer POWs or are rated as totally disabled as a result As of late 2019, according to a notice published in the of their military service. Under this current law, only Federal Register, VA wants to begin an at least five about 8% of veterans are eligible for dental care from year long pilot program that would connect veterans the VA. with dentists in their area who offer free or discount- In 2014, in an effort to help offer more dental care for ed dental care to all veterans -- not just those with a veterans, the VA partnered with private insurers to service -connected disability. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Winter Safety Tips (part 1) Article by health.mil staff Winter can be a hazardous time of year. Frigid tempera- your kit should include a full list of your prescrip- tures and slick roads can be dangerous. Being prepared tion and over-the-counter medications with dosing and knowing your TRICARE health care options will instructions. Don’t forget to include contact infor- help you and your family remain safe this winter.