ussbristoldd857.org December 21, 2019 USS BRISTOL DD857 VETERANS ASSOCIATION WINTER 2019-2020

In this issue Remember This?

Memories……………………..1

In Memoriam…………………2

Gary Hults Letter…….……….3

Gone Too Soon……………….4

Victory for Blue Water Vietnam Veterans……………………….5

Navy Will Not Let You Down..8

VA Yoga………………………13

Snippets………………………15

Humor….……………………28

Happy Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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In Memoriam

Edward A. Murphy

MURPHY - Edward A., 97, of Bethpage, formerly of Glen Cove passed away peacefully on May 20, 2019. Proud Navy Veteran. Beloved husband of the late Rose. Loving father of Lois Burn (Robert), Patricia Donaldson (Edward), Rosemary Johnson (David) and Eileen Carneiro. Cherished grand-father of Jason, Keith, Kelly, Carolynn, Holly, David and Christopher. Adored great-grandfather of 7. Predeceased by his brother Bruce. The family will receive visitors Thursday, 2-4 and 7-9 pm at Arthur F. White Funeral Home, Inc., 234 Broadway, Bethpage. Funeral Mass Friday, 10 am at St. Martin of Tours RC Church, Bethpage. Interment with military honors following at Locust Valley

David C. Nixon,1924 - 2019

David C. Nixon, age 95, was born on March 22, 1924, in Mound City, MO and passed away on October 12, 2019, in Jacksonville, FL. He entered the Navy in 1943 and proudly served in WWII and the Korean War. In August 1948 he married the love of his life, Margaret Johnston, and together raised three children, Mike Nixon (deceased), Linda Yates and Susan Newman. Dave enjoyed making macrame worms which he has spread worldwide. He has 6 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandson. Dave and Margaret remained happily married for 65 years until her passing. Dave spent several years volunteering at the Food Bank with his grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, October 18, 2019, in the chapel of Jacksonville Memory Gardens Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 1:00 until 2:00 PM. Entombment will follow in the Sermon on the Mount Mausoleum. Donations in his honor can be made to Community Hospice or Second Harvest Food Bank.

Shipmates

I am saddened to report the death on Saturday of David Nixon TM3 1947-49.

David (and Daughter Susan) had attended a number of reunions in recent years and he was a favorite of the ladies in attendance as he always brought handmade gifts for them.

He entered the navy in 1943 but was not a plankowner on the Bristol. Rather, he was stationed on another destroyer which was torpedoed in the Mediterranean and after rescue by a British ship he spent two years on Gibraltar with the British navy.

He was a very charming and affable gentleman.

Tony Molnar

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Gary Hults, RD2, 61-65, sent this letter to our Treasurer, Tony Molnar.

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‘Mister President, the Navy command system that reached from opened. The Central Intelligence the Pentagon and President Kennedy A g e n c y r e v e a l e d t o t h e Will Not Let You Down’ to destroyer captains and their crews. Before the crisis ended, the president-elect that covert By: Tom Allen Navy would have more than 140 plans authorized by Eisenhower ships in the Caribbean and over 350 spanned “a range of possible October 23, 2012 11:55 AM • combat aircraft at area paramilitary operations” against Updated: February 5, 2013 airfields. 2 They were responding to Castro, including a “combined sea- a Cold War confrontation that had air assault by trained Cuban exiles 9:07 PM Naval History begun in September 1960 when the coordinated with the guerrilla Magazine October, 2012 Soviet freighter Atkarsk arrived at activity generated on the island”—a Nikolaev, the Black Sea port used U.S.-managed invasion of Cuba. 5 From manning quarantine lines to for exporting weapons and military flying reconnaissance missions to equipment from the Soviet Union. preparing for an invasion, the U.S. Navy played instrumental roles The National Security Agency, during the Cuban Missile Crisis 50 monitoring Nikolaev radio traffic, years ago. tracked the Atkarsk and several On a tense day in October 1962, the other cargo ships from the port as USS Allan M. Sumner(DD-692) was each sailed to the same destination: about 500 miles off the northern Cuba. 3 shore of Cuba, trailing a Soviet freighter. President John F. Strengthening his bond with Cuban Kennedy, after learning that the Prime Minister Fidel Castro, Soviet Soviet Union was sending ballistic Premier Nikita Khrushchev was missiles to the island nation, had arming the country 90 miles from proclaimed a quarantine against American shores less than a year ships carrying offensive arms there. after Castro had led a revolution that The Cuban Missile Crisis had toppled the U.S.backed regime of moved from the White House and d i c t a t o r F u l g e n c i o B a t i s t a . the Kremlin to the sea, and suddenly Eventually the arms transported to t h e c r i s i s w a s f o c u s e d o n Cuba would include nuclear Chief of Naval Operations Admiral the Sumner . weapons, and the day would come George Anderson was responsible when a wrong move by ships such for planning the naval quarantine of “I was in the wheelhouse,” as the Sumner could launch a Cuba as well as preparing for a Quartermaster Third Class Bob nuclear war. Not since the Cold War possible invasion of the country. Bourassa remembered. “The had begun would so much depend Later Anderson clashed with freighter was about 1000 yds off our on the ships and men of the U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert port side.” When the transport failed Navy. McNamara over the blockade’s to respond to an order to stop, enforcement. Naval Institute Photo Commander William J. Flynn, As the NSA tracked the Atkarsk , Archive captain of the Sumner , sent a President Dwight D. Eisenhower On 16–17 April 1961, some 1,400 handwritten message down to the r e s p o n d e d t o t h e r a p i d l y Cuban exiles, mostly from the radio shack “and after the first strengthening Soviet-Cuban alliance Miami area, landed on a swampy message was returned to him, he by preparing to proclaim a trade shore known as the Bay of Pigs in instructed the guns to be turned embargo of Cuba, barring all exports an amphibious operation doomed toward the freighter.” After a while, except medical items and from the start. 6 Khrushchev, angrily Commander Flynn sent down a food. 4 President Eisenhower’s reacting to the failed landing, told second message. Before it was decision came as Cuba was Kennedy that the Soviet Union answered, “the freighter came to a becoming a major issue in the would give Castro “all necessary stop . . . backed down for some presidential campaign of Vice assistance” to defend Cuba and time, stopped and then turned President Richard M. Nixon and urged the president to refrain from around and sailed eastward.” then-Senator Kennedy. any future attacks to prevent “a conflagration which it will be 7 That was the Navy on the quarantine Soon after Kennedy won the impossible to cope with.” line—ships ready for action and a election, a new Cuban chapter

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That potential fire began to smolder with a reminder of how the Soviet presented blowups of the photos to in the summer of 1962, when the SAMs in Cuba endangered U2 Kennedy and briefed him about the CIA picked up rumors in Miami’s overflights. 12 Consequently the spy interpreters’ findings. Cuban émigré community that plane missions over the island were Khrushchev was deploying nuclear halted. But, determined to get missiles in Cuba. The agency photographic proof to confirm dismissed the rumors as expatriates’ reports that Soviet medium-range The president sat at the head of a propaganda. But in July 1962, as the ballistic missiles (MRBMs) had conference table in the cabinet seaborne flow of conventional arrived in Cuba, the National Room. As the briefing began, he Soviet weapons and military Security Council eased restrictions. touched a hidden switch under the equipment steadily increased, CIA t a b l e , a c t i v a t i n g a t a p e 14 Director John McCone believed that A n d , b e c a u s e t h e K e n n e d y recorder. After cIA officers “the buildup was a prelude to the administration wanted a military presented their intelligence briefing, deployment of nuclear missiles.” officer at the controls, a CIA U-2 Secretary of State Dean Rusk went McCone was the successor to Allen was piloted by Air Force Major through the implications of a cuba Dulles, who had been forced to Richard S. Heyser when the spy with Soviet missiles and then said, resign after the Bay of Pigs debacle. plane took off from edwards Air “I do think we have to set in motion According to a CIA assessment of Force base in california near a chain of events that will eliminate the time, McCone “was virtually midnight on 13 October. Four and a this base.” alone” in his belief. 8 half hours later, at 0731 on Sunday, 14 October, Heyser began his pass This was the beginning of the first On 29 August, photographs taken by across a cloudless Cuba, 72,500 feet meeting of what would be called the a U-2 spy plane revealed eight below. excomm, which consisted of surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites members of the National Security under construction. When briefed on Twelve minutes after that, he veered council and other government the U-2 photographs, McCone said: eastward to land at Mccoy Air Force officials to whom Kennedy turned “They’re not putting them in to b a s e ( p r e s e n t - d a y O r l a n d o for advice, including his brother, protect the cane cutters. They’re International Airport), Florida. Two Attorney General Robert Kennedy. putting them in to blind our rolls of film were swiftly transferred (eventually excomm would become reconnaissance eye.” 9 The first to an aircraft, which flew them to the label for numerous high-level shots of the looming crisis were the Naval Photographic Intelligence crisis meetings.) fired on 30 August, when a Cuban center in Suitland, Maryland, where patrol vessel fired at an unarmed the film was developed and Secretary of Defense Robert U.S. S2F Tracker antisubmarine positives made. The next morning, a McNamara introduced “some w a r f a r e p l a n e f l y i n g o v e r Navy truck pulled up to a possible military alternatives,” international waters. 10 By then there nondescript seven-story building in especially the idea of “an air strike was no doubt that thousands of Red a r u n - d o w n W a s h i n g t o n against these installations . . . plus Army soldiers—“technicians,” said neighborhood. Two armed Marines the airfields plus the aircraft . . . plus the Soviets—were pouring onto the climbed out, and an armed Navy all potential nuclear storage sites.” island. officer and two enlisted men The word “nuclear” was uttered a removed a box from the vehicle. dozen more times during the The Navy spotted a Soviet-built They carried it into the building, meeting. missile patrol boat off the Cuban which had no outer sign that it port of Mariel, and photographs housed the CIA’s National McNamara deferred to General showed others moored nearby. Photographic Interpretation Maxwell Taylor, chairman of the When told of this, President center. 13 Joint chiefs of Staff, who outlined Kennedy, a PT boat skipper in potential military actions. After “we World War II, sent a memo to NPIc photo interpreters leaned for have destroyed as many of these Secretary of the Navy Fred Korth: “I hours over light tables, peering at offensive weapons as possible,” he would like to get a report on the frames of the U-2 film through said, “we should, should prevent any ability of our destroyers to deal magnifying glasses and stereoscopic more coming in, which means a 15 effectively with the new motor viewers. They were convinced they naval blockade.” torpedo boats of the KOMAR class were looking at evidence that could that the Cubans now possess.” 11 prove the Soviet Union had The Navy, in fact, had a contingency delivered MRbMs to cuba. Once plan that had been developed in the On 9 September, a CIA U-2, flown operational, the missiles would be wake of the bay of Pigs disaster. The by a Taiwanese pilot, was shot down capable of hitting U.S. cities with Joint chiefs of Staff, believing cuba over China by an SA-2 surface-to- nuclear warheads. On the morning would continue to be a potential air missile, providing policymakers of Tuesday, 16 October, cIA officers cold War flashpoint, had directed

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Admiral Robert L. Dennison, military action,” according to As the meeting was ending, commander-in-chief of the U.S. Admiral Anderson’s post-crisis President Kennedy went out of his Atlantic command, to develop what report. “At 0830Q [Q designates way to give special recognition to became OPLAN 312. It laid out Eastern Standard Time], a message the man who would be running the three possible moves against cuba: a went out from the Chief of Naval quarantine, Anderson. “Well, strike against a single type of target, Personnel to District Commandants Admiral, it looks as though this is such as a SAM site; an attack on all and the Chief of Naval Air Reserve up to the Navy,” he said. sites of a specific type; and a Training alerting them to the massive air attack followed by an possibility of recalling Reservists. . . “Mr. President,” the CNO replied, invasion. 16 Later revisions of the . All Navy and Marine Corps aircraft “the Navy will not let you down.” 24 plan proposed the deployment of and squadrons not required for air about 100,000 troops and hundreds defense, reconnaissance, or ASW That same day, the ASW of ships. 17 surveillance were ordered relocated carrier Essex (CVS-9) arrived at because of overcrowding at Florida Guantanamo Naval Base, on Cuba’s Coincidentally, a large U.S. naval bases.” Anderson ended his day southeastern tip, for six weeks of force was in the Caribbean for an working on the legal and logistical training. The oldest carrier in the annual amphibious-landing exercise. issues involved for a sea blockade of Navy, she had been launched in Three Marine battalion landing Cuba. 20 1942 and soon sailed into the teams were to storm the beach on Pacific, where she fought in several Vieques Island, east of the Puerto By Sunday, 21 October, a blockade battles and survived a kamikaze Rican mainland, and wrest it from proclamation was ready for the attack. Overhauled at the Brooklyn an imaginary dictator given the not president, who would use the Navy Yard, she had departed in very subtle name “Ortsac” (spell it document as the basis for a speech September 1962 with up-to-date backward). Antisubmarine-warfare about the crisis. During an afternoon sonar and electronic countermeasure (ASW) exercises also were meeting, ExComm members went equipment. She carried two S2F scheduled, putting more ships and over a draft. Secretary of State Rusk Tracker squadrons and a helicopter aircraft into the Caribbean. Admiral suggested that “blockade” be squadron. George W. Anderson, chief of Naval replaced by “quarantine” because O p e r a t i o n s , t o l d a l l f l e e t the latter “avoids comparison with For some lucky members of her commanders to be ready to order as the Berlin blockade,” the Soviet crew, the day after arrival at Gitmo many ships to sea as possible on a attempt in 1948–49 to block Allied was to have been a liberty day. But 24-hour notice. The Joint Chiefs access to the divided city. Kennedy their orders had changed. At 0330 ordered the strengthening of air agreed. 21 on 21 October reveille sounded for a defenses in the southeastern United s u r p r i s e d c r e w , a n d States, and Air Force bases and Although “blockade” had changed the Essex steamed toward her shore-based Navy and Marine Corps to “quarantine,” Anderson did not quarantine station.25 She was one of squadrons prepared for a possible change his proposed rules of 44 ships in Task Force 136, under invasion of Cuba. 18 e n g a g e m e n t . A d e s t r o y e r the operational control of Vice intercepting a ship approaching the Admiral Alfred G. “Corky” Ward, On Thursday, 18 October, while the quarantine line was to hoist a signal commander of the 2nd Fleet. Of the Navy was preparing for a blockade flag or a blinking light to transmit ships heading toward cuba, Ward or an invasion, Soviet Foreign the international code K (meaning, was told, at least one “had missiles Minister Andrei Gromyko called on you are to stop at once) or ON (you in her hold” and had to be Kennedy, who had publicly warned are to heave to at once). Each intercepted. 26 Khrushchev not to arm Cuba with destroyer on the line would have on offensive weapons. Gromyko board a Russian speaker. 22 Ward arrayed destroyers in a insisted that Soviet aid to Cuba was crescent shape that encompassed a defensive and did not threaten the Anderson said he would allow Navy swath of ocean 500 miles east of United States. Kennedy, without ships to enforce the quarantine by cuba, athwart the routes used by revealing what the U-2 had firing a warning shot across the bow ships carrying Soviet cargoes. At the discovered, merely reiterated his of a defiant ship, and if that did not northern end of the crescent was the warning. “The President,” said a work, the ship’s rudder would be guided-missile CIA officer, “knew what disabled, presumably by a well- cruiser Canberra (CAG-2) with two Khrushchev was doing in Cuba, and aimed shot. When Kennedy said the destroyers; at the southern end were Soviet officials did not know he vessel might be unintentionally the cruiser Newport News (CA-148) knew.” 19 sunk, Anderson replied that a ship and two destroyers. The Essex and could be disabled and stay afloat. 23 five destroyers backed up the Friday, 19 October, “was a day of quarantine line. Meanwhile Task preparation for some form of

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Force 135, built around the shipment to cuba.” He also said he over the target area had been shorter carriers Independence (CVA-62) had ordered the armed forces “to than 30 seconds, advised the chiefs andEnterprise (CVAN-65) and prepare for any eventualities.” The to wait for the photographs. 32 NPIC including 32 ships, took up stations 18-minute address ended with a interpreters were astonished at the off cuba’s southeastern shore. 27 The thought that had just entered the details revealed by the photos, possibility of an invasion was still minds of millions of Americans: which erased all doubts about the high, and Guantanamo would be a “No one can foresee precisely what missiles. Kennedy later hung one in likely battleground. course it will take or what costs or his outer office. 33 casualties will be incurred.” 29 On 22 October, Guantanamo’s Navy McNamara’s hands-on management, families were handed notices telling Officially the quarantine did not as demonstrated by his call for low- them that “Higher authority has begin until the next day, but already level photography, put him on a directed the immediate evacuation” Navy ships and aircraft watched for collision course with Anderson. of all dependents. The only women the ships heading for the blockade Accounts vary about their encounter allowed to stay were Navy nurses, line. In concert with President at the Navy’s Flag Plot command who might be needed in the Kennedy’s quarantine proclamation, center in the Pentagon on 24 darkening future. the Joint chiefs ordered U.S. armed October. But what stands as at least forces to DeFcON-3, an increase of a semi-official version comes from “Please do not ask questions or readiness beyond normal. The U.S. an official Joint Staff historian: request exceptions,” the notice said. Strategic Air command went to “McNamara persisted in asking why “There is no time for that. . . . Get DeFcON-2, a state of readiness a destroyer had left the quarantine your suitcases and children and wait short of war that put SAc bombers line.” Anderson, aware that secret quietly.” They were told to get on aloft carrying nuclear weapons—a information was involved, took the buses and leave pets behind. At clear sign to the Soviet Union that Defense secretary aside and 1630 that day, four Navy ships the United States was not “explained that the destroyer was transported 2,400 people to the bluffing. 30 shadowing a submarine.” When Norfolk Naval Station, where “Mc-Namara asked what would service families took them in. 28 Meanwhile McNamara requested happen if a Soviet ship refused to risky low-level photography, and the stop or resisted boarding, Anderson As the dependent families were Navy got the mission. 31 Six RF-8A answered angrily: ‘This is none of s a i l i n g a w a y, s h i p s o f t h e cru saders from Light Photographic your goddamn business. We’ve been Amphibious Force Atlantic arrived Squadron (VFP) 62—the “Fightin’ doing this since the days of John to disembark Marines who had been Photo”—took off from the Key West Paul Jones, and if you’ll go back to scheduled to stage the Vieques Naval Air Station. Dropping down your quarters, Mr. Secretary, we’ll Island exercise. Other Marines were to 400 feet, they sped across Cuba, handle this.’” 34 airlifted in, joining a motley defense then headed for the Naval Air force that included Seabees from S t a t i o n C e c i l F i e l d , n e a r As the end of October approached, Naval Mobile construction Jacksonville, Florida. There, Navy Khrushchev and Kennedy were battalions 4 and 7 and cuban photographer’s mates removed film nearing agreement on terms for volunteers from the civilian work from the Crusaders’ cameras for ending the crisis. But aerial force. processing and delivery to the NPIC photography showed that the in Washington. Soviets were still constructing By now, people beyond Gitmo knew missile sites and assembling IL-28 there was some kind of crisis. but Commander William B. Ecker, who bombers. Then a Soviet surface- newspapers were not getting any led the mission, was ordered to toair missile shot down a U-2, reliable information from Kennedy refuel and continue to Andrews Air killing its pilot, Air Force Major or the tight-lipped members of Force Base near Washington. A Rudolph Anderson Jr. Though excomm. Finally, as the Gitmo helicopter flew him to the Pentagon, President Kennedy decided not to refugees packed their suitcases, the where he was met by Admiral retaliate, the NSA wanted proof that White House announced that at Anderson and General Taylor. They the Soviets had done it. 1900 the president would make an took him directly to the Joint Chiefs important statement that would be of Staff conference room, known as A Navy-NSA hybrid, the carried on television and radio. “the Tank.” When Ecker apologized USS Oxford (AGTR-1) was the for his appearance, General Curtis security agency’s first signal President Kennedy told about the LeMay, the Air Force chief of staff, intelligence ship—and one of the discovery of the missiles and said he said: “God damn it, you’ve been strangest-looking vessels in the had ordered a quarantine “on all flying an airplane now haven’t you? Navy. Three masts, each bearing offensive military equipment under You ought to sweat and smell. Sit tiers of antennas, sprouted from a down.” Ecker, noting that his flight main deck. Square and cylindrical

11 ussbristoldd857.org December 21, 2019 structures studded the deck. On the November 1962. 40 For the Soviets, • H.R. 2334: To designate the fantail was a 16-foot dish-shaped the crisis was over. Department of Veterans Affairs antenna that could bounce community based outpatient clinic microwave signals off the moon to a Editor’s Note ground station. The system’s signals in Odessa, Texas, as the ''Wilson and could not be jammed and defied Our shipmate, Roger Valentine, Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic." interception. 35 remembers that Bristol was the last • H.R. 2385: To permit the ship to leave the area. He Secretary of Veterans Affairs to One of the Oxford ’s tasks was to remembers that “Hank the Flank” establish a grant program to conduct sweep the Cuban coast for signals upgraded “Condition 3” to full cemetery research and produce showing that the Soviets had General Quarters due to a suspicious activated the surface-to-air missile freighter not responding to signal educational materials for the systems protecting the ballistic- flags. Bristol repeated the flag Veterans Legacy Program. missile sites. On the day of Major hoists but the ship did not respond. A n d e r s o n ’ s d e a t h , With all guns trained on the All will be forwarded to the Senate the Oxford flashed a short message: “offending” vessel, the cargo ship for consideration and action. Operators picked up signals from turned around. Spoon Rest, the NATO designation for Soviet early warning radar. A Officially, Bristol was a member of House Committee on Veterans helicopter picked up the tape of the the expeditionary force from 4 Nov Affairs Moves Six Bills to Floor signal and sent it on its way to the - 3 Dec 1962. According to Roger, NSA. this event was subsequent to 3 Dec. On October 16, 2019, the House Bristol had been in Guantanamo Committee on Veterans Affairs With the quarantine working, on 28 Bay Naval Base for repairs to the October the Soviets agreed to screws having cracks possibly (HVAC) held a full committee remove the ballistic missiles. 36 On caused by excessive high speed markup and past six bills to the 20 November, President Kennedy reversal of torque. House floor for consideration. The announced: “I have today been bills will improve veterans' lives by informed by chairman Khrushchev …..……………………………… ensuring GI Bill benefits are that all of the IL-28 bombers in cuba will be withdrawn in thirty days. . . . protected from predatory for-profit I have this afternoon instructed the House Sends Four Bills to Senate schools, providing legal services for Secretary of Defense to lift our for Action homeless veterans, addressing key naval quarantine.” The United States high risk areas within VA, agreed that it would not invade The House of Representatives improving transparency, and cuba. 37 eventually details of a secret passed four bills on October 15, protecting business opportunities for agreement emerged. They indicated 2019. The bipartisan legislation will that the United States was veterans. The six bills are: dismantling several American air help homeless veterans with 1) H.R. 561: The Protecting and missile bases in Turkey that had children find transitional housing, Business Opportunities for Veterans been rendered obsolete by the help veterans with disabilities access Act of 2019. commitment of Polaris submarines important information from VA's 2) H.R. 3749: The Legal Services in the region. 38 website, and help preserve the for Homeless Veterans Act. legacies of those interred in Since the cold War ended, Soviet- 3) H.R. 4162: The GI Bill Planning era documents have illuminated the veterans' cemeteries. A final bill Act of 2019. nuclear reality of 1962. We know honors two Medal of Honor 4) H.R. 4477: The Reducing High now that 158 nuclear warheads had recipients for their heroic actions Risk to Veterans and Veterans arrived in cuba by the time of the during the Vietnam War - by naming 39 Services Act. crisis. We also know about a final the VA community-based outpatient voyage. The freighter Atkarsk, 5) H.R. 4613: The VA Reporting which had left Soviet waters in clinic in Odessa, Texas, after them. Transparency Act. September 1960 bound for cuba and They are: 6) H.R. 4625: Protect the GI Bill was tracked by the NSA, was back • H.R. 95: The Homeless Veterans Act. in Cuba during the crisis. And, Families Act. according to recent revelations, top • H.R. 1199: The VA Website Kremlin officials ordered the HVAC officials have asked for swift Accessibility Act of 2019. Atkarsk to carry the last tactical House floor action. nuclear warheads out of cuba on 20

12 ussbristoldd857.org December 21, 2019 iRest, You Rest: Virtual yoga nidra sessions to help fight stress

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Posted on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 9:00 am Posted in Health, VA Medical Centers by VAntage Point Contributor 38 comments 37k views

Every Thursday evening, Veterans all over the United States meet up to practice yoga. The Veterans spend an hour together, but they never see one another and likely will never even meet. This yoga class requires no travel, no membership or studio, and no special clothing or mat. Veterans perform the weekly yoga nidra session in their own space, on their own bed, couch or favorite chair. These Thursday evening classmates meet over the phone to participate in an hour of yoga nidra that follows the iRest methodology.

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Yoga nidra, also called yoga sleep, is an altered state of consciousness in which participants meditate and go into a state on the cusp of the sleep state. Participants must completely relax and rest while the brain remains active and able to hear everything the instructor says, though the person may not be fully aware.

Integrative Restoration (iRest), is a version of yoga nidra developed by Dr. Richard Miller with Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Department of Defense. It was first used by soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from PTSD. This meditation method is very helpful for issues like PTSD and anxiety, sleep problems and chronic pain. Data collected from iRest participants indicates the practice improves sleep quality, reduces anxiety, and enhances resiliency in stressful situations.

Guided, weekly sessions

VA’s War Related Illness and Injury Study Center (WRIISC), located in Palo Alto, Calif., offers weekly phone meditation sessions. The virtual guided meditation begins Thursday evenings at 5 p.m., Pacific time, and all Veterans are invited to join the class.

“It relaxes my whole mind and body; all stress melts away,” said Air Force Veteran Joe Valentino. “A lot of it is sensing your body and quieting your mind. So while I’m meditating, I’ll picture my blood stream running through a coffee filter that’s filtering out all the bad stuff that I’ll throw away when I’m done.”

Valentino gets his care from the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System’s medical center in New Orleans. He first learned about yoga nidra and iRest from a flyer his provider gave him.

“I try not to miss a week,” Valentino said. “It helps release anxiety, tension, helps me sleep better. I really enjoy it.”

No referral, experience, or prescription needed

Veterans can try yoga nidra any Thursday evening of their choice, without referral, prior experience or prescription. They only need a phone, an open mind and a quiet, safe space to meditate.

“This meditation is all about increasing and enhancing your own sense of awareness, your sense of being a whole person that is perfect just as you are,” said Louise Mahoney while teaching a weekly class. “We all have everything we need inside of us. We just are not always aware of it, so this meditation helps us to become aware and to allow that awareness to creep into our daily life more often that it did before. So whether you’re at work, taking care of your kids, with your significant other, by yourself, you will find a way to remain at ease and to navigate stressful situations.”

All Veterans are welcome to attend the weekly live sessions over the phone. Just call 800-767-1750 and type in access code 24953#. Learn more about yoga nidra at www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/ WARRELATEDILLNESS/clinical/integrative-health/ca/yoga-nidra-meditation-veteran.pdf.

Veterans who would rather try a prerecorded eight-session series can find it on the WRIISC website at www.warrelatedillness.va.gov/WARRELATEDILLNESS/meditation/default.asp.

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The document below was passed to In less than a minute the radio shadowy bulk looming suddenly in me by a friend who had lost his rooms of twenty-three other the blackness. father-in-law, a retired Navy destroyers forming the scouting line In spite of the spray thrown bridge- Captain. It was found in his effects crackled with the commodore’s high, the attacking ships drew nearer after he passed. (This Captain was command. to their prey undetected. On bridges not the person who wrote it.) It was On every destroyer bridge captains and at torpedo tubes men stood a typewritten document, and my prepared for battle. They called their silently ready, grimly they fingered best guess is that it was written crews by clanging gongs and the firing keys that would send sometime in the spring of 1939. howlers that reverberated in living torpedoes streaking for the targets. The USS Zane DD337 was a 1920's quarters, fire rooms and engine Closer --- nearer to dead-sure ranges "four stacker" DD which was later rooms. Husky-throated bos’n mates the flotilla commander led his ships. converted into a DMS (Destroyer stood at hatchways and bellowed: Then, within a few seconds, the Mine Sweeper). “General quarters. All hands hit the large hulks of the battleships Zane was present in Pearl Harbor on deck. Man your battle stations on changed from blurred splotches to Dec 7, 1941. the double.” well-defined silhouettes. A little Men turned from their bunks, closer… less than a mile… only a (I've included a photo of the first yawned sleepily and then grabbed at few seconds more… page of the manuscript as I received pieces of clothing, dressing while “Fire torpedoes!” it.) they ran. It was discipline; discipline The great moment arrived. Along born of high regard for duty. the port side of each destroyer ------Like a pack of hungry sharks, the torpedo tubes in nests of thee were destroyers turned to file in for the trained out. Sitting on the top of Tin Can Navy attack. Not a single light showed on each nest was torpedoman. One of --- by Lieutenant George W them or the enemy. Captains half- them chuckled as he squinted Campbell, USN, USS Zane leaned out of bridge windows through his sights. He suddenly “Sail ho!” the lookout shouted. watching the phosphorescent wake remembered that the seat under him “Ship two points on the starboard of the ship ahead to keep position. was exactly like the one on the corn bow, sir.” They were less than 500 yards apart, planter at home. Even the wheel in “Can you make her out?” the flotilla their sharp bows slashing the his hand felt strangely familiar. It commander called through the tropical sea at thirty knots. Steady turned the torpedo tubes just as it gloom of the destroyer’s bridge. nerves and a sure seaman’s eye did the old threshing machine. “Yes, sir. It look like a….” The helped. “Fire one!” lookout’s eyes strained in the Choppy Caribbean swells rose to Click! The firing key pressed home darkness. Then he saw the Southern curl aboard the plunging fo’c’sles, --- a skyrocket-sounding swish sent Cross, followed it down to the half-buring them in gurgling foam. a torpedo leaping from its tube into splotch barely visible against the But the destroyers held their course the sea. horizon. “It’s a battleship, and speed, buided by men whose “Fire two… three… 4… 5… 6!” Commodore. There’s one… two… a faces were set, whose eyes were Twenty-four firing ships. 144 whole flock of ‘em, sir!” glued to the long, lumbering column torpedoes churning the murky sea at The flotilla commander quickly of battleships steaming quietly to the express-train speed toward eight scanned the sea with his binoculars. south’ard. Such tactics are battleships. The ponderous ships “Humph! Battle ships…. That’s the dangerous at best. But this was were caught like flies in a spider enemy… Get this message off to the training for war and on every bridge web. Zigzag as they might, there flotilla,” he began. “Enemy the watchword was Vigilance. was always an oncoming torpedo in battleships on southerly course. Vigilance to avoid collision with any the way. Attack with torpedoes.”

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Once the destroyers had launched extremely difficult weapon to can afford to neglect building up our their deadly “fish”, as the combat. There is really no sure fleet in this category. bluejackets call them, they threw defense against these vessels Men of our fleet have nicknamed their helms hard over. Then they engaged in launching night attacks, the modern destroyer a “Gold heeled dizzily as they turned away, except to sight them and sink before Plater”. The origin is due to the for that is the essence of a torpedo they can get in close enough to do vessel’s excellent equipment, which attack. Get in, shoot, and get out any harm. And while it is true that is the last word in every respect. But with all possible speed. these little hornets of the sea are as far as memory goes back Just as the fourth ship in the column vulnerable to heavy shellfire, it is destroyers as a whole have been turned, another craft rose from the too much to expect any force to called “Tin Cans”. Just who fathered night. Totally unexpected, it lay defend itself 100 per cent against the term no one is sure. Perhaps it directly in retreating destroyer’s damage by them. came naturally, from the way the path. It was only a matter of seconds Destroyers play many roles. They ships are constructed. They are long, before the destroyer would knife her are not only most worthy opponents narrow of beam and lightly put like a great spear. against battleships, light and heavy together. The sides are very thin – The destroyers skipper cruisers and other destroyers, but and without armor plating of any automatically leaped to the engine- they are the natural enemies of description – and are fastened to ribs room annunciators. “All engines, submarines. Possessing high speed not much thicker than those used in emergency full astern!” (Modern destroyers are capable of the frame of an automobile. In the engine rooms sweating speeds in excess of forty knots) Guns, fire-control gadgets, boilers machinists’ mates grabbed the great maneuvering qualities and and turbines possessing more throttles of the singing turbines. armed with depth bombs, destroyers horsepower than those of a They spun the wheels to reverse make the lives of submarines very battleship, torpedo tubes and depth while men on the bridge braced short ones. During the World War it charges are crammed in and on the themselves and waited. The crash was our splendid destroyer force ship. What space is left is given over seemed inevitable. But a moment that convoyed troop ships to Europe to officers and the crew. A man later the destroyer shuddered from carrying 2,000,000 soldiers. Without serving on board such craft has little stem to stern like a horse pulled to these little ships we could never more room than a sardine in a tin, so its haunches. The stern squatted have gained control of the Atlantic, perhaps that has something to do deeper and deeper into the water. threatened so long by German U- with the nickname. But regardless of But it was enough. The next instant boats. its origination, there is one thing of the bow glided sickeningly through For a number of years after the War which you may be sure. Destroyer the wake of the spectral ship. And so the United States did not build a sailors resent hearing anyone but the destroyer escaped to continue its single destroyer. We made the old- themselves call their vessels “Tin retreat into the cloak of night – to timers from the war do, but in Cans”. They have a pride in the live another day – to launch another following that program of economy staunch little ships that the heaviest night torpedo attack… we now find ourselves outranked by seas can’t break. Early this year when about 150 U.S. other nations. We have only about Sometime you may be at sea. You’ll Navy ships, 600 airplanes and fifty modern destroyers, with wrap yourself in heavy robes and 60,000 officers and enlisted men approximately as many more that stretch out in a deck chair to enjoy fought Fleet Problem 20 in the are either on the builders’ ways or the voyage. While you are munching Caribbean, nearly 100 destroyers appropriated for. In view of the sweets and taking life easy, you’ll took part in the battles, launching indispensable service rendered our see a mere speck come tearing over uncounted night torpedo attacks. For country by destroyers in the last the horizon. In a few minutes the it is in just such tactics that the war, the time is long past when we speck will grow into a ship. destroyer proves itself to be an

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There’ll be a rake to her masts, a break and thunder against the one hatch to another, not a few bone in her teeth and a saucy way bulkhead of the bridge. And bruises are picked up. about her that will immediately tell occasionally a particularly vicious In heavy weather eating becomes you she is a destroyer. If there is a wave will outdo all the rest. That quite a problem. Then the ship is swell or a chop to the sea, or a high happened recently on a trip we made laboring in very heavy seas it is wind, you’ll do well to see more of off the Oregon coast. impossible to cook. Pots sail across her than her masts and smokestacks. As we headed north we ran into high the range and fly out the galley She’ll roll and pitch until it will winds that whipped the sea into a doorway to fetch up against the make you sick to watch her. As one witch’s cauldron. For hours we bulkhead. Then all hands subsist on oldtimer said to me a long time ago pounded into the angry froth and sandwiches and coffee. But if it is at when I asked about destroyer duty: held our course. The long, all possible to keep utensils over a “They’re a tough line of boats. mountain-crested waves were, for fire we eat at table. However, that Plenty hard. Roll? Why, mister, they the most part, in series of threes. doesn’t mean that we dine in solid even roll in dry dock!” Our ship, the Zane, would struggle comforts as you would on an ocean Since that long-ago conversation I up one great crest, slide over and liner. There’s a great difference. h a v e l e a r n e d t h e o l d - t i m e r then bury her bow rail-deep in the Wooden sideboards called “Fiddle exaggerated a bit – but not too second one. Each time we plunged Boards” cover our table and mark it much, for destroyers do have a way under, sheets of water came hurtling off into squares. (FOR OFFICERS of rolling. From personal experience to the height of the bridge. Even ONLY, NOT ENLISTED MEN). I know they roll even in good with the windows closed and metal Within the squares the usual weather. The least wind, or even a windshields half-covering them for tableware is placed. Your plate moderate sea on their quarter, will protection, water managed to slush might go for a stroll but eventually a cause them to protest violently by through and drench the deck. When slat will stop it. Then, if you are shaking their masts from side to the distance between waves was patient, the next roll or pitch, will side. long enough we would ride to the bring it back to you. It would be the Various stories have been told about crest of the third great wave. But as same with our chairs, but we terrific rolling. Some old destroyer the watch dragged by the waves provide for that by securing them to hands claim to have rolled sixty came closer together. the table legs with a stout piece of degrees to a side. That’s quite a nip- Along about daylight I stood at the manila line. (For enlisted men, one over. However, there are recorded doorway of the captain’s emergency bench is used for 5 or 6 men.) Thus, instances where the ship went to cabin to report weather conditions. when you come to be seated, your fifty-two degrees. Anything over Just as I said: “They’re breaking a politeness is limited to stepping forty degrees seems like the end of little higher,” a nasty one, worse table-high and then easing yourself everything, so we won’t quibble than all the rest, struck with full down while the sliding is good. with lads who swear to sixty or force. When it broke, a deluge of One question always asked of more. water leaped completely over the destroyer sailors is: “Do you get Besides rolling, destroyers have a bridge top and fell like a sheet seasick?” The truth is, only in rare way of pitching that is a movement between me and the door. Never was instances do men go to sea in all their own. If head seas are a weather report so vividly destroyers and always evade encountered, a ship of this class will illustrated. seasickness. There are men who p i t c h l i k e a w i l d h o r s e . What goes one do when a ship rolls claim never to have been laid up. Accompanying the tossing will be a and pitches so wildly? The best They are to be envied, for I have quivering motion akin to that of a answer is: Hang on! Emergency life seen the hardiest old sale grow tuning fork. The fo’c’sle will be lines are rigged in from the ship’s green around the gills. Recently a under water a greater part of the regular rail and all hands pull and grizzled member of our deck force time. Seas will climb aboard to slide along as best they can from and I were discussing this question

17 ussbristoldd857.org December 21, 2019 during some bad weather. Suddenly other type of ship. One time when “Sure, subs are tough, I know. I he broke off the conversation and we were having some heavy done a hitch on one once. But for went to the rail. When he came back weather, I happened to see the real seagoin’ and standin’ up and he said rather sheepishly, “It’s gotta battleship Arizona steaming several takin’ it, they can’t beat tin cans.” It happen to every guy once.” miles away. We were pitching as was a sturdy bosun’s mate who Aside from seasickness, sleeping is usual while she rode as steady as spoke. the most difficult thing we have to some great fortesss ashore. “Yeah, and when we go places, we work out. There is really no way to “There goes my first ship,” I said. really go,” an idling fireman said. beat the game when the ship is in A thick-chested gunners’ mate heard “All the skipper’s gotta do is give us one of her pitching tantrums. You my remark and took it up. “You the bell. When we put fires under can try putting a strangle hold on the wouldn’t want to be in battleships, them kettles we can raise enough springs and mattress but after would you, sir?” He looks at me steam to show our heels to several hours of such maneuvering reproachfully. “I was in the anybody.” your strength gives out and then you battlewagons once. Just six months. In former days the deep-water ride the best way you ca. Mostly it’s But that’s enough for me. They’re seamen of our country sailed clipper a bounce. too big. Too many guys climbin’ ships all over the world. It was an After one hard night of such over you. You don’t know nobody era of skillful daring and great pitching I greeted the new day more aboard them pig-iron buckets. When speeds. Clipper captains and crews exhausted than when I turned in. I went to the fights one night and were of sturdy stock and they drove When I mentioned it to our chief cheered the wrong guy. He was their ships under full sail while other machinist’s mate he said: “You got off’n another ship, but how was I to rig took in a reef. Come storm or nothing on me, sir. It was sure tough know it in all that mob?” Davy Jones’s locker, the clippers in the chief’s quarters last night. I “ Yo u s a i d i t , ” p i p e d u p a sailed on. In their eventual passing spend half the night pounding the torpedoman. “That’s the cream-puff they left a heritage for which we rivets up through the overhead.” Navy with all the comforts of home. have just cause to be proud. And That is the thing that strikes one I’ll take this dungaree outfit for while we no longer depend on about destroyer sailors. No matter mine.” sailing hips I like to think of our how rough the going, they can Dungarees! That explains a lot. For destroyer navy as carrying on the always see the humorous side, even some reason the men would prefer great clipper tradidions, for they are if they have to turn the joke on to wear a dungaree shirt and trousers worthy ones to keep alive. themselves. rather than dress in the conventional In many respects the clipper ship But with all its attendant hardships, blue woolen uniform. And while a and a destroyer are similar. The there is something about destroyer destroyer crew doesn’t go around clipper was sharp of bow, long and life that holds the men in its service. dirty, there is a vast difference narrow. Sailing at great speeds, she For one thing, the small crew makes between the dress of the battleship outran all other ships of her time. for an air of intimacy. Everybody on sailors at sea and that of the little- Destroyers also have a sharp bow, board knows everybody else. And ship men. The very nature of their and with their beam of slightly more due to the limited man power (the service and work requires destroyer than thirty feet and a length of 340 average crew is 115 men) the great sailormen to dress informally – and feet or less, they possess a amount of work requires close co- they enjoy it, often to their skipper’s gracefulness the clippers had. But if operation. The way of a shirker is discomfort. the clipper was the swallow of her short and it isn’t long before he is Men of the destroyer fleet take their age the modern destroyer is the headed elsewhere. hats off to no one. Not even hornet of our time. Once a man gets the destroyer fever, submarine sailors rate with them. it’s hard to get him to serve on any If we compare a modern destroyer’s horsepower with a battleship’s it is understood why the destroyer tonnage of 1,500 tons and 44,000 35,000 tons and 28,000 horsepower can breast the seas at forty knots

18 ussbristoldd857.org December 21, 2019 while battleships lumber along at But we had depth charges 21. and hedge hogs to do battle. But speed is not the destroyer’s sole We would have been blown stock in trade. They have a striking out of the water..... power that is respected by all classes Heck of a lot of fire power of ships. In addition to all the mechanical placed in a destroyer by ! " her builders, she has something else. I can best illustrate it by saying that Submitted by Gary Johnson I once served in the Navy’s airship fleet. That duty had it thrills, moments of great action and hours These 18 weapons are also known of storm. But now that I am again as "Trident" subs because they're a serving the surface fleet I’m glad part of America 's "Nuclear Triad". I’m in a destroyer. There’s something about her – it’s her cockiness that I like. Even when I see my men on shore I can always spot them a long way off. There is a cockiness about them, too – a swagger that tells. It’s an honest swagger – a gait that comes from going down to the sea in little ships. The next time you are at sea, watch for us. But when we come rolling The U.S. Navy has 18 of the most from under the horizon don’t call us deadly and feared weapons ever “Tin Cans” – that’s our privilege! created. NOTE: The opinions expressed herein are the private opinions of the writer and are not to be construed as expressing or reflecting the opinion of the Navy Department.

Meet the Ohio-class submarine. In naval terms, it makes up the Fleet Ballistic Missile subs (FBMs).

Our subs can also enter fresh water such as our Great Lakes (which already has the US Navy's USS Kentucky SSBN-737 & other smaller Los Angeles-class Attack Subs)

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Surfaced – max speed of 14 mph An Ohio-class has unlimited range w/1 exception...it’s limited to the vessel's supply of food for the crew.

Submerged – 23 mph, officially, but, unofficially, it's been reported to However, there are more logistics to move up to 29 mph this equation … Other than food, she can produce her own oxygen and water supply for her crew.

These subs (w/the exception of re- … starting with its power source. s u p p l y t i m e ) a r e o p e r a t i n g underwater year-round.

They are powered by an internal It actually moves faster under water S8G PWR nuclear reactor that turns than on the surface. the sub's 2 turbines which drive the rear propeller shaft.

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The firepower…

The Ohio-class along w/our Navy's smaller attack subs are nearly impossible for our adversaries to Depending on depth of launch, they locate. But they know 1 thing.. 18 travel at speeds up to 63 mph and Ohio-class subs are lurking detonate using a proximity fuse somewhere around the world. (when the torpedo senses the opponent's sub/ship). For defensive/offensive attack abilities against other subs, all 18 have 4 533mm Mark 48 torpedo tubes.

14 of these subs are ballistic missile submarines (SSBN).

Mark 48 torpedoes have an effective range (officially) "greater than 5 miles".

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And 4 have been converted to For perspective, “Fat Man”—the guided missile submarines (SSGN). largest of the 2 nukes dropped to Each missile has Multiple end WWII had a total of 21kt of Independently targetable Reentry TNT. Vehicle (MIRV).

MIRVs are capable of being aimed The 10 newer SSBNs armament: 24 to hit multiple different targets with Trident II/C5 missiles that cover a nuclear warheads. range of 7,000 mi. What can they launch? For Each Trident II SLBM missile can reference, a kiloton (kt.) = carry 12 MIRV thermonuclear 220,462,262 lbs. A single kt. is over warheads...these can hit 12 targets 220.4 million pounds. w/up to 475 kt. of TNT (total of 5,700 kt. of TNT).

A single missile carries 8 thermonuclear warheads that can break-off to hit up to 8 targets with A single missile from these 10 Ohio- 100 kilotons of TNT (total of 800 kt. class subs: equal to of TNT). 1,256,634,893,400 pounds of TNT The 8 oldest of 14 SSBN carry the as in -1 trillion 2 hundred 56 million following nuclear armament: 24 plus lbs. of BOOM. Trident I/C4 missiles that cover a range of 4,600 miles.

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They can convert 2 of the 22 tubes into swimmer lockout chambers which provide a dry dock shelter for Navy SEALS or Marine special operation scout teams.

Upgraded 4 SSGN Guided Missile subs armament: 22 tubes w/7 Tomahawk Cruise Missiles (total 154).

In the dry dock tubes, SEALs can prepare to get on their SDV mini- There you have it, the most feared subs. weapon on Earth!

Tomahawks are versatile. They can be equipped with thermonuclear warheads.

It's always ready, almost impossible to find, & can deliver SEALs or hit specific targets. And then there's the worst case scenario, nuclear war.

In addition, the SSGNs can be used to deliver many other specialized weapons such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)...& 1 real cool group of weapons. Thing is...

The Ohio-class is our largest submarine.

When the bad guys know the 2nd- strike capabilities of the Ohio-class submarine, they’re never going to

23 ussbristoldd857.org December 21, 2019 mess with the United States of craft, their tunnel-like holds beaching operation near Arzew. America packed with tanks, vehicles, The ship broached on rocks and guns, or cargo, the LSTs were a was severely damaged. She was vital weapon in the battle of towed back to Arzew where she logistics. lay dock-side during May, June, and July 1943. During this time The LST-355, along with its she was cannibalized a great deal sister ship the LST-356, was by repair forces who used commissioned as a vessel of the mechanical parts from the 355 U. S. Fleet in formal ceremonies for repairs on LSTs operating held at the U. S. Navy Yard, around Tunis and Sicily. The Charleston, South Carolina, on damage she received during the 2 2 D e c e m b e r 1 9 4 2 . A beaching operation near Arzew representative of the p r e v e n t e d t h e s h i p f r o m Commandant, SIXTH Naval participating in the Invasion of District, read the directive Sicily. authorizing the commissioning of the ship and Lieutenant On 31 July 1943 LST-355 was Norman L. Knipe, Jr., D-V(S), towed to Oran, Algeria, where USNR, assumed command as her she was placed in the huge First Commanding Officer. French floating dry-dock which had been repaired and put in The month of January 1943 was operation by the Americans. spent in outfitting the ship for When repairs were completed sea, and on 3 February 1943 the the ship proceeded to Bizerte, ship sailed for Little Creek, Tunisia, arriving on 3 September Virginia, where she underwent 1943 to prepare for combat training in the Chesapeake Bay. operations. Lieutenant A. J. The ship proceeded to New Cadaret, USN, was commanding York; there on 28 February 1943 officer of the ship at this time; she joined the second group of succeeding Lieutenant Knipe LSTs destined for overseas duty officially while the ship was in the Mediterranean Theater of under repairs at Oran. On 6 Thank you to the few who stay under Operations. On March 1943 she September 1943 she sailed as a water to provide us with the last line proceeded in convoy from New part of the invasion convoy for of defense. York for North Africa. The Salerno Bay. On the night prior convoy touched at Bermuda for …………………………………… to clearing Bizerte, a large force four days before proceeding to of German bombers set off an North Africa, arriving off Oran, HISTORY OF USS LST-355 ammunition dump and a gasoline Algeria, on 13 April 1943. The dump near the harbor. To meet the complex needs of ship was further ordered to amphibious warfare, including Arzew where she docked the Severe enemy air attacks were the delivery of mechanized same day. encountered while underway for Italy and several vessels were equipment and personnel directly At this time fighting was still in to the beachhead, some 79,000 hit. While under repairs at Oran progress up the coast toward it had been decided to install specialized landing craft of all Tunisia, and Arzew and other types were mass-produced on various anti-aircraft armament on ports in the vicinity were the main deck of the 355; base both coasts and by many inland subjected to periodic air raids. yards. Workhorse of the landing forces and repair forces filled the This was the ship's first combat main deck with 40MM, 20MM, craft flotillas, the versatile LST experience and the first time her (Landing Ship, Tank) is a barge- and .50 calibre weapons. The guns had actually fired at the installation was originally made shaped ship of shallow draft, enemy. During the last week of self-propelled by Diesel motors. to provide ack-ack training for April 1943, Captain Knipe amphibious gunners, but the Loaded topside with smaller volunteered to use the ship in a

24 ussbristoldd857.org December 21, 2019 extra guns came in very handy been the first LST to actually Concentrated air raids were around Tunisia and Italy. beach with the other LSTs hitting being made by the enemy day the beach in quick succession. and night; the ship’s antiaircraft The ship arrived unscathed in the weapons were fully manned at Bay of Salerno on 9 September Despite the flank speed, the flat all times. Upon unloading, the 1943, despite a torpedo bomber gradient of the beach prevented ship was ordered to Palermo, attack and a daylight aerial attack this ship from discharging its Sicily, and then to Bizerte. by German planes using several combat engineers with their Enemy air attacks continued glider bombs. Soon after daylight equipment, and also the ship lost through this period and several on D-Day LST-355, along with its stern anchor and cable in the ships were damaged by mines. 12 other LSTs, was ordered to attempt. The majority of the Red Beach, Safta, "to beach at all other ships discharged their The ship was then ordered to costs." Stiff opposition by the equipment over pontoons prepare for a trip to the United Germans had made all our brought in by LSTs such as the Kingdom, and sailed on 12 beaches precarious and radio LST-356 and 338. All the ships November 1943 from Mers-el- communications to most of the were under heavy enemy fire at Kebir, Algeria, for Gibraltar and beaches had failed. Shortly after this time and hits were being the United Kingdom. She was in daylight it was observed that the scored by German gunners. company with eleven other Red Beach was heavily armed Another destroyer had been LSTs, under the flag of Capt. W. w i t h G e r m a n e q u i p m e n t . called in to provide fire support, D. Wright, USN, who at that LST-355 weighed anchor about but German armored equipment time was aboard the LST-356. At 0930 and in company with the could be plainly seen on the hills Gibraltar the LSTs joined other LSTs started in toward the back of the beach. Tanks rolling Convoy MKS 30 for the voyage beach from the outer transport off LSTs came off firing and tank to the United Kingdom. There area. A destroyer led the column battles developed right before the were about 85 ships in the of LSTs toward the beach. While eyes of the LST personnel, convoy with the U. S. LSTs proceeding to the beach German Seabee Officers, and men who being the largest group of fighters attempted to bomb and were handling pontoon gear. American ships in the convoy. strafe the ships. LST-355 was Operational control was British credited with the downing of one It was at this hectic moment that and all the escorts were British enemy plane, which was a German Tiger tank came over or Canadian. After several days believed to be an ME109. the brow of a hill directly in front out of Gibraltar, an enemy search of the ship. The Gunnery Officer plane was sighted. He continued As the LSTs arrived within of the 355, Lieutenant (jg) L. A. to follow the convoy during the artillery range of the beach, Wilson, USNR, ordered the bow d a y l i g h t h o u r s , a n d w a s directly North of Agripoli, Italy, 40MM – a single mount Army- a p p a r e n t l y s p o t t i n g f o r German shore batteries and type gun – to open fire on the submarines. mobile guns promptly opened tank. The gun crew promptly fire on the LSTs. The destroyer began to pour HE shells into the Several submarine attacks were returned the fire but found more body of the tank from maximum made during the night; as a result targets than she could handle. As range and the tank caught fire of the attacks one British a r e s u l t t h e U S S and was destroyed. Both the destroyer was sunk. Anti- PHILADELPHIA, a light Army and the flag aboard the submarine aircraft from the cruiser, launched her observation USS BISCASYNE gave the 355 Azores furnished support during planes and moved in to provide official credit for destroying the the several surface battles with additional fire support. Some of enemy tank. This ship is believed enemy submarines. On the fifth the LSTs turned back toward the to be one of the few LSTs in the day out of Gibraltar while open sea before reaching the fleet having a destroyed tank to approximately 500 miles off the b e a c h , b u t t h e L S T- 3 5 5 its credit. Bay of Biscay, a force of about continued toward the beach 27 German HE177s suddenly under fire with most of the other The ship than managed to retract attacked the convoy with glider ships. All the lead ships were from the beach and returned to bombs and ordinary high proceeding at flank speed and the transport area where it explosives. The American LSTs, this vessel is believed to have remained until discharging its steaming at the after end of the e q u i p m e n t o n L C T s .

25 ussbristoldd857.org December 21, 2019 convoy where the major attack During the next six months it deck for this work and the cars was being launched, engaged the remained on the South Coast of were loaded and discharged over enemy planes with their 3-inch England training thousands of specially built ramps operated by guns and other weapons but amphibious craft gunners. It also U. S. Army railroad companies. scored no definite kills. During participated in Operation Duck During this shuttle service every the two and one-half hour attack around Dartmouth, Devon. conceivable piece of equipment - on the convoy, one ship was sunk Numerous enemy air raids were from bicycles to the heaviest and three damaged by glider or experienced as the enemy struck t a n k s a n d r o a d g r a d i n g other type bombs. Four to six at Southern England ports with e q u i p m e n t - w a s c a r r i e d enemy planes were destroyed its Luftwaffe. Enemy planes successfully across the Channel either by ack-ack or friendly attacking Plymouth during May to France. During the terrific patrol planes. During the trip the 1944 flew in at masthead height storm that lashed the Allied escorts had been increased from over the ship to bomb and strafe beachhead several weeks after about 13 to 37 to provide the harbor, as well as mine the the initial landing this vessel was additional sub and air protection. entrance channel. underway from the beachhead No LSTs were hit in the attack area to England, and made the but a near miss caused minor The last days of May 1944 was trip intact despite the fact that casualties on one LST. spent loading the ship for the many LSTs were opening seams Neptune operation and LST-355 in their main deck during the No more enemy aircraft were sailed from Falmouth on June 5 trip. encountered in the remainder of 1944 with Force "B" for Omaha the voyage, but submarines Beach. It arrived off the beach on During the Ardennes break- continued to be active, and D-Day loaded with field artillery, through in December 1944, this escorts were kept busy fighting personnel, and equipment (155 vessel was pressed into service off the attackers. MM rifles), but did not discharge as a straight troop carrier for until the following day, 7 June infantry replacements taken One Canadian corvette engaged 1944. Two boatloads of medical directly to France to stop the a German sub in a surface gun supplies were sent in on 6 June Nazi Offensive. It continued to battle in sight of LST-355 and 1944 to Omaha Beach. The ship operate without the benefit of sank the sub after a short returned immediately to England radar through the worst of the engagement. When the convoy and joined the now-famous LST winter in the Channel and is arrived off the tip of Southern shuttle service across the English believed to be the last LST in the Ireland, the LSTs were detached Channel. From D-Day to 16 ETO to receive radar equipment. from the convoy and sent - with April 1945 when the ship left the a Canadian anti-aircraft cruiser United Kingdom for the United On 13 March 1945 Lieutenant and five escorts - directly to the States, she had completed 44 Cadaret was relieved of his South Coast of England. This trips from England to France. command by Lieutenant E. L. convoy (MKS 30) later received During this time it carried Rankin, Jr, 149376, USNR(D), at much publicity in England and wounded and dead Allied troops Portland, Dorset, England. The the United States. A detailed and enemy prisoners of war. Two ship was ordered to Falmouth, story was printed in the Bupers Navy medical officers and one Cornwall, for availability and Monthly Bulletin with a chart Army doctor, including many there received a radar set. During showing the exact location of the enlisted medical aid men, were her availability period orders convoy when it was taken under aboard during the early days of were received to remove all her attack by the HE177s. Four the invasion to give medical deck guns and make the main enemy submarines were known attention to casualties. deck ready to lift an LCT back to to have been sunk during the the States. This was voyage and two believed LST-355 was also part of the accomplished in record time and damaged. railroad shuttle from the LCT was lifted at Plymouth, Southampton Hants, England to England for its return to the U. S. The 355 put in at Falmouth, Cherbourg, Normandy, France On 16 April 1945 LST-355 sailed England, on November 1943 and and carried hundreds of U. S. as a part of an LST convoy was promptly given duty training Army railroad cars to France. consisting of 15 LSTs for anti-aircraft gunners for the Special rails were laid in the tank Norfolk, Virginia, escorted by coming invasion of France.

26 ussbristoldd857.org December 21, 2019 three American and three English 15 million dollars worth of On 5 November 1945 while at D D s . H e a v y f o g w a s ordnance equipment on board. Pearl Harbor, Lieutenant E. L. encountered soon after leaving Rankin, Jr. (D)USNR was Plymouth, so for three days the From Gulfport, Mississippi the r e l i e v e d o f c o m m a n d b y entire convoy had to depend on LST355 steamed to Galveston, Lieutenant John J. Kelley, (D) their radar equipment and Texas for a brief inspection that USNR, who took over as accurate maneuvering to bring resulted in having a new radar commanding Officer of the them through safely. Several sub antenna installed. On 3 August LST-355. contacts were made and the 1945 the ship sailed from escorts made depth charge Galveston to Coco Solo, Canal Having made an excellent war attacks. The British DDs left the Zone, arriving there on 10 record with the amphibious force convoy near Brest and the August 1945. Following this date during World War II, the remains of the convoy proceeded she transited the Panama Canal LST-355 was placed out of to the Azores and from there to heading for Pearl Harbor, T. H. Commission and disposed of by Norfolk, arriving on 5 May 1945. On 14 August 1945 word was the War Shipping Administration received of the Japanese in March 1946. After five days in Norfolk the surrender. ship sailed as part of a Coastal This is info regarding the ship my convoy for New Orleans, The ship continued on its Dad served on.LST 355. As a kid, arriving there on 23 May 1945 original course until it was all I knew was he was in WW2 but and reporting to Commandant, within five days of Pearl Harbor, never asked him of his service. He when radio orders were received Eighth Naval District, for a 30- died when I was 23. Never took the day overhaul and conversion into directing her to proceed to San time to ask him but I left home an ordnance installation ship. All Francisco, California. From San hands were granted 30 days Francisco LST-355 was ordered when I was 17. Graduated on leave, with one half of the to Mare Island, Navy Yard, and Thursday and joined the Navy on officers and crew reporting back Vallejo, California for removal of Monday. Never around to ask. I to Camp Bradford, Virginia, for all its ordnance gear. Here she wish I did ask. was stripped of all her 40MM reassignment; while new officers and men reported to the ship to dual mount guns including the His ship, LST 355 was one of few replace the crew members who ten-ton crane and special had been transferred. Getting equipment that had been LST's to blow up a German Tiger underway from New Orleans installed at New Orleans, Navy tank. He had a belt that he took LST-355 proceeded to the Todd- Yard. The ship's company was from a dead German. I'm sure it Johnson Shipyard at Algiers, reduced to eight officers and 104 came from the tank as it would have enlisted men to serve as a full Louisiana, where she remained been close and they would want to across the Mississippi River complement for the LST-355. make sure it was stopped. from New Orleans until 27 July On 26 September 1945, 355 1945 when it proceeded to sailed for Pearl Harbor, T. H., Gulfport, Mississippi, to pick up His ship also shot down a German arriving off Diamond Head on 4 side carry pontoons. While at plane. October 1945. Soon after arrival New Orleans the LST-355, along the ship was ordered to Kewlo with LST-308 and LST-392, was Basin to load cargo for Japan. Over a thousand LST's built but given a ten-ton crane on the main Shortly after shoving off for only four (4) built with RR tracks. deck, a 40MM dual mount, and Japan the vessel developed full equipment for installing His ship was one of the four. engine trouble and had to be 40MM dual mount guns with returned to the Navy Yard, Pearl Mark 51 directors on ships in the I had a number of uncles who Harbor, for repairs. forward area. The ship's served. Many in the Navy. company was increased to 10 By 1 November 1945 USS officers and 127 enlisted men. LST-355 had completed a total When the ship sailed from New of 35,503 miles of steaming Contributed by Gary Johnston, Orleans it carried approximately since it left Charleston, South STG3…………………………………… Carolina in February 1943.

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THIS IS HOW I FELT ON goat spit and urinal cleanser, with designed by sadist perverts, the kind just a hint of lemon. that when you put it on, makes you MY FIRST COLON feel even more naked than when you JAMMER ! Conttributed by The instructions for MoviPrep, are actually naked. Charlie Weaver, MM2 clearly written by somebody with a great sense of humor, state that after Then a nurse named Edie put a little I called my friend, Andy Sable, a you drink it, 'a loose watery bowel needle in a vein in my left hand. gastroenterologist, to make an movement may result.' This is kind Ordinarily I would have fainted, but appointment for a colonoscopy. A of like saying that after you jump off Edie was very good and I was few days later, in his office, Andy your roof you may experience already lying down. showed me a color diagram of the contact with the ground. colon, a lengthy organ that appears Edie, also told me that some people to go all over the place, at one point MoviPrep is a nuclear laxative. I put vodka in their MovePrep. p a s s i n g b r i e f l y t h r o u g h don't want to be graphic, here, but Minneapolis. have you ever seen the space shuttle At first I was ticked off that I hadn't launch? thought of this, but then I pondered T h e n A n d y e x p l a i n e d t h e what would happen if you got colonoscopy procedure to me in a This is pretty much the MoviPrep yourself too tipsy to make it to the thorough, reassuring and patient experience, with you as the shuttle. bathroom, so you were staggering manner. I nodded thoughtfully, but I around in full Fire Hose Mode. didn't really hear anything he said There are times when you wish the because my brain was shrieking, commode had a seatbelt. You would have no choice but to HE'S GOING TO STICK A TUBE burn your house down. 17,000 FEET UP YOUR BEHIND! You spent several hours pretty much confined to the bathroom, spurting When everything was ready, Edie I left Andy's office with some violently. You eliminate everything. wheeled me into the procedure room w r i t t e n i n s t r u c t i o n s , a n d a And then, when you figure you must where Andy was waiting with the prescription for a product called be totally empty, you have to drink nurse and an anesthesiologist I did "MoviPrep" which comes in box another liter of MoviPrep, at which not see the 17,000 foot tube but I large enough to hold a microwave point, as far as I can tell, your knew Andy had it hidden around oven. bowels travel into the future and there somewhere, I was nervous, start eliminating food that you have seriously nervous at this point. Andy I will discuss Movi Prep in detail not even eaten yet. had me roll over on my left side, and later, for now, suffice it to say that the anesthesiologist begin hooking we must never allow it to fall in the After an action-packed evening, I something up to the needle in my hands of America's enemies. finally got to sleep. The next hand. morning my wife took me to the I spent the next several days clinic. I was very nervous. Not only There was music playing in the productively sitting around being was I worried about the procedure, room, and the song was "Dancing nervous. I began my preparation. but I have been experiencing Queen" by Abba, I remarked to occasional return bouts of MoviPrep Andy that, of all the songs that In accordance with my instructions, spurtage. could be playing during this I didn't eat any solid food that day; particular procedure, "Dancing all I had was chicken broth, which is I was thinking, 'What if I spurt on Queen" has to be the least basically water only with less flavor. Andy?" How do you apologized to a appropriate. friend for something like that? Then, in the evening, I took the "You want me to turn it up" said MoviPrep. You mix two packets of Flowers would not be enough. Andy, from somewhere behind me. powder together in a one liter plastic "Ha ha," I said. And then it was jug, then you fill it with luke warm At the clinic I had to sign many time, the moment I have been water. (For those unfamiliar with the forms acknowledging that I dreading for more than a decade. metric system a liter is about 32 understood and totally agreed with gallons.) whatever the heck the forms said. If you are squeamish, prepare yourself, because I am going to tell Then you have to drink the whole Then they led me to a room full of you, in explicit detail, exactly what jug. This takes about an hour, other colonoscopy people, where I it was like. because MoviPrep tastes - and here I went inside a little curtained space am being kind - like a mixture of and took off my clothes and put on I have no idea. Really. I slept one of those hospital garments through it. One moment, ABBA was

28 ussbristoldd857.org December 21, 2019 yelling "Dancing Queen, feel the 13. Tropical Storm Claudette Oscar Mayer Is Giving beat of the tambourine," and the brought a US rainfall record of 43" next moment, I was back in the in 24 hours in and around Alvin in Away Bacon Weighted other room, waking up in a very July of 1979. Blankets Just In Time For mellow mood. 14. Texas is the only state to enter Cuffing Season the US by TREATY, (known as the Andy was looking down at me and Constitution of 1845 by the asking me how I felt. I felt excellent. Republic of Texas to enter the Union Let's get cozy. I felt even more excellent when ) instead of by annexation. This Andy told me that it was all over, allows the Texas Flag to fly at the and that my colon had passed with same height as the US Flag, and flying colors. Texas may choose to divide into 5 states. I have never been prouder of an 15. A Live Oak tree near Fulton is internal organ. estimated to be 1500 years old. …………………………………….. 16. Caddo Lake is the only natural lake in the state. By Kristin Salaky Some Interesting Facts 17. Dr Pepper was invented in Waco in 1885. There is no period in Dr Nov 20, 2019 About Texas Pepper. 18. Texas has had six capital cities: Oscar Mayer 1. Port Arthur to El Paso : 889 Washington-on-the Brazos, miles. Port Arthur to Chicago: 770 Harrisburg , Galveston , Velasco, miles West Columbia and Austin . It's about to be cuffing season, 2. Brownsville to Texline (north of 19. The Capitol Dome in Austin is AKA the time when it's too Amarillo): 956 miles. Texline to the only dome in the US which is cold to go out and find a new Canada: 960 miles taller than the Capitol Building in 3. El Paso is closer to California Washington , DC (by 7 feet). person to hook up with, so than to Dallas 20. The San Jacinto Monument is you settle for the first person 4. World's first rodeo was in Pecos, the tallest free standing monument you can find. Charming! Tx July 4, 1883. in the world and it is taller than the 5. The Flagship Hotel in Galveston Washington Monument . Sweet! We love romance. But is the only hotel in North America 21. The name ' Texas ' comes from if that doesn't exactly sound built over water. Destroyed by the Hasini Indian word 'tejas' like your style, you can Hurricane Ike - 2008! meaning "friends". Tejas is NOT 6. The Heisman Trophy was named Spanish for Texas . always cozy up with some after John William Heisman who 22. The State Mascot is the food—and some cozy things was the first full-time coach at Rice Armadillo. An interesting bit of University in Houston, Texas . trivia about the armadillo is they that look like food—until 7. Brazoria County has more species always have four babies. They have winter passes. of birds than any other area in North one egg, which splits into four, and America. they either have four males or four You may know Oscar Mayer 8. Aransas Wildlife Refuge is the females. winter home of North America 's 23. The first domed stadium in the most from its iconic bologna only remaining flock of whooping US was the Astrodome in Houston. song and from the roving cranes. 24. The Beck family ranch land Weinermobile, but the brand 9. Jalapeno jelly originated in Lake grant is one days ride by horse (25 Jackson in 1978. miles) in each direction from the is putting its bacon center 10. The worst natural disaster in US headquarters. stage with this weighted history was in 1900, caused by a 25. The name of the XIT ranch in hurricane in which over 8,000 lives Dalhart Texas stands for "ten in blanket that's covered in a were lost on Galveston Island. texas". That means 10 counties in pork print. 11. The first word spoken from the Texas! moon, July 20, 1969, was " Houston The product is called the ," but the Space Center was actually Contributed by Charlie Weaver in Clear Lake City at the time. BAEcon Blanket, because of 12. The King Ranch in South Texas course it is! It's a 15-pound is larger than Rhode Island. …………………………………… weighted blanket, which if

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Editor’s Note:

This article submitted by Marty Walsh. There is another shipmate who lives in Texas, I believer, would agree with this submission. Christmas 1974. Photo taken in the lobby of, at the time, Happy Christmas! NY Daily News, 220 E42nd St, NY. Ed Lynch posing with daughter, Teresa.

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