Higgins Boats (Lcvp)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
AUGUST 2019 HIGGINS BOATS (LCVP) INSIDE: 8 On & Off the Hill 24 U.S. Coast Guard Heritage Museum 35 New Life Members ALL WEATHER PROTECTION Climate Guard custom fi t car mats are designed to protect you and your vehicle. Built tough and ready for any weather — Climate Guard custom fi t car mats are created to accurately and perfectly fi t your vehicle. Made in North America, they offer today’s car owner performance that exceeds industry standards. Each mat utilizes our specialized measurement system to precisely fi t the complex contours and surfaces of your vehicle’s fl oor space. And, Climate Guard mats are designed to trap up to 16 oz of liquid, be it mud, melted snow or rain water, protecting your vehicle and making messy spills easy to clean. • ECO-FRIENDLY: manufactured from recyclable water-resistant material including sustainable durable plastic • MAINTAINED FLEXIBILITY & DURABILITY: even in low temperatures down to -76° F • ANTI-SLIP ZONE: designed to help keep your feet from slipping while operating the pedals Grey Black Beige • LIFETIME WARRANTY: against cracking or breaking • INSTALL IN SECONDS: no cutting or tools required SET OF 4 CUSTOM FIT MATS FOR ANY VEHICLE $129 plus FREE shipping 1-800-515-2917 or visit ClimateGuardMats.com and mention promo code GUARD1 Climate Guard custom fi t car mats are the ideal solution to protect your vehicle against the daily wear and tear of your busy life. Visit ClimateGuardMats.com to fi nd your vehicle. Mention GUARD1 at check out. Climate Guard_FRA Today_GUARD1_07-01-19.indd 1 6/28/19 8:44 AM Assault troops approach Omaha Beach, June 6, 1944. The original caption for this iconic US Coast Guard image reads "INTO THE JAWS OF DEATH — Down the ramp of a Coast Guard landing barge Yankee soldiers storm toward the beach-sweeping fire of Nazi defenders in the D-Day invasion of the French Coast. Troops ahead may be seen lying flay under the deadly machinegun resistance of the Germans. Soon the contents Nazis were driven back under the overwhelming invasion forces thrown august 2019 volume 98 number 8 in from Coast Guard and Navy amphibious craft." Photo is from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives. COVER: Marines with 3rd Battalion, 23rd Regiment, assault a beach using a Turkish Higgins landing boat from the Turkish ship TCG Karamurselbey (NL-124), Mykolayivka, Ukraine, in 2017. Sea Breeze is a multinational maritime exercise held in the Black Sea designed to enhance interoperability of participating nations. Photo by Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Marcin Platek features The Higgins Boat: the Boat the Won WWII On D-Day, it was the Higgins boats that transported 34,000 soldiers to Omaha Beach. The day following the invasion, Higgins boats then helped transport 175,000 16 soldiers and 50,000 vehicles to the shores of Normandy, France. The U.S Coast Guard Heritage Museum: Semper Paratus There are larger, grander, and better-known museums around the country honoring the United States military, but you would be hard pressed to find one more dedicated, 24 beloved, or community oriented. Honor Fligths for Three Shipmates The Honors Flight Network is a non-profit organization created in 2004 to honor America’s veterans for all their sacrifices. The three-day, all-expense-paid trip includes 32 plane fare from their home state, hotel stay and meals to Washington, DC. LOYALTY, departments PROTECTION AND SERVICE 2 Communications 40 TAPS 4 From the Fantail 43 Reunions/Looking For… The FRA is a congressionally chartered, nonprofit 6 Shipmate Forum 47 Auxiliary of the FRA News organization 8 On & Off Capitol Hill Message from LA FRA RP NE/NEng advocating on and PNP Cindy Rodham Tuck Capitol Hill for Legislative Updates 48 Finance Matters current and former 35 New Life Members enlisted members Three Tips for Pursuing an Active of the U.S. Navy, 36 Membership Matters Marine Corps and Retirement. Coast Guard. 38 Shipmate News FRAtoday /// August 2019 1 COMMUNICATIONS National Officers/Board Of Directors National President Robert Washington Sr., Navy Department Branch 181 National Vice President Donna M. Jansky, North Shore Branch 31 National Executive Dir. Thomas J. Snee, Navy Department Branch 181 The First Aerial Atlantic Crossing Finance Officer Bryan M. Proctor, Headquarters Junior PNP William E. Starkey, South Jersey Branch 57 his year marks the 100th Anniversary of the very National Parliamentarian PNP George P. Hyland, Groton Branch 20 first crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by any aircraft. National Chaplain Valerie Toulotte, Annapolis Branch 24 The crossing was made by U.S. Navy Curtiss (NC) Regional Presidents flying boats. That historic first flight started on May 8, 1919, T Northeast/New England Joyce M. Harris, Groton Branch 20 at NAS Rockaway New York with three aircraft, NC-1, NC-3 East Coast Randy L. Phillipp, Triangle Branch 182 and NC-4. After many trials that tested man and machine, Southeast James P. Richmond, Pensacola Branch 22 with the support of more than 50 U.S. Naval warships, NC-4 North Central Barry White, Mo-Kan Branch 161 South Central Emmett H. Smith Jr., Shreveport Bossier Branch 98 landed in the harbor at Plymouth, England, 23 days later, at Southwest John F. Quesnel Jr., Imperial Beach Branch 289 1:27 p.m. on May 31, 1919. West Coast Rick Athenour, Sierra Tahoe Branch 137 NC-4’s route included stops in: Boston; Halifax, Nova Northwest William H. Hall, Gem State Branch 382 Scotia; Trepassey Bay, Newfoundland; Horta and Ponta Active Duty Advisory Council Delgada, Azores; Lisbon, Portugal; El Ferrol, Spain and Plymouth, England, in addition to a landing on the Mondego Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Russell Smith Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green River for repairs. Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Jason M. Vanderhaden That was truly an epic feat for the U.S. Navy and the United States of America, but did you know the NC4 was piloted by Reserve Advisory Council a U.S. Coast Guardsman? Not many people realize this small Force Master Chief of the Navy Reserve Christopher D. Kotz but very significant fact. Sergeant Major of Marine Forces Reserve Patrick Kimble Force Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard I was recently speaking to Coast Guard Heritage Museum Reserve George M. Williamson President and USCG Captain Greg Ketchen (Ret.), who pointed out this not-so-well known fact. The huge flying boats FRAtoday Magazine had a wingspan of 126 feet and was crewed by five U.S. Navy The monthly membership publication of the Fleet Reserve Association Publisher Fleet Reserve Association aviators and one U.S. Coast Guardsman, Lt. Elmer Stone. National Executive Director Thomas J. Snee, M.Ed. The flight was plagued by unpredictable weather and Editor-in-Chief William D. Stevenson mechanical failures that downed one of the flying boats for two Contributing Editor Elise M. Howard days. Repairs were made in rolling waves as high as 30 feet. Contributing Writer Ann Norvell Gray Proofreader Desnee Stevens At one point, NC-4 was virtually lost in the zero-zero fog Design and Art Direction FRA Staff that was so thick the crew couldn’t see from one end of the Advertising Sales: GLM Communications 212-929-1300 aircraft to the other. The pilot was totally disoriented and [email protected] almost put the “Four” into a spin but recovered. The radio FRAtoday (ISSN 1935-7192) is published monthly by FRA, 125 N. West St., Alexandria, Va. 22314-2754. A member’s subscription is covered by the member’s annual dues. Periodicals officer finally picked up bearings and weather information postage paid at Alexandria, Va. and additional offices. Publication of nonsponsored from a destroyer hidden below in the fog. advertising in FRAtoday does not constitute an endorsement by the FRA or its representatives. Postmaster: Send address changes to Member Services, FRA, 125 The ship flew on to complete history’s first aerial crossing of N. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2754. FRAtoday is published in the interests of all current and former enlisted personnel of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Eligible the Atlantic–landing at Lisbon, Portugal on May 27, 1919. It nonmembers are entitled to subscription rates of $45. Established 1 November 1923. then diverted to Plymouth, England, as a “tip of the hat” to the Title registered with U.S. Patent Office. town from which the pilgrims sailed the Atlantic to America FRA Administrative Headquarters in 1620–299 years earlier. Even though the flight was a point 125 N. West St., Alexandria, VA 22314-2754 of pride for naval aviation and made front-page news across Telephone: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 the United States and around the world, let us never forget Fax: 703-549-6610 • email: [email protected] • www.fra.org Volume 98 Number 8 the pilot was a Guardsman. Each August, we recognize the founding of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1790—Happy Birthday Find us on Facebook: www.fra.org/fb Coasties! FRA Follow us on Twitter: In Loyalty, Protection & Service, www.twitter.com/FRAHQ William Stevenson, Editor-in-Chief Follow us on Instagram: www.instagram.com/FRA_HQ 2 FRAtoday /// August 2019 “To you, it’s the perfect lift chair. To me, it’s the best sleep chair I’ve ever had.” — J. Fitzgerald, VA NEW Footrest Extension for even more head to toe support. Sit up, lie down — and anywhere Easy-to-use remote for in between! massage, heat, recline and lift And there’s more! The overstuffed, oversized biscuit We’ve all had nights when we just can’t lie down style back and unique seat design will cradle you in in bed and sleep, whether it’s from heartburn, comfort.