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USS Indianapolis Has a Revered, and Also a Dubious, Place in History

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USS Indianapolis Has a Revered, and Also a Dubious, Place in History CBO STUDY URGES COST SHARE 8 FEBRUARY 2009 a fight for and Honor Page 18 5 Legislative Cycle Begins Again 15 Military Spouses in Civilian Workforce MESOTHELIOMA You don’t have to fight this alone. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with, or died from asbestos related lung cancer or mesothelioma, we may be able to help you get monetary compensation from the asbestos companies. For information and a free With over 30 years of collective consultation please contact experience in asbestos litigation, the professionals at Bergman Draper & Frockt welcome the chance to provide you with the highest quality representation and the individual attention you deserve. )LUVW$YHQXH)RXUWK)ORRU 6HDWWOH:$ THE NORTHWEST’S LEADING FIRM IN ASBESTOS LITIGATION ZZZEHUJPDQOHJDOFRP February 2009 Volume 88 Number 2 1 Featured 18 FRA TOD A Y FEBRUARY 2009 FEBRUARY 18 A FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL AND HONOR The USS Indianapolis has a revered, and also a dubious, place in history. She played a pivotal role in hastening the end of World War II and her sinking remains one of the worst at-sea disasters in U.S. Navy history. Departments 2 COMMUNIcatIONS 5 NED PerspectIVE Legislative Cycle Begins Again 6 SHIPMATE FORUM Scholarships! 8 ON & OFF CAPITOL HILL Welcome to the 111th Congress 13 13 NaVY ROYS RECOGNIZED 17 17 MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Membership Program Checklist 27 HIstORY & HerItaGE 28 NeWS FROM THE BRANCHES 30 REUNIONS 32 Taps 33 LOOKING FOR... 36 LA FRA NEWS Message from RPNE ON THE COVER LOYALTY, PROTECTION AND SERVICE The USS Indianapolis (CA-35), a Portland-class cruiser, was the flagship of Vice Admiral Raymond FRA IS A CONGRESSIONALLY CHartereD, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZatION Spruance, commander of the U. S. 5th Fleet. ADVOcatING FOR CURRENT AND FORMER ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE During her storied history, she participated in the U.S. NAVY, MARINE CORPS AND COAST GUARD ON CAPITOL HILL. FOR invasion of Saipan and Iwo Jima, as well as the MORE INFORMatION ON THE BENEFITS OF MEMBERSHIP, PLEASE VISIT bombardment of Okinawa. (Photo: circa 1937, US WWW.FRA.ORG OR CALL 800-FRA-1924. Naval Historical Center) COMMUNIcatIONS 2 NATIONAL OFFICERS/BOARD OF DIRECTORS National President Donald Mucheck, L. Mendel Rivers Branch 50 National Vice President Gary C. Blackburn, Vallejo Branch 8 National Executive Joseph L. Barnes, Navy Department Branch 181 Finance Officer Paul Rigby FEBRUARY 2009 FEBRUARY Lawrence J. Boudreaux, Hangtown Branch 275 Junior PNP Y Eileen Murphy A Be Heard! OVER THE PAST FEW years, I’ve heard some interesting arguments for REGIONAL PRESIDENTS FRA TOD not joining FRA or letting membership lapse. “You’re not fighting for New England Paul F. Loveless, Jr., Pinetree Branch 156 anything that pertains to me.” “I already have my health care benefits, Northeast James E. Brown, Staten Island Branch 226 what more do I need?” “I don’t want to belong to a place that’s just an- East Coast Ray E. Santee, Virginia Beach Branch 166 other bunch of sailors swapping stories.” Southeast John E. Sutton, Mayport Branch 290 We focus on thwarting such invalid arguments in our communica- North Central Robert A. Melson, USS Indianapolis Memorial tions efforts. However, sometimes it’s best to just let shipmates say it Branch 130 themselves. South Central Donald Larson, Corpus Christi Branch 94 Southwest Charles F. Tompkins, James Hunter Branch 47 The following letter was received by headquarters in reaction to the West Coast Nathan “Joe” Nash, Silver Dollar Branch 192 9 January NewsBytes article on the recently released Congressional Northwest Donald L. Bordwell, Dungeness Branch 174 Budget Office (CBO) report which offers 115 options for cutting the Nat’l. Parliamentarian PNP Robert G. Beese, Orange County Branch 175 government’s cost for DoD and VA healthcare programs (see On & Off Nat’l Chaplain Tom Whitaker, B. Duke Woody Branch 147 Capitol Hill page 8). ACTIVE DUTY ADVISORY COUNCIL The recently released CBO report offering Options 95 through Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick West 98 demonstrate that Congress may have forgotten the deluge of Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton Kent FRA guided letters, telegrams, and phone calls which prompt- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Charles Bowen ed passage of TFL and it’s come-along Tricare: the proof that we ancient mariners had earned medical services for life along RESERVE ADVISORY COUNCIL with Retainer Pay. And why was our requirement of serving in Force Master Chief of the Naval Reserve Ronney A. Wright the USNFR(F6) pending 30 years total service and full retire- USMC Reserve Force Sergeant Major Kim E. Davis ment similarly discarded? Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force Reenactment of the struggle over health care could re- Jeffrey Smith mind all Shipmates of the many advantages earned through association, reawaken the need for collective action against an FRA TODAY MAGAZINE unknowing Congress, and initiate a resurgence of membership Publisher FRA in veterans associations. FRA’s challenge is to convince the sea Managing Editor Eileen Murphy services’ potential membership that our three cardinal prin- Contributing Editor Lauren Armstrong cipals do indeed provide protection and service when most Design and Art Direction needed, and that we are not just another social organization FIREBRAND, Alexandria, VA www.firebrandstudios.com providing a forum to swap war stories. Design Director Scott Rodgerson Production Manager Sandy Jones Yours in Loyalty, Protection and Service, Richard Law, Branch 90 FRA TODAY (ISSN 0028-1409) IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., AleXandria, VA 22314-2754. A member’S SUbscriptiON is COvered BY THE member’S Remember, there is no law that protects your pay and benefits; that annUal DUes. PeriOdicals POstage paid at AleXandria, VA and additiOnal OFFICES. PUblicatiON OF NON-SPONSORED advertising IN FRA TODAY DOES NOT is what FRA is for. If you need to renew, please do so today. If you know CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT BY THE FRA OR ITS representatives. POSTMASTER: someone who is eligible to join and hasn’t, please refer them to us today. The SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: MEMBER SERVICES, FRA, 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754. FRA TODAY IS PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF ALL CURRENT AND larger FRA is, the louder we are heard — you are heard — on Capitol Hill. FORMER ENLISTED PERSONNEL OF THE U.S. NavY, MARINE CORPS, AND COAST GUARD. ELIGIBLE NON-MEMBERS ARE NOT ENTITLED TO SUBSCRIPTION rates. EstablisHED 1 NOVEMBER 1923. TITLE REGISTERED WITH U.S. Patent OFFICE. If you aren’t subscribed to NewsBytes, FRA’s free weekly FRA Administrative HEADQUarters: 125 N. WEST ST., ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2754 legislative update, you don’t know what you’re missing! Call PHONE: 703-683-1400, 800-FRA-1924 • FAX: 703-549-6610 • E-MAIL: [email protected] WWW.FRA.ORG 1-800-FRA-1924 or e-mail [email protected] to subscribe today! Just another way FRA keeps you informed! VOLUME 88 NUMBER 2 Eileen Murphy is the Director of Marketing and Communications and serves as the Managing Editor of FRA Today. Please contact her at [email protected]. CARMIL_NA_0209:MILWAT 12/5/08 5:00 PM Page 1 DIAMOND CAREER WATCH HONORS YOUR SERVICE TO COUNTRY U.S. NAVY CAREER WATCH Personalized With Your Career Insignia, Initials and Years Served e proudly present our Official United States Navy Military WWatch featuringasculpted Navy Service Branch Emblem dial, plus your Division Insignia and “U.S. NAVY” ribbon set within the exclusive watch band. 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OPERATIONS ELECTRONICS STRUCTURAL MATE MATE MATE SPECIALIST SPECIALIST TECHNICIAN N9 N10 N11 N12 N13 N14 N15 N16 Shown with Quarter Master QUARTER RADIOMAN YEOMAN BOATSWAIN CRYPTOLOGIC ELECTRONIC SUBMARINER GUN MATE Emblem. MASTER MATE TECH TECH MARINE CORPS CAREER WATCHES ALSO AVAILABLE AT WWW.VETCOM.COM. FOR FASTEST SERVICE CALL TOLL FREE TO ORDER: Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm EST Have Credit Card ready when ordering. 1-800-255-3048 ™ OR, MAIL TO: Veterans Commemoratives Watch Order Center CREDIT CARD: Tw o Radnor Corporate Center, Suite 120, Radnor,PA 19087-4599 VISA MASTER CARD AMEX DISCOVER exp.___/___ YES. I wish to order the following Navy Diamond Career Watch CC#: _______________________________________________________ featuring my Division Insignia and U.S. Navy Ribbon, as follows: PLEASE SEND MY FREE AMERICAN FLAG PIN. SIGNATURE:________________________________________________ SHIPPING ADDRESS (We CANNOT ship to P.O. Boxes)Allow 2-4 weeks for delivery. 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