'Gallant Lady' Returns

'Gallant lady' returns Story and photos America, and later, for duty with the 6th by SSgt. Virginia Bueno Fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean in support of the U.S. Marine contingent of the Multi-National Peacekeeping Force in President Ronald Reagan once said of Beirut, Lebanon. She earned a Navy Unit her, "She's gray, she's had her face lifted, Commendation for her performance there. but she's still in the prime of life, a gallant Whenever the New Jersey makes a port lady." call, she creates a lot of attention due to Others keep their admiration for this 42- her awesome presence; her vital statistics year -old lady simple by just calling her are incredible. "Big J." She is home to 1,608 officers and enlisted, She is the battleship USS New Jersey including a Marine detachment of two (BB 62). Fifty-eight thousand tons of steel officers and 38 enlisted. In one day her packed in a body 887 feet long. One of the crew consumes enough bread, milk and most powerful ships in the world today, she potatoes to feed an average American recently returned at Hawaii for a port visit. family of four for one year. "Firepower for freedom" is her motto, Homeported in Long Beach, Calif., the and she lives up to that by carrying New Jersey has been participating in mid- impressive armament. She boasts nine 16 Pacific training exercises. Her stop here inch guns in turrets of three each; eight included a requalification exercise for her armored box launchers for Tomahawk 5" guns off the island of Kahoolawe. The cruise missiles; four quad-box launchers for requalification consisted of firing at Harpoon anti-ship cruise missiles; four various targets on Kahoolawe called in by Vulcan-Phalanx Close-In Weapons Systems the Naval Gunfire Section, 1st Bn., 12th for self-defense against aircraft and Marines, here. missiles; and six twin mounts with two 5 The last time the New Jersey visited inch guns to each mount. 1983. She had a Hawaii was in August This enormous firepower can clear a USS New Jersey houses nine 16 inch guns in turrents of three each brief stopover before heading to Central Cont. on A-4 The World War II brought on emergence WAVES: of active duty women in the Navy Navy Editor Service - Harry S. Truman signed into historically played a for some minor adjustments In addition to permanent and 189 women officers serve 1/1A America's history pages are law the Women's Armed significant role, the Navy because of physiological assignments to noneombat- aboard 34 ships. The filled with stories about Service Integration Act. This could do far more than it has differences, the academy at units, women may also be increased opportunity for sea men's brave deeds in battle act abolished the Women's to accord women equal made no changes in its temporarily assigned aboard duty offers women greater and the women who stood by Reserve and allowed women opportunity." demanding academic and combatant vessels for up to career potential as they are them. Whether fighting to serve as full partners in the Because of Zumwalt's physical curriculuin. 180 days -which are not able to gain similar hostile Indians, British Navy and the Naval Reserve. message to the fleet, most Naval history was again expected to have a combat experiences to their male redcoats or their sisters in the On July 7, 1948, the first six ratings were opened to made in 1977 and 1978 when mission during their. counterparts. Civil War, women have enlisted women were sworn women; the hospital ship the Navy voluntarily- assignment period. In Now, in 1985, only two always been ready to do their into active service in USS Sanctuary (AH-17) was sponsored an amendment to November 1978, the first five officer communities - part. accordance with the Women's assigned women on a trial U.S. Code, Title 10, Section women officers reported submarine and special '17 Not until World War H, Armed Service Integration basis; women . were allowed 6015, which allows the aboard USS Vulcan (AR-5), a warfare o-- and enlisted when the Women Accepted Act. At the ceremony held in into staff corps and restricted permanent assignment .. of repair ship. ratings remain closed to for Volunteer Emergency Washington, D.C., the line communities; were women to noncombatant Today, about 4,000 enlisted women. The closed ratings Service was formed, were Honorable John Sullivan, allowed in the NROTC ships and aircraft. women serve aboard 33 ships, Cont. on A,-5 women allowed to serve in the then Secretary of the Navy, program; officers were Navy, alongside their male said, "It i8 my understanding assigned to command. Navy counterparts. that within the next two shore activities; and more President Franklin D. years you hope to induct 6,000 were assigned to duty at Purple Heart precedence changes Roosevelt signed an amend- enlisted women into the operational commands. ment to the Naval Reserve Navy. I assure you the Navy Naval aviation history was The precedence of the Purple Heart has Act of 1938 on July 30, 1942. will welcome them . we are made in 1973 when the been changed by the 1985 Department of The result of a Navy proud to have you." Active Secretary of the Navy manpower study, which duty women, enlisted and announced aviation training Defense Authorization Act. concluded that the Navy was officers, were on their way. would be opened, to women According to ALMAR 153/85, the Purple unprepared for war, the The Navy continued to and the first won an entered Heart, which was rated below the Navy amendment allowed the make many changes during the Naval Fife Training Achievement Medal is now rated after the formation of WAVES. Two the years between 1948 and Program. Currei y, women Bronze Star Medal. This change ranks the years later, 36,000 WAVES 1970; and although women are serving f ing both Purple Heart as the eleventh senior working at shore billets in the were very much a part of the helicopters an fixed-wing American decoration. continental United States Navy, more changes were aircraft in many Navy The ALMAR goes on to indicate that enabled the Navy to send needed to make them equal to squadrons, and work in Marines who are authorized to wear the 50,000 men overseas. their male counterparts. ground support and maint- Purple Heart will change the order of their Although a part of the In 1972, Chief of Naval enance teams. ribbons immediately but have until Oct. 1 to Navy, women were still Operations Admiral Elmo R. In 1976, the U.S. Naval change the order of their mounted medals. considered separate until Zumwalt Jr., said, "while Academy accepted its first July 1948, when President women in the Navy have female midshipman. Except POW/ IA issue still burns intently USS ARIZONA NA- from all services. It seemed TIONAL MEMORIAL, . only -appropriate that the Gray assumes PEARL HARBOR, Ha- officer who administered the waii - Solemn ceremonies Oath of Reenlistment, Air held here as part of National Force Col. Thomas E. Norris, FMFPac Reins POW /MIA Recognition Day was himself a prisoner of the were marked with this communist North Vietnamese comment from LtGen. Charles for more than five years. The G. Cooper, Commanding renewing,,pf. each individuals Lieutenant General D'Wayne Gray will assume Fleet Marine Force, obligations to the Armed Marine Force, General, command of Fleet Pacific/Marine Pacific, "It is both important Forces served as a symbol of Corps Bases, Pacific, from Lieutenant General and appropriate that those of rebirth and rededication for G. during a ceremony 3' p.m., on Charles Cooper at us in uniform pause to those still carried on the 31, aircraft parking ramp between July on the recognize the tremendous POW/MIA list. Hangars 101 and 102, here. LtGen. Cooper will Guest 'speaker, LtGen. retire ceremony. .sacrifice of those who during the suffered terribly in enemy Cooper said, "The POW/MIA All active duty military, retired and civilian issue is one still their families, are invited to hands." that burns employees, and attend The President recently intensely in the hearts and the ceremony. Uniform is summer service "C" or . souls of Americans every- equivalent service uniform for military personnel, signed into law a Congres- where. We are here . and appropriate attire for civilians. sional Joint Resolution to 19, honor the unquenchable Due to this change of command ceremony, the designating July as Hawaii Marine will publish one day early next National POW/MIA Day. A fighting spirit which ceremony was held Marine characterized so many week and will be available for pick-up July 31 vice at Corps Air Station Kaneohe POW's." Aug. 1. Home delivery will not be affected. Bay in conjunction with With the FMFPac Band morning colors which playing martial music, and LtGen. Charles G. Cooper, Commanding General, Fleet honored POW/MIA's and the Battleship USS New Marine Force, Pacific, speaks to a large crowd that included 60 their families. Jersey. (BB-62) serving as a Hawaii-based servicemen and women who were reenlisting at The ceremonies held here powerful backdrop for the the Arizona Memorial Visitor's Center during National included the reenlistment of a ceremonies, the large crowd POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremonies held there, July 19. group of 60 men and women Cont. on A41 considered official expression of by RFD Publications, Inc., a private firm in an the Department of the Navy or the U.S. \ Published no way connected Marine Corps. The appearance of advertisements in publication, Department of the Navy or the U.S.

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