[navy] Digest (12/29/2001 18:01) (#2001-61)
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(#2001-61) - Topics This Issue:
1) NavNews 112/01 (Dec. 28, 2001)
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Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 15:04:59 -0800
Subject: NavNews 112/01 (Dec. 28, 2001)
NAVAL MEDIA CENTER NavNews by e-mail: NavNews (NNS) is the
official newsletter of the U.S. Navy, and is a product of the
Naval Media Center, 2713 Mitscher Rd. SW, Anacostia Annex, D.C.,
20373-5819. Reprints should be credited to NNS.
Submit news content to mailto:pu...@mediacen.navy.mil.
Contact the NavNews editor, Mr. Jerome Mapp, at
mailto:ma...@mediacen.navy.mil or Lt. Brook DeWalt at DSN 288-
4380, (202) 433-4380 or mailto:dew...@mediacen.navy.mil for
further NavNews information. For all other Navy information-
related questions, call the Navy News Desk at (703) 692-
6704/5/6/7.
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NNS20011228-03. Search Continues for Taliban, Al Qaeda Terrorists
NNS20011228-02. General Franks Brings Christmas Cheer aboard John C. Stennis
NNS20011228-05. Saipan Sailors Help the Hungry
NNS20011228-04. Carl Vinson Sailors "Ready to Rumble"
NNS20011228-01. Naval Historical Foundation Receives $150K Oral History Grant
NNS20011228-06. Daily News Update for Dec. 28, Dec. 31, 2001; Jan. 1, 2002
NNS20011214-13. This Day in Naval History - Dec. 29
More Navy news at: http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/news/.www/news-prod.html
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NNS20011228-03. Search Continues for Taliban, Al Qaeda
Terrorists
By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The United States continues its search for
Al Qaeda and Taliban terrorists in Afghanistan, Department of
Defense officials said Dec. 27.
U.S. forces struck one target in the country with both guided
and unguided bombs, said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Air Force Gen. Richard Myers.
B-52s and AC-130s hit the Tori Khel compound near Ghazni in
eastern Afghanistan. "We had reports that put some of the
Taliban leadership in that facility," Myers said.
Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the United States is
making preparations to hold Al Qaeda and Taliban detainees at
the U.S. Navy base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He said there are no
plans to hold military tribunals. Currently 45 Al Qaeda and
Taliban detainees are under U.S. control in Kandahar and aboard
USS Peleliu (LHA 5).
Rumsfeld said coalition forces have conflicting reports about Al
Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. Rumsfeld refused to comment on
specific rumors. "We hear six, seven, eight, 10, 12 conflicting
reports every day," he said in answer to a reporter's question.
"I've stopped chasing (the reports)."
"We do know of certain knowledge that (Osama bin Laden) is
either in Afghanistan, or some other country or dead," the
secretary deadpanned.
He said even if the United States captured bin Laden, the
problem of global terrorism would not go away. Someone in the
organization would take over. "Clearly, it's our goal to find
them and chase them, wherever they are," he said, "including bin
Laden, (Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad) Omar and their
lieutenants and their leaders, as well as the people who are
assisting them."
Rumsfeld said the face-off between India and Pakistan concerns
the Bush administration. Pakistan has "not yet" pulled troops
away from the Afghan border in support of movements aimed at
India. "That is very encouraging to us ... because they are
performing an important task," he said.
Another set of problems could erupt if the situation between the
two countries intensifies. Pakistan might need the bases now
being used by U.S. service members. Pakistan or India may have
to deny overflight rights.
"This is something we are keeping our eye on very carefully, and
we have clearly made the interest we have in this subject known
to both sides very carefully and with clarity," he said.
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NNS20011228-02. General Franks Brings Christmas Cheer aboard
John C. Stennis
By Journalist 1st Class Laura Castro USS John C. Stennis
USS JOHN C. STENNIS, At Sea (NNS) -- The United States Central
Command's commander in chief made a brief Christmas visit to USS
John C. Stennis (CVN 74) recently to wish happy holidays to the
Sailors and Marines aboard, and to express gratitude for their
efforts supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
Standing in front of the 12-by-18-foot American flag found in
the rubble of the World Trade Center, Army Gen. Tommy R. Franks
talked to Sailors and Marines about the importance of their
mission and expressed his heartfelt gratitude for their efforts.
"These colors don't run. If your kids and my grandbabies are
going to have the chance to enjoy life and enjoy America, then
we're going to step up to it. And so from Americans, everywhere,
hundreds of millions of them, thanks for what you do," Franks
said.
"I'm not sure that you know how special you are. I'm not sure
that it won't be a while before you get home. Whether you're
Navy, whether you're Marines, whether you're a SEAL, whether
you're flying these jets, whether you're maintaining them,
whether you're green, whether you're red, brown, the work that
you do on this magnificent war machine is just absolutely out of
sight," Franks added.
Franks said there was no place he'd rather be. "And you are over
here, one half a world away from the things that are most dear
and most important to you: Moms, dads, aunts, uncles, husbands,
wives, children, friends ... and so for all them and for all of
my grandbabies, thanks a lot for doing what you're doing ... for
all of you who have made it possible to fill the Taliban's
Christmas stocking, thanks a lot. For all of you who have made
it possible for millions of people in Afghanistan who have not
known peace in decades, have made it possible for them to at
least make a beginning, thanks," Franks said.
Franks said after meeting with the President a few days ago, he
was instructed to tell the troops "thanks a lot" and to give
them a hug. So, Franks climbed down from the stage and made his
way through the crowd of Sailors and Marines, personally
thanking them for their hard work and dedication.
The crew said Frank's visit definitely made an impact, and they
appreciated the visit.
"It was nice that he took time out to be here," said Cpl.
Alexander Martinez. "He's a very busy man, but he came all the
way out here to come see us. It shows that he cares about us. It
definitely makes a difference."
Martinez continued, "For somebody big to come out and say, 'Hey,
you're doing a good job,' definitely improves morale. It's
really nice to hear that what we're doing matters."
"Give us the supplies, and we'll finish the job," Aviation
Boatswain's Mate 3rd Class Chris Faddis said, quoting Winston
Churchill. "And I don't see any difference here, sir. We'll just
keep on keeping on. That's all we can do. People back home are
counting on us."
Faddis added, "I find it an honor to be supporting this effort
and to have the World Trade Center flag here, like a symbol that
America can't be kept down. I'm kind of a history buff, and to
be a part of this new history, it means a lot."
"You are all really special. There's no place in my life I'd
rather be," said Franks.
"On September 11, the United States of America was attacked in a
ruthless way and every one of you grew up just like I did ...
but one thing that was absolutely true when I was a kid growing
up is that if you are an American, you can do anything that you
were man or woman enough to want to do. That's the hallmark.
That's what America is all about," Franks noted.
For more information about USS John C. Stennis, go to
http://www.stennis.navy.mil.
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NNS20011228-05. Saipan Sailors Help the Hungry
By Journalist 2nd Class Eric S. Dehm, USS Saipan Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- Some members of a ship's first class
association (FCA) took time out of their busy schedules to help
those in need during the holidays.
FCA members aboard the general-purpose amphibious assault ship
USS Saipan (LHA 2) gave up some time recently by spending
several hours over two days at a local mall parking lot by
assisting other volunteers during the Mayflower Marathon food
drive.
Sponsored by the well-known moving van company, and a local TV
and radio station, the food drive was a huge success, garnering
tons of donations for the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia, a
local charity organization.
FCA vice president, Operations Specialist 1st Class Ed O'Connor,
said the event gave his fellow association members an
opportunity to share holiday spirit and help others at the same
time.
"We off-loaded food from vehicles, assisted with parking and
helped pack up food that was brought in," said O'Connor. "At the
donation site where we were working, over two tons of food was
brought in while we were there; everything from frozen and
canned goods, to turkeys and pies."
Saipan FCA member Boatswain's Mate 1st Class (SW) Chris Wallace
said he enjoyed the experience, in large part because it helped
those in the local community. "It really gives you a good
feeling to know you are helping the less fortunate. Plus this
let people see that we (Sailors) are involved in the community.
"Some people thing we just float around overseas," Wallace said
with a laugh, "but that's just part of what we do. Community
relations and volunteer projects are a big part of the Navy
today."
The Mayflower Marathon food drive was just one of many volunteer
projects the Saipan FCA has participated in during the last 12
months since returning from an overseas deployment last
December. Since the ship began a 13-month-long complex overhaul
at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard in February, the crew has had more
opportunities to assist in worthwhile community projects. For
Saipan's FCA, it's been time well spent.
"Being in the shipyard gives us a whole lot more time to do
things like this. We're all really happy about that," said
O'Connor.
He added that the Saipan FCA hopes to continue their charity
volunteer work during the remainder of the shipyard period.
Currently the ship is expected to complete its complex overhaul
in early spring, and return to its homeport at Norfolk Naval
Station.
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NNS20011228-04. Carl Vinson Sailors "Ready to Rumble"
By Seaman Apprentice Journalist Mat Sohl, USS Carl Vinson Public
Affairs
USS CARL VINSON, At Sea (NNS) -- USS Carl Vinson's (CVN 70)
hangar bay appeared more like Madison Square Garden Dec. 18,
during the ship's first-ever boxing smoker event.
The athletic talents and showmanship demonstrated by the many
Vinson Sailors who participated would make most boxing promoters
jealous.
"We decided to make it a class function, like a real boxing
event" said Chief Lithographer (SW/AW) Jerome Wilson, the master
of ceremonies, who donned a tuxedo for the event and kept the
crowd hyped-up between bouts.
After more than 100 continuous days at sea, Vinson Sailors were
eager for some entertainment and crowded into the hangar bay for
the two-hour event, which featured eight, three-round bouts.
"For a minute there I forgot that I was on West Pac," said
Ship's Serviceman 3rd Class Tavaris Williams, who fought in the
smoker's main event. "It was wild with all the people watching
and cheering. We were all out there to have fun."
Efforts by Chief Avaition Ordnanceman (AW) Wilbert Butler,
founder of the USS Carl Vinson boxing club, ensured the event
could be held safely and in a sportsmanlike manner.
"We covered all the basics and followed every safety
instruction," said Butler. "We had skilled trainers in both
corners."
The event went off without any injury or unsportsmanlike
conduct, proving that a boxing smoker event can be done safely
on a Navy ship.
"We brought it (the smoker) back with safe controlled
conditions," said Wilson. "We showed that you can do it safe,
and that it's a real morale booster.
Carl Vinson's boxing smoker was the host to a series of first-
time events.
"Not only was this the first smoker held on the Vinson, but it
was the first time in the Navy that a ship had bouts fought by
female fighters," said Butler.
Female boxers duked two of the eight fights that night. These
females were all part of Carl Vinson's boxing club and trained
alongside the men for most of West Pac.
"I'd been training for three months with Chief Butler," said
Aviation Maintenance Administrationman 2nd Class (AW) Romelia
Williams, otherwise known as "Angel Eyes." "I started boxing for
physical fitness and for fun. I'd (like) to keep boxing after
this."
Williams was the winner of the first female bout. Both female
fights heightened the excitement of the already-enthused crowd,
whose volume seemed to rival that of the jet engines that can
normally be heard in the ship's hangar.
"I was really, really nervous," said Williams. "I had sparred
with men before, but this was my first real fight, and my first
time fighting another female."
The fighters weren't the only attraction of the evening. Other
Sailors volunteered to hold the round cards and strut their
stuff in the ring. Command Master Chief (AW/SW) Mike Williams
got in on the action as well, and sported a bow tie while
refereeing several of the fights.
Butler, the lead trainer of the boxing club, plans to maintain
the boxing club even while the ship is in port. Coming off the
success of this event, the boxing club hopes to have another
Boxing Smoker on the Fourth of July. This time Sailors of Naval
Station Bremerton would be invited to participate as well.
"We were just trying to give something back to the troops while
at the same time letting some of the members of the boxing club
show-off what they had learned," said Butler.
For more information about USS Carl Vinson, go to
http://www.cvn70.navy.mil.
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NNS20011228-01. Naval Historical Foundation Receives $150K Oral
History Grant
By the Naval Historical Foundation
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- A $150,000 grant was recently awarded to the
Naval Historical Foundation (NHF) to underwrite an effort to
digitize thousands of cassette and reel-to-reel tapes maintained
at the history centers of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast
Guard. The grant was awarded by The Dillon Fund, a philanthropic
organization based in New York.
"Tapes have a limited shelf life," said Fred Allison, an oral
historian at the Marine Corps Historical Center. "There are over
6,000 reel-to-reel tapes from the Vietnam War featuring
interviews with Marines in combat and we are in danger of losing
a valuable historical resource if we do not act soon."
The grant money will enable the NHF to purchase the equipment
needed to convert the tapes to a digital medium. Funds also will
be used to transcribe some of the historically significant
tapes.
"We have some outstanding interviews from the Gulf War,
including conversations with damage control teams from the mined
warships USS Princeton (CG 59) and USS Tripoli (LPH 10), that
need to be transcribed," said Naval Historical Center archivist
Kathy Lloyd.
The eventual goal is to make much of the collection accessible
on the Internet.
NHF historian David Winkler added, "The Vietnam Center at Texas
Tech has a Web site where you can either read transcripts or
actually listen to interviews online, and that's where we want
to be. I also see us linking with the oral history collections
being gathered through the Library of Congress Veterans' History
Project."
Privacy and security issues will preclude the project from
placing the whole collection online. Consequently, plans call
for the creation of a Sea Service Oral History Center to allow
researchers access to complete collections.
"We will need to obtain additional funds to make the center a
reality," noted retired Navy captain and Foundation executive
director Todd Creekman. "Our priority is preserving these
outstanding recollections, and we are most grateful to the
Dillon Fund and our members for getting the process going. This
was a wonderful contribution toward preserving our maritime
heritage."
Founded in 1926, the Naval Historical Foundation has worked for
75 years to preserve and promote naval heritage. Located at the
Washington Navy Yard, NHF can be contacted at (202) 678-4333 or
mailto:nhf...@msn.com.
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NNS20011228-06. Daily News Update for Dec. 28, Dec. 31, 2001;
Jan. 1, 2002
By the Navy News Service
Dec. 28, 2001-
Two-minute newscast-
- Interview with the Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Norb
Ryan, Thrift Savings Program enrollment on the rise.
- Navy introduces a new test that triples their ability to
detect the designer drug Ecstasy.
One-minute headlines-
- USS Kitty Hawk (CV 63) completes Enduring Freedom deployment.
- "Bearings" points Guam Sailors in the right direction.
One-minute newscast-
- New "Sailor Advocacy" program helps Sailors with the
detailing process.
Dec. 31, 2001-
Two-minute newscast-
- V-22 Osprey program will undergo a two-year test program
beginning April 2002.
- Sailors and Marines will see a significant increase in the
2002 Basic Allowance for Housing.
One-minute headlines-
- USS Theodore Roosevelt's (CVN 71) crew making U.S. history,
says Myers.
- USS Bataan (LHD 5) hoists World Trade Center Ground Zero
flag.
One-minute newscast-
LIFELines offers alternative to Dear Abby and Any Servicemember
program.
Jan. 1, 2002-
Two-minute newscast-
- CNO offers a New Year's message to the fleet.
One-minute headlines-
- Navy's new drug test for ecstasy three times stronger.
45 Al Qaeda, Taliban detainees under U.S. control.
One-minute newscast-
- Researchers at Naval Aerospace Medical Research Lab develop a
new computer chip dog tag.
Daily News Update features three newscasts a day, one two-minute
cast, a one-minute cast and a one-minute Navy News Service
Headlines cast.
Daily News Update can be seen broadcast throughout the day and
evening on the Direct-to-Sailor satellite network. Check your
local DTS program schedule for air times.
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NNS20011214-13. This Day in Naval History - Dec. 29
By the Navy News Service
1798 - First annual report by the Secretary of the Navy, sent by
Benjamin Stoddert.
1812 - USS Constitution, Captain William Bainbridge commanding,
captures HMS Java off Brazil after a three-hour battle.
1943 - USS Silversides (SS 236) sinks three Japanese ships and
damages a fourth off Palau.
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