[navy] Digest (08/07/2002 18:01) (#2002-32)
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1) NavNews for Thursday, August 08, 2002, <>
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Date: Wed, 07 Aug 2002 15:31:08 -0700
Subject: NavNews for Thursday, August 08, 2002
NavNews for Thursday, August 08, 2002
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Many Navy
NewsStand/NavNews stories contain particularly important
messages that are evergreen in content and could serve Sailors'
needs in the future. As such, these stories are repackaged as
full-color flyers accessible via
http://www.news.navy.mil/search/ccklist.asp that can be opened
and printed using the free and widely available Adobe Acrobat
reader. Navy NewsStand -- your source for Navy news
updated around the clock.
NNS020807-09. Taking Animal Medicines Sounds Fishy
NNS020807-08. Seabees of NMCB 23 Instrumental in Somerset Mine Rescue
NNS020807-06. Recruiting Scores Success with Reserve Muster
NNS020807-07. HARM Upgrade Live Fire Experiences Successful Test
NNS020807-05. Sailors Build Lasting Friendships with MDA Campers
NNS020807-04. Making Steam for the Scream
NNS020807-02. NAR Brunswick Wins 2001 Golden Helm Retention Award
NNS020806-11. Sailor Carries on Military Tradition
NNS020806-14. HST Corpsman Headed to Camp David
NNS020806-13. Flag Officer Assignments -- Edwards, Moran, Locklear
NNS020807-01. Daily News Update for Aug. 7, 2002
NNS020708-15. This Day in Naval History - Aug. 08
Eye on the Fleet - U.S. Navy Photo of The Day
-- http://www.news.navy.mil/list_single.asp?id=2184
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NNS020807-09. Taking Animal Medicines Sounds Fishy
By Jim Garamone, American Forces Press Service
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (NNS) -- It sounds like a "well, duh"
statement, but fish antibiotics are not meant for people.
A Pentagon medical facility doctor recently sent a letter to the
New England Journal of Medicine detailing a case of a Special
Forces soldier treating a sinus infection with over-the-counter
antibiotics meant for fish.
This is a dangerous practice, says Dr. David Tornberg, deputy
assistant defense secretary for clinical programs and policy. Pet
antibiotics are simply not made for humans, and their
indiscriminate use may cause health problems for individuals.
Human antibiotics require a doctor's prescription. Antibiotics for
most pets require a veterinarian's prescription -- except those for
fish, because of a legal loophole.
Self-diagnosing is at the heart of this problem.
"If an individual is treated for a health condition at one time and
has similar symptoms at a later date, he may decide on his own
that he understands what the diagnosis is ... and (he) just follows
the pathway he was down before," Tornberg said.
Rather than go to a doctor and get a proper diagnosis and
treatment, the person buys fish antibiotics from a pet store or
from an online shopping site, and down the hatch they go.
But there are many dangers to this. First and foremost, the
self-diagnosis may be wrong. Many diseases start with the same
symptoms. Tornberg said that most upper respiratory problems,
for example, have the same symptoms. But many of the diseases
are viruses and don't respond to antibiotics.
"In fact, taking an antibiotic can complicate the course of that
event," he said.
Second is the danger of an allergic reaction, which can range
from a mild rash to sudden death.
The misuse or long-term use of antibiotics can create antibiotic
resistance.
"We have organisms that no longer respond to antibiotics," he
said. "We're creating a much larger problem for the population at
large if we introduce antibiotic resistance into a bacterial colony."
He said prolonged use of antibiotics could change the natural
bacterial lining of your stomach and gut.
"You can get an overgrowth of an organism that can be quite
harmful," he said. "Yeast is one of those organisms, and you can
get quite sick from taking antibiotics."
Finally, there is the perception that both animals and humans are
treated with the same antibiotic. While this may be true of the
chemical compounds in the pill, the strength of the dose and the
frequency that the dose must be taken may not be the same.
"Components in the (animal) pills may be very different from the
human form and may interrupt the absorption of that antibiotic in
the gut or stomach," Tornberg said. "Consequently, the individual
may not be getting the dose he thinks he's getting."
Tornberg said he doesn't think the problem is widespread in the
military. He said the Defense Department has contacted the
Food and Drug Administration about the abuse and has launched
an education effort to teach service members the dangers of
self-diagnosis and self-medication.
For more Navy Medicine news, go to
www.news.navy.mil/local/mednews.
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NNS020807-08. Seabees of NMCB 23 Instrumental in Somerset Mine Rescue
By Journalist 1st Class Brigette Barnes, NMCB 23 Public
Affairs
FORT BELVOIR, Va. (NNS) -- Equipment Operator 1st Class
Louis C. Kuhar, a Johnstown, Pa., resident, was in the right
place at the right time July 26.
He was one of the workers called to help with the rescue of nine
miners recently in Somerset, Pa.
The entire country watched intently as minutes stretched into
hours, and hours became days. People rejoiced as each miner
was brought up to the surface one by one.
Seabees of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 23,
headquartered in Fort Belvoir, Va., were present at every step.
Chief Construction Electrician Bill Collingsworth, a civilian mine
safety inspector of Indiana, Pa., was one of the first Federal
Mine Rescue members on the site.
Establishing command and control of the incident site, he
organized rescue site preparation and cleared a road through a
local farm so the equipment could approach the site.
Collingsworth then oversaw the manual tapping of the drill steels
that enabled communication with the trapped miners.
Kuhar, a heavy equipment mover for construction company
Charles J. Merlo Inc., received an urgent call July 26 to
transport a drill, a 36-inch boring machine, to the site.
The request came after another drill broke while digging a path
to the trapped miners.
"We vented holes to aid in the pumping of water, which was a
very important aspect of the rescue mission," Kuhar said.
He added that the boring machine he transported weighed
175,000 pounds, twice the weight of a fully loaded
tractor-trailer. Once there, he transported the machine from drill
site to drill site, as it was needed.
Like Collingsworth, Kuhar is a member of NMCB 23,
Detachment 0523, out of Ebensberg, Pa. Both were scheduled
to attend military training at Camp Dawson, W.Va., the
weekend of the rescue. That did not happen, as real-world
events took precedence.
This isn't the first time Seabees of this battalion responded to the
call of America's needs. NMCB 23 was the first Reserve
construction battalion to be activated during Operations Desert
Shield and Desert Storm.
The rescue was even more personal for Kuhar, as an
acquaintance of his was one of the trapped miners.
"Having a friend in the mine brought it close to home," Kuhar
said. "It made it more personal."
His friend was the fourth miner rescued and was treated in a
Navy decompression chamber from Conemaugh Memorial
Hospital.
Kuhar has worked with mine rescue and reclamation before, but
he said this rescue wasn't routine.
In addition to his friend in the mine, the mine was only 10 miles
from the site where Flight 93 went down Sept. 11, 2001.
"It was an honor to have had a part in the rescue," Kuhar said.
"It exemplifies the 'can do' spirit of the Seabees of the Navy."
For more information about NMCB 23, visit their Web site at
www.seabee.navy.mil/nmcb23.
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NNS020807-06. Recruiting Scores Success with Reserve Muster
By Lt. Cmdr. Bill Schroeder, NAVINFO Det 111 Southwest
Public Affairs
FORT WORTH, Texas (NNS) -- Naval Reserve Recruiting
Area South recently conducted the second Individual Ready
Reserve (IRR) Muster in the country July 27.
"We were pleasantly surprised at the turn out," said Chief Navy
Counselor Kari Kolb. "We had about 250 people in attendance
at Joint Reserve Base, Ft. Worth, Texas."
Kolb, the area supervisor for Recruit Area South, was charged
with the planning and execution of this event. Vice Adm. John
Totushek authorized the muster as a way to communicate and
answer questions for the members of the IRR.
"We sent out over 500 invitations to both officer and enlisted,"
she said. "We were only expecting about a hundred people to
come. This is quite exciting."
The IRR Muster is designed to update attendees on the Navy,
the Naval Reserve and opportunities if they wished to rejoin the
Ready Reserve. When the muster finished, many members
stayed and spoke to recruiters.
Recruiters had several display stations set up on the drill deck
with information and pamphlets.
"This meeting is about giving basic information to the Reservist
that they might not be aware of," said Lt. Bradely Pecherek.
"We also update their data cards and answer career questions."
Pecherek is the officer in charge for the six-state region of
Recruit Area South, responsible for recruiting in Texas,
Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
"A lot of IRR members come off active duty and never
considered joining the Reserve," said Pecherek. "They never had
a good briefing on what the Naval Reserve had to offer."
IRR members were paid for their drill time and received per
diem for their expenses.
"I thought I was being recalled to active duty," said Joseph
Manry of Clebrune, Texas. "I always thought of the Reserves as
'Weekend Warriors,' but I learned the Naval Reserve has a lot
to offer."
Manry is a former aviation ordnanceman third class. He
separated from active duty in November and currently works for
Walmart as an order filler. He had not received a briefing on
Reserve opportunities when he completed his active duty.
"After this meeting, I'm strongly thinking of joining the Naval
Reserve and maybe then going back on active duty," said
Manry. "When I got out, I thought it would be easy to find a high
paying job. Boy, was I wrong. This meeting helped me to
reconsider the Navy."
The Naval Reserve currently has excellent opportunities several
ratings with bonus awards in some critical areas.
"I think that everyone left the meeting knowing more about the
Naval Reserve," said Pecherek. "This muster allowed us to meet
with people that we don't normally get to touch."
For more news about the Naval Reserve Force, please visit their
NewsStand Web site at www.news.navy.mil/local/nrf.
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NNS020807-07. HARM Upgrade Live Fire Experiences Successful Test
By Vicky Falcon, NAVAIR Public Affairs
CHINA LAKE, Calif. (NNS) -- The International High-Speed
Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) Upgrade Project (IHUP)
successfully completed its second Precision Navigation Upgrade
(PNU) test at the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
western test range last week.
The Precision Navigation Upgrade is designed to greatly
improve HARM's capability to detect, locate and destroy enemy
air defenses. It will improve HARM's accuracy in restrictive
areas in order to minimize collateral damage and fratricide to
non-military targets. This is to be accomplished through the
inclusion of the global positioning system and a new inertial
measurement unit (GPS/IMU).
The GPS/IMU improvements will enhance the anti-radiation
homing capability to destroy surface-to-air missile sites in
specific missile impact zones. Operators may also input zones of
exclusion to prevent the anti-radiation homing from searching
over specific geographic locations preventing the destruction of
non-military targets.
This week's live firing was performed to demonstrate the
missile's ability to identify a target outside the missile impact zone
and flex to a secondary target within the zone.
All test objectives were achieved; the missile successfully
identified, tracked and guided to the simulated air defense radar
target, passing within lethal radius of the HARM warhead and
impacting within the specified impact zone.
"The success of the contractor test firings gives us the confidence
to move into a compressed government test period," said Capt.
Chris Powers, HARM program manager at NAVAIR. "The
rigorous and innovative work of our team enables NAVAIR to
provide dominant combat effects and matchless capabilities to
our warfighters."
Continued hardware and software upgrades have enabled the
HARM weapon system to stay abreast of advancing radar
threats.
The IHUP is a tri-national cooperative effort between the United
States, Germany and Italy to upgrade the hardware and software
of both the HARM B and C missiles. The associated contractor
team of Raytheon Missile Systems (U.S.), BGT (Germany), and
MBDA (Italy) was comprised to conduct each partner nation's
respective work share.
The HARM program is managed by the Program Executive
Office, Strike Weapons and Unmanned Aviation.
For more news from NAVAIR, go to
www.news.navy.mil/local/navair.
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NNS020807-05. Sailors Build Lasting Friendships with MDA Campers
By Journalist 2nd Class Lynn Kirby, Naval Base Ventura
County Public Affairs
LOS ANGELES (NNS) -- Sailors from Naval Base Ventura
County (NBVC) in California and some of its tenant commands
recently attended the 2002 Muscular Dystrophy Association
(MDA) summer camp at Loyola Marymount University.
About a dozen area Sailors, some coming from as far as
Arlington, Texas, volunteered to be camp counselors during the
week-long camp.
For some counselors, this was the first time experiencing what
MDA camp is all about. For others, it's part of a summer
routine.
"This is my third year of camp and each year, it just seems to get
better," said Aviation Electrician's Mate 1st Class Johnathan L.
Frederick, who's stationed at Aviation Intermediate
Maintenance Department at Point Mugu. "This last year, even if I
could have missed it, I wouldn't. Spending time with each of
these kids is a great experience. It's nearly an addiction getting
back each year to give them the opportunity to enjoy themselves,
and have the chance to be just like everyone else for this one
week out of the year."
The counselors are responsible for the day-to-day care of the
campers. The campers range from ages 6 to 21, and all have
different movement limitations from one of numerous
neuromuscular diseases, which are hereditary muscle-destroying
disorders.
First-time counselors can sometimes be unprepared for the full
responsibility of being a counselor to an MDA camper, but after
adjusting, find that it's a lot of fun.
"My first year I was a little overwhelmed at the responsibility of
taking care of these kids. But, I had a lot of fun and really got to
know a lot of the kids pretty well. The second year I knew what
to expect and since I didn't have the anxiety of the unknown, I
had a chance to renew old friendships and make new ones,"
Frederick said.
"It's really great to see counselors come back, to know that they
really care. A lot of times they come once and after realizing the
responsibility of a counselor, they don't come back. So it's great
to have the ones who do come back, the ones we build
friendships with and grow to love," said Candis Welch, a
16-year-old camper from Palmdale, Calif.
The theme for this year's camp was "Campus Days & Nights."
Campers and counselors lived in the dorms just like regular
college students. They had access to all campus facilities,
including the library, pool, gym and numerous other locations.
Throughout the week, special events celebrating the holidays of
the year were scheduled each evening, starting with Cinco de
Mayo on the day of arrival. The campers celebrated Mardi
Gras, St. Patrick's Day and Valentine's Day.
Another special event during the week was the balloon launch.
Campers and counselors wrote messages about MDA and the
friendships formed during camp. The messages were placed in
little pods on the strings of the helium balloons and released in
hopes that whoever found the pod would read the message and
contact MDA to learn more about camp and the life-long
friendships formed there.
MDA camp is more than a summer camp. From a counselor
perspective, it's more than just giving your time to help these
kids. It's about giving your heart to them as well.
"It's one of the most fulfilling things in my life. Once you go to
camp and experience life with these kids, it becomes an
addiction and you not only want to go back each year, but you
need to. Being around these kids really gives you a new
perspective on life," said Marine Gunnery Sgt. Malia Morrison.
Morrison transferred from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to Naval Air
Station Joint Reserve Base in Fort Worth, Texas, a few years
ago, but still travels to Los Angeles for the MDA summer camp
each year.
For more news from Naval Base Ventura County, go to
www.nbvc.navy.mil.
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NNS020807-04. Making Steam for the Scream
By Journalist 2nd Class Chad Pritt, USS Constellation Public
Affairs
USS CONSTELLATION, At Sea (NNS) -- Before the jet
aircraft came along, propeller-driven planes would travel the
length of an aircraft carrier's flight deck under their own power.
Upon reaching the edge, they would sail into the air gaining
speed and altitude without outside assistance. With the invention
of the jet, a more powerful method was needed to propel the
Navy's war birds off the pointy end of its massive carriers.
The United States began working with the concept of using
gunpowder to literally "shoot" planes off of ships before the
British stepped in with a different solution: launching the new,
heavier aircraft using a steam-driven catapult.
Fifty years later, the same method is used, and it's the melding of
two ship's departments that make it possible. Air Department's
V-2 division, which controls the arresting gear and catapults, or
"cats" for short, and Engineering Department's P-3C division,
which monitors the steam systems and makes repairs when
needed.
"We make sure [V-2] has enough steam to launch the airplanes,"
said Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Jeremy Wiggins, a Ringgold,
La., native.
Not only does the San Diego-based USS Constellation's (CV
64) Engineering Department produce the steam to get planes into
the air, it goes the next step and keeps the steam systems
operating properly.
"We do all the preventive maintenance to all cat steam valves,"
said Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Anthony Karsten, P-3C's
work center supervisor. "We have over 70 spaces to preserve
and clean, and they're spread out between the fourth deck and
the 03 level."
P-3C, or the Cat Steam Shop, has the integral job of monitoring
the four steam accumulator bottles; one for each catapult.
"They need to be between 510-530 p.s.i. (pounds per square
inch)," said Karsten, a Tulare, Calif., native. "If it's out of range
we can't shoot planes off. Not enough and the plane could end
up in the water. Too much can result in another casualty of some
kind."
Each catapult is directly connected with one of the four main
propulsion spaces. One Main Machinery Room (1MMR)
provides steam to the number one catapult; 2MMR provides for
number three catapult; 3MMR provides for number four
catapult, and 4MMR provides for number two cat. However,
the catapults aren't exclusively powered by its coinciding MMR.
"Any space can supply any cat," Karsten said. "All we have to
do is cross connect the steam lines to the desired holding tank."
To cross connect, a series of valves need to be opened or
closed, allowing the steam to take a different path. The ability to
do this is very important in a warship such as Constellation,
which could suffer a number of casualties during an enemy
attack. With this ability, "America's Flagship" can continue to
launch aircraft and fight.
With complicated systems such as the steam and catapult
systems, it's important to maintain vigil watches. One such watch
is the cat steam supervisor. It's this watchstander's job to keep
an eye on the main steam line and prevent it from dropping
below the 1,200 p.s.i. level.
"The cat steam supervisor can also call Damage Control Central
(DC Central) in the case of a main steam loss," Karsten said.
"He also acts as a liaison between Air and Engineering. He gets
permission from Central to launch, tells the cat operators they
have permission, and then the operator tells V-2."
These lines of communication work just as well in reverse if
necessary.
"The cat operator will tell the supervisor they're getting ready to
launch, and the supervisor tells the main space so it knows
they're going to take steam from the accumulators," Karsten
said. "This is done for each launch."
For more news from USS Constellation, go to
www.news.navy.mil/local/cv64.
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NNS020807-02. NAR Brunswick Wins 2001 Golden Helm Retention Award
By Journalist 1st Class Jeremy Allen, NAR Brunswick Public
Affairs
BRUNSWICK, Maine (NNS) -- Naval Air Reserve (NAR)
Brunswick is the 2001 Golden Helm Retention award winner.
The award is for achieving the highest level of overall retention
by a Naval Air Reserve Command.
NAR Brunswick is tasked with supporting the training and
administration of all Naval Air Reserve activities throughout New
England. This includes over 1,100 selected Reservists drilling in
17 augment units together with two reserve squadrons, Patrol
Squadron 92 and Fleet Logistics Squadron 62.
"Our drilling members aren't just a great asset, they are the
NAR," said Capt. Ralph Dean, NAR Brunswick commanding
officer. "We lose too many good Reservists each year and we
need to continue to work to keep them. I give credit to the
leadership in each of our drilling units for the award. Those units
in which the CO and senior enlisted members get to know their
folks, and really communicate with them, have really great
retention rates."
The Naval Reserve Association (NRA) sponsors the Golden
Helm Retention Award. They're presented annually to those
commands achieving the highest level of overall retention
program performance.
This year's selection board members reviewed statistical
comparisons between the six separate Naval Air Reserves
covering 14 different items, including re-enlistments and
extensions, participation in and advancements from last year's
Navy-wide exam cycles, professional development boards,
award programs, mentoring programs and total command
involvement in a wide array of people programs.
"In a nutshell we won because we take great pride in servicing
our Sailors and all their administrative needs," said Command
Master Chief Damage Controlman (AW/SW) Jeff Lamb, "That
allows them to perform their duties and concentrate on what they
are responsible for."
An effective retention program is an all-hands effort, and without
exceptionally strong leadership and management at all levels,
success would not be possible. "It's really a great award for the
NAR," said Navy Counselor First Class Michael Lydigsen,
NAR Command Career Counselor, who submitted the package.
"It was really a command-wide team effort."
The following commands also were awarded the Golden Helm in
their categories:
- Surface Readiness Command
- Naval Reserve Readiness Command Southwest
- Naval Air Station/Facility
- Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base, Willow Grove
- Naval Reserve Air Wing
- Commander, Carrier Air Wing Reserve Twenty
- Reserve Recruiting Command
- Naval Reserve Recruiting Command Area Pacific
For more information on NAR Brunswick, go to
www.narbrunswick.navy.mil. For more Naval Reserve Force
news, visit their custom NewsStand page at
www.news.navy.mil/local/nrf.
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NNS020806-11. Sailor Carries on Military Tradition
By Journalist 2nd Class Paul Newell, USS George Washington
Public Affairs
ABOARD USS GEORGE WASHINGTON, At Sea (NNS) --
In Ruby Webb Farmer's home there is a wall adorned with
pictures of family members who have worn the uniform. Some
wear U.S. Army greens, another wears Confederate gray. Some
have fought for Gen. George Washington, others beside Gen.
George Patton. They are the faces from the Webb and Farmer
clans.
Today another face decorates Ruby's wall of family military
lineage - that of USS George Washington's (CVN 73)
Personnelman Derek Farmer. As GW is deployed to help fight
the war on terrorism, he follows in footsteps familiar with service
and sacrifice.
In 1616, Thomas Farmer came to America aboard the English
passenger ship Tryall as an indentured servant. Thomas had to
work years to repay his passage to the New World. Family
records show that Farmer settled in Jamestown, Va., and was
eventually granted his freedom and 50 acres of land by the
governor. When he fought through and survived an Indian
massacre in 1622, Farmer became the first of his American
namesake to fight for his livelihood, though there would be many
to follow.
Thomas Farmer's great-great-great grandson, Benjamin, also
defended himself from an enemy - the British. Born in 1756 in
Edgecombe County, N.C., Benjamin fought for the Edgecombe
Militia during the Revolutionary War. "According to [family]
legend, when Cornwallis passed through the area on his way to
defeat at Yorktown, he paused at Benjamin's farm demanding
food and supplies," said Farmer, who also hails from
Edgecombe, N.C.
He said Benjamin's wife Elizabeth stoutly denied Cornwallis'
request because her husband was away fighting with the colonial
militia. Doubting her word and suspecting that Benjamin was
hiding in the woods, the Redcoats searched the land, but saw
only tiny woman-like footprints in the furrow of every field.
"When they saw that, they believed her, and left her
undisturbed," Farmer said.
On the Webb side of the family, William Franklin Webb,
Farmer's great-great-great grandfather, served in Company I,
North Carolina Defense troops during the Civil War and
transferred to Company K, in 1863. Webb fought around Ft.
Fisher, which successfully kept Confederate Gen. Robert E.
Lee's battle lines open, if only for most of the war. When Fort
Fisher fell after a massive federal amphibious assault on Jan. 15,
1865, its defeat helped seal the fate of the Confederacy. After
Lee's surrender in April, Webb walked home from Goldsboro,
N.C., carrying his gun. "It was his only means of survival,"
Farmer said about his grandfather's weapon. "It was more than
a 60-mile walk for him to get home."
Another photo peering out at visitors to Mrs. Farmer's home is
that of William's son and Farmer's great-great uncle, William
Wiley Webb. Sadly in 1918 at age 29, he died in France of
pneumonia during World War I, making his final resting place on
a hillside in Raon L'Etape. An Army chaplain, T.G. Vickers,
wrote Webb's grieving father, "He had won the esteem and
confidence of all by his pleasant good nature and willingness. He
did what he could for the great cause and you can well feel
proud of him."
Farmer's grandfather, Oscar Farmer Sr. did what he could for
his country, even if he didn't necessarily want to. As a soldier in
Lt. Gen. George Patton's 10th Armored Corps during World
War II, he carried out an order from Patton that would be
portrayed in the 1970 movie "Patton." As the Third Army
aggressively marched toward Germany, they came to a bridge
and had to stop because something was blocking the convoy of
troops from crossing. As the directive was handed down from
Patton, Oscar was ordered by his captain to take a Jeep across
the long bridge and find out what was causing the delay. Oscar
did, and when he returned he told his captain that an old man
and his donkey were slowly making their way across the bridge.
Patton wouldn't wait.
Regrettably, Oscar had to follow the general's order, which
would be something he would never forget. "He closed his eyes,
floored the Jeep and pushed the cart, mule and old man off the
bridge to clear it," Farmer said.
Though it wasn't a proud moment for Farmer's family, it didn't
stop uncles, cousins and other relatives from serving in wars that
followed the Second World War. Farmer's father served in the
Air Force during Vietnam. Today, Farmer carries the torch.
After the 25-year-old joined the Navy, he became the first face
on Grandma's wall wearing cracker jacks.
And now he has produced another who may be called to serve
one day, 5-year-old son, Rian. "I'm proud of my family's staying
power," Farmer said. "We helped make North Carolina while
nothing was there but trees, and my family has been a big part of
shaping the greatness of our country. That's why I'll always stay
there. It's my heritage. We have definitely done our part."
For more news from USS George Washington (CVN 73), go to
their custom NewsStand page at
www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn73.
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NNS020806-14. HST Corpsman Headed to Camp David
By Journalist 3rd Class Raul De La Cruz, USS Harry S. Truman
Public Affairs
ABOARD USS HARRY S. TRUMAN, At Sea (NNS) -- For
many Sailors, the Navy is a great way to travel around the
world, see different places and explore different cultures they
would not see otherwise. The Navy also provides the excitement
and responsibility of being stationed and serving in places where
only a handful are selected to go.
Hospital Corpsman 1st Class (FMF/SW/AW) Faron Craig was
recently selected for one of these memorable assignments. She
has been chosen to fill an independent duty corpsman billet at
Camp David, starting early next year.
As an independent duty corpsman aboard USS Harry S.
Truman (CVN 75), Craig is the divisional leading petty officer in
HST's Medical Department and takes great pride in the
opportunity that has been presented to her.
"I was equal parts excited, scared, and nervous," she said. "I
feel that most of my peers are also excited for me."
Originally called Shangri-La, Camp David was established by
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt atop the Catoctin
Mountains in Maryland. It is essentially a quiet and relaxing
retreat that is meant to offer the President privacy, brief periods
of respite and the opportunity to "see the whole world very
clearly."
During times of conflict and strife, from the conduct of World
War II to the volatile incidents of international terrorism in the
1980's, it has offered the solitude and tranquility essential for
presidential decisions.
Over its history, a majority of the presidents have also used
Camp David to host visiting foreign leaders, with Prime Minister
Winston Churchill of Great Britain being the first during May
1943.
This, however, will not be the first time Craig has been placed in
a unique situation that has allowed her to travel where few Navy
Sailors have.
During HST's shipyard availability, Craig was sent to Vietnam
on a reconnaissance mission of sorts. Working with the
Vietnamese government and their military, Craig and was sent to
recover the remains of a Navy pilot that had been missing in
action since the Vietnam War.
For her, it was an extremely memorable experience.
"There is total excitement in knowing that by finding the remains
of somebody missing in action, you can bring closure to that
person's living relatives," she said.
As a corpsman, Craig shows her intense devotion to her job and
always looks forward to helping people.
"My long term goal is to eventually do a humanitarian mission in
South America," she said. "My desire is not only to help heal but
also to learn about different cultures and different people."
Even though Craig is looking forward to her new position at
Camp David, she feels bittersweet about leaving HST and its
crew behind.
"I feel great about leaving but also sad because I see HST doing
great things during deployment that I would like to be a part of,"
she said. "I also feel that each person on board is a fiber to the
tapestry that shows the world that we are definitely a force to be
reckoned with."
For more news from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), go to
the HST NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/cvn75.
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NNS020806-13. Flag Officer Assignments -- Edwards, Moran, Locklear
Special news release from the United States Department of
Defense
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Chief of Naval Operations Adm.
Vern Clark announced Aug. 6 the following flag officer
assignments:
Navy Rear Adm. (selectee) Mark J. Edwards is being assigned
as deputy director, Surface Warfare Division, N76B, Office of
the Chief of Naval Operations. Edwards is currently assigned as
commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 5.
Navy Rear Adm. James K. Moran is being assigned as special
assistant to the Chief of Naval Operations for Task Force Excel.
Moran is currently assigned as commander, Amphibious Group
2.
Navy Rear Adm. (lower half) Samuel J. Locklear III is being
assigned as commander, Cruiser Destroyer Group 5. Locklear is
currently serving as deputy director for Requirements
Assessment, N81D and director, Commander Liaison Division,
N83, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
For more information about the Department of Defense today,
go to www.defenselink.mil/today.
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NNS020807-01. Daily News Update for Aug. 7, 2002
From the Navy News Service
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The following stories are airing on
Television Direct-to-Sailor (TV-DTS), a satellite television
service available aboard 160 ships of the fleet and via the Navy
NewsStand Web site at www.news.navy.mil.
Two-minute newscast-
- Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld held a Town Hall
Meeting on Tuesday, discussing military transformation.
- The turret of the sunken ironclad Monitor was raised on
Monday.
One-minute newscast-
- The Secretary of the Navy released Sailors from the Stop Loss
program.
Navy News Service headlines newscast-
- Stop-Loss Policy Terminated.
- Scholarship Awards Contain Sizeable Bonus.
Daily News Update features three newscasts each 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. Daily News
Update can also be seen throughout the world on the Armed
Forces Radio and Television Service (AFRTS).
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NNS020708-15. This Day in Naval History - Aug. 08
From the Navy News Service
1813- U.S. Schooners Hamilton and Scourge founder in storm
on Lake Ontario.
1959 - Announcement of Project Teepee, electronic system to
monitor 95 percent of earth's atmosphere for missile launchings
or nuclear explosions. System developed by William Thaler,
Office of Naval Research physicist.
1972 - Women authorized for sea duty as regular ship's
company.
For more information on naval history, visit the Naval Historical
Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.
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NavNews (NNS) is the official newsletter of the U.S. Navy,
containing stories recently posted to the Navy NewsStand Web
site at www.news.navy.mil. It is a product of the Naval Media
Center, 2713 Mitscher Rd. SW, Anacostia Annex, D.C.,
20373-5819. Reprints should be credited to the Navy News
Service (NNS).
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