Memorial Remembers Cuttermen Who Made Ultimate Sacrifice

Written by: CDR Glynn Smith

The new Cutterman’s Memorial, dedicated to those lost in the line of duty while serving aboard our cutters, was dedicated at Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, D.C. today. Etched into the Memorial’s six granite panels are the names of the fallen and the ships they served in, along with the poem “Hurrah for the Sea” and a cutterman’s insignia. Set into the background are some of the cutters and battle streamers.

 “These shipmates were simply doing their duty, performing the mission,” said Adm. Bob Papp, commandant, U.S. Coast Guard. “They gave everything to our Service and Nation. This Memorial is a small token of our appreciation. We can never forget them.”

Coast Guard cuttermen are a proud group with a long history of service to our Nation that dates back to the first cutter, believed to be Vigilant, which was launched in March 1791. ADM Papp’s words highlight a stark reality known and shared by all cuttermen who operate in a dynamic and demanding environment at sea. While we honor and remember all shipmates lost in the line of duty, the Memorial was established to remember those who gave their lives aboard cutters in service of their country.

The Coast Guard has operated more than a thousand different cutters across its 220 year history. They span the age of wind driven sail, steam powered paddle wheels, and diesel-electric driven propellers. They saw intense action in war and peace, operating in all corners of the globe. They also include legendary names like Eagle, Bear, Hudson, and Tampa. But behind all of the technology, operations and exploits; are the people: the cuttermen.

“When I entered the Coast Guard Academy, all I wanted to do was be a cutterman,” said Papp. “I spent much of my career at sea fulfilling the responsibilities of our Service. I could not have imagined doing anything else.”

And while cuttermen have performed great feats in service to our Nation, they have also known great sacrifice. We have lost 124 vessels, 83 of which were during wartime operations. Since 1917, 1242 cuttermen, our shipmates, have made the ultimate sacrifice. Among them, 11 crewmembers of the Coast Guard Cutter Cuyahoga, which was lost 32 years ago today at 8:45 p.m. near the mouth of the Potomac River in a collision with the 521-foot Argentinean bulk freighter Santa Cruz II.

“Our work is difficult and sometimes dangerous,” said Papp, adding, “The sea is unforgiving—it always has been.”

Official Details DOD Cybersecurity Environment

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2010 – Cyberspace is a new world and a new domain for combat. The Defense Department is working to understand the threats and opportunities that this new domain poses.

Robert J. Butler, deputy assistant secretary of defense for cyber policy, is one of the officials charged with developing defense capabilities in this crucial domain. And there has been progress.

“For the past 14 months, we have been trying to continue to grow [U.S.] Cyber Command and its capabilities, at the same time looking at strategy and policy,” Butler told reporters at the Defense Writers’ Group here today. “We need to find ways to operate more effectively in cyberspace.”

DOD needs new operating concepts for the new domain. The department has done a lot of work in systems, education and training, “and beyond that, things like active defense and new ways of looking at resiliency and new ways to operate in different environments,” he said.

It comes back to the warfighter, he said. The DOD cyber world needs to focus on ensuring warriors can deploy, get the information they need when they deploy, track supplies and personnel and ensure logistics, he explained. They also must remain in contact with neighboring units and the home front, along with a variety of other tasks, he added.

Defense Department officials have reached out to Great Britain, Australia, Canada and NATO to defend against cyber threats that include nations, rogue states, terrorist groups, criminal gangs and just plain hackers, Butler said.

“The focus within the strategy is to go ahead and build partnerships with like-minded nations in the areas of shared awareness, shared warning and collective response,” he said. “As we move forward, we are trying to build capacity at one level, and at another level – interdependence – you are actually laying a foundation for deterring bad behavior in cyberspace.”

Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq – and the trust those operations have built among the coalition – have helped to speed this international cooperation, Butler said.

The threat constantly changes, and the department has to keep on top of this aspect of cybersecurity, Butler told the group. “Every day, people think of new ways to use the Internet,” he said. “As I look at the advent of social networking sites and what that has done, people have learned to use the Internet to not only communicate in traditional ways, but to build new networks that create both opportunities as well as threats.”

The cyber domain is new, and policy has not caught up to reality. Government and private officials are grappling with basics such as what constitutes a cyber attack and who has responsibility to defend against threats. The White House is leading the effort, Butler said, but it is clear that the Department of Homeland Security has the lead inside the United States. The Defense Department has responsibility to defend military networks, and can assist Homeland Security and other civilian agencies when required and ordered.

Who does what and when they do it is under discussion with other government agencies.

“We have our viewpoints laid out, and we’re trying to determine the best way to move forward,” Butler said. “One of the key things is to agree on the taxonomy. We hear a lot of discussion about cyber war and cyber attacks, and there’s legal terminology with hostile intent, hostile acts. Making sure everyone understands the taxonomy is really important.”

Butler credited the Homeland Security exercise Cyber Storm 3 with helping officials think through responses. The national cyber incident response framework exercise, conducted at the end of August, looked at the way the U.S. government and private industry faced a cyber threat.

“We were able to work out what the threat was, what the appropriate response was, who takes action, how do you determine conditions and postures,” he said.

The exercise included federal and state entities, the private sector and international partners. “It was a huge learning experience for the department,” he said.

But no one can stand still, Butler said.

“We recognize as we face this evolving threat that more will be required,” he said. “The question is what kind of hybrid models, what kind of rules, what kind of things do we need to counter a threat that continues to advance? We’ve got congressional support. We got a blueprint, and we’re working on it.

President to Award Soldier Medal of Honor Nov. 16

By Terri Moon Cronk

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2010 – President Barack Obama will award the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta in a Nov. 16 White House ceremony, officials announced yesterday.

The 25-year-old noncommissioned officer -- who will be the first living soldier since the Vietnam War to receive the nation’s top military honor -- learned of his selection in a Sept. 9 phone call from Obama.

Giunta was a 22-year-old rifle team leader serving in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team’s Company B, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, when insurgents attacked his squad the night of Oct. 25, 2007. When approaching insurgents formed an L-shaped ambush, splitting Giunta’s squad into two groups, Giunta braved enemy fire to pull a squad member back to cover.

He later saved another soldier while trying to connect with the other half of his squad. He saw two insurgents carrying off the second squad member and recovered him while shooting and killing one enemy fighter and wounding and driving off others.

Giunta administered medical aid to the wounded soldier while the remainder of his squad caught up with them and secured the area. Despite Giunta’s efforts, the soldier died the next day during surgery.

Giunta enlisted in the Army in November 2003 and has completed two combat tours of Afghanistan, totaling 27 months. His wife, Jennifer, and his parents, Steven and Rosemary Giunta, will join him at the ceremony.

Philippines Requests Aid in Killer Typhoon’s Aftermath

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2010 – The Philippine government has asked for assistance after Typhoon Megi struck the island nation yesterday with sustained winds of 140 mph, Defense Department officials said here today.

Philippine officials announced that the storm killed at least 13 people, with thousands driven from their homes and more than 3 million left without power.

“The Philippines has submitted a formal request for assistance,” said Pentagon spokesman Marine Corps Col. Dave Lapan. “They’ve indicated a need for fixed-wing aircraft as well as heavy-lift helicopters.”

The U.S. Agency for International Development has sent a team to the Philippines to assess the damage and coordinate what U.S. assets might be needed. “We do have capabilities in the region that can be called upon if necessary,” Lapan said.

Officials said the effort will not draw resources or aircraft from the on-going humanitarian mission to aid flood victims in Pakistan.

The typhoon passed over the island and is on course for southern China and Vietnam and is regaining whatever strength it lost over the Philippines. Officials in China have ordered the evacuation of at least 140,000 people from a coastal area in the storm’s path.

The most recent report from the Joint Typhoon Warning Center said the storm has sustained winds of 115 mph with gusts up to about 145 mph, and waves at 34 feet. Officials said they expect sustained wind speeds to rise to more than 130 mph today, with gusts of more than 160 mph.

Senior Executive Service Announcements

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates announced the following Department of Defense Senior Executive Service appointments and reassignments.

John B. Allen has been appointed to the Senior Executive Service and is assigned as deputy director, naval warfare, director, Operational Test & Evaluation, Washington, D.C.  Allen previously served as senior associate, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, N.M.

Sajeel Ahmed has been assigned as director, Facilities Services Directorate, Washington Headquarters Services, Washington, D.C.  Ahmed previously served as program manager, Pentagon Renovation/Construction Program Office, Washington Headquarters Services, Washington, D.C.

James Bexfield has been assigned as director, Joint Analytic Support Division, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.  Bexfield previously served as director, Study and Analytical Support Division, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.

Richard Burke has been assigned as deputy director, cost assessment, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.  Burke previously served as deputy director (resources analysis), Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.

Scott Comes has been assigned as deputy director, program evaluation, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.  Comes previously served as deputy director (strategic, C4 and ISR programs), Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.

Eric Coulter has been assigned as deputy director, force structure and risk analysis, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.  Coulter previously served as deputy director, strategic assessment and irregular warfare, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.

Malcolm Ewell has been assigned as director, force structure assessments, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.  Ewell previously served as director, Analytic Integration Division, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.

Krystyna Kolesar has been assigned as director, Force and Infrastructure Analysis Division, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.  Kolesar previously served as director, Force and Infrastructure Cost Analysis Division, Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation, Washington, D.C.

Today in the Department of Defense, Thursday, October 21, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn have no public or media events on their schedules.

Canadian Army Maj. Gen. Stuart Beare, deputy commanding general for police, NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan, will brief the media live from Afghanistan at 10 a.m. EDT, Oct 21, in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973) to provide an update on current operations.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 45 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building.

Navy Selects First Submarines for Female Officer Assignments

From Commander, Submarine Group 10 Public Affairs

KINGS BAY, Ga. (NNS) -- USS Wyoming (SSBN 742) and USS Georgia (SSGN 729) homeported in Kings Bay, Ga., and USS Maine (SSBN 741) and USS Ohio (SSGN 726) homeported in Bangor, Wash., are the initial four submarines that have been selected to integrate female officers into their crews.

The blue and gold crews of the four submarines will each be assigned three female officers.

Two of the women will be submarine officers, and the third female officer will be a warfare qualified supply officer.

They will be assigned to their first submarine duty station after completing training, which consists of nuclear power school, prototype training and the Submarine Officer Basic Course. They are expected to report to their assigned submarines beginning December 2011.

Professional Golf Lessons Offered in Guantanamo Bay

By Chief Mass Communications Specialist (SW) Bill Mesta, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs

NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY (NNS) -- Golfers residing at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba had the opportunity to improve their golf game when a professional golfer visited the base to provide lessons Oct. 14-18.

To help the base residents improve their golf game, Guantanamo Bay's Moral Welfare and Recreation (MWR) office brought Jon Fine, Professional Golf Association (PGA) golf professional, to visit the base for four days beginning Oct. 14.

Fine said he came to GTMO to give free golf lessons to service members and their families stationed on the island. This was his first visit to the naval station.

"It is always exciting to try and teach someone who has never hit a golf ball before and get them to elevate the ball," said Fine.

Fine has been playing golf for 34 years and is currently the manager at the Naval Station Mayport, Fla. golf course.

Fine gave golf lessons, lead a chipping contest and played in a 'beat the pro' tournament with base residents.

"The winners of the chipping contest played nine holes with me," said Fine. "I enjoyed the golf here immensely and as far as giving the lessons, I love to teach. I love to try and help people out."

Fine complimented the naval station on how the golfing facilities were set up more like a service than a business ultimately benefiting the GTMO community.

"If people can pick up the game of golf and recreate out here at the course as opposed to less than positive activities that is a good thing," said Fine.

"To me golf is very much like life," said Fine. "You have good days and you have bad days. Sometimes you feel like breaking every club in your bag. While other days you want to rejoice and think that the game is the most incredible thing that you have ever done in your life."

IKE CELEBRATES 33 YEARS

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ridge Leoni USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) Public Affairs

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (NNS) -- Sailors onboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (IKE) celebrated the 33rd anniversary of IKE's commissioning while kicking off the Planned Incremental Availability (PIA), Oct. 18.

IKE, the second Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, is currently docked at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) for scheduled maintenance and modernization.

IKE's Commanding Officer, Capt. Marcus Hitchcock, shared the history of IKE's official start in the United Stated Navy while addressing the crew and NNSY workers in the ship's hangar bay.

"Today we are celebrating IKE's commissioning which happened on this day in 1977," said Hitchcock. "IKE was commissioned on Pier 12 at Norfolk Naval Station, by the Honorable Harold Brown, then Secretary of Defense, and Mamie Eisenhower, the ship's sponsor and wife of President Eisenhower was in attendance."

While celebrating the anniversary of IKE's commissioning, Hitchcock and the crew took the opportunity to celebrate the beginning of PIA.

"I know we are going to do the best we can during this project," said Hitchcock. "Our shared values during PIA are teamwork, energy, dedication, respect and most importantly integrity; this is how we will get through this project smoothly and on time."

Chrystal Brady, NNSY's Project Superintendent for IKE's PIA, also spoke of the significance of the team concept during the availability.

"We have all pulled together very well so far in the set up of PIA," said Brady. "This will be the largest PIA ever done in a six-month availability and calls for teamwork and diligence to make the due date in April."

On July 28 of this year, IKE returned home to Norfolk Naval Station wrapping up the second of two nearly back-to-back deployments within a seventeen-month period. Hitchcock stated that IKE has earned this overhaul period.

This Day in Naval History - Oct. 20

From the Navy News Service

1824 - U.S. schooner Porpoise captures four pirate ships off Cuba.

1944 - 7th Fleet lands more than 60,000 Army troops on Leyte, Philippines, while Japanese aircraft attack.

1952 - Task Force 77 establishes Electronic Counter Measures (ECM) Hunter/Killer Teams of two ECM-equipped aircraft and an armed escort of four Skyraiders and four Corsairs.

1967 - Operation Coronado VII began in Mekong Delta, Vietnam.

1983 - Due to political strife, USS Independence (CV 62) is ordered to Grenada.

Shooting Incident Likely Was Random, Pentagon Says

By Terri Moon Cronk

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2010 – An early morning shooting at the Pentagon’s exterior walls today likely was a random event, the director of the Pentagon Force Protection Agency said.

No one was injured, and the threat level at the Pentagon has not been increased as a result of what Steven E. Calvery called “an isolated event.”

At about 4:55 a.m., Calvery said, Pentagon officers said up to seven shots rang out from the area of the Pentagon’s south parking lot. Access was halted to the lot and all building entrances.

“Pentagon police, Virginia State Police and Arlington County Police conducted sweeps of the area, with no initial findings,” he said The reservation was declared safe and reopened at 5:40 a.m.”

A subsequent interior search revealed that bullets shattered exterior windows on the Pentagon’s third and fourth floors, but did not penetrate them, Calvery said. As a result, he added, Virginia State Police shut down portions of Interstate 395 and its high-occupancy vehicle lanes to look for any potential evidence.

The offices where the bullets struck are under renovation and were unoccupied, Calvery said.

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency is working jointly with officials from Arlington County and the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Calvery said, adding that a crime-scene search was under way to determine whether more bullets struck the building.

The FBI is looking into the possibility of a connection to a similar incident at the National Marine Corps Museum in Quantico, Va., over the weekend, Calvery said.

Law enforcement officers aren’t sure what type of weapon was used, and investigators had found no shell casings, Calvery said. No suspect description was available, and officials know of no specific threats, he added. Surveillance video is being reviewed for evidence, he said.

Meanwhile, Calvery told reporters, witness interviews continue, and the FBI is performing ballistics tests on the bullet fragments.

The Pentagon Force Protection Agency acted quickly, he noted.

“We took prompt action at immediately closing down the reservation [and] vehicular access, as well as access to the building pretty quickly once the shots were verified,” he said. During the 40-minute shutdown, officers swept the parking lot for clues. “We weren’t sure what was going on out there, and we wanted to make sure it was safe,” Calvery said.

Security recently was beefed up at the Pentagon’s Metro entrance, which Calvery said is a result of an after-action review from a March 4 shooting at the Pentagon.

“We made those changes and we think it provides a higher level of protection of people transiting in and out of the Pentagon,” he said.

Officials are evaluating whether more security measures are needed, Calvery said, but he expressed confidence in the protective posture that already was in place.

“I personally think our security is pretty robust at normal times,” he said.

An investigation into the incident continues.

Mullen: Nation Must Recognize Sacrifices of Troops, Families

By Fred W. Baker III

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 17, 2010 – Americans must recognize the sacrifices and struggles of today's troops and their families and work harder to reintegrate them into their communities, the nation’s top military officer said yesterday.

The past nine years of war and multiple combat deployments have stressed the force, leaving in their wake veterans and families who return home only to have to start putting their lives back together, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a USO Gala in Chicago.

"These years of battle have steeled them for an uncertain future, because when our men and women come home, the battle doesn't end," Mullen said. "Quite frankly, for many it's just the beginning."

Mullen told the audience that one of the reasons he and his wife travel the country speaking at local events is to keep America connected to its troops. He said that many Americans don't realize what the troops and families go through to serve in the military, nor do they realize the value they bring to their communities when they return home.

"We have to recognize our veterans and their families for what they are: not a burden, but an opportunity," he said. "They are talented, skilled leaders who have so much to offer and contribute to their communities, not only during their military service, but throughout their entire lives.

"I truly believe that today's returning warriors and their families are the next great generation," Mullen said.

Mullen hailed the efforts of the USO and other organizations who have mobilized to provide community-based support for veterans and families. Still, he said, more needs to be done.

"Even with all the generosity and good will, too many veterans and military families still struggle to receive all the support they need," he said.

Returning troops and veterans often struggle with physical and mental injuries, anxiety and depression, he said. Their family dynamics are changed by the challenges of post-traumatic stress.

Mullen said some veterans find it difficult to translate their military experience into viable jobs and careers, noting that the job search is made even more difficult during a struggling economy. The homelessness rates among today’s veterans are rising past those of Vietnam veterans, he said, and too many veterans consider suicide an option.

"Not a day goes by that I don't think about the pressures on these young men and women and the sacrifices of their families -- challenges that all of us must help them shoulder as they have already shouldered such burdens for us," the chairman said.

And it's not just the returning veterans who need community support, Mullen noted. The families of servicemembers killed in combat also need help. "Not a moment goes by that I don't think about the families of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice," he said.

The USO and communities play a vital role in tapping into the skills of veterans, the admiral said, mobilizing support for families and helping to build resilience against visible and invisible wounds of war.

He recalled his time aboard ship as a young naval officer, and said that at each port he would seek out the familiar USO sign.

"It seemed as though the USO was always there -- everywhere and anywhere," he said. "It felt as though the USO volunteers were not just serving us -- they were serving alongside us."

But for all of the comforts it provides to troops overseas, it is the connection at home that makes the group most valuable, Mullen said.

"It isn't just a taste of home that you provide. … It's a sense of appreciation," he said. "It's knowing that the people you fight for back home are fighting for you too."

Veteran Celebrates 100th Birthday

Marine Chief Warrant Officer Sam Domino is 100 years old, July 12, 2010. This Veteran’s life and career are notable in his dedication to the Marines, his country and his family.

In the Marine Corps, he served in two major conflicts, World War II and Korea, as well as stations throughout East Asia.

The son of Italian immigrants, Warrant Officer Domino was an exceptional athlete in his youth, lettering in baseball, football and track. His studies in agricultural engineering at university were interrupted when his father, a store keeper, lost everything in the great depression.

That’s when he joined the Marine Corps for his first tour of duty, earning less than $20 a month. He was to later re-enlist and make the Corps a career.

Domino was married for nearly 50 years to the love of his life, Anne. They had four children who gave them six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Proud to say he “loved the Corps,” he served as a valet to Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the United States Pacific Fleet, in the early days of World War II. His tour of duty included service on the USS Augusta, a heavy artillery cruiser.

Domino served in Okinawa for five years during the occupation and sadly remembers the many marines who died there.

He spent a total of 27 years in the Marine Corps, retiring in the late 1950s. After leaving the Corps, he worked for the State of Florida Department of Transportation.

Domino loved to garden and tended his orange trees, vegetables and flowers until he reached 95 years of age.

His daughter, Madeline, enjoys looking through photos of his days training at Paris Island, his tours of duty to China, the Philippines, the Panama Canal, Australia and Japan.

About her dad, she says, “Dad is truly an amazing person and a great father and husband. He is always complimentary of my mother who followed him around the country on his U.S. assignments and reared the children, many times alone.

“As a father, dad always offered guidance to his children and instilled in us the virtues of faith in God, hard work, honesty and the value of an education. We are so blessed to have dad with us on this momentous occasion. We love you dad!”

A lifetime member of the Masons, Warrant Officer Domino was saluted on the NBC Today Show on July 12. The local Veterans Affairs Medical Center will celebrate his 100th birthday with a special party in his honor.

By Hans Petersen, VA Staff Writer

MCPON Celebrates Navy Birthday with Guantanamo Service Members

By Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Leona Mynes, Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Public Affairs

GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba (NNS) -- Service members from all branches of the U.S. military and civilians celebrated the Navy's 235th birthday during an Oct. 16 ball at the Windjammer Ballroom at Naval Station Guantanamo (GTMO) Bay, Cuba.

More than 300 people attended the event, including guest speaker, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick D. West.

The celebration, themed "U.S. Navy Sailor–235 Years of Tradition," highlighted the history and heritage of U.S. Navy Sailors around the world.

"As we celebrate our Navy's birthday and look toward the future, we should take the time to look back at our impressive history and consider how it has shaped us into the Navy we are today," said West.

The Navy includes more than 430,000 active and reserve Sailors, more than 200,000 civilian employees, more than 3,700 functional aircraft and 288 deployable battle force ships.

"Throughout our long and illustrious history, we have experienced a continuum of changing times," said West. "The United States Navy has remained steadfast and ready, answering every call our nation has given. Here in GTMO, your service is simply outstanding and is essential to our maritime strategy.

West added that U.S. Navy presence is global, and the missions in which Sailors are involved remains constant.

"Today, America's Navy is very much a global force for good, on-station around the world, around the clock," said West.

87-Year-Old Veteran Volunteers 30 Hours a Week

Some know him as the "Popcorn Man." All know him as a friendly face they look forward to seeing.

At 87, Charles Wilson is a spry, cheerful World War II Veteran who arrives at 4:50 a.m. every morning to volunteer at his hometown VA Medical Center in Saginaw, Michigan. Wilson has been a helping hand to VA patients and staff for the past 29 years.

In 1976, Wilson was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. After surgery, his doctors predicted that he would lose the use of his voice. "I wasn't supposed to be able to talk, but I surprised them," said Wilson.

The Veteran's successful recovery inspired him to start volunteering at the VA periodically, and he began working a regular 30-hour week in 1981.

"I wanted to give back because the VA did such a good job saving my life and it didn't cost me anything."

Just the Man for the Job

Working primarily as a patient escort, Wilson zips around on his Amigo electric cart delivering documents and snacks around the medical center. He often makes and delivers popcorn, earning him the nickname, "Popcorn Man."

Wilson enjoys his job and has fun driving the halls. "I get to go around and see all the pretty nurses" said Wilson with a chuckle. "It keeps my ego up."

His favorite part of the job is getting to see friendly, familiar faces around the VA. He also values the job as a good way to keep himself busy.

Patients and VA staff look forward to seeing Wilson's smiling face every day. Sometimes, he'll share some interesting tales about his time in World War II. He served in the U.S. Army field artillery in Germany and was just outside Berlin when German troops surrendered to the Allies.

"This Man is a Walking Miracle"

Wilson, nicknamed "The Popcorn Man," arrives at 4:50 a.m. daily to make fresh coffee and popcorn.

Carrie Seward, VA Voluntary Services Manager in Saginaw, calls Wilson a "walking miracle." In addition to his unexpected recovery from cancer, Wilson had two strokes, but went straight back to work once he recovered.

"Charlie comes to work in all weather. We get a good share of snow here, but he still makes it into work every morning," said Seward.

Wilson's six-hour daily schedule is not his only weekly commitment. He is an active member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1859 and is part of the Honor Guard for local military funerals.

Wilson, whose wife is deceased, lives on his own, completely independent. "I'm still in charge of all my housework — I do my own laundry," he stated with pride.

Last summer, Governor Jennifer Granholm gave a special commendation to Wilson when he reached 22,000 hours of volunteer time. He is now up to 23,500 and counting.

"If anyone is interested in volunteering at the VA, I'd tell them to check it out and be sensible. You've got to commit to it, but it's a good thing to do."

By Megan Tyson, VA Staff Writer

This Day in Naval History - Oct. 19

From the Navy News Service

1843 - Capt. Robert Stockton on Princeton, the first screw-propelled naval steamer, challenges British merchant ship Great Western to a race off New York, which Princeton won easily.

1915 - Submarine Base at New London, Conn is established.

1944 - Secretary of the Navy orders African-American women accepted into the Naval Reserve.

1987 - Iranian oil-drilling platform used for military purposes is destroyed.

"Rosie the Riveter" Turned Soldier Salutes Women Veterans at Cincinnati

The Cincinnati VA Medical Center celebrated Veterans Day this year with a special event saluting women Veterans from conflicts past and present.

The Cincinnati facility, where 99 staff members are women Veterans, hosted the special activities as a special tribute to those women who have served their county in times of war and peace.

At a dinner hosted by the medical center, the staff heard an inspiring address by Dr. Lynn Ashley, a World War II woman Veteran and educator, facilitator, and consultant, who praised the work of women Veterans and reflected on the vital work they do today in all areas of government service.

Dr. Ashley's career provides a unique perspective on the roles women Veterans have held throughout American history.

Hers is a colorful story, which begins 65 years ago:

Gas Mask Day

It was a Wednesday, gas mask day, at Carlsbad Army Air Corps Base in Carlsbad, N.M. The base teemed with new recruits and among them was Marilyn Haynes. Years later she would become Lynn Ashley, Ph.D, but in 1944, she was simply a 23-year-old clerk typist in the Women's Army Corps (WAC).

"Back then, we had gas mask day because the mindset was that we could be overrun by Japanese or Germans at any time," said Ashley. "We had to wear gas masks all day, no matter what we did."

That particular Wednesday was Ashley's lucky day. Because pilots and bombardiers stationed at the base were paid per flight, they were eager to take to the skies as often as possible, but they had to have observers in the plane to verify their flight. A captain asked Ashley if she would be his observer. She had never been on a plane before, and even better, she wouldn't have to wear a gas mask, so she immediately agreed.

Ashley was watching the cacti and the rocks whizzing past far below when the pilot noticed something was wrong with the bomb bay doors.

"He told me to take the controls while he checked the doors," said Ashley. "And he said, 'All you have to do is keep the wings level with the horizon.' I was looking at the mountains in front of me and thinking, 'How on earth am I going to do this?'"

What could she do but follow orders? Ten minutes later, the pilot returned to his seat, eyed the controls, and told a shaken Ashley she had only climbed 1,000 feet, so she "didn't do too badly."

From Rivets to Mission Logistics

Ashley, who had been working as a riveter at a Chicago defense plant the year before, enlisted in the WAC to support her brother's military service. Another reason for her enlistment had to do with the union moving into the plant and her being a bit, well, opinionated. "I was a little outspoken about it," she admitted. "And it looked like if I didn't leave, they'd ask me to. So I left and joined the Army. I thought it would get me overseas."

It got her as far as Georgia for six weeks of basic training, which included 238 hours of clerical training, learning about the organization of the Army along with touch typing, company records and reports, military discipline, personnel administration and finance.

After basic training, Ashley was assigned to the New Mexico airbase, where she was promoted to a corporal.

She worked "on the line" at the tarmac where aircraft pulled up for inspection and repair. It took Ashley 30 minutes to walk from her barracks to the office, bracing herself against the sandstorms that sometimes swept the airbase. Ashley's job was to figure out the mechanical logistics of missions, developing training schedules, determining which aircraft were available for exercises, and tracking the number of planes needed for each mission.

"You Just Did Your Job"

Looking back 65 years later, Ashley said she didn't experience any difficulties as a woman in the military. "It was just like working any place else. You just did your job and went home each evening," she said. "I was never aware of a lot of things that women in the military are going through now, being challenged physically, morally, and sexually."

Ashley is very involved in supporting today's military women. She's a member of an all-women's American Legion Post, assists deployed soldiers and their families in a military support group, and is on the Governor's Advisory Committee on Women Veterans.

"When I returned from war, I wasn't treated any differently as a Veteran, but you have to realize that there were hundreds and hundreds of us back then," said Ashley. "Now, some people don't realize there's a war going on and it's sad. It's my mission to do everything I can to try and educate people that we need to support the people who are over there."

By Stephanie Strauss, VA Staff Writer

NAVFAC Mid-Atlantic Contract Specialist Honored

From Naval Facilities Engineering Command Mid-Atlantic Public Affairs

NORFOLK, Va. (NNS) -- A Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Mid-Atlantic contract specialist was recognized by two national groups for his assistance with the National Industries for the Blind (NIB) Contract Management Support (CMS) training program Oct. 8.

Charles Spicer received an award from NIB and the National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind at their annual training conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.

NIB approached Spicer in 2009 when the organization discovered the need for a compatibility software adjustment while creating a training program to help the blind and visually impaired pursue careers in contract management.

"I advised NIB that Window-Eyes may be a solution to the problems," said Spicer. "I set up my laptop computer in our conference room and demonstrated how a blind person accesses and uses PD2 [Procurement Desktop Defense]."

When Spicer worked with the Army, he used a software program called Job Access With Speech (JAWS) with PD2, a contract writing software system, to perform his contract specialist duties. However, after a minor upgrade to PD2, JAWS no longer functioned with the PD2 system and he lost speech output.

Then, when Spicer began working with the Navy in 2009 and PD2 was accessed through the Citrix server, he again encountered the same compatibility issues. Using Window-Eyes, a screen-reading program that allows the user to hear what is on the screen by using key strokes, helped him gain access to the tools he needed to do his job.

Spicer's collaborations with NIB's CMS training program has allowed NIB to continue its mission to provide high-growth career opportunities in contract management for skilled blind and visually impaired professionals.

"Thanks to Charles' efforts getting screen-reading software installed on Navy central servers, NIB was able to provide a prototype example to the rest of the Department of Defense and the Army for eventual enterprise-wide approvals for assistive technology for the blind and visually impaired," said Douglas Goist, NIB CMS Assistive Technology coordinator.

Spicer's award coincides with National Disability Employment Awareness Month, which is recognized in October to raise awareness of the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities.

Training Pilot Builds Reserve Skills for Logistic Support Representative Apprentices

By Lt. j.g. Michelle Tobias, Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers (COMFISCS) Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Commander, Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers (COMFISCS) conducted a Logistics Support Representative (LSR) Apprentice training pilot Sept. 13-17 for 29 Navy Reserve Component (RC) Sailors.

The week-long logistics course, held at Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC) San Diego, was created to make Selected Reservists (SELRES) "board ready" when they report to their assigned FISC location. Training SELRES as LSRs enables them to provide capability to their supported FISC during annual training periods or when needed.

The first of its kind training included information on the COMFISCS organization and its partner sites, as well as Logistics Support Center (LSC) operations, husbanding fundamentals, and the unique role of the worldwide FISC network of logistics professionals.

LSC program director Bill Cording spoke with the students about the future of the LSR program and how RC Sailors might support global logistics during future annual training periods and mobilizations.

Course participants received hands-on training on One Touch Support (OTS), a single integrated Web-based interface for the Navy's integrated supply system. Familiarity with OTS will prepare SELRES for work at an LSC during annual training (AT) periods or mobilization.

Students learned about the afloat supply departments during tours hosted by USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Bunker Hill (CG 52). This opportunity was a highlight for many students, particularly those who had never been aboard a ship.

"One of the most useful things was when we learned about each [supply] department's interaction with the LSR," said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Alan Coburn.

The chance to see the fleet side of logistics support was an invaluable opportunity for them to better understand a ship's potential needs and limitations.

"We also learned about the storage capacity on the ship," said Logistics Specialist 1st Class Christopher Eastin. "It was really good to see the effect of a certain number of pallets on a small ship."

Tours of FISC San Diego and Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) showed students what happens behind the scenes as goods and materials are received from vendors and prepared for delivery to the ships. Understanding the role an LSR plays between DLA and the ships on the waterfront was significant for the students, many of whom had never seen or worked with DLA during previous drill weekends or AT.

Training additional SELRES to step into the LSR role is of critical significance as global logistics grows in increasing importance around the globe. Students agreed that the course was a tremendous learning opportunity and demonstrated the concept of the reserves as a force multiplier.

"I wish I had [OTS] access and LSR training before I went to Jacksonville (Fla.) to assist with the Haiti relief efforts," said Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Felix Jordan

For more information about the pilot LSR Apprentice course or future LSR courses, please contact Lt. j.g. Michelle Tobias at michelle.tobias@navy.mil or Logistics Specialist 2nd Class Cliff Dumpit at clifford.dumpit@navy.mil.>

COMFISCS provides an array of integrated global logistics and contracting services to Navy and Joint operational units across all warfare enterprises.

COMFISCS is responsible for facilitating best business practices and efficiencies across the seven FISCs headquartered in San Diego, Calif.; Norfolk, Va.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Yokosuka, Japan; Pearl Harbor, Hawaii; Bremerton (Puget Sound), Wash.; and Sigonella, Italy; and for optimizing the performance of base supply functions and standardizing levels of service across 11 regions and 70 Navy installations.

Comprised of more than 5,700 military and civilian logistics professionals, contractors and foreign nationals, COMFISCS operates as a single cohesive team providing global logistics services from 110 locations worldwide.

A component of the Naval Supply Systems Command, headquartered in Mechanicsburg, Pa., COMFISCS is part of a worldwide logistics network of more than 22,500 military and civilian personnel providing combat capability through logistics.

USA Cares Partners with Rock Star Comic Book Artist Dave Dorman for Project 52

RADCLIFF, KY- October 14, 2010-USA Cares is pleased to announce a partnership with #1 Star Wars artist and Eisner Award-winning illustrator Dave Dorman on Project 52, which is raising money for financially challenged post-9/11 military and their families.

Dorman, the son of USAF Lieutenant Colonel Jack Dorman, first announced his intention on his blog October 1, 2010, his 52nd birthday, to paint 52 paintings to "give back" to USA Cares' military families. "I know firsthand what it means to live the life of a family whose parent is an active duty military member. I want to ease the financial burden of those families who today are going through what I did," Dorman said. Said Dorman's Director of Social Media Jacob K. Young, "Through Project 52, we're seeing Dave Dorman capturing pivotal moments in our American history on canvas. These paintings will hang in the Smithsonian one day, and the crowd funding fans are the elites making this happen, five dollars at a time."

Dorman is "crowd funding" this passion project through http://www.indiegogo.com/Project-52. Donors are being asked to give the

following:

-Project 52 Supporter: $5 - Donor or the person of their choice will

be listed in the Project 52 fine art book.

-Dedicated Supporter: $25 - Donor may honor the special person or

soldier in their life with a two-line dedication in the Project 52 fine art book.

-Bronze Level Donor: $50 - Donor will receive a signed copy of the

Project 52 regular retail edition fine art book.

-Silver Level Donor: $100 - Donor will receive a signed, dedicated

copy of the Project 52 Limited Edition version of the fine art book.

-Gold Level Donor: $250 - Donor will receive a signed, numbered copy

of the Project 52 Limited Edition Lithograph on acid-free, archival paper. This can be personalized if they choose, as well as a signed copy of the Limited Edition fine art book.

-Platinum Level Donor: $1000 - The first 52 donors who give at the

Platinum Level will receive one of the actual Project 52 Paintings plus the fine art limited edition lithograph, autographed, as well as a signed, Limited Edition fine art hardcover book.

Dorman's goal is to raise $52,000, to enable him to complete the paintings, as well as cover production costs for printing the books and lithographs. Dorman is donating 50% of all book and lithograph sales to USA Cares. Dorman has already designated 20% of his new career retrospective art book, ROLLING

THUNDER: THE ART OF DAVE DORMAN.

About USA Cares

USA Cares is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization that helps post-9/11 military and their families with basic needs, assists veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) and their families and works to prevent private military home foreclosures and evictions. In seven years, USA Cares has received over 24,000 requests and responded with more than $7 million in grants. Military families anywhere in America can apply for assistance through the USA Cares web site, http://www.usacares.org/ or by calling 1-800-773-0387.

About Dave Dorman

Dave Dorman is an Eisner award-winning illustrator who has been working as a professional artist since 1979.  He is best known for his photo-realistic renderings of action and fantasy subjects. For more information on Project 52 visithttp://www.indiegogo.com/Project-52 or contact Dorman's publicist: denise@writebrainmedia.com or call USA Cares at 1.800.773.0387. For more information on Dave Dorman visit http://www.davedorman.com/.