VADM Currier Tours ZF Marine in Germany

By DCMS Log

VADM Currier Visits ZF Marine in Friedrichshafen, Germany. ZF is the maker of reduction gears in the 87' Marine Protector Class and Fast Response Cutters. VADM Currier met with company top executives and toured the factory production facility with Gunter Rothenhaulser, Vice President of ZF Marine Group.

This Day in Naval History - Dec. 10

From the Navy News Service

1941 - Guam surrenders to Japanese forces.

1941 - Aircraft from USS Enterprise (CV 6) attack and sink Japanese Submarine I-70 north of the Hawaiian Islands. A participant in the Pearl Harbor Attack, I-70 is the first Japanese combatant ship sunk during World War II.

1941 - A patrol bomber from Patrol Squadron 101 shoots down a Japanese zero fighter in first Navy air-to-air kill during World War II.

1950 - Evacuation operations at Wonson, North Korea, are completed.

1979 - The first Poseidon-class submarine configured with Trident missiles, USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN 657), completes its initial deterrent patrol.

1982 - USS Ohio (SSBN 726), the first Trident-Class submarine, returns from first deterrent patrol.

National Guard Celebrates 374 Years

By Army Sgt. Darron Salzer

National Guard Bureau

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2010 – Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry “Bud” Wyatt, director of the Air National Guard, helped the Guard mark its 374th birthday yesterday at a Capitol Hill celebration.

“Historians have traced the origins of the National Guard to the first muster on Dec. 13, 1636, in the colony of Massachusetts, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony summoned their militia, and organized them into three regiments in the North, South and East,” Wyatt said.

“I’m sure those Guardsmen and soldiers in Massachusetts back in 1636 could not have imagined the missions that the Guard does today,” the general continued. “They would probably also be amazed to find that we now number close to half a million soldiers and airmen in service to their country.”

Other honored guests in attendance to wish the Guard a happy birthday included Congressmen Steve Buyer of Indiana, Duncan Hunter from California, Gene Taylor from Mississippi, and Christopher Bond of Missouri.

The National Guard Association of the United States hosted the event in the Rayburn House Office Building.

Navy Takes to the Air to Beat Army, 31-17

By Gerry J. Gilmore

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11, 2010 – Navy quarterback Ricky Dobbs today threw for 186 yards against an anemic Army pass defense as the Midshipmen beat the Black Knights, 31-17, at the Army-Navy football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia.

The Navy football team’s win provided its ninth-straight victory over the Army squad in the annual contest.

The game began somewhat clumsily when both teams experienced running-game fumbles -- one by Dobbs – in the first quarter.

Navy, however, quickly scored a field goal, making the score 3-0. Then, an energized Dobbs began to find his receivers about midway into the first quarter. He first hit Navy slot back John Howell for a 77-yard touchdown. The extra point made the score Navy 10, Army 0.

About a minute into the second quarter, Dobbs struck again, tossing a 32-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Brandon Turner. The extra point put Navy ahead of Army 17-0.

Army got on the scoreboard in the second quarter after recovering a Navy fumble. After gaining 23 yards, Trent Steelman tossed a five-yard touchdown pass to slot back Malcolm Brown in the end zone. The extra point made the score Navy 17, Army 7.

The Navy struck back late in the second quarter when Steelman fumbled the ball during a quarterback sneak play on the Midshipmen’s goal line. Navy safety Wyatt Middleton recovered the fumble and ran it back for a 98-yard touchdown. The Navy squad made the extra point.

At halftime, Navy led Army 24-7.

Both teams tried and failed to gain any momentum in the third quarter. However, the Black Knights kicked a field goal in the third quarter to make the score Navy, 24, Army 10.

In the fourth quarter, Midshipmen running back Gee Gee Greene rushed 25 yards into the end zone for another Navy touchdown. The extra point made the score Navy 31, Army 10.

Yet, the Black Knights refused to surrender. With four minutes left in the game, Steelman completed a pass to Brown, who ran into the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point made the score Navy 31, Army 17.

The Navy victory ups their season’s record to 9-3. The Army’s record drops to 6-6.

Today in the Department of Defense, Monday, December 13, 2010

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates and hosts an honor cordon to welcome Israel’s Minister of Defense Ehud Barak to the Pentagon today at 10:15 a.m. EST.  The cordon will be held on the steps of the Pentagon River Entrance.  Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the Pentagon River Parking Entrance only.  Plan to arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the event; have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification.  Please call 703-697-5131 for escort to the cordon.

Deputy Secretary of Defense William J. Lynn has no public or media events on his schedule.

Today in the Department of Defense, Sunday, December 12, 2010

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