Are You Ready for Christmas?

ReadyWisconsin has simple tips to keep the holiday safe

(MADISON) – The joys of the holidays are all around us, but so are the dangers. Based on data from the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), an estimated 250 home fires involving Christmas trees and another 170 home fires involving holiday lights and other decorative lighting occur each year. Together, these fires result in 21 deaths and 43 injuries.

By taking a little TLC…Tree, Lights and Candle Safety…you can help ensure a safe and happy holiday season for yourself and your family.

“T” is for Tree:

Selecting a Tree for the Holiday

Needles on fresh trees should be green and hard to pull back from the branches, and the needle should not break if the tree has been freshly cut. The trunk should be sticky to the touch. Old trees can be identified by bouncing the tree trunk on the ground – if many needles fall off, the tree has probably dried out and is a fire hazard.

Caring for Your Tree

Do not place your tree close to a heat source, including a fireplace or heat vent. The heat will dry out the tree, causing it to be more easily ignited by heat, flame or sparks. Be careful not to drop or flick cigarette ashes near a tree. Keep the tree stand filled with water at all times.

Disposing of Your Tree

Never put tree branches or needles in a fireplace or wood-burning stove. When the tree becomes dry, discard it promptly. The best way to dispose of your tree is by taking it to a recycling center or having it hauled away by a community pick-up service.

Artificial Christmas Trees

If you are using a metallic or artificial tree, make sure it is flame retardant.

“L” is for Lights:

Maintain Your Holiday Lights

Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear before putting them up. Use only lighting listed by an approved testing laboratory.

Do Not Overload Electrical Outlets

Do not link more than three light strands unless the directions indicate it is safe. Connect strings of lights to an extension cord before plugging the cord into the outlet. Make sure to periodically check the wires – they should not be warm to the touch. Do not leave holiday lights on unattended.

Use Only Nonflammable Decorations

All decorations should be nonflammable or flame retardant and placed away from heat vents.

C is for Candle:

Avoid Using Lit Candles

Candle use increases the incidence of holiday fires. If you do use them, make sure they are in stable holders and place them where they cannot be easily knocked down. Never leave the house with candles burning. Keep candles at a height where children and pets cannot reach them.  Consider using flameless candles that provide the appearance and glow of a candle but are safely battery operated.

Never Put Lit Candles on a Tree

Do not go near a Christmas tree with an open flame – candles, lighters or matches.

Finally, as in every season, have working smoke alarms installed on every level of your home, test them monthly and keep them clean and equipped with fresh batteries at all times. Know when and how to call for help, and remember to practice your home escape plan.

ReadyWisconsin is a campaign from Wisconsin Emergency Management with a mission to prepare individuals, families and businesses for emergencies and disasters. For additional winter safety tips, visit http://ReadyWisconsin.wi.gov or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ReadyWisconsin) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/ReadyWisconsin).

This Day in Naval History - Nov. 29

From the Navy News Service

1775 - Capt. John Manley in schooner Lee captures British ordnance ship Nancy with large quantity of munitions.

1890 - First Army-Navy football game (Navy won 24-0).

1929 - Cmdr. Richard Byrd makes first flight over South Pole.

1944 - USS Archerfish (SS 311) sinks Japanese carrier Shinano, world's largest warship sunk by any submarine during World War II.

Native Americans and the United States Coast Guard

Written by: LTJG Stephanie Young

In recognition of Native American Heritage Day, we have asked William H. Thiesen, Ph.D. the United States Coast Guard Atlantic Area Historian to provide some history on Native Americans who have served with pride and distinction in the United States Coast Guard and its predecessor services.

Minorities have participated in the U.S. Coast Guard since the service’s beginning in 1790 and have served throughout the history of the Coast Guard and its predecessor services. Since the nineteenth century, Native American members of the U. S. Coast Guard have served from a variety of tribes and locations and pioneered the way ahead for service diversity.

It is not known who the first Native American individual to enlist in the Coast Guard was, but, as a group, the first Native Americans that served typically came from coastal tribes known to be expert watermen. These tribes included the Wampanoags in Massachusetts, Ojibwa in the Great Lakes and the Makah tribe in Washington State. Native Americans from these tribes typically served at shore bases in predecessor services such as the U.S. Life-Saving Service and the U.S. Lighthouse Service.

An example of one of the earliest documented Native American involvements in the service occurred in 1879 at the Life-Saving Service station at Neah Bay, Washington. Neah Bay was composed of a white keeper and an entirely Native American crew. The crewmembers included skilled surfmen, such as As-Chik-Abik, Tsos-et-oos, and Tsa-la-boos. This unit was the first one in federal service composed primarily of Native Americans and it was formed not long after Custer’s Last Stand at the Little Bighorn, when anti-Native American sentiment ran high.

From 1912 until 1933, Charles Vanderhoop, of the Aquinnah Wampanoags, served in the U.S. Lighthouse Service as a keeper for lighthouses on the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. As keeper, Vanderhoop would hire other Wampanoag tribal members as assistants because they proved more reliable and hardworking. Vanderhoop was very popular as the long-serving keeper at Gay Head Lighthouse, and visitors from the community flocked to the lighthouse where he gave tours to approximately 300,000 visitors.

Native American Coast Guard personnel have also served with distinction in time of war. Wampanoag Carlton West, of Nantucket, served in World War I and World War II. George “White Bear” Drapeaux, of the Sioux Nation, served as a gunners mate during World War II, including service on the USS Wakefield in Singapore. And, in 1943, James Leftwich, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, enlisted in the Coast Guard at the ripe age of fourteen. He retired as an officer in 1964 after a fruitful career in the service.

Native Americans in the United States Coast Guard have served from a variety of Indian nations, including not only coastal tribes, but the Sioux, Cherokee, Chickasaw and many others. These personnel pioneered the way ahead for minorities in the Coast Guard and their efforts have benefitted all who serve in the U.S. military and their efforts have benefitted all who serve in the U.S. military and federal government, and the nation as a whole.

Exercises in Korea Long-planned, Sharp Says

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 27, 2010 – Movements of troops in South Korea and ships in the Yellow Sea are part of long-planned exercises and shouldn’t be seen as a response to North Korea’s Nov. 23 attack on Yeonpyeong Island, the commander of United Nations Command said today.

“Media rhetoric from North Korea, along with images of [South Korean] forces moving on the peninsula may give you a misperception of efforts on the peninsula,” Army Gen. Walter “Skip” Sharp said in a community message aimed at Americans living and serving in Korea.

South Korean forces are participating in the previously planned annual Hoguk exercise. The exercises, announced Nov. 16, feature movements of some 70,000 South Korean soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.

“The USS George Washington will also participate in a previously planned, combined, training exercise,” Sharp said in his message. Neither Hoguk nor the George Washington carrier battle group exercise is in response to Tuesday’s attack that killed four people on the island.

South Korean and U.S. forces hold exercises year-round to improve readiness and to ensure a peaceful and safe environment on the peninsula, he said.

Sharp visited Yeongpyeong Island yesterday to assess the damage the unprovoked artillery barrage caused. Analysts are calling the attack one of the most serious since the Korean War Armistice Agreement was signed in 1953. The attack killed two South Korean marines and two civilians.

Combined Forces Command Deputy Commander Gen. Jung Seung-Jo, members of the Swiss and Swedish Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission, and members of the UNC Military Armistice Commission accompanied Sharp to the island.

During the visit, the general called on North Korea to refrain from additional attacks and provocative actions, and meet with United Nations Command officials immediately in the truce village of Panmunjom for general officer talks to discuss the incident.

Veterans’ Reflections: Putting Personal Comforts Aside

By Ian Graham

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Nov. 26, 2010 – Like a lot of people at that stage of their lives, Lisa Reed wasn’t sure what she wanted to do in the late 1990s. After a year of ambiguity in community college, she said, she saw opportunity in the Air Force and enlisted in 1999.

Training was a bit of a shock, she admitted. Initially, she said, she was overwhelmed. As a woman, she found herself in a small minority at basic training. But that feeling subsided, she added, as she became close with her fellow servicemembers.

“At first, it was very obvious,” she said. “All of a sudden, [the women] were completely outnumbered. As time went by, it became less noticeable.” At one point, she was assigned to an F-15C squadron with 30 male fighter pilots.

People certainly can face gender problems in the service, Reed said, but on the whole, it’s like a family, and military camaraderie should not be taken lightly.

It’s hard to find that kind of friendship in the civilian world, she said, adding that the closeness people experience working together in the military is far beyond a normal co-worker relationship.

“I looked at my male co-workers as family members,” she said, “and my female co-workers as my sisters.”

In August 2001, Reed was sent to Kuwait. She did intelligence work for a fighter squadron watching the no-fly zone over Iraq as part of Operation Southern Watch. A month into her deployment, her mission changed drastically.

None of her military training, she said, had equipped her for the events of Sept. 11, 2001.

“It was hard, seeing something like that happen to your country, your friends, your family, while you’re in a foreign country,” she said. “You feel helpless. Even though there wasn’t anything anybody could do, there’s still a feeling like you can’t do anything to help. It’s surreal.”

The no-fly zone took second chair. Operation Southern Watch was set aside for Operation Enduring Freedom. Reed’s job was to compile and deliver messages to her commander. She primarily dealt with threats pilots could face in the air.

“Basically, I would go through terrorism-related message traffic and report to the base commander in the war room about possible threats,” she said.

Both of her parents had served in the Air Force, Reed said, so she was accustomed to the military lifestyle. In fact, she said, she wanted the travel opportunities the military would provide her. Since she left the service in 2003, she has traveled in India and Tibet as well as across the United States.

“Whenever you travel to a different place, it sets a specific chapter in your life,” she said. “It makes that time in your life, the people you meet there, and the things that happen very memorable.”

Her time in service is memorable, she said, because of the events that happened while she was in uniform, and because of the value she places on her service.

“Being a veteran means you’ve given up part of your life and the comforts of ‘normal’ life for your country, and for the people you serve with,” Reed said. “You put your personal comforts aside for a few years. It says a lot about someone’s character, that they can put their life in someone else’s hands and work in a team setting with them.”

(“Veterans’ Reflections” is a collection of stories of men and women who served their country in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and the present-day conflicts. They will be posted throughout November in honor of Veterans Day.)

Winston S. Churchill Sailor Receives Thanksgiving Call from Commander in Chief

By Lt. j.g. Colleen R. Praxmarer, Destroyer Squadron Two Six Public Affairs Officer

USS Winston S. Churchill, At Sea (NNS) -- President Barack Obama surprised one exceptional Sailor aboard guided missile destroyer USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG 81) with a Thanksgiving Day phone call.

President Obama called Ship Serviceman Seaman Tabatha Figueroa to thank her for her role in Winston S. Churchill's rescue of 62 stranded mariners in the Gulf of Aden Sept. 26.

"You are doing wonderful things," Obama said. "I heard what you did on the day of the rescue at sea and I am very proud of you."

Figueroa was recommended to receive the President's phone call by U.S. 5th Fleet Force Master Chief Charles Clarke after she received a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for helping to resuscitate one of the mariners who had fallen in the water after their distressed vessel capsized.

"When it looked as if all hope was gone, Seaman Figueroa refused to quit [CPR]," said Churchill Command Master Chief James Reckhouse. "Because of her actions, the young man's life was saved."

The President spoke with the Torrance, Ca. Sailor for a few minutes, thanking her for her service and for being away from her family on Thanksgiving.

The President also passed along a "Happy Thanksgiving" to Figueroa's mother, brother and her fellow crew members aboard Winston S. Churchill.

"When I was younger and my dad passed away, my mother told me that God had amazing experiences in store for me but I never thought that speaking to the President would be one of them," Figueroa said. "He took the time out of his busy schedule to talk to an E-3, which is phenomenal, especially on Thanksgiving. It meant the world to me and I am very grateful that I was chosen to receive the phone call."

The phone call from the President was another highlight in a successful deployment for Winston S. Churchill which has conducted counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden, provided escort duties to U.S. and coalition vessels operating in the region, and conducted maritime security operations in the North Arabian Sea and Arabian Gulf.

"It was an unbelievable experience! I could not be any prouder than I am to have Seaman Figueroa represent our crew as she spoke to the President," said Cmdr. Juan Orozco, Commanding Officer of Winston S. Churchill. "It is fantastic to see such a great young Sailor be recognized by President Obama."

Winston S. Churchill is currently on a routine scheduled deployment as a part of the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group to the U.S. 5th Fleet area of responsibility.

Today in the Department of Defense, Monday, November 29, 2010

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

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen participates in a panel on Work/Life Balance at the Sloan Foundation Focus on Workplace Flexibility Conference at 7 p.m. EST in the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.  Media interested in attending should contact JCS Public Affairs at 703-697-4272.

Mullen: North Korea’s Unpredictability Endangers Region

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2010 – The only thing predictable about the North Korean regime is its unpredictability, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a television broadcast today.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen told CNN today that North Korean dictator Kim Jong-il is trying to assure the transition of leadership to his son, Kim Jong-un. He implied that the sinking of the South Korean navy ship Cheonan in March and the artillery strikes on Yeongpyeong Island on Nov. 23 are part of that process.

Mullen called the North Korean leader belligerent and dangerous.

“He is consistently destabilizing and is only predictable in his unpredictability,” the admiral said. “He galvanizes everyone around with the potential that they could go to war with South Korea.”

North Korea is on a path to develop nuclear weapons, and the artillery strikes on Yeongpyeong Island are latest sign of his continued belligerence, he said.

Kim Jong-il reportedly cited South Korea’s recent military exercises with the United States as a reason for the artillery strike.

However, the Hoguk series of exercises that began earlier this month in South Korea and include 70,000 South Korean troops, have been long planned, Mullen said. Exercises built around the USS George Washington carrier battle group in the Yellow Sea began today. Both sets of exercises are built around deterrence, in response to the sinking of the Cheonan, which killed 46 South Korean sailors.

“It focuses on security in the Yellow Sea particularly in respect to submarine warfare,” he said. “It is meant to send a very strong signal of deterrence and also to work with close allies in South Korea.

“I don’t think this will be the last exercise,” he added. “This is a part of the world that we’ve exercised in for decades and we will continue.”

South Korea and the United States are focused on restraint and not letting the situation get out of control, the admiral said. “The South Koreans, so far, have responded that way,” he said. “Nobody wants this thing to turn into a conflict.”

China is also urging restraint and Chinese leaders probably are the only people who can exert influence on North Korea, Mullen said.

“The Chinese certainly were involved with the response at the United Nations after the sinking of the Cheonan,” he said. “The North Koreans were taken aback by the strength of that response from China. We think it is important for the international community to lead, but in particular, China.

“It’s a very dangerous area when [Kim] does this. It destabilizes the region, and China has as much to lose as anybody.”

Donley Lauds Air Guard's Capability, Reach

By Air Force Tech Sgt. John Orrell

National Guard Bureau

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2010 – The Air Force’s senior civilian said the Air National Guard leads the way in providing "maximum combat power when and where the nation needs it, with the absolute best value for each and every taxpayer dollar."

"Our nation's global reach, as it exists today, would be impossible without the contributions of the Guard," Air Force Secretary Michael B. Donley said last week during remarks at the Air National Guard's 2010 Senior Leadership Conference here.

Donley, the conference’s keynote speaker, focused on the role the Air Guard has in the Air Force and the future of the total force initiative.

"As the guarantors of the Air Force's contract with the American people to keep our skies safe, you have been annually responsible for 94 percent of our alert sites and up to 60 percent of the active intercepts of performing the air sovereignty mission," he said.

Donley also acknowledged the operational importance of the Guard to Iraq and Afghanistan missions. "Your contributions were critical to the movement of over five million tons of cargo and 13 million passengers to Afghanistan," he said. "And that was before the surge even began."

In addition to bringing global vigilance and reach, the Air Guard also provides global power to the fight with 29 percent of the Air Force's fighter attack aircraft.

"Guard fighters provide close air support, dominating the high ground through armed watch over ground patrols and sometimes shaping insurgent behavior with simply a loud and timely show of force," Donley said.

"Supporting the joint fight ... the Guard has been providing 25 percent of all remotely piloted aircraft sorties," he said. "Not to mention the processing, exploitation and dissemination of the information that they collect."

Finally, Air Guard rescue units have deployed repeatedly and performed heroically by recovering servicemembers with critical battlefield injuries from hot landing zones, he said.

"These missions and others that the Guard is performing are critical to our success in Afghanistan and Iraq, where we are counted on by our joint and coalition partners to provide global vigilance," he said. "In a similar fashion ... over half of our airlift and refueling fleet is operated by the reserve component, with 40 percent of our air-refueling capability alone residing in the Guard.

"Each of you and your units has contributed to the success of our total force," he said.

Donley also recognized that all of these missions were accomplished by traditional Guardsmen, who have families back home.

"Many of you are accomplishing all of this while balancing a full-time civilian job and family," he said. "I still don't know how you do it all."

One key is the Guard's Yellow Ribbon Program, which provides information, services, referrals and proactive outreach opportunities.

"I am especially impressed with your rapid deployment of airmen and family readiness program managers," Donley said. "You find unique and innovative ways to reach out to family members that are often disbursed geographically across your state."

Donley said he also is impressed with the reach of the Air Guard with 106,700 members in 88 wings and 200 geographically separated units around the country.

"Your geographic footprint ... can also help make us a more diverse and stronger Air Force," he said. "In some states, Guard installations represent the only Air Force presence, making you a critical link from the total force to the state and local communities.

"Beyond your geographic reach, you're also bringing diversity because of the civilian perspectives and varying skill sets you bring to your work," he said.

Donley said the Air Force's senior leadership is proud of the Air Guard's commitment to the states and the country.

"It is the sustained commitment of the National Guard that has helped give meaning to the term ‘total force’ in communities across America," he said.

Veterans' Reflections: Friendships Formed in Battle

By Ian Graham

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2010 – Servicemembers and veterans savor the friendships they make with comrades during wartime, said John Teetz, an Army veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Teetz served in the Army from 2001-2004. Now living in Philadelphia, Pa., Teetz said he originally looked to the service for guidance. College wasn’t giving him what he wanted, and he’d learned the merits of service from his family.

“I was in college, and I wanted something to do with my life,” Teetz said. “My father was ‘in,’ my grandfather was ‘in’ … Navy both of them. I’m not much on boats, and I wanted to do ground stuff, so I joined the Army.”

Teetz enlisted in August 2001 –- his tenth day of basic combat training was Sept. 11, 2001. On that day, he said, the attitude at basic training changed drastically. For him, it meant a new drive.

“It made me train harder,” Teetz said. “A lot of people got scared, a lot of people got more focused –- I guess I was one of the ones that got more focused.”

In 2003, Teetz deployed to Iraq to perform ground surveillance reconnaissance duties. It was in that dangerous, austere environment, he said, that he made some of his closest friends.

“When we finally got electricity up and running, everybody sent off for different things we wanted. I sent for an Xbox, my friend sent for a TV, and pretty soon we had a ‘Madden’ season going.”

But his tour wasn’t all fun and games. During his deployment, one of Teetz’s close friends was hit by an improvised explosive device.

“He had just had a kid, and it took a while to find out that he was okay. It was a scary time,” Teetz said.

After his Iraq deployment ended, Teetz was able to visit his friend in Germany.

“He was still limping around on crutches, but it was good to see him and ‘catch up,’” he said.

That camaraderie, Teetz said, is what made going to war worth it for him, noting he still keeps in touch with his battle buddies from Iraq using online networks like Facebook.

Teetz said his military service benefited him in another way.

“The military made me the man I am today,” he said. “I’m more on point, more responsible. It basically changed my life.”

(Veterans' Reflections is a collection of stories of men and women who served their country in World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Desert Shield and Desert Storm and present-day conflicts. They will be posted throughout November in honor of Veteran's Day.)

Today in the Department of Defense, Friday, November 26, 2010

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

Mullen Cites North Korea’s Unpredictability

By Terri Moon Cronk

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2010 – North Korea’s artillery assault on South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island yesterday is an issue of concern in a region that wants stability, Navy Adm. Mike Mullen said today on ABC’s “The View” television show.

Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deborah, appeared on the daytime talk show to discuss a range of issues, including the situation on the Korean peninsula.

“There is worrisome leadership in North Korea,” Mullen said. “[North Korean President Kim Jong Il is] a very unpredictable guy, a very dangerous guy. This [attack] is also tied, we think, to the succession of his young, 27-year-old [son] who’s going to take over at some point in the future, and he continues to generate these kinds of events.”

Mullen said Americans should be concerned about North Korea’s volatile posture, but he noted that the United States has 28,000 troops in South Korea, where “we are very much aligned with in supporting them.”

“They are a strong ally. We need the region to stay very stable,” Mullen said. “[Kim Jong Il] is a guy who creates instability routinely. I think it’s very important, certainly with the Japanese and the South Koreans, but I also think it’s important for China, to lead. The one country that has influence in Pyongyang is China, so their leadership is absolutely critical.”

North Korea has worked hard to develop nuclear weapons, Mullen said, calling last week’s revelation of the uranium enrichment facility there “a big deal.” He said the facility has been described as sophisticated and modern.

“So, [If Kim Jong Il] continues on that path with nuclear weapons, or his son does, it could be a very dangerous outcome in the long term and it will at least destabilize an important part if the world,” the chairman said.

On the eve of Thanksgiving, Mullen backed the idea of high-level screenings and pat downs at airports.

“The recent events of the two cargo planes that had bombs on them, and certainly the bomb in Times Square, the Detroit bomber [Christmas Day 2009], were all very real and indicative of the threat that’s out there,” he said. “[Terrorists] are still trying to kill as many Americans as they can, so it’s not going to go away.”

Turning to the possible repeal of the military’s so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, Mullen said it is difficult to know what the outcome will be.

“For me,” Mullen said, “it’s been my personal view it is very difficult for an institution that values integrity like the military does to have people show up at work every day and lie about who they are.”

Deborah Mullen said she works with families of returning veterans. She’s also concerned about military’s suicide rate, noting that it is the “most devastating loss to a family.”

“Suicide is taboo in the civilian world. Nobody likes to talk about suicide,” she said. “There really have been no studies done on suicide, and the military is going to lead the way on this because they began a study on suicide about a year ago on a five-year study.”

What the military learns about suicide will be shared with the rest of nation and the world, she said.

Veterans’ Reflections: Third-Generation Sailor Recalls Service

By Ian Graham

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Nov. 25, 2010 – As a third-generation Navy man, John Gainer knew what kind of commitment and dedication it would take when he accepted a commission in 1992.

“Service to our country is one of the most important things you can do as a citizen of the United States,” he said. “It’s one thing my father taught me, and his father had taught him. It was something that was taught to us through our family -- that service and dedication to the cause of freedom is something to be upheld.”

While he was serving aboard a ship in the Persian Gulf following Operation Desert Shield, Gainer said, he was reminded almost daily of that dedication to service as he oversaw maritime intercept missions. He and his crew were a part of the Mideast Force’s naval blockade in 1994. If an incoming ship was thought to have cargo violating United Nations sanctions on Iraq, it was up to them to go through the ship’s hold to find it.

Gainer said some of his most vivid memories come from long days and nights, watching his crew dig through boxes and crates searching for contraband.

“Sometimes we would spend eight, 10, 12 hours out on a ship, going through crates and boxes, making sure there was nothing illegal being transported to Iraq,” he said. “Their dedication to that mission was most impressive to me.”

But the best glimpse into Gainer’s own dedication to his country comes in his humility about it. While some brag and boast of the great things they did while in uniform, Gainer said he was just happy to be able to work for the nation and, as he put it, “the cause of freedom.”

“I’m thankful that I had the opportunity to serve -- to serve the American people and to defend the Constitution of the United States,” he said.

(“Veterans’ Reflections” is a collection of stories of men and women who served their country in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, and the present-day conflicts. They will be posted throughout November in honor of Veterans Day.)

Chairman’s Corner: Happy Thanksgiving

By Navy Adm. Mike Mullen

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2010 – As we reflect on all that we have to be thankful for during this upcoming holiday weekend, I want to express my personal thanks to our armed forces and their families. Their profound commitment -– and sacrifice -– continues to inspire.

It is also fitting that November is Military Family Appreciation Month. Quite simply, without our families, our military would not be capable of all they do during this extraordinary time in our Nation’s history. To all of our family members, we thank you for your service. You make a difference every day, and we are strengthened by your support, your resilience, and your love of your military serviceman or woman.

Sadly, there are families for whom the Thanksgiving table will never be made whole again. For those families whose loved ones have made the ultimate sacrifice, we are mindful of your loss and our solemn obligation to stand by you. We also remember that other families have seen their warriors return with wounds, both visible and invisible. Theirs will also be a particularly poignant holiday and I ask every American to keep them –- and our wounded warriors –- in your thoughts and prayers.

Despite these challenges, we must never lose sight of the fact that Thanksgiving celebrates the blessings our Nation harvests through the hardships we endure together. From colonists seeking a better life in the New World to today’s efforts to secure a better future for our children and grandchildren, Americans have always weathered the tough times with determination and a conviction that brighter days remain ahead.

As we gather to give thanks as a Nation, the Joint Chiefs and I offer our deepest appreciation and gratitude to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, Coastguardsmen and our incredible military families. No matter where you are or how you serve, may you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!

Four Dead in N. Korean Attack, U.S. Carrier Group Deploys

By Jim Garamone

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 24, 2010 – South Korean officials announced that two of the four dead in the unprovoked attack by North Korea yesterday were civilians.

President Barack Obama told South Korean President Lee Myung-bak that the United States stands shoulder-to-shoulder with South Korea.

Obama strongly condemned the North Korean attack on the island of Yeonpyeoung. He said North Korea must stop its provocative actions, which will only lead to further isolation, and fully abide by the terms of the Armistice Agreement and its obligations under international law.

The two presidents agreed to hold combined military exercises and enhanced training in the days ahead to continue the close security cooperation between our two countries, and to underscore the strength of the alliance and the commitment to peace and security in the region.

The USS George Washington carrier strike group will join South Korean naval forces in the Yellow Sea west of the peninsula from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1 to conduct the next exercise in the series announced at the 2-plus-2 meetings in July.

This exercise is defensive in nature, said United Nations Command officials in Seoul. “The intent of the series of exercises is to enhance our interoperability with the Republic of Korea, but also as a deterrent to North Korea,” Pentagon spokesman Marine Col. Dave Lapan said today during a press availability.

The USS George Washington with an embarked carrier air wing, the cruiser USS Cowpens, and the destroyers USS Lassen, USS Stethem and the USS Fitzgerald will participate in the exercise along with South Korean ships. The United States has notified China, Japan and other nations in the region of the exercise in international waters. The USS George Washington last exercised in the area in October 2009.

Officials planned the exercises well in advance of yesterday’s North Korean artillery attack, Lapan said.

“Past exercises, sanctions, international condemnation -– there have been any number of things that have been intended to curb the North’s aggression, but for whatever reason they have chosen to disregard,” he said.

The North Korean attack is a violation of the Armistice Agreement signed in 1953. It follows the North Korean sinking of the South Korean ship Cheonan in March -– an attack that killed 46 South Korean sailors.

There have been many North Korean breaches of the armistice over the years, but it is one of the first to target civilians. The attack has had a chilling effect on the people of South Korea.

“Just the act of aggression itself –- regardless of who was killed –- is what’s of concern to us, but certainly attacking civilians takes this to a different level than we’ve seen in the past,” Lapan said.

Obama said the United States will work with the international community to strongly condemn this outrageous action by North Korea, and to advance peace and security in the region.

Gates Condemns Attack on South Korea

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2010 – Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates today condemned the attack by North Korea on the small South Korean island of Yeonpyeong, according to Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell.

"In a phone call this morning, Secretary Gates told [South Korean Defense] Minister Kim [Tae-young] the United States strongly condemns the artillery attack by North Korea, views it as a violation of the armistice agreement and assured him that we are committed to South Korea's defense,” Morrell said in an issued readout of Gates’ call with Kim.

“He expressed sympathy for the loss of life and appreciation for the restraint shown to date by the South Korean government. The Secretary and the Minister agreed their departments should consult closely and coordinate on any response to this act of aggression by the North,” Morrell said.

The White House this morning issued a statement condemning the attack and calling on North Korea to halt its “belligerent” action and to fully abide by the terms of the Armistice Agreement. Officials from both the White House and DOD affirmed the U.S. alliance with South Korea and are closely monitoring the situation on the Korean peninsula in the wake of today’s attack that is reported to have killed two and injured at least 15.

“We will honor our alliance obligations to the South, and … we are determined to promote peace and security on the peninsula,” Morrell said earlier today in an interview on MSNBC.

“We take this very seriously, just as we took the sinking of the Cheonan earlier this year very seriously, [in which] the North murdered some 40 South Korean sailors,” he said.

Morrell said Gates responded to a reporter’s question yesterday about North Korea by saying, “To any question beginning with ‘Why?’ with regards to North Korea, my answer is the same: I don’t know.”

North Korea’s government is extremely unpredictable, and “they do things you could not possibly have predicted in a rational world,” Morrell said.

Morrell said U.S. sanctions in place against North Korea have been strengthened since the March sinking of the Cheonan.

“It’s hard to pile more sanctions upon the North than are already there,” he said, “and yet it seems they are not foolproof. But we’ve always known they aren’t foolproof.”

North Korea’s government “is determined to bypass the sanctions [and] to not abide by its international obligations,” the press secretary said.

North Korea’s irresponsible behavior also is “demonstrated by the fact that it’s trying to be a proliferator of weapons, that it’s dealing with countries that are also under sanctions … unfortunately, this is not out of keeping with their belligerent and unpredictable behavior,” Morrell said.

The Defense Department views North Korea’s actions “with concern,” Pentagon spokesman Col. David Lapan told reporters today.

The North Koreans “certainly increase tensions on the peninsula,” Lapan said, “and so any type of military incidents between North and the Republic of Korea are viewed with concern, because of contributing to instability in the region, and especially on the Korean peninsula.”

Meanwhile, he said, the U.S. government is monitoring the situation and conferring with allies.

"At this point it’s premature to say that we’re considering any [military] action," Lapan said.

A Salute to Military Chefs

Written by: Christopher Lagan

Post written by Petty Officer 3rd Class Victoria Bonk

As America prepares for Thanksgiving – a holiday that has become synonymous with good food – and lots of it, we thought it a fitting time to salute the men and women who prepare food for tens of thousands of Coast Guard men and women every day. Today, we share our thanks for the Coast Guard’s Food Service Specialists.

One of the most forgot-about-jobs in the Coast Guard is the Food Service Specialist. They are the men and women who keep their fellow shipmates well fed to have the energy to complete the many missions of the Coast Guard. A lot of times, they are up well before and go to bed well after most of the crew, serving up to four or more meals a day.

Last week, the USO of Metropolitan Washington held its annual dinner to salute military chefs. All services were represented. Representing the Coast Guard was Petty Officer 1st Class Timothy Sullivan, a food service specialist and enlisted aide to the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard, Vice Adm. Sally Brice-O’Hara. He joined chefs from all the services to prepare a six-course meal demonstrating their talents and hard work.

“I was excited about cooking for this event. It was my largest plated meal that I have done, 180 plates,” said Sullivan. “It was great to be able to meet and work with other chefs.”

Sullivan has been a food service specialist for nine years and an enlisted aide for one year. His passion for cooking and drive to better his skills led him to apply for the enlisted aide position. When he received orders to become an enlisted aide, it meant he had to also receive more culinary training.

“I felt that I had reached my potential as a shipboard cook and decided it was time for a new challenge and time to take myself out of my comfort zone,” said Sullivan. “I like a challenge and I never want to stop learning.”

Also during the USO dinner, another member of the Coast Guard was recognized for being the Coast Guard Enlisted Aide of the year, Petty Officer 1st Class Stephen Bishop, a food service specialist and enlisted aide to the Coast Guard Commandant, Adm. Bob Papp.

“I’m so honored to have been chosen to be the Coast Guard enlisted aide of the year,” said Bishop.

Bishop has been a food service specialist for nine years and an enlisted aide for three years. He became an aide because of the advice and recommendation from Master Chief Petty Officer Charles Bowen (ret.), the 10th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard, who thought he would be good at the job. He enjoys being an aide because of the many opportunities to be creative and work with the senior leadership of the Coast Guard.

“Being an aide has given me the chance to be creative with my cooking since I’m cooking for smaller amount of people,” said Bishop.

The USO took a night to recognize how important cooks are to the operations of the military services and showcase their talents. The Coast Guard has many support jobs that help keep the service going; food service specialist is only one of them. However, without cooks, the Coast Guard wouldn’t be able to run the same.

White House Condemns North Korean Attack

By Karen Parrish

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 23, 2010 – The White House condemned today’s North Korean artillery attack against the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong.

“The United States strongly condemns this attack and calls on North Korea to halt its belligerent action and to fully abide by the terms of the Armistice Agreement,” according to a White House statement issued this morning.

President Barack Obama attended a late afternoon meeting of his senior national security team on the situation on the Korean peninsula, according to a White House press release. The president was briefed by National Security Advisor Tom Donilon, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates, Ambassador to the United Nations Susan E.Rice, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen, and Army Gen. Walter L. Sharp, commander of U.S. Forces Korea.

"The president reiterated the unshakeable support of the United States for our ally, the Republic of Korea, and discussed ways to advance peace and security on the Korean peninsula going forward," the release says.

The attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong is reported to have killed two and injured 15 military personnel.

The White House statement affirms the United States is firmly committed to the defense of South Korea and to the maintenance of regional peace and stability.

STORAGE SOLUTIONS LAUNCHES TOYS FOR TOTS CAMPAIGN

Stores and headquarters continue long tradition as toy drive collection sites and program donor.

LOS ANGELES, California (November 23, 2010) – Storage Solutions and its affiliate, Union Development Company (UDC), are once again sponsoring their annual holiday toy drive benefiting the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys For Tots program. The self-storage operator is collecting toys at each of its 21 locations throughout Southern California.

In addition to supporting a wonderful holiday cause, individuals who drop off a new, unwrapped toy will be eligible for Storage Solutions discounts. New customers can save 50% off a new self storage rental and existing customers can save 25% off boxes and moving supplies. The collection ends December 19 at 5:30 p.m.

The toy drive is a long-standing tradition for the company – as is a monetary donation made each year when the Marine Corps Reserve picks up toys that are also collected at headquarters. Last year, Storage Solutions and UDC presented a $500 check accepted on behalf of the program by Master Sgt. Wayne Harkley., Ret., now an instructor of Fontana High School Marine Corps Junior Officers Training Corps.

"The company has been involved with Toys For Tots for a long time and everyone here is very proud to support the program. We enjoy making it easy for customers and our local communities to get involved, too," said Jae Ho, Operations Manager.

About Toys for Tots®:

The Marine Corps Toys for Tots Foundation, started in 1947, has been successful in bringing thousands of smiles to needy children each year. Their sole mission is to ensure all less fortunate children have the chance to experience the same joys of the holiday season that millions of Americans take for granted each year.

About Storage Solutions:

Storage Solutions is a growing leader in the self-storage industry, offering consumers and businesses a variety of self-storage space and supplies at 21 convenient store locations in Southern California. Storage Solutions is the self-storage division of Union Development Company a developer of real estate in Southern California for over 100 years. The firm holds more than 1.7 million square feet of property in its portfolio including retail, industrial, and self-storage facilities and R.V. and boat storage facilities that are branded under the Storage Solutions name. Both company are based in Cerritos, California, and co-owned in a joint venture by Barker Pacific Group and New York-based Angelo, Gordon & Co., a leading investment management firm specializing in non-traditional assets. For more information, visit http://www.storagesolutionsca.com/.

Summit Helps ‘Reset’ U.S.-Russia Relations, Obama Says

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2010 – The NATO-Russia Council Summit that took place in Lisbon, Portugal, offers another step toward the reset of relations between the United States and Russia, President Barack Obama said today.

“We see Russia as a partner, not an adversary,” Obama told reporters during the NATO Summit’s final press briefing.

During the NRC meeting, he said, NATO leaders and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev agreed to deepen their cooperation on Afghanistan, counternarcotics efforts and a range of 21st century security challenges.

“Perhaps most significantly,” Obama said, “we agreed to cooperate on missile defense, which turns a source of past tension into a source of potential cooperation against a shared threat.”

The NRC, established at the NATO-Russia Summit in Rome in 2002, is a mechanism for consultation, cooperation and joint action in which NATO member states and Russia work as partners on a range of common security issues.

The alliance suspended formal meetings and cooperation in some areas after Russia’s military action in Georgia in August 2008, then decided in March 2009 to resume formal meetings. The NATO secretary general chairs these meetings.

In Lisbon, a joint statement issued by Medvedev and his counterparts from the other 28 NRC member states said the council would resume theater ballistic missile defense exercises and identify opportunities for Russia to cooperate with NATO’s new territorial missile defense capability by June 2011.

“Here in Lisbon we are laying the foundations for stronger ties between our 29 nations than has ever been the case until now, which is why today marks a fresh start in NATO-Russia relations,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said.

“As evidence of our determination to cooperate together,” he added, “I am pleased to be able to announce today the completion of arrangements that will allow for the expanded transit of equipment to the [International Security Assistance Force] mission via the Russian Federation. I thank President Medvedev for his support.”

The council also approved a joint review of common security challenges that will guide NATO-Russia security cooperation, agreed to expand cooperation in support of the Afghan government, and committed to making better use of the NRC to manage crises.

On counterterrorism, the NRC said it would strengthen cooperation by jointly developing technology to detect explosives, countering terrorist threats to civil aviation and exchanging information about terrorism.

Russia confirmed its interest in resuming its support to NATO’s counterterrorist operation, called Active Endeavour, in the Mediterranean Sea.

To fight the maritime security threat of piracy and armed robbery at sea, NRC member states said they will expand existing tactical level cooperation through joint training and exercises.

Rusmussen said the most significant thing about the list of NATO-Russia common security challenges is what’s not there -- each other.

“The NATO nations and Russia have today agreed in writing that, while we face many security challenges, we pose no threat to each other. That, alone, draws a clear line between the past and the future of NATO-Russia relations,” he said.

Obama also announced that the United States would host the next NATO summit in 2012.

Mullen Calls North Korea’s Actions ‘Very Dangerous’

By Cheryl Pellerin

American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Nov. 21, 2010 – Revelations that North Korea has secretly built a large uranium enrichment facility validates long-standing concerns about that nation’s nuclear intentions and is a destabilizing force in the region, the top U.S. military officer said today.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, appeared on CNN’s “State of the Union” and ABC’s “This Week ” TV programs this morning.

“The assumption certainly is that [North Korea] continues to head in the direction of additional nuclear weapons,” Mullen said. “They are also known to proliferate this technology, so they’re a very dangerous country.”

According to a story that appeared yesterday in The New York Times, North Korean officials allowed visiting Stanford University professor Siegfried Hecker, former director of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, to tour a sophisticated new uranium enrichment plant that North Korea has built in secret and may have been built with foreign help.

“I’ve been concerned for a long time about instability in that region and North Korea has been at the center of that,” Mullen said. “We’ve worked hard with other countries to try to bring pressure on them” to comply with strict United Nations Security Council resolutions related to North Korea’s nuclear ambitions.

“This in fact violates United Nations Security Council resolutions 1718 [2006] and 1874 [2009],” Mullen said. “And it violates what they said they’d do in 2005 with respect to getting to the six-party talks [aimed at addressing the country’s nuclear program]. So they’re a country that routinely we are unable to believe they will do what they say.”

North Korea is the greatest threat to peace in Northeast Asia and the focal point of the defense posture on the peninsula. North Korea is believed to have at least 1.5 million military members along with its nuclear capabilities.

In March, North Korea torpedoed and sank the South Korean navy ship Cheonan, killing 46 sailors.

In October, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young participated in the 42nd Security Consultative Meeting here, after which they told reporters that the U.S.-South Korea military alliance has never been stronger.

Both men called on North Korea to end provocative actions like the Cheonan attack.

The news that the ailing North Korean leader Kim Jong-il has anointed his son, Kim Jong-un, as his successor has the alliance preparing to defend against all possible North Korean threats.

“We have to continue to bring pressure on [Kim Jong-il],” Mullen said, specifically through the six-party-talk countries -- Russia, China, the United States, Japan and South Korea.

President Barack Obama “sent out a team to each of the capitals this weekend to re-engage. That’s where we are right now and I’m sure we will continue to do that,” Mullen said.

“We’ve been engaged with China for an extended period of time with respect to North Korea,” Mullen added. “A great part of this will have to be done through Beijing.”