Monument Recognizes Jewish Chaplains’ Sacrifices

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 24, 2011 – The sacrifices of 14 rabbis killed on active military service are now recognized on Chaplains Hill at Arlington National Cemetery here.

Many of the rabbis’ family members attended the dedication ceremony on Chaplains Hill, and hundreds attended a larger ceremony at the Arlington Memorial Amphitheater today.

The monument joins two other memorials to chaplains killed in the line of duty. In 1981, a Protestant chaplains’ memorial was dedicated and, in 1989, a similar one was erected to remember Catholic chaplains.

A World War II episode was the driving force behind the memorial. Ken Kraetzler had grown up hearing the story of the four chaplains of the USAT Dorchester. The four men were aboard the Army transport with 900 other soldiers crossing the North Atlantic when German torpedoes smashed into the ship in February 1943.

The four chaplains -- two Protestant reverends, a Catholic priest and a Jewish rabbi -- strove to keep soldiers calm and helped to pass out life jackets. When they ran out of jackets, they gave their own away. They were last seen as the ship was going down, arm-in-arm, praying together.

Kraetzler, from White Plains, N.Y., visited Arlington National Cemetery. “I went to Chaplains Hill and found the names of George Fox and Clark Poling on the Protestant memorial and John Washington on the Catholic monument, but I couldn’t find the name of Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, because there was no Jewish memorial,” he said.

Kraetzler found out what needed to be done and proceeded to do it. He received support from the Sons of the American Legion, many Jewish war veterans groups and the Jewish Chaplains Council. “Many people donated to make the memorial a reality,” he said.

He discovered that 14 Jewish chaplains from World War II to Vietnam had died in the line of duty.

Alexander David Goode Fried, the Dorchester rabbi’s grandson, attended the unveiling of the memorial and the dedication ceremony. His grandfather’s heroism “was always something I was aware of as a kid,” he said.

“My grandmother always wanted to keep her private life private,” he added. “Only much later in life was she able to talk about it. Before she died, she and a family member of another of the four chaplains -- George Fox -- worked together to promote the interfaith aspect of the four chaplains’ sacrifice.”

Fried called the ceremony today a “high point,” but not a “culmination” of efforts to highlight the sacrifices of Jewish chaplains. “I hope this doesn’t just end here,” he said. “The cross-faith message of the four chaplains has direct relevance to today’s world. I think the lessons from it are universal, directly applicable and timeless.”

Meeting the families of the other chaplains was interesting to Fried. “We all shared that sense of pride and honor, but also loss,” he said. “We all are proud of their accomplishments, but there is always the sense of what would lives have been like with them in them.”

Chaplain [Maj. Gen.] Cecil Richardson, the Air Force chief of chaplains, lauded the 14 rabbis during his talk at the Memorial Amphitheater. He said he didn’t know the men, but after 35 years as a military chaplain, he knows what drove them.

“They were 14 men who stepped forward as volunteers to provide spiritual care for the men and women in uniform,” he said. “They comforted the wounded, they buried the dead; they supported the faith of all of our troops without regard to race, or ethnicity, or religion.”

The 14 men “walked where warriors walked. They went were warriors go,” Richardson said. “That’s what made them military chaplains. Right now there are over 800 chaplains -- Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine -- deployed at locations throughout the world in dangerous places. At this moment, chaplains and chaplain assistants are transforming places in the harshest environments into sacred places of worship and hope.”

The West Point Jewish Chapel Cadet Choir sang throughout the event and had the last word in the ceremony, singing “God Bless America” with the audience joining in.

The memorial was dedicated to the following chaplains: Army Capt. Nachman S. Arnoff, Army Lt. Col. Meir Engel, Army 1st Lt. Frank Goldenberg, Army 1st Lt. Alexander D. Goode, Army 1st Lt. Henry Goody, Air Force Capt. Joseph I. Hoenig, Army Maj. Samuel Dodkin Hurwitz, Army 1st Lt. Herman L. Rosen, Army Capt. Morton Harold Singer, Air Force Capt. David M. Sobel, Army Capt. Irving Tepper and Army 1st Lt. Louis Werfel.

MCPON Speaks at 29th Submarine League Symposium

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW) Abraham Essenmacher, Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON) spoke at the 29th Annual Submarine League's Symposium Oct. 20, reflecting on the high quality of today's Sailors, future challenges and the programs in place for Navy's continued success.

"The future of our submarine force, the future of our Navy for that matter, is very bright due to the quality of the young Sailors who are choosing a life of service and sacrifice," said MCPON (SS/SW) Rick D. West. "It starts with great leaders challenging our young Sailors to be better every day, like some who sit here today - many of who shaped my career - supporting our Sailors and their families."

The theme for this year's symposium was "Forging the Way Ahead," focusing on organizational progress the Navy and submarine force are continuing to make.

"This has been a big year for the submarine force, leaders have challenged their force but have given them the tools to succeed. From extinguishing the smoking lamp underway, to successfully utilizing breathalyzers on board (achieving a nearly 50 percent reduction in ARIs/DUIs), to welcoming our first female submariners aboard in a few weeks, the submarine force has placed leadership and an aggressive communications strategy at the forefront to ensure success," said West.

During the symposium, select officer and enlisted Sailors from across the submarine force were given awards for their distinguished efforts throughout the year, including support of submarine acquisition, logistics support and technology development programs.

"It's always fulfilling to be a part of recognizing our great Sailors watch them receive accolades for their hard work and dedication they give our great Navy and nation," said West.

The Naval Submarine League Symposium is an annual meeting that covers history, ongoing programs and future programs incorporated within the Navy's submarine force.

"It is my belief we should all take the time to affiliate with organizations that support our Navy," said West.

Rear Adm. Dunaway Visits His Alma Mater During El Paso Navy Week 2011

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By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class (SW/AW) Davis Anderson, Navy Office of Community Outreach Public Affairs

EL PASO, Texas (NNS) -- Commander, Operational Test and Evaluation Force, Rear Adm. David A. Dunaway returned to his alma mater, Burges High School in El Paso, Texas Oct. 21 during El Paso Navy Week 2011.

The visit included a tour of the school, given by Principal Randall Woods who along with the rest of the faculty and students at Burges were very excited to host the admiral.

"It was wonderful to have the admiral back," said Woods. "I got to meet him as an assistant principal here (during a previous visit four years ago), so having him come back is just fabulous, and so, wonderful for our kids."

Dunaway spoke after the tour, to the top 30 seniors at Burges, telling them about his experiences at Burges and his subsequent career in the Navy and offering them advice on how to pick colleges and careers.

"It was a lot of fun," said Dunaway. "These are very talented kids. These are the top ten percent. They are very capable and very fun and engaging kids."

When Dunaway spoke to the students he was able to reinforce some of the messages that the community of El Paso and the faculty at Burges are stressing.

"I think it's wonderful that he got to talk to our kids about serving, and that's the Navy's role now," said Woods. "That's something I talk to our kids about. I expect them to serve this community. That's one of the things that I just really love that he talked to them-having him talk about that from the Navy's perspective is wonderful."

Dunaway was also impressed with how the students at Burges carried themselves.

"I thought they were awesome," said Dunaway. "They were very well dressed, very orderly. They make eye contact, shake your hand; it was a real pleasure to see them."

Dunaway's visit provided a tangible example for the students at Burges.

"Really having somebody who walked these halls, walked these neighborhoods come back and say look at how I've done this and what I've done, so that's really important," said Woods. "It's really very good for them to see this; as a principal, wonderful to have a role model to say, 'this is what you can become.' It kind of inspires them."

Another good side-effect of Dunaway's visit was showing a Navy presence in El Paso, where the closest water is the Rio Grande.

"I come from a Navy family, my father was a lieutenant commander, my brother was a captain," said Woods. "I am very, very proud of (Dunaway) being in the Navy. It's wonderful, I love that. We've got El Paso and Navy and that good connection."

Forging new connections with communities like El Paso is the reason behind Navy Weeks. They are an opportunity for the Navy to show what they can do and the essential services they provide for the country and the world.

For more information about El Paso Navy Week 2011, visit Navyweek.org.

Panetta Praises U.S.-Japan Alliance

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan, Oct. 24, 2011 – Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta today cited the importance of America’s alliance with Japan in maintaining peace and security across the Pacific region.

During a town hall meeting with some 200 U.S. and Japanese troops gathered in the 459th Airlift Squadron hangar, Panetta said the U.S.-Japan alliance stretches more than 50 years and is, in many ways, the cornerstone of peace and stability in the Pacific.

“And it will be for the next 50 years as well,” he added.

In line with President Barack Obama’s strategic guidance, U.S. defense forces will maintain and build on regional relationships with Japan and other countries, the secretary said.

“I just had the opportunity to be in Indonesia and meet with the [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] defense ministers,” he noted. “And I conveyed the same message to them: the United States will continue to work with all of them to improve our cooperation, to improve our assistance, and to make sure that we strengthen security for all nations in the Pacific region.”

Panetta commended Japanese and U.S. military forces for their “extraordinary” efforts following the magnitude 8.9 earthquake that struck the island nation in March. Japanese forces rapidly mobilized, organized and brought relief to their fellow citizens at a time of great crisis and peril, the secretary said.

“The world witnessed the strength, the character, and the resilience of the Japanese people, and I pay tribute to Japan,” he said.

The U.S. military’s “great work” in bringing relief to the Japanese people suffering following the earthquake also is a source of pride, Panetta said.

America’s strength, he said, lies in its people serving in uniform at home or in Japan, Afghanistan, Iraq or elsewhere around the globe. “After nearly a decade of war on terrorism, we have significantly weakened al-Qaida and its militant allies,” Panetta said.

The nation’s military and intelligence communities are responsible for that success, Panetta said, but he warned they must keep up the pressure on terrorists.

“Make sure they never have anyplace to hide -- whether it’s Pakistan, whether it’s Yemen, whether Somalia, whether it’s the Maghreb in North Africa,” the secretary said. “We have to keep the pressure on and do what the president said we must do, which is to dismantle, disrupt and defeat al-Qaida and its militant allies. And we will do that.”

With the announced withdrawal of all U.S. combat forces from Iraq by the end of this year, Panetta said, the world must understand the United States will continue to have both a lasting security relationship with Iraq and a troop presence in the Middle East.

“We will continue to work with [Iraq] to establish a normal relationship,” he said, that will provide training and assistance to Iraqi forces. And Panetta emphasized that America will maintain a presence in the Middle East.

“At the same time, for Iran and anybody else who has any other ideas, the United States maintains 40,000 troops in that region,” he noted.

Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, International Security Assistance Force commander, is successfully planning and conducting the gradual reduction of U.S. forces in Afghanistan leading up to the transfer to Afghan-led security in 2014, Panetta said.

“I believe that we have made great progress there as well, in weakening the Taliban, in building up the Afghan army and police, and in giving the capacity … to secure their country,” he said.

Turning to Libya, Panetta said he commends NATO military forces and their partner militaries for the successful conclusion of the mission there. The Libyan people now have a chance to establish a new country that represents all of its people and also represents their hopes for freedom and self-government, he said.

“All of us can take a great deal of pride in the work that was done to achieve that mission,” he said.

Panetta pointed out all of the progress he noted could not have happened without “the sacrifices of those who were willing to serve.”

“Work remains,” he said. “We’ve got to continue to confront terrorism, … nuclear proliferation in Iran and North Korea, … [and] a whole new battlefield of the future, called ‘cyber.’”

Those challenges, along with rising powers and continued unrest in the Middle East, will be met by an American military that is capable, agile and responsive to threats, the secretary said.

“Most importantly, we have the opportunity to strengthen our presence in the Pacific -- and we will,” he said. “This is an important region. The security of the world, in many ways, is dependent on the security of the Pacific.”

Panetta said his main purpose in visiting the troops was to thank them.

“You are the long arm of American military power,” he said. “You do a tough and a vital job. … I thank you for your service, because America’s strength is in people like you.”

The new greatest generation in America, the one that has gone to war over the last 10 years, includes more than 6,200 who have died and 46,000 who have been wounded in the nation’s service, Panetta said.

“You have done everything you have been asked to do,” he added.

Panetta told the U.S. troops that his duty is “to watch your back,” pledging his support as budget cuts loom.

“As all of you know,” he said, “we’re going to be facing some very challenging fiscal issues in America.”

Panetta said his goals for the defense budget include cutting defense spending without creating a hollow force.

“Most importantly, I am not going to break faith with the people who serve in uniform, who put their lives on the line time and time and time again,” the secretary said. “I commit to you that I will do everything I can to protect the benefits that were promised to you and to your families. That’s essential to our commitment to you, for what you have done for America.”

The secretary shook hands and presented a commemorative coin to each American and Japanese service member present.

This is Panetta’s first trip to Asia as defense secretary. He is in Japan after a visit to Indonesia, and he will travel to South Korea later this week. The Japan leg of his trip will continue with scheduled meetings with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, Foreign Affairs Minister Koichiro Gemba and Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa.

En route to Japan, a senior defense official told reporters traveling with the secretary that the topics of discussion for those meetings will range from arms exports and ballistic missile defense to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance technology and U.S. troop basing in Japan.

Obama Congratulates Libyans on Their Liberation Day

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama congratulated the Libyan people on their Liberation Day, saying the nation is beginning a “new era of promise.”

In Tripoli, leaders of the Transitional National Council declared October 23 Liberation Day, thus officially ending 42 years of Moammar Gadhafi’s tyrannical rule. The Libyan ruler was killed Oct. 20 in Sirte.

Libyans greeted Liberation Day with jubilation, with many instances of celebratory gunfire heard across the nation.

“On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Libya on today’s historic declaration of liberation,” Obama said in a written declaration released by the White House today. “After four decades of brutal dictatorship and eight months of deadly conflict, the Libyan people can now celebrate their freedom and the beginning of a new era of promise.”

But Obama noted that much hard work remains in Libya. He said the officials of the Transitional National Council must turn their attention to the political transition ahead.

“We look forward to working with the TNC and an empowered transitional government as they prepare for the country’s first free and fair elections,” the president said.

Obama called on Libyan leaders to respect human rights, to reconcile with Gadhafi’s followers and bring together disparate armed groups under government control. He also called on Libyan leaders to secure weapons and dangerous materials.

“As they take these steps, the United States will continue our close cooperation with our international partners and the U.N. support mission in Libya to help advance a stable, democratic transition,” he wrote.

Leaders Express Sympathy at Crown Prince’s Passing

By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23, 2011 – U.S. leaders expressed their sympathy to the Saudi royal family and all Saudi Arabians on the death of Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz yesterday.

President Barack Obama called the prince a valued friend to the United States.

The crown prince died at a New York hospital yesterday. He was 80.

Sultan served as the Saudi minister of defense and aviation since 1962. “Crown Prince Sultan dedicated himself to the welfare and security of his people and country,” Obama said in a statement. “He was a strong supporter of the deep and enduring partnership between our two countries forged almost seven decades ago in the historic meeting between President [Franklin D.] Roosevelt and King Abd al-Aziz Al Saud.”

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta said the crown prince transformed Saudi Arabia’s armed forces into a modern and highly capable military. “He was a good friend and partner of the United States, and worked to further cooperation between our two militaries in order to better confront many shared security challenges,” he said in a statement. The secretary is traveling in Asia.

Vice President Joe Biden said the crown prince will be remembered for championing relations with America and for his philanthropy at home. He said the prince funded housing and medical care for the kingdom’s neediest citizens and scientific research on water and desertification, among other important causes.

Aircrew Missing in Action from WWII Identified

The Department of Defense POW/Missing Personnel Office (DPMO) announced today that the remains of 10 servicemen, missing in action from World War II, have been identified and are being returned to their families for burial with full military honors.

Army Air Forces 2nd Lt. Robert R. Bishop of Joliet, Ill.; 2nd Lt. Thomas Digman, Jr. of Pittsburgh; 2nd Lt. Donald W. Hess of Sioux City, Iowa; 2nd Lt. Arthur W. Luce, of Fort Bragg, Calif.; Staff Sgt. Joseph J. Karaso, of Philadelphia; Staff Sgt. Ralph L. McDonald of East Point, Ga.; Sgt. John P. Bonnassiolle of Oakland, Calif.; Sgt. James T. Blong of Port Washington, Wis.; Sgt. Michael A. Chiodo of Cleveland; and Sgt. John J. Harringer, Jr. of South Bend, Ind., will be buried as a group, in a single casket representing the entire crew, on Oct. 26, in Arlington National Cemetery.  Hess and Karaso will be interred individually in Arlington National Cemetery.

On April 29, 1944, the 10 airmen were ordered to carry out a bombing mission over Berlin, Germany, in their B-24J Liberator aircraft, piloted by Bishop and Luce.  German documents captured after the war noted that the aircraft crashed near the town of East Meitze, Germany, and there were no survivors.  German forces buried the remains of Digman, Blong, and one unknown airman in a cemetery near Hannover, Germany, around the time of the crash.  In 1946, the Army Graves Registration Service exhumed the remains of the three individuals for identification and reburied them in a U.S. Military Cemetery in Condroz, Belgium.

In 2003, a German national located the site of the crash and recovered human remains, which were turned over to U.S. officials.  In 2005, a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (JPAC) team excavated the crash site and gathered additional human remains, military equipment, and metal identification tags for Bishop, Blong, Bonnassiolle, and Harringer.  The team also recovered a class ring with the initials AWL -- presumably belonging to Luce.  In 2007, a JPAC team completed the site excavation and found additional evidence that helped to confirm the identity of the crew.

Among other forensic identification tools and circumstantial evidence, scientists from JPAC and the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory used dental analysis and mitochondrial DNA -- which matched that of some of the crewmembers’ families -- in the identification of their remains.

At the end of the war, the U.S. government was unable to recover and identify approximately 79,000 Americans.  Today, more than 73,000 remain unaccounted-for from the conflict.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for missing Americans, visit the DPMO web site at http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo or call 703-699-1420.

NAVFAC Washington Adds First Electric Vehicle to Fleet

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By James Johnson, NAVFAC Washington Public Affairs

WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Washington Base Support Vehicles and Equipment (BSVE) office took delivery of its first Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle, a Chevrolet Volt, at the Washington Navy Yard on Oct. 20.

The Volt is the first of four to be leased to NAVFAC Washington BSVE as part of a General Services Administration (GSA) pilot program. The remaining three will arrive early 2012.

"The addition of the Chevy Volt demonstrates our commitment to energy reduction goals set by the Secretary of the Navy," said Erin Bartley, product line coordinator at NAVFAC Washington BSVE. "This vehicle, along with the three to come later, will help us reduce our gasoline consumption and greenhouse gas emissions."

In total, the GSA will deliver 11 electric vehicles to the U.S. Navy, nine Chevy Volts and two Nissan Leafs. NAVFAC Southwest is scheduled to receive five Volts and two Leafs in early 2012. NAVFAC Washington and Commander, Navy Installation Command (CNIC) have coordinated to install 220-volt charging stations at the Washington Navy Yard and Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Md. These stations will provide the Volt a full charge in four hours.

NAVFAC Washington BSVE has a fleet of 2,143 vehicles. These drove for 635,350 miles (enough to drive from Washington D.C. to Los Angeles and back 119 times) during Fiscal Year 2010. The fleet services many agencies, including CNIC, Naval Sea Systems Command and Naval Air Systems Command among others.

Naval Medical Research Unit No. 3 Celebrates 65th Anniversary

From United States Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery Public Affairs

CAIRO (NNS) -- The U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No.3 (NAMRU-3) celebrated 65 years of service in infectious disease research in Egypt Oct 20.

An event celebrating the anniversary was held at the NAMRU-3 facility with a host of guest speakers from Naval Medical Research Center), the Egyptian Ministry of Health, the U.S. Embassy and the World Health Organization.

Navy Medicine established a presence in Egypt in 1942 as part of the U.S. Typhus Commission tasked with reducing the impact of a typhus epidemic among troops and refugees during World War II. The success of this collaboration between the Navy and the government of Egypt led to the formal establishment of NAMRU-3 in 1946 to continue scientific partnership in infectious disease research.

"Navy Medicine's doctors, nurses, dentists, and medical service corps officers are dedicated to preserving and promoting health and wellness around the world," said Capt. Robin Wilkening, commanding officer, NAMRU-3. "One of the ways Navy Medicine achieves these goals is through the work of its overseas medical research laboratories. Of these, there is none with a prouder history or more impressive list of accomplishments than NAMRU-3."

In the beginning researchers focused on activities in Egypt and neighboring countries, but in recent years they have expanded activities in the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. NAMRU-3 personnel and scientists routinely collaborate with regional research groups in the fields of disease surveillance, vaccine development and vector control for tropical diseases. They also train local scientists in areas of medical research and dealing with public health challenges.

H.E. Anne Patterson, U.S. ambassador to Egypt, thanked NAMRU-3 for the command's commitment to Egypt. She said NAMRU-3 has continued to exemplify the best in collegial partnerships as it strives to counter infectious disease threats in Egypt, the eastern Mediterranean region and afar, with the help of the Egyptian government and its people.

According to Vice Adm. Adam M. Robinson, U.S. Navy surgeon general and chief, Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, medicine builds bridges, builds trust and fosters cooperation.

"While the initial mission of the command was to maintain the health of deployed U.S. service men, NAMRU-3 has become an integral part of the public health system in Africa and across the Middle East," said Robinson. "The work NAMRU-3 is doing is critical because by helping those in need around the world, the United States not only helps bolster stability but also works to create conditions of hope, which are the foundations of healthy societies," said Robinson.

The lab is currently supporting force health protection in the Horn of Africa; working closely with the Egyptian Ministry of Health and WHO; helping Djibouti with disease surveillance; responding to disease outbreak in Yemen; fighting malaria in Liberia, conducting joint research with Ghana, and studying diseases in the Republic of Georgia.

Navy Medicine is a global health care network of 63,000 Navy medical personnel around the world who provide high quality health care to more than 1 million eligible beneficiaries. Navy Medicine personnel deploy with Sailors and Marines worldwide, providing critical mission support aboard ship, in the air, under the sea and on the battlefield.

Wisconsin National Guard validates its reaction force

Manning security perimeters and road blocks, and facing protestors - all in a day's work, or two, for the National Guard Reaction Force (NGRF).

The Wisconsin National Guard's NGRF completed a two-day exercise (Oct. 14) at Fort McCoy designed to validate its ability to respond in support of local authorities in the event of a real emergency. In this exercise the scenario called for a security mission at the Kewaunee Power Station (nuclear power plant) due to a nuclear emergency declaration at the site.

Maj. Joseph Adamson, the plans officer with the Wisconsin National Guard Joint Staff, said the NGRF demonstrated proficiency at roadblocks, check points, vehicle searches and critical site security.

"These guys know the task and they know it very well," Adamson said.

Part of the scenario involved anti-nuclear power protestors who arrived on the scene and became unruly, requiring a crowd control team to assemble and prevent the situation from escalating.

The crowd control team - complete with face shields, body shields, shin guards and riot batons - formed a skirmish line and slowly advanced toward the protestors.

"Under the authority of the Kewaunee County Sheriff, you must vacate the area," a team leader ordered the protestors over a loudspeaker.

Without making physical contact, the skirmish line moved the protestors away from the site to a point down the road where they could safely disperse. Once at that point, the crowd control team lowered its body shields but maintained its line formation, clearly indicating that no harm was intended to the protestors but that they would not be allowed past the skirmish line.

The NGRF is a ready combat arms force which, upon request from the governor or president, provides an initial force package of up to 125 personnel within eight hours and a follow-on force of up to 375 personnel within 24 hours. The NGRF mission rotates each year - this year it is shared by Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry.

Lt. Col. David May, deputy director of domestic operations with the Wisconsin National Guard Joint Staff, said the validation exercise went well.

"The preliminary results are extremely positive," he said, noting that the official validation is still about one month away. "This was a valuable experience for Soldiers to adjust how they approach tasks that are used in both wartime and domestic operations. They were quickly able to adopt an appropriate posture for a Wisconsin operation."

U.S.-North Korea Conclude POW/MIA Talks

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The Department of Defense announced today that the United States and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) officials reached an arrangement to resume recovering the remains of American servicemen missing from the Korean War.

The three-day talks held in Bangkok were led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for POW/Missing Personnel Affairs Robert J. Newberry.  His negotiating team included representatives from across the Department of Defense, the Department of State, the U.S. Pacific Command and the United Nations Command-Korea.

The arrangement calls for U.S. teams to work in two areas in North Korea—Unsan County, about 60 miles north of Pyongyang, and near the Chosin/Jangjin Reservoir—where more than 2,000 soldiers and Marines are believed to be missing.  The arrangement includes details on logistics and matters that will ensure the effectiveness and safety of remains recovery teams operating in the DPRK.  Accounting for Americans missing in action is a stand-alone humanitarian matter, not tied to any other issue between the two countries.

The operations in North Korea are expected to begin next year and will mark the first since 2005, when the U.S. halted missions due to increased tensions on the Korean Peninsula.  Prior to that time, U.S. specialists from the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command conducted operations in that country for 10 years, recovering remains believed to be more than 225 servicemen since 1996.

Of the approximately 83,000 Americans missing from all conflicts, more than 7,900 are from the Korean War with 5,500 of those believed to be missing in the DPRK.

War of 1812 Flagship Reveals Its Secrets

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By Bradley Cantor

Emerging Media, Defense Media Activity

WASHINGTON, Oct. 20, 2011 – A U.S. Navy ship that’s rested on the bottom of the Patuxent River for nearly 200 years is slowly revealing its secrets to archaeologists, a senior Navy administrator said yesterday.

During a “DOD Live” bloggers roundtable, Bob Neyland, head of the Navy’s underwater archaeology branch, discussed the excavation of the USS Scorpion, which was scuttled during the War of 1812.

The Scorpion, the flagship of Commodore Joshua Barney’s Chesapeake Bay Flotilla, is located about 30 minutes outside Washington.

During the War of 1812, Barney was charged to protect Washington from invading British forces. Barney’s plan called for the construction of a flotilla containing smaller barges and gunboats that would be able to outmaneuver the larger British ships in the shallow Chesapeake waters.

The flotilla fought in several battles and played a key role in draining British resources and slowing the invasion. However, Barney’s Chesapeake Bay Flotilla met its end Aug. 22, 1814.

After the Battle of St. Leonard’s Creek, Barney was forced to flee up the Patuxent River to what is now Highway 4, near Pig Point, Md. He was outflanked, seriously wounded, and had used up most of his ammunition. Neyland said it was there that Barney scuttled his flotilla, including the USS Scorpion, to prevent the approaching British navy from commandeering his vessels.

As the flotilla sank, Barney and his remaining crew left Pig Point and made their way to join American troops and citizen-soldiers fighting at the Battle of Bladensburg, Md. As the British forces overcame the Americans, many of the citizen-soldiers retreated, but Barney and his crew stayed to fight. In the end, they were among the last on the battlefield. Barney died in Pittsburgh in 1818 while traveling to Kentucky, where he planned to retire.

Until now, little was known about the construction of Barney’s fleet and, in particular, the Scorpion. Historians knew the Scorpion was a converted gunboat, built in 1806. “We really don't know a whole lot about the construction of it,” Neyland said, “other than it was one of the larger sloop brig vessels.”

In the late 1970s, amateur archaeologists found wreckage on the same spot where Barney scuttled his flotilla. Preliminary evidence suggested the wreckage dated to the War of 1812.

“They verified that it was a War of 1812 vessel from recovered parts of a surgeon's kit, [and from] materials that were appropriate to the War of 1812,” Neyland said.

The location suggested the wreckage was part of Barney’s flotilla. But additional and deeper exploration yielded evidence that removed all doubt that the flagship USS Scorpion, had indeed been found.

Archaeologists have found some very telling personal items aboard one of the vessels, Neyland said.

“They found a grog cup … and the initials C.W. were on that cup,” Neyland said. “The only C.W. listed with Barney was an African-American sailor named Caesar Wentworth. He was assigned to … Barney's flagship, called the Scorpion. So, hence, that's part of the evidence that suggests the wreck we are looking at today is that of the Scorpion.”

With the excavation under way, the plan is in place to make the USS Scorpion part of the War of 1812 bicentennial commemoration. The commemoration will start in 2012 and continue through 2014. The Scorpion will join the commemoration in 2013. At that point, Neyland said, he and his team will put a steel structure – called a cofferdam -- around the 75-foot shipwreck. The water will then be pumped out, thus fully excavating the USS Scorpion.

This method allows a more detailed recording of artifacts and the hull, Neyland said, and will allow for public viewing both on the site and by webcam.

USS Mustin Arrives in Thailand

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From U.S. 7th Fleet Public Affairs

LAEM CHABANG, Thailand (NNS) -- Guided-missile destroyer USS Mustin (DDG 89) arrived in Laem Chabang Oct. 21 for a port visit and to participate in community service events to strengthen ties between the U.S. and the Kingdom of Thailand.

The U.S. Navy extends its sincere condolences to the people of Thailand in the aftermath of the recent flooding that has affected the nation.

While in port, the crew of USS Mustin will participate in community service projects in an effort to build upon existing ties between the two nations. The crew will also engage with their Royal Thai Navy counterparts to build on the relationship they have established with their ally.

"Our ship visited Thailand earlier this year and received a very warm welcome from the Thai people," said Mustin's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Scott A. Tait. "The men and women of Mustin are truly looking forward to return their kindness. We are looking forward to engaging the community in any way we can."

Engine Failure Cause of June F-16 Fighter Crash

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The U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command Accident Investigation Board released Tuesday that engine failure caused a Wisconsin Air National Guard fighter jet to crash in Adams County in early June.

An F-16 assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing in Madison crashed into an unoccupied vacation home June 7 in New Chester, Wis.

The incident occurred near the completion of a training flight. When the pilot realized there was an engine failure and he wouldn't be able to re-start the engine, he guided the malfunctioning fighter jet away from any populated areas and safely ejected from the disabled aircraft.

The pilot, Lt. Col. Glen Messner, credited his many hours of pilot training as the key reason the incident wasn't any worse than it was. "It was automatic. I never had time to be scared, to freeze up," he said. "Once I pulled the ejection seat handle, I went right into my Life Support training."

Messner, 45, enlisted in the Wisconsin Air National Guard in 1986 and completed pilot training in 1989. Prior to flying the F-16 Falcon, Messner flew the A-10. Messner has more than 3,100 flying hours in the F-16.

The 115th Fighter Wing has flown Air Force F-16 fighter jets since 1993 and has an excellent safety record. The June crash is the first accident for the 115th Fighter Wing since 1995.

64 Sailors Caught Illegally Using or Distributing Designer-drug Spice

From Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet Public Affairs

SAN DIEGO (NNS) -- Sailors from three commands have recently been investigated and identified as using the designer drug Spice, officials from U.S. 3rd Fleet announced Oct. 20.

The use of synthetic drugs in the Navy, to include Spice, is illegal, and the Navy continues to aggressively investigate the use of synthetic drugs and hold those in violation accountable.

"The Navy's policy on drug abuse is simple and clear - zero tolerance," said Vice Adm. Gerald R. Beaman, commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet. "Drug abuse puts lives and missions at risk and undercuts unit readiness and morale. The use of synthetic drugs, to include Spice, is illegal and the Navy continues to aggressively investigate the use of synthetic drugs and hold those in violation accountable."

Eleven Sailors from USS San Francisco (SSN 711) and three Sailors from floating dry dock Arco (ARDM 5) received non-judicial punishment in the past month for using the designer drug Spice, and two others were found to have used other illegal drugs. Of those, six Sailors also admitted to cocaine use, and one was found to have used methamphetamines. All are being processed for separation in accordance with the Navy's zero tolerance policy. One additional Sailor from USS San Francisco continues to be investigated on a possible distribution charge.

Forty-nine Sailors have been identified from the USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) connected to the sale, possession, or use of Spice. The alleged ring includes two distributors, one middle man, and 46 users. Of the 49 suspects, eight have been administratively separated for prior drug use identified via the command urinalysis program and three have already been separated for non-misconduct related reasons. While the investigation remains open, the two distributors and the middle man continue to be investigated for possible legal action, and the other identified Sailors remain subject to appropriate disciplinary action and administrative processing.

"Our Sailors must understand the dangers and consequences of using drugs -- substance abuse risks the lives of shipmates and erodes readiness," said Rear Adm. Frank Caldwell, commander, Submarine Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet. "I need my Sailors to be ready for any tasking. Shipmates must watch out for shipmates and spread the word that this behavior is absolutely inconsistent with our Navy core values of honor, courage, and commitment. Abusers will be caught."

The Navy has a series of measures in place to educate Sailors about the perils of drug use and dependency; to deter them from ruining their professional careers and personal lives by choosing to use drugs; and an aggressive program to detect drugs in the unlikely event a Sailor decides to use them.

By holding Sailors accountable for drug abuse, the Navy better protects and retains the overwhelming majority of Sailors who conduct themselves honorably. The Navy continues to actively investigate suspected illicit and designer drug use and possession. If it is determined that additional Sailors have used drugs, those Sailors will be held accountable and if appropriate, processed for separation.

On March 1, 2011, the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) exercised its emergency scheduling authority to control five chemicals used to make Spice and other "fake-pot" type products.

32nd "Red Arrow" Division, Brigade commemorate Berlin Crisis

By Staff Sgt. Michelle Gonzalez
112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Approximately 150 veterans of the 32nd "Red Arrow" Infantry Division and their guests joined Wisconsin National Guard leaders and Soldiers assigned to the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team at the 32nd Brigade headquarters in Camp Williams, Wis., Saturday (Oct. 15) to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the year-long deployment spent in preparation for the 1961 Berlin Crisis.

The commemoration included historical displays, video footage from the mobilization, modern equipment displays, scrapbook sharing and culminated with a ceremony.

For many veterans, the event was an opportunity to reconnect with fellow service members and share their deployment experience from five decades ago to friends, family and current Red Arrow Guardsmen.

"I like to see the guys and reminisce," said Maum Rollie, a Soldier assigned to the 32nd Division's 732nd Ordinance Company from Tomah, Wis., as he looked over a display recounting a train crash he was a part of.

"There are so many of my friends in the 32nd who are gone," said George Rosholt, a mail clerk for Company A, 3rd Battle Group of the 127th Infantry from Milwaukee. "I'm lucky to be standing here today."

In September 1961, the 32nd Division received notice of possibly serving one year of active duty. The division began mobilizing October 15 of that year and reported to Fort Lewis, Wash., to train.

By February 1962, the division was declared Strategic Army Corps which meant the 32nd Division was prepared for joint Army and Air Force deployments to any trouble spot in the world on short notice.

"For that year, it was hell on earth for some Soldiers but after it all we were ready to deploy at a moment's notice," Rosholt said. "The Cuban Missile crisis happened shortly after the Berlin Crisis and I thought we'd be called again," he added.

During the ceremony, Wisconsin Guard leadership spoke to the differences between 1961 and 2011 Red Arrow Soldiers and applauded the service of 32nd Division veterans.

"Just like you did 50 years ago, Soldiers spend up to nine months on the ground executing the most difficult missions then come home and reintegrate like you did," said Col. Martin Seifer, 32nd Brigade commander. "They try to explain to their family and friends why they wanted to go back and in some cases why they even considered to serve."

"What you did was magnificent," said Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar, adjutant general of Wisconsin. "I'm proud to be associated with you. I'm proud to stand here with you and I thank you for your service."

NAVFAC Southeast Awards $542.8 Million to Small Businesses

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From Naval Facilities Engineering Command Southeast Public Affairs

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast exceeded all assigned small business goals for the third consecutive year by awarding $542.8 million in prime contracts to small businesses during fiscal year (FY) 2011, which closed out Sept. 30.

"This demonstrates the command's continuing commitment to ensure maximum practicable opportunity is made for Small Businesses" said NAVFAC Southeast Deputy for Small Business Nelson Smith. "This has been an amazing team effort, and I'm proud to be part of an organization that chooses Small Business as the first option for our contracting requirements".

The amount awarded to small businesses represents over 55 percent of the command's prime contracting dollars. The "small business" breakdown includes: Small Disadvantaged Businesses received $389.2 million (39.9 percent), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUBZones) $146.5 million (15 percent), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) $54.4 million (5.6 percent), and Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) $129.8 million (13.3 percent).

Smith said these achievements significantly exceed the statutorily mandated goals of 23 percent for Small Business, 5 percent each for SDB and WOSB, and 3 percent for HUBZone and SDVOSB. Additionally, $155.9 million (16 percent) was awarded to Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.

Maximum practicable utilization of small business concerns is a matter of national interest with both social and economic benefits. America's 27 million small businesses employ more that 58 percent of the private work force, generate more than 51 percent of the nation's gross domestic product, and are the principal source of new jobs.

Stratcom Chief Discusses U.S. Nuclear Triad

By Karen Parrish
American Forces Press Service

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2011 – While 10 years of war have focused the military on conventional weapons, the nation’s nuclear force is in need of attention, a senior officer told Defense Writers Group reporters yesterday.

Air Force Gen. C. Robert “Bob” Kehler leads U.S. Strategic Command, which with its subordinate and functional commands is responsible for missile defense; global strike; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; cyber defense and space operations, as well as combating weapons of mass destruction.

Stratcom’s nuclear mission is one of its “big three” responsibilities, along with space and cyber, Kehler said.

The U.S. nuclear triad includes 450 land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, strategic missiles deliverable by 76 Air Force B-52s and 20 B-2s, and 18 Navy Ohio-class submarines carrying ballistic or cruise missiles.

While sustaining current systems is an immediate issue, the triad also needs to be modernized in the coming decades, Kehler said, noting the Ohio-class submarine fleet likely will reach the end of its service life in the late 2020s.

“That will come because of reasons that the Navy understands well about operating platforms that are constantly subjected to [pressure variations],” he said. “We’re going to have to make some decisions … [that will] require us to have some modernization programs in place.”

All three of the triad legs “need to be sustained … until replacements come along. And, of course, the replacements are being discussed in the budget discussions, as well,” Kehler said.

The Air Force plans to replace the B-52 fleet with a long-range strike platform or family of systems, which Air Force leaders have said would center on a new long-range, penetrating bomber, a global strike system, a long-range standoff weapon, and an enabler system.

Stratcom’s chief said his organization has set three requirements for the new system: it must be truly long range; it must be able to penetrate defenses; and it must serve as both a conventional and a nuclear platform.

While Stratcom has not set a specific intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance requirement for the new system, Kehler said, the value of a platform that can both drop bombs and gather intelligence is clear.

“The more flexibility that we can include in platforms today, the better,” he said.

Over the course of its active service with the Air Force beginning in 1955, the B-52 has served as a platform for conventional bombs, smart weapons and nuclear weapons, he said.

The current challenge is sustaining the B-52 as a standoff nuclear platform until a new long-range strike capability comes on line, Kehler said.

What aircraft or missiles the Air Force will ultimately select and fund for future long-range strike missions still is under discussion, he added.

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta has been clear that he wants defense budget decisions to be based on strategy, and planning discussions now underway are taking that approach, Kehler said.

“I continue to stand by the need for a triad; certainly in the near term, I believe that we can sustain a triad,” the general said. “I think there are going to be interesting questions about both the scope and pace of modernization as we go forward.”

The U.S.-Russia strategic arms reduction treaty known as “New START” that took effect this year sets nuclear force ceilings at 1,550 deployed weapons and 750 deployed launchers, Kehler noted.

“In that structure, I believe a triad of forces makes the most strategic … [and] operational sense,” he said. “As we look into the strategic future, the answer about whether or not we’re going to need a triad, I think, is ‘it depends.’”

Future arms control agreements, force structure and budget levels will factor into the decision of whether to reduce the triad, he said.

“Can we, in fact, as we look to modernize … afford to spend the resources to modernize the entire triad? Those are not all questions for today,” Kehler said.

A viable nuclear force requires sufficient force structure, expertise, and industrial-base support for weapons, he said.

“You can have a hollow nuclear force, and we need to be very careful about that,” he added.