Shenandoah – Dec 2014 newsletter - USS Shenandoah (AD-26)

USS Shenandoah AD 26
Newsletter #31 Vol 17 No. 2
December 2014
Twenty Reunions Since 1991. Our 31st Newsletter.
We Have a Website and are on Facebook. Now, On to New Orleans in 2015!
From the Editors’ Log
given to all who were at Wilmington and quoting Tom,
“They liked it!” They are now in the Ships Store along
with the wooden carved version by shipmate, Ron Scherer.
They can be purchased simply by making that “call” as
instructed in the Ships Store.
Two more stories to report before closing. We have some
great news! We still have some widows of shipmates who
are “staying the course” with the Association and now we
have the “First son of a shipmate!” Frank Petricone, son of
Sal Petricone has just paid his 2015 dues and “stopped” at
the Ships Store to load up! Welcome aboard Frank, and we
hope to see you at the next reunion.
Recall our cover story in the June newsletter? Well Clay
started his very long training for submarine duty up in
Groton, CT in early June. He has successfully completed
nearly half of his schooling and doing well...so I hear. The
classes will end about next spring and Clay will receive his
assignment to a particular submarine somewhere in the
world and become a 3rd class petty officer drawing slightly
over $2,000 per month, maybe even extra “sub” pay. Not
bad for a twenty year old who now has a future!! Dave
Yes, Lorraine and I missed Wilmington and we certainly
missed all of you that attended a great reunion. The firstmate had to travel east to “lend a hand” with the grandkids
and I had no choice but to hold down the fort, especially
while we are trying to sell. That was the second reunion
that I missed since 1991!
Tom has informed me that the next reunion will be in
New Orleans. Two “past topics” were brought up during
the business portion for discussion and they are: 1)
Invite the crew from the AD 44 to our reunions and 2)
consider increasing our numbers by “joining up with
other tenders. To begin with, we have heard that an old
name has surfaced on the new website that Tom created
(www.ussshenandoahad26.com) and that is A.M. LaDue,
a 2/c from the AD 44. So, we have a connection to the
successor to our ship and Tom will be reaching out to her
soon. He also has addresses and emails for individuals to
approximately 18 other tenders. Now, many may not hold
reunions, if they ever did, but we do “swap” newsletters
with four to six tenders that show some activity. So “good
luck” Tom. He has also asked Jack Humphreys to work
with him as needed and to be “my backup in case anything
happens to me.” Bravo-Zulu to you both. Should we “join
forces” with other ships, remember, we were all AD sailors.
Here is an opportunity to widen your circle of friends (your
neighbor down the street !!!??) and with more attendees,
the cost may drop.
and
Donations to the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Society
and the Tin Can Sailors to the amount of $250 each was
approved along with $150 to the Marine Corps “Toys for
Tots.” The request for a Life Membership was brought up
and seemed to bring a favorable response.
New Shenandoah pewter Christmas tree ornaments were
Letters and Calls Concerning the Crew
Mr Rick Campbell
September, 2014
17815 Falcon Crest Circle
Germantown, MD 20874
Dear Rick,
I just received a call from my successor, Tom Durand
back east in West Haven, CT. He informed me that he just
received your book, The Trident Deception, complete with
your autograph on the inside cover.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, I cannot make our
ships reunion in Wilmington, NC at the end of the second
week of October and, therefore, not have the pleasure
continued on page 2
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and making sure I didn’t miss any spots. It took me awhile
to get the hang of it but I was not one to disappoint dad.
A few hours later and you could see your face in them.
He told me I now had a job every month. Get his shoes
or boots looking like new. Little did I know that this skill
would pay off for me later when I joined the Marine Corps.
**********************************************
Dave Brown, BT2/c ‘61-’62 called me in the spring, too late
for the June newsletter. He wanted to thank me and most
of all Steve Johnson of S.N.J. Services Group for getting
him a 100% disability for asbestosis. He also has his own
“quarters” at the Lovell Federal Health Care Center in
North Chicago. From the info that Dave sent, it looks like
a beautiful care center. Thanks for the call Dave. Now how
about a few more calls or letters from the rest of you? Dave
**********************************************
Mr. Vernon Clark, staff writer
July 2014
Philadelphia Inquirer
801 Market Street, Ste 300
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Dear Mr. Clark,
I apologize for taking a bit longer than expected to gather
the enclosed newsletters. As you will read, my shipmates
and I are kept informed about the Olympia by our shipmate
whose apartment borders on the Delaware River. He is a
lifelong resident of that great city and is a “Plank Owner”
of our ship. this means that as a young sailor back in
1945, he helped to put our ship in commission! I’m sure
that he will tell you a lot more on the subject should you
contact him. It might make for an interesting article for
“your” readers, as well as my shipmates in the December
newsletter. Frank Feiertag can be reached at 215-351-3983.
You may want to include in that article that it was Frank’s
idea that they remove this treasure from the water and
place it in dry-dock number one at the Navy Yard and
provide access to the entire public. Maintenance should be
drastically reduced once she is “high and dry.”
Please let me know what you think about all the sailors
throughout this country who are following this story, stay in
touch and by all means, may any news my way as I do not
receive emails.
Sincerely, E. David Zapf, Editor, USS Shenandoah AD 26
Unfortunately, Mr. Clark did not answer this letter. So
Frank, we must rely on you to inform you shipmates on this
national treasure.
**********************************************
Hello Bobby, (Bobby Conant PN 3/c) October 2014
What a surprise hearing from you last saturday morning.
Sounds like all is well up there in NH, especially with your
job with Homeland Security on the Portsmouth waterfront.
I wish an opportunity like that would come my way. You
have certainly played the cards the good Lord dealt you
very well. The one achievement that comes to my mind is
how after your service on the Shenandoah with me, you
of seeing a shipmate win this worthy gift. The book is a
“nail biter” for sure. I will be waiting for your next novel.
Meanwhile, hope you enjoy our June newsletter.
Sincerely, E. David Zapf, Editor, USS Shenandoah AD 26
**********************************************
From Frank C. Petricone, SSG USAR, Sal’s oldest son, we
have the following humorous “snippets” concerning Sal’s
days in the reserve in up state NY.
USS Prowess USNR Mine Sweeper
Great Lakes Service
“Missing Ships Movement”
Dad told me this story about his Naval Res. Unit that
sometimes pulled their reserve drills aboard this ship which
was docked in Charlotte, NY on the Genesee River. They
would take the ship out into Lake Ontario for crew drills
and to shake the rust off. They would sail over to Toronto,
Canada and pull into port for liberty. On Sunday, the ship
would leave for the return to Rochester, NY. There was
sometimes a small problem. The ships crew would have a
few sailors that forgot how to tell time. They missed the
ship. AWOL.
The unlucky ones would pile into cabs and ride back
to where the ship was docked, in Rochester, The trip was
about three hours by car. Needless to say, they were waiting
for the ship on the dock as it came in. They would help
with tying it off and sneak back to their work sections and
hope no one had noticed or turned them in for missing any
role call. Dad never would admit to ever being part of the
Toronto crew. I was never told if any of the sailors received
Captains Mast for their transgressions. Dad did say that
they always had a good time wherever they went in the
Great Lakes.
Mom and Dad’s Navy Whites
My mom was dad’s personal laundry service. She slaved
over his uniforms like a promotion depended on it. She
could get his uniform so white that they looked like they
had just been issued from supply and were still in the
wrapper. She had the creases pressed so perfect and sharp
that you couldn’t wrinkle them if you tried. Mom was later
told by some of the other wives that their husbands would
try not to stand next to dad in formation because their
uniform looked like it had just come out of the sea bag and
was a gray shade of white.
Spit Shine Shoes
My dad taught me how to spit shine shoes. I think that I
was 10 or 11 when he said “get your ass over here and learn
how to spit shine my shoes.” Mom tried to say something
about do something for yourself but that didn’t stop him.
He had a dress inspection that weekend and everything had
to be squared away. Black Kiwi polish, one old white teeshirt and some warm water, and away I went. He was the
perfect supervisor. Constantly pointing out all my mistakes
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Info for Your Family Still Serving
went back to Portsmouth and spent the next four years in
the Naval Reserve and at the end of that obligation, you
transferred to the Air Force Reserve for another 25, retiring
as a master sergeant! How I wish I had thought that clearly
because I believe I could have done the same thing while
working and attending college at night. My retirement
would have looked different then it is, for sure. Of course,
the Air Force back then is not the service that it is now. Just
about all branches, in addition to the Army and Marines,
are “boots on the ground” as they say today, concerning
the Mideast. They even have a section at Great Lakes for
minimum infantry training!
I can understand that your time on the Shenandoah is a
faint memory but not too many years ago, had you come
to a reunion or two, I’m sure you would have remembered
some old shipmates. They should or would have
remembered you., that’s for sure. You were the one who,
working in the “exec’s “ office made the ship run! As I said
over the phone, you must have replaced Bob Dahnke who
left the same time that you arrived, April 1953. Who would
have known or expected that 38 years later, in 1991, Bob
would be the one to start the first reunion. I hope we stay in
touch. Lorraine and I will do our best to get back to the NE.
At the very least, we owe you a dinner.
Your old shipmate, Mr “Ed”
**********************************************
In September, Lorraine flew to Baltimore for the baptism
of the latest grandchild. While there she visited with
our “first mate, “ Lois Lane. Naturally, Lois made that
famous“Maryland sea food dinner!” Dave
Employers Seeking More College Grads
Employers expect to hire more college graduates from the
class of 2014 – 8.6 percent more than from the class of
2013. The National Association of Colleges and Employers
say bachelor’s degrees are most in demand, particularly in
business, engineering and accounting. Nearly 70 percent of
the employers who responded to a NACE survey are hiring
business majors., the most of any major. Business majors
also have the highest average starting salary, according to
another NACE survey.
At the bottom of the list are health sciences and education
students, sought by fewer than five percent of employers.
But it‘s worth noting that the survey data reflect the types
of companies that responded, most of which represent industries including finance, insurance and real estate.
The average starting salary for health sciences jobs actually gained the most ground this year: students with that
degree are expected to make an average of $51,541, up 3.7
percent from last year’s average.
One-Stop Job Shop for Veterans
Aiming to streamline employment resources for troops
leaving the military, the government is creating an integrated website that can help job seekers create résumés,
connect with employers and become part of a database of
veterans and their spouses for companies to mine for skills
and talents.
The websites, ebenefits.com, is the first online resource
that combines information provided by a variety of agencies and employers. It’s intended to help vets and military
spouses build résumés, translate military skills, and provide
career and training data with the click of a mouse.
The AD 44 may have been “scuttled,” according to Robert
Smith, a former shipmate of the USS Frontier AD 25. Some of
the AD 26 shipmates still with us and the Association recall our
visit aboard the AD 44 back in the Fall of 1992. More definitive
news on this, hopefully, in the next issue.
STEM Companies Aggressively Seeking Veterans
New Members
Innovations and creativity in science, technology, engineering and math will be the drivers of tomorrow’s economy
Pursuing a job in one of these fields–collectively known
by the acronym STEM–can lead you to a rewarding career
with a company that will be a driving force to leading us
into the future.
There are many jobs in the military that translate directly
into STEM jobs in the private sector. Last year, Forbes
magazine teamed up with Indeed.com to compile a list of
the cities with the most STEM job openings at that time.
They are: New York City, Washington D.C, San Jose, CA,
San Francisco, CA, Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Los Angeles,
CA, Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA, and Dallas, TX.
Big cities tend to be focal points for large companies with
a variety of STEM jobs but they’re by no means the only
Frank Petricone
Randy Bergstrom
Final Voyage
Sal Petricone EM 3/c ‘5 - ‘5
Joe Kelly EM 3/c ‘51-’53
Doug James lost his First Mate, Delores
Please remember our shipmates and first
mates that are in sickbay in your prayers.
continued on page 4
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places to find such jobs. Many companies are looking to
put down roots in smaller cities in comparatively out-ofthe-way areas for the sake of better tax benefits and other
business advantages.
Many companies also have a presence overseas and who
better to fill a spot that demands flexibility and adaptability than veterans who may have live and worked overseas
multiple times during their service careers?
cuts, calling it their top legislative priority this year.
It’s an unusual choice, with military benefits changes.
Veterans Affairs funding and the disability claims backlog
also on the group’s list of talking points. But officials say
the scheduled spending cuts for active duty programs have
the potential to negatively affect every other national security and veterans’ issue, and should be the easiest to fix.
“This is a self-inflicted wound that never should have happened,” said Bob Wallace, VFW executive director. “We
need to highlight that, and hope that we can get (lawmakers) to do the right thing.”
Congress put the automatic spending cuts in place in
2011, as part of a broader deficit-reduction effort.
Pentagon leaders have warned that without full repeal,
military planners must brace for fewer personnel, reduced
training funds, and possible equipment shortages.
VFW leaders reiterated that fear, saying the cuts jeopardize “readiness and modernization programs and the continued viability of the all-volunteer force.” Wallace said
members also worry that future sequestration cuts could hit
the Veterans Affairs Department, which has been exempt
thus far. Bring back the draft! Dave
STA-21 Open
Sailors interested in earning a commission can apply for
the Seaman to Admiral-21 program which opened its online
registration process. Those accepted into the program can
attend college and earn a bachelor’s degree while remaining
on active duty at their current pay grade. They’ll get up to
$10,000 per year in tuition and other educational assistance.
For more eligibility requirements and the applications
form, visit www.sta-21.navy.mil. Details also are available
in NAVADMIN 101/14.
GI Bill Benefit Unlikely to be Cut
Acting Veterans Affairs Secretary Sloan Gibson said he
“can’t image” lawmakers cutting back on veterans’ educatiton benefits in the near future, even in the face of the continued budget pressures facing Congress. Speaking at an
event marking the 70th anniversary of the GI Bill, Gibson
said the benefit remains one of the most significant pieces
of legislation ever passed by Congress, helping millions of
veterans not only transition to but thrive in their post-military lives. And he’s confident its significance isn’t lost on
From Grace Schwaab....
At birth, we boarded the train and met our parents, and
we believe they will always travel on our side. However,
at some station, our parents will step down from the
train, leaving us on this journey alone. As time goes
by, other people will board the train, and they will be
significant, i.e. our siblings, friends, children, and even
the love of your life. Many will step down and leave a
permanent vacuum. Others will go so unnoticed that we
don’t realize that they vacated their seats. This train ride
will be full of joy, sorrow, fantasy, expectations, hellos,
goodbyes, and farewells. Success consists of having a
good relationship with all passengers requiring that we
give the best of ourselves.
The mystery to everyone is: We do not know at which
station we ourselves will step down. So, we must live
in the best way, love, forgive, and offer the best of who
we are. It is important to do this because when the time
comes for us to step down and leave our seat empty, we
should leave behind beautiful memories for those who
will continue to travel on the train of life
I wish you a joyful journey on the train of life. Reap
success and give lots of love. More importantly, thank
God for the journey. Lastly, I thank you for being one
of the passengers on my train.
Congress.
“It’s one of those things you can point to for an outstanding return on investment,” he said.
Veterans’ groups have been less confident of the future of
the benefit, especially in terms of the generous Post-9/11
GI Bill program. Through that benefit, troops who have
served three years on active duty since September 2001 are
eligible for four years free tuition at their home state’s public university, plus a monthly housing stipend and textbook
allowance.
As the Post-9/11 GI Bill approaches its fifth anniversary,
VA already has paid out $41 billion to about 1.2 million
beneficiaries. That’s a sizeable price tag for lawmakers,
who will consider legislation to expand veterans; health
care that could cost up to $50 billion annually. House
leaders have said they want to find an offset for any new
spending and reducing education benefit costs could help
fill that gap. But so far, lawmakers have steered clear of GI
Bill trims.
VFW to Congress: Scrap Sequestration
And thanks to you Grace and shipmate Joe....Dave
Veterans of Foreign Wars members spent most of the week of
March 3 lobbying Congress on a fix for sequestration spending
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VA News
the nets, steps are being taken to fix the problems. If you
need care, here are few options.
Accelerating Care Initiative: Clinics will expand to
include night and weekend hours. If you’re a new patient
waiting on an appointment that’s more than 30 days out
(and if they can fit you in), the Department of Veterans
Affairs will make three attempts to contact you to see if
you want to go in earlier. If yes, the process will start to get
you into non-VA medical care. Facilities will take a look at
canceled appointments on a daily basis and make calls to
find veterans to take the appointments. If you call the VA
for an appointment, get the name of the person you talk to,
and make a note of the date and time.
Non-VA Care: This program was designed to get you
treatment where there’s a lack of a needed specialist in your
local VA hospital, the travel distance is great or there are
“long wait times.” That a quote from the VA site, and that
little phrase is key. If you’re given an appointment that’s not
soon enough, ask for a referral to civilian medical care.
Access Received Closer to Home: Also Called ARCH,
this pilot program matches eligible rural veterans with
health care in their area. Five spots were originally opened:
now, with the scrutiny about the scheduling snafus, it
is possible more sites will be opened. Call your care
coordinator to ask about care closer to home.
VA Proposes Modest Budget Increase for Next Year
The Veterans Affairs Department would see another modest
increase in spending under the White House’s fiscal 2015
budget proposal, with more money for homelessness efforts
and aid for returning combat troops. Officials touted the nearly
$164 billion VA budget plan as providing significant resources
to veterans and military families, through funding to boost
medical care options, assist troops transitioning to civilian life,
eliminate veterans’ homelessness, and end the disability clams
backlog.
Links Between PTSD, Dementia Studies
Troops and veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder
or traumatic brain injury (TBI) may be at increased risk
of developing dementia. In its June issue, Alzheimer’s &
Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association
reports that additional military risk factors include
chemical exposures, smoking and alcohol use. More
research is necessary says an Alzheimer’s Association
official and other experts. “It is clear...there is a connection
between TBI, PTSD, other military-related factors, and
risk of cognitive decline and dementia,” said Maria
Carrillo, Ph.D., an Alzheimer’s Association vice president.
“However, we’re just at the beginning of this work.”
VA Home Loans Underused, Experts Say
Free Hotel Opens Near VA Medical Center
Too many troops and veterans either don’t know about their
VA home loan benefit or are being discouraged from using
it. VA should modernize the program and fund outreach
efforts to educate real estate professionals and loan
counselors, as well as troops and vets about the benefits,
said Son Nguyen, who heads the nonprofit Veterans
Association of Real Estate Professionals.
Nguyen questioned why only 1.9 million of the 16.4
million veterans who own homes obtained their loans
through VA. More than 1 million troops and 22 million
veterans are eligible for the program, which has guaranteed
loans on more than 20 million homes since its creation 70
years ago.
A $200,000 VA home loan saves a veteran about $200
a month, said John Bell III, VA’s assistant director of loan
policy and valuation loan guaranty services.
A free hotel for troops and veterans receiving medical care
at the VA Palo Alto Health Care System opened to guest
in May. The Lee & Penny Anderson Defenders Lodge is
expected to serve up to 20,000 military guests annually
who travel to Palo Alto, CA for treatment, according
to a release from the Pentagon Federal Credit Union
Foundation, which in 2010 assisted with a $10 million lowinterest loan to help get construction underway. Members
of the military and veterans interested in staying a the lodge
should contact their local VA rep for more information.
VA Revamping Disability Claims Forms
The VA is introducing new, standardized disability claims
forms that officials say will make it easier for veterans and
their survivors to clearly state what benefits they’re seeking
from VA and provide the right information to process their
claims and appeals.
The new forms will eliminate applicant guesswork, which
often leads to delays in decisions and, ultimately, delays in
receiving benefits. In the past, VA claims or appeals could
be submitted on any piece of paper, which often caused
delays due to missing information . More details are online
at www.ebenefits,va,gov or www.va.gov/vaforms/.
PTSD Vets May Gain Discharge Upgrades
As many as 80,000 veterans who suffered from posttraumatic stress and received other-than honorable
discharges can use evidence of their PTSD to petition
service boards to upgrade the bad paper discharge. At
stake for the individuals is removal of lifelong stigmas
that have scarred reputations, limited job prospects and
blocked critical veteran benefits. Defense Secretary
Chuck hagel recently directed that boards for correction
Getting Quicker Appointments
Since the appointment scheduling/delayed care debacle hit
continued on page 6
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of military records or naval record begin to “fully and
carefully consider every petition based on PTSD brought
by each veteran.” His memo gives Army, Navy and Air
Force secretaries, “supplemental guidance” that boards are
to use when petitioners seek discharge upgrades claiming
that unrecognized PTSD caused the misbehavior that led to
other-than-honorable-discharge. Many of the veterans who
will gain from the new guidance served during the Vietnam
War, before the medical community recognized PTSD as a
disabling service-connected condition.
making it easier for the families of service members who
relocate to the state. A new state law will give veterans instate tuition rates at state colleges and universities even if they
wouldn’t otherwise qualify. Another provision makes it easier
for children of service members who are stationed in New York
to transfer their records to a new school.
The law also allows military spouses to automatically transfer
a real-estate, cosmetology or other professional license from
another state.
Good News From 10 States
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is warning
of fake job postings and other employment scams online.
Morrisey says scammers see places where people are looking
for work as fertile ground to snag new victims, often using
reputable organizations to trick job-seekers into handing
over sensitive personal information. He said to be wary of
any online job application that asks for a few to apply or for
pre-job training. Another scam requires filling out a detailed
application that asks for information such as social security
numbers and banking information.
West Virginia Issues Warning on Fake Job Offers
“Florida GI Bill” Awaits Governor’s Signature
The Florida Legislature passed the “Florida GI Bill,” legislation
supporters say will help the state become the most military
friendly in the nation. A key part of the bill would offer a
tuition break to honorably discharged veterans attending school
in the state regardless of when they moved to Florida. It would
ensure that veterans pay the in-state tuition rate for college. The
measure also includes college scholarships for National Guard
members. Florida has roughly 1.5 million veterans, along with
an estimated 61,000 active duty military personnel.
Florida Again: Florida GI Bill is Now Official
Honorably discharged veterans living in Florida will
automatically be eligible to receive in-state tuition rates at state
colleges and universities under a plan known as the “Florida GI
Bill,” recently signed into law by Governor, Rick Scott.
The bill includes college scholarships for National Guard
members and sets aside money to renovate armories and
acquire land adjacent to existing military installations in the
state. It also waives professional licensing fees up to five years
after a veteran is discharged.
Pennsylvania Puts Vets’ Notation
on Driver’s Licenses
Pennsylvania military veterans can now have their service
noted on state driver’s licenses, offering them a way to
demonstrate their status if they don’t have a military ID
handy. Gov. Tom Corbett announced the program that
provides veterans with the designation without an additional
fee. He says it will help veterans receive the recognition
they deserve. Officials say people began to sign up for the
program March 3, even before its formal unveiling.
Supporters say it will help identify people as veterans,
giving them quicker access to social and legal programs
designed for people who served in the military..
To sign up, veterans can go to www.dmv.state.pa.us and
click on the American flag icon.
New York Approves Tuition Break for Vets
New York is encouraging veterans to go back to school and
6
Wyoming Seeks to Collect Student Veterans Data
The University of Wyoming has about 600 students who
served or are serving in the military, but it doesn’t know much
about them. Unlike other classes of students, UW hasn’t
tracked basic information on its student veterans, such as
graduation rates, retention rates or average GPA.
Wyoming’s schools are not alone. Across the nation, school
representatives and veterans advocates have said repeatedly
that much less is known about vets in higher education than
non-vets. But that is changing in Wyoming thanks to an
initiative started by the relatively new UW Veterans Services
Center.
Marty Martinez, senior project coordinator with the center,
is working with other UW departments to collect data specific
to student veterans, many of whom attend college on the GI
Bill. He says the data could be used to help better serve those
veterans. Martinez said he is hoping the state’s community
colleges will follow suit. He made a presentation on the
topic during the first Wyoming Veterans in Higher Education
Conference at the university in Laramie. The three-day event
included representatives from the University of Wyoming and
the state’s community colleges and technical schools.
South Dakota Idea for VA Facility Has Educational Focus
A proposal to save the historic VA hospital in Hot Springs,
South Dakota, includes adding a medical college and medical
research and treatment using stem cells. The three-pronged
approach is being floated by the Veterans National Recovery
Center of Des Moines, Iowa. Officials will submit the plan
to VA as the federal agency determines the future of the
century-old facility. The facility opened as the Battle Mountain
Sanitarium in 1907 to treat Civil War veterans. In June, the
National Trust for Historic Preservation named it as one of
America’s 11 most endangered historic places.
Our Navy
South Carolina: Ross Perot Donates Millions to Museum
Two years ago, there was talk that the Navy would cut
10,000 sailors. Last year, personnel officials were bracing
for the possibility of similar end strength cuts, which
have provoked anxiety across the force. But those dark
scenarios have not come to pass, as the Navy’s latest budget
request makes clear, calling for holding the ranks around
the present 323,000 person end strength over the next
five years. “The size our Navy will remain stable for the
foreseeable future,” Vice Adm. Bill Moran, the chief of
naval personnel, wrote in a post on the Navy’s official blog
after the fiscal year 2015 budget request was released.
Proposed Budget Keeps End Strength Steady
Texas billionaire and former presidential candidate H. Ross
Perot has donated millions of dollars for a planned $100 million
National Medal of Honor Museum on the South Carolina coast.
The museum will enshrine the 3,489 recipients of the nation’s
highest honor for valor. It replaces a smaller one aboard the
aircraft carrier Yorktown. Plans call for a 100,000 square-foot
museum with galleries, a chapel and rooms for classrooms,
meetings and conferences.
Iowa to Exempt Military Pensions from Tax
A bill meant to support veterans already in Iowa and attract
others to the state is awaiting the governor’s signature. On a
94-to-2 vote, the state legislature sent the measure to Gov. Terry
Branstad, who has made veteran support a priority this session.
The bill would exempt military pensions form state income
tax, including pensions being received by surviving spouses. It
also would allow companies to give preference to veterans in
hiring decisions and offer credit to veterans with occupational
licensing. Higher education facilities also would be charged
with determining a standard to offer veterans academic credit
for military experience.
Iowa lawmakers also passed a separate measure to expand a
homestead tax credit already in place for disabled veterans.
New Paint Could Mean Lighter Workloads
Aboard the destroyer Ross in the north Atlantic Ocean,
the Navy is hoping that a new paint slathering its way
into the fleet will mean a little less chipping and painting
for sailors. The sailors on the Ross have begun using the
new polysiloxane topside coating–more complex than the
classic haze gray. It’s a two-step paint that includes a resin
and hardener that requires mixing and extra care when it’s
applied–and it can last more than seven years. “It’s basically
the same stuff they put on water towers so that graffiti can
just be wiped away instead of repainting the whole thing
every time,” said Ensign Anthony Joseph, the Ross’s first
lieutenant.
Ohio Plans to Help with Education, Jobs
Newest Attack Sub Named for Vermont
Ohio’s governor has signed a bill aimed at improving
military veterans’ and service members’ access to higher
education and jobs. It’s also intended to help prevent
military identity fraud and theft. The legislation, signed
by the governor, provides more uniform standards for
awarding credit for military experience by Ohio’s public
colleges and state boards issuing occupational licenses and
certification.
The law establishes the Military Transfer Assurance Guide
to set standards for colleges across the state to measure
and recognize the military experience in awarding college
credit. Supporters say the changes should help veterans and
service members more easily enter the civilian workforce.
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus had named the 19th Virginiaclass attack sub after the “Freedom and Unity” state. The
boat with hull number 792 is to honor that state’s naval
history, including the 1814 naval victory at the Battle of
Lake Champlain that ended a British invasion of the midAtlantic states.
“From our nation’s beginning, the people of Vermont
have tirelessly supported our Navy, enabling us to become
the unparalleled fighting force we are today,” Mabus said.
“I am here on the banks of Lake Champlain to once again
honor the sailors and Marines who have come from this
great state, and to honor your support of our Navy and
Marine Corps and your naval history.” The Vermont is the
first of 10 Block IV Virginia-class subs the service ordered
for a record $17.6 billion.
Wisconsin Vets Museum to Start Traveling Program
The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is launching a new
traveling exhibits program. Dubbed Marching Across the
State, it allows organizations, such as universities and
nonprofit groups to rent exhibits or show them for free.
The program comprises four exhibits, including those on
military mascots; noncombat roles for military personnel;
charcoal sketches by Santos Zingale, while aboard the
heavy cruiser Bremerton during WWII; and watercolor
paintings by John Gietlis produced while serving with the
12th Wisconsin Infantry during the Civil War.
Time at Sea
The Navy released data that confirms what a lot of sailors
already knew–some types of ships spend more time at sea
than others. For the three years from 2011-13, combat ships
averaged 33 percent of their time at sea, while destroyers
averaged 35 percent. There were also great variations
among individual ships, with some destroyers and cruisers
spending over half their time at sea during this period.
7
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• Shenandoah AD 26 Patch................................. $10.00 each
• Shenandoah Hat................................................ $20.00 each
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Comments
USS Shanandoah AD 26 Reunion Assoc
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free in a state of civilization, it expects what
never was and never will be.” Thomas Jefferson
E. David Zapf, Editor
U.S.S. Shenandoah AD 26 Association
64 Olguin Road
Corrales, NM 87048
www.ussshenandoahad26.com