April 2015 - USS Henry L. Stimson (SSBN-655)

VOL. 2015 NUMBER 4
APRIL 2015
USS HENRY L. STIMSON ASSOCIATION SSBN655 NEWSLETTER
Asso ciat ion O ffi cers & Bo a rd o f D i recto rs 201 3 —2016
PRESIDENT
Ray [Rita] Kreul
VICE PRESIDENT
Tom [Marie] Krauser
SECRETARY
Nick [Linda] Nichols
TREASURER
Ken [Diane] Meigs
OUTGOING PRESIDENT
Chuck [Joyce] Hladik
Other Positions 2013 —2016
HISTORIAN / MEMORABILIA
Loree [Carolyn] Riggs
WEBMASTER / NEWSLETTER
Nick [Linda] Nichols
CHAPLAIN
J.B. Helms
From the Editor:
In the March newsletter I had the picture of a
plaque that indicated the Stimson had only received
the single MUC discussed on the plaque during the life
of the ship. Thanks to the eagle eyes of ET1(SS) Kent
Young (Blue 83-90) further research of the Navy Unit
Award website ( https://awards.navy.mil/awards/
webbas01.nsf/(vwWebPage)/home.htm?
OpenDocument ) indicates that HENRY L. STIMSON
SSBN 655 received two MUCs and HENRY L.
STIMSON SSBN 655 BLUE received the
Humanitarian Service (HS) award. Details are:
MUC - HENRY L STIMSON SSBN655
1st Award: 19Aug1970 through 09Sep1970
2nd Award: 05Apr1988 through 06Aug1988
HS - HENRY L STIMSON SSBN655 BLUE
22Sep1989 through 10Oct1989 for HUGO
STOREKEEPER / SHIPS STORE
Rita [Ray] Kreul
were?" Oh how our years go by. The crew was so
proud of their boat, just as we were. I also want to say
to the shipmates on Facebook its nice reading all of
their past experiences over the years they spent on
the Henry L.
Don't forget shipmates that we are sailing toward
our next Stimson reunion. The time goes by fast. Just
a short note: when I was able to obtain the ships
commissioning plaque it came with a scrapbook from
the Gold crew‘s mess Chief Angelo Darin. Rita was
able to track down his daughter, Robin, who said her
mom had put the book together. Well Rita sent it back
to Robin and she stated words cannot say how thrilled
she was to see it again. Also Rita picked up two new
Facebook friends, Robin and her sister Guilliana.
Note: Chief Darin was a member of the Gold crew
and their first excellent cook.
Again we thank Nick for his excellent work. Let us
all send in items to share.
Ray and Rita
————————————————————————
ETERNAL PATROL
===============
RM2(SS) Bart Lane Thornton, B 84-87
Departed on Eternal Patrol 21 March 2014
LT(SS) John G.B. Howland, B 67-69
Departed on Eternal Patrol 17 March 2014
————————————————————————
From the Association President: Ray Kreul
I just want to pass on to all our Stimson shipmates
a Happy Easter and joyous Passover. It is once again
time to see us all come out of winter‘s deep sleep. Just
before XMAS Rita and I visited the crew of USS
Virginia while they were here in Cape Canaveral. I was
amazed at how young these sailors are. Then Rita
reminded me "have you forgotten how young you guys
1
From the Association Historian: Loree Riggs
TM2(SS) Jerry Pipkins, Blue 89-92
QM2(SS) Patrick Higgins, Blue 88-92
STS2(SS) Thomas Nobis, Blue 89-92
ET2(SS) Michael Buie, Gold 80-84
EMC(SS) Steve Genia, Gold 78-80 & Gold 83-88
FTGSN(SS) Mike Noftsger, Blue 81-84
STS3(SS) Larry Hall, Blue 65-69
MM2(SS) Thomas Burger, Blue 67-70
RMC(SS) Carl Callender, Gold 75-78
ET1(SS) Jeff Steverson, Blue 84-87
IC2(SS) Craig ’Iggy’ Ignatowitz, Blue 87-90
MT2(SS) Chris Gibson, Blue 75-79
MM3(SS) Brian Kennedy, Blue 88-92
FTBC(SS) Michael Marko, Blue 65-66
ET1(SS) Michael Henderson, Blue 82-86
IC1(SS) Randy Kulp, Blue 71-73
EM1(SS) John ‘Jack’ Hogan, Precom 65-66
FTB2(SS) Dan Ballard, Blue 86-89
STS2(SS) Ron Brown, Blue 85-87
LT(SS) Dennis Joyce, Precom 64-67
(Denny found by Gerry Weeks)
CDR(SS) Bill Ratliff, Gold XO 68-70
(Bill found by Gerry Weeks)
MT2(SS) Joel Shock, Gold 87-89
MM1(SS) Paul McFall, Gold 90-92
??(SS) J. Richard Wallace, Gold 65-70
MM1(SS) Bob ‘Doc’ Dougherty, Gold 67-74
MT2(SS) Ronald Bettis, Blue 89-95
————————————————————————
————————————————————————
BINNACLE LIST
(if you would like to be placed on our Association
Binnacle List please send an email to
[email protected])
========================================
FTB1(SS) Mike Boyle, G 78-81: On 01/02/15 I
underwent triple bypass surgery. They say I have had
several heart attacks however, did not know it. Had the
last one at work on 12/29/14. Ran my symptoms by a
friend who is an EMT. He said it sounds like an
obstruction and I should go to the ER. I did. At home
now and on the mend. Thanks for the prayers. Mike
————————————————————————
WELCOME ABOARD SHIPMATE!!
(Shipmate has contacted us to be added or have info
updated on our Sailing List. Please check the online
Sailing List to access the shipmates email address.)
========================================
RM2(SS) Jeff Studer, Blue 89-92 Decomm
MT2(SS) Art Baisley, Gold 76-78
IC1(SS) Paul Roetto, Gold 73-78
ET1(SS) Gene Thaden, Blue 72-75
LOOKING FOR SHIPMATE &
NOTES FROM SHIPMATES
MS2(SS) Tom O’Callaghan (G 86-90)
[ [email protected] ] Do you or anyone else
have any contact with Barry Steff MSC/SS?
**********
QM2(SS) Robert Frizzola (G 82-86)
[ [email protected] ] I was on from 82-86 Gold.
I‘m looking for a few shipmates and maybe you can
2
help. MM1/SS Mike Alegretto and MM2/SS Willy
Wilson, both Gold crew. I have enjoyed the
newsletters and would like for you to send out a
special communication. April 6-11 2015 the After
Battery in Dorchester SC (near Summerville) is having
their 2nd annual Old Salts Pig Roast. Myself and QM1/
SS John Harris have hooked up both years and
rekindled old memories. Could be beneficial to add the
After Battery web site to Stimson Draft.
**********
YNSN(SS) James Maratta (B 67-68)
[ [email protected] ] Stimson shipmates…I
encourage members to join the Naval Sea Cadet
Corps, www.seacadets.org. I did a 2 wk. training with
my cadets at Kings Bay (they also have trainings in
New London) and I felt I got qualified all over again.
This is a worthwhile organization that "builds
tomorrow‘s leaders today". God knows our country
could use more good leaders. I gave the training
organization a soviet brass submarine clock and a
WW2 poster for the honor of using their facility, and
toured a couple boats in Florida. There is nothing like it
---serving once again.
**********
YNC(SS) James Maddox (B 83-86)
[ [email protected] ] is looking for YN2(SS) Mark
Jackson (B). He writes as follows: Carl Scott and I
have been trying to locate a former yeoman that
worked with us until he went to school as an Admiral's
Writer. I guess by now you know I'm talking about
Mark Jackson - Yeoman Extraordinaire. Without his
help both Carl and I would have had a difficult if not
impossible time qualifying onboard. I remember that
although getting signatures on my qual card (Carl too)
that with everything else going on any info we learned
soon left the confines of our heads and was scrubbed
with the rest of the CO2. Mark actually gave me what
became known as the Henry L Stimson Reader's
Digest Condensed version of the qualification
system. Every night after chow we would start at the
bow and proceed to go through each level and space
of the ship until we reached the screw. I sure missed
him after he transferred. Carl and I discovered that
Mark went to work as the Yeoman for the Under
Secretary for Submarine Warfare in DC and soon
became a first class (after receiving a meritorious
promotion, 2 Navy Achievement Medals and 2 Navy
Commendation Medals (not to mention the Meritorious
Service Medal on his transfer to NESEP). He
graduated top of his class and became a LTjg in the
Supply Corps. The last we heard of him (1994 or 95
my 60 year old brain gets foggy) he was a CDR in
Norfolk at the Supply Center. I'm sure glad that I was
able to talk him in to completing his GED while on the
ship. He arrived onboard with only a 10th grade
education, but I realized he had a lot of brains under
all that hair of his and between the XO, MMCM(SS)
Golightly, and myself talked him into getting his GED,
reenlisting under the STAR program (does that still
exist) and getting all the benefits associated with that auto 2nd class and the Class C School (Admiral's
Writer).
So to make this long story short. If you know where
in the world he is or what happened to his "I don't have
the time to talk to you, 'cause I'm an officer and you're
not" self. Please let me or Carl know before we're too
old to care. Also what has happened to MMCM(SS)
Golightly and Bak. I miss both of those guys.
Jim Maddox (my brain is so cloudy I can't answer a
single qual question anymore)
**********
MM3(SS) Alan ’Chip’ Paulding (G 69-71)
[ [email protected] ] is looking for Malcolm
Harding (aka Rusty). He went thru basic training with
me and several Stimson Gold patrols. He was in
the QM gang and a good friend but we lost contact
after Stimson. My attempts to contact him haven't
been successful even though I know he lives in NH.
**********
STS3(SS) Steve Searight (B 70-71)
[ [email protected] ] is looking for STS3
Eugene Manning who served during the same period
as me. As I recall, he was from New York (Brooklyn).
**********
MM2(SS) Joe Civiletti Sr (G 79-81)
[ [email protected] ] Thank you, sorry it took
so long to acknowledge I received this but it has been
hectic around here. I look forward to the next edition! I
also wanted to let you know that when I was on the
Von Steuben SSBN 632 (after I left the Stimson), we
did a ripple shot of trident missiles. I think it was in
1982 after she had come out of the yards and it
CDR JG Prusaitus (name might be misspelled) as
Commanding Officer. as a result, the Stimson was not
the only boat to do a ripple shot. We did not get a
ribbon for it though I do remember doing the DASO
after Backfit in 1979 while on board Stimson though.
We all were able to get pictures from the support
vessel of the Trident breaking the surface off of Florida
3
- plus it made the newspaper (Spring 1980). That was
with JB Mueller as CO. He made full bird not too long
after that run. I still have the jacket that was sold by
the Rec Committee on board (no longer can fit into
though). Any one else still have a jacket from that
time?? As a question here, does anyone remember/
know what happened to an MM2/SS Bob Kind, MMCS/
SS Golightly, MM2/SS "Bama" McCall, MM2/SS
O'Conner, MM2/SS McDonald or a MM3/SS Dennis
LaPalme (all were A-Div Gold crew in 1979 when I
came on board). All could have made rate after I knew
them. Last time I saw Steve Bollman was when he
was in the hospital in Jacksonville after a accident
involving a mast "dashpot" (support clamp had
slipped) - believe that to be around summer of 1981. I
believe we were tied up starboard side of USS Simon
Lake (might have been the Canopus) in Kings Bay, GA
at that time. Thanks
————————————————————————
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- A message from the Master
Chief Petty Officer of the Navy:
Chief Petty Officers,
On April 1st, we will celebrate 122 years of
excellence. One thing that CPOs have always excelled
at, despite the challenges, is our ability to recognize
and implement change.
If I could coin one word for this year's birthday
theme, it would be 'progress.' Our Navy is 239 years
old - could you imagine where our Navy would be
without progress?
We went from wind-powered sails to coal-powered
steam. Now we sail under nuclear power. Our aircraft
have gone from propeller power to jet power. We went
from CPO Initiation to Transition to Induction and now
CPO 365.
Without change, there is no progress. Change is
not always easy, but that's OK, because hard is what
we do.
George Washington once said, "The harder the
conflict, the greater the triumph."
As CPOs, we have the responsibility to ensure our
Navy continues to progress - we owe this to our
Nation, our Navy and our people.
Chiefs, I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of
you. I've had the opportunity to be a member of our
CPO Mess for two decades, and I can tell you today
with great confidence that our CPO Mess has never
been better. You should feel good about who you are,
what you represent, and your ability to lead our
Sailors.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for 122
years of excellence.
Very Respectfully,
MIKE STEVENS
———————————————————————
GREAT LINKS TO SPEND TIME WITH
(all links from ―The Stimson Draft‖ will be on the
website)
**********
655 Association Website
www.ssbn655.org
**********
After Battery Website
http://www.theafterbattery.com/
**********
Submarine Training Manual (post WW II)
http://maritime.org/doc/fleetsub/index.htm
————————————————————————
Happy 122nd Birthday CPOs!
Story Number: NNS150331-24
Release Date: 3/31/2015 2:55:00 PM
From the Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the
Navy, Public Affairs
4
Fast Attack Submarine To Become Moored
Staff, Marine Log, Mar 19
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If you sign in to ManualsOnline using an email
address or Facebook account, you can scan copies of
your own user manuals so you never lose them again.
Plus, other members of the community can benefit
from your user manual.
http://www.manualsonline.com/
————————————————————————
Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) recently welcomed
USS La Jolla (SSN 701) for conversion from an
operational fast-attack submarine into a Moored
Training Ship (MTS). The submarine was built by
General Dynamics Electric Boat and commissioned in
October 1981;
MTSs are nuclear training platforms used to qualify
new nuclear operators. La Jolla and USS San
Francisco (SSN 711) are the next-generation MTSs for
the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Charleston, SC.
La Jolla's conversion process will require two
complete hull cuts, separating the ship into three
pieces, recycling a portion of the hull, and adding three
new hull sections. The new hull sections will arrive
from Electric Boat (EB) via barge and then be craned
into the dock. The Navy says the work will include
Virginia Class new construction philosophies and
methods with a major depot-level overhaul. EB's new
construction techniques and expertise are also being
used in the handling and installing of the new hull
modules.
"The biggest challenge for this project is
coordinating the unprecedented volume of work on a
submarine availability with overlapping planning effort
while staying within aggressive schedule and budget
constraints," said Steve Seligman, deputy project
superintendent "To mitigate these challenges, the
project team personnel actively participated in design
development to minimize execution challenges during
the conversion."
NNSY is also leveraging best practices and lessons
learned provided by Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and
Intermediate Maintenance Facility Inactivation,
Reactor Compartment Disposal, Recycling (IRR),
because the conversion will dispose of or recycle a
substantial portion of La Jolla.
"The Navy is depending on the timely delivery of
the next generation of Moored Training Ships to
ensure the contingent of highly trained, nuclear officers
and sailors meets demands from the fleet to support
its nuclear powered carriers and submarines," said
Chrystal Brady, project superintendent. "This is a
unique project which is crucial to ensuring fleet
readiness in support of the Navy's primary mission."
————————————————————————
Navy Planning Bangor Pier Extension For Seawolf
Subs
Ed Friedrich, Kitsap Sun, Mar. 5
The Navy intends to lengthen a pier at Bangor so it
can shift two Seawolf-class submarines there from
Bremerton.
USS Seawolf and USS Connecticut arrived July 22,
2007, and Jan. 29, 2008, respectively, at Naval Base
Kitsap-Bremerton from New London, Connecticut.
They're the only subs to call Bremerton home. It was
never meant to be permanent.
A 2004 Navy assessment recommended
homeporting them at Bremerton and keeping the third
boat in the class, USS Jimmy Carter, at Bangor in the
short term but eventually basing all three at Bangor,
according to a draft environmental impact statement
for the pier work.
Bangor's service pier would be extended 540 feet
to a total of 1,040, under the Navy's preferred
alternative. The other choice is to build a 975-foot
extension. Associated new facilities in either case
would include a pier crane and pier services and
compressor building, 50,000-square-foot waterfront
ship support building, shoreside emergency generator
and 421-car parking lot. The estimated cost is $89
million.
The changes would allow maintenance to be
performed on all three subs simultaneously, though
only two would normally be in port at the same time.
Problems at Bremerton cut into the subs'
availability. Seawolfs can only transit Rich Passage,
which separates Bremerton from open water, in the
5
daylight during high slack tides, the Navy says. On 144
days a year, they have less than 90 minutes to slip
through. On 12 days, they can't go at all. In 2012, four
of every nine transits were delayed from 12 to 48
hours, resulting in five lost days.
Pier D, where they're berthed, is designed for
aircraft carriers and isn't configured for submarine
maintenance and ordnance handling, the Navy says.
The Seawolfs are assigned to Submarine
Development Squadron Five, headquartered at
Bangor, and the training facility also is there.
What isn't there is space for the Seawolfs. The
Delta Pier is fully used by Ohio-class subs and isn't
configured for Seawolfs, project manager David
Gibson said during a public meeting Wednesday night
at North Kitsap High School. The Marginal Wharf is 70
years old, in rough shape and appropriate only for
smaller service boats. Subs can wait there in a pinch,
but no maintenance can be performed.
The Navy supports the shorter pier, where subs
can be maintained side-by-side, over a longer pier
where two could pull up alongside.
"It costs the taxpayer less money and has less
environmental footprint," Gibson said. "The shorter
pier has fewer piles and less overwater coverage."
The main disruption would be noise from installing
the pilings, according to the draft EIS. During
construction, which would require about 225 workers,
peak-hour delays would be expected at both gates,
and there would be more Hood Canal bridge openings.
Work would begin in July 2018 and wrap up in two
years.
More than 322 Seawolf personnel would move from
Bremerton to Bangor.
Gibson said the project's primary benefits would be
"the ability to get in and out when they want with no
issues with the tides and the ability to save money if
you consolidate the logistics support and training
function already customized for Seawolf submarines."
The project isn't considered controversial, and only
a few residents attended Wednesday's meeting.
Several others showed up to scout out potential
business opportunities. Julianna Sullivan, a Port
Gamble S'Klallam Tribe member and student at The
Evergreen State College in Olympia, became
interested in Bangor after writing a case study about
the second explosives handling wharf.
"I'm just making sure tribal treaty rights are being
acknowledged," she said of the new project.
The Navy is accepting comments until April 13.
Written comments may be submitted at
www.nbkeis.com/lwi or by mail to NAVFAC Northwest,
Attn: Mr. Thomas Dildine, LWI/SPE EIS Project
Manager, 1101 Tautog Circle, Suite 203, Silverdale,
WA 98315-1101.
In concert with the pier extension, the Navy is
analyzing construction of a land-water interface. It
would build barriers at the northern and southern ends
of the waterfront restricted area to connect the existing
on-water port security barrier with the on-land
waterfront security enclave.
————————————————————————
Always Be Cautious......
Two policemen call the station on the radio.
"Hello.‖
Is this you Sarge?"
"Yes?"
"We have a case here. A woman has shot her
husband for stepping on the floor she had just mopped
clean."
"Have you arrested the woman?"
"No sir. The floor is still wet."
————————————————————————
Putin's 'Red October': Russia's Deadliest New
Submarine
Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat, Mar. 4
As a follow-up to my previous article "What to
Expect from Russia's Pacific Fleet in 2014," I would
like to take a closer look at Russia's new backbone of
its maritime nuclear deterrence - the Borei-class (aka
Dolgorukiy-class), Project 955, fourth generation
SSBN (Ship, Submersible, Ballistic, Nuclear)
6
submarine. RT (somewhat predictably) called this new
SSBN class, "the planet's most advanced nuclear
deterrent tool."
Designed by Rubin Marine Equipment Design
Bureau and built by Northern Machine Building
Enterprise (Sevmash shipyard), the Borei-class ("North
Wind") is intended to replace the Project 941 Typhoonclass and Project 667 BDRM Delta IV-class vessels.
This constitutes the first time that Russia has added
new SSBNs to its navy since the end of the Cold War.
"In a way, the Borei represents a literal rebirth of the
Soviet submarine fleet; several boats in the class are
being constructed partially from the hulls of scrapped
or unfinished Akulas and Akula IIIs," a U.S. naval
officer writing for the U.S. Naval Institute notes.
The new Borei-class SSBN is 580 feet (170 meters)
long, has a hull diameter of 42 feet (13 meters), and a
crew of 107, including 55 officers. It can dive to a
maximum depth of about 1,500 feet (450 meters) and
yields a submerged speed of roughly 30 knots. The
sub has a compact, hydro-dynamically efficient hull for
reduced broadband noise and uses pump-jet
propulsion. Pump-jet propulsion reduces noise and
provides the submarine with a higher tactical 'silent
speed' and increased maneuverability. This makes
the submarine more difficult to detect.
According to naval-technology.com, the total cost
of the first Borei-class SSBN was $713 million,
including the $280m research and development effort.
In comparison, the cost of a U.S. Ohio-class SSBN
was around $2 billion per vessel.
Borei-class strategic submarines carry between 12
to 16 Bulava (RSM-56) ballistic missiles with with 6-10
warheads per missile - each warhead yielding 100-150
kilotons - for a total of 72 to 196 warheads per
submarine. The Bulava ballistic missile has a range of
over 8300km. Analyzing the Bulava inter-continental
missile Lieutenant Commander Tom Spahn, a U.S.
naval reserve officer, concludes:
Like its launch platform, the Bulava missile also
represents a dramatic leap forward in technology.
Similar to its land-based variant, the Topol-M SS-27, to
thwart evolving Western ballistic-missile-defense
shields, the Bulava can conduct evasive post-launch
maneuvers and deploy a variety of countermeasures
and decoys to defend against interception. Its ten
hypersonic, independently maneuverable warheads
are protected against both physical and
electromagnetic-pulse damage to ensure that they can
reach their targets intact.
The ship's antisubmarine warfare capabilities are
also impressive. The SSBN boasts six torpedo tubes
for launching six RPK-2 Viyuga (SS-N-15) missiles.
"Each SS-N-15 is capable of carrying a payload of a
Type 40 torpedo or 90R nuclear depth charge. The
missile can strike enemy submarines within a range of
45 km, while travelling at a subsonic speed of Mach
0.9,"according to naval-technology.com.
The Russian Navy is currently operating three Borei
-class SSBNs. The first, K-535 Yuriy Dolgorukiy, was
commissioned in January 2013 and currently serves in
Russia's Northern Fleet. Another Borei-class SSBN,
the Vladimir Monomakh, commissioned in December
2014, is expected to enter the service of the Pacific
Fleet this year. The Borei-class SSBN Alexander
Nevsky, commissioned in December 2013, recently
conducted a successful single test-launch of the
Bulava inter-continental ballistic missile in the
Kamchatka Peninsula.
All in all, the Russian Navy plans to build eight
SSBN's of this class (with an option to construct two
more) by 2020. The next vessel in the class, the Knyaz
Vladimir, is designated as a Project 955A Borei II. It
could field four more additional missile tubes (bringing
the total number of missiles potentially up to 20) and is
currently under construction. According to RT, it will
boast smaller hulls and cons, improved acoustics and
lower sound levels. A fifth Borei-class sub, the Knyaz
Oleg, was laid down at the Sevmash shipyard in July
2014.
The Borei-class submarines are envisioned to
remain in service at least until 2040. Tom Spahn,
writing for Proceedings Magazine, calls the Borei-class
SSBN an "impressive platform." He further notes that
"the Borei contains the best of modern submarine
technology, including advanced sound-silencing and
pump jet propulsion similar to that found on the U.S.
Virginia class."
War is Boring quotes an expert in anti-submarine
warfare, noting that Russia is the only country in the
world that can build a nuclear submarine capable of
evading U.S. detection. However, the expert also
notes that the "Russian navy right now [in 2013] is just
a complete disaster, and on the margins they can get
better, but to really get our attention they have to build
10, 20 of these things. And there are no signs they're
going to do that. I don't think they have the money for
it."
For a more nuanced analysis on the state of
7
Russia's Navy, I highly recommend, Dmitry
Gorenburg's analyses here and here. Perhaps we will
be lucky and a Russian sub commander will soon
dispatch a letter to a Russian admiral, announcing his
intention to defect. Then the world shall definitely know
more about Russia's deadliest nuclear submarine.
————————————————————————
program with other federal health care organizations.
Veterans may submit updated income information
at www.1010ez.med.va.gov/, or by visiting their nearby
VA health care facility. For more information, visit
www.va.gov/healthbenefits or call VA toll-free at 1-877
-222-VETS (8387).
————————————————————————
VA Eliminates Net Worth as Health Care Eligibility
Factor
Elimination of Net Worth Makes More Veterans
Eligible for Health Care
Washington – The Department of Veterans Affairs is
updating the way it determines eligibility for VA health
care, a change that will result in more Veterans having
access to the health care benefits they‘ve earned and
deserve.
Effective 2015, VA eliminated the use of net worth
as a determining factor for both health care programs
and copayment responsibilities. This change makes
VA health care benefits more accessible to lowerincome Veterans and brings VA policies in line with
Secretary Robert A. McDonald‘s MyVA initiative which
reorients VA around Veterans‘ needs.
―Everything that we do and every decision we make
has to be focused on the Veterans we serve,‖ said VA
Secretary Robert A. McDonald. ―We are working every
day to earn their trust. Changing the way we determine
eligibility to make the process easier for Veterans is
part of our promise to our Veterans.‖
Instead of combining the sum of Veterans‘ income
with their assets to determine eligibility for medical
care and copayment obligations, VA will now only
consider a Veteran‘s gross household income and
deductible expenses from the previous year.
Elimination of the consideration of net worth for VA
health care enrollment means that certain lowerincome, non-service-connected Veterans will have
less out-of- pocket costs. Over a 5-year period, it is
estimated that 190,000 Veterans will become eligible
for reduced costs of their health care services.
In March 2014, VA eliminated the annual
requirement for updated financial information. VA now
uses information from the Internal Revenue Service
and Social Security Administration to automatically
match individual Veterans‘ income information which
reduces the burden on Veterans to keep their
healthcare eligibility up to date. That change better
aligned VA‘s health care financial assessment
Twice as Many Vets Will Now Be Eligible for NonVA Care
By Kellie Lunney
More veterans will be able to access health care
outside of the Veterans Affairs medical system under
a change the department announced on Tuesday.
VA has tweaked one of the Choice program‘s eligibility
requirements -- the criterion related to a vet‘s distance
from the nearest VA facility -- under pressure from
veterans, lawmakers and veteran advocates. Instead
of calculating geographic distance based on a straight
line or, ―as the crow flies,‖ the department will
determine eligibility based on the actual driving
distance between the veteran‘s home and the nearest
VA medical facility. The department anticipates that
the change will double the number of vets eligible for
the Choice program, which allows certain vets to
receive health care temporarily outside the VA, if the
department is unable to schedule an appointment for
the vet within 30 days, or the vet lives more than 40
miles from a VA facility.
The department plans to publish an interim rule
soon in the Federal Register making the revision
official, and will notify vets via letter about the revised
mileage calculation. The department will determine
driving distance as calculated with commercial
mapping tools that are ―consistent with VA‘s longestablished beneficiary travel program.‖ The Senate
Veterans‘ Affairs Committee will hold a Tuesday
hearing on the Choice program‘s 40-mile rule.
The program is a key component of the 2014
Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act,
which President Obama signed into law last summer.
The department began sending Choice cards to
eligible veterans at the end of last year, mailing them
out in three phases. But the roll-out created confusion,
and many vets who believed they were eligible for the
Choice program were turned away. Since the Choice
program took effect in November, more than 45,000
medical appointments have been scheduled,
according to the VA.
―We‘ve determined that changing the distance
8
calculation will help ensure more veterans have
access to care when and where they want it,‖ said VA
Secretary Bob McDonald in a March 24 statement,
adding the change was based on ―constructive
feedback‖ from veterans and other stakeholders. ―VA
looks forward to the ongoing support of our partners as
we continue to make improvements to this new
program,‖ he said.
The Choice program runs through Aug. 7, 2017, or
until the $10 billion fund is ―exhausted,‖ according to
the Nov. 5, 2014, interim rule published in the Federal
Register on the program‘s implementation and
eligibility.
The administration‘s fiscal 2016 budget proposal
recommended shifting any potential excess money
from the Choice program into other areas, but
lawmakers quickly shot down that idea in February
saying it could end the program prematurely. House
Veterans‘ Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Jeff Miller,
R-Fla., called the proposal a ―non-starter.‖ As of March
17, nearly 46,000 vets have sought to receive care
using the Choice program, according to VA data.
Miller on Tuesday praised the department for the
distance calculation change, calling it ―common
sense.‖ But he also said it would take more to ensure
VA implements the program successfully, citing a new
survey from the Veterans of Foreign Wars that found
VA didn‘t offer Choice program enrollment to more
than 80 percent of eligible vets who participated in the
survey.
―Veterans deserve more choices when it comes to
their health care decisions, and it‘s up to VA to start
providing them, just as Congress and the president
intended,‖ Miller said.
Many others have criticized the Choice program
and its implementation so far, including The Daily
Show‘s Jon Stewart in this March 23 clip at http://
thedailyshow.cc.com/full-episodes/aoti6l/march-23-2015---ayaan-hirsi-ali
Have comments about this article? Please post
them at http://www.govexec.com/defense/2015/03/
more-vets-will-be-eligible-non-va-care-through-choiceprogram/108283/?
oref=govexec_today_pm_nl#disqus_thread
SOURCE: GovExec.com article at http://
www.govexec.com/defense/2015/03/more-vets-will-beeligible-non-va-care-through-choice-program/108283/?
oref=govexec_today_pm_nl
————————————————————————
GOD & LAWN CARE
GOD to ST. FRANCIS: Frank, you know all about
gardens and nature. What in the world is going on
down there on the planet? What happened to the
dandelions, violets, milkweeds and stuff I started eons
ago? I had a perfect no-maintenance garden plan.
Those plants grow in any type of soil, withstand
drought and multiply with abandon. The nectar from
the long-lasting blossoms attracts butterflies, honey
bees and flocks of songbirds. I expected to see a vast
garden of colors by now. But, all I see are these green
rectangles.
St. FRANCIS: It's the tribes that settled there, Lord.
The Suburbanites.They started calling your flowers
'weeds' and went to great lengths to kill them and
replace them with grass.
GOD: Grass? But, it's so boring. It's not colorful. It
doesn't attract butterflies, birds and bees; only grubs
and sod worms. It's sensitive to temperatures. Do
these Suburbanites really want all that grass growing
there?
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently so, Lord. They go to great
pains to grow it and keep it green. They begin each
spring by fertilizing grass and poisoning any other
plant that crops up in the lawn.
GOD: The spring rains and warm weather probably
make grass grow really fast. That must make the
Suburbanites happy.
ST. FRANCIS: Apparently not, Lord. As soon as it
grows a little, they cut it-sometimes twice a week.
GOD: They cut it? Do they then bale it like hay?
ST. FRANCIS: Not exactly, Lord. Most of them rake it
up and put it in bags.
GOD: They bag it? Why? Is it a cash crop? Do they
sell it?
ST. FRANCIS: No, Sir, just the opposite. They pay to
throw it away.
GOD: Now, let me get this straight. They fertilize grass
so it will grow. And, when it does grow, they cut it off
and pay to throw it away?
ST. FRANCIS: Yes, Sir.
GOD: These Suburbanites must be relieved in the
summer when we cut back on the rain and turn up the
heat. That surely slows the growth and saves them a
lot of work.
ST. FRANCIS: You aren't going to believe this, Lord.
When the grass stops growing so fast, they drag out
hoses and pay more money to water it, so they can
continue to mow it and pay to get rid of it.
9
GOD: What nonsense. At least they kept some of the
trees. That was a sheer stroke of genius, if I do say so
myself. The trees grow leaves in the spring to provide
beauty and shade in the summer. In the autumn, they
fall to the ground and form a natural blanket to keep
moisture in the soil and protect the trees and bushes.
It's a natural cycle of life.
ST. FRANCIS: You better sit down, Lord. The
Suburbanites have drawn a new circle. As soon as the
leaves fall, they rake them into great piles and pay to
have them hauled away.
GOD: No!? What do they do to protect the shrub and
tree roots in the winter to keep the soil moist and
loose?
ST. FRANCIS: After throwing away the leaves, they
go out and buy something which they call mulch. They
haul it home and spread it around in place of the
leaves.
GOD: And where do they get this mulch?
ST. FRANCIS: They cut down trees and grind them up
to make the mulch.
GOD: Enough! I don't want to think about this
anymore. St. Catherine, you're in charge of the arts.
What movie have you scheduled for us tonight?
ST. CATHERINE: 'Dumb and Dumber', Lord. It's a
story about....
GOD: Never mind, I think I just heard the whole story
from St. Francis.
notice that the pepper shaker contains salt and the salt
shaker…"
But before they could finish the sentence, the mess
cook interrupted them. ―Oh, sorry about that Chief." He
leaned over the table, unscrewed the caps of both
bottles, and switched the caps.
There was dead silence at the Goat‘s table while
the rest of the crew‘s mess was laughing so hard the
OOD sent the messenger down to see what was
happening.
This story if very reminiscent of our government . . .
solutions could be so simple, but the brilliant minds in
Washington have to make them so complicated.
May all of our Stimson Shipmates and their
family have a very blessed and Happy Easter.
————————————————————————
On The Mess Decks
Thought I‘d throw in some ‗Bunnies‘
for your Easter Parade.
One day while on patrol it was time for lunch. The
oncoming watch CPOs came thru the line, grabbed
their food and sat down at their designated table. As
we all know, CPOs are never shy about telling
everyone just how highly intelligent they are.
After they were in their seats, the QM Chief noticed
that their salt shaker contained pepper, and their
pepper shaker was full of salt. After some discussion,
they decided that there had to be a way to swap the
contents of the two bottles without spilling any, and
using only the implements at hand. Clearly this was a
job for the smartest minds on the boat.
As they debated the problem each had their own
idea but after much compromise they accepted the TM
Chief‘s brilliant solution involving a napkin, a straw,
and an empty saucer. They also wanted to make sure
the lowly mess cook realized his mistake and that the
highly intelligent CPOs were going to take care of the
problem for him. They called the mess cook over to
dazzle him with their solution to the problem.
"Hey non-qual, " they said, "we couldn't help but
10
Some pics of the setting of the Stimson Bench at
the Cold War Memorial October 2012
SHIPMATES - THEN AND NOW
Weather permitting
during our 2016
Reunion we will be
having our Bench
Dedication &
Memorial Service at
this location.
11
FOR LOST
SEARCH
SHIPMATES
If you have contact with one of these shipmates please send their contact info
to me at my email address. Let‘s set a goal to find everyone on this list!
Adkins, William
Banfield, Ron
Barker, Paul
Barker, Thomas
Barrett, James
Beck, Roger
Blouse, Dan
Blue, Matthew
Bluestone, Edward
Bollman, Stephen
Borenko, Stephen
Bowser, James Jr.
Bricker, Michael
Brill, Doug
Brown, Fred
Bullard, Patrick
Bullington, Scott
Burmeister, Wayne
Busteed, Bob
Canup, Richard
Cardin, Joseph
Carey, Bill
Carlson, Hugh
Carr, Don
Champagne, Brian
Claussen, Stephen
Cool, Arnold
Cooper, Denny
Cooper, Doug
Cooper, John F.
Cope, Allan
Cota, James 'Pat'
Couser, David
Crawford, Christopher
Cruden, David
Cullum, Ray
Czarnecki, Anthony
Davidson, Dickie
Debisschop, Timothy
Degon, Vince
Delano, Ken
Dewitt, David
Diaz, Rudy
Dreiss, Ray
Duell, Paul
Dyal, Don W. 'Gomer'
Edmiston, Ken
Ehlers, Joseph
Ellard, Bryon
Ellsberry, Prather
Featheran, Robert Jr.
Findlater, Doug
Flannery, Aaron
Fleming, Benjamin
Fleming, Denvery
Fonda, Carl
Futral, Dave
Gallagher, Gilbert 'Skip'
Geisenburg, Nick
Glover, Ron
Grabins, Garry
Graves, Richard
Green, Earsel
Gutierrez, James
Habermas, Thomas
Harding, Rusty III
Harris, WIlbur
Hatchell, John
Hayes, Robert
Herbert, Randy 'Bear'
Herzog, Willie
Hinds, George
Hogan, Tom
Holler, Eugene
Hollingsworth, Paul
Holtman, Bruce
Hupe, Bill
Johnson, Anthony
Johnston, Paul K.
Kearney, Russ
Kee, Kerby
Keller, Terry J.
Keiningham, Thomas
Kinney, Wayne
Kirkpatrick, Steven
Klaiber, William
Kohankie Robert
Krieger, Kenneth
Laughlin, Brian
Lawrence, Marshall
Liles, Michael
Lizana, Rick
Lothrop,
Lubbs, Larry
Mason, John
Matherly, David
Mauk, Elam
Mauldin, Thomas
McCarney, Clifford
McConnell, Mark
McCord, Oliver
McMillan, Donald
Miller, Donald
Miller, Tony
Milton, Jay
Mosman, Harold
Musselman, Robert
Neubecker, Andrew
Neuman, Mark
Nolen, John
Ochsner, Patrick
Parham, Bryan
Pastiva, Stephen Jr.
Peterson, David
Petrak, David
Phipps, Mitchell
Porterfield, Glenn
Pruitt, Michael
Putnam, Bobby Jo
Putt, William
Ralston, David
Rasmussen, Aaron
Rasmussen, Bill
Rathsam, Richard
Raven, Donald
Reppert, Kevin
12
Rhodes, Ronald
Robinson, Warren
Rowan, William
Rubright, David
Ruiz, Luiz
Sanderson, Jim
Scoville, Scott
Seelinger, James
Shafer, Harold 'Jack'
Shantz, Denton
Shepherd, Charles
Sherlock, Martin
Shields, Vaden
Sikora, Gregory
Siler, Dennis
Silvestri, Henry
Slusser, Howard
Smith, Charles
Sterner, George VADM
Stewart James
Stine, Gene
Stockton, N. Bradley
Stortroen, Keith
Taylor, Jim
Thomas, Larry
Tomasi, Max
Tomren, Gerald
Trotter, Daniel
Twiselton, Brown Michael
Walenga, Craig
Watson, Herb
Weisser, Monty
Wenzel, Paul
Wesley, Mike
White, Don
Williams, Brian
Wimmer, Peter Thomas
Wolk, Dennis
Wright, David
Young, Ron
Youngman, David