The Greatest Generation says, "Goodbye."

These guys made history - they have my undying gratitude

USS Iowa begins final mission as museum – USATODAY.com

USS Iowa begins final mission as museum – USATODAY.com

Outstanding!

WWII Museum website wants tributes to veterans - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

WWII Museum website wants tributes to veterans - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

get those stories in there!

Army 2-star fired for criticizing Afghans - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Army 2-star fired for criticizing Afghans - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

incredible, absolutely incredible

Does this suprise anyone?

Obama Administration Opposes adding FDR Prayer at WWII Memorial

The objection was noted during a congressional hearing on Rep. Bill Johnson's, R-Ohio, bill -- the "World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2011." 

"It is unconscionable that the Obama administration would stand in the way of honoring our nation's distinguished World War II veterans," Johnson said. "President Roosevelt's prayer gave solace, comfort and strength to our nation and our brave warriors as we fought against tyranny and oppression." 

Roosevelt asked the nation to join him in prayer as U.S. and allied troops launched the invasion that led to the defeat of Nazi Germany. He asked God to give the allied troops courage and faith, saying, "With thy blessing we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy." 

But Robert Abbey, the director of the Bureau of Land Management, said any plaque or inscription of the prayer would "dilute" the memorial's central message and therefore "should not be altered." 

"It is not a judgment as to the merit of this new commemoration, simply that altering the Memorial in this way, as proposed in HR 2070, will necessarily dilute this elegant memorial's central message and its ability to clearly convey that message to move, educate, and inspire its many visitors," Abbey said in written testimony. 

Abbey explained to lawmakers that altering the memorial would be contrary to the Commemorative Works Act -- a law that prohibits "encroachment by a new commemoration on a existing one." It also respects the design of the "completed work of civic art without alteration or addition of new elements." 

The USNS Medgar Evers is the 13th of 14 Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ships that NASSCO is building for the Navy. The fourteenth vessel, Cesar Chavez, is currently under construction. NASSCO

CNO warns deep cuts will hollow fleet - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

CNO warns deep cuts will hollow fleet - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

Great quote at the end of the article by the CNO

Royal Navy’s New Submarine Gets Royal Approval | Navy News at DefenseTalk

Royal Navy’s New Submarine Gets Royal Approval Navy News at DefenseTalk

Wharf Rat is two months behind - HMS Astute is commissioned into the Royal Navy!

New Destroyer Zumwalt Shaping Up - Defense News

New Destroyer Zumwalt Shaping Up - Defense News

CNO: Navy to reconsider Mayport carrier move - Navy News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

CNO: Navy to reconsider Mayport carrier move - Navy News News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Navy Times

From the blog of Cdr Salamander, linked below for your viewing pleasure - I had to copy, but it def. came from his blog.

The Sound of Freedom

Especially the buckets of mental FOD that complain about TACAIR in and around NAS Oceana and the fight for a decent outlying field to practice in nearby - we all know those letters and emails about noise problems. Airfield has been there 70 years, home 25 years, new owner .... Well, sometimes you have to read the letters/emails very closely.

To: Hubbard, Mark A CAPT CSFWP Commodore
Cc: White, Michael S RDML(S) NPC, Pers-4
Subject: Noise Complaint

Captain Hubbard,

I am having an issue with noise that is generated by aircraft based at NAS Lemoore (and elsewhere), specifically, with their use of a low level military training route that your command is the controlling authority for. Rather than deal with mere underlings, I thought it best to go directly to the source of "where the buck stops." That would be you.

My home is located in a rural area of California's Sacramento Valley. I was unaware that when I purchased this home 21 years ago, it was located directly under the centerline of VR-201 (or VR-202, I can't remember which one it is), at GPS coordinates N39.38.610 W121.48.710, 210' MSL (according to the GPS in my car). Over the last 21 years, I have been subjected to the repeated injustices, insults to my eardrums, and affronts to my sensibilities as an American Taxpayer, that your jets have been responsible for. In the early 90's the use of this low level training route was frequent, but I tolerated it nonetheless. From about 1995 until early this year, use of this route was only occasional and sporadic, so I could generally overlook the issue. However, in the last three weeks, there has been a noticeable increase it its use. Specifically, I have observed the following,

1. August 30th, 1135 AM PDT - A single F-18

2. September 18th, 1430 PM PDT - A single EA-6B

3. September 19th, 1120 AM PDT - A single F-18

4. September 19th, 1145 AM PDT - A single F-18

Here is my specific complaint.....

1. None of these overflights were low enough...

2. None of these overflights were loud enough......

3. And, none of these overflights were fast enough!!!

As an American Taxpayer, I pay good, hard earned money, to provide your young Naval Aviators the best training possible. For that money, I EXPECT to get something for it. If my house is not shaken to its foundation, if the windows do not rattle in their frames, I judge this display of airmanship as incredibly weak. All of these jets listed above, were so high, that I could not tell if the Hornets were Super Hornets or Legacy Hornets (the Electic-6 was unmistakable). These jets were so high, that after one of them flew by, my wife looked at me and said, "That fly-by is so wimpy, you should call it a "Whisperjet".

The ultimate goal is to earn a five-star rating, as viewed by me. To earn a five-star rating, your jets should create enough noise to break at least one window in the house. Not since '92-'93 has that happened. At the time, a flight of eight jets in a combat spread formation passed over my house at about 200' AGL, approximately 500+ knots. This flight consisted of four Hornets, two Intruders and two Turkeys. The thundering noise was awesome! Not only did I have to replace a few windows, but several of my neighbors did as well!! That was a fly-by truly worthy of Naval Aviators.

As a former naval Aviator (back in the day, we flew Lot V Hornets with planning link failures and collapsed landing gear), I am hugely embarrassed for my younger brethren. You and your young naval Aviators should be ashamed, for you have subjected me and my family to the indignity of these transgressions. My son, who is a KC-135 pilot in the Air Force has observed some these so-called "fly-bys", and has said that even his jet makes more noise when it is at 5,000' at cruise power settings.

As you know, to fly the American flag upside down is a sign of distress. Perhaps you should bring in the young Naval Aviators responsible for these affronts to our dignity, and instruct them to wear their Wings of Gold upside down on their flight suits the next time they visit the O'Club, as a sign of their humility and penance for committing these transgressions.

Very respectfully,

Carl A. Raabe VFA-113 (circa '87-'90)

USS CALIFORNIA SSN 781 - welcome to the Fleet! Wharf Rat was there!

 NORFOLK (Oct. 29, 2011) Approximately 2,500 people attend the commissioning ceremony for the Virginia-class attack submarine USS California (SSN 781) at Naval Station Norfolk. California is the eighth Virginia-class submarine and will be homeported in Groton, Conn. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Eric C. Tretter/Released)