I'm getting worried about USS LINCOLN. No covers back from her since early September.

Movie of the Day: The Tudors- the Life & times
of Henry VIII Season II Love that Netflix

I did notice in the photo essay about SESCAL that there seemed to be some embroidered USCS shirts on display. How does one buy one? Great way to advertise USCS.

Also, BZ (well done) to all of our exhibitors at SESCAL. Hope as many turn out for NOJEX, which is on a "short cycle" so it is time to start thinking about that event.

Series of Articles about thirteen New Jersey-built Fast Carriers to be published
18 August 2009
A series of six articles about the thirteen New Jersey-built Fast Carriers [From SARATOGA (CV-3) in 1927 through KITTY HAWK (CVA/CV-63) in 2009] written by member, Captain Lawrence B. Brennan, JAGC, USN, (Ret.) is being published by the New Jersey Postal History Society. The final installment will be published at the end of 2009. If anyone is interested in receiving electronic or paper copies of these articles please contact CAPT Brennan at Lawrence.Brennan@wilsonelser.com

Another way to get info out there about our hobby! Keep up the good work, Captain!

If everyone can post when they get the Log this month it would be helpful.

Please help us track delivery and first class or regular delivery.

She boils the turkey neck and that little body bag in liver, heart and gizzard for her broth to make stuffing. They she eats the cooked parts. She knows better than to put them in MY food chopped up.

I obtained these covers at different times from a trading partner in Hanoi, whom I don't think realized that these were bogus. We exchanged want lists and acquired items for each other. I am convinced that these and other covers were custom made for me from a faker in North Vietnam.

In other words, my trading partner asked a stamp dealer for a particular stamp on cover and was told to check back in a couple of weeks at which point, lo and behold, the seller had come up with the stamp on cover. These particular stamps are not at all easy to locate used on cover, however they are readily available in mint condition. The seller could remove the stamp from a genuine cover or create one from scratch.

The first cover is a simple fake featuring the orange military stamp depicting a soldier with outstretched rifle. It is meant to be an adversity envelope made from a piece of notebook paper due to the lack of paper during the war. In reality, the paper is clean and nice smelling(!) so definitely not genuine. More obvious is the cancel, which looks to be hand drawn with a pen. It is not quite round and you can see the individual pen strokes.
The second cover is "better" in that the faker went to the trouble of soaking the original stamp and postmark off the cover. Unfortunately, he got a bit zealous with the water, leaving water stains and smearing the ink in the address. But we've all seen Vietnamese military covers in much worse condition, so this is not an immediate tip off.

The benefit of this approach is the faker has genuine postmarks on the reverse to lend credence to the cover

The postmarks on the front of the cover were then applied, again apparently drawn with a pen. At least the forger knew enough to make these an earlier date from the receiving marks on the back. But how many NVN military covers apply an additional cancel to the decorative cachet?

I have a dozen or so examples of fake covers like these, so let me know if you are interested in seeing more (and yes, my trading partner provided enough genuine material to make it worthwhile maintaining the relationship).

Some of the fakes have hand-stamped postmarks making them more difficult to identify, and some appear to have been made by another person with a different "style", but all have the same pleasant smell (Vietnamese military covers don't smell nice!) and all have a random splash of something on them that glows brightly under black light that leads me to conclude that they all came from the same source.

Posted by Andrew Crenshaw at 8:49 PM

Labels: Fakes and Fantasies, Military Mail

Guess it is like who is the King of FFF. We can have individual choices but last year's series was the roguec' gallery of fffs. My vote would be FLK but HTCM Joe is a close second and he's still at it.

Lots of expensive things on ebay stamps. Including an inverted Jenny for $199k. Who said the country has economic woes.

I will offer four candidates for consideration, two famous, and two not so famous:
1. Farragut at Mobile Bay, having a subordinate tieing him to Hartford's mainmast, and then ordering a disregard of Confederate torpedoes (mines).
2. John Paul Jones in Bon Homme Richard vs. Serapis.
3. CAPT John Cromwell in submarine Sculpin, staying aboard the sinking ship to prevent the enemy from finding out information only he had.
4. CDR Howard Gilmore in submarine Growler, when attacked on the surface and seriously wounded, Gilmore ordered his XO to "Take her down," and stayed on Growler's bridge, saving his ship and crew. (In the interest of full disclosure, Gilmore is from my home town...Selma, Alabama.)

Rich H. has already offered three outstanding candidates for the other part of your question. In addition to HR, Hopper & Meyer are richly deserving of thought.

How about contributions to naval aviation? Civilian Eugene Ely certainly must be considered. 1st take off (Birmingham) and 1st landing (Pennsylvania) aboard Navy ships.

Good topic for discussion (and debate), Roger.

Stewart said his wife is going to dinner with Ned and his wife. The Ayatollah and our daughters are getting ready to leave. Turkey for them and ham for me.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all my naval cover collecting pals!!!

Even in technology, one could argue perhaps that nuclear power may be less important in the overall scheme of things than computer power (RADM Grace Hopper).

I guess what I am saying is that I doubt that an arguement that one individual over any other in naval history is the most important figure is an impossible task. It would be much easier to postulate that one is the most heroic, greatest thinker (stratgist), technologist, luckiest, or other.

Greg. Which diocese in nj?

Almost midrat time
Best
Larry

Think Greg said active duty chaplain. Lots of shoreside bases have contract chaplains. Not enough active duty chaplains. Some retired chaplains become contract chaplains. At nws there was a single active duty chaplain and the other faiths were contract chaplains. My friend rabbi kloner is the uscg contract chaplain at ft wadsworth. I have to see if he's there when John Young cooks on a Tuesday.

From the Navy News Service

1775 - Continental Congress authorizes privateering.
1943 - In Battle of Cape St. George, five destroyers of Destroyer Squadron 23 (Capt. Arleigh Burke) intercept five Japanese destroyers and sink three and damage one without suffering any damage.
1961 - Commissioning of USS Enterprise [CVA(N)-65], the first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, at Newport News, Va.

Roger C: Would you kindly sent scans of BEAR-Weigand covers- trying to develope a check list
of known pieces- only have seen three copies

There was one on there that I think might be over priced. It was a USS BEAR/Weigand cover priced at $99.00. I have two copies of this very same cover, that I only paid $7 each for a few years back. If they are indeed worth that much now, I will be putting one of mine on EBay ASAP. LOL!

From the Navy News Service

1852 - Commodore Matthew Perry sails from Norfolk, Va., to negotiate a treaty with Japan for friendship and commerce.
1964 - USS Princeton (LPH 5) completes seven-day humanitarian relief mission to South Vietnam which suffered damage from typhoon and floods.
1969 - HS-4 from USS Hornet (CVS 12) recovers Apollo 12's all-Navy crew of astronauts, Commanders Richard Gordon, Charles Conrad and Alan Bean, after moon landing by Conrad and Bean.

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil

I don't know what went wrong in Oly either.

And yes Larry, there is hope for the November Log. What do you think Santa will be bringing you?

Commissioned Sept. 9, 2006, Texas was the second Virginia-class attack sub built and the first submarine to be named after the Lone Star State. Two battleships and a cruiser were previously named USS Texas, and three active Los Angeles-class submarines, USS Dallas, USS City of Corpus Christi and USS Houston, were named for Texas cities.
By the end of 2010, 60 percent of the Navy's subs are scheduled to be home ported in the Pacific.

From the Navy News Service

1940 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt appoints Adm. William D. Leahy as U.S. Ambassador to Vichy, France, to try to prevent the French fleet and naval bases from falling into German hands.

A very interesting program

The in line engine is usually water cooled in high performance engines like the Merlin in the P-51. Great for power and great when the radiator is working for cooling but it became a big problem if the radiator was damaged by ground fire. With an inline engine you could add cylinders for power and the radiator would take care of the cooling.

These differences are part of the reason the P-47 was known for ground attack support, being a radial and not having to worry about having a radiator shot up whereas the P-51 could easily be damaged during a ground attack and was better known for air to air fighting.

I believe the in line generally has a less weight to horsepower ratio. At the Reno Air Races, the souped up in line Merlins battle the souped up Pratt and Whitney radials and both put on very impressive performances well over 400 MPH but all are so highly stressed it doesn't take much to blow the engines.

I think the F8 Bearcat is generally regarded as the best of the radial fighters and the P-51 Mustang the best of the in line fighters.

Pardon my spelling mitakes.

there.

I have bad news but not sure if it is for me to broadcast, but since it was made public at me Stamp Club Meet. If you all recall sometime ago I inquired the whereabouts of Clink Johnson, who was, or not a member, and appeared only summers at my meeting. He has colon cancer and six months to live.

I got in the mail today a catalog of model planes of all kinds, radio control, die cast, wood, and plastic and I did not see a AD6 Skyraider to my surprise, which I build as a kid during a month stay at St Albans Naval Hosp. in the late 50's.

I have a question. Why did aviation go from Radial engines to in line engines and what were the differences.

Tonight's Movie: In Harm's Way with John Wayne,
Kirk Douglas & Patricia Neal. What ships played
a major part in most of the war scenes?

Who produced printed envelopes for IGY- Deep Freeze III, 1957-58?

Being factually inaccurate is also the case at the D=Day Museum in New Orleans. They, too, play around with film clips. Their narration of several short pices in their mini-theatres also leaves something to be desired as far as factual accuracy.

New sub will call shipyard home USS Virginia decision could stabilize future for facility

By Robert M. Cook
bcook@fosters.com
Sunday, November 22, 2009

KITTERY, Maine — Portsmouth Naval Shipyard union officials hailed the Navy's decision announced Friday to have the USS Virginia call the shipyard its homeport as a key move that could stave off future threats to close the facility.

"That's a pretty big deal," said Paul O'Connor, president of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Metal Trades Council, a union that represents about 2,500 of the shipyard's 4,200 civilian workers.

He said when the shipyard was threatened with closure during the last Base Realignment and Closure Commission process in 2005, one issue was that the facility was not a homeport to any of the Navy's nuclear submarines.

O'Connor said the shipyard will now be the homeport of the Navy's newest Virgina-class submarine, which "could level the playing field for us."

Currently, the Navy is in the process of phasing out its Los Angeles-class nuclear submarines by gradually replacing them with the Virginia-class submarines. The USS Virginia (SSN 774) is the first of the new class to be commissioned.

In December 2008, the Navy signed a five-year, $14 billion contract to build one Virginia-class sub in 2009 and 2010, and two to be built in each of the 2011, 2012, and 2013 fiscal years, according to Alan Baribeau, a Navy spokesman. He said then the Navy plans to build as many as 30 Virginia-class submarines.

The USS New Hampshire was the the fifth Virginia-class submarine that was built and later commissioned at the shipyard on Oct. 25, 2008.

New Hampshire Sens. Judd Gregg and Jeanne Shaheen, and Maine's Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins jointly announced Friday the U.S. Department of Navy directed that the USS Virginia (SSN 774) will have its homeport changed to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard effective Oct. 1, 2010.

The USS Virginia will undergo a planned maintenance period at the shipyard through April 2012.

"The Virginia-class submarines are the future of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and the arrival of the lead boat in the class next fall will usher in a new era for the shipyard team," said the senators in a joint statement.

"The USS Virginia is the most modern and innovative underwater warship on patrol today. It is only fitting that the Navy will rely on the nation's most capable submarine workforce for this inaugural extended maintenance period. The Navy knows which team to trust to do it right, and which team will set the standard for others to follow."

An image provided by the Navy of a Virginia Class attack submarine similar to the USS Virginia conducting sea trials. Courtesy photo

The current homeport of the USS Virginia is Groton, Conn., from which the ship deploys to conduct operations worldwide.

O'Connor said shipyard officials and members of the New Hampshire and Maine congressional delegations worked very hard to make sure the shipyard would see its share of Virginia-class submarine overhaul and maintenance work. He said the shipyard serving as a homeport to one of the Navy's Virginia-class submarines gives the shipyard a greater stake in the Navy's future plans.

The ship is manned by 155 officers and crew, and is projected to have a direct economic impact of approximately $10.5 million on the York County, Maine, and Seacoast region.

O'Connor said the Navy's announcement could also usher in a new long-term relationship with the shipyard that will not be as tenuous as it has been in the past.

He said the submarine's crew members and their families will be permanently stationed in the Seacoast region instead of just during scheduled overhaul maintenance periods.

John Joyal of Somersworth, who serves as second vice president of the American Federation of Government Employees, Local 2024, a union that represents up to 600 shipyard workers, was also pleased with the Navy's decision.

"I think it's great news for our shipyard and the area that it's happened," he said Saturday afternoon.

But he also said the news should be taken with a grain of salt.

Joyal said he has heard some rumors the Navy may allow the shipyard to do the legwork and all of the planning for the USS Virginia's first overhaul. But the subsequent three overhauls may end up be shifted to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, he said.

"I hope that's not the case," Joyal said. "Even though the politicians in Washington have changed, the politics in the Navy have not changed."

He said he believes there are still some Navy officials who would prefer to close down the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Elgin. Also, Oriskany had an angled in the movie. No such thing in 42.

Will send along a draft. Think the nlso was in bldg 6 and the reservists drilled there. I never drilled in Phila. New york until 1991 then dc until 95 then newport until 99 then ft dix until 01 then back to newport until 03 and finally back to ft dix until last year. Sure Stark and a few other events caused problems. Best. Larry

Went to Patriots Point while there. Not the same place I went to years ago. Laffey gone to drydock, CG cutter sent to Florida, other CG cutter lost to a hurricane years ago, nuclear ship Savannah now in Baltimore. The Yorktown itself is in poor condition but still a great visit.

•1943-Landings made at Makin and Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands. The Coast Guard-manned assault transport USS Leonard Wood, veteran of the landings made in the Mediterranean, participated. She landed 1,788 officers and men of the 165th Combat Team of the U.S. Army's 27th Division, on Makin Island. Coast Guard-manned LST-20, LST-23, LST-69, LST-169, LST-205, and the USS Arthur Middleton, and the following Navy ships with partial Coast Guard crews: USSs Heywood, Bellatrix, and William P. Biddle, participated in the bloody assault of Tarawa.

Operation Atalanta
EU NAVFOR Neutralize Pirate Attack
From Maritime Reporter
On Tuesday November 17th 2009 an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft stationed at the Seychelles detected three suspected pirate skiffs approximately 300 nautical miles north of Seychelles and another two suspected pirate skiffs to the east of that position.
EU NAVFOR Greek warship HS Adrias F 458 (EX-Dutch CALLEN-BURGH F 808) was tasked to intercept and neutralize the suspected pirate groups. On the morning of the 18th November the Adrias boarding team sighted two attack skiffs and one ‘motherskiff’. They intercepted and boarded the group containing 10 men and all pirate related paraphernalia, including excess skiffs, were seized.

Following this event, and with support of an EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Aircraft, Adrias continued the intercept of the other suspect group. Two skiffs and a mother ship were intercepted with a total of five suspected pirates. This group was also neutralized; this action continues towards disrupting piracy in this vast sea area where pirates had been known to operate and hijack ships before.

HS Adrias and the Maritime Patrol Aircraft take part in the EU NAVFOR mission Operation ATALANTA.

The main tasks of Operation ATALANTA are to escort merchant vessels carrying food of the ‘World Food Program’ (WFP), the protection of vulnerable ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean and to deter and disrupt piracy.

Well written chronicle of a little studied period of Marine history. We all know about the "advance" from the Chosin Reservoir, but this part of the Korea story is less well known.

Since the ship was at GQ, all compartments were buttoned up, including the "crowd" on the Mess Decks. At about 0800, after seven hours of GQ, CAPT Sanderson went to the 1MC (the ship's general announcing system) and spoke to the crew. He told them what had happened, and said matter of factly that we had been at GQ for 7 hours because some dumb a--ed sailors thought they had the right to be disruptive, and the next time that they thought that they were going to take over any part of his ship, that we would go to GQ for 24 hours. We never had any other kind of racial or other disruptive incidents in Sara.

As a result, that night I had an 8 hour watch instead of the usual 4.

Thank you for the article.

Hi Rich.

Movie Trivia:
Edward G. Robinson played a caretaker of four-piper destroyer (WW I) that was recommissioned and went to war again. What was the name of the
destoyer?

1813- Capt. David Porter claims Marquesas Islands for the United States.
1943 - Carrier force attacks bases on Tarawa and Makin begun.
1943 - USS Nautilus (SS-168) enters Tarawa lagoon in first submarine photograph reconnaissance mission.
1961 - At the request of President of Dominican Republic, U.S. Naval Task Force sails to Dominican Republic to bolster the country's government and to prevent a coup.
1969 - Navy astronauts CDR Charles Conrad Jr. and CDR Alan L. Bean are 3rd and 4th men to walk on the moon. They were part of Apollo 12 mission. CDR Richard F. Gordon, Jr., the Command Module Pilot, remained in lunar orbit. During the mission lasting 19 days, 4 hours, and 36 minutes, the astronauts recovered 243 lbs of lunar material. Recovery by HS-4 helicopters from USS Hornet (CVS-12).

John Miller, it is very hard to comment on your covers without seeing them. There is always a market with naval covers to naval collectors however values are usually no where close to what a non naval collector may hope for. The 1930's was a golden age for naval covers, lots of covers produced and collected and without a cachet. Many of these covers will not have high demand unless the cancel is a rare cancel. Likewise there are lots of covers from the 60's and 70's with the ship official cachet (rubber stamp, often black or light purple in color) and they are generally all pretty common. But, given the right ship, right cancel, right cachet, they could have higher demand.

Movie: The Manchurian Candidate starring Lawrence
Harvey, Angelia Landsbury & Frank Sinatra.

Cover Trivia: Which Asiatic fleet destoyer the first to used a cachet during the 1930s?

Master Chief, I mailed two USS Nevada Chapter covers yesterday for page 30. They should make it to sunny FL by the friday deadline.

We are trying to get the mailing from Dallas moved up 5 days to see if we can get better USPS delivery.
Thus my deadline for material has been moved up by 10 days from what I used to have with Leesburg Printers.

I will let you know when I get the article.

1992: The CGC Storis became the cutter with the longest service in the Bering Sea, eclipsing the U.S. Revenue Cutter Bear which had held that distinction since 1929. The Bear was decommissioned in 1929 after serving in the Bering Sea for 44 years and two months.

From the Navy News Service

1917 - USS Fanning (DD 37) and USS Nicholson (DD-52) sink first enemy submarine, U-58, off Milford Haven, Wales.
1924 - USS Langley (CV 1), first aircraft carrier, reports for duty.
1941 - Congress amends Neutrality Act to allow U.S. merchant ships to be armed. Navy's Bureau of Navigation directs Navy personnel with Armed Guard training to be assigned for further training before going to Armed Guard Centers for assignment to merchant ships.
1955 - Navy sets up Special Projects Office under Rear Adm. William Raborn, USN, to develop a solid propellant ballistic missile for use in submarines.

For more information about naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.

online: http://vetrecs.archives.gov/

The November Log arrived today. I guess October is still in transit.

NC Pirate: Congrats on my trivia question and my
answer to you that Patroit's Day cover was done by Leonard Rogers (cachet director) SELFRIDGE
Crew #11. They were the only ANCS crew in the Boston area

1776 - First salute to an American flag (Grand Union flag) flying from Continental Navy ship Andrew Doria, by Dutch fort at St. Eustatius, West Indies.
1856 - Barrier Forts reduction began at Canton China.
1942 - Navy's first Night Fighter squadron (VMF(N)-531) established at Cherry Point, NC.
1963 - President John F. Kennedy on USS Observation Island witnesses launch of Polaris A-2 missile by USS Andrew Jackson (SSBN-619).
1968 - Operation Tran Hung Dao began in Mekong Delta.
1973 - Launch of Skylab 4 under command of LTC Gerald P. Carr, USMC. The missions lasted 84 days and included 1,214 Earth orbits. Recovery by USS New Orleans (LPH-11).

Cachet Trivia: Which USCS Chapter produced the Army- Navy Football game cachet?

Greg C: I'll take an everything bagel with some
peanut butter & small coffee, milk and no sugar

John. Sorry. I thought you were from the Borough of Churches. I'm easily confused. My father was born in the Bronx within the first months of the Coolige administration. You speak without a hint of Brooklyn. But I also understand Stewart, a Yankees fan from Brooklyn, clearly. Larry

lbb: LArry, I'm a old Dodger fan from thr BRONX,
grew up in South Bronx, married a Bronx girl and
worked 35 years in the Bronx. The only time I was
in Brooklyn was at Saturday games at Ebbets Field
where we got into bleachers for fifty cents and three Elsie dixie cup tops, when I was atationed
at Rockaway Lifeboat Station & twice to Stewart Milstein's house.

I think that the cover was over-priced.

Also received pictorials back from Albany, NY with Sherlock Holmes Philatelic Society pictorials. Holmes is my favorite fictional literary character. I have done several cachets of Holmes and Sir A.C. Doyle over the years.

PMG Jack Potter today sent the following letter to customers:

To Postal Service Customers:

Many of you have expressed concerns regarding mailing costs for 2010. The tough economic climate has presented significant challenges to all of us and pessimistic speculation has suggested that postal prices could increase by as much as 10 percent.

As we begin a new fiscal year and as many of you, our business clients, are preparing your 2010 operating budgets, we want to end all speculation.

The Postal Service will not increase prices for market dominant products in calendar year 2010.

Simply stated, there will not be a price increase for market dominant products including First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, periodicals and single-piece Parcel Post. There will be no exigent price increase for these products.

This is the right decision at the right time for the right reason. Promoting the value of mail and encouraging its continued use is essential for jobs, the economy, and the future of both the Postal Service and the mailing industry.

While increasing prices might have generated revenue for the Postal Service in the short term, the long term effect could drive additional mail out of the system. We want mailers to continue to invest in mail to grow their business, communicate with valued customers, and maintain a strong presence in the marketplace. Changes in pricing for our competitive products — Priority Mail, Express Mail, Parcel Select, and most international products — are under consideration. We expect to announce a decision in November.

We are committed to working with customers to find ways to grow the mail through innovative incentives like the Summer Sale and contract pricing. Mail is the most effective means of communication and advertising and we will continue to work together to increase the value of the mail. Mail is a smart investment for the future.

John E. Potter

As for Rich H's suggestion about moving her - first of all she was built only yards from her present location and has been in Boston for so long that she is a part of the city. Moving that ship afloat or otherwise would be too great a risk for this symbol of our country.
We'll let her go if the Bunker Hill Monument and the Paul Revere House can be disassembled and loaded on her decks when she leaves.

I have an idea though - let's send the Liberty Bell to Dumas, Arkansas.

Call to today from Customer Service Manager, re-thought the problem with the USS Makin Island pictorial. Seems it was an oversight that they are going to correct!

The cancel will be ordered and any covers still on hand will be serviced. Also, they will grant a 60 day extention for the cancel.

It appears that some covers were canceled with a standard CDS. Feel free to send more covers for the pictorial.

Address is: Midway Philatelic, Attn. Elisa Patag, USS Makin Island Station, PO Box 85530, San Diego CA 92186-5530

No chow in VA.

From the Navy News Service

1912 - Lt. Theodore Ellyson makes first successful launching of an airplane (A-3) by catapult at the Washington Navy Yard.
1940 - Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Harold R. Stark submits memorandum to Secretary of the Navy on four plans if U.S. enters war. He favors the fourth one, Plan Dog, calling for strong offensive in the Atlantic and defense in the Pacific.
1942 - First day of the three days of fighting in the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal.
1943 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt embarks on USS Iowa (BB 61) to go to the Allied conferences at Teheran, Iran, and Cairo, Egypt.

USS Constitution Designated America's Ship of StateStory Number: NNS091111-03Release Date: 11/11/2009 3:49:00 PMBy Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric Brown, USS Constitution Public Affairs CHARLESTOWN NAVY YARD, Mass. (NNS) -- USS Constitution became America's Ship of State Oct. 28.USS Constitution's primary mission will remain education and public outreach, and any Ship of State functions will be an adjunct to the ship's primary mission, according the National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2010 in section 1022. It is the sense of Congress that the president, vice president, executive branch officials, and members of Congress should use the USS Constitution for the conducting of pertinent matters of state, such as hosting visiting heads of state, signing legislation relating to the armed forces, and signing maritime related treaties.Constitution's 71st and current commanding officer, Cmdr. Timothy Cooper, could not be more excited about this law signed by President Barrack Obama, after the House of Representatives and the Senate passed the bill earlier in October. "I am really proud and humbled to be a part of this honor," Cooper said. "USS Constitution has always been the most visible reminder of the beginnings of our Navy. Now, USS Constitution is a visible reminder of America, and all that we stand for."Constitution was launched into the Boston Harbor on Oct. 21, 1797. In her years of active service, from 1798 - 1855, the three-masted wooden frigate fought in the Quasi-War with France, the Barbary Wars and the War of 1812. Today, Old Ironsides is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world, has a permanent crew of 73 active duty U.S. Navy Sailors, and is visited by nearly half a million people every year.The origins of Old Ironsides status as America's Ship of State were in July of 1997, when then Cmdr. Chris Melhuish, Constitution's 65th commanding officer had a vision for the future of the ship, shortly before he took command."The idea struck me after Cmdr. Michael Beck [USS Constitution's 64th commanding officer] challenged me to create my vision for the ship, following his vision, which was to sail the ship for the first time in 116 years, for Constitution's bicentennial," said Melhuish.The status of the ship had inherently changed after that historic sail, and Constitution should no longer be thought of as a pierside museum exhibit."The best description of the ship was 'ship of state,'" Melhuish said. "That was the vision, and then began the long process of translating that vision into a concept."In October of 2006, he laid out that concept on paper, which was endorsed by the Congress of the Naval Order of the United States, and by Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England.Then-Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy sponsored the bill in 2008, but it did not make final passage into the National Defense Authorization Act For Fiscal Year 2009, which would take another year."The people of this country, through Congress, have done the right thing, which should have been done in 1815," said Melhuish, referring to a National Intelligencer article that appeared in 1815. "Let us keep Old Ironsides at home," the newspaper author opined, shortly after Constitution won a string of victories against her British adversaries in the War of 1812. "She has, literally, become a nation's ship, and should be preserved. Not as a sheer hulk in ordinary (for she is no ordinary vessel); but, in honorable pomp as a glorious monument of her own, and other naval victories.""One hundred and ninety-four years later, we have recognized our greatest ship," Melhuish said. "I'm very, very happy about that."

Thank you ALl & God Bless!

Nicole Curdt

When I get some time, I'll dig out all the USCS Convention covers that I have done since 1988 for the museum as well. I just looked, and aside from this years and 1989, there are none of mine in that section. Hope I still have some...as I usually give my convention covers away.

If you have ideas for articles YOU will write, please send me a short paragraph describing your article and angle you plan to take.

This will help in coordinating topics and avoid duplicate efforts.

Thanks all.

Therefore, I need all columnists to move up their submission dates by a week. Those who send covers for Page 30 will need to send by the 20th to make the following edition.

I am in need of articles for January 2010 and on. Send as soon as possible.

Thanks

Is there any association for those USN people who served aboard or with the research vessels and/or submersibles?

Similarly is there any association for those who served with the civilian research ships, rovs, and/or submersibles?

dO

ROK, DPRK clash in naval coast off west coast: Yonhap
Created: 2009-11-10 11:26:55, Updated: 2009-11-10 14:55:11

South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea clashed in naval coast off west coast of the peninsula this morning, the Joint Chief of Staff (JCS) said.

According to the JCS, a DPRK patrol ship crossed South Korea's Northern Limit Line (NLL) around local time 11:28 am (0228 GMT) near Baekryoung Island, leading the South Korean Navy to fire warning shots for around 15 minutes.

As the DPRK vessel, ignoring the warnings, continued to sail into the southern territory, the South Korean Navy fired additional shots, it said.

The DPRK side is reportedly to have started countering shots at 11:37 am (0237 GMT), and the clash lasted about 3 minutes, according to the JCS.

"No casualty has been reported on the South Korean side, and the North Korean vessel returned back after getting half-destructed at the clash," local media said, quoting the JCS.

Nine fishing boats were sailing near the site of the clash, but they were all moved to a safety zone, the JCS added.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, upon receiving the report of the clash, convened an emergency meeting, local news channel YTN reported.

The Ministry of Defense plans to hold a press briefing at local time 03:00 pm (0600 GMT).

1775 - Congress votes to raise two battalions of Continental Marines, establishing the Marine Corps.
1941 - U.S. escorted convoy WS 12, carrying 20,000 British troops to Singapore, sails from Halifax

And

The Seawaves Magazine editor emailed me a copy of the story from British Columbia.

Thanx

Watch commissioning

of USS New York online

Unless you are a VIP with a ticket, you won't be able to attend Saturday's commissioning of the USS New York into active Navy service.

But the 11 a.m. ceremony at Piers 86 and 88 in Manhattan, where the retired aircraft carrier Intrepid and the new amphibious assault ship are docked, will be streamed live on Newsday. com and www.navy.mil.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the keynote speaker of the event for the ship, built with 7.5 tons of steel from the World Trade Center in its bow.

Watching Fox News special on the Iranian hostage crisis. The good old days of the Carter administration. Surprised Carter isn't out celebrating his contributioon to wold peace and the presige of America.

From Navysite.de: USS GEORGE WASHINGTON was the Navy's first nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarine. GEORGE WASHINGTON was originally scheduled to become USS SCORPION (SSN 589). During her construction she was lengthened by the insertion of a 130-foot missile section and was finished as fleet ballistic missile submarine.

Closing out on Wednesday to send to printer. Don't want any delays because of printing holiday schedule over Thanksgiving.

This Day in Naval History - Nov. 07
1861 - Naval forces under Rear Adm. Samuel F. DuPont capture Port Royal Sound, S.C.
1881 - Naval Advisory Board submits report recommending the new ships in the U.S. Navy be constructed of steel instead of iron.
1973 - War Powers Resolution becomes law.

This Day in Naval History - Nov. 08
1861 - Capt. Charles Wilkes seizes two Confederate diplomats from the British steamer Trent, causing an international controversy with Great Britain (known as the Trent Affair).
1942 - Operation Torch (Allied landings in French Northwest Africa). American forces land at Casablanca. French naval forces attack U.S. Navy ships and 13 French ships are sunk without a loss to the U.S.
1956 - Navy Stratolab balloon (Lt. Cmdr. Malcolm D. Ross and 2Lt. Cmdr. M. Lee Lewis) better world height record soaring to 76,000 feet over Black Hills, S.D., on flight to gather meteorological, cosmic ray, and other scientific data.
1975 - More than 100 Sailors and Marines from USS Inchon (LPH 12) and USS Bagley (DE 1069) fight a fire aboard a Spanish merchant vessel at Palma.

For more information on naval history, visit the Naval Historical Center Web site at www.history.navy.mil.

Radio show "A Juneau Afternoon" just ended. They did a good job of promoting the exhibit, but did not call me as advertised. Do not know why...maybe after talking with me last night they decided that I did not have a "radio voice." :-)

Movie of the Night: Pride of the Yankees starring
Gary Cooper with several Our Gang shorts & start
of Don Winslow of the Coast Guard serial.

Other individuals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard
Form 180, which can be downloaded from the online web site. Because the
requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to
process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask
veterans for additional information will be minimized. The new web-based
application was designed to provide better service on these requests by
eliminating the records centers mailroom and processing time.

Please pass this information on to former military personnel you may know
and their dependents.

SALUTING BERT EARNEST

With deep regret, we announce the passing on October 26th of Captain Albert K. Earnest, USN-Retired, one of the longest-serving BOM vets on our Roundtable. Bert is renowned in the history of the battle as the only pilot to survive VT-8’s TBF detachment on Midway. For that reason you can find extensive quotes and mention of him in all of the BOM histories, plus photographs of his badly damaged Avenger. The latter, the first TBF to return from battle, was extensively analyzed by the Navy in order to enhance the defenses on later models.

Bert continued to serve the Navy and the nation with high distinction as you’ll find in his obituary that follows. His name now resides in the Remembrance section on our web site’s Veterans of the Battle roster. Farewell and following seas to a friend, shipmate, and outstanding naval officer.

Obituary:

Retired U.S. Naval Captain Albert K. Earnest, 92, passed away Oct 26, 2009 at Sentra Virginia Beach General Hospital.

He was born April 1, 1917 in Richmond VA and was the son of the late James Gifford Earnest and Jessie Mullan Earnest of Richmond VA. Bert was preceded in death by his wife Mildred McConnell Earnest. He is survived by a daughter, Kathryn Lynn Earnest, of Alexandria VA, a son, William Kyle Earnest and his wife Janet Murray Earnest of Virginia Beach VA, and their children, Laura Ellen Earnest of San Francisco CA, Jessie Carolyn Earnest and Matthew Kyle Earnest of Virginia Beach VA.

He attended Virginia Military Institute, Class of 1938, graduating with a BS in Civil Engineering and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant, Field Artillery, U.S. Army Reserve. He transferred to the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1941 and was commissioned as an ENS in Oct 1941, reporting for active duty to Torpedo Squadron 8 (VT-8) on December 8. He flew the Grumman TBF-1 in its first combat use in the Battle of Midway and was the only pilot survivor (land based). Later in World War II he continued serving in VT-8, aboard USS Saratoga (CV-3), the Guadalcanal invasion, the Battle of Eastern Solomons, and land based on Guadalcanal, flying 28 missions. Additionally, he served in VC-7, USS Manila Bay (CVE-61), flying 55 missions.

During his 31 years in U.S. Naval Service, CAPT Earnest attended Naval Postgraduate School in Annapolis MD, General Line School, Newport RI and Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Washington DC.

He commanded Attack Squadron 14A (VA-14A) May 1947-June 1948, Air Task Group 181 (ATG-181) at NAS Oceana Aug 1957– Sep 1958, USS Estes (AGC-12) Oct 1965 – Oct 1966, and NAS Oceana, Oct 1966-Nov 1968. Additional aviation tours of duty included Tactical Test Division (Aug 1944 – April 1947) where he was the first US pilot to fly a Japanese Torpedo Bomber “Kate,” Air Development Squadron Four ((VX-4) and Flight Test (58-60) at NATC Patuxent River MD. He was commissioned as Navy Jet pilot #62, flying P-80As, P-59s, and FR-1s. He also serve two tours of duty at Attack Design Branch at BuAer/BuWeps, Washington DC.

CAPT Earnest rounded out his naval career, serving in Paris, France as COMSTRIKFLTLANTREPEUR and SACLANTREPEUR in the early ‘60s, Operations Analyst at INSGENLANTFLT, Norfolk VA, before retiring as Assistant Chief of Staff (Logistics), SACLANT, Norfolk VA in 1972.

Upon retirement, Bert served at Executive Secretary, Operational Test and Evaluation Study Group, Cerberonics, Inc. for a year before becoming a real estate salesman and broker for Professional Realty Corp, Virginia Beach VA for ten years.

His combat awards include 3 Navy Crosses, 2 Air Medals, and a Purple Heart.

He was a member of the Association of Naval Aviation, Early and Pioneer Naval Aviator’s Association “Golden Eagles,” and Tailhook Association, Virginia Beach Sports Club, and Military Officers Association of America.

Funeral services will be held at NAS Oceana Chapel at noon on 14 Nov. Arrangements made by H.D. Oliver, 2002 Laskin Road, Virginia Beach VA.

Internment with Millie in the Columbarium at Arlington National Cemetery will in April 2010.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to VMI Foundation Inc., Box 932, Lexington VA 24450 or Virginia Beach Rescue Squad Foundation, 740 Virginia Beach Blvd, Virginia Beach VA 23451.

The family wishes to thank the staff, both nurses and nurses’ aides of Assistance in Living/Seaside, Heartland, and Sentra Virginia Beach General Hospital for the care that they extended to him.

Re: The USCG CAPT...don't know how the investigation will play out, but that much smoke tells me something is rotten in Alaska.

Talking about Alaska...today there will be a panel discussion on radio station KTOO, Juneau, Alaska on the USS Juneau exhibit that I sent to the Juneau Museum. It starts at 1530 Alaska time which is: 1930 Eastern, 1830 Central, 1730 Mountain, and 1630 Pacific. Connections allowing, I will be on the panel via phone. You can go to http://www.ktoo.org/ and click on the KTOO link at top left...you will be able to listen to the broadcast live thru your computer.

Stuck at Penn station. Wire prblems at the bridge. Not happy.
Larry

The FDC cancel is a bit long and thin, so perhaps ask that it be struck across the bottom of your stamp.

Surfing through Wikipedia and the info they serve up for the USCS, a footnote caught my attention "Newsletters in the Navy Department Library". I followed the link and found this listed as publications at the Navy Department Library, Naval Historical Center in Washington DC.

USCS Log
(Universal Ship Cancellation Society)
Dedicated to the study of Naval and maritime covers
New Britain, CT
May 1963, Feb 1994-Apr 2000
+ indexes1987-1996

Possibly we should consider updating the Logs that they have in their posession?

Why didn't the Phillies follow through? Betcha he is a Yankee next year.
Roy Halladay finished the 2009 season with a 17-10 record with an ERA of 2.79, tied a career high with 9 complete games including 4 shotouts, became the only pitcher to register back-to-back shutouts in the 2009 season on September 25th against the Mariners and September 30th against the Red Sox. Halladay also set a new career high with 208 strikeouts, reaching the 200 strikeout plateau for the third time in his career, in doing so he set a new Blue Jays franchise record with 3 seasons with 200+ strikeouts, he and Roger Clemens shared the previous record with two 200+ strikeout seasons.

Btw. Pedro is right. He will be remember as the man who lost two ws games to the Yankees in the new stadium and was the losing pitcher in the decisive game. Where's Don Zimmer?

The USS CARTER HALL looks a little out of place at Portsmouth Navy Yard.

http://www.strategypage.com/military_photos/20091102222637.aspx

Numerous magazines, junk mail, catalogs but no Log again today. This may be the 2nd time in 12 years it never shows up.

From the Navy News Service

1967 - Landing craft from USS Navarro (APA 215) rescue 43 men from British SS Habib Marikar aground on a reef at Lincoln Island in the Tonkin Gulf.

1971 - USS Nathanael Greene (SSBN 636) launches a Poseidon C-3 missile in first surface launch of Poseidon missile.

Coast Guard officer is charged with indecent actsAccused officer removed in May from command of Anchorage sector

By Rachel D'oro | The Associated Press
ANCHORAGE - A senior Coast Guard official was charged Tuesday with multiple offenses, including sodomy, indecent acts and conduct unbecoming of an officer and gentleman.

The U.S. Coast Guard filed 31 violations of the Uniform Code of Military Justice against Capt. Herbert M. Hamilton III, 48. He is accused of sexual improprieties involving multiple women - some identified as enlisted Coast Guard personnel - in numerous locations around Alaska and the Lower 48.

The alleged offenses also include fraud, adultery, indecent language and soliciting another to commit an offense. The allegations cover a period between November 2004 and shortly before Hamilton was relieved of his duties as the Coast Guard's commander for the Anchorage sector in May.

Hamilton, who is known as Mark, could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Military charging documents obtained by The Associated Press say Hamilton used a government cell phone to send and receive sexual and amorous text messages, downloaded and stored sexually explicit material on his government-issued laptop computer and photographed sexual acts.

According to the documents, Hamilton was on active duty in February and called the Anchorage sector command center while "engaged in sexual activity." Another time, the documents said, he sent lewd photographs of himself to a woman.

When Hamilton was removed from his duties, the Coast Guard cited alleged misconduct and a loss of confidence in Hamilton's ability to command.

During the Coast Guard's preliminary investigation, Hamilton was temporarily assigned to the staff of the 17th Coast Guard District, which covers Alaska.

Coast Guard officials said the charges will be heard at a formal hearing where Hamilton will have the right to question witnesses. A date has not been set.

Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Eric Eggen said an investigating officer at the hearing will look into the allegations and recommend how the case should proceed. Possibilities include trying those or other charges at a general court-martial or dropping the charges altogether.

Eggen said the final determination will be made by Rear Admiral Christopher Colvin, district commander. Meanwhile, the investigation continues.

Hamilton took the Anchorage position in August 2008 and previously served as deputy commander for Coast Guard operations in the Los Angeles area.

The Anchorage role includes diverse duties, such as verifying compliance of fishing vessels in the Gulf of Alaska and the Bering Sea, and inspecting vessels transporting freight and passengers between the Lower 48 and western Alaska.

Another mission is inspecting waterfront facilities, tank ships and barges associated with the oil industry.

Thanks Steve!

I don't know if you post this sort of thing on the website. However, USS Missouri (SSN 780) will be christened in Groton, CT, on December 5, 2009.

I have arranged for a special cancel at the Groton Post Office, Groton, CT 06430. A *.jpg file of the cancel is attached.

A similar cancel will be available in Jefferson City, MO 65109-9998 (the state capital), with the correct city and state of course.

Thanks for any publicity you can give this.

David Durbin
(USCS Life Member)
CAPT, JAGC, USNR (Ret.)
Commissioning Committee USS Missouri (SSN 780)

Phil Schreiber Monday, October 26, 2009 at 20:36:10 173.3.196.174
Pictorial postmark approved for USS NEW YORK FIRST DAY IN COMMISSION. Send covers to:
Postmaster: for pictorial postmark
USS NEW YORK LPD-21 STATION
Customer Service USPS
45 Bay St. Staten Island NY. 10304

Damon helped the Red Sox win a World Series and now probably the Yankees. The two steals on one play puts him in the Series record book.

Also received USS EISENHOWER/NAVY DAY pictorials from Norfolk.

It is going to be a good game in Philadelphia tonight. Lee should be tough to beat. A low scoring one run game?

Btw. Tuesday is election day. We have a real race for governor in NJ. Lots of interest and visits from the white house.

Larry

Hockey season and the Bruins are looking good.

I've heard Jeter called Mr november. It must have been the 2001 world series. Not sure who hit homers that year. Larry

Wonder who the very first player to hit a homer in November was?

I've heard the Series is called the Amtrak Series. Even the players are traveling by train

Rich H: Great cover on the cover.

“Words can not describe how impressed I am with my crew’s performance and professionalism,” said Cdr. Robert Roncska, Commanding Officer of USS Texas. “The ship performed extremely well in the cold, under-ice environment and I am honored to carry on the tradition of arctic operations by our awesome submarine force.”

Though the submarine force has continually operated in the dangerous region successfully for over 50 years, this occasion marked the first such venture by one the Navy’s newest assets.

“Once surfaced, the ship moored safely to the ice for over 24 hours,” said Ens. James Robinson, Supply Officer of USS Texas. “Activities on the ice included a very special re-enlistment ceremony for 12 crew members and a pinning ceremony in which one crew member received his submarine warfare qualification dolphins, as well as some down time to play touch football in the five degree weather.”

Covers anyone?

John sorry I missed you.

Maybe I will nap in the car while the ayatollah looks at TJ max.

Larry

Had to resend one batch as I didn't get confirmation. So some may get a double email.

Should be on subscribers' computers for morning coffee.