Happy Veterans Day 2009

First the links to today’s shows as promised:

Retention and Recruiting info for FY2010

http://www.npc.navy.mil/NR/rdonlyres/906D94A9-06C1-403C-91FA-CF836EB86F46/0/NAV09321.txt

fraud ring targeted deployed soldier – Army News, news from Iraq, – Army Times

AF seeks nominations for heroism award – Air Force News, news from Iraq – Air Force Times

Chiefs: Eval delays cost us chance to advance – Navy News, news from Iraq – Navy Times

Tell us what you think: Buying your own gear – Navy News, news from Iraq – Navy Times

U.S. troops likely added soon in Afghanistan – MarineCorpsTimes.com

And the Show notes from Melissa and Karen for the “FAMILY GOODNESS” segment.

In General:
Always check with your local ASYMCA, MWR, and Fleet and Family Support Center for programs in your area.

VETERANS DAY:

Lowe’s Veteran’s Day discount – 10%

Home Depot-10%

Golden Corral-Monday 11/16 from 5-9pm

Applebee’s-Free meal from special menu

Outback Steakhouse-free bloomin’ onion and beverage

THANKSGIVING

Lakes Thanksgiving adopt a sailor program http://www.cnic.navy.mil/GreatLakes/index.htm

Holiday Military Connection program sponsored by Skype and the USO http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20091109005061&newsLang=en

CHRISTMAS

Holiday Care Package Deadline Approaches

For military service members stationed around the globe, holiday mail is a big morale boost. The recommended mailing date for the most economical postage to overseas military installations, including Iraq and Afghanistan, is November 13, 2009.

Mail sent to overseas military addresses is charged only domestic mail prices. The domestic mail price for the Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box is $13.95, but for packages to APO/FPO addresses overseas the price is reduced to $11.95. Additional discounts are available for customers printing their Priority Mail postage labels online. Flat-Rate boxes are free at any Post Office, or can be ordered online at shop.usps.com. Postage, labels and customs forms can be printed online any time using Click-N-Ship.

The Postal Service continues to show support to those serving by offering free Military Care Kits, designed specifically for military families sending packages overseas. The mailing kits can be ordered by phone by calling 1-800-610-8734 and asking for the Care Kit. Each kit includes two “America Supports You” large Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, four medium-sized Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes, six Priority Mail labels, one roll of Priority Mail tape, and six customs forms with envelopes.

For APO/FPO zip code specific military mailing deadlines, go to: http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/2009/pr09_082.htm.

USO Hawaii-I was playing around on the USO Hawaii website and found that they are giving some Holiday Help in the form of food to E6 & below. I’m not sure if this would help any of you ladies but thought I’d post it. I also don’t know how long it’s been up there and it says it’s for the first 40 responders…so if you do respond..good luck!

USO in general-check with your local USO to see what programs they are offering this holiday season.

ASYMCA San Diego-Holiday shopping http://militaryymca.com/index.php?option=com_eventlist&Itemid=99999999&func=details&did=507

ASYMCA 29 Palms-Holiday:

Designed for military personnel and/or their families during the Thanksgiving and Christmas season, the ASYMCA partners with unit representatives to provide donated gift certificates from the commissary, exchange, local grocery store, phone cards, etc. for those in need. Approximately 708 military personnel and/or their families received certificates in 2007. The ASYMCA also hosts a Holiday Party for military personnel and/or their families. Simple refreshments are served and donated toys, gifts, etc. are distributed. Approximately 600 families participate in this event.

Check with the ASYMCA in your area for specific programs.

Free Christmas trees- www.treesfortroops.org info for GL area http://www.mwrgl.com/Default.htm

Operation Homefront Online Holiday toy shop http://www.operationhomefront.net/HolidayGiving.asp

Operation Homefront Online holiday programs, check with local chapter http://www.operationhomefront.net/holiday.htm

Operation Ensuring Christmas http://www.opchristmas.org/

And last but not least our videos, which unfortunately are in 3 parts as Stickam was crapping out all night.  You can also download the audio version to listen to as well which is just one file.

Leave any comments or suggestions @ admin1@corpsman.com .

It gets people seeing red, green, sandy and they just go plain NUTS!!

NUTS I SAY!!

It seems that Congress wants to mandate our operational uniforms.  (WHO KNEW? )
But first.. I want to show you the 4 services Cammie uniforms, and then I will post the article from Navytimes.

For once I have to say.. Congress has a point.

That and the Air Force Uniform Belt, reminds me of Santa Clause’s belt!

Without further ado..

The US ARMY, a smart looking uniform, makes sense!

Army Operational Uniform

Same with the USMC, a great well thought out uniform.

Marine Corps Cammies

And now the uniforms where you just wonder who thought them up..

The Navy. Because everyone knows it is so easy to see a blue uniform that exactly matches waves in the Sea!!

Nice "BLUE" Cammies

And last but Not least.. And really.. I think it looks like they should be tour guides in Australia.. The US AIR FORCE!

ACKKK!!!!

So here is the article from NavyTimes.. Enjoy and comment below!

Lawmakers have dropped the idea of making everyone in combat wear the exact same uniform and camouflage pattern.

But out of concern for safety, function and performance, they want more cooperation between the services over ground combat and utility clothing.

The key concern is that U.S. personnel wearing different uniforms in a combat zone raise the risk of friendly fire.

The services raised enough of a fuss about having different needs that lawmakers dropped from the 2010 defense authorization bill a proposed requirement to standardize combat uniforms in the future.

In a report accompanying the defense bill, congressional negotiators agreed that the services may have uniforms that “uniquely reflect the identity of the individual services.” But the report says lawmakers still want uniforms that minimize the risk of mistaken identity and share technological advances and improvements across all services.

Lawmakers also directed the services to establish joint criteria for ground combat uniforms, and expect special operations forces to be covered by the joint standards.

To prod more cooperation in uniforms, lawmakers ordered a quick, 180-day assessment by the Government Accountability Office that will look at what uniforms are now in use, their advantages, similarities and differences.

Comment below, this oughta be fun!!

“This is pure fantasy,” said Cmdr. Cappy Surette, a spokesman for the Navy Bureau of Medicine and Surgery.

The report aims to incite opposition to the mandatory vaccine that all service members will receive in the coming months, Surrette said. It has been circulating online since September and provides few details about the “unnamed Navy vessel.”

“PLEASE pass this email along. The truth is that the swine flu epidemic will be created BY THE VACCINE. If we don’t take it, there will be no epidemic,” read one e-mail obtained by Navy Times.

The report’s source is cited as “The International Forecaster,” a Web site run by a retired stockbroker who frequently posts shrill reports of imminent global economic meltdowns alongside advertisements for investing in gold.

The Navy has reported no incidents of the H1N1 flu vaccine making anyone sick, Surette said.

Thank you to John Wiley for writing this up and helping us remember.

Marine Barracks Bombing Beirut, Oct 23rd 1983

On October 23,1983 two suicide truck bombers attacked the Marine Barracks in Beirut.  241 American troops were killed during that attack.  Among the dead were 15 Navy Corpsmen.

These “Devil Docs”were not killed in the heat of battle.   Their stories don’t ring out in the history books with accounts of them crawling under live fire to save a fellow Marine.  Their deaths were not in vain.

They died doing their duty as Navy Corpsmen.

Going about their daily rounds,checking on their men.

Perhaps even sitting on a bunk listening to a fellow Marine and talking of home.

None of them will be considered for a “MEDAL OF HONOR” and their names will not go down in the history books but they all died as heroes.  They were doing what all FMF Corpsmen do.  They were doing their job.  Abiding by the oath that we all took in Corpsman School.

I SOLEMNLY PLEDGE MYSELF BEFORE GOD AND THESE WITNESSES TO PRACTICE FAITHFULLY
ALL OF MY DUTIES AS A MEMBER OF THE HOSPITAL CORPS.

These men all died as “Heroes”in my opinion and gave their lives doing their duty.

They will not be forgotten.

We are celebrating tonight on AOTC #83 “HAPPY Birthday NAVY” tonight @ 2115 EST!!
Goto: http://www.stickam.com/da_chief to watch live.

News being discussed on the show can be found @ http://www.delicious.com/corpsman_com

Join us won’t you?

Leave the US NAVY some well wishes below!

Da-Chief

Corpsman.com

Navy Birthday Information – 13 October 1775

The Chief of Naval Operations has stated that the Navy Birthday is one of the two Navy-wide dates to be celebrated annually. This page provides historical information on the birth and early years of the Navy, including bibliographies, lists of the ships, and information on the first officers of the Continental Navy, as well as texts of original documents relating to Congress and the Continental Navy, 1775-1783.

The United States Navy traces its origins to the Continental Navy, which the Continental Congress established on 13 October 1775, by authorizing the procurement, fitting out, manning, and dispatch of two armed vessels to cruise in search of munitions ships supplying the British Army in America. The legislation also established a Naval Committee to supervise the work. All together, the Continental Navy numbered some fifty ships over the course of the war, with approximately twenty warships active at its maximum strength.

After the American War for Independence, Congress sold the surviving ships of the Continental Navy and released the seamen and officers. The Constitution of the United States, ratified in 1789, empowered Congress “to provide and maintain a navy.” Acting on this authority, Congress ordered the construction and manning of six frigates in 1794, and the War Department administered naval affairs from that year until Congress established the Department of the Navy on 30 April 1798.

Not to be confused with the Navy Birthday or the founding of the Navy Department is Navy Day. The Navy League sponsored the first national observance of Navy Day in 1922 designed to give recognition to the naval service. The Navy League of New York proposed that the official observance be on 27 October in honor of President Theodore Roosevelt, who had been born on that day.

In 1972 Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt authorized recognition of 13 October as the Navy’s birthday. In contrast to Navy Day, the Navy Birthday is intended as an internal activity for members of the active forces and reserves, as well as retirees, and dependents. Since 1972 each CNO has encouraged a Navy-wide celebration of this occasion “to enhance a greater appreciation of our Navy heritage, and to provide a positive influence toward pride and professionalism in the naval service.”

(From Navy History & Heritage Command)

September 25, 2009

Secretary Shinseki Orders Emergency Checks to Students Awaiting Education Benefits

Thousands of Checks to Alleviate Student Financial Burden

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has authorized checks for up to $3,000 to be given to students who have applied for educational benefits and who have not yet received their government payment.  The checks will be distributed to eligible students at VA regional benefits offices across the country starting Oct. 2, 2009.

“Students should be focusing on their studies, not worrying about financial difficulties,” Secretary Shinseki said.  “Education creates life-expanding opportunities for our Veterans.”

Starting Friday, Oct. 2, 2009, students can go to one of VA’s 57 regional benefit offices with a photo ID and a course schedule to request advance payment of their education benefits.  Because not all these offices are located near students, VA expects to send representatives to schools with large Veteran-student bodies and work with Veteran Service Organizations to help students with transportation needs.

A list of those VA regional offices is available at www.vba.va.gov/VBA/benefits/offices.asp.

“I’m asking our people to get out their road maps and determine how we can reach the largest number of college students who can’t reach us,” VA’s Under Secretary for Benefits Patrick Dunne said. “Not everyone has a car.  Not everyone can walk to a VA benefits office.”

Although VA does not know how many students will request emergency funds, it has approximately 25,000 claims pending that may result in payments to students.

The funds VA will give to students now are advance payments of the earned benefits for education.  This money will be deducted from future education payments.

VA officials said students should know that after this special payment, they can expect to receive education payments on the normal schedule — the beginning of the month following the period for which they are reimbursed.

“This is an extraordinary action we’re taking,” said Shinseki. “But it’s necessary because we recognize the hardships some of our Veterans face.”

More than 27,500 students have already received benefits for housing or books under the new Post-9/11 GI Bill, or their schools received their tuition payments.

Navy News

Navy News Service for Thursday, September 24, 2009

NNS090924-04. CFAY Celebrates Contributions at Hispanic Heritage Celebration
– http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=48527

NNS090924-11. Navy Adds a Year to NROTC Obligation
– http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=48535

DNU — Naval Support Activity Naples holds a pinning ceremony for its new chief petty officers.
– http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmplyr.asp?id=13189

NNS090924-09. NNMC Helps Cancer Patients, Survivors through Art
– http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=48529

DNU — Marine recruits learn marksmanship skills.
– http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmplyr.asp?id=13193

NNS090924-02. Scholarships Offered to Sea Services Family Members with Alaska Residency
– http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=48531

DNU — Headlines from around the fleet: Commander U.S. Pacific Fleet releases a farewell podcast to Sailors; U.S. Fleet Forces Command launches a new blog site.
– http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmplyr.asp?id=13190

NNS090924-07. Coast Guard Coxswain Transports Boarding Teams
– http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=48429

DNU — The Marine Corps implements new suicide prevention programs.
– http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmplyr.asp?id=13191

NNS090924-06. National Weather Service Names Whiting Field ‘Storm Ready’
– http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=48517

DNU — Seabees participate in a community relations project during exercise maritime pre-positioning force.
– http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmplyr.asp?id=13194

NNS090924-01. EPC 09 Holds Oil Spill Preparedness Training
– http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=48530

DNU — Sailors in the Hampton Roads area participate in a military sports bike course.
– http://www.navy.mil/swf/mmu/mmplyr.asp?id=13192

NNS090924-05. Moneywise in the Military Visits CFAY
– http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=48521

NNS090924-08. Current Daily News Update
– http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=48539

NNS020724-34. This Day in Naval History – Sept. 24
– http://www.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=2806

Eye on the Fleet – U.S. Navy Photo of The Day
– http://www.navy.mil/list_single.asp?id=76484

-USN-
-USN-
-USN-

NNS090924-04. CFAY Celebrates Contributions at Hispanic Heritage Celebration

By Dan Bowen, Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka Public Affairs

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) — Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka (CFAY) honored the diverse contributions of Hispanic-Americans at a Hispanic Heritage Celebration held at the Chapel of Hope Sept. 17.

The celebration featured remarks by Chief Warrant Officer Matthew Santos, Master Chief Master-at-Arms (SW) David Aguilera and Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Ashleigh Dickey.

There were also musical performances; Erumi Kuwaori performed a stirring solo and Master-at-Arms 1st Class Rogerio Gomez entertained the crowd with a traditional accordion performance.

There was also a tribute to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the first Hispanic justice in the 220 years the court has existed. The theme of Hispanic Heritage month this year is “Embracing the fierce urgency of now.”

The monthlong celebration, which began Sept. 15 and will last until Oct. 15, celebrates the influence of Hispanic culture reflected in every aspect of American life, from politics to education to music and television.

“What unites Hispanic-Americans is a fundamental respect for the traditions and values of their native lands combined with a strong commitment to the American dream,” said Santos. “Throughout the month we celebrate the Hispanic community and pause to reflect on Hispanic values: faith, family and patriotism. These values are American values, the Hispanic dream – the hope of a better future – is the American dream.”

Today, more than ever, Hispanic-Americans play an integral role in shaping the American experience.

According to www.america.gov, Hispanics are the fastest growing minority group in the United States.

The Hispanic population is projected to nearly triple, from almost 47 million to 133 million, from 2008 to 2050, and will jump from 15 percent to 30 percent of the population. The celebration of Hispanic Heritage began in 1968 with Public Law 90-498. The law authorized an annual presidential proclamation for Sept. 15 and 16 Hispanic Heritage Week.

That week was selected to correspond with Independence Day celebrations in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua whose independence is celebrated on Sept. 15 and Mexico which celebrates its independence on Sept. 16.

“It (Hispanic Heritage month) brings us together,” said Gomez. “No matter what race, religion, or culture you are, we are all on one team.”

For more news from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka, visit www.navy.mil/local/cfay/.

-USN-
-USN-
-USN-

NNS090924-11. Navy Adds a Year to NROTC Obligation

From Naval Service Training Command Public Affairs

GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) — The secretary of the Navy approved a plan to increase the active duty Minimum Service Requirement (MSR) for Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps (NROTC) Navy-option scholarship recipients.

NAVADMIN 257/09 dated Sept. 5 notes all NROTC Navy-option scholarship recipients who sign an NROTC contract for receipt of undergraduate educational assistance on or after July 1, 2010 must obligate to serve in the Navy for five years active duty instead of the previous four years.

According to Naval Service Training Command, which oversees the NROTC program, the reason for the added year of obligation is to better manage the Navy’s surface warfare community stabilization and nuclear power accessions.

This change will standardize NROTC and U.S. Naval Academy MSR years and establish consistency among all unrestricted line communities, with the exception of the longer aviation requirements.

“This brings the (NROTC) program in line with the Naval Academy, so everyone has to stay (on active duty) the same amount of time,” said Cathy Kempf, a former Navy commander, who now heads the selection and placement department for NROTC at Naval Service Training Command’s Officer Development Directorate in Pensacola, Fla.

“It levels the playing field for junior officers and gives them the chance to serve in a staff position and as a division officer, where they’ll get leadership experience,” she said. “With two different assignments, they’ll be better equipped to decide if they want to stay on active duty or not.”

The revised policy will impact the class of 2014 as they begin academic studies in fall 2010 and sign a service agreement upon acceptance of education assistance. This policy change will not affect the MSR for Marine Option, Navy Nurse Program, or College Program.

The NROTC program was established to educate and train qualified young men and women for service as commissioned officers in the Navy or Marine Corps. The program offers full tuition scholarships, plus book and lab reimbursement and a monthly stipend at our nation’s most competitive and elite universities. More than 1,000 Navy Ensigns and Marine Corps Second Lieutenants are commissioned annually through the NROTC program.

For more information about NROTC, visit https://www.nrotc.navy.mil.

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/local/greatlakes/

I was going to put this post up yesterday, the day the new CPO’s were all pinned.

But no one would see the post as they were all to darn tired from the previous 24 hour festivities..

So today when all are awake, I wish you all a happy “BIRTH DAY” on your new life, your anchors, wear them with pride, and don’t forget where you came from.

Don’t use your Anchors like a weapon, they can be revoked..

Seriously, congratulations to you all!

D/C
Da-Chief
Corpsman.com

Q:  I hear that PCS funds were restored…when will I get my PCS orders?

• Approximately 9,200 enlisted Sailors who had their FY09 Projected Rotation Dates deferred to FY10 can begin their negotiations for follow-on orders.

• We will release orders according to NPC’s existing prioritization strategy; GSA rotations, career milestone billets, critical readiness fills, minimizing gaps at sea for deployed units and those working up to deploy.

• Those with the nearest rotation date and overseas orders should expect to see PCS orders first.

• To the maximum extent possible, we will honor those Sailors’ originally agreed-upon assignments and will work with each individual to minimize disruption to them and their families.

• We will continue our close coordination with USFF and the Fleet N1s to ensure we focus our resources where they are needed most.

Q:  What should I do if I am waiting for PCS orders?

For Enlisted Sailors:

• If your PRD was moved to November, you are in your negotiating window.
• If your PRD was moved, your detailer recorded what you previously asked for and will make every effort to keep you on track.
• The current requisition, which was a full Fleet release, closes at 0500 CST on 24 June.
• While the July requisition has not been developed yet, we have no reason to believe that it will be constrained.

For Officers:

• You should know if your PCS orders are being held while we waited for PCS funds.  Most orders that were in the holding pattern should be out in a few weeks at the latest .
• Those that have not yet negotiated PCS orders should begin the negotiation process.

Most Sailors have been in contact with their Detailers, but those with specific issues should call or write to their detailer.

Q:  Is there going to be an impact on moving my house hold goods?

• Summer PCS season is the busiest time of year for families to move, so you should expect some delay as moves ramp up.  Recommend contacting your local personal property office after receiving PCS orders for a more realistic planning timeline.
• We anticipate that many families will now be able to set up HHG moves and rotate between school years.

Q:  My PRD is in December which is 6 months away, can I get my PCS orders now to move my family over the summer?

• The new DoD mandated PCS Obligation Policy Change (POPC) directs that PCS orders are costed when the orders are released.
• While we will do our best to get PCS orders as soon as possible, we will be working on those with the closest PRDs.
• Some Sailors expecting to PCS in the Nov to Dec 09 timeframe may not see orders until 1Oct09.

Q:  I’m transferring from/to an OCONUS location and it takes 60 days for HHGs to ship.  Will I get my orders in hand in time to ship my HHGs 60 days prior to PRD?

Maybe.  Detailers will work very hard to identify those personnel in need of orders for special circumstances.  However, the fiscal realities may prevent early receipt of orders.  Personnel should have backup plans in place.

Q:  Can I get a letter of intent?

No. Letters of intent cause us to obligate PCS funds immediately, which is the same impact as writing PCS orders.  A letter of intent without accounting data will not be accepted for scheduling HHG appointments since HHG scheduling obligates funds.  Additionally, if you are concerned about status on a housing priority list, priority is established when you detach from your command, not when you receive orders, so any paperwork (PCS orders or letter of intent) received before you detach will not affect your priority status on a housing wait list.

Q:  Will a delay in PCS orders affect my status on the housing priority list?

Housing priority is established when you detach from your command, not when you receive orders, so any paperwork (PCS orders or letter of intent) received before you detach will not affect your priority status on a housing wait list.

Q:  Are no-cost moves going to happen?

Maybe.  No-cost PCS orders are able to be released however, the member’s relief must be able to report prior to releasing orders for the member to detach.  If your relief’s orders can not be released due to cost, you may not be able to execute a no-cost move.

Q:  What if I already have orders in hand?  Can I expect that they will be cancelled?

If you have orders in hand, you can execute as planned.  There are no plans to cancel any released orders.

Q:  How are PRD extensions and geostability moves impacted by PCS reductions?

Part of Navy’s approach to mitigating PCS funding shortfalls is to PCS personnel to assignments within the same geographic area to continue to support Fleet Readiness.  Detailers are attempting to maximize PRD extensions, and geostability moves where possible and practical to support the needs of the Sailor and the Fleet.

Q:  If I’m in my detailing window should I apply for a job in CMS/ID?

Yes. You should still apply for jobs in CMS/ID

NOTE:  General questions should be directed to your chain of command or 1-866-U ASK NPC (1-866-827-5672).  Detailers are standing by to answer questions specific to your situation.

I am going to display the responses un-edited.  This was supposed to be the lead story today, but with the tragic loss of our 2 Doc’s this week, I am going to move it to our Ships library section.  I am sure you understand.–D/C

My 9/11 story goes like this, I was assigned as I&I Staff with HQBN 1 /14 in Alameda CA, as the BN Medical Chief.  On my way into work, I was listening to the radio when they were talking about a plane hitting the tower.  Right before I turned into our parking lot at our site, the 2nd hit. 

Our LTCOL Triplett was walking up to the building when I was driving by and I stopped and told him what had happend.  He told me to park immediately and to get inside and to get all SNCO’s to his office with Maj Gann.  1 hour later we were strapped at Threatcon-Delta.  Our military lives had changed forever.

–

I remember it well. I was on my way to a veterans meeting in Long Beach, Washington, about 140 miles from my home. I left really early because I was going to meet a friend of mine in Long Beach for breakfast before the start of the meeting. Did not have a cell phone. Was listening to music on the car radio when it was interupted with a message that a plane had crashed into one of the Twin Towers in New York. Soon afterward came the news of the 2nd plane crash. It was at this point that I had driven out of range of the radio station I was listening to and searched for about 10 minutes before I could get another station to bring me up to date.
 
When I got to Long Beach, I called my friend. We met, had a simple breakfast together and said a prayer for those killed and missing. (Not that it mattered at the time, but our meeting was cancelled.)
 
amedicalmoose  HMC (SW) USN Ret–
Sept 11,2001

–

I was in the garage and was watching TV when the first plane hit and everyone said it was an accident…..immediately when the second one hit it became obvious we were at war…….America will never be the same.
USN 1970

–

On the morning of 9 September 2001 I was finishing up my chores as shift
changed at the fire station. I went into the kitchen to prepare my
morning breakfast(egg sandwhich) when one of the guys yelled from the
living quarters. As we all ran into the living quarters to see what all
the fuss was about we saw the second plane approaching the second tower
and to our amazement, crashed into the building. As we stood in shock
and silence we couldn’t believe what we just saw. The phone rang which
scared us out of our paralyzed state to the tune of our Fire Chief
putting us on the highest alert status.

H.Becoat

–

My wife and I were getting ready for work. We had just heard something on the radio about a plane possibly crashing into one of the world trade center towers. I turned on the TV to watch what was happening while I ironed my shirt. It was then that I saw the 2nd plane come into the picture, go behind the tower and then the explosion out the other side. No plane. It was difficult to believe what I had just seen on live TV. The newscasters were confused, I was confused, it was just difficult to understand what was happening right then. The news got worse as we drove to work. We began to understand that we were being attacked.

One other vivid memory was a few days later, when the restriction on flights had been lifted, we were at a flag football game of our son’s when a large jet flew over on its way to the airport. It was the first we had seen since 9/11. Everyone stopped and looked up to watch. Something that normally would have been background noise had become a significant event in our lives.

God bless America!

AZDocsDad

AKA:

Rob Martens
Proud Father of Nathan
HN Robert Nathaniel Martens (FMF) USN
3/6 India co,1st platoon, 2nd Marine Division
My Son, My Hero
Killed September 6, 2005 – Al Qaim, Iraq
Please Visit www.fallenheroesazmemorial.com
http://nathan-martens.memory-of.com

–

I was hauling a load of liquid hydrogen, my wife called and asked if I was listening to the radio, I wasn’t. I told her that was nothing to joke about ,she then went on to explain what she was watching on the news, she was crying as she told me this. I got back to the terminal , and all the other drivers were gathered around the TV. We knew this was going to change a lot things in this country. Very sad day.
 
 
                                                                                                                                                                        gomerspile

–

I was unlocking my building @ MCAS Miramar. A student was
waiting by the door and he asked me if I heard about the plane that
crashed into the WTC. Recalling that a B-25 once struck the empire state
building back in the 40’s I thought something similar had happened.

As I turned on the tv in one of the class rooms, The first plane
strike was being replayed. I sat down on a table dumbstruck. The other
planes started hitting and I recall that the news was saying something
about San Diego as a possible target. I called my wife and told her to
lock the doors and leave the phone clear. Threat-con Delta was set and
we waited. Nobody on or off the base; that was a long and sad day.

- Doc Oconnor

–

Username: withoutsight7

I was a Senior in high school and I walked into my first period English
class with no idea what had happened. All of the TVs were on throughout
the entire school and I remember briefly glancing at one and thinking to
myself, “Wow, the airplane stunt in that movie looks real.”
Of course I then discovered it wasn’t a movie at all, but rather an
attack on our country. My father had been in the Army for 20 years so I
had been raised with devout love and dedication to our nation and its
freedoms. Seeing thousands of innocent Americans die engulfed me with a
myriad of emotions; Some of which I never knew I could feel. I knew that
our country would never, ever be the same.
I didn’t join the Navy until 2005, but while I was attending FMTB in
2008, I remember watching a “motivational movie” they show to all of the
wanna be Devil Docs. A scene of that horrendous day flashed upon the
screen and I immediately had chills. It powerfully reaffirmed why I
decided to serve my country.

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As a Corpsman, I was stationed at Naval Hospital Great Lakes, but I was assigned to USS Red Rover Medical Clinic, checking recruits for three (3) years. That was my first duty station. On 9/11, I was covering Battle Stations as a Corpsman. I remember a Chief telling me” Hey Doc, we are going to war”… How right he was!!!
As soon as, everything started I was gone, to my second duty station, Camp Lejeune 2/2 Marine Division-Warlords.
Shipped to the sand box, Iraq.

Michael Abatziz

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I was at work when a client came in and told us a plane had hit the World
Trade Center.  We assumed it was a small plane but turned on the office TV
to check it out and when we saw what it was, just couldn’t believe it.   We
spent the rest of the day listening to the news.

DeeDee

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84angel==> Where was I 9-11-01 I was at home with no ged or high school diploma with a 1month old baby. Once they actually said what had happened I knew I wanted to defend my country because I had someone to protect. At that moment I picked up the phone to join the navy they said give myself sometime since I just had my baby, get my Ged, and then decide what i wanna do because its possible i would be going to war. I spoke to my mom about it and she cried and left me to come back later to tell me she was proud of me and said its my decision. Though i didn’t join right away i did eventually and i don’t regret my decision.

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Hello there!
 
On sep 11 2001, I was stationed at  Naval Hospital Guam. It was after midnight over here when I got a call from my sister in Hawaii. When I answered the phone, all she keep saying was ” We are being bombed!” Since it was midnight and I just woke up from a sound sleep, it’s seems unreal to me until I turn on the TV and saw what was happening! At that time, I was staying in the barracks with no roomate so when everything really sinked in, I was kinda afraid but very thankful that I am actually safe living within the base.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise – Psalm 111:10
 
 
                                     karen – in guam

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I was still going to high school at Brethren Christian at the time. I was only a Sophmore at the time and when I was about ten minutes from pulling into the school parking lots was when I ran across the news report. The report was not hard to find. I sat in the car for a few minutes listening in disbelief. I then heard the bell ring for first period and I ran to class to find that no one had started anything of the morning routine yet. No one had said the pledge of alligence  or the morning prayer. But everyone was listening to the news. No one asked what was going on, the entire school knew… America was under attack. There was a sense of restlessness through out the school. Every period came and went with the professors teaching the lesson plan but were obviously distracted, and not a single student asked a single question in any subject. Everyone was in a rush to get back home to see the news. When I got home, I watched with my family, in absolute
 horror. Life went on but my parents remained glued to the news for the next three weeks.

Username: USSailor07

HM3 Brownfield, Michael, J
USS Frank Cabel AS40

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I was there; across the river in New Jersey. I was supposed to be having Breakfast at 09:00AM in the Tower Restaurant. Luckily and Thanks to God they ALL over slept!.

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In vermont interviewing for job saw newscast and first plane crashed into building

Being 8 years military police I recognized it was an attack underway

I called my wife who had given birth thru c section two weeks previous and was bedladen

Told her we were under attack and stay close to TV and radio

After 2nd plane hit I had a choice to make – go to NYC to help or go home to care for my family

God Family Country

I had to take care of my family and glad I did

Caleb

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Chief: I was working at Pfizer, Inc. during that morning when news came that an aircraft had crashed into one of the twin towers. Thought an odd occurence, but when the second aircraft crashed into the other tower, this old goat said to himself “this is war”! bacsimike

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Dear Corpsman.
On 9/11 I was in Phoenix AZ which is 3 hours difference in time.  My alarm had just gone off and I kept hitting nooze but the station kept saying Oh my God looks like a plane his the Tower.  So I got up and turn on the TV in the Living room and called for my brother to come quick something terrible has happened.  We were both standing watching as the 2nd plane hit the Tower 2.  We were both in shock.  We started calling everyone to wake up and watch TV America is under attack.
It took us a week to find our cousin who lives across the street from Tower 1.  Our Aunt had fallen on 9/9/01 and broken her hip, she had flown home to Oklahoma City (yes our family had already been through the Murray Building Bombing so we were very worried)  All of our family make it through 9/11 and OKC.  Some of our friends were not so lucky.  I left the house after the Towers collapse and met my colleagues at the Bowling Alley to see if I could assist with our Teens I had just retired from Teaching so I was worried about how the kids would react.  I also tried to give blood but they were so backed up they asked us to come back in a few days which I did.

 
Kathy Upchurch
National President Emeritus
Gold Star Wives of America

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I was stationed in Newport, RI a couple hours into the normal morning routine in acute care (sick kids, sick officers..) when it went down. Made many phone calls to family on the west coast and then friends on the west coast while it was going on and then we went into T/C Delta and closed everything except my clinic where a skeleton crew stayed through closing. Many begged and pleaded the OIC to deploy over to help but NE clinics were told to stay put in case evacs were to happen and utilize us for that. We stood that posture until the the main damage was done and sifted through, in the end none of us were utilized. I went over 3 weeks later to get a look at everything and see Dave Letterman. Very solemn town than it was a month prior, very dark and quiet.
Poolzer

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Doc B 8425
 
On 9/11 I was at the VA hospital taking care of patients as a Physician Assistant when I heard about the Twin Towers.  I, as well as most of the patients and staff, were shaken and work kind of came to a halt for a while.  I had a friend that lost his life that day.  The nation lost many friends, family, sons, daughters, moms and dads.

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I was in eight grade; I am youngin’ I know. I was standing in front of Mr. P’s desk talking to him, and one of my peers says that a plane crashed into one of the towers. Two things run my head, first weird because I saw a low flying plane just 15 minutes prior (and living near an air port I never seen one approach from that angel so in retrospect it was probably a flight that got recalled) and second, this had to happen like years ago. When he told it just happened, I didn’t believe him and told him that I would slug him in the face if he made jokes like that. I find out a few minutes later he was serious. The adults panicked more than the kids – I ended up taking a leadership role and actually set up the tv, quieted the classes down, and gathered all the classes to watch the news. The entire time, I was the one my classmates where addressing their concerns to, not the teachers. All the while, behind this veneer I knew at a young age I had to put on, I was thinking about my uncle who was suppose to be there for a business meeting. ~ Zahtsk

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The morning started off a normal morning at BMC Red Rover, RTC Great Lakes.  Just finishing off collecting lab samples from a newly accessioned division of recruits, our civilian laboratory supervisor had received a phone call from his son.   It was communicated that a plane had an accident and collided into one of the twin towers.  With shock and disbelief, we pass word to the clinical staff and huddled around the tv at the staff lounge to watch the news.  Still in disbelief, it seemed more of a fictional story as we witnessed the second plane collide into the other tower.  What seemed like eternity, which was only moments after, an announcement over the clinic was made to secure the clinic until further notice.  The base would be on lock down.  Only duty and essential crew would man the clinic.  The only thoughts running in mind was that our lives have just entered a new chapter in life.  We are now in war.

HMC(FMF/SW/AW) Patrick “Mango” Mangaran

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My name is HM3(SW/AW) Bernardo stationed at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia Med Surg Ward 4H.  I am proud to say that on the morning of 9/11/01 I was waking up from the 4 Points Sheraton Hotel Room in Los Angeles, CA and boarding a bus to LAX to go start my Navy Career. When we arrived at the airport we were turned back and told to return to the hotel.  Until we arrived back to the Hotel is when I saw the news of 2 planes crashing on the Twin Towers in New York.  My parents arrived at the hotel and tried to tell me to back down from joining the military.  That’s when I realized my pride of honor, courage, and commitment to serve my country and make a difference.  I made the best decision in my life.  After boot camp in Great Lakes, I was stationed to the USS Deyo (DD-989) where we were deployed Winter 2002.  We headed straight to Iraq and launched 35 Tomahawk missiles – bombing 3 of Saddam’s secret bungalow which eventually led to his capture.  I am now on terminal leave nearing the end of my Navy Career, but I plan on going Blue to Green and am proud to serve my country as long as I am needed.  I will answer the call to make safety of my family and my countryman. I encourage everyone to make a trip to New York City and visiy Ground Zero.  It was a humbling experience to know that we can all work together for the good of mankind no matter what tragedies we go through.

Sent from my iPhone

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HMC Ronald Claxton USN(Ret)
commented on your status:

“Deployed to Okinawa Japan. I just got in from CPO INDOC, and was getting ready for Rack OPs, when the Duty knocked on my door saying that I had to go see the BN CDR NOW. WTFO what did my junior HM do at 10pm at night that I have to double time my ass to the head shed…”

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I was in the court house with my then best friend for her child support hearing. I woke up to the first tower getting hit and then we heard at the court house the rest. We were supposed to go to lunch but we decided that we should get home and be with our loved ones. I wasn’t married to my husband at the time, but my friends brothers were in the service, both, Army and Navy.
 
newnavywife1

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At the exact moment it all started, I was watching news at home and could not get it in my mind what was truely going on. Then I felt rage!
 
Still feel rage, but now I’ve transfered that into more supprt for our troops in theatre now.
 
HM3 Cano, (Ret)

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I was in a C-school at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Washington State.  I woke up and on the local morning D.J. station they were discussing the reports/news on the wires that planes had hit the WTC building(s).  On the television, the networks had their programming on the story and of course, soon afterwards, the news had spread far and wide and everyone processed the news and the new world that we had entered into that morning as a result of those attacks.  There was a lot to comprehend with regards to these new realities, and as a result, the victims of the attacks and the horrible deaths they were forced endure probably were not forefront for many people.  For many people, they probably were, but others, like myself perhaps, found meditation on those death circumstances unpallatable and difficult.  It was probably only until later the empathy for the victims and their loved ones seeped into our understanding and conscious thoughts, which is all the more reason to ‘never forget’ the anniversaries and memorials so that we may stay connected to their individual and that collective tragedy, thereby hopefully improving our future odds at preventing the success of foreign attacks upon non-combatant, civillian Americans, as well as the improving the global, geo-political climate that made those attacks a reality.
Steve Duffy

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Here is my story.  My screen name is Doclat
 
I was assigned to the US Naval Hospital at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  At the time it was one of the best kept secrets in the Navy. 
 
I woke up that morning, did the PT thing, and while I was waiting to get into the shower, (the BEQ, H-4 had single rooms with a shared head) I was watching the NYC morning news.  I remember them talking about how the weather was cooperating for the election.  Hit the shower, put on the uniform of the day and walked to the hospital. 
 
Everyone was a little excited as this was incoming flight day.  In other words, MAIL!
I was sitting at the front desk of the radiology department when our Pediatrician came up and told us to go down to Primary Care; a small plane had just hit the WTC. I got there in time to see the 2nd plane hit. I watched in disbelief at what was being shown on TV that day. I knew that life as we once knew it would never be the same. We were getting updates from family members who lived out in “town” and we were getting updates online. 

Our CO had the hospital staff muster in Education and Training that afternoon and he briefed us on what he knew and what the base was doing. We had a dusk to dawn curfew. The barge was sent back to JAX, the flight that was due in that day was grounded, no one was sure when the next flight off the island would be, all alcohol sales were suspended, the clubs were closed, the exchange was running out of everything and the Marines were on patrol in their gun trucks.
 
After we set the watch that day, I went home and turned on the TV, I watched WTC 7 collapse,  I went out on our porch from time to time that night to have a smoke and get away from the images on the TV.  A couple of times the Marines on patrol would roll by and challenge us.  They were wound up tight.  That night the lights that lighted up the red crosses on the building were turned off,  As of June 2007 they have not been turned back on. 

I remember thinking that we were in what was probably the safest place to be at the time, however that all changed in Jan 2002 when we opened up Camp X-ray. But that’s a different shore story for another time.

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I had just gotten off from the graveyard shift and was on the way home when I heard it on the car radio and then saw the second tower hit on the TV at home.
 
Doc Chase
FMF  RVN 68-69

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I was sitting in biology class tenthgrade  when we got word that the first tower was hit and was watching CNN when the second tower was hit.

Eastside high school Covington, Ga

Doc_Fuson

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David Knapp here, I was retired from the Navy one year and still going
though separation anxiety.   I was at my mom and dad’s and saw the first
action shots live on their TV in Vancouver Washington.  While getting mom
and dad to come to the TV, we then saw the second crash and heard news of
the Pentagon.  Dad a pearl harbor survivor said it reminded him of the
invasion of Pearl and he started to cry and say it has started again.   He
and I both being combat vets realized that we were starting a war that would
last for years.  This kind of war makes enemies hard to find.

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8404 Where was I on 9-11-2001…

I was working at my desk and heard a lot of abnormal chatter-commotion, directly outside my office. I stood up and walked up to them to investigate. They said there was something on the television in the break-room quite disturbing. I quietly walked over and entered a very crowded breakroom. Everyone was standing in front of the television, watching replays and action reports of the first plane crashing into the first tower. With my past military experience, I quickly deduced, this was an act of terrorism. There was no other explanation and stated as such to the group.

My mind was racing and I knew the military would be mobilized. For a split second, I wondered if the military would take me, but I soon came to my senses and realized my age! I then reflected on the task at hand, working for a fortune 50 communications company and the outages I knew were coming. My thoughts then went back to the bombing of Pearl Harbor, HI December 7, 1941 and wondered if this was how it felt to be alive on that fateful day!

With the technology the United States has today, I know there is an untold story behind, the ‘why’ we cannot find the perpetrator for 9-11 and bring them to justice!

It certainly has increased my awareness, with regards to security and safety”

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I was finishing morning “teaching rounds” when one of the staff physicians came in and tried to use our video monitor as a TV (it didn’t work): she said a plane had crashed into the WTC. ( I thought, “Boy, I bet thats a mess”)  In the hall way a cop I knew said he’d heard it was a private plane.  ( I thought, “idiot.”) In a patients room it was on TV:  the patient -seriously ill with pnumonia- frigtheningly gasped and then pointed at the TV as the second plane hit.  ( Ohhhh, thats not good.) 30 minutes later I was in the nursery when my pager went off startling a newborn baby.  My pager read 911 and had the recall number for my disaster response team.  An hour later I was meeting at the airport  with FBI, TSA , airline, and ARC folks trying to figure out how to deal with all these people whose planes had been suddenly and indefinately grounded, some times a thousand miles short of their destinations. And 48 hours later I was standing in the debris at the WTC wondering just wh
at kind of hell I’d gotten myself into.  (”Theres no place like home. Theres no place like home. Theres’ no place like…  the Emerald City, in shambles.”) They did however put us up in a very nice hotel….

Gary Bachman in Kansas City.

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I was sitting at my computer at work when the secretary told me a plane had crashed in to one of the towers. I immediately remembered a story I had once read about a commercial airliner, back in the 1950’s I think it was, that had flown into the Empire State Building. I thought it was a similar accident. Like JFK’s assassination, nobody will ever forget where they were and what they were doing that day. The shock and that sinking feeling in your gut…they were pretty much the same for both incidents.
 
JimmyM

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It was early in the morning onboard the USS Chosin CG-65.  We had just
pulled out of Pago Pago, America Samoa for our tiger cruise home, when SH2
Zarcone woke me up to “Doc you need to come see this on TV”.  As I rolled
out of my pit and turned the corner in the berthing to the lounge, the
Second tower was being struck.  I asked SH2 Zarcone “what movie are you
watching”?  He replied this is live TV of New York.  Not more than a minute
later “River city FOUR” was set throughout the ship and we were turned
around to America Samoa.  After a 12 hour wait, we set course back to Pearl
Harbor.

HM1(SW/AW) Daniel S. Flaherty
Naval Hospital Corps School

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I worked the night before as a paramedic in a community 80 miles north of ground zero. I went home at 7a and went to bed. It was a busy 12 hour shift. A little after 9a I got up and turned on the tv. There was a special report about a plane crashing into the world trade center. While I was watching the report in disbelief. The second jet hit and I saw it as it happened. At that point I turned off the tv. Told my wife” I’m going to bed and get some rest. It’s gonna be a busy night.” I told her to let the machine pick up the phone. there are going to be a lot of knee jerk reactions and phone calls. I was do to back to work in less than 10 hours. I knew there was going to be a major need for fresh replacements in about 12 hours. The next 96 hours the hudson valley was being utilized heavily for resources. I stayed behind and manned the areas left by the first and subsesequent responses. The calls and needs of our community did not stop for the senseless act of aggression. I was not a hero on that day, I stayed behind and did the job needed, while the others with the expertise could respond.
Mike Bruce

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Phil Jones HMC Retired
I was about to depart the employment office to make one of my weekly homeless veterans meetings (Disabled Veteran Outreach Program Specialist) when someone said the World Trade Center is on fire.  On my drive across town I had the news on and got the general information.  I got to the homeless shelter in time to see the second plane hit the other tower.  Not much else was said!!

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