Veterans Blog - November 2009
Douglas Karr, Petty Officer Second Class, United States Navy Veteran
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Poor leadership contributed to naval submarine collision
Investigators from the U.S. Navy believe that “ineffective” leadership aboard the USS Hartford led to a collision between the Hartford and another naval submarine.
The USS Hartford hit the USS New Orleans on March 20th in the Strait of Hormuz, located at the mouth of the Persian Gulf. The crash damaged the New Orleans’ fuel tank and injured fifteen sailors. Overall, the sub sustained $2.3 million in damage. The USS Hartford didn’t fare so well, either, with officials estimating that the damage to the Hartford could exceed $102.6 million.
Navy investigators determined that the crew of the Hartford made a number of mistakes leading up to the submarine crash, and reported that naval leaders on board were “negligent.” A review of crew behavior revealed a lax atmosphere: crew were often found asleep while on duty and listened to music while on post in the sub’s radio room, for example. Not what one would expect on a Navy ship!
The investigation also stated that the Hartford crew had an inadequate plan for crossing the busy Strait of Hormuz, a plan that would ultimately put the sub and other vessels in the area at risk. Over thirty tactical and watchstander errors were found on the sub’s log, according to a Navy commander, and had the crew corrected even one of them, the collision with the USS New Orleans may have been avoided.
“Correction…of errors, or adherence to standard procedures, could have prevented this,” said Admiral John Harvey, Jr., Commander of the United States Fleet Forces Command. Adm. Harvey supported the findings of the investigation.
After the crash, the chief of the USS Hartford was reassigned and many crew members were written up and disciplined for poor performance. Five sailors were notorious for falling asleep while on watch duty, but apparently none were disciplined. Two of these sailors were on duty when the USS Hartford hit the New Orleans, but the investigation did not say whether or not they were asleep.
In the hour prior to the collision, sailors who were supposed to be monitoring sonar activity were holding a conversation, and the supervisor had left the room. The sub’s navigator was reportedly listening to his iPod, and the officer in command failed to check the periscope. While this behavior may be shocking, it was apparently not unusual on board the Hartford.
Leaders on the sub reported “routine informal behavior” but did not take measures to discipline sailors or write incident reports.
It was also reported that the sub’s drivers would often “slouch” and only drive with one hand on the controls, often removing their shoes. Sonar operators and other commanders would often abandon their posts for long periods of time, and speakers were rigged up in several control rooms so that sailors could listen to music while they were supposed to be paying attention to navigation and other important tasks.
Commander Ryan Brookhart was relieved of his duties on the USS Hartford following the incident.
As a Navy man myself, I’m appalled to hear that this sort of behavior is permitted on board a naval submarine. As members of the military, we are conditioned to hold ourselves to a higher standard. This certainly is a poor example of what the Navy and the military in general stands for.
No health insurance leads to over 2K veteran fatalities each year
A new report out of Harvard Medical School last week estimates that approximately 2.266 United States veterans under the age of 65 died in 2008 because they did not have health insurance. Despite the fact that the majority of vets receive medical care through the VA, over a million and a half non-wounded vets aged 65 and under are considered “too poor” to qualify for private insurance coverage but are not poor enough to be covered by Medicaid, according to a Harvard professor.
In general, uninsured individuals are 40% more likely to die than a person who does have health coverage – this according to the research at Harvard. A co-author of the Harvard study reports that at least six preventable deaths occur daily, and that well over 2,000 veterans lost their lives last year due to a “broken health insurance system.”
If you crunch the numbers, the total number of veterans who are estimated to have died as a result of being uninsured last year – 2,266 – is just about twice the number of United States soldiers killed in Afghanistan since the war began there in 2001.
The Harvard study claims that 1.46 million veterans between the ages of 18 (the age an individual must be to enroll in the military in our country) and 65 did not have any type of health insurance in 2008. Most vets are eligible for health coverage through the VA – however, veterans who were not injured during combat and who make a certain amount per year may be denied.
And, in some cases, certain vets are labeled as “low priority,” indicating that they are “too poor” to afford private health insurance on their own, but are just not destitute enough to qualify for Medicaid or what the VA calls “means-tested care.”
When you think about the variety of issues faced by veterans today, including PTSD, combat injuries and even the rare cancer mesothelioma, these statistics are cause for concern. One in five vets suffers from PTSD, and male veterans in general are twice as likely to commit suicide than civilian males here in the United States.
Equally as concerning is the fact that a quarter of all homeless individuals in our country are also vets.
The fact that veterans in America are struggling to receive adequate health care at all should be a red flag for all of us. How can we live with ourselves when we realize that we are failing the men and women who have sacrificed so much to protect us?
The pending health care legislation, unfortunately, will really have a limited effect on Americans in general until at least 2013, and even then it would probably not account for an estimated 20 million people, many who are likely to be veterans.
While vets do have options when it comes to receiving health care – they can contact the Veterans Benefit Network for assistance, for example – far too many of our servicemen and women are slipping through the cracks. What about the Army specialist who could not deploy last week because she did not have anyone to care for her infant son while she was overseas? The question of whether or not the military is doing enough for our veterans – including those who must arrange childcare while they are deployed – is on the minds of many right now. And not just veterans!
Although Veterans Day was last week, I believe that it is still important that we think about our veterans during the month of November (it is Military Families Month, after all). If you are a veteran, or you know someone who is – we probably ALL do – perhaps you will be interested in learning more about the many veteran healing resources available.
Alleged 9/11 terrorists to be tried in NYC
Five men who have spent the last few years as prisoners at Guantanamo Bay will be sent to New York City for trial in NYC’s Southern District U.S. Court, which happens to be just a short distance from Ground Zero. The transfer of these five men – Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Ramzi Bin al-Shibh, Ali Abdul Aziz Ali, Walid bin Attach, and Mustafa Ahmed al-Hawsawi – was announced by Attorney General Eric Holder on November 13th.
Attorney General Holder said that all give would be tried together, and that he expects prosecutors to seek the death penalty. The public will be able to attend and watch the trial, he said, although certain parts of the trial may be privatized to prevent the leak of classified information.
Despite concerns about trying the men in the very city that they terrorized eight years ago, Attorney General Holder said that he is confident that an impartial jury will be selected, and that the five men will receive “a fair trial in New York.”
In addition to these five men, who are believed to have played a role in planning the 9/11 attacks, another five Guantanamo detainees will be receiving military trials. These men were identified as Omar Khadr, Ibrahim al Qosi, Mohammed Kamin, Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri and Noor Uthman Muhammed. In 2002, Omar Khadr allegedly murdered a U.S. military officer in Afghanistan. Khadr is a Canadian citizen and was just fifteen years old when he was apprehended.
Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri is charged with the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000. Following an investigation, the CIA revealed that they used waterboarding tactics to get a confession out of al-Nashiri. The USS Cole bombing killed seventeen U.S. sailors.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who will undergo trial in NYC, was also waterboarded at least 183 separate times since 2003, according to a memo from the Justice Department. He only confessed after being waterboarded, according to reports, which leads some to believe that his confession may be questioned during his trial.
President Obama has called waterboarding “torture,” and does not condone this tactic.
Mohammed confessed to being the “mastermind” behind the attacks on America on 9/11, and claims to have organized the entire plan. He has been called “the most wanted terrorist in the world.”
Many Americans are concerned about the security issues that could result from a terrorist trial in NYC.
“Some would say that New York would now be a target by allowing Mohammed’s trial to take place in New York,” said Kristin Breitweiser, who lost her husband on 9/11. “I disagree. It would give many of us access to attend the hearings…this will be our opportunity to see justice served and have our day in court.”
The attacks on 9/11 were perhaps the most devastating act of terrorism to date. Not only did close to 3,000 people perish that day, but the health effects associated with the collapse of the World Trade Center buildings are ongoing. Countless individuals were exposed to asbestos dust when the towers fell, on 9/11 and in the months that followed. Asbestos exposure – even in small amounts – can lead to the eventual development of asbestos mesothelioma cancer, a fatal disease that has no known cure. Since 2001, many New Yorker’s have developed asbestos-related illnesses, including pleural mesothelioma and asbestosis. The number of individuals who develop an asbestos disease as a result of asbestos exposure following the 9/11 incident are expected to rise in the next several years, as mesothelioma cancer has a latency period of between twenty and fifty years. This means that people may not experience any mesothelioma symptoms for several more years, long after their initial asbestos exposure.
Those who were present in NYC after 9/11 are not the only individuals prone to developing mesothelioma. Veterans who served during World War II are especially at risk of receiving a diagnosis of mesothelioma. In addition, the men and women currently serving our country in Iraq also face asbestos exposure and the related health issues, as asbestos is still exported to Iraq.
While many worry about holding a terrorist trial in the great city of New York, others say that they will feel a certain sense of justice and closure once the trial has concluded. And, of course, security will be heightened during the trial to protect the city and all who live and work there. For those in the military community, it may provide a sense of validation for the years spent defending our country in Afghanistan and Iraq.
One thing is for sure – these five men will receive a fair trial under the laws of our great nation, and justice will be served.
Veterans Day 2009
Today is Veterans Day, and while many people may think of a day off from work or school and great sales at the mall, this day means far more than that. Online publication Hawaii247.org put out a great post today entitled “Veterans Day 2009: Nov. 11, by the numbers,” and I wanted to share excerpts of this post with you.
Veterans Day was initially called “Armistice Day” and was first recognized on November 11, 1919, also known as the first anniversary of the conclusion of World War I. It was not until 1926, however, that Congress decided that Armistice Day would be observed annually. In 1938, it became a federal holiday, and sixteen years later, President Eisenhower signed legislation that changed the name from Armistice Day to Veterans Day – the idea was to honor all veterans, and not just those who served in WWI.
By the numbers
According to the 2008 census, there were 23.2 million military veterans living in the United States. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? 1.8 of these veterans were female; 2.3 million were African American, and 1.1 million were Hispanic. 276,000 of these vets were of Asian descent, and another 160,000 were American Indian or natives of Alaska. 27,000 vets hailed from Hawaii or the Pacific Islands, and 18.3 million identified themselves as Caucasian. What a diverse military we have!
The 2008 census also reports that 9.2 million veterans were age 65 or older – many of these individuals served in World War II [2.6 million, to be exact]. Almost 8 million Vietnam-era vets were reported, which indicates that 33% of all living veterans served between 1964 and 1975. Another 5 million served in the Gulf War. 2.8 million served in the Korean War [1950-53] and 6 million veterans served both overseas and at home during peacetime.
I found it particularly interesting to learn that 50,000 living vets served during both the Vietnam War and the Gulf War. 92,000 living vets served during WWII, the Korean War and the Gulf War. Talk about dedication to our great country!
In five states – New York, California, Texas, Florida, and Pennsylvania – there were more than 1 million living veterans. California reported the highest number of veteran citizens. There were 10.4 million veterans that reported that they had a full-time job in 2008. However, almost 6 million reported that they were disabled, and 3.4 of these vets claimed that their disability was related to their military service. Just about 15% of business owners in the United States are veterans – support vet-owned businesses! – and almost 70% of these business owners were older than 55. Our veterans are certainly contributing to our economy.
In the 2008 presidential election, almost 16 million of our vets went out and voted – 71% of all veterans living in the United States voted, compared to about 60% of non-veterans. I think that says quite a bit about the involvement of our veterans in public affairs and politics.
When it comes to veteran benefits, about 3 million have received compensation following a service-related disability or injury. The total cost of veteran compensation was approximately $36 billion in 2008. The federal government spent almost $85 billion on veteran-related programs last year, with the majority going towards compensation and VA benefits. The rest went towards general veteran medical programs and vocational training/education.
The numbers don’t lie: veterans have an undeniable presence here in the United States. Today is a day to thank veterans for their service. Unfortunately, it is also a day to consider the shortcomings of veteran care here in our country.
One of these shortcomings involves veteran healthcare. Many of our vets are facing health problems as a result of exposures during their active military service. Veterans who were exposed to asbestos on board naval ships, for example, are at a heightened risk of developing mesothelioma cancer, a fatal disease that lies dormant for up to fifty years and typically strikes vets between the ages of 55 and 75. WWII vets and those who served during the Korean War are among the most at risk of developing asbestos mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma can manifest within the lining of the lungs [the pleura], the lining of the abdomen [the peritoneum] and in few cases, the lining of the heart [the pericardium]. Mesothelioma symptoms are similar to those of the flu; many individuals mistake these symptoms, including cough, fatigue and trouble breathing, with something other than mesothelioma. Once diagnosed, veterans have few options when it comes to mesothelioma treatment. Oncologists typically recommend chemotherapy, radiation, and in some instances, surgery. There is no known mesothelioma cure.
Veterans generally receive care from the best mesothelioma doctors at a non-VA hospital or cancer center. Unfortunately, the majority of mesothelioma patients lose their battle with this disease in less than 24 months following diagnosis.
While those who were exposed to asbestos several years ago may not be able to prevent the development of mesothelioma, we can all make an effort to educate ourselves and others about the consequences of asbestos exposure. In many cases, early mesothelioma detection can prolong a patient’s life by several months or even years.
A Veterans Day tribute
As we honor vets today, think about the following quotes. Share them with the veteran in your life; pass them along in an email to friends and family – and make sure to take a moment today to reflect on how the sacrifices of our veterans have impacted your life.
“In war, there are no unwounded soldiers” – Jose Narosky
“This nation will remain the land of the free only so long it is the home of the brave” – Elmer Davis
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them” – John Fitzgerald Kennedy
Readjusting following a deployment
I spent some time on the Veterans’ Families United Foundation website this weekend, and wanted to share some information with my fellow vets and their families. This website has a section focused on Veteran Readjustment Problems, and includes content on PTSD and tips for families who are welcoming back a loved one after a deployment.
There are three aspects to Veteran Readjustment Problems:
Veteran Survival Skills, or “War Zone Skills”: these are the skills that keep veterans alive during war. During their deployment, vets were immersed in extremely intense and stressful situations, and they relied on these survival skills, which, for most vets, became instinctual.
Veteran Readjustment Behaviors: these are the skills/actions that were necessary for a veteran in a place of war, but will cause problems once they return to civilian life following their deployment.
Impact to Family and Friends: a vet’s family and friends have to readjust, too, once the vet returns to civilian life. The impact of the vet’s readjustment behaviors often determines whether or not pre-deployment relationships will survive or fall apart.
James Munroe, a Social Worker at a Boston VA facility, created an informational booklet for veterans and their loved ones. Published in 2006, the booklet outlines specific survival skills, the readjustment behaviors that a veteran may demonstrate, and how this impacts a vet’s family and friends. Below are some excerpts from Munroe’s “Transitioning War Zone Skills: Information for Veterans and Those Who Care” booklet:
Coming home from a war zone is great, and it should be a happy time for all. However, it is not always easy to make the transition home. Many things may have changed during deployment for both veterans and those at home. It is important to realize that some things won’t just go back to the way they were.
Most veterans handle even difficult stress and make successful readjustments. The most likely problems with readjustment will be in transitioning the war zone skills into home skills to build good relationships. The VA and Vet Centers are there to provide information, support, and professional help if needed.
The transition from a war zone is not easy for either the veteran or those at home. Often those at home notice that the veteran is not the same. Something is changed about him or her. It is not always easy to identify what these changes are, but it is likely they are related to the different skills necessary for survival. For the veteran, it is not easy to identify these changes because they have become deeply ingrained in his or her everyday life. What has become normal behavior for him or her may seem quite strange to those at home. What is crucially important is to realize that the rules of the war zone do not automatically change when veterans come home. A successful transition to home requires an understanding of how war zone skills and beliefs are influencing the home environment.
I recommend this booklet to all vets and families who are transitioning after a deployment. The booklet can be downloaded at http://www.veteransfamiliesunited.org/behaviors_of_veteran_readjustment_problems.html.
Veterans’ Day 2009
Tomorrow, November 11th, is Veterans’ Day. I wanted to share a poem with my fellow veterans today. Perhaps this poem will put you into the right frame of mind for Veterans’ Day, and help you to put the sacrifice of our country’s vets into perspective:
They Did Their Share
On Veteran’s Day we honor Soldiers who protect our nation. For their service as our warriors, They deserve our admiration.
Some of them were drafted; Some were volunteers; For some it was just yesterday; For some it’s been many years;
In the jungle or the desert, On land or on the sea, They did whatever was assigned To produce a victory.
Some came back; some didn’t. They defended us everywhere. Some saw combat; some rode a desk; All of them did their share.
No matter what the duty, For low pay and little glory, These soldiers gave up normal lives, For duties mundane and gory.
Let every veteran be honored; Don’t let politics get in the way. Without them, freedom would have died; What they did, we can’t repay.
We owe so much to them, Who kept us safe from terror, So when we see a uniform, Let’s say "thank you" to every wearer.
By Joanna Fuchs
Poem courtesy of www.poemsource.com
Memorial service planned for Fort Hood
A memorial service will be held at Sadowski Field on Fort Hood tomorrow, Tuesday November 10th – the day before Veterans’ Day.
The public is encouraged to attend. Gates will open at 10 am Central Time, and while all are welcome, it is recommended that you arrive early. All individuals will be required to pass through a security check; the following items will be prohibited: bags, strollers, umbrellas, signs, liquids, and sharp objects. Cameras are allowed.
In addition to the service, a Town Hall meeting will be held this evening, Monday November 9th, from 7 pm until 8 pm Central Time. Speaking will be Lt. Gen. Robert Cone, the Fort Hood Commander; CSM Arthur Coleman, Jr., COL Bill Hill and COL Steve Braverman. The Town Hall will be broadcast on the Fort Hood television channel this evening for those who cannot attend.
The memorial service tomorrow will honor those who lost their lives last week at Fort Hood. The following individuals will be honored:
Lt. Col. Juanita L. Warman, 55; assigned to the 1908th Medical Company out of Missouri.
Maj. Libardo Caraveo, 52; assigned to the 467th Medical Detachment out of Wisconsin.
Capt. John P. Gaffaney, 54; assigned to the 1908th Medical Company.
Capt. Russell Seager, 51; assigned to the 467th Medical Detachment.
Staff Sgt. Justin DeCrow, 32; assigned to the 16th Signal Company out of Fort Hood.
Sgt. Amy Krueger, 29; assigned to the 467th Medical Company.
Spc. Jason Hunt, 22; assigned to the 1st Brigade out of Fort Hood.
Pfc. Frederick Greene, 29; assigned to the 16th Signal Company.
Pfc. Aaron Nemelka, 19; assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion out of Fort Hood.
Pfc. Michael Pearson, 22; assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion.
Pfc. Kham Xiong, 23; assigned to the 510th Engineer Company, 20th Engineer Battalion.
Chief Warrant Office Michael Cahill; Civilian employee on Fort Hood.
Fort Hood has also issued information for those seeking counseling. Counselors and Chaplains will be available at the Resiliency Campus on the corner of 33rd Street and Battalion Avenue. In addition, a hotline has been set up for the families and friends of those killed. The number is 866-836-2751. A number of other resources are available for military families in the wake of a tragedy. These resources include:
Army Family Readiness Groups, or ArmyFRG: each unit within the Army has an FRG; contact the FRG Leader or FRG Assistant for more information.
Military OneSource: this resource has a 24/7 telephone line and serves military members, their families and reserve members. Their hotline number is 1-800-342-9647.
Military Homefront: this is a DoD website that provides up-to-date information for military members and the public.
TAPS: a toll-free crisis line for family members of fallen military members. The number is 1-800-959-TAPS.
All members of the military and their families are encouraged to seek out assistance from the Army following a tragic event, like the shooting on November 5th.
I recommend seeking out information via Twitter as well. Our Twitter account, www.twitter.com/veteransblog, follows 218 amazing veteran and military-focused organizations, all of which have been “Tweeting” with breaking news and support resources since the Fort Hood incident.
I also wanted to pass along information about an exciting free offer for all veterans, mil members and civilians. Amazon.com has a free MP3 album entitled “Veterans Day Honor” available for download on their website. The album includes twelve recordings, including “To The Colors,” “Star Spangled Banner” and “Here’s To America.” Music is performed by the US Navy, Marine, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard Bands, as well as performances by the Navy and Sea Chanters Chorus. This is an excellent gift for the veteran in your life. What better way to honor our veterans than by listening to patriotic music performed by our talented servicemen and women. Please visit our Twitter page for more information.
And, of course, keep all connected to Fort Hood in your thoughts as Veterans’ Day approaches.
Army Major in custody following tragic shooting at Fort Hood
In the wake of the horrific shooting at Fort Hood in Texas yesterday, the military and civilian community has been left to wonder why a member of our armed forces would commit such a crime – especially with Veterans Day just a few days away.
The official website of the U.S. Army, www.army.mil, reported today that Army Major Hasan Nidal Malik is responsible for the shootings on base yesterday, and that he acted alone, despite initial suspicions about multiple gunmen. Maj. Malik began shooting into the Soldiers Readiness Processing Center at about 1:30 pm yesterday, leaving 13 individuals dead and 27 wounded.
A female civilian police officer named Kimberly Munley allegedly shot Maj. Hasan four times, preventing him from firing any more rounds. Munley herself was wounded. She was one of the first civilian law enforcement officers to arrive on Fort Hood and respond to the shooting, according to the Army.
Lt. Gen. Bob Cone, the Commanding General at Fort Hood, called Munley’s efforts “amazing.”
The shooting occurred during a graduation for almost 140 soldiers who were to receive their college diplomas. The soldiers secured the theater and no one inside was hurt. A great example of how our soldiers are trained to act in a second’s notice in an emergency situation. No doubt that these individuals saved many lives yesterday.
Today, Lt. Gen. Cone told the media that the Army’s number one concern is caring for those wounded. The victims, both deceased and injured, were largely military members. He also confirmed that Maj. Hasan had survived being shot four times by Kimberly Munley, despite reports that he had been killed yesterday.
“I would say his death is not imminent,” stated Lt. Gen. Cone. As of this afternoon, Maj. Hasan had yet to speak to investigators from the Army or the FBI.
Maj. Hasan was a highly-trained psychiatrist who worked on Fort Hood and was scheduled to deploy at the end of the month. Maj. Hasan had apparently told some of his family members that he was unhappy about being deployed. He allegedly used two handguns to shoot at people on base – even though Lt. Gen. Cone told media that “as a matter of practice, we do not carry weapons on Fort Hood.”
“This is our home,” Lt. Gen. Cone said.
Not long after the incident, President Obama telephoned Lt. Gen. Cone to express his support to the Fort Hood community. A moment of silence was observed on base and around the nation this afternoon at 1:34 pm, but otherwise, the Fort Hood community tried to go back to their “normal” lives today, reopening schools and reporting to work.
For all members of the military and for all veterans, the shooting is especially sad, as we must mourn the lost lives of our military brothers and sisters. We commend the soldiers who protected the almost 600 individuals inside the Howze Theater building on base, and we salute Kimberly Munley, who risked her own life to prevent Maj. Hasan from inflicting additional harm.
This Wednesday, November 11th is Veterans Day. Across the nation, people will be at Veterans Day parades and other events during the days leading up to the 11th, and I hope that we all pause and remember the sacrifice made by our military men and women – not only our veterans, but those who currently serve both here and overseas.
USS New York returns "home" today
The glorious USS New York, an amphibious transport/assault vessel, arrived in New York Harbor today, floating quietly in the water near Ground Zero for a moment to honor those lost on September 11, 2001. Following the moment of silence, a 21-gun salute was fired from the ship’s fantail.
The USS New York is 684 feet long and was built using 7.5 tons of salvaged steel, which was placed inside her bow. The steel, once an integral structural component of the Twin Towers, was taken from Ground Zero. The ship cost about $1.2 billion dollars to build, and will be commissioned on November 7th.
The crowd on shore included NYPD, NYFD, tourists, public officials and other New Yorkers who wanted to pay respect to those who died on September 11th. On board, the president of the September 11th Families’ Association, Lee Ielpi, was remembering his son, a 29-year old firefighter named Jonathan. Jonathan was killed on September 11th, leaving behind a wife and two children.
Despite his sadness, Lee Ielpi said that he and many other people on board the USS New York were happy to be there, calling today a “good day.”
“We’re smiling through our tears,” Ielpi said.
The USS New York was escorted into New York Harbor by NYPD helicopters, and when she reached the Verrazano Bridge off of Staten Island, she was greeted by NYDF boats shooting red, white and blue water into the air off of Governors Island. The USS New York will dock at Pier 88, next to the USS Intrepid until she makes her way up the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge.
The USS New York is one of only four ships of its class currently ready for service in the U.S. Naval fleet. Two new ships are being constructed and will also be named in honor of September 11th – the USS Arlington will be named for the attacks at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and the USS Somerset is to be named for the crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in a Pennsylvania field.
Commander Curt Jones, who rode in to the harbor today aboard the New York, said that today truly was “fantastic.”
“It really does feel like we’re coming home,” Cmdr. Jones said.
A number of important guests and several 9/11 first responders were flown out to the ship on Marine helicopters. The VIP list included Ferg Foley, a senior officer for the Army National Guard and response coordinator at Ground Zero during the first days following the attacks. Chaplain Laura Bender of New York was also on board today. “The ship for me is a symbol of how life always comes from death and strength comes from adversity. I really feel we are sailing the World Trade Center home.”
She also believes that the USS New York will help many New Yorkers heal and move forward from the tragedy.
“There will be a lot of healing just by moving past Ground Zero and saluting the site and receiving a salute back from the fire department.”
The “homecoming” of the USS New York began this morning, at 4 am, with a recording of Old Blue Eyes’ version of New York, New York” blaring from the ship’s speakers. An appropriate tribute to the ship, and to the city that welcomed her home today.
One of the men on board, Fred Tiedmann, has served in our Navy for 26 years. Tiedmann is the USS New York’s boatswain, and is responsible for all deck equipment. In his years with the Navy, he has served on about twelve ships.
But for Tiedmann, the USS New York is extra-special. Tiedmann, a native New Yorker, knew several people who lost their lives on September 11th.
“It’s going to be pretty special,” he said when asked about the return of World Trade Center steel to the city. “It means a lot to the crew” to be a part of the experience, according to Tiedmann.
Ferg Foley summed up the feelings of those on board perfectly.
“It’s amazing,” Foley said. “Just knowing that some of that steel from Ground Zero” has been incorporated into the ship’s construction gives New Yorkers and all Americans a sense of pride.
“It represents the fighting spirit of the United States,” Foley stated.
As a Navy veteran myself, this story truly touches me and reminds me of why I joined the Navy. Please share this with friends and family today!