USS New Jersey, America's MOST Decorated Battleship

The USS New Jersey (BB-62), the second ship to be named the New Jersey, was launched in December 1942. She remained in service and action until 1991 when she was decommissioned. In 2000, she took up her final home in Camden, NJ, to become a museum. During her 49 years of service, the USS New Jersey took part in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and service off Beirut, Lebanon, and service in the Persian Gulf prior to Desert Storm. During those years, she received a total of 19 Battle and Campaign Stars. With that total, the USS New Jersey is America’s most decorated battleship and surviving warship. I have had the honor of touring this majestic battleship and recommend it to anyone in the area. She truly is amazing.

The American Submarine

          The U.S. Navy’s attack submarine is one of the most lethal weapons in our country’s arsenal, and they are stealthy. In fact, submarines can be considered one of the original stealth weapons. This particular area of the Navy is nicknamed “the Silent Service”. It has earned its nickname rightfully, as submarines patrol the world’s oceans and seas undetected and invisible, carrying out various missions. The first American submarine, named the Turtle, was designed and built by Yale graduate, David Bushnell in 1776. Yes, the submarine is as old as the United States herself. Originally a one-man vessel, it was “submerged by admitting water into the hull and surfaced by pumping it out with a hand pump. Powered by a pedal-operated propeller and armed with a keg of powder, the egg-shaped Turtle gave Revolutionary Americans high hopes for a secret weapon - a weapon that could destroy the British warships anchored in New York Harbor.” On its very first mission on the night of September 6^th, the Turtle made its way in the dark waters of New York Harbor towards the British vessel the HMS Eagle. However, the first attempt to attach the Turtle’s torpedo to the hull of the HMS Eagle failed as the screw was unable to penetrate its hull. The second attempt was also a failure. As the Turtle turned back to shore it was observed and followed, causing the pilot of the Turtle to release the torpedo into the waters. While the explosion caused no damage, the “British recognized the threat and moved the fleet. Weather problems and other operating difficulties prevented a successful attack by the submarine before it was scuttled by the British while being transported.” During the Civil War, Confederate Lawson Hunley converted an old steam boiler into a submarine, and after two failed water trials that killed the crews of each and Hunley himself, the submarine was named the Hunley in honor of its creator. The Hunley was much larger than the Turtle and could hold 8 or 9 men and was propelled by a hand-driven screw. “In 1864, armed with a 90-pound charge of powder on a long pole, the Hunley attacked and sank a new Federal steam sloop, USS Housatonic, at the entrance to Charleston Harbor.” After this, she was never seen of again until 131 years later in 1995 when her wreckage was discovered off the coast of South Carolina. Today, the United States Navy has many different kinds of submarines that can hold 100+ men. They sure have come a long way since 1776. Here’s to those that serve in the Silent Service as the Guardians of the Deep. 


Sources:
 

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/subs/subs.asp

http://www.mayflowerfamilies.com/a_1776_submarine.htm

http://inventors.about.com/od/sstartinventions/a/Submarines_2.htm

The Distinguished Service Cross

          The Distinguished Service Cross is the second highest military honor on the Pyramid of Honor, second only to the Medal of Honor. For the Army, it is the Distinguished Service Cross; for the Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard it is the Navy Cross; and for the Air Force it is the Air Force Cross. At the time of World War I, the only military award issued for valor was the Medal of Honor, but there was no award to distinguish any act of heroism that was less than what was required by the Medal of Honor. In 1918, President Woodrow Wilson and Congress instituted the Distinguished Service Cross (for combat heroism) and the Distinguished Service Medal (for non-combat heroism) for the United States Army. “It is the highest U.S. Army award that can be awarded to civilians in service to the military or to foreign nationals.  Even in these cases, the criteria for award are the same.”  A year later, 1919, the Navy Cross and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal were created for the Navy and the Marine Corps. However, at that point in time, since the Navy Cross was third behind the Medal of Honor and the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, “more than one Navy Cross recipient regarded its award as a "snub" in lieu of the Distinguished Service Medal”. It wasn’t until 7 August 1942 that Congress placed the Navy Cross just under the Medal of Honor, making it the second highest award issued for the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard, and limiting it to combat-only heroism. For the United States Air Force, the award was originally called the “Distinguished Service Cross (Air Force)”. It was first proposed in 1947 after the establishment of the United States Air Force as its own military branch. The name was changed to the Air Force Cross on 6 July 1960 by Public Law 88-593 established by Congress. Since its establishment (for each branch) a grand total of 13,446 Distinguished Service Crosses have been awarded to military personnel and civilians. 440 of which were awarded to foreign military members and 11 were awarded to civilian personnel. 

To learn more about each, go to the following websites:

http://www.history.navy.mil/medals/navcross.htm

http://usafeenlistedheritage.org/distinguished/decorated/criteria/?id=3

http://www.homeofheroes.com/distinguishedservicecross/index.html

The Bronze Star

The Bronze Star: “awarded to members of all branches of military service and may be awarded either for combat heroism or for meritorious service.” This is the fourth highest military award for heroism, courage, or meritorious service. If the award is received because of Valor, a bronze “V” device is worn on the ribbon of the Bronze Star Medal to distinguish the reason behind the award from meritorious action. There are several attachments to the Bronze Star Medal. “For additional awards, every next decoration was to be shown by a Bronze Oak leaf Cluster (US Army and Air Force) or a Golden Star (US Navy, Marines and Coast Guard). At every fifth award, the Bronze and Golden were replaced by a Silver Oak Leaf Cluster or Silver Star.”  Originally, Colonel Russell P. Reeder came up with the idea in 1943 that a ground version of the Air Medal be created for Captains of a Battery of Company to award the personnel for those who served under them. He believed that this award would help to boost the morale among the troops, as the Air Medal had done for Airmen.  General George C. Marshall wrote a memorandum to President Roosevelt on 3 February 1944 stating that “the fact that the ground troops, Infantry in particular, lead miserable lives of extreme discomfort and are the ones who must close in personal combat with the enemy, makes the maintenance of their morale of great importance. The award of the Air Medal has had an adverse reaction on the ground troops, particularly the Infantry Riflemen who are now suffering the heaviest losses, air or ground, in the Army, and enduring the greatest hardships.” The next day, 4 February 1944, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt authorized the Bronze Star by Executive Order 9419. On 24 August 1962, President John F. Kennedy amended this Executive Order (per Executive order 11046) to include “individuals serving with friendly military forces”. I am proud to say that while serving in the 92^nd Signal Corps under the 92^nd Infantry Division in World War II, my grandfather, my Papa Ghyll, received two Bronze Stars.

Information gathered from:

 

http://www.ww2awards.com/award/245

http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armymedals/ss/bsm.htm

http://www.homeofheroes.com/medals/pages_wh/10_bronzestar.html

http://www.usamilitarymedals.com/bronze-star-medal-p-16.html

http://www.amervets.com/bsmedl.htm

http://www.tioh.hqda.pentagon.mil/Awards/bronze_star.aspx

The Congressional Medal of Honor

          

          The Medal of Honor is the highest ranking United States’ combat award. The Navy, Army, and the Air Force all have a different design for the Medal of Honor; the Marine Corps and Navy share a design. 

          For the U.S. Navy, the Medal of Honor was authorized in December 1861, during the Civil War, as an award for enlisted men and originally served to “further promote the efficiency of the Navy” but subsequently included “deeds of gallantry and heroism in times of War and Peace” on the part of the officers and enlisted men. However, in 1942, criteria were restricted to acts of extraordinary heroism in armed combat and it is presented for “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life, above and beyond the call of duty”. To date, there have been 746 Medals of Honor presented to Navy personnel. A total of 3,445 Medals of Honor have been presented to people in all military branches

          The original Army Medal of Honor was very similar to the Navy Medal of Honor, with the exception that instead of an anchor there was an eagle perched on a cannon clutching a saber in it its talons. As with all Medals of Honor, it is awarded to someone who has “distinguished themselves above and beyond the call of duty by risking their own lives in combat action with a known armed enemy of the United States”. They are awarded sparingly and are awarded to the bravest of the brave and the courage must be well documented. Since 1998, “at least 15 other Medals of Honor have been awarded to correct past administrative errors, oversights and follow-up on lost recommendations or as a result of new evidence”.

          The United States Air Force was originally part of the United States Army and remained under the Army until the National Security Act of 1947 was passed and the Air Forced was deemed to be its own separate military branch. On 6 July 1960, the United States Congress established the Congressional Medal of Honor as the highest award specifically granted by the United States Air Force. It is awarded to officers and enlisted members of the United States Air Force who have “distinguished themselves above and beyond the call of duty by risking their own lives in combat action with a known armed enemy of the United States”. The current version used by the Air Force was approved in 1965. On 19 January 1967, Major Bernard F. Fisher became the first person in the United States Air Force to receive the Medal of Honor. He was bestowed this honor for his actions on 10 March 1966 in Vietnam. On that day, Fisher risked his life under an attack of 2,000 hostile North Vietnamese Army regulars to fly in and rescue and downed airman who had crash landed on the airstrip in the area. The downed airman survived that day and avoided capture by the enemy because of Major Fisher’s actions that day.

          The first African American recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor was William Carney. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in 1863 at Fort Wagner, South Carolina. He was a member of the 54^th Massachusetts Regiment in the Civil War. It was the state’s first all-black regiment. During the battle he noticed that the man carrying the flag had been wounded so he bravely rescued the flag and carried it safely to his regiment. It is reported that after it was safely in position he shouted “Boys, the old flag never touched the ground”. He was wounded during the battle. However, he was not awarded the Medal of Honor until May 1900, a whole 37 years later. The brave deed of Carney rescuing the flag before it hit the ground is depicted on the Saint-Guadens Monument in Boston and the flag itself is enshrined in Memorial Hall in Boston.

          There has only ever been one woman to receive the Medal of Honor. Dr. Mary Walker, a surgeon during the American Civil War, was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Andrew Johnson for her actions at Bull Run on 21 July 1861. However, in 1917, her award was rescinded along with some 900 others; the complete reason being unknown. There has been speculation that her medal was rescinded because of her involvement as a suffragette, but she refused to return the medal that had been bestowed upon her and wore it until her death in 1919. On 10 June 1977 the United States Congress reinstated her medal posthumously and it was restored by President Jimmy Carter. Although she is the ONLY woman to receive the Medal of Honor, there are TWO women’s names on the Roll of Honor. The second woman on the Roll of Honor is M. Sando Vargas, the mother of Marine Captain Jay R. Vargas. Captain Vargas received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Vietnam War but before he was awarded the medal, his mother passed away. He requested that her name be engraved on the back of his Medal of Honor instead of his own and President Richard Nixon honored this request.

          Did you know there has ever been only ONE President of the United States to receive the Medal of Honor??? Theodore Roosevelt received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions as a Colonel in the U.S. Army during the Spanish-American War. Oddly enough, his son, Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. was also awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on 6 June 1945 during the Normandy landings. He is one of the TWO sons of U.S. Presidents to receive this award. Webb Cook Hayes, son of President Rutherford B. Hayes, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Philippine Insurrection. Also in the Medal of Honor history, 19 men have been awarded this honor twice and 5 sets of brothers have been awarded the Medal of Honor as well.

The USS Indianapolis

 

The U.S.S. Indianapolis was a Portland-class cruiser of the United States Navy and was built between World War I and World War II. She was launched on 7 November 1931 and later commissioned on 15 November 1932. In her years of service she was awarded 10 Battle Stars for her actions during World War II. The U.S.S. Indianapolis is possibly most famous for her sinking at the end of July in 1945. On her way to Leyte Gulf, the U.S.S. Indianapolis was struck by two torpedoes, one on her bow and one on her starboard side, from a Japanese Submarine in the Philippine Sea at 12:14am on the morning of 30 July 1945. She sank within 12 minutes. Of the 1,197 men on board the Indianapolis, it has been estimated that about 900 men made it off the sinking ship and into the water. Many were badly wounded or burned; some wore life vests while others did not. When the ship had been hit, the fuel tanks had ruptured, thus releasing a large amount of fuel oil into the water with the men. It coated the men and made many of them sick. They had no food, no water, and no way to signal for help. The explosions had knocked out the electrical system making it impossible to send out an S.O.S. before she went down. The nightmare for the men was far from over. For the next four and a half days the surviving men experienced hunger, thirst, exhaustion, illness, and extreme terror. Daylight brought only more fear, for with the daylight came the shark attacks. “The survivors say the sharks were always there by the hundreds- swimming just below their dangling feet. It was a terror filled ordeal- never knowing if you'd be the next victim.” Between the shark attacks, their injuries, and lack of food and water, many of the men died. By the third day it is estimated that out of the 900 men that made it off the sinking ship and into the waters, only 400 were left alive. On the morning of the fourth day, a Lieutenant Chuck Gwinn discovered the men in the water while on a routine submarine patrol with his Lockheed Navy Ventura PV-1 bomber. He reported the scene but it was assumed to be only a prank at first. It was another 3 hours before a PBY Flying-Boat, piloted by Navy pilot R. Adrian Marks, was dispatched to investigate. Upon reaching the men, Marks and his crew made the decision to abandon orders of never making a water landing in order to rescue the men. He radioed for help and began the rescue. The U.S.S. Cecil Doyle, a destroyer escort, had been informed of the mission while Marks was en-route and had made her way to the men as well. On his plane alone, Marks and his crew rescued 58 men; the record for a sea plane that size. When all the surviving men were rescued, of the 900 that had made it into the waters, only 317 men were left alive, making this the worst Naval Disaster in United States history. However, the news of the sinking of the U.S.S. Indianapolis and the loss of the majority of her crew was not released to the public until weeks after it occurred in hopes that the news of Japan’s surrender would overshadow the huge blow to the U.S. Navy. owH

Tim McGraw, Country Singer, Helps Vets

Here is the link to the article:
Tim McGraw Gives Homes to Vets

This is just one more reason why I love Tim McGraw. I love his music and he is an honest and genuine man. Through Home Front, an organization he created in conjunction with Operation Home Front, he was able to help give away 18 mortgage-free homes to different Veterans and their families. Most people don't know that a lot of our veterans are homeless. As of January 2011, there were more than 50,000 homeless veterans and a little less than 150,000 "veterans spend at least one night in an emergency shelter or transitional housing". This is a nation wide problem that should not have occurred in the first place. These men and women fight for our freedoms and lay their lives on the line for us. The least we could do is help take care of them when they come home, if they make it home.

Here are some facts about Veteran Homelessness (from http://www.va.gov/HOMELESS/about_the_initiative.asp):

• On a single night in January 2011, 67,495 homeless Veterans spent the night on the streets of America.
• An estimated 144,842 Veterans spent at least one night in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program in one recent year.
• Many other Veterans are considered at risk of homelessness because of poverty, lack of support from family and friends, substance use or mental health issues, and precarious living conditions.
• VA is the only federal agency that provides substantial hands-on assistance directly to Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
• Each year, VA’s specialized homelessness programs provide health care to almost 150,000 homeless Veterans and other services to more than 112,000 Veterans.
• More than 40,000 homeless Veterans receive compensation or pension benefits each month.
• Although they are limited to Veterans and their dependents, VA's major homeless programs constitute the largest integrated network of homeless assistance programs in the country.

This is something that should not happen. And it is something that we as Americans and we as a country should try to fix and prevent. When asked about the initiative, Tim McGraw said, "What better thing to provide a wounded warrior than safety and security." Good man in my opinion. There need to be more people that are in a position like his that do more for our veterans.

The 21-Gun Salute

Today we look at a part of military history that encompasses all military branches and personnel, the 21-Gun Salute. Gun salutes used on military occasions can be traced back to early warriors who demonstrated peaceful intentions by placing their weapons in a position rendering them ineffective. The tradition of the salute by cannon fire originated during the 14^th century. Originally, warships fired 7-Gun Salutes, as the number 7 had such astrological and Biblical significance. Land batteries, however, were able to fire 3 shots for every one shot fired at sea, making the total amount of shots fired 21. It has been speculated that the number 3 was chosen because of its significance in most civilizations. When the quality of gunpowder was greatly improved, it no longer spoiled as easily at sea, therefore ships at sea adopted the 21-Gun Salute. “Today the national salute of 21 guns is fired in honor of a national flag, the sovereign or chief of state of a foreign nation, a member of a reigning royal family, and the President, ex-President and President-elect of the United States. It is also fired at noon of the day of the funeral of a President, ex-President, or President-elect. Gun salutes are also rendered to other military and civilian leaders of this and other nations. The number of guns is based on their protocol rank. These salutes are always in odd numbers.”

The USS Alabama

Today, we look at a piece of the United States Navy. Launched in February 1942 at Norfolk Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia and commissioned on 16 August 1942, the USS Alabama now rests in Mobile, Alabama at Battleship Memorial Park. The USS Alabama because known as the "Mighty A", serving 37 months of active duty during WWII. She safely carried her crew throughout the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean campaigns, never once suffering any casualties or significant damage due to enemy fire. The USS Alabama is credited with shooting down 22 Japanese planes and being the first to detect enemy bombers in the Battle of the Philippine Sea from a range of 190 miles. After the war, she was decommissioned to the Puget Sound in Washington in 1947 and remained there until 1964. When the Navy announced that she, along with many other war ships, would be scrapped. However, "a campaign was launched to bring the "Mighty A" home to Alabama as a memorial to the state's sons and daughters who had served in the armed forces." She was towed to Mobile, Alabama in 1964 and on 9 January 1965, the "Mighty A" was opened to the public as an independent agency of the state of Alabama. She is now a National Historic Landmark. Living in Mobile, Alabama my whole life, I can honestly say that she is a sight to see and definitely worth the visit. She is full of history and its great to have her home!

Introduction

Hi. My name is Suzanne. I am a History Major from Alabama. My main focus for this blog is to share different ways to support our troops and to raise awareness for them. Also, I will bring you various historical facts, both about military knowledge and also about our nation's history. It won't be boring though, trust me. I'm new to this whole blogging thing so bare with me while I figure it out. There will be stories of sorrow, stories of love, stories of tragedy, and stories of triumph. I hope that you enjoy reading as much as I enjoy writing about these things. Thank you for your patience.

--- Suzanne