Sunday, March 27, 2011

U.S. Navy Names New Littoral Combat Ships

An announcement by Secretary of the Navy Ray Maybus said that the two new Littoral Combat
Ships (LCS) will be named USS Montgomery and USS Jackson.

The ships will be built by Austal Shipbuilding in Mobile, Alabama.

The Navy is using a dual block buy of the ships. Using both the semiplaning monohull by Lockheed
Martin and the aluminum trimaran by General Dynamic. With this method the Navy can stabilize
the LCS program with an award of 20 ships. It will also increase the ship procurement rate to support
operational requirements; sustain competition and enhance foreign military sales.

Both platforms meet the Navy's LCS requirements, but the to designs provide for operational
flexibility.

A fast, agile combatant the LCS provides the operational flexibility to execute focused missions
close to shore such as anti-submarine, mine warfare, and surface warfare.

The ships will be 416 feet long, with a beam of 103 feet, weighing approximately 3,000 tons and
have a speed of of more than 40 knots.

The USS Jackson (LCS 6), named in honor of the state capital Jackson, Miss; is the first ship to
use this name.

The USS Mobile (LCS 8) is the second ship to bear the name of the capital city of Mobile, Ala.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

U.S. Military Considers Evacuations of Military from Japan

Although it has not been confirmed, sources say that the U.S. military is considering the
evacuation of all military personnel, and dependents from Yokosuka, Japan.

Yokosuka is home of the largest Navy base in Japan.

As of Monday there were no ships in port at Yokosuka. The aircraft carrier USS George Washington
had been undergoing maintenance, but left Monday to avoid the plume of radioactive particles
that could flow over the base. Since the ship was "in the yards", when she sailed the crew was not
at full strength; and thus will not be able to assist the rest of the Navy ships that are helping in the
recovery efforts.

On Saturday a plane left Japan with 230 people aboard, and that was followed by another flight
Monday with 154 military family members headed for Seattle/Tacoma(SeTac) international airport.

These were voluntary evacuations under State Department guidelines, and are being paid for
by the U.S. government.

If there is a real danger to our military and their dependents, by all means they should be removed
from harm's way immediately.



---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Monday, March 21, 2011

April 8th New Deadline for Stop-Loss Pay

The Department of Defense has again extended the deadline for Retroactive Stop-Loss Pay. The new
deadline in April 8th.

For those service members, or their beneficiaries who had their service involuntary extended from
Sept. 11, 2001 through Sept. 30, 2009, you can apply for the Retroactive Stop-Loss Pay. which is
$500.00 for each month that your contract was extended.

The services estimate that 145,000 service members, veterans, and their beneficiaries are eligible for
the program that began Oct. 1, 2009. Since most of those eligible have separated from active duty,
the various services have used extensive and ongoing efforts to contact all those involved.

Efforts will continue through April 8 using direct mail, social networks and media outlets. As well
as using Veteran Service Organizations and other military websites, the DoD will pursue all available
outlets.

So again I urge you to apply as soon as possible. You earned this money, it is yours to claim.
For more information, including submission requirements, or to apply go to the DoD website
http://www.defense.gov/stoploss . 
 This will include links to the various service specific links.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"
---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Have You Ever Thanked A Veteran?

As a veteran myself, when I see a veteran wearing a hat, shirt, jacket, or other emblem that says
he served in our military, I always say Thank You for Your Service.

I also thank the men and women I see in uniform no matter where it might be.

These brave men and women have placed their lives on hold, and placed themselves in jeopardy every
day. Is it too much to say a simple Thank You?

Many stores, tourist attractions, and countless other entities offer military and/or veteran discounts.
Yet when a customer provides proof of service most times the cashier, the one placing items in the
bags, or even those in line do not bother to acknowledge the service of a veteran; or even a current
member of the military.

Are we afraid as a country to say Thank You? Are we ashamed that perhaps we did not serve?
Or as a country are we just that plain selfish? The old "rather you than me" is a hard way of thinking.

A veteran will not become angry and yell at you, instead they will simply smile and say Thank You
right back to you. To be noticed and appreciated by such a simple thing is very heart warming
and a humbling experience to a vet.

So next time you see a veteran, or a person in uniform just say Thank You for Your Service, you will
feel better and so will they.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996