Hampton Roads Extends Weeklong Salute to USS Mason

Council Holds Preview Screenings of “Proud,” Hosts Mason Crewmembers

The Hampton Roads, Va., Council presented a unique community involvement program in February with a weeklong salute to the World War II escort ship USS Mason, whose crew helped pave the way for the desegregation of the Navy.

The council welcomed veteran Mason crewmembers, Lorenzo DuFau and Benjamin Garrison, to highlight the events, held at Nauticus, the National Maritime Center in Norfolk, Va., and offered preview screenings of the film “Proud,” based on the Mason and its crew.

The film was adapted from the 1999 book, Proudly We Serve — The Men of the USS Mason (DE 529), by Mary Pat Kelly, and will be broadcast on The History Channel later this year — no official date has been set. Kelly, who directed the film, also visited to take part in the activities.

A special reception in their honor was given Feb. 25 to begin the salute, which was presented in cooperation with Nauticus, which also houses the Hampton Roads Museum, the USS Wisconsin and the Navy League Learning Center. The program, which coincided with Black History Month, was open to the public and very well received, according to Hampton Roads Council Executive Director Mary Ellen Baldwin.

“The event earned some good media coverage in the area and Nauticus was very pleased by the turnout, as were we,” Baldwin said. “This event did much more for the community than we had hoped.”

The current USS Mason, a guided-missile destroyer homeported at Hampton Roads, offered tours as it was berthed at Nauticus, where the film was shown. Current Mason crewmembers all were able to see the film and experience the history of their ship’s namesake, as were groups of students from Old Dominion University, Norfolk State University and local high schools, Baldwin said.

The film, which stars Ossie Davis and Stephen Rea and was produced with the assistance of the Tommy Hilfiger Foundation, depicts the first African-American crew to have served in combat during World War II. During that period, as a rule, African-American Navy recruits did not go to sea for combat. They usually were relegated to the roles of cooks or stewards. The Mason was one of three ships where black crewmembers were given the chance to learn more technical jobs. The Mason served as an escort ship in the North.

Atlantic taking on German U-boats. USS Alabama Provides Backdrop for Southern Region Annual Meeting

The Mobile, Ala., Council offered a unique venue for the Navy League Southern Region’s annual meeting March 19. The meeting and annual dinner were held aboard the memorial battleship, USS Alabama.

The World War II-era ship has been housed at Battleship Memorial Park on Mobile Bay since Jan. 9, 1965, as a living museum and memorial. It also is a popular spot for military organization functions, and through the efforts of Mobile Council member and Southern Region Vice President Bill Stewart, was secured as the setting for this year’s meeting, according to region President Walt Reese.

The event marked the first time the Mobile Council has hosted a meeting since the league councils reorganized into regions. “We shared successes and concerns within the southern region,” said Reese. “We held a strategic planning workshop and talked about our goals.”

Two of those goals include increasing recruitment and retention to continue to provide support for the maritime services in the Mobile area.

Mobile Council President Tom Martenstein said he thought the day’s events were fruitful and hopes to see increased efforts to “generate a young person’s interest in the Navy League.”

Reese, who is with the Santa Rosa County, Fla., Council, said one of the region’s goals is to increase membership by more than 600 by June 30. Current membership in the region — which comprises Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and the Florida Panhandle — stands at about 3,400.

On March 18, Reese toured the aircraft carrier USS John F. Kennedy, in Pensacola, Fla., where it was in port during a pre-deployment Composite Training Unit Exercise. Reese said, “I think the Kennedy crew is as appreciative and thankful for the community support as we are for them serving our country. It was mutually a good thing.”

With a round of Base Realignment and Closure on the horizon in 2005, Reese said, “it’s extremely important that the Navy League lead the way for providing strong community support for our area’s maritime services.”

Seattle Council Hosts Northwest Region’s Annual Conference

The Seattle Council hosted a “tremendously successful” Navy League Northwest Region annual conference at the end of February, according to council President Tom Jaffa.

More than 200 council members from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington — including Regional President Bruce Van Tassell and Area President Ron Testa — and guests attended the conference’s various events Feb. 27-29. Feb. 28 was declared “Navy League Day” in Seattle by the Seattle City Council, a “key point” for the conference, said Jaffa, who co-chaired the conference with his wife, Diana, Seattle Council vice president of programs and events.

Keynote speaker at the event’s welcoming dinner was Rear Adm. Jeff Garrett, Commander of the Coast Guard’s 13th District. Rear Adm. Len Hering, Commander, Navy Region Northwest, and Steve Welch, CEO of Todd Pacific Shipyards, also spoke at the conference.

Among the guests attending were: U.S. Rep. Jim McDermott, D-Wash.; Jan Drago, Seattle City Council president; Tom Van Dawark, president of Todd Pacific Shipyards; David Irons, King County Council Member; Ralph Munro, former Washington Secretary of State; and Cmdr. Dave Schiffman, Commanding Officer of Navy Recruiting District Seattle.

Along with the conference business, the Seattle Council conducted a silent auction at the Feb. 27 Welcome Dinner that featured more than 40 items, including a wine tasting for 30, sports tickets, a trip to Palm Springs, Calif., and birdhouses made by Munro. The auction was chaired by Gayle Rydberg, who was to be installed as a Seattle Council vice president on March 31.

Work With Youth Programs Nets Cahill Coronado Council’s ‘Navy Leaguer for 2003’

The Coronado, Calif., Council has named Dr. James M. Cahill its “Navy Leaguer for 2003” for his work in the council’s youth programs. In 2003, under Cahill’s direction, the council began funding the Coronado Sea Cadet Battalion at the Naval Amphibious Base and the new Navy Junior ROTC unit at Coronado High School.

Cahill was presented with the plaque by President Ned Floyd at the council’s meeting March 4. Cahill is a council past president (2000-02) and a “plankowner,” having been a founding member some 41 years ago.

At the same meeting, Coronado Council members Jeanne Danis and Jayne Sult were awarded Certificates of Appreciation for their service to the council. Danis has been the editor of the council’s newsletter, The Bosun’s Pipe. Sult has been the council’s “whip” and “greeter,” contacting members for all meetings guests and members at these meetings.

Vice Adm. Timothy W. LaFleur, Commander, Naval Surface Forces U. S. Pacific Fleet, was the guest speaker for the meeting, which was held at the Coronado Cays Yacht Club. In his address, LaFleur discussed innovative developments and procedures to enable the fleet to do more with less. He told of exciting days ahead when the surface force receives the new San Antonio-class dock landing ship, the new Littoral Combat Ship and the next generation of destroyers.

Everett Sea Cadets Gain Exposure To Cold-Water Training

Sea Cadets from the Naval Station Everett, Wash., Division gained cold-water survival and rescue at sea training in the first of a series of classes they will take this year.

The Feb. 21-22 class featured a day of classroom preparation and a day of supervised pool training. The course gave the cadets experience in man overboard and abandon ship procedures; survival, safety and rescue techniques; survival and safety equipment; and hypothermia, according to Ensign Bruce Baillie, USNSCC, the division’s public affairs officer. Cadets also were given practical experience in donning bulky cold-water survival suits, cold-water immersion techniques, individual and team survival training, rescue swimmer practice and other safety and rescue procedures.

Given that Everett is located on Puget Sound, where there is a large maritime presence with Naval Station Everett, local fishing fleets and the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration, the training program was a natural fit for the Cadets, according to Baillie.

The class, held in the new saltwater pool at Naval Station Everett, was based on the curriculum of the Coast Guard-approved commercial Standards of Training, Certification and Watchstanding, Basic Safety Training, and included procedures of standard Coast Guard training.

Air Force Reserve Master Sgt. Mike Heryla, a Coast Guard-certified instructor, was the trainer for the class. Division training officer Lt. j.g. Korali Heryla, USNSCC, coordinated the class and the current training cycle. Coast Guard cutter Henry Blake crewmembers Yeoman 3rd Class Jason Klause and Seaman Andrew Rice assisted.

The Henry Blake is the adopted ship of the Navy League’s Everett Council, which sponsors the Sea Cadet division. Michael Carter, the council’s vice president of youth programs, was on hand during the training, according to Baillie.

“The cadets tremendously enjoyed the exercise and were given truly professional training all around,” Baillie said.

While all 23 of the division cadets, ages 14 to 18, who participated gained valuable experience from the class, eight of the cadets who were over age 16 qualified to receive professional certifications in the “Cold-Water Survival and Rescue Basic Safety Training Class.”

In March, the cadets were scheduled to take a CPR/first aid course, with the training series concluding in May or June with a marine firefighting course.

Central Jersey Council Sea Cadet of Year On His Way To U.S. Naval Academy

Kitty Hawk Division, Fort Dix, N.J., Sea Cadet Jason Cammarata had two big reasons to celebrate the New Year. He was honored as Sea Cadet of the Year by the division’s Navy League sponsor, the Central Jersey Council, and at about the same time learned he had been accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy.

Outgoing council President Ed Troche presented Cammarata with the Cadet of the Year award at the council’s January dinner, held at Gibbs Hall, Fort Monmouth, N.J. Cammarata was given the Patriot Award for his acceptance to the Naval Academy by Lt. Cmdr. Troche, who is USNSCC Liberty Region 4-3 Regional Director. He also has received the NLUS Youth Medal and Meritorious Recognition Ribbon.

Cammarata has been a Sea Cadet for four years. He will be a member of the Naval Academy’s class of 2008, where he plans to major in political science and hopes to become a naval aviator.

Short Bursts

Navy League National President Sheila M. McNeill was on hand at the Monterey Peninsula, Calif., Council’s annual meeting in January to install the new slate of officers and board of directors. McNeill was guest speaker at the meeting, and was introduced by Central California Area President Michelle Lockwood. Clarence “Spud” Lambing takes the reins as new council president.

Also attending the meeting were Rear Adm. Patrick Dunne, superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School; Army Col. Michael Simone, commandant of the Defense Language Institute; and Coast Guard Lt. Deborah Darminio, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Station Monterey.

The Northern Virginia (NOVA) Council has welcomed its first Community Affiliates aboard. Council President Stew Reuter presented the first Community Affiliate plaque to James D. Livesay, a partner with Livesay & Myers, P.C., Attorneys at Law, at the council’s general membership meeting in January. Livesay has served as the NOVA Council’s judge advocate and is a veteran of the Navy JAG Corps. The council has since signed up another affiliate, Marine Spill Response Corp., to whom Reuter said he hopes to make the formal plaque presentation at the council’s next meeting in May. A third affiliate may be onboard by then as well, he said.

The Naval Weapons Center at Seal Beach, Calif., held a change of command ceremony Feb. 25 to salute outgoing commander, Capt. Robert A. Mirick, and welcome incoming commander, Reserve Capt. Robert W. Fowler. The Naval Weapons Center is an adopted facility of the Orange County Council. The council’s director of naval affairs for Seal Beach, George Del Gaudio, welcomed Fowler aboard. The cake-cutting ceremony was held dockside, with the Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Curts serving as the backdrop, according to council Treasurer Russell Gray.

Items for “Council Digest” should be sent to:

Peter E. Atkinson, Deputy Editor
Sea Power/Navy League News
2300 Wilson Blvd.
Arlington, VA 22201-3308
E-mail: patkinson@navyleague.org

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