Operation Just Cause... April 2000
In memory of the nineteen Marines killed on April 8, 2000
Maj. John A. Brow, 39, pilot, Marine Helicopter
Squadron 1, California, Md.
|
By Staff Sgt. Kathleen T. Rhem, USA
The aircraft crashed and burst into flames at a civilian
airport near Tucson. There were no survivors. Fourteen of
the deceased were stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp
Pendleton, Calif., four at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va.,
and one at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif.
A Marine Corps spokesperson said the bodies will be taken
to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson for
identification and processing. The official said the
Marines will be buried with military honors.
Investigators were waiting for the bodies to be recovered
before searching for the flight data recorder. Officials
hope the "black box" will answer questions about why the
aircraft crashed. It will be sent to its manufacturer,
Smith Industries in Grand Rapids, Mich., where officials
from the Naval Safety Center, in Norfolk, Va., will extract
data on airspeed, altitude, heading, and engine performance
data, among other things.
The Osprey is a relatively new aircraft; the Marines have
received five of an estimated end-strength of 360. The
Marine Corps is keen on Ospreys because they can takeoff
and land like a helicopter but fly like a plane, giving
them greater range and speed, officials have said.
The Marines killed were taking part in an evaluation of
four of the aircraft when their Osprey crashed.
Related Site of Interest: Sent in by Veterans News and Information Services
"We are expecting information from the [crash-survivable
memory unit] data soon," Lt. Gen. Fred McCorkle said April
20 in a Pentagon
briefing. "I can tell you that there is
information on the flight data recorder."
McCorkle, assistant chief of staff for Marine Corps
aviation, said the unit is intact and has been sent to
Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., for study. He said
experts didn't know how long it would be before they obtain
meaningful information because of the way the data recorder
stores information. The data has to be translated from
electronic signals.
The Osprey is a new ship that can fly like a plane and
hover like a helicopter by rotating engine nacelles on its
wings. The Marines have purchased five so far and plan to
get more than 300 eventually to replace their aging fleet
of conventional helicopters.
The nacelles were in full helicopter mode when the aircraft
crashed, so investigators have ruled out nacelle rotation
and flight transition as a cause of the crash. "I can tell
you that 100 percent," McCorkle said.
He said investigators have determined the aircraft's
propellers were turning, its driveshaft was intact and
operating normally, and its engines were running above an
idle when it crashed.
The Marines are still investigating the possibilities of
mechanical problems, maintenance shortcomings and human
error. McCorkle said none could be ruled out yet.
The "operational pause" in all Osprey flights called by
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James L. Jones should end
soon, McCorkle said. He explained that flights would
restart in phases: Crews are already doing ground taxis.
The next step will be for test pilots to take the planes
up. Then, regular Marine aircrews will fly them without
passengers. The final step back to full operation would be
flights with passengers.
Jones has indicated he plans to be on the first such flight
to demonstrate his confidence in the Ospreys. "He's also
given the OK for me, if he doesn't have me busy doing some
other things," McCorkle said. "I plan on being on the same
airplane with him."
Related Sites of Interest: I would like to ask our readers to send in their suggestions on what groups they would like to see honored. United States Air Force Buzz Aldrin, William A. Anders, Frank Borman, Michael Collins, Gordon L. Cooper, Jr., Charles M. Duke, Jr., Donn F. Eisele, Virgil I "Gus" Grissom, James B. Irwin, James A. McDivitt, Stuart A. Roosa, David R. Scott, Donald K. Slayton, Thomas P. Stafford, Edward H. White II, Alfred M. Worden
United States Marine Corps Walter Cunningham, John H.Glenn, Jr.
Unites States Navy Early Astronaut Selection and Training
Gus Grissom--Astronaut Hall of Fame
More information on these men and their missions can be found on NASA's Homepage
It is with a heavy heart that I must report that the wife of POW Bobby
Garwood, Cathi Garwood has died after a short battle
with cancer. Anyone that had the honor to meet Cathy was blessed. She
was a great lady that you fell in love with. She was
one of the most caring and loving ladies you could ever meet. The world
will be less beautiful with her passing. If there is a
heaven than Cathi is there now.
Bobby has asked that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to
Rolling Thunder Natl. at PO Box 216, Neshanic Station, NJ
08853.
If you also want to send flowers. The address is:
O-Keefe Funeral Home If you wish to send cards, letters, etc. to Bobby than please send to me
and I will forward to Bobby.
Danny Belcher, PO Box 44, Preston, KY 40366 To view sample letters Lynn has drawn up for you to send, please go to the following page;
From Barbara Fitzgerald-Malone: How much should one family have to suffer ? A son, a son-in-law's pain, and now a daughter. Out of confidentiality I was asked not to provide information for cards, as much as I would like to do so. There is one thing that you can do. Take this lady into your heart and and ask that God help this very special family."
Alot of thought and love has gone into this page as all pages that I work on. Please visit and let me know if you like the look, what you would add, delete, etc. You all know how I welcome ideas.
Tampa Bay 7th Annual Salute to Vietnam Veterans & Moving Wall Memorial Love and Well Wishes to you all and your families. T/SGT James
R. Thomas
Everyone and anyone may come and join with us on this day. We
will be starting at the Borough Hall in Bogota and ending up at The
American Legion Post, also in Bogota. There will be a short program outside the building with the reading of the names of New Jersey's POW/MIA's. We will then move indoors where there will be a guest speaker and the completion of our
program.
The walk starts at 1330 sharp. Come join with us this day. Rain or Shine, we will walk in remembrance. Call 210-343-2213 for directions For God and Country,
Donald W. Bann Rich Luttrell of Springfield, Illinois is being featured on a
special ONE HOUR segment of DATELINE TV. If you want to see a very special story about a very special
man, please mark your calendars for Friday, April 21, 2000 when his
story will be told on DATELINE.
He was a member of 101st Airborne - Vietnam veteran. Highly
decorated. Earlier this month, he made a return trip to Vietnam for a very
special meeting. Dateline will tell his story.
I will tell you that Rich Luttrell has a heart of gold. He teaches children in classrooms for "Veterans for a Change".
He also parachutes into the school yard for the K - 8 children. A strong advocate for veterans. He told me he hopes his story on DATELINE will help other veterans heal. I anticipate that his DATELINE story will touch many hearts.
Rich is a unique human being who is dear to my heart.
I am BLESSED to call him my dear friend.
Info: "Veterans for a Change" Laura Slayton Please go to: Operation Just Cause Screen Saver
Before production of the new license plates can begin, we must
have 300 Virginia residents who want to purchase these plates.
We need your help. Please pass this information along to your
members and their associates. They can log on to our website at
www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Bunker/4056 to sign up for these
plates. Once we have the information from the D.M.V. we will
contact each one to tell them how to get the plates.
Rolling Thunder's mission is to educate our community and our
elected officials to the fact that many American Prisoners of
War were left behind after previous wars. Our organization was
founded after the motorcycle parade, "Rolling Thunder®", named
after a major campaign during the Vietnam War. It has become an
annual event. As you know, the POW/MIA flag, symbolic after the
Vietnam War, now represents those missing from all wars.
Rolling Thunder®, Inc., Chapter 2 VA was chartered in 1999. Our
chapter initiated the legislation in the General Assembly for
the special POW/MIA plates; and our Vice President, Terry
Tranbarger, spoke before the Senate Transportation Committee to
help insure passage. Our members are dedicated and donate their
time in supporting POW/MIA issues and our Veterans.
We must continue to help our service families and remember and
honor all those who have sacrificed for our freedom. Displaying
these new license plates will help make sure our servicemen and
women are not forgotten.
P. O. Box 388
Read the full story at:
http://www.msnbc.com/news/393502.asp
James Arthur Preston Peter Richard Matthes
Marilyn Grote
Dave Murray
April 2000
"Why Would Someone Burn The United States Flag?" Black Boots Last Cry For Freedom The Lone Crusader Click the radio icon for upcoming dates and scheduled guests.
National Alliance of Families Eleventh Annual Forum Scheduled
for June 22th - 24th, 2000, at the Wyndham Hotel, Washington, D.C. For reservations call: 202-775-0800. Contributions are needed to finance our forum. Donations may be mailed to:
National Alliance of Families Remember All Contributions Are Tax Deductible.
Army Lab Seeks American MIA's Worldwide By Jim Garamone
Defense Secretary William S. Cohen and Kuwaiti Defense
Minister Salim al-Sabah al-Salim Al Sabah visited the
office April 9 to highlight the plight of Kuwaitis still
waiting to learn the fate of their loved ones.
During the occupation of Kuwait, Iraqi soldiers took
thousands of prisoners. Following the coalition victory,
the International Committee of the Red Cross repatriated
6,272 while another 500 "repatriated themselves."
But 605 people never returned. Of these, 570 were Kuwaitis
and 35 were Indian, Bahrani, Omani, Lebanese, Syrian,
Egyptian and Saudi residents of Kuwait. One display at the
office contains individual pictures of these men and women.
The pictures are behind a locked door and surmounted by
razor wire.
U.N. Security Council Resolution 686, passed at the end of
the Gulf War, called for Iraq to release all prisoners
"This exhibit is a poignant reminder of the pain the
families still feel and suffer and the dedication by all
concerned for a full counting of the POWs, something the
United States feels very committed to," Cohen said. He told
reporters that during his recent visit to Vietnam, full
accounting of missing Americans still has "a high-level of
priority in dealing with Vietnam."
He said the United States would continue to insist that
Saddam Hussein fully comply with the Security Council
resolution calling for the prisoners' return. "It is an
outrage that he has not complied," Cohen said.
Since the end of the war, Iraq submitted incomplete
preliminary information on 126 of the 605 cases. They
returned one set of remains to Kuwait, and one live missing
person was found and returned.
The Iraqis have not cooperated since Operation Desert Fox in November 1998.
30 and 35 years ago
Air Force Study Suggests Agent Orange, Diabetes Link
Anthrax Program Officials Ready New Educational Products
Blue Star Mothers Offer Constant Care
The Buffalo Sailor
DoD Places New Emphasis on Patient Safety [Tricare News]
DoD Seeking Feedback from Exiting Troops
DoD to Phase Out Smoking at Recreation Facilities
Feds Study Long-term, Other Anthrax Vaccine Effects, de Leon Notes
From Welfare Mom to Navy Medical 'Detective'
Generation X Honors Historic Battlefield Pledge
Gulf War Illness Officials Plan Meetings, Briefings
House Declares American GI "Person of the Century"
Kuykendall Honors Vietnam Veterans
Marine Corps Fetes USO's Tilelli
Naval Crowd Grills Cohen on Pay, Housing, Healthcare
Pharmacy Changes Will Expand Services, Increase Safety
Program Extends Drug Shelf-Life-Tricare News
Secretary Cohen's Statement on Food Stamp Benefits
Survey to Assess Info Needs, Sources of Military News
Testimony Of Montra Denise Nichols, National Vietnam And Gulf War Veterans Coalition
VA to Return to Drawing Board on Facility Restructuring
VA Subcommittee Targets 'Imploding' System for Processing Veterans' Disability Claims
1. Why is someone who is not doing their job said to be "not worth his salt?
Feel free to send in your answers to NL@ojc.org The following pages contain answers sent in by our readers:
Week 1 - April 1, 2000
Week 2 - April 8, 2000
Week 3 - April 15, 2000
Week 4 - April 22, 2000
- Barbara Pletcher
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
"To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield."
- Lord Alfred Tennyson
"Let us have faith that right makes might;
and in that faith - Abraham Lincoln, 1859
If anyone wishes to send snail mail to Operation Just Cause, the address is:
Operation Just Cause Back issues of "The Moonduster Chronicles" 1998
Feel free to use this banner to link back to The Moonduster Chronicles' Main Page:
Credits
Thanks to Karl Kristiansen for the Moonduster Chronicles Banner, the Moonduster Chronicles Recognition Award, and the POW/MIA Related News
Graphic Thanks to
Ron's POW/MIA and Patriotic Graphics
Trivia and Quotes Courtesy of Mailbits.com, ShagMail, and Gagler.com
is updated daily to include new items of interest, new announcements, and new submissions. So be sure to bookmark this page and stop by every day for the latest version of the Operation Just Cause Newsletter.
Sent in by Veterans News and Information Services
American Forces Press Service
By Staff Sgt. Kathleen T. Rhem, USA
American Forces Press Service
April 2000
I will be adding a very special section to the OJC Newsletter starting with this month's issue. Each month we will be honoring a different group of veterans from a specific branch, occupation, etc.
Please send in your suggestions to NL@ojc.org
This month's issue of "The Moonduster Chronicles" is dedicated to a special group of veterans. These veterans proudly served their country and went on to risk their lives for their country once more by participating in the 20th century's greatest technological achievement, space travel.
This month marks the 30 year anniversary of the flight of Apollo 13. This mission was labeled a "successful failure". The Apollo 13 spacecraft never reached its destination, the Moon. That was the failed part of the mission. However, the three astronauts aboard that mission returned safely after experiencing a harrowing and near fatal accident in space.
That 'success' was achieved in the most part because of the training the commander of that mission received while serving his country as a Captain in the United States Navy. Jim Lovell drew on his experiences in the military to create a calm atmosphere during an extremely dangerous situation, in order to save the lives of the men under his command.
Many of the astronauts in the early days of NASA had a military background and served their country' in wartime. These men were picked to become America's first 'space travelers' because of their bravery and dedication to their country, as well as their training and experiences. Therefore, I would like to pay special tribute to the men who participated in the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo spaceflights in the early days of NASA's Space Program.
Alan L. Bean, Scott M. Carpenter, Eugene A. Cernan, Roger B. Chaffee, Charles "Pete" Conrad, Jr., Ronald E. Evans, Richard F. Gordon, Jr., James A. Lovell, Jr., Thomas K. Mattingly II, Edgar G. Mitchell, Walter M. Schirra, Jr., Alan B. Shepard, Jr.
"The miracle, or the power, that elevates the few is to be found
in their industry, application, and perseverance under the
prompting of a brave, determined spirit." - Mark Twain
April 2000
Hello. As a friend of one of the Widows of the AOWAC Website
I feel it would be great if their site was some-how linked to your website. As a former marine and photographer
I'm helping theses gals out here in long Beach all I can. Thanks in part to City Long Beach, Councilman Jerry Shultz and a VVA Chapter 756 has secured a park for the placement of a Huey Helicopter, which be will used as the focal point of the Manorial. The Manorial will have the names of 103 local casualties, from Long Beach. Thank you for your time.
Ocean Springs, MS 39564
Danny"Greasy"Belcher
Director, Task Force Omega of KY Inc.
Vice-Chairman, Natl. Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition
Infantry Sgt. Vietnam 68-69
The National Alliance of Families
"Things look really bad for Cathi Garwood, wife of Bobby Garwood,
sister of an American POW/MIA. We need a miracle, so lets get those prayers going. In what ever way you find it in your heart to pray.
The Tampa Bay Moving Wall site is up and running. Be sure to check it out if you plan on attending the event, or even if you can't. We would like all who stop by to please sign our guest book to let us know if you like the new lay out and ease of accessibility to other areas within the pages.
Kimberly Thomas-Bowles
Proud daughter of:
USAF- Pararescue
Missing In Action 11/25/71
CO Chairman
POW/MIA Day
DBann67919
Lincoln, Illinois
From: Dennis Johnson
Dennis
From Rolling Thunder® , Inc. Chapter 2 VA:
Wakefield, Va. 23888
President: Willis Darden
(757) 898-4882
Vice President: Terry Tranbarger
(757) 872-6962
April 30th marks the 25th anniversary of the fall of Saigon and the end of the
Vietnam war. Share your recollections -- war experiences, the view from
home, the political and personal impact.
(March 2000)
(April 2000)
by Barb Fitzgerald-Malone
by Brandon Rierson
by Marsha Burks Megehee
by Christina
**Updated regularly**
POW/MIA Related News
(Same as last year.) Room rates are $105.00 per night.
P.O. Box 40327
Bellevue, WA. 98015.
Kuwait Families Still Await Word of Gulf War POWs' Fate
American Forces Press Service
KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait, April 10, 2000 -- As you walk into the
Kuwait POW Committee Office here, you are surrounded by
memories. Memories stolen by Saddam Hussein during the Gulf
War and not returned since.
They will be posted along with your email address and website URL.
an expectation that
they can make it work or make it better."
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of
comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge
and controversy."
let us dare to do our duty
as we understand it."
"Each time a person stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others...he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." ...Robert Francis Kennedy (1925-1968)
There are ways for us to work together to start tearing down those 'mighty walls of oppression and resistance' and gain a full accountability of our POW/MIA's.
Please feel free to browse through the following links to see what you can do to help.
PO Box 264
Stockholm, NJ 07460
2000
1999
http://www.ojc.org/NL
"The Moonduster Chronicles"
NL@ojc.org
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