The Navy's Essential Role in Our History

Enroute to North Africa 1942

Off Fox Green Beach June 6, 1944

Getting close-in June 6, 1944

Tsunami, 2004

USS Mercy, 2008

Dental clinic USS Mercy, 2008

This week marked the kickoff of Operation Valor IT at Soldier's Angels. Right now the Navy is bringing up the rear in the joint fundraising efforts of the service branches, Army, Marines and Air Force. I am going to devote this post by reminding all, of the essential role the Navy has played in not only supporting but protecting the other services in the wars of the last century.

Prior to the 20th century it was our Navy was the diplomatic mailed fist that ensured safe sea routes to our fledgling country. The Army was confined to the North American continent in a constabulary role confronting Native Americans and securing the borders. The Marines, served aboard our navy ships to provide security to the ships company and act as a segoing infantry to lead naval operations ashore.

The 20th Century saw our Army, and Marines being sent overseas, carried and protected by U.S. Navy ships. It is in this century that the role of the Navy as the essential service came into it's own.

When the U.S. Army struck back at the Axis in North Africa,Operation Torch it was the Navy led by Rear Admiral Henry K. Hewitt who safely carried the largest armada to date,(1942) across the Atlantic and successfully deposited the army on the shores of Morocco and Algeria.

Hewitt then went on to lead the navy in the invasion of Sicily, Italy and Southern France.

Meanwhile in the Pacific, the Navy was busy trying to stop Japanese advances. The sacrifices of the Asiatic Fleet Battle of Balikpapan (1942) and Battle of Sunda Strait bought time for the United States to reinforce Australia. Almost half the fleet of 40 vessels (19) were sunk in battle during this time.

During the Guadalcanal Campaign, the Marine Corps made history. But more sailors (5213), died protecting the beachhead during the campaign than Marines (1831). At Midway, the land based air assets proved ineffective against the oncoming Japanese forces. It was the Navy who turned the tide and stopped the advance of Japan.

As the U.S. ground forces battled their way back across the Pacific in a two pronged attack, it was the Navy who not only deposited the forces onshore, but blunted any attempt at counter-attack.

When the invasion of Europe became a reality, it was again the Navy that at the most critical time turned the tide of battle during the Normandy Landings when navy destroyers came in close to shore and provided direct fire to destroy German positions.

The efforts of the Navy were repeated again and again in the Pacific as they led and then held their positions to support the troops ashore. During the Battle of Okinawa , the United States lost 7,373 men killed and 32,056 wounded on land, while at sea, 5,000 were killed and 4,600 wounded with a loss of 36 ships from relentless air attacks.

Today, the current war in Afghanistan involves primarily our ground forces, with the Navy providing mostly a supporting role of essential air cover, medical aid and supply. But this doesn't mean that the United States Navy has been sitting back resting on it's laurels. They have continued to maintain the original role of maintaining security of the sea lanes and offshore protection while adding a new dimension of "soft power" to their toolbox like Navy Humanitarian Service Groups.

This century has seen it's share of natural disasters, like the Indian Ocean earthquake in 2004 where the United State Navy led the efforts to bring aid to stricken millions. This past year has seen the Navy involved in humanitarian operations like the voyage of the USS Mercy Hospital ship to Southeast Asia last summer. http://mercycaptain.blogspot.com/.

More recently, the Navy responded across the Western Pacific providing aid to countries suffering from the effects of typhoons and earthquakes. Navy Supports Relief Efforts in Northern Mariana Islands, Military Provides Rescue, Humanitarian Support in Pacific, Marines, Sailors Bring Aid to Philippines.

As you finish reading this review of the role that the United State Navy has played in protecting our nation by being a stable force that can not only fight but lay down the gauntlet and offer a hand to a troubled world in time of need.

So in a take-off on the immortal words of Marine Gunnery Sergeant Dan Daly, C'mon you sons-of-b's. Do you want to sit by and watch the Navy lose? Grab your credit card and join the fight!

Why I Joined the Navy

USS Zeilin AP-9

Burial at Sea, USS Zeilin Tarawa November 1943

Anyone who has followed this blog for a time will know that I served in the United States Army in my youth. My pride in that service moved me to dedicate the photo of my deployment to Vietnam as "The beginning of a quest to understand our world." For the past several weeks the link above that photo calls attention to the Operation Valor Fundraiser for Soldier's Angels. Looking closer you will notice that I am supporting the Navy in their effort to beat the Army in a competition to raise money for this excellent program. Although I still love the Army, I was moved to "join the Navy" as a way of honoring the service of my father Jay B. Wade, who served in the Navy from December 8, 1941 to October 1945 A Thanksgiving Tribute to my Dad and my brother Vince who followed our father down to the sea and proudly served aboard the Spruance-class destroyer USS Ingersoll in the 1980's. Vince so loves the Navy that he served for a three years as a live aboard caretaker on the USS Hornet museum ship. His fondest memories of our dad, is the day he came home in his "Cracker Jacks" and saw our father weep with pride.

My father saw a lot of combat as a gator sailor aboard the USS Zeilin AP-9 in five campaigns from Guadalcanal, the Aleutians, and back to Tarawa and Kwajalein. He was then sent home for leave and became a plank owner on the new Essex class carrier, USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) and participated in 15 air strikes against the Japanese home islands, the last being recalled on August 15, 1945 the day Japan surrendered. When he came home, the transition to civilian life took it's toll and before I was six he disappeared from my life. He returned to my life after I went searching for him and found that he had passed back in 1985, leaving a legacy of three long-lost brothers, two of which I have reconnected with. My brother Vince had the strongest memories of our father, and was able to relate the lost time and how much our father cherished his service in the Navy. The stories of what our father saw and experienced only came to Vince's ears after he returned home on emergency leave as our father lay dying. They talked and Vince learned about the sights and ghosts that our father saw in his dreams every night for the rest of his life. Our dad never wavered from his pride in that service and the memories of war that were burned into the mind of a young man in the last years of his teens.

So here I stand, ready to serve to honor the spirit of my father by supporting the United States Navy in this cause to raise money for our injured service people. The cause is every bit as important as the mission they were originally tasked to complete. I urge everyone to click on the Operation Valor widget and contribute however much you can to honor the sacrifices these fine people made for all of us.

September 11, 2001 in The Rearview Mirror of Time.

September 11, 2001

Rick Rescorla, singing to the evacuees of WTC South Tower

1st Cavalry Division patch

Lt. Rick Rescorla, LZ Xray, 1965

2nd Lt. Mark Daily, Mosul, Iraq 2006

Major Robert Soltes, OD, USAR

The images seared into the minds of all who saw the events of this date continues to fade from the collective memory of many Americans as the years roll by and the toll of those who have given their lives in the long war that began that day, overtook the numbers that then, shocked the world. My small tribute to that day, links three men whose lives are connected to the yellow and black shield of the First Cavalry Division, America's First Team. This division's storied history reaches back through Vietnam, Korea and World War II to the middle years of the 19th century on the American Frontier. Our story begins with a man who saved thousands from sure death on September 11.

Cyril Richard Rescorla was Vice President of Security at Morgan-Stanley the largest tenant in the World Trade Center on that day. When the first plane struck, Rescorla implemented an evacuation plan and was able to get almost every employee from 44th to the 74th floors in the south tower out, before the next plane struck. After getting all his people out Rescorla headed back to help others escape. The tower fell and his body was never found. His story, is told better by his wife who dedicated this web site to his memory, Rick Rescorla.

Rescorla was no stranger to stepping up and doing his duty. His image graces the cover of the book, We were Soldiers Once...And Young by Harold Moore and Joe Galloway taken during the Battle of Ia Drang Valley in November 1965. Rescorla, wore that big yellow and black patch and led a company in the battle and also battle at LZ Albany, a day later.

This coming January 15, will be the third anniversary of the death of Lt. Mark Daily, a soldier in the 1st Cavalry Division, who was killed along with four others in a massive roadside bomb while on patrol in Iraq. I wrote about Lt. Daily last year, REFLECTION ON A NOBLE SOUL. His unit, the 2nd Battalion 7th Cavalry was the same unit Rescorla, came to support back in 1965.
Read more:http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/mjdaily.htm

A couple of years ago, I needed to go get my eyes checked. Looking over the list provided by the insurance company I selected one, a Dr. Soltes and made an appointment. I was escorted into the exam room and awaited the doctor. The door opened and a women entered and introduced herself as Dr. Dang. As it turns out, Dr. Robert Soltes had been killed in Iraq while serving with the 426th Civil Affairs Battalion, an Army Reserve unit from California. Dr. Dang was his wife, and learning that I was a Vietnam Veteran, told me the story of Major Soltes, and how his father, also a Vietnam Veteran had served with the 1st Battalion 9th Cavalry of the 1st Cavalry Division as a gunship pilot. We ended talking for some time, and my soul was forever touched by learning about this man and his commitment to family and country.
Read more:http://www.robsoltes.com/
and http://www.fallenheroesmemorial.com/oif/profiles/soltesjrcharlesr.html

The link that these three souls share is to that black and gold shield, for two, it was membership, for the last, it was the link from a father, who instilled a sense of honor and service in his son. The First Team as they are called seems to have a special mojo for taking responsibility that infects those who have served in their ranks. It seems in the case of Dr. Soltes, to have been passed from father to son.

As the years turn to decades and the image seared into the mind of that day, begins to fade in the mist of time and the faces of Rick Rescorla, Mark Daily and Rob Soltes standing along side the long road that had led from that place, being to fade in our rearview mirror, I vow to never forget, and will always remember these men for their love for this country and their sense of duty and service.

The words that have come to haunt me, are the ones spoken by President George W. Bush when he told the American people in his famous speech after September 11, that the losses from combat in this new war would be less than those lost in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. How wrong was his vision, and how many more will fall before the inevitable next attack comes. The only sure thing is that in the future, other's will step forward to serve their fellow citizens and in doing so will forfeit their lives.

Silent Service to the Nation

Following the recent posts this week about the U.S. Military and the strategy of what will happen over the next four to eight years is an article in the April 6, 2008, New York Times by Jodi Kantor, McCain Is Vocal on War, but Silent on Son’s Service. The title of the article might give the impression that John MaCain is less than proud of his son's recent service as a Marine in Iraq. That would be the furthest from the truth.

McCain's son Jimmy, like his older brothers, Doug McCain, 48, who was a Navy pilot, and Jack, 21, due to graduate from the Naval Academy next year have all served their country, as did their father, grandfather, great-grandfather and McCain's going back to the nation's roots. The article points out that:

The McCains declined to be interviewed for this article, which the campaign requested not be published. “The McCain campaign objects strongly to this intrusion into the privacy of Senator McCain’s son,” Steve Schmidt, a campaign spokesman, said in a statement. “The children of presidential candidates in this election cycle should be afforded the same respect for their privacy that the children of President Bush and President and Senator Clinton have been afforded.” (To protect Lance Corporal McCain in case he is again deployed to a war zone, The New York Times is not publishing recent photographs of him and has withheld some details of his service).

The net result of the article is to illustrate that the McCain family puts their love for, and sense of duty to the country at the centerpiece of their lives. They have done it for generations, something that every American should aspire too. Regardless of the election, the nation has been and will continue to be served well by the McCains.