Arlington National Cemetery News

Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Ray Mabus announced today that the next ship of the next generation of fleet replenishment oilers will be named USNS Robert F. Kennedy (T-AO 208). A ceremony marking the announcement was held at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library in Boston. T-AO 208 is part of the John Lewis-class of ships named in honor of U.S. civil and human rights heroes. "This class of ships would be incomplete absent the name Robert F. Kennedy," said Mabus. "He was a Navy man, a U.S. Robert F. Kennedy, a U.S. Navy veteran, served as the U.S. attorney general from 1961 to 1964 and as a U.S. senator from New York from 1965 to 1968. A graduate of Harvard University and the University of Virginia School of Law, Kennedy was appointed attorney general after his brother John F.

The Coast Guard World War Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery was dedicated May 23, 1928, as a tribute to the Coast Guardsmen who lost their lives in World War I. During the past year, the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Chief Petty Officer Association led a collaborative effort of 37 chapters nationwide in raising nearly $144,000 to restore the monument. In addition to a full restoration, the CPOA will be able to establish a trust in association with the Coast Guard Foundation to ensure the memorial's future professional maintenance. Who: Commandant of the Coast Guard Adm. Where: Coast Guard World War Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va. Enter Arlington national Cemetery through the South Gate. Parking is available onsite.

USS Monitor, famous for its role in the first battle of ironclads during the American Civil War, was designed by Swedish-born John Ericson and built in 118 days in Brooklyn, N.Y. beginning Oct 25, 1861. Less than two weeks after its Feb. 25, 1862 commissioning, it entered Hampton Roads on March 8 for the fateful encounter with its confederate rival. A little more than nine months after that, the ship sank in a storm off the coast of North Carolina Dec. 31, 1862, taking with it 16 Sailors.

1928-On 9 March 1928 a pulling surfboat with nine men aboard, under the command of Boatswain's Mate First Class William Cashman, got underway from the Manomet Life-Saving to go to the rescue of the steamer Robert E. Lee. The Lee had grounded on Mary Ann Rocks in a heavy gale. While returning to the station the surfboat capsized due to extremely heavy seas, spilling all nine men into the water. Six were rescued but "Captain" Cashman, Surfman Frank W. Griswold, and Surfman Edward R. Stark perished in the line of duty in the freezing water. During the on-going search and rescue operations all 236 passengers and crew from the Robert E. Lee were saved. 1944- The U-225 torpedoed and sank the Coast Guard-manned destroyer escort USS Leopold(DE-319) off Iceland.

1950-A dedication of the monument erected in Arlington National Cemetery on the gravesite of those who lost their lives on the night of 29 January 1945, when USS Serpens was destroyed off Lunga Beach, Guadalcanal. This was the largest single disaster suffered by the Coast Guard in World War II. 1992: The CGC Storis became the cutter with the longest service in the Bering Sea, eclipsing the U.S. Revenue Cutter Bear which had held that distinction since 1929. The Bear was decommissioned in 1929 after serving in the Bering Sea for 44 years and two months. (Source: USCG Historian’s Office)

1921 - USS Olympia arrives at the Washington Navy Yard from France carrying the body of the Unknown Soldier for internment at Arlington National Cemetery. 1950 - Task Force 77 makes first attack on the Yalu River bridges. In first engagement between MIG-15 and F9F jets (USS Philippine Sea), LCDR William T. Amen (VF-111) shoots down a MIG and becomes first Navy pilot to shoot down a jet aircraft. 1956 - Secretary of the Navy proposes the Polaris missile program to the Secretary of Defense. (Source: Navy News Service)

1921 - USS Olympia arrives at the Washington Navy Yard from France carrying the body of the Unknown Soldier for internment at Arlington National Cemetery. 1950 - Task Force 77 makes first attack on the Yalu River bridges. In first engagement between MIG-15 and F9F jets (USS Philippine Sea), LCDR William T. Amen (VF-111) shoots down a MIG and becomes first Navy pilot to shoot down a jet aircraft. 1956 - Secretary of the Navy proposes the Polaris missile program to the Secretary of Defense. (Source: Navy News Service)

1904-Nearly 1,000 lives were lost when the steamboat General Slocum caught fire in the East River in New York. The disaster led to improved safety regulations and life-saving equipment. 1917-Congress passed and President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Espionage Act, authorizing the Treasury Secretary to assume control of U.S. ports, control ship movements, establish anchorages and supervise the loading and storage of explosive cargoes. The authority was immediately delegated to the Coast Guard and formed the basis for the formation of the Coast Guard's Captain of the Ports and the Port Security Program. 1944-Coast Guardsmen participated in the invasion of Saipan, Marianas.

1944- The U-225 torpedoed and sank the Coast Guard-manned destroyer escort USS Leopold (DE-319) off Iceland. The attack was one of the first times the Germans used a newly developed acoustic torpedo successfully. All 13 officers and 148 (out of 186) enlisted men on board were killed. The 28 survivors were rescued by the USS Joyce (DE-317), another Coast Guard-manned destroyer escort. 1946- The Coast Guard-manned LST-767 was damaged in a hurricane near Okinawa. She was later declared a total loss and was decommissioned. 1966- CGC Point White, on duty with Coast Guard Squadron One, Division 13, in Vietnam, captured a Vietcong junk after a running firefight. Point White was in Vietnam only a month when she started conducting patrols on a VC-controlled area of the Soi Rap River.

1950-A dedication of the monument erected in Arlington National Cemetery on the gravesite of those who lost their lives on the night of 29 January 1945, when USS Serpens was destroyed off Lunga Beach, Guadalcanal. This was the largest single disaster suffered by the Coast Guard in World War II. 1992: The CGC Storis became the cutter with the longest service in the Bering Sea, eclipsing the U.S. Revenue Cutter Bear which had held that distinction since 1929. The Bear was decommissioned in 1929 after serving in the Bering Sea for 44 years and two months. (Source: USCG Historian’s Office)

1950-A dedication of the monument erected in Arlington National Cemetery on the gravesite of those who lost their lives on the night of 29 January 1945, when USS Serpens was destroyed off Lunga Beach, Guadalcanal. This was the largest single disaster suffered by the Coast Guard in World War II. 1992: The CGC Storis became the cutter with the longest service in the Bering Sea, eclipsing the U.S. Revenue Cutter Bear which had held that distinction since 1929. The Bear was decommissioned in 1929 after serving in the Bering Sea for 44 years and two months. (Source: Navy News Service)

In remembrance for his valiant and dedicated efforts to his fellow soldiers, the U.S. Navy last year named its fifteenth Arleigh Burke Class Destroyer in honor of COL Donald G. Cook. Posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his courage while a prisoner of war (POW), Cook is noted as a heroic figure for his rescue efforts during the Vietnam War. As an observer from Communications Company on a 30-day tour of duty, then Captain Cook was stationed at Headquarters Battalion, 3rd Marine Division. After being wounded on New Year's Eve 1964, Cook was captured by Viet Cong forces near Binh Gia, Phouc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. He had been out on a search for an American helicopter that had gone down in the area when he was seized.

Maritime Administrator Captain William G. Schubert thanked the U.S. Department of the Army for its recent decision to allow military funeral honors at Arlington National Cemetery for U.S. merchant marine veterans of World War II. “The decision of your agency to allow merchant mariners to be inurned at Arlington is a salute to these patriotic seafarers for their heroic contributions to this country,” Schubert said in a letter to Reginald J. brown, assistant secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs. Schubert pointed out that each year, on or around National Maritime Day, May 22, the Maritime Administration sponsors a Merchant Marine Memorial Service, which honors American seafarers who lost their lives in service to their country.

As reported in yesterday’s “Maritime Today”, VADM Bill Rea, USCG (ret) died Saturday. The family will have a private memorial service in Coral Gables, FL this week. The funeral service and burial will be held in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, DC in January or February. The family has requested that, in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to: VADM William F. Rea, III Marine Safety Scholarship Endowment Coast Guard Foundation 394 Taugwonk Road Stonington, CT 06378-1807 (Source: HK Law)

Nov. 09: 1921 - USS Olympia arrives at the Washington Navy Yard from France carrying the body of the Unknown Soldier for internment at Arlington National Cemetery. 1950 - Task Force 77 makes first attack on the Yalu River bridges. In first engagement between MIG-15 and F9F jets (USS Philippine Sea, CV 47), Lt. Cmdr. William T. Amen (VF-111) shoots down a MIG and becomes first Navy pilot to shoot down a jet aircraft. 1956 - Secretary of the Navy proposes the Polaris missile program to the Secretary of Defense. [Source: http://www.news.navy.mil]

The U.S. Coast Guard today announced the death of Adm. J. William Kime, 72, Coast Guard commandant from 1990 to 1994, who succumbed to cancer earlier this morning. "This is a very sad day for the Coast Guard," said Adm. Thad Allen, commandant of the Coast Guard. "The Coast Guard lost a close member of our family, and America has lost a great leader. In the wake of the Exxon Valdez oil spill, Adm. Kime pioneered how the Coast Guard now prevents and responds to oil and hazardous chemical spills, significantly minimizing the environmental damage caused by such spills. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to his wife, Valerie, their children, and the entire Kime family during this very difficult time," Allen said.