David A Brandenburg News

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman David A. Sailors and Marines aboard amphibious assault ship USS Tarawa (LHA 1) successfully launched and retrieved raiding craft combat rubber inflatables (CRRC) for the first time from an LHA class ship, March 29. The successful execution proved Tarawa-class ships can utilize these boats for advanced covert insertion of Marine forces ashore. "These types of craft can be launched on all other amphibious ships as well." said Chief Warrant Officer Danny Lee, assistant first lieutenant of 's Deck Department. The morning of the launch, Marines attached to the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, staged the CRRCs in the well deck, and carried them to the water's edge. From there, the boats were pushed into the water.

San Diego welcomed USS New Orleans (LPD 18), the Navy’s newest surface ship, as it arrived at its new homeport May 3. New Orleans, the second of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport ships, is the first of its class homeported on the West Coast. She is a Hurricane Katrina survivor and the first ship built and commissioned in her namesake city. “The ship's building process was put on hold during the hurricane, but was continued as the work forces started to operate again," said New Orleans Commanding Officer Cmdr. John B. Skillman. “This ship is a great addition for us here in San Diego,” said Commander Expeditionary Strike Group 3 Rear Adm. Mark W. Balmert. “This ship brings a new generation of warfighting here.

Local members of the U.S. Navy Submarine Veterans (SubVets) Association hosted a “Tolling of the Boats” ceremony at Naval Submarine Base Point Loma on April 6. The ceremony is held annually to remember those Sailors lost at sea during World War II. During the ceremony, a short description of what happened to each submarine is read followed by the number of Sailors lost on the boat. A ceremonial bell then is rung in memory of each submarine. Among the attendees at the ceremony were retired Cmdr. Joe McGrievy and retired Torpedoman’s Mate 2nd Class (SS) C.J. Glassford, who served as the masters of ceremony. “Tolling of the boats is our way of remembering those who are still lying on the bottom of the ocean in their steel tombs,” McGrievy said.

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman David A. “Unconditional Surrender,” a 25-foot, 6,000 pound statue by world-renowned artist J. Seward Johnson commemorating a famous World War II photo was unveiled Feb. 10 at Mole Park in San Diego. Unconditional Surrender is a three-dimensional interpretation of a photo taken by Alfred Eisenstaedt of a Sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square, New York City on Aug. 14, 1945, following the announcement of V-J Day. Edith Shain, the nurse memorialized in Eisenstaedt’s photo, and members of the Pearl Harbor Survivors Association Inc., attended the ceremony along with hundreds of San Diego residents. “This statue brings back so many memories of peace, love and happiness,” said Shain.