THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 19, 1995 TAG: 9504190489
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
FORGOTTEN FORCE: After 53 years, the Navy will formally recognize ``Task Force 16,'' the 16-ship armada that took Jimmy Doolittle and his B-25 bombers across the Pacific to bomb Tokyo. Although it is not the Navy Expeditionary Force Medal the group has lobbied for, Navy Secretary John Dalton will present representatives of the group a Navy citation in a Pentagon ceremony at 1:30 p.m. May 15. Crew members, or one surviving relative, are entitled to a citation as well and may obtain one by writing to Jean Kirk, Navy Operations Awards & Special Projects, 1000 Navy Department, Pentagon, Washington D.C., 20350. Provide name, rate or rank, ship and division as of April 18, 1942. The ships and their hull numbers that made up the task force are: Enterprise CV-6, Vincennes CA-44, Nashville CL-43, Gwin DD-433, Grayson DD-435, Monsson DD-436, Meredith DD-434, Cimmaron AO-22, Hornet CV-8, Northampton CA-26, Salt Lake City CA-25, Balch DD-363, Benham DD-397, Ellet DD-398, Fanning DD-385, Sabine AO-25.
USO CLOSINGS: For the first time in a decade, the USO has announced it is considering closing three of its overseas centers - at Manama, Bahrain, and at Paris and Toulon, France. A decline in contributions is forcing the move, according to an announcement from the United Services Organization in Washington. The organization, formed during World War II to boost morale for service people, gets its money from private contributions, the United Way and the Combined Federal Campaign.
BUSY CUTTER: The Portsmouth-based Coast Guard cutter Northland, currently on patrol in the Caribbean, recently repatriated 27 Haitians and rescued 10 Cuban migrants from rafts in the Florida Straits. In a third rescue, the vessel safely towed a disabled Dominican fishing vessel and its crew through stormy seas to the Bahamas.
VOLKSMARCH: The Army Transportation Center at Fort Eustis will host the 2nd annual Volksmarch for Life at 8 a.m. April 29 at Murphy Field. Open to the public, participants can walk or run a 5K or 10K course. Registration is $7. For further information, call 878-4430, or 878-2097.
- Staff report
COMINGS & GOINGS
CHANGE OF COMMAND
Rear Adm. Wirt R. Fladd will relieve Rear Adm. Leonard F. Picotte as Commander Amphibious Group Two and Commander Amphibious Striking Force in ceremonies at 10 a.m. Friday aboard the amphibious assault ship Wasp. Fladd previously commanded the South Atlantic Force of the Atlantic Fleet out of Puerto Rico. Picotte is being reassigned to the Atlantic Fleet staff.
DISESTABLISHMENT
The Ghostriders of Fighter Squadron 142 officially left naval service April 7 in a disestablishment ceremony at Oceana Naval Air Station. The F-14 Tomcat squadron ended more than 47 years of service, encompassing eight different models of aircraft and embarking aboard six different aircraft carriers during 19 extended overseas deployments.
BY THE NUMBERS Graphic STAFF HIV AND THE MILITARY SOURCE: Navy Public Affairs [For complete graphic, please see microfilm] by CNB