THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, April 10, 1996 TAG: 9604100384
SECTION: MILITARY NEWS PAGE: A8 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MELISSA GUNDEL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
I have a POW bracelet. It's like a metal wristband, and it has an inscription of the name of the missing POW and the date he disappeared. Whom do I contact to find out if he ever came out?
The Defense Office of POW/MIA Affairs should be able to help. The number is (703) 602-2102.
Can you please tell me when the Blue Angels will be in the area again?
The Blue Angels will headline the 43rd annual Norfolk Naval Air Station Air Show, in conjunction with the International Azalea Festival, on April 20 and 21. Incidentally, this air show celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Blue Angels.
When a ship is retired or put out of commission, where is the log book of the ship stored? Can I get a copy of the log?
The Record Center of Suitland Reference Branch in Suitland, Md., stores the logs for the Ship's History at the Washington Navy Yard. However, the Ship's History branch has custody of them.
As far as getting a copy goes, it is possible. First, you need to request the year you are interested in. If it was before World War II, consult the Reference Service Branch of the National Archives in Washington: (202) 501-5671. Records from 1941 to 1961 can be obtained from the Textual Branch of the National Archives in College Park, Md.: 8601 Adelphi Road, College Park, Md. 20740. The National Archives number is (301) 713-7250.
If it's any time after 1962, the Record Center of Suitland Reference Branch has them.
If you request a log after 1962, you can call the Ship's History and ask for the deck log section at (202) 433-0824. You may be able to get a copy of a log, once you decide on a year and send a written request to either of the two places. After you send in the written request, they will let you know the cost.
How many major Naval European Commands are there?
There are seven: the U.S. Naval Activities, United Kingdom; Naval Support Activity; Commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean, Naples, Italy; Naval Station, Rota, Spain; Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily; Naval Support Activity La Maddalena, Sardinia, Italy; Naval Support Activity, Souda Bay, Crete; and Fleet Air Keflavik/Naval Air Station in Keflavik, Iceland.
When was the Vermilion (AKA 107) decommissioned?
The attack cargo ship was decommissioned April 13, 1971, in Norfolk. The Vermilion was transferred to the Maritime Administration on July 27, 1971, for layup in the National Defense Reserve Fleet on the James River in Virginia. The ship's name was struck from the Navy list on Jan. 1, 1977. by CNB