Steeljaw Scribe

Notes and commentary on things present, reflections on a career in naval aviation and serendipitous items as strike me at the moment…

Steeljaw Scribe header image 5

“We Claim This Sacred Ground…” Sept 11, 2007

September 11th, 2008 7 Comments

“We claim this hallowed ground for peace and for healing. We claim it in affirmation of our strongest belief as a people: that every life is precious.”
- Robert S. Gates, Sept 11, 2008

An unbelievable and memorable day - and those words hardly do justice.  I was there for the re-dedication ceremony of the [...]

Tags:   ·

Remembering Sept 11, 2001

September 7th, 2008 8 Comments

Some number of years ago I had the honor of making the acquaintance of a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor.  A young seaman then stationed on the battleship Nevada, he related his story, his memories.  And as he talked about the aching beauty of that peaceful Sunday morning - of standing at quarters [...]

Tags:   · · ·

Eating the Elephant - One Bite at a Time

December 10th, 2007 No Comments

For those not so inclined to leap with both feet into the full Appropriations Bills (regular, continuing and sustaining minus the funds for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan), here is a Congressional Research Service study of current Defense Authorization and Appropriations bills with analysis of some of the more important parts (like shipbuilding - pg [...]

Tags:   · ·

Remembering Fallen Shipmates - Part I (N3N5)

September 9th, 2007 3 Comments

Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biddest the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!

Here are our shipmates who were lost in the Navy Operations Center (NOC) {note: N513 will be posted 10 Sept}.  Look closely [...]

Tags:   · ·