The White Falcon - 08.10.1976, Qupperneq 3

October 8, 1976
Nary Day message*
.Fro* tk. CNO...
} During this national Bicentennial
year, it is fitting that Navy men and
women around the world pause to re-
flect on their past and look toward
their future. For more than two cen-
turies, the Navy has served as a vi-
tal part of the defense force of this
country. We have grown in strength
and experience, and have adapted to
meet the requirements of a rapidly
changing world.
In our third century of service,
it is imperative that we look to our
horizons while remembering our heri-
tage, we are rebuilding our material
forces with an eye toward the future
and an emphasis on quality and versa-
tility.
Our most important requirement,
however, is professionally trained
personnel to operate our ships and
aircraft. The men and women i/ho
serve in the United States Navy are
among the most dedicated and well-
‘trained in the world. We must not
allow that to change.
It gives me great personal pride
and satisfaction to be able to ad-
dress our men and women on the Navy's
201st anniversary. As we approach
our future, let us rededicate our-
selves to the spirit of cooperation
and achievement which has made the
United States and its Navy so great.
Admiral James L. Holloway III
Chief of Naval Operations
U.S. Navy
From IDF cMiandtr...
Navy Birthday 1976—Heritage and
Horizons—is to be commemorated on
Wednesday, October 13, 1976.
Although many changes have oc-
curred in our Navy's 201-year his-
tory, the precepts of Jones,
Farragut, Bainbridge, Truxtun, and
many other Naval heroes continue to
guide our actions.
We should exhibit the highest tra-
ditions of the Naval Service as we
care for the men, women, wives, hus-
bands, sons and daughters that make
up our Navy family.
We must encourage our young men
and women to stay with the Navy and
grow and develop to their full poten-
tial .
Addresses are urged to participate
in the military and social programs
that will take place aboard the Naval
Station during the week October 10 to
16. This period offers an ideal op-
portunity to commemorate the Navy's
201st birthday and to stress total
involvement, commitment, and respon-
sibility. It is suggested that all
Navy personnel be encouraged to wear
the service dress uniform on Wednes-
day, October 13, 1976.
The Iceland Navy community shares
a proud heritage. You have worked
hard, sometimes under difficult and
trying situations, and have performed
your task in a superb manner. Your
efforts today will build a heritage
for generations of the future.
As we commemorate Navy Birthday
1976, we should reflect on our accom-
plishments and look forward to the
challenges that await us tomorrow. I
hope that each of us have helped make
the Navy life better. Happy Birth-
day .
Rear Admiral Karl J. Bernstein
Commander
Iceland Defense Force
Fr«i tk« CO...
Navy Day 1976 offers me an oppor-
tunity to thank each of you for your
dedicated service to our country, nur
principles and to our mission in Ice-
land.
Our theme this year is "Heritage
and Horizons." Each of us, according
to our own experience and background,
can find in that theme whatever we
wish.
I am proud of the Heritage we
represent. I am proud of the way
each of you upholds the customs and
traditions associated with that Heri-
tage.
I look forward to the new Horizons
of tomorrow and the future with eager
anticipation.
We have seen in our lifetime,
technological and sociological ad-
vances unequaled in any other period
of history.
It is up to us—you and me—to use
our talents to further the Heritage
of the United States Navy while we
work toward the Horizons of tomorrow.
Captain Jack T. Weir
Commanding Officer
U.S. Naval Station Keflavik
Commander Naval Forces Iceland
Heritage end Horizons
REFLECTIONS OF A SAILOR and a sunset through the porthole of the past, looking in-
to the technology of the future. (Photo by J02 Terry Barnthouse)
U.S. NAVY BIRTHDAY
OCTOBER 13,1976
Uncle Sam’s ships?
The letters USS preceding the name of
a ship are, of course, the initials of
the words "United States Ship." However,
that's not what it meant in the begin-
ning.
Back in the days of sails, a ship
was identified by its type. For in-
stance, there was the United States
Sloop of War Providence or United States
Frigate Alliance. When steam began to
replace the not-so-reliable wind as a
means of propulsion, ship designations
changed accordingly to U.S. Steam Fri-
gate, etc. Later, when steam completely
replaced sails, it was common to call a
ship U.S. Steamer. This may well have
been the orgin of "USS," although there
is no official proof on its authentici-
ty.
One other explanation is linked to an
expression that has come to symbolize
our country-Uncle Sam. The conversation
of jacktars of the early American Navy
might have led listeners to conclude
that USS stood for "Uncle Sam's Ship."
Although there is some controversy as
to the exact derivation of Uncle Sam,
the most commonly accepted version has
the expression originating shortly after
the declaration of the War of 1812.
In those days, Elbert Anderson, a
food contractor for the U.S. Army, pur-
chased considerable quantities of beef
Girl saves brothers from
in a pan of grease on the kitchen stove,
spread quickly to cabinets where aerosol
cans exploded and added fuel to the fire
which spread to the dining room, living
room and up the staircase.
The Swasey's downstairs furniture was
extensively damaged by smoke and water
and the apartment was substantially dam-
aged by fire.
Shortly after the fire, the respond-
ing Fire Captain, Stefan Eiriksson, said
Kim did everything correctly and was
directly responsible for saving the
lives of her brothers.
At the ceremony Tuesday, Fire Chief
Sveinn Eiriksson confirmed that: "We
adults could take a lesson from your ac-
tions," he told Kim. "This one incident
makes our six years of Operation EDITH
worthwhile."
Fire Chief Eiriksson presented Kim a
statue of a fireman with this inscrip-
tion: "Edith-presented to Miss Kimberly
Swasey for her heroic action in a fire
that took place in her home on June 30,
1976. From the U. S. Naval Station Kef-
lavik Fire Department."
Capt. Weir also presented Kim a Naval
Station Keflavik "Service" plaque.
Tuesday also was, appropriately, the
day of the annual Operation EDITH (Exit
Drill in the Home) training. At 5.:30
and pork from a concentration of sup-
plies near Troy, N.Y. The inspectors of
these items at that place were Ebenezer
Wilson and his uncle, Samuel Wilson.
The latter gentleman (Known around those
parts as "Uncle Sam") generally superin-
tended in person a large number of work-
men employed in preparing the provisions
bought by the Army.
Wilson's workers marked "E.A. - U.S."
on each case, thus identifying the con-
tents of having been procured by Elbert
Anderson on be&alf of the United States.
One day, someone new to the job asked
a case marker the meaning of the let-
ters. (Use of U.S. for United States was
then almost unknown.) The marker re-
plied facetiously that "he didn't know
unless it meant Elbert Anderson and
Uncle Sam" - alluding, of course, to
Uncle Sam Wilson.
As the war progressed, many of the
Wilson employes were recruited as sol-
diers and sailors. Whenever they came
across a box or cask with the "E.A. -
U.S." stamp, they would laugh and refer
to it as some more of Uncle Sam's sup-
plies. The joke caught on and spread
throughout the nation.
"Uncle Sam" Wilson, Elbert Anderson
and their workmen have long since been
forgotten* but traditions die hard.
fire (continued from page 1)
p.m., NATO Base firemen went to family
housing units to assist occupants in de-
veloping and practicing a secondary -es-
cape route from their homes. Operation
EDITH traditionally has been conducted
during Fire Prevention Week to encourage
people to plan what to do in case of a
fire. Naval Station Keflavik is the
only known community which practices the
drill, now in its seventh year.
For Kim Swasey and her family, Oper-
ation EDITH and fire are very real.
ADR1 Swasey choked back his emotion
at the ceremony Tuesday to publicly
thank the community for their assistance
after the fire.
"We could not have made it without
the total community support we had," he
said. "And I want to thank everyone who
was so kind. People brought dishes,
blankets, and clothing. Neighbors came
in and took our clothes to wash, helped
salvage our belongings and helped us to
clean up. Everyone on the base from the
captain on down, did all they ccould to
help us. I want to say thank you."
Burke Adams, Principal in Charge of
the DOD School System and Upper School
Principal Loyd Morrow also were at the
ceremony to add their congratulations,
and to praise Kim.
Page 3
Historic
Events
October 9,1779 — In the United States’ joint naval
operation with France, the combined fleet repelled a
British attack on Savannah, Ga.
October 10,1845 — The Naval School, forerunner of
the present day Naval Academy, opened at Annapolis,
Md. under the leadership of Captain Frank Buchanan.
October 11,1776 — Three days of naval actions on
Lake Champlain began as an American squadron com-
mand by Benedict Arnold turned back the British in-
vasion from Canada thus saving Washington’s army
from attack.
October 12, 1915 The collier JUPITER became the
first Navy ship to complete a transit of the Panama*
Canal. Entering the Pacific side on October 10, she
stopped in Gatun Lake to study the effect of fresh
water on barnacles.
October 13,1901 — The chapel at Mare Island was
dedicated and today is the oldest in the Navy.
October 13, 1775 — Congress appointed a commit-
tee to fit out two vessels, one of 14 guns and the
other of 10 guns, to cruise the Atlantic and intercept
British transports. This date is officially considered
the birthday of the U.S. Navy.
October 16, 1917 — Gunner’s Mate First Class
Osmond K. Ingram became the first U.S. Navy casu-
alty in World War I when he was thrown overboard
during an attack on his ship while he tried to launch a
depth charge by hand. The first ship ever named for
an enlisted man honors GM1 Ingram.
Navy Day (continued from page 1)
chandise in most departments will be
sold at reduced prices. Also, a number
of items will be given away which in-
clude perfume, colognes, cigars, candy,
stationery, bubble gum and other sur-
prises.
**The Barber Shop will offer shampoos
and beard trims for 75 cents during the
five-day period.
**At the Service Station, some mer-
chandise will be offered at reduced pri-
ces and, as an added incentive, a gift
will be given to the 201st customer at
the station.
**At Personalized Services, a 10 per
cent discount on all plants and fresh
cut flowers will be featured. Also, all
engraving will be done at half price and
a five per cent savings given for all
film picked up and imprinting on shirts.
**A11 permanents during the Navy Day
birthday sale will be given at a 25 per
cent savings.
**Savings will also be offered to pa-
trons at the various beverage stores and
cafeterias. For these and other savings
more information is available on page
two of this issue.
Shoppers at the Commissary will find
many marked-down items during the period
beginning Oct. 6 through Oct. 16. Pet
foods, relishes, soups, vegetables, cake
mixes, juices, cleaning liquids and ice
cream toppings are just some of the
items to be offered at reduced savings.
For more information readers may check
the Commissary column on page two.
A special dance at the Youth Center,
featuring music by "Dark Star" will be
held on Saturday, Oct. 16. The teen
dance will be for seventh graders and
older and will be held from 8 p.m. to
midnight. Sixth graders may also attend
if they have permission slips from their
parents, but, they may only stay until
11 p.m. The cost for the dance is $1.50
per person.
AFRS, AFTV
To help publicize Navy Day 1976, A-
merican Forces radio/television spots
have been featuring not only historical
vignettes but also actual Navy Day
events. On Wednesday evening, at 7:30
p.m., the film "Born of the Sea" will be
shown on television. Within the film,
historian Bruce Catton depicts the par-
allel between the nation's 200 year
struggle to maintain freedom and the
history of the Navy.
Since that historic day in 1775 when
Colonial legislators determined the need
for a Navy, to its present stature as
the world's strongest, the key ingredi-
ent of the Navy's glamorous history has
been people. Without the high caliber
of the Navy men and women who have
served through the years, the Navy, and
perhaps even our country, could not have
survived.
World events have often changed the
course of the Navy but, plotters were
always quick to navigate back to an even
keel. The Navy's long heritage is de-
tailed in history books.
No one person can predict what the
future will bring. One can only surmise
that what with the highly-skilled and
truly dedicated men and women serving
today—maintaining that proud heritage—
the Navy's future on the horizon is very
promising. The U.S. Navy has, in the
past, and will, in the future, project
itself world-wide as a key instrument of
"Power for Peace".
i