SAILORS' SAD SALUTE

NY Post ^ | MARIA ALVAREZ

[tarawa]

December 1, 2001 -- ABOARD THE USS BULKELEY - "Take a good hard look - freedom doesn't come cheap. This is where thousands of innocent people died. Remember this place - ingrain it in your heart and soul because it is you who will make a difference for those who died." Those were the words of Cmdr. Carlos Del Toro as the USS Bulkeley, the Navy's newest guided-missile destroyer, sailed past what was once the World Trade Center and is now ground zero.

[VOA]

bump

[185JHP]

Thanks for the ping. The Navy still probably gets the best. I still remember seeing a Phantom driver catching the two wire one night on Yankee Station - worst F4 landing I ever saw - those struts were compressed. On the side it said "Commander Air Wing Two" - if you're on FR, tell us about it.

[tarawa]

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Your title, Sailor's Sad Salute, reminded me of an image burned into my brain and into my heart not too long ago. It is an image that will stay with me as long as I live. I can only pray this image keeps bill and hillary clinton awake at night.

Please all, don't forget, we are answering for more than 9/11.

Virginia Beach resident Louge Gunn, father of Seaman Apprentice Cherone Louis Gunn, salutes his son after his burial at Arlington National Cemetery. Photo by Genevieve Ross / The Virginian-Pilot.

October 21, 2000
Seaman recruit, killed on Cole, buried at Arlington

By STEPHANIE A. CROCKETT
© 2000, The Virginian-Pilot

ARLINGTON -- First, there were the cars. Twenty-eight of them, in a row. All following the hearse that held Cherone Louis Gunn of Virginia Beach.

Navy seaman recruit. Brother. Son. Friend.

Those who loved him stood by silently as the Navy ceremonial guard pulled his flag-covered casket from the hearse.

Heads held high, they followed as his body was escorted to its final resting place on hallowed ground at Arlington National Cemetery. Among war veterans and others who died on active duty.

Beside Richard Costelow, who died with Gunn and 15 others aboard the destroyer Cole.

Where he belongs.

``God has chosen to take our brother Cherone...

The honor guard held the American flag taut above the gray coffin while prayers asked God to welcome Cherone into eternal life and to comfort those who grieve for him.

Louge Gunn, Cherone's father, grabbed his wife Mona's hand and kissed it under the clear sky and warm October sun.

Shots rang out. One. Two. Three, from seven rifles, with a bracing formality that this country reserves for those who lose their lives protecting her.

The lonely strains of ``Taps'' sounded in the distance. Cherone's mother wiped her eyes.

In locked precision, the honor guard tightened their grip on the flag and folded it over and over until it was a tight triangle.

On bended knee, Rear Adm. W. Clyde Marsh placed the flag that had draped Cherone's coffin gently in his mother's lap.

Four more times flags were ceremoniously placed on the coffin, then presented to each of the immediate family members: Cherone's father, then the younger brothers, Jason and Jamal.

Anton Gunn, Cherone's older brother, took a deep breath when Marsh presented him with the flag.

He held it for a moment as he stared down at the flag in his hands. Then he exhaled as he wrapped both arms around it and pulled it tightly to his chest.

``He was born of dust and to dust he shall return. . . ''

At the end of the 20-minute ceremony, Louge Gunn, retired Navy chief, walked slowly to the casket where his 22-year-old son lay.

He placed the flag against the coffin, fell to his knees, and rested his head against it.

For a moment he stayed there, letting the flag catch his tears.

Then he rose and tucked the symbol of freedom under his left arm. Holding the flag and ignoring the tears streaming down his face, he stood above the coffin and gave a salute, a final farewell to his son, his hero.

---

[real saxophonist]

Well, here's part of my contribution. USS BATFISH SSN-681. Not my boat, but that of a good friend, so I've sort of adopted it, 'specially since it no longer exists...

[real saxophonist]

Can't believe this has been a year...

USS Cole's Namesake Was 'Fighting Field Musician'

[cva66snipe]

Here's a picture of another fine old lady. USS AMERICA CVA-66 A good ship who's end came years too soon. A-Gang 77-80

[real saxophonist]

My dad commanded LCT 457, Utah Beach. He had bulldozers and TNT. For long distance transport between action, they took the LCTs and loaded them on LSTs like this:

Dad and his boat were on their way to Japan when the war ended.

[Diver Dave]

Hey there shipmate. I also served on a Destroyer Tender - U.S.S. Piedmont (AD-17) 64 - 67. I was also a SFP2 (DV), SFP being the predecessor to HT rate.

Thanks for your continuing service.

Salute.

[Britton J Wingfield]

They rolled shipfitters and DCs into the HT field, then they split DC back off again right before I came in. Now they are considering merging HT, DC, and Machinery Repairmen into one rating.

Nice to make your aquaintance. Thanks for your service as well. There's never really an easy time to be in.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

SALUTE

[exnavy]

I had to leave the post last night before I could put this up, better late than not at all! Here's the ship I served on from '76 to '81. The SoCar was one of the Navies finest at that time. The USS South Carolina:

[Glock22]

Gator Navy! Medical Officer USS TRENTON LPD-14 1985-86 Bravo Zulu

[Glock22]

TRENTON moored next to BOWEN often in Norfolk.......got a kick out of it 'cause that's my name. Have six BOWEN coffee mugs from those days. Carry out the plan of the day!

[deadhead]

Thanks for posting the picture of the LST. And Thanks to your Dad for serving in the Navy. I just received an invitation for a reunion for the LST 568. I have never met these guys, but they have shared wonderful stories and pictures with me. They are a great bunch. My Dad died in 1969. (I was a child at the time) I decided a couple of years ago to try to find out as much as I could about my Dad's years in the Navy. It's amazing just how much I have learned from people I have never met. Just thought I would share this with you.

God Bless Our Troops and Veteran's

[Hammerhead]

try sleeping with a 100 other guys on the Proteus in Guam when the AC goes out. INSTANT oven.
Or try sleeping hugging a MK48 Torpedo. Them were the days.

STS2(SS) SSN Hammerhead/AS-19

[tarawa]

Oh, I know what you mean about the AC (Never had to hug a torp, though). Ont he LHA, as on most ships, most everything is water-cooled. When we would pull into the Persian Gulf, and the water temp spiked up about 20-25 degrees, the AC units were pointless. You needed to be out of your bunk for at least 12 hours, just to give it time to dry out from all the sweat. Up in my workspace, though, we had extra AC units installed, because of all the equipment. We could get the temp down to 55 degrees during August in the Persian Gulf. Everyone else on board is down to t-shirts (and shorts, for the Marines, but they always had it easy ;) ), and we are working in foul weather gear, trying to stay warm.

[Nitro]

Been UA lately, shifted from AOL to RoadRunner and had a few growing pains!

[Nitro]

Greetings from another "scope-dope", I also got out as an OS2. I served on the USS Nitro!

[Gumlegs]

That forward mount looks like the experimental 8" tested in the early-to-mid seventies.

Am I right, sir?