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Articles by Marty Callaghan
NEC adopts resolutions that originated from Delaware post
Resolutions call for increased oversight of VA’s Medical Disability Examination Office, and for Congress to expand permananet judgeships from seven to nine on the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. At its Fall Meetings last October, The American Legion’s National Executive Committee adopted two resolutions that originated from David C. Harrison Post 14 in Smyrna, Del.
55 Years After Thresher Disaster, Navy Still Keeps Secrets on Sub Loss
Marty Callaghan is a news editor for Military.com. The worst submarine disaster in U.S. Navy history happened on the morning of April 10, 1963, when the nuclear-powered USS Thresher (SSN 593) was lost with 129 crew members and civilian employees on board. A Naval Court of Inquiry (NCOI) convened to investigate the disaster concluded the probable cause of the Thresher's loss was "major flooding" -- a finding that has since been challenged by naval and submarine experts.
Cold War Nuclear Missile Silo Listed as Rental on Airbnb
In what is likely to be a unique vacation experience, travelers can now rent a Cold War-era missile silo to crash at during their visit to Kansas, a report said. The Subterra Castle was previously the home of a nuclear warhead during the early-to-mid 1960's, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.
Life-Saving Hospital Ship Returns from Hurricane Relief
The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort has ended its nearly two-month medical assistance mission in Puerto Rico following Hurricane Maria, and has returned to homeport at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia. In a statement Friday, the Navy said the Comfort, which left Norfolk on Sept. 29 and arrived off Puerto Rico on Oct. 4, had treated 1,899 patients, performed 191 surgeries, provided 76,000 liters of oxygen and 10 tons of food and water.
US Troops Killed in Plane Crashes Skyrockets in 2017
Even before the Navy C-2A Greyhound crash on Wednesday, the number of U.S. troops killed in plane crashes had skyrocketed this year -- along with the total number of crashes overall compared to this point a year ago, a Fox News investigation has uncovered. So far this year, there have been 22 U.S. military noncombat plane crashes flying routine operations. That's up 38 percent from this time last year. The number of American troops killed in these plane crashes has more than doubled.
Navy Sub-Hunter, Submersibles Search for Missing Argentine Sub
Two Navy sub-hunter P-8 Poseidon aircraft and rescue submersibles on board a chartered ship continued to assist in the search for the missing Argentine submarine with 44 sailors on board that last sent out a message nine days ago, U.S. Southern Command said Friday.
Destroyer Fitzgerald Towed to Transport for Stateside Repair
The Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald was towed from port in Japan Friday to a heavy-lift transport for stateside repairs, following its deadly collision with a cargo ship that killed seven sailors. The U.S. Seventh Fleet said in a Tweet that the Fitzgerald would be floated aboard the transport Transshelf for the long trip to the Huntington Ingalls Industries repair yards in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The repairs were expected to cost more than $350 million.
Navy Suspends Search for Sailors Missing in Plane Crash
The U.S. Navy suspended the search for three sailors who had been missing since a transport plane crashed in the Western Pacific more than 36 hours earlier. "Our thoughts and prayers are with our lost shipmates and their families," Rear Adm. Marc Dalton said in a statement released late Thursday.
Trump Visits Florida Coast Guard Station on Thanksgiving
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump made a surprise visit Thursday morning to a Coast Guard station in Riviera Beach, Florida, telling the sailors that their "brand" has gone up in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in Texas. "There's no brand that went up more than the Coast Guard," Trump said. "What a job you've done." The first couple provided lunch -- turkey sandwiches, muffins, fruit, chips and cookies --to the men and women working at the station near Trump's private golf resort.
'Human Factors' Blamed for Deadly Apache Crash in 2015
Pilot error likely caused a fatal crash in which an Army helicopter struck high-voltage power lines in South Korea, said a report released by the Army Combat Readiness Center. Chief warrant officers Jason McCormack, 43, of Maryland, and Brandon Smith, 38, of Grand Junction, Colo., were killed when their AH-64D Apache attack helicopter crashed 50 miles east of Camp Humphreys on Nov. 23, 2015.
Marine Corps Wants 'Toxic Leadership Test' to Aid Promotion Decisions
The Marine Corps wants better enlisted leaders -- and it's on the hunt for a diagnostic tool that can help find them.
US, S. Korean Soldiers Receive Medals for Defector Rescue
SEOUL, South Korea -- Six U.S. and South Korean soldiers were awarded medals Thursday for helping to rescue a North Korean defector, who made a daring escape across the border that divides the peninsula. The fleeing soldier was severely wounded on Nov. 13 as other North Korean troops opened fire to try to stop him as he ran onto the South Korean side of the Joint Security Area (JSA), then collapsed.
Iwo Jima Memorial Updated to Add Iraq, Afghanistan Wars
The tradition had been that wars had to be over before their names were engraved on the iconic U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia -- better known as the "Iwo Jima Memorial." Although the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have no end in sight, the U.S. Department of the Interior and the National Park Service dispensed with the tradition Tuesday for the official dedication of the new engravings and renovations of the memorial site.
Navy's Poseidon Aircraft to Aid in Search for Argentine Sub
The U.S. Navy announced Friday it will deploy its P-8A Poseidon maritime aircraft to assist in the search for the ARA San Juan, a missing Argentine submarine with 44 crew members on board. The submarine was last heard from Wednesday from the southern Argentine sea, 268 miles from the Patagonian coast. It was headed to the coastal city of Mar del Plata in Buenos Aires province, Reuters reported.
Navy Grounds Whidbey Crew After Lewd Skywriting Incident
What were they thinking? Was the giant phallus sketched by a Navy aircrew in the sky above Okanogan, Washington, on Thursday intended as some sort of testosterone-fueled art? Or, amid all the sexual scandals unfolding in recent weeks about men behaving badly, could this have been a kind of defiant, politically incorrect statement? We may never know the motives.
Army Behavioral Health Program Focuses on Coordination
, Washington -- Officials with an Army mental and behavioral health program here want their system to be a model for providing the medical and emotional support they say military families desperately need after 16 years of war. The Child and Family Behavioral Health System (CFBHS), based out of Madigan Army Medical Center, has put in place something its organizers say is unique in the Defense Department health system.
Veterans, Not NFL, To Be Focus for Many Fans This Sunday
Veterans Day weekend seems to have inspired a new round of fan activism against the National Football League in response to player protests during the national anthem. A Facebook page called "Boycott the NFL," boasting more than 227,000 followers, is asking football fans to skip watching Sunday's games "in solidarity with veterans around the country," the Washington Times reported.
Veterans Work to Bridge Info Gap on Gulf War Illness
TAMPA, Fla. -- Of all that was revealed by a government watchdog this year about how the Department of Veterans Affairs treats Persian Gulf War veterans, the most shocking discovery to Shawn Scott was that most doctors aren't trained about illnesses specific to veterans of that era. That pushed Scott, an Army veteran, to organize a Gulf War Illness Awareness Conference at his local VA hospital in Tampa, Fla., on Nov. 3, featuring VA officials and top clinical researchers.
Puerto Rico: Veterans Day in the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria
CATANO, Puerto Rico -- For the more than 95,000 veterans on this island of 3.5 million people, Veterans Day marks the tremendous pride many here have in their service. They put on their uniforms, don their pins, badges and caps and stand proud as they are recognized. Saturday's commemoration had all of that. But on this island, where Hurricane Maria took straight aim seven weeks ago, the storm's aftermath was very present.
Hunt Is On To Reunite Marine with Camera Full of Iraq Photos
A search is underway for a Marine who may have lost a camera full of pictures from Iraq. While on a landscaping job, Matt Walker found the smashed Nokia camera in Washington nine years ago, Fox 5 DC reported. He found the camera on the side of the road, with an undamaged memory card containing the photos. "I've never been in the military, but by the photos, I can feel what they were going through and this is why it makes it so important to give it back to him," Walker told the station.
USFK Celebrates Veterans Day for 1st Time at Camp Humphreys
CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea -- U.S. Forces Korea celebrated Veterans Day for the first time on a newly expanded base that is now home to the 8th Army. Military leaders, veterans and Boy and Girl Scouts took turns placing a wreath and flowers at a memorial behind the new 8th Army headquarters at Camp Humphreys. An honor guard fired a 21-gun salute as taps was played.
Report: Green Beret Killed in Niger May Have Been Executed
Two villagers who said they were among the first to find the body of Sgt. La David Johnson in Niger last month recalled discovering the body with a gaping head wound and the soldier's hands tied, a report said Friday. The Washington Post reported that the villagers' accounts raise the possibility that Johnson was first captured in the Oct. 4 ambush before being killed. "His two arms were tied behind his back," Adamou Boubacar, 23, a farmer, told the paper in a phone interview.
US Drone Strike Kills 'Several' al-Shabab in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia (AP) -- The United States military said Saturday it has carried out a new drone strike against the al-Shabab extremist group in Somalia, killing "several" militants. A statement by the U.S. Africa Command said the strike was carried out Friday night in Lower Shabelle region, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of the capital, Mogadishu. It came a day after another strike in the Bay Region, about 100 miles west of Mogadishu.
Afghan Air Force Slated for Black Hawk Helicopter Upgrade
KANDAHAR AIR FIELD, Afghanistan -- The helicopter plunged downward and looked like it might crash, before deftly lifting its nose and continuing its flight. "That move right there is an auto rotation," Army Maj. Alexmi Lugo said, looking up and squinting in the bright Kandahari sun.
Air Force Colonel-Turned-Astronaut Details Space Mission
Sometimes the Air Force's brightest minds have to leave the planet to conduct cutting-edge experiments that are out of this world. That was the nearly six-month mission for Col. Jack Fischer, an active-duty airman and a NASA astronaut who recently returned from the International Space Station after he and a team of astronauts oversaw, orchestrated or took part in more than 330 operations, as Fischer described the science experiments.
Trump Kicks Off Asia Tour, Stresses Alliance with Japan
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- President Donald Trump lauded U.S. and Japanese troops gathered Sunday at a U.S. air base in western Tokyo, for the confidence they provide America's allies and the fear they strike into the hearts of their enemies. Japan is "a treasured partner and crucial ally," Trump said in the kickoff to his two-week, five-nation tour of Asia and his first presidential visit to the country.
US Service Member Killed in Eastern Afghanistan
A U.S. service member was killed during operations in Logar Province in eastern Afghanistan on Saturday afternoon. A news release from NATO Resolute Support officials said the service member died as a result of wounds sustained. No other details were released. "We offer our deepest condolences to the family of our fallen brother," Gen. John Nicholson, commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan, said in the statement.
Bergdahl Judge Weighed Complex Leniency Factors
FORT BRAGG, N.C. -- Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's brutal five years of captivity by Taliban allies carried significant weight in an Army judge's decision to spare him prison time for leaving his post in Afghanistan in 2009, legal experts said. Criticism of Bergdahl by President Donald Trump also appeared to push the judge toward leniency. Army Col. Jeffery Nance didn't explain how he formulated the sentence that also included a dishonorable discharge, reduction in rank and a fine.
Trump Touches Down in Tokyo, Speaks to US Troops
President Donald Trump arrived in Tokyo early Sunday for the first stop on his 13-day tour of Asia, greeted by a crowd of U.S. troops who awaited his arrival. The president arrived at Yokota Air Base at about 10:30 a.m. local time, shaking hands and signing autographs as he made his way to an aircraft hangar, where he addressed service members stationed at the base.
Navy Sailor Hit by Plane Being Towed on Aircraft Carrier
SAN DIEGO -- Military officials said that a sailor on board the USS Carl Vinson was seriously injured when he was struck by a plane as it was being towed on the flight deck. Navy spokesman Steve Fiebing said the accident occurred Friday evening on board the San Diego-based aircraft carrier, which was steaming off the coast for training exercises. He did not immediately have additional details but said the incident is under investigation.
Actors Embrace Army Life in 'The Long Road Home'
Michael Kelly remembers the wary looks he received from locals at Fort Hood, Texas, when he was introduced as the actor playing legendary Army officer Gary Volesky. Kelly, perhaps best known for playing shady chief of staff Doug Stamper in the Netflix drama "House of Cards," said the scrutiny he received gave him insight into the role. "They were like, 'No, really, you better do a good job,' " he told an audience in Washington, D.C. in October.
US Carries Out 1st Airstrikes Against ISIS in Somalia
MOGADISHU, Somalia -- The U.S. military for the first time has conducted two airstrikes against Islamic State group fighters in Somalia, where the militants are a growing presence in a country long threatened by the al-Qaida-linked al-Shabab. The U.S. Africa Command said the two drone strikes killed "several terrorists" in northeastern Somalia, the first around midnight local time and the second later Friday morning.
Trump Visits Hawaii Ahead of 2-Week Asia Tour
JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM -- President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump were greeted with leis after touching down in Hawaii on Friday, ahead of the leader's two-week tour of five Asian nations. Hawaii Gov. David Ige and Adm. Harry Harris, head of U.S. Pacific Command, joined a throng of military and civilian supporters in welcoming the first couple on their first official visit to the Aloha State.
Air Force Colonel Fighting Discipline at New Mexico Base
A highly decorated Kirtland Air Force Base colonel, who refused to sign a certificate of appreciation for a retiring master sergeant's same-sex spouse, says he was wrongly disciplined for following his religious beliefs. Col. Leland Bohannon was relieved of command and a letter was sent by a superior officer recommending against his promotion, after an Equal Opportunity complaint against him was substantiated. A religious liberties group is now demanding the reversal of the decision.
Family of Marine Who Died at VA Hospital Gets $2.3M Settlement
The government has reached a $2.3 million settlement with survivors of a Marine Corps veteran who died of a drug overdose at the troubled VA medical center in Tomah, Wis. Court papers filed Friday say about $1.65 million would go up-front to the widow and daughter of Jason Simcakoski, of Stevens Point, Wis., who was 35 when he died in 2014 at the Tomah VA facility. Another $659,000 would go into annuities for Simcakoski's widow, Heather, and their daughter, Anaya.
Intelligence Agency at Ohio Base Keeps Tabs On Threats to US
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- When North Korea launches a ballistic missile over the Pacific, the United States top leaders turn to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. Analysis by NASIC keeps the White House, Congress and the Pentagon aware of air, space and cyber threats and determine what dangers a missile from the rogue country has for the U.S. and its allies.
In Trump Era, Rising Seas Still a Concern for Defense Department
WILLIAMSBURG -- Climate scientists in the federal government have been on the defensive since President Donald Trump took office in January. But military leaders will continue to address the risks that climate change poses to bases and national security, a senior Pentagon official said at conference Friday on sea level rise.
Mattis: US Will Not Accept a Nuclear North Korea
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis issued a stern warning to North Korea on Saturday: Despite its ongoing missile and nuclear programs, it is simply no match for the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
Sailor's Energy Drink Withdrawal Highlights Navy's Workload Problems
MANAMA, Bahrain -- Sitting in his air-conditioned hotel room, Petty Officer 2nd Class Marcus Salmon began to sweat profusely. As he was overtaken by body tremors, he could barely muster enough energy to crawl out of his bed. After spending a few minutes with his head in a freezer to cool down, he called a co-worker, who was already on her way to pick him up for work, and asked her to bring him some food and a drink. "After I called her, I basically crawled over to the door," he said.
Trial Set to Begin in Largest Marine Corps Hazing Case in Years
Jury selection began Friday in a court-martial that will determine whether a senior Marine Corps drill instructor hazed one Muslim recruit by throwing him in an industrial dryer, and pushed another to suicide. The trial of Gunnery Sgt. Joseph Felix is the culmination of more than a year-and-a-half of investigations and legal proceedings following the suicide death of 20-year-old Raheel Siddiqui in March 2016.
US Servicemember Killed in Afghanistan Helicopter Crash
KABUL, Afghanistan -- A U.S. servicemember died in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan's eastern Logar province, NATO said Saturday. Six other American crew members were injured in the Friday night crash and were all sent for medical treatment, NATO said. The helicopter had taken troops to the volatile Kharwar district for a night raid and hit a tree, forcing an emergency landing, Salim Saleh, the provincial governor's spokesman, told Stars and Stripes.
National Guardsman Honored for Saving 14 People in Floods
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. -- A member of the West Virginia National Guard has been recognized for saving the lives of more than 14 people during one night of the state's historic flooding last year. WOAY-TV reports that Sgt. Zachary Mills received the Division of Natural Resources Meritorious Service Medal on Sept. 22. Natural Resources Lt. Dennis K. Feazell said Mills and his partner, Natural Resources Sgt.
Deserter Bergdahl Says Taliban More 'Honest' than US Army
Bowe Bergdahl, the U.S. Army sergeant who pleaded guilty Monday to deserting his post in Afghanistan in 2009, says his Taliban captors were more "honest" with him than the Army has been since his release three years ago. "At least the Taliban were honest enough to say, 'I'm the guy who's gonna cut your throat,' " Bergdahl tells British TV journalist Sean Langan in an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine of London headlined "The Homecoming from Hell." Langan, too, is a former Taliban hostage.
Trump Blasts Congresswoman as Sgt. Johnson Laid to Rest
President Donald Trump lashed out again Saturday at a Florida Congresswoman hours before she joined mourners at the funeral of Army Sgt. La David Johnson. In an early morning Tweet, Trump said "I hope the Fake News Media keeps talking about Wacky Congresswoman Wilson in that she, as a representative, is killing the Democrat Party!” Trump also re-tweeted an old photo of Rep.
US-allied Force Takes Syria's Largest Oil Field from ISIS
BEIRUT -- U.S-allied fighters said they captured Syria's largest oil field from the Islamic State group on Sunday, marking a major advance against the extremists and seizing an area coveted by pro-government forces. With IS in retreat across Syria and neighboring Iraq, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian government have been in a race to secure parts of the oil-rich Deir el-Zour province along the border.
Fitzgerald Sailors Recognized for Efforts Following Collision
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan -- The Navy lauded a number of USS Fitzgerald sailors Friday for their emergency response efforts after a deadly collision on June 17. Seventh Fleet Commander Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal to 36 crew members "who distinguished themselves for their bravery and contributions to damage control efforts," a Navy statement said.
Niger Attack: Final Farewell Saturday for Sgt. La David Johnson
A funeral service was scheduled for Saturday morning at Christ the Rock Church in Cooper City, Fla., for U.S. Army Sgt. La David Terrence Johnson, one of four U.S. Green Berets killed in Niger on Oct. 4. On Friday night, mourners gathered at the church for a public viewing, the Miami Herald reported.
White House Adds Confusion to Controversy Over Phone Call to Widow
The White House added more confusion Friday to the controversy over what President Donald Trump did or didn't say in a phone call earlier this week to a Gold Star widow. Trump's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, said on the "Fox & Friends" show that she had read a transcript of the phone call, and it showed the president correctly trying to console the widow of Army Sgt. La David Johnson by stressing his honorable service to the nation.
Green Beret Hero Wants His MoH to Honor All Vietnam Vets
On Monday, Vietnam veteran Gary Michael "Mike" Rose will receive the Medal of Honor for his heroism during a secret mission into Laos that he promised never to discuss. The retired U.S. Army captain and 5th Special Forces medic is credited with risking his life on multiple occasions to treat about 70 wounded soldiers under enemy fire during Operation Tailwind. The daring mission was launched into Chavane, Laos, Sept. 11-14, 1970 and would not be declassified until June 1998.
World War I Vets: A National Memorial of Their Own
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