We have just received the following concerning the USS Cole. It came to us like this - - Lt. John Cassani, Supply Officer on the USS Anchorage, to John M. Papp, street-rodder@juno.com; to KurtSeabee@aol.com; to DAVNY@optonline.net. We thought you might be interested:

"John, Your friend said it all. We too are on station and I will be going over there in the morning to provide a lunch. I wanted to grill steak for them on their deck, but there is still too much oil and fuel, not to mention every square foot of deck is now their living space, to set up a grill. Their requests have been simple, hot food, cold drinks and dry coveralls and boots. The ships here are all taking turns doing their laundry and cooking their meal. The Cole's crew has been offered repeatedly to take R&R on another ship but most have refused. They refuse to leave their ship. The details of their shipmates having to be cut from the bulkheads and descriptions and photos of the description have filtered to our ship. It is amazing that more were not killed. It is equally amazing that it is still afloat. The keel is ripped apart and at present cannot even be towed to open water to be placed on a dry-dock vessel. The #1 engine room is flooded solid, as is AUX 1. The Messdecks deck is now pressed against the overhead. The entire galley was pushed to the starboard side and the equipment is unrecognizable. This is where many crew members died. The ship was very nearly lost. They are truly heroes. We all have a lot to do to save this vessel but the crew of the Cole has endured the brunt of it so far. I have vowed myself and my department to offer any comfort, large or small that we are capable of providing, to the Cole. None of my guys have once complained and all have volunteered to help in any way.

The Cole's SuppO was injured and flown home. The DisbO is now running things. I will assess his needs when I go over. The SuppO on the Hawes has been controlling the efforts but now that the Tarawa is on station they seem to be taking the reins, but I think I can at least provide him some insight. Let there be no doubt that this is a hostile land. It took days before we were even allowed to enter territorial waters and still we are heavily restricted in flights and must maintain a constant vigil against additional hostile actions. The Yemen government is still not being very helpful and we are trying to place all personnel onboard the ships that are currently staying at the two hotels in town. The Cole's crew remains emotionally and physically drained I'm told. So, since you have experienced Navy life, try relay to those back home the sacrifices we make, hardships they endure, and the dangers we face in an effort to keep those Stars and Stripes flying high over a wounded ship 10,000 miles from home.

Take care and sleep well knowing the US Navy is on watch tonight, but say a prayer for the 250 members of the Cole who must wake tomorrow to another day of fighting for their ship."

Amen.

LEGISLATION APPROVED TO DEDICATE MEMORIAL TO DISABLED VETERANS

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) is praising the leadership of Sens. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) and Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) in passing legislation in the Senate to create a national memorial in Washington, D.C. to uniquely honor veterans who became disabled while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. The legislation (H.R. 1509) authorizing the memorial was actively supported by Sens. Lott, Daschle and other leading members of the U.S. House and Senate.

"We are very grateful to Sens. Lott and Daschle on this issue and the Senate for passing this important legislation to create a memorial for disabled veterans," said Foundation President Arthur H. Wilson, who is also National Adjutant of the Disabled American Veterans (DAV). "It is gratifying to see all our hard work on Capitol Hill result in the passing of H.R. 1509," Foundation Chairman Lois B. Pope said. "It allows us to begin the exciting work in making this important memorial a reality." The bill had been approved by the House and has now been sent to the President for signing.

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), a Navy pilot who was a Vietnam prisoner of war for five and a half years, had sponsored similar legislation in the Senate, and Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Tex.), an Air Force pilot who spent nearly seven years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, was the House sponsor of H.R. 1509. Among those in Congress co-sponsoring the memorial project are Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.), a severely disabled Vietnam veteran and former Administrator of the Veterans Administration, and Rep. Jack Murtha (D-Pa.), a 35-year Marine Corps veteran.

"We cannot restore the health of those Americans who incurred a disability as a result of their military service," Sen. McCain said during an Oct. 13, 1999, hearing of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation. "It is within our power, however, to authorize a memorial that would clearly signal the nation's gratitude to all whose disabilities serve as a living reminder of the toll war takes on its victims."

Site selection for the memorial has begun and the Foundation is working with the National Park Service and other agencies to comply with all relevant statutes and regulations. The Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation, Inc., was created in association with the Disabled American Veterans as a public, nonprofit corporation to conduct a national fund-raising campaign for the memorial. The Campaign is led by Foundation Chairman Lois B. Pope, Foundation President Wilson, and Executive Director Jesse Brown, former Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

DR. OLE LINDEFJELD, M.D., LAUDED FOR EXPERT OPINIONS

Albion J. Giordano, Supervisor of our New York City National Service office dropped the following letter at Headquarters.

"Approximately, two years ago, the hierarchy of the Department of New York and the Finance Committee had the foresight to identify the contributions which could be elicited by the employment of a medical consultant here in the New York City National Service Office. Since that time, Dr. Lindefjeld has provided in excess of 250 medical opinions in support of claims for benefits for disabled veterans here in The New York City VA Regional Office as well as the Buffalo and Syracuse VA Regional Offices. This assistance has been especially valuable in light of the VA's policy of requiring, "well grounded" claims from veterans prior to assisting them in the development of their claims. If asked to put a dollar value on the benefits obtained directly due to Ole Lindejeld's opinions, It would surely equate to hundreds of thousands of dollars in retroactive and future benefits.

At this time, on, behalf of all National Service Officers in the Department of New York, I would like to express our heartfelt appreciation for your dedication and commitment to assisting our fellow disabled veterans."

Department Finance Committee, Take a Bow!

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SURVEY FOR CAMP LEJEUNE MARINE FAMILIES

The Department of Defense had announced that Marine Corps officials are trying to reach about 10,000 former residents of on-base housing at Camp Lejeune, N.C. who may have been exposed to contaminants in the water supply prior to 1985.

The effort is being made in support of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), a public health service agency. ATSDR is attempting to survey previous on-base housing residents to determine if exposure to drinking water may be related to specific health concerns in children that were conceived during the time of exposure. The survey, which began in September 1999, is seeking parents of those children born or conceived while living at base family housing at Camp Lejeune between 1968 and 1985. It is important for all individuals who qualify for the survey to participate, whether or not their children have experienced any health concerns.

Depending on the results of the survey, the ATSDR may conduct a health study to enhance scientific understanding of the health risks associated with exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the water supply. It is now known that VOCs were present in base water distribution systems that provided water to on-base housing.

The survey focuses on two specific VOCs, tetrachloroethylene (PCE), also called perchloroethylene, and trichloroethylene (TCE), often used in dry cleaning or as degreasers. Those substances were found in the Camp Lejeune water systems that supplied the on-base housing areas prior to 1985.

The 35-question health survey is conducted by telephone to gather data which may be used in a follow-up scientific research study about the effects that these substances may have on children when exposed before birth.

All families whose children were born or conceived at Camp Lejeune from 1968 through 1985 are encouraged to participate in this survey, whether or not the child has exhibited any health concerns. To participate, call the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at (800) 639-4270. NORC is conducting the survey for the ATSDR.