THE BROKEN MAN???

THE BROKEN MAN???

A FOOT, A HAND, AN ARM, A LEG,

AN EYE, THEIR MIND.

THEIR SKIN IS BURNT.

THEIR PRIDE IS HURT.

MOST TIMES THEY'RE LOST,

BECAUSE THEY'RE FOUND;

THE WOUNDED SONS,

HOME FROM FOREIGN LANDS.

WE TRY SO TO UNDERSTAND,

THE HELL THEY LIVE

UPON THIS EARTH.

THEY DIDN'T COME HOME

IN A FLAG DRAPPED COFFIN.

MOST PARTS ARE HERE;

TRYING TO FIT IN.

AN HONOR IS GIVEN AT A SPECIAL EVENT,

BUT HAVE YOU REACHED OUT

AND TALKED TO A VET?

CAN WE TRUELY UNDERSTAND?

WHAT MAKES UP THE BROKEN MAN?

JAMES PAIR

USS STARK '83-'87

USS STARK FFG-31, 1987 Combat Action Ribbon? Fact of Fiction?, You Decide

Correction notice, on the attached documents at the end of this post. Please note:

"In the list of enclosures 1-5, the bulletized point paper which is part of encl 5 states "...Iran and Iran..." on the first line of the Executive Issues section. An identical error is in the paragraph white paper, also part of encl 5, in the first line of the Background paragraph.

If you haven't submitted the documents to your congressmen yet, once you print the file please make a small pen change to one of the "Iran"s in both papers so it now states "Iraq".

If you are not submitting documents to your Congressmen, than no action is necessary."

Following is some interesting reading material put together by a fellow USS STARK shipmate, Tom Forrest CAPT USN.  We need your help, Please read the information below and If you would like to support the 1987 USS STARK Crew in receiving the Combat Action Ribbon, please contact your congressmen and have your voice heard. All the information is listed below. You can email me at markwasnock@gmail.com if you would like the editable word document "Letter to Congress template". You can even help by sending me your acknowledged in support of this award prior to April 8, 2013. Complete contact information is needed (Name, Address, City, State, zip code, email or phone number) 

The Waz

--------------------

BACKGROUND:

In 2006, while assigned to US Fleet Forces Command, I asked the Deputy Commander, VADM Cosgriff, if he would assist me in routing a CR package to the Secretary of the Navy for review and approval. I later received an email trail which included a note from VADM Cosgriff stating that both the OPNAV and SECNAV staffs were not in favor of reviewing a nomination and it would be "a dead letter." Concurrently, I approached then-US Senatorial candidate James Webb for his thoughts. As you may recall, he was the Secretary of the Navy at the time of the attack. He indicated to me, through his staff, that he would have supported the CR had a nomination been submitted back in 1987. Additionally, I contacted VADM Kalleres (Ret), the Commander of Cruiser-Destroyer Group Twelve at the time of the attack, who also endorsed the idea of a CR submission.

After the 20th Anniversary commemoration in 2007, I discussed the conversations and correspondence that I had with the 3 advocates listed above with fellow STARK crewmembers in order to gauge their support -- it was overwhelmingly positive. Unfortunately, I was unable to continue pursuing my efforts because of other competing work and personal priorities, including two 1-year deployments to Afghanistan from 2008-2011.

In May 2012, I reengaged with Senator Webb's office and he took the unusual step of endorsing my request and sent an inquiry on my behalf to Secretary of the Navy Mabus (this was significant because I was told Senator Webb rarely gets involved with awards.) In October 2012, SECNAV replied to Senator Webb that according to the Board of Decorations and Medals the STARK's crew was not nominated for the CR and additionally does not merit the award. This seems inconsistent to me since 4 other Navy ship's crews that were involved in similar circumstances received the CR, including 2 incidents after 1987.

WHERE YOU FIT IN

Prior to Senator Webb's retirement in January 2013, his staff recommended that I notify STARK crewmembers, family and friends and ask them to contact their Congressmen to solicit their support to have SECNAV direct another review of the nomination package by the "Awards Board".

The attached files are as follows:

1) The Word document is a template similar to the one I created for my local Representative, who I hope will champion this effort with help from other Congressmen in the House and Senate. Given that it is a Word file, you may edit it as you see fit and send it to your Representative and Senators at their Washington DC or local office.

2) The Adobe attachment is pertinent for your review and should accompany your letter to your Congressmen. It includes the disapproval letter from the Secretary of the Navy to Senator Webb, letters which counter/contest the Board's findings, and the original CR nomination and supporting documentation given to Senator Webb in May 2012.

I have also created a separate generic letter (not attached) that I will send to various Congressmen, including committee leaders and politicians in your state, which will contain a list of names supporting this overall effort. Would you be willing to endorse this letter by allowing me to include your name on the list? If so, please reply to me as soon as possible with your name, address, and an email address (or phone number if no email.) Your signature is not required, as your personal information infers permission. I need your information no later than April 8th and it is not limited to one submission per crewman, family or household.

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns. This e-mail is being sent to everyone that provided an e-mail address to Mr. Richard Weaver (father of ET3 Wayne Weaver) who created a STARK contact list last May, plus a few other addresses I had filed away. I don't know if everyone who attended the 25th anniversary commemoration put their name on the list, but I'm sure there are many others out there who attended or were unable to attend who would be willing to join this effort. As a result, I encourage you to forward this e-mail and attachments to anyone you know who is part of the STARK family, but not on Mr. Weaver's contact list, as well as post it on any STARK social media sites to garner even more support. I recall that Vince Diantonio had a pretty extensive contact list a few years ago, but I don't know how many of those email addresses are still active.

I look forward to hearing from you before April 8th, and please don't spam everyone in the To: line...it includes some work email addresses.

Tom Forrest

CAPT USN

"Letter to Congress template"

Subject: Fw: Marines want this ALL OVER THE NET, PLEASE Forward it

This is really good and needs to be sent on.

THE UNITED STATES NAVY SALUTES OUR U.S. .. MARINE CORPS.... 

Please don't delete this until you send it on, Let’s send it around the world.

THE MARINES WANT THIS TO ROLL ALL OVER THE U.S. , Canada and The World.

FRIENDS ARE BORN, NOT MADE

This is a poem being sent from a Marine To his Dad. For those who take the time to read it, you’ll see a letter from him to his dad at the bottom. It makes you truly thankful for not only the Marines, but ALL of our troops.

THE MARINE 

We all came together,

Both young and old

To fight for our freedom,

To stand and be bold.

In the midst of all evil,

We stand our ground,

And we protect our country

From all terror around...

Peace and not war,

Is what some people say.

But I'll give my life,

So you can live the American way.

I give you the right

To talk of your peace.

To stand in your groups,

And protest in our streets.

But still I fight on,

I don't bitch, I don't whine.

I'm just one of the people

Who is doing your time.

I'm harder than nails,

Stronger than any machine.

I'm the immortal soldier,

I'm a U.S. MARINE!

So stand in my shoes,

And leave from your home.

Fight for the people who hate you,

With the protests they've shown.

Fight for the stranger,

Fight for the young.

So they all may have,

The greatest freedom you've won.

Fight for the sick,

Fight for the poor.

Fight for the cripple,

Who lives next door.

But when your time comes, 

Do what I've done. 

For if you stand up for freedom, 

You'll stand when the fight's done

By: Corporal Aaron M. Gilbert , US Marine Corps
USS SAIPAN, PERSIAN GULF

July 23
Hey Dad,
Do me a favor and label this 'The Marine' and send it to everybody on your email list. Even leave this letter in it. I want this rolling all over the US and Canada and The World. I want every home reading it. Every eye seeing it. And every heart to feel it. So can you please send this for me? I would but my email time isn't that long and I don't have much time anyway.
You know what Dad? I wondered what it would be like to truly understand what JFK said in his inaugural speech. 'When the time comes to lay down my life for my country, I do not cower from this responsibility. I welcome it. ' Well, now I know. And I do... Dad, I welcome the opportunity to do what I do. Even though I have left behind a beautiful wife, and I will miss the birth of our first born child, I would do it 70 times over to fight for the place that God has made for my home. I love you all and I miss you very much. I wish I could be there when Sandi has our baby, but tell her that I love her, and Lord willing, I will be coming home soon. Give Mom a great big hug from me and give one to yourself too.
Aaron
Please let this marine (and all our military)know we care by passing his poem onto your friends even if you don't usually take time to forward mail...do it this time!
Thanks,
Let's help Aaron's dad spread the word .......FREEDOM isn't FREE
Someone pays for you and me.

 

God bless you!

____________________

Forwarded to me via email -Waz

ONE down and THIRTY-SIX (or more) to go

Darla and I paying our respects to Bill Hansen, Revere, MA. May 27, 2012

I made it through my trip to the USS STARK memorial. It was filled with all kinds of emotions. Best of all it was great to see some of my STARK mates from 25 years past. I have put some of my reunion pictures up on my Facebook page InWazWeTrust.

After following in the wake of the USS STARK's 25th Memorial Dinner and Ceremony held at Ocean Breeze on Mayport Naval Station, Florida on May 16, 2012. I now have (for the first time) a bucket-list (life-goal) to accomplish. 

I want to find and visit the hometown sites that have made memorial's to my STARK brothers that were

Killed in Action.

This Memorial Day Weekend I visited the street named after Bill Hansen in Revere, MA. Many thanks to Robert Hansen for feeding me that information through Facebook.

While I was there, I spoke with a gentleman that was walking his dog and he remembered the Hansen family. He also thought there use to be a sign posted next to the street sign honoring Bill. I looked high and low and it sadden me that I could not find a memorial plaque for him. 

I will remember you!

FC3 Bill Hansen (playing white guitar), KIA on May 17, 1987. The USS STARK band, Poison Squirrels from Hell.

I have completed 1 of 37, so please help me complete my goal. If you know of any USS STARK memorial sites across this country please forward that information to me. I will combined a list of them.

If only I could have told myself...

I had the same dream again last night as I did the night before. The dream-fairy has been working over-time on me lately. Which I find odd, because I usually don't sleep well enough to dream. When I do dream its usually, a much more violent-type nightmare that I don't remember, causing me to wake-up in a cold, wet, pillow-soaked puddle.

This dream was more peaceful and again I find it odd because its not the "normal" for me. Having the same dream over again and actually remembering it is very fascinating to me. Last night's dream was just a little more clearer the second time than what I remember from the first. I actually found myself wanting to go back to sleep and replaying it, to see what else comes to light.

The location was "someplace", USA. I don't know where this place was but it was a very rural-isolated location. It was warm, not hot, just comfortably-pleasant. The sun was out and there were lots of green trees all around, small patches of grass that looked freshly mowed and well maintained. There was no one else in my dream, it was just me and I was content with that.
In this dream, I could see myself, as myself, as I am today. A fat middle-aged man driving down a countryside back-road. The car or maybe it was a small light-weight pickup truck; I'm not sure if it was a car or truck, but it was white and clean. I was driving with both the drivers window and passenger window open and there was absolutely no wind noise as I drove. I don't know where I was heading or for how long, it was just a feeling that I had to keeping going forward.

Ahead in the distance, I could see up-coming railroad tracks and a right-handed bend in the road. In the meander of the turn, off to right, was a very old-looking deteriorated wooded shed. Maybe a train station at one time but long since made useless.

As I slowed down to cross-over the railroad tracks, I saw a young man standing tall, waiting near this rotted shed. I came to a complete stop to look at this person. He was young and in good shape, he was wearing his navy dress uniform (I don't remember if he was wearing his white or service dress blues). He was just standing there, determined to wait, STANDING! not at attention but not relaxed either. just-waiting, as if something was going to happen at any moment. In the background, just over-the-head of where he was standing, hanging on the old building was a sign that read "Wait Here" or "Waiting Station" (I'm not sure which but I think you get the point).

I could see a medal pinned to his chest and I could read something attached to his uniform sleeve, it read USS STARK (FFG-31). Seeing his unit patch made me very interested in this person. I didn't feel scared but somewhat in-reserves of approaching him. Did I know him? Who was he? What was he doing out here in nowhere all alone? I think what I wanted to know the most was What was he waiting for!

Old me decides to walk-up and ask this young sailor "What are you waiting for" The young man replied, "I'm waiting for the USS STARK". That's when I realized I was talking to myself and woke-up.

Tomorrow, I leave for Florida and I'm feeling anxious and nervous about the STARK memorial reunion. I think I need to just keeping going forward.

Hopes for a STARK Memorial Wall

I would very much like to share some information about the potential of a STARK Memorial for the USS STARK Sailors that perished on May 17th 1987. I lack the depths to explain in words the importance this would mean to me and my other STARK shipmates. Please see the letter below and help me get this information out to the Primary Next of Kin. I would be honored to help assist with this project.

Most Respectfully,
Mark Wasnock, SCPO, USN(Ret.)

The below information is from the Facebook Group USS STARK

Good Afternoon,

My Name is Dion Beauchamp and I have been working with Tony Ross to develop a plan to make the STARK Memorial Wall a reality.

It seems Tony and I have put the cart before the horse in regard to the idea of the STARK Memorial Wall. To make this memorial a reality, we need 19 of the 37 Primary Next of Kin (PNOK) to agree to a STARK Memorial Wall. (All 37 if possible) before we can be taken seriously. If you know of a USS STARK Association that already exists please forward me the contact information.

If there is not currently a USS STARK association, I would like each of you on this email to contact the PNOK of a Patriot Shipmate who perished May 17th 1987, and forward them my contact information. I need the PNOK to contact me with their relationship to the fallen shipmate and whether or not they agree to the STARK Memorial Wall Concept and if they agree to have their family members picture on the Wall. (This must be in a letter format)

Tony has done a great deal of work and research to the feasibility and cost of a STARK Memorial Wall, However, we simply cannot proceed without the PNOK support.

I am not contacting you as the Command Master Chief of DESRON 14, or as a Master Chief with any affiliation to Naval Station Mayport, but simply as a private citizen that desires to make the STARK Memorial Wall become reality.

The Greater Mayport Chief Petty Officers Association and many independent Chief Petty Officers Associations aboard Naval Station Mayport have agreed to donate/sponsor the STARK Memorial Dinner. These Associations are showing support of the Memorial dinner; however this event is not endorsed or sponsored by Naval Station Mayport.

I have to explain all of this because I want everyone to be clear on who you are being contacted by. Tony and I are coordinating this effort as private citizens and in no way want to misrepresent ourselves. We have no agreement with any organization (including, but not limited to NS Mayport), to sponsor the STARK Memorial Wall.

So here is what we have to do:

1. Make contact and verify all 37 PNOK and confirm that the WALL Idea should proceed.

2. Develop a vehicle by which all donations and monies can be tracked. This would be a board type of association or foundation that has a 508.1(C) current and in effect.

3. Appoint a project manager to put together a professional proposal, site surveys, cost analysis, work with NAVFAC and other organizations on the base to obtain permits etc....

4. Officially bring the proposal for the STARK Memorial Wall to the NS MAYPORT CO.

At this point we have proposed an idea; however without PNOK support and a true plan, we can not proceed any further. Please help us make the STARK Memorial a reality.

Very Respectfully,

Dion Beauchamp

President Reagan's Remarks at a Memorial Service for Crew members of the USS Stark in Jacksonville

The month of May is a much more difficult month than the rest of them, at least for me. It stirs up all kinds of emotions, what-if's, dreams and nightmare's related to the USS STARK. I wonder why and how the events played-out the way they did and what I could have done differently. My brothers; "I miss you and I owe all a debt of gratitude for which I can never repay. You will always be in my heart and never forgotten".