Iron Sailor Well Honored

by Smitty

The Navy will commission the newest Arleigh Burke class guided-missile destroyer, Stockdale, during an 11:00 a.m. PST ceremony on Saturday, April 18, 2009, in Port Hueneme, Calif.
Designated DDG 106, the new destroyer honors Medal of Honor recipient Vice Adm. James Bond Stockdale (1923-2005), the legendary leader of American prisoners of war (POWs) during the Vietnam War.
Stockdale was the highest-ranking naval officer ever held as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. His plane was shot down Sept. 9, 1965, while flying combat missions over North Vietnam. Stockdale spent more than seven years in captivity at prisons in North Vietnam, including time at the infamous “Hanoi Hilton.” Four of those years were spent in solitary confinement. While imprisoned, Stockdale is credited with organizing a set of rules to govern the behavior of fellow prisoners of war and for helping to develop a code for prisoners to communicate with each other that included tapping on cell walls. In recognition of his leadership and sacrifice he was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1976.

I never had the privilege of meeting the man in person, but his leadership model is all I retain from four years of leadersleep classes in college.
The other point of connection was voting for him and Perot in ’92, for which I was rewarded with eight years of Clinton.
In supporting the Tea Party protests, and struggling to restore the Constitution to relevance in Washington, DC, we can honor these men who’ve made what freedom we retain possible.

OMG, How Can You Shoot…

by Smitty (hat collection: Power Line, USNI blog)

Q: OMG, how can you shoot the Somali “voluntary coast guard” when they’ve hardly any way on?

A: Easy. You don’t lead them so much. Ain’t war hell?

Heroic U.S. captain escapes; SEALs kill 3 Somali ‘pirate’ terrorists, capture another

Go Navy!

More at Memeorandum.

UPDATE 3:34 P.M. ET: The Associated Press:

An American ship captain was freed unharmed Sunday in a U.S. Navy operation that killed three of the four Somali pirates who had been holding him for days in a lifeboat off the coast of Africa, a senior U.S. intelligence official said.
One of the pirates was wounded and in custody after a swift firefight, the official said.
Capt. Richard Phillips, 53, of Underhill, Vermont, was safely transported to a Navy warship nearby.

On Twitter, Tammy Bruce responded to the news by observing that the U.S. had apparently employed her plan: “Four bullets for four terrorists.” Meanwhile, our friend Paco has a modest proposal.

UPDATE 3:37 P.M. ET: “The spirit of United 93 remains alive and well.”

UPDATE 3:51 P.M. ET: I’d been curious to know how William Teach at Pirate’s Cove would react to this news, but nothing yet. However, it is “Patriotic Pinup Sunday.”

Meanwhile, I’m wondering why the headline at Ace of Spades HQ is not:
Somali pirates die of dehydration, seasickness and precisely aimed automatic weapons fire from U.S. Navy SEALs, but mostly . . .

UPDATE 4:10 p.m. ET: Fausta on Twitter: “The real meaning of Easter SEALS!”

UPDATE 4:17 p.m. ET: Via Outside the Beltway, the statement from the shipping company:

Norfolk, Va., April 12, 2009: Maersk Line, Limited was informed by the U.S. government at 1330 EDT today that Captain Richard Phillips has been rescued. John Reinhart, President and Chief Executive Officer of Maersk Line, Limited, called Captain Phillips’ wife, Andrea, to tell her the good news. The crew of the Maersk Alabama was jubilant when they received word.
Mr. Reinhart said, “We are all absolutely thrilled to learn that Richard is safe and will be re-united with his family. Maersk Line, Limited is deeply grateful to the Navy, the F.B.I. and so many others for their tireless efforts to secure Richard’s freedom. We join Richard’s family, his crew and his colleagues ashore in celebrating this wonderful news. We look forward to welcoming him home in the coming days.” Mr. Reinhart will hold a media briefing in Norfolk, Va., later on Sunday.

“Somebody grew a pair.”

UPDATE 4:20 p.m. ET: “From now on . . . ‘negotiations’ should be us telling the pirates and their envoys that if they surrender, we’ll let them live. If not, no quarter.”

UPDATE 4:27 p.m. ET: Linking a Boston Herald story about Capt. Phillips’ family reacting to the news, Jules Crittenden adds:

“[T]hose Somali elders the Americans were negotiating with might want the bodies of their clansmen. I’d suggest a delivery from altitude.”

Nah. Freaking pirates. Dump ’em overboard. Sharks got to eat too, ya know.

UPDATE 6:45 p.m. ET: Tom Maguire says, “Go Navy!”

UPDATE 7:30 p.m. ET: Donald Douglas: “[M]any of those on the left aren’t celebrating this event for the triumph of heroism that it is.” You don’t say! Professor Douglas links a liberal blogger who says: “I wonder which principled member of our corporate media will point out that, in the big picture, the Somali pirates are acting in self-defense?” Classic.

UPDATE 8:18 p.m. ET: “Anyone want to join me in a rousing game of Spank the Weasel?”

UPDATE 8:21 p.m. ET: by Smitty
Gateway Pundit points to Blackfive reporting, contrary to the AP, “This was not a rescue attempt ordered by National Command Authority i.e. the President. It was a reaction by the on scene commander under standard authority to safeguard the life of a hostage.” IOW, common delegation from policy makers to military has occurred. Encouraging.

UPDATE 10:07 p.m. ET: by Smitty
Squid blog Information Dissemination links Reuters quoting the pirates:

Somali pirates were quick to vow revenge over the shooting of their comrades, as well as a French military assault to rescue a yacht on Friday.
“The French and the Americans will regret starting this killing. We do not kill, but take only ransom. We shall do something to anyone we see as French or American from now,” Hussein, a pirate, told Reuters by satellite phone.

Because, somehow, merely ransoming prisoners makes the US the bad guy here.

Hartford / New Orleans Paint Swap

You’ve no doubt heard of the collision.

The collision resulted in minor injuries of 15 USS Hartford sailors and a ruptured fuel tank from the New Orleans which resulted in the loss of 25,000 gallons of diesel fuel into the ocean’s waters. Fortunately no damage was done to the submarine’s nuclear propulsion system.

Beyond the press release, some photos of the USS Hartford making way do a lot to assuage fears.
Thankfully, there was no loss of life as in the USS Greenville collision.

Elvis Once; Jesus, Not So Much

by Smitty
Hat Tip: Hot Air

Jesus sightings would seem to refute the idea of Evangelical Collapse:

Back to the post title, I did see Elvis once.
I was in Aft Steering aboard USS McClusky (FFG 41).

That’s at the extreme right of the picture, right at the waterline.
Looking at a blob of grease on one of the steering gear joints, I saw the King in profile.
“Look, it’s Elvis!” I yelled, because everyone in Aft Steering wears double hearing protection for a reason.
Rather than looking at this miracle in astonishment, my shipmates looked at me with concern…

Now, while a ship’s a she, I don’t think FFG-41 really buys us much in the Rule 5 department with RSM. Do forward your tasteful cheesecake photos post haste.