JOINT SERVICE HONORS COMMAND Monthly Newsletter March 2015 Volume 0315

If you would like to submit a column for this newsletter, please contact the editor: SSG Susan Planas at: jshcplanas@gmail.com

MILITARY COMMUNICATIONS

Despite frequent misuse in movies and on TV, which two procedure words (prowords) are NEVER to be said together, since they have conflicting meanings? Over and Out. "Over" means "I am finished with my message and an waiting for a reply", while "Out" means "I am finished, no reply expected". So, "Over and Out" may sound official to civilians, but it is incorrect and grates on the nerves of military communicators. The word "Repeat" means "Fire Again", so that word is never used to ask for a repetition. Which phrase does the U.S. military use to ask a sender to repeat their message? Say again. "Say again" means to repeat the entire message. If you only missed part, you can use "Say all after (last word heard)".

Ones like "Maverick" and "Bat-21" sound way cool...less so ones like "Alpha Two Mike". What are these forms of address called?

Call signs. Call signs serve to give a certain level of security by disguising the user's identity, and they are generally shorter than the official title of the person/unit using them. "SIGINT" is used to try to deduce the movements and intentions of the enemy. What does "SIGINT" stand for?

Signals Intelligence. Signals Intelligence includes intercepting, decrypting and analyzing enemy communications, both the communication itself (COMINT) and information about the location, purpose and technical details of the electronic transmitter (ELINT). Which single word, also a letter in the old phonetic alphabet and a man's name, is frequently used by military members to mean "I hear you". Roger. "Roger" represented the letter "R" in the old phonetic alphabet, and a single "R" in visual communications stands for "Received"; thus, "Roger" means "Message Received". The letter "R" in the modern phonetic alphabet is represented by "Romeo". Which "code", developed for one of the first means of electronic communication, is still used today to send messages by signal lamps or "flashing light" among ships? Morse code. Morse code was first used in telegraphy, with each letter of the alphabet consisting of a pattern of "dots" and "dashes". Flashing light signaling uses Morse code sent by a search light that has shutters fitted so that the light can be shown in short "dots" or longer "dashes". Which spectrum of light, that can be seen only with special equipment, is used to send short coded messages on a battlefield? IR - Infrared. Night vision devices "see" in the infrared spectrum, and allow trained operators to effectively operate at night, giving a great advantage over forces that don't have that capability. An IR light source

allows secure communications as only NVD-equipped persons can see the message. What is the name of the type of communication where naval ships have those pretty little multi-colored flags flying from their yardarms? Flag hoist. Flag hoist sends coded messages using flags that represent each letter of the alphabet, pennants that represent numbers and "special" pennants that have certain commonly used meanings such as "Turn" or "Prepare To..." Even national flags are used to communicate among military units - the basic information about the identity of the units. What word, also a military rank, is used to denote a national flag flown by a ship? Ensign. The Ensign (flag) is flown from warships and merchant ships to identify their country of origin. Many countries have different designs of their national flag that are flown by merchant ships, warships and civilian ships. The rank of Ensign is so-named as one of the early duties of that most-junior seagoing officer was as flag (Ensign) bearer. Sound-powered phones (SPP) are used both in warships and on battlefields where wires can be strung between friendly positions. What items don't SPP require, that make other systems more prone to failure? Batteries. Sound-powered phones do not require batteries; as the name indicates, the vibrations of the speaker's voice is all that is needed to produce the electricity needed to transmit the message along the wire. The basic SPP system developed in the 1930s remains unchanged today, providing reliable communications when all other systems failed due to lack of external power.

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SGT Bilko says… Are you better today than yesterday? Did you practice more today than yesterday? Two hours of practice in 30 days won’t make you better, just tired of not being better. The more you practice, the less tired you will feel. In fact, you will be better than yesterday…

Got that!

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Thank You!

On Saturday 24 Jan 2015, we provided military honors for Donald A Davis - Army, at Clovis Cemetery. The following is a ‘Thank You’

note from Donald’s wife, Rouene Davis: Dear Colonel Miller & Company, Thank you so much for the ceremony you performed for my husband’s funeral. It was wonderful and way beyond our expectations. This is such a special service you provide! Rouene Davis

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Why the Marine Hymn Contains the Verse… "To the Shores of Tripoli" Most Americans are unaware of the fact that over two hundred years ago, the United States had declared war on Islam, and Thomas Jefferson led the charge (1801 – 1815)! At the height of the eighteenth century, Muslim pirates were the terror of the Mediterranean and a large area of the North Atlantic. They attacked every ship in sight, and held the crews for exorbitant ransoms. Those taken hostage were subjected to barbaric treatment and wrote heart breaking letters home, begging their government and family members to pay whatever their Mohammedan captors demanded.

These extortionists of the high seas represented the Islamic nations of Tripoli, Tunis, Morocco, and Algiers – collectively referred to as the Barbary Coast and presented a dangerous and unprovoked threat to the new American Republic. Before the Revolutionary War, U.S. merchant ships had been under the protection of Great Britain. When the U.S. declared its independence and entered into war, the ships of the United States were protected by France. However, once the war was won, America had to protect its own fleets. Thus, the birth of the U.S. Navy. Beginning in 1784, seventeen years before he would

become president, Thomas Jefferson became America’s Minister to France. That same year, the U.S. Congress sought to appease its Muslim adversaries by following in the footsteps of European nations who paid bribes to the Barbary States, rather than engaging them in war. In July of 1785, Algerian pirates captured American ships, and the Day of Algiers demanded an unheard-of ransom of $60,000. It was a plain and simple case of extortion, and Thomas Jefferson was vehemently opposed to any further payments. Instead, he proposed to Congress the formation of a coalition of

allied nations who together could force the Islamic states into peace. A disinterested Congress decided to pay the ransom. In 1786, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams met with Tripoli’s ambassador to Great Britain to ask by what right his nation attacked American ships and

enslaved American citizens, and why Muslims held so much hostility towards America, a nation with which they had no previous contacts. The two future presidents reported that Ambassador Sidi Haji Abdul Rahman Adja had answered that Islam "was founded on the Laws of their Prophet, that it was written in their Quran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners, and that every Musselman (Muslim) who should be slain in Battle was sure to go to Paradise." Despite this stunning admission of premeditated violence on non-Muslim nations, as well as the objections of many notable American leaders, including George Washington, who warned that caving in was both wrong and would only further embolden the enemy, for the following fifteen years, the American government paid the Muslims millions of dollars for the safe passage of American ships or the return of American hostages. The payments in ransom and tribute amounted to over twenty percent of the United States government annual revenues in 1800. Jefferson was disgusted. Shortly after his being sworn in as the third President

of the United States in 1801, the Pasha of Tripoli sent him a note demanding the immediate payment of $225,000 plus $25,000 a year for every year forthcoming. That changed everything. Jefferson let the Pasha know, in no uncertain terms, what he could do with his demand. The Pasha responded by cutting down the flagpole at the American consulate and declared war on the United States. Tunis, Morocco, and Algiers immediately followed suit. Jefferson, until now, had been against America raising a naval force for anything beyond coastal defense, but having watched his nation be cowed by Islamic thuggery for long enough, decided that it was finally time to meet force with force. He dispatched a squadron of frigates to the Mediterranean and taught the Muslim of the Barbary Coast a lesson he hoped they would never forget.

Congress authorized Jefferson to empower U.S. ships to seize all vessels and goods of the Pasha of

Tripoli and to “cause to be done all other acts of precaution or hostility as the state of war would justify”. When Algiers and Tunis, who were both accustomed to American cowardice and acquiescence, saw the newly independent United States had both the will and might to strike back, they quickly abandoned their allegiance to Tripoli.

The war with Tripoli lasted for four more years, and raged up again in 1815. The bravery of the U.S. Marine Corps in these wars led to the line “to the shores of Tripoli” in the Marine Hymn, They would forever be known as “leathernecks” for the leather collars of their uniforms, designed to prevent their heads from being cut off by the Muslim scimitars when boarding enemy ships. Islam, and what its Barbary followers justified doing in the name of their prophet and their god, disturbed Jefferson quite deeply. America had a tradition of religious tolerance. In fact, Jefferson himself had co-authored the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, but fundamentalist Islam was like no other religion the world had ever seen. A religion based on supremacism, whose holy book not only condoned but mandated violence against

unbelievers was unacceptable to him. His greatest fear was that someday this brand of Islam would return and pose an even greater threat to the United States. This history lesson can be found on Google, Thomas Jefferson vs the Muslim World or on this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War

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WHO IS THIS JSHC MEMBER?

Don’t know??? Last month’s member: SFC John Lynch

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CHAPLAINS CORNER

In reading Philippians 2:5-8, we see that Jesus left heaven came to earth to die on the cross for us. As we read God’s word it is, at times, difficult to fully understand why Jesus did what he

did. In fact the entire gospel message runs contrary to the human way of thinking. For example: The Creator dying for His creation. The judge paying the penalty for the guilty. The Immortal One dying for the mortal. The sinless God substituting for human sinners. To us, these just don’t make sense. No man could have come up with this scheme of redemption.

Yes, no man could, but God did and he did it before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4-6). As human beings we have difficulty in understanding fully the ways of God, however if we remember the words of Isaiah it will help us understand. Read Isaiah 55:8-9. We see that God’s thoughts and ways are not like ours. Often we think we know what is best for us, but even though we don’t fully understand God’s ways at times, God knows what is best for us. God loves us and only wants the best for us. Aren’t you grateful for God’s ways and what he has done for us? Chaplain Ed Planas

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JUST FOR TRAINING What are the 5 rest positions that can be given at the halt? 1. Parade rest 2. Stand at ease 3. At ease 4. Rest 5. Ceremonial at ease From what position are all stationary movements given? Position of attention What foot is your leading foot? Your left foot

When marching, who is the only person in a platoon that is never out of step? The platoon guide is the person responsible for maintaining the prescribed direction and rate of march. If you were marching a squad, when would you give the command "squad halt"? When either foot strikes the ground

On what foot would you give the command "Mark time march"? On either foot What is cover? Aligning yourself directly behind the man to your immediate front, while maintaining correct distance How do you measure a "step"? Heel to heel What is Close Interval? The lateral space between soldiers, measured from right to left by the soldier on the right placing the heel of his left hand on his hip, even with the top of the belt line, fingers and thumb joined and extended downward, with his elbow in line with the body and touching the arm of the soldier to his left. What is Double Interval? The lateral space between soldiers, measured from right to left by raising both arms shoulder high with the fingers extended and joined (palms down) so that fingertips are touching the fingertips of the soldiers to the right and to the left. What is Normal Interval? The lateral space between soldiers, measured from right to left by the soldier on the right holding his left arm shoulder high, fingers and thumb extended and joined, with the tip of his middle finger touching the right shoulder of the soldier to his left. What command is given to revoke a preparatory command? As You Were What is the interval between the preparatory command and the command of execution? 1 step or 1 count What are the two parts of most drill command? 1. Preparatory command 2. Command of execution

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AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

The following awards or decorations were presented during the month of February 2015.

The Department of Defense Honors Ribbon and Two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters

Completion of 75 Services CPT Bill Jamison

The Department of Defense Honors Ribbon with One Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster

Completion of 50 Services Cpl Tony Barraza

The Department of Defense Honors Ribbon

Completion of 25 Services SFC John Lynch

The JSHC Service Ribbon

Completion 200 Hours CPT Steve Bryant

The JSHC Drill Attendance Ribbon

Completion of 1 Year Attendance CPT Vic Weatherly

The JSHC Longevity Service Ribbon

Completion of 3 years MCPO John Dudek

The Bugler Badge

Completion of 5 Services CPT Steve Bryant

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PROMOTION

SSG Susan Planas and SSG Gene Lehnick were promoted to the rank of Sergeant First Class.

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MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF OF STAFF

THE SUCCESS OF THE JOINT SERVICE HONORS COMMAND IS AND MUST BE THAT THE MEMBERS FEEL BONDED BY A COMMON GOAL. THAT THEY SHARE AN ESPRIT DE CORPS, and finally (and perhaps most importantly) THAT EACH MEMBER OF JSHC BUILDS THE OTHERS UP. I feel that we must strive to continue to do these things and even to improve and build on them. If we do, I believe that each of us will always feel proud to be able to say, “I am a member of the JOINT SERVICE HONORS COMMAND, the best veteran’s military honors organization there is anywhere.”

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STATISTICS

February 2015: During this month, we have completed 8 solo Honor Services.

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NEXT DRILL

The next drill will be on Wednesday 18 March 2015 at 7 PM at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building. Uniform is class B.

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MARCH BIRTHDAYS

CPT Steve Bryant 12th SSgt Luis Burrell 12th Lt Col Ron Estep 21st

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TO SUBMIT A STORY OR COLUMN Please email your story or photos to jshcplanas@gmail.com BEFORE the 20th day of the month to be considered for the next month’s newsletter.

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WEBSITE Please visit the site at www.jshc.info.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Current Board of Directors are: Col Miller – Chairman of the Board, BG Murphy, Capt Espinosa, CSM Pfeifer, 1SG Riccardo, SFC Planas & SFC Lehnick. The Board of Directors meet on the 4th Tuesday of every month at 1025 ‘T’ Street, Fresno, CA.

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FACE BOOK GROUP Joint Service Honors Command has a new Face Book Group, Joint Service Honors Command - Fresno. You must have a Face Book page to be added to our group. If you have a Face Book page, ‘friend’ SFC Planas to be added to the group.

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COMMAND STAFF Brigadier General Dean Murphy, Commander 559-448-6551  jshc.1.star@gmail.com  

Captain Ken Bain, Chief of Staff, California Brigade 559-547-8550 klbain@sbcglobal.net Lieutenant Commander Conrad Bitters 1st Battalion Commander 559-974-1510 clbitter5@att.net CPT Kevin Pendley, Recruiting Officer 559-322-5057 klpendley@gmail.com Comments and Suggestions: If you wish to contact the editor, please call SFC Susan Planas at 559-240-1736 or email at jshcplanas@gmail.com

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