60th year, No. 20
Serving the NATO, Naples and Gaeta Military Community in Italy
Friday, May 22, 2015
Hunter Hayes Performs at Central Park
Defense Secretary Ash Carter
Hunter Hayes, American country music singer-songwriter held a concert at the Support Site Central Park, Wednesday evening for hundreds of service members and their families. The free concert was organized by USO Naples and MWR. Photo by MC2 Emily Boger
Remembering Carl:
WORD SEARCH / COLOR ME 12 JOBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
NOMINATION Page 11
By Cathy Caldwell
Capt. Doug Carpenter, center, and Family Support and Youth Programs board members present a check for $3,963.13 May 18 to representatives from Boy Scout Troop 007, the Protestant Women of the Chapel, and the Region Legal Service Office Recreation and Quality of Life Committee. The Family Support and Youth Programs funds raised during the Combined Federal Campaign-Overseas are returned to overseas installations and invested in quality-of-life programs to directly improve the experience of living abroad, support single service members and help ease the transition for families and children. Photo by MCC Travis Simmons
CAPTAIN’S CORNER. . . . . . . . . 2 BASE NOTES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 ITALIAN NEWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 NAVY HISTORY / SPOTLIGHT. . 4 FFSC CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . 5 SOUND OFF . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 MOVIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 USO TOURS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
SeCNaV: BiG CHaNGeS . . . . . . page 7
MeMorial day . . . .page 12
By MCC Julianne Metzger Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
Defense Secretary Ashton Carter announced today during a Pentagon press briefing that he has recommended Adm. John M. Richardson as the next Chief of Naval Operations (CNO). A career submarine officer, Richardson is currently director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program. If confirmed, Richardson will replace Adm. Jonathan W. Greenert who has been CNO since September 2011. Greenert will retire this fall after 40 years of naval service. “John Richardson is one of our finest officers and I have great confidence that he is the right leader for our Navy,” Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said. Greenert also praised Richardson if confirmed, “Adm. John Richardson is an ideal strategic leader to keep our Navy moving forward,” he said. “He cares about our Sailors, has the background and experience in dealing with tough challenges combined with expert judgment that will guide our Navy well,” Greenert continued. “He has played a fundamental role in addressing many of our current and future challenges. I am confident he will ensure our Navy’s seapower, now and in the future.”
A World War II Remembrance of a Fallen Soldier Chaplain Dirk Caldwell had no idea the adventure he was about to embark upon when his duty phone rang one evening in September 2014. On the other end was Rose Marie Elsner, who was on a quest to find the place where her brother Staff Sergeant Charles “Carl” Ross, had died along with 10 other soldiers in a B-24 plane crash near the San Giovanni airfield on Aug. 15, 1944. “I wanted to make sure he was not forgotten and to keep his legacy alive,” Elsner said. With that phone call, the journey Elsner had started many years earlier to honor her brother, would soon be nearing the end. Elsner was born the youngest of six children. Two of her older brothers were serving in World War II; John Ross was in the Navy and Carl was an Army Air Corp Radio Operator and Tail Gunner. “Carl was kind,” Elsner said. “He could play the piano, he loved my Mother’s cabbage rolls, he was engaged to a lovely girl, and he was funny.” His death changed her family forever. One of Elsner’s early memories was asking her mother REMEMBERING CARL Page 6
Nomination for Next Chief of Naval Operations Announced