Military Officer - June 2007 - (Page 77)

pagesofhistory USS Monitor Center A new facility at the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, Va., presents the history of the famed Civil War ironclad — along with the actual turret and steam engine of the ship. T he USS Monitor Center opened its doors March 9, exactly 145 years after the historic clash between the Civil War ironclads USS Monitor and CSS Virginia. The new $30 million, 63,500-square-foot facility, located at the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Va., tells this Civil War story through original artifacts, archival materials, and recreated ship interiors. It also offers a close look at the conservation of actual pieces of the USS Monitor, including the ship’s turret and steam engine. T Battle of Midway he Battle of Midway looms large in history as a turning point in World War II. Now, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (FWS) plans to launch a visitor program that will help preserve Midway’s ecosystem and its military history. FWS hopes to open Midway later this year to 30 visitors at a time and will offer wildlife, history, kayaking, and snorkeling tours, as well as self-guided trails. The U.S. Naval Air Facility on Midway was closed in 1997, and the atoll has been closed to the public since 2002. Midway is part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands Marine National MonuTHIS MONTH IN HISTORY ■ On June 25, 1950, North Korea invaded ment, located 200 miles northwest of the main Hawaiian Islands and including some 4,500 acres of coral reef. The 2-square-mile atoll is home to nearly 2 million birds, including the Laysan Albatrosses (or “gooney birds”), monk seals, and more. The atoll contains several memorials to the Battle of Midway and remaining battlements and buildings from that period. Visitors also can see the remaining colonial-style cable company buildings erected in 1903 and the World War II-vintage commanding ofﬁcer’s house, where President Nixon once met secretly with South Vietnam’s President Nguyen Van Thieu. C Medal of Honor Day South Korea, sparking the Korean War. On June 27, President Truman ordered U.S. naval and air forces to South Korea to help the democratic nation repulse the Communist forces of the north. PHOTO: PH2 (DV) ERIC LIPPMANN, USN/DOD ongress has designated March 25 National Medal of Honor Day. On that day in 1863, the nation’s ﬁrst Medals of Honor were awarded to six men during the Civil War. Since then, the medal has been awarded to 3,460 people for courage under ﬁre; there are 111 recipients living today (as of March 27). In January, President George W. Bush presented a Medal of Honor to the parents of deceased Cpl. Jason Dunham, USMC (“Pages of History,” April 2007). The Navy plans to name its next guided-missile destroyer the USS Jason Dunham. MO JUNE 2007 A Navy diver works amidst the wreckage of the USS Monitor during a 2001 expedition that recovered the ironclad’s steam engine. MILITARY OFFICER 77

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Military Officer - June 2007 Contents From the Editor From the President Your Views MOAA Directory Rapid Fire Washington Scene Financial Forum Ask the Doctor Chapter Activities Getting the Best Care Stand By Me Promise for PTSD Cover Story: Heavy Duty Unified Medical Command Pages of History Faces of MOAA Information Exchange Member Books Advertising Index MOAA Member Services MOAA Calendar MOAA Scholarship Donors Sounding Taps Encore

Military Officer - June 2007

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