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Vol. 19, No. 46 Norfolk, VA | flagshipnews.com | 11.17.11
USS Truman commanding officer dies unexpectedly Press Release Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Public Affairs
The commanding officer of the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) died suddenly, Nov. 8, at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Capt. Tushar Tembe was departing the ship at approximately 10 a.m. when he collapsed. The ship’s medical response team provided immediate medical assistance until Tembe could be transported to Bons Secours Maryview Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. The cause of death has not been determined. “We offer our sincere condolences to Capt. Tembe’s wife and children, his family and the Truman crew. They are in our thoughts and our prayers as we deal with this tragic loss. Capt. Tembe served the Navy and our nation honorably and with great distinction. We honor his outstanding contributions to our nation,” said -Rear Adm. Ted Branch, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic Rear Adm. Ted Branch, Commander, Naval Air Force Atlantic. Tembe, 49, a naval aviator, assumed command of Truman last August. He was born in Bombay, India and came to the United States as a child and later graduated from Texas Tech University. After receiving his Wings of Gold, Tembe flew a variety of aircraft, including the F/A-18 Hornet. His many assignMC3 Billy Ho ments included commanding officer of Strike A group of F/A-18A+ Hornets, attached to Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 87, fly the missing man forma- Fighter Squadron Eighty Seven (VFA 87), the tion in remembrance of Capt. Tushar Tembe, Commanding Officer of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). “Golden Warriors” at NAS Oceana.
Capt. Tembe served the Navy and our nation honorably and with great distinction. We honor his outstanding contributions to our nation.”
US Navy file photo The commanding officer of the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75), Capt. Tushar Tembe, died suddenly, Nov. 8, at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
Tembe is survived by his wife and two sons. A full military funeral will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. Capt. Dee Mewbourne assumed command of USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) in a ceremony, Nov. 11, following the sudden death of Tembe.
Mail services cease, sign of service members heading home Nov. 13 marks last day for services for Army post office in Iraq By U.S. Army Spc. Anthony T. Zane 362nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
COB ADDER, IRAQ
With the expectation that U.S. Armed Forces will be out of Iraq by the end of the year, the number of service members leaving the country continues to increase, while the volume of incoming mail decreased. The Army Post Office (APO) on Contingency Operating Base Adder stopped receiving incoming mail and notified service members onbase that Nov. 13 is the last day for postal services. “We sent out notification 90 days before the deadline so Soldiers could prepare and allow them time to send what they needed home,” said Sgt. Christian Sanchez, contracting officer representative, Postal Platoon, 1-502nd Human Resource Company, from Miami, Fla. Hours of operation have been extended, staying open three additional hours per day. “We were expecting to be really busy, so we extended the hours,” said Sanchez. “The idea was to keep it open late so people who work a 12-hour
shift would have a chance to get to the APO and mail their stuff home,” said Sanchez. In the past, civilian contractors have operated the APO, but with the drawdown, all operations are in a transition phase. Right now, the 1-502nd Postal Platoon supervises and assists the civilian employees, but will take over full operations of the APO when they leave country. “We help the APO with customers, so they don’t have too many people in line here trying to mail stuff,” said Sanchez. “At the same time, we’ve been doing our mobile missions on the COB.” With an abundance of mail being shipped back to the states by service members, the processing time to inspect and seal packages is surprisingly short. “It’s been running smoothly,” said Spc. Rosemary Siatunuu, military postal mission non-commissioned officein-charge, Postal Platoon, 1-502nd HR Company, from Waipahu, Hawaii. “The flow of people in the line hasn’t been that long. The wait time is about 10 minutes on average.” In addition to their supervisory role at the APO, the Postal Platoon organizes mobile missions for units on COB Adder that have difficulty getting to
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MARFORCOM CELEBRATES MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY At venues across the globe, Marine Corps units celebrated their 236th birthday. Units perform the uniform pageant, portraying Marines in uniforms throughout the many decades in celebration of their heritage. » see A8
How successful you are simply depends on how ambitious you are and how hard you are willing to work to reach your goals.” -Lt. Cmdr. Josh Feldman
Virginia Tech University (VT) Hall of Famer Lt. Cmdr. Josh Feldman (left) from Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 2, is introduced to the crowd at Lane Stadium during a halftime ceremony at the VT and University of Miami football game.
Courtesy of Virginia Tech University
MSRON 2 SAILOR INDUCTED INTO VA. TECH HALL OF FAME By MC2 Paul D. Williams Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, Public Affairs
VIRGINIA BEACH
Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron (MSRON) 2 Maintenance Officer, Lt. Cmdr. Josh Feldman, was inducted into the Virginia Tech University (VT) Hall of Fame, Oct. 7, for his achievements in wrestling and his volunteering dedication in the Hampton Roads community. Imagine yourself going for a onemile warm-up run around Lane Stadium at VT. After that, sprint up the steps of the bleachers built to hold 70,000 fans – and make sure you hit every step all the way up and all the way down. Next, you transition into buddy carries, pick up your partner and carry him on your back all the way up and all the way down the same bleachers. By now you’re working up a sweat and your breathing harder, Next, force
yourself to do wheel barrels – you and your partner take turns holding each other’s feet and you walk up the steps on your hands. The last portion of the workout includes several variations of the same exercises including jumping and more sprints. This is just a taste of what it takes to be a Hall of Fame wrestler at VT. This exercise, according to Feldman, was part of a daily regimen that he and his other teammates subjected themselves to in order to keep themselves physically conditioned during the off season while attending VT. After the wrestling season had begun, their workout would become more intense. “A pre-season week would consist of three weightlifting sessions and three cardio workouts, and usually two mat workouts,” said Feldman. “The season would officially begin in November, and then we would reduce the lifting to two times a week, and mats six days a
TIMBERLAKE ATTENDS VA. MARINE BALL Justin Timberlake followed through on a promise to take a Marine to her unit’s annual ball.
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ILLUMINATING WEEKEND Virginia Beach lights up with the traditional Holiday Lights at the Beach, while Norfolk kicks off holiday season with illumination parade.
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week with some extra run days.” Feldman’s tough training regime and focus paid off. By the time Feldman graduated in 1994, he had won three consecutive Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) heavyweight championship titles and placed seventh his senior year at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships, giving him the honor of becoming Virginia Techs second All-American in wrestling. Feldman is still tied for sixth all-time at VT in career pins with 23. Feldman noted that one of his most memorable wrestling moments was when he beat Tolly Thompson from the University of Nebraska at the 1994 NCAA Championships. This earned Feldman his first All-American wrestler title. Thompson was a freshman at the time and would later go on to win the championship the following year,
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