The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Seals(and Dolphins) at War (1959-2003) - Mar. 31st, 2003

http://www.spawar.navy.mil/sandiego/technology/mammals/ ^

[SAMWolf]

Dear Lord,

There's a young man far from home,
called to serve his nation in time of war;
sent to defend our freedom
on some distant foreign shore.

We pray You keep him safe,
we pray You keep him strong,
we pray You send him safely home ...
for he's been away so long.

There's a young woman far from home,
serving her nation with pride.
Her step is strong, her step is sure,
there is courage in every stride.
We pray You keep her safe,
we pray You keep her strong,
we pray You send her safely home ...
for she's been away too long.

Bless those who await their safe return.
Bless those who mourn the lost.
Bless those who serve this country well,
no matter what the cost.

Author Unknown

.

FReepers from the USO Canteen, The Foxhole, and The Poetry Branch
join in prayer for all those serving their country at this time.

.

.................................................................................................................................

U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

Where Duty, Honor and Country
are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

Our Mission:

The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans.

We hope to provide an ongoing source of information about issues and problems that are specific to Veterans and resources that are available to Veterans and their families.

In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support.

To read previous Foxhole threads or
to add the Foxhole to your sidebar,
click on the books below.

Resource Links For Veterans

Click on the pix

The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program

Our History

The U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program began in 1959 at Marineland of the Pacific with a Navy scientist and a Pacific white-sided dolphin named Notty. The Navy was interested in the hydrodynamics of the dolphin. By understanding how dolphins move in the water, perhaps they could improve torpedo, ship, and submarine designs. Soon the Navy realized that there were lots of other good reasons to study dolphins. Like the Navy, dolphins use sonar. Dolphins are also capable of making repeated deep dives without experiencing "the bends" or decompression sickness as do human divers. This capability would make dolphins valuable assistants to Navy divers working in the open ocean. In 1962, a marine mammal facility was established at Point Mugu near Los Angeles. In 1965, in a program called SeaLab II, a dolphin worked in the open ocean off La Jolla, bringing tools and equipment from the sea surface to divers working 200 feet below. One of the great successes of SeaLab was the realization that marine mammals could do useful work untethered in the open sea. As Navy people worked with dolphins, they became fascinated with the adaptations these animals had to their aquatic environment. Soon, other studies including acoustics, diving physiology, anatomy, and medicine were underway. In fact, much pioneering work in the fields of dolphin hydrodynamics, acoustics and diving was conducted by Navy scientists.

The marine mammal program began with funding through the Independent Research Programs of the laboratories at China Lake and Point Mugu, supported by the Office of Naval Research. After the SeaLab II work in 1965 and successful missile recoveries off Point Mugu in 1966, an advanced development program was initiated. For a little over 20 years, the major components of the Navy marine mammal program fell under a funding umbrella known as the Advanced Marine Biological Systems program (AMBS). This advanced development objective funded marine mammal system (MMS) development, tests and evaluation, and systems design and development. While maintaining the care, health, and management of the animals; and research that supported marine mammals in the Navy; AMBS resulted in the successful development of the current MMS that are operational in the fleet today. Supported by active fleet systems, research continues to further understand the capabilities of the animals. This knowledge will be used to enhance current systems and to develop new system capabilities.

Operational Fleet Systems

From the capabilities demonstrated in the Advanced Marine Biological Systems program, four operational Fleet Marine Mammal Systems (MMS) have been developed to fulfill Navy requirements where hardware is inadequate or safety is an issue. Dolphins are used in MMS because of their exceptional biological sonar that is unmatched by hardware sonars in detecting objects in the water column and on the ocean bottom. Sea lions are used because of their very sensitive underwater directional hearing and low light level vision. Both of these marine mammal species are trainable for tasks and are capable of repetitive deep diving. Fleet MMS are assigned to Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Units (EODMU). Each system has from 4 to 8 marine mammals, an Officer-in-Charge, and several enlisted personnel. All MMS are rapidly transported by aircraft, helicopter and land vehicles with all equipment to sustain an operational deployment. These systems regularly participate in major Fleet exercises. The Mk 6 & 7 MMS were used to support waterside security at the 1996 Republican Convention in San Diego, CA. SPAWAR supports these Fleet systems with replenishment marine mammals, hardware, training, personnel and documentation.



What is a "System"?

"System" is the term used for the various marine mammal programs developed for use by the Fleet. They include:

Mk 4 is a dolphin mine searching system that detects and marks locations of mines moored off the ocean bottom. It is capable of shipboard forward deployment to support post-amphibious operations. (EODMU THREE, Coronado, CA)

Mk 5 is a sea lion exercise mine recovery system that locates pingered training mines. The sea lions can locate these mines to depths of 1000 feet and attach a grabber device for recovery. (EODMU THREE, Coronado, CA and EODMU SIX, Charleston, SC)



Mk 6 is a dolphin swimmer and diver detection system that can detect and mark the location of an intruder. This system was used in Vietnam in 1970-71 and the Persian Gulf in 1987-88. (EODMU THREE, Coronado, CA) Mk 7 is a dolphin mine searching system that detects and marks the location of mines on the ocean bottom. This system is also capable of shipboard forward deployment to support post-amphibious assaults. (EODMU THREE, Coronado, CA)

Marine Mammal Research

Some animals work for years in systems and then "retire" from systems work and go on to become star research animals. Much of the pioneering research in the fields of dolphin hydrodynamics, diving, and sound capabilities was conducted by the Navy. In the late 1950s, the Navy developed an interest in many facets of dolphin physiology and underwater capability. By the early 1960s, the new Navy marine mammal facility at Point Mugu near Los Angeles was a hub for the study of marine mammals. The program has continued to expand in its present location on Point Loma in San Diego, CA. Over the years, it has included studies on the development of improved techniques for diagnosis and treatment of health problems, investigations on how dolphins produce the sounds they make, and studies on capabilities of marine mammals, organochlorine contamination, nutrition, and hearing ranges of cetaceans. The information gathered benefits all cetaceans from those that are sick and stranded to those cared for at marine mammal facilities. The program also benefits young students, researchers, and veterinarians who get valuable exposure to marine mammal science at the Navy marine mammal facility



Current research addresses ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS and BIOSONAR. The following are just a few of the projects:

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS: Two recent projects conducted at SPAWAR will help us to understand if and at what levels, sound is harmful to marine mammals.

In DeepHear, researchers tested the hearing of white whales (belugas) at different ocean depths. To do this, they trained the animals to dive to a platform as deep as 1000 feet. They then played different sounds to the whales. The whales whistled when they heard the sounds, showing that their hearing was just as sensitive at depth.

In TTS (temporary threshold shift), researchers are testing the hearing of dolphins, whales, and sea lions to find out what sounds they can listen to without changing their hearing abilities.



BIOSONAR: Research has shown that dolphin biosonar is better than any current hardware system available for finding objects in shallow water. Unfortunately, we do not fully understand dolphin biological sonar and search strategies.

In a project called ALTER, we are exploring dolphin biological sonar to learn more about it. We hope to use this knowledge to develop new technologies that will improve current and future Fleet systems. The program is developing a computational model of the dolphin biosonar system which incorporates the animal’s hearing system, search strategies, and classification capabilities for underwater targets. We also are measuring the animal’s hearing system for development of new transducer models which mimic the animal’s signal production and receiving capabilities.

Thanks to FReeper NYer for suggesting this Thread

[SAMWolf]

The Navy's Marine Mammal Program began in 1960 with two goals. First, the Navy wanted to study the underwater sonar capabilities of dolphins and beluga whales to learn how to design more efficient methods of detecting objects underwater, and to improve the speed of their boats and submarines by researching how dolphins are able to swim so fast and dive so deep. In addition to this research component, the Navy also trained dolphins, beluga whales, sea lions and other marine mammals to perform various underwater tasks, including delivering equipment to divers underwater, locating and retrieving lost objects, guarding boats and submarines, and doing underwater surveillance using a camera held in their mouths. Dolphins were used for some of these tasks in the Vietnam War and in the Persian Gulf.

The Marine Mammal Program was originally classified, and was at its peak during the Cold War. The Soviet Union's military was conducting similar research and training programs in the race to dominate the underwater front. At one point during the 1980's, the U.S. program had over 100 dolphins, as well as numerous sea lions and beluga whales, and an operating budget of $8 million dollars. By the 1990's, however, the Cold War was over, and the Navy's Marine Mammal project was downsized. In 1992, the program bec ame declassified. Many of the dolphins were retired, and controversy arose over whether or not it would be feasible to return unnecessary dolphins to the wild. Specific Tasks Navy marine mammals are trained to perform many underwater duties, including

• Bottlenose dolphins detect and mark of underwater mines. The animal locates a mine and then deposits a weighted buoy line near the mine in order to mark it.
• California sea lions attach grabber devices to underwater objects for retrieval. This system is used extensively in training exercises with divers for Explosive Ordnance Disposal units. Practice mines are placed on the sea floor; those not found by the divers during the exercise are retrieved by the sea lions.
• Bottlenose dolphins are used to detect and defend against enemy swimmers. This procedure was used in both the Vietnam war and the Persian Gulf to protect Navy anchored vessels from enemy swimmers seeking to plant explosives. The dolphins would swim slowly, patroling the area with their sonar, and alert armed trainer guards if they located a swimmer. They are also trained to "tag" the enemy swimmer with a marker so that Navy personnel can apprehend him. During the Vietnam war, rumors circulated about a "swimmer nullification program" in which dolphins were also being trained to shoot at enemy swimmers with a device similar to the tagging device. The Navy denies that any such program existed or that any dolphin has ever been trained to attack a human.

1960's Navy begins use of marine mammals

1965 Sea Lab II
In 1965, the Marine Mammal Program began its first military project: Sea Lab II. Working in the waters off La Jolla, California, a bottlenosed dolphin named Tuffy completed the first successful open ocean military exercise. He repeatedly dove 200 feet to the Sea Lab II installation, carrying mail and tools to navy personnel. He was also trained to guide lost divers to safety.

1965-75 Dolphins used in Vietnam
The Navy sent five dolphins to Cam Ranh Bay to perform underwater surveillance and guard military boats from enemy swimmers. Although during this era rumors circulated about a "swimmer nullification program" through which dolphins were trained to attack and kill enemy swimmer, the Navy denies such a program ever existed.

1975 Introduction of sea lions and beluga whales
With the success of the dolphin program, the Navy began working with sea lions, training them to recover military hardware or weaponry fired and dropped in the ocean. The sea lions could dive and recover objects at depths of up to 650 feet.

The Navy also began exploring the use of beluga whales, which, like dolphins, use sonar to navigate. Beluga whales could operate at much colder temperatures and deeper depths than either dolphins or sea lions.

1965-75 Navy builds up collection of dolphins The Marine Mammal Program reached its heyday in the 1980's, with an expanded budget and increased number of dolphins. In 1986, Congress partially repealed the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act by letting the Navy collect wild dolphins from for "national defense purposes." The Navy planned to use the dolphins to expand its mine disposal units and to stock a breeding program.

1986-88 Dolphins in the persian gulf
The navy sent six dolphins to the Persian Gulf, where they patrolled the harbor in Bahrain to protect US flagships from enemy swimmers and mines, and escorted Kuwaiti oil tankers through potentially dangerous waters. One of the dolphins, "Skippy," died of a bacterial infection.

1986-88 Missile guarding project in Bangor abandoned
In the late 1980's the Navy began a project through which dolphins would act as guards at the Bangor Washington Trident Missile Base. Animal activists opposed the project, and filed suit against the Navy under the National Environmental Protection Act claiming that the Navy must do an environmental evaluation to determine whether deployment in the cold northern waters off Bangor would harm dolphins originally captured in the Gulf of Mexico. A judge ruled that such a study must be completed before the project could continue. The Navy abandoned the project.

By 1994, the Navy policy on moving dolphins to environments with radically different water temperatures changed; a spokesperson said that in general, the Navy would only move dolphins between environments with a 20 degree difference in temperature, except in emergency situations.

1990s Downsizing, declassification, retirement
With the end of the Cold War, the Navy's budget for the marine mammal program was drastically reduced, and all but one of its training centers were closed down. Of the 103 dolphins remaining in the program, the Navy decided it needed only 70 to maintain its downsized operations. Much of the project was declassified, although certain details remain protected.

This raised the question of what to do with the remaining dolphins. In the 1992 Defense Appropriations Act, Congress alloted a half million dollars to the Navy to "to develop training procedures which will allow mammals which are no longer required for this project to be released into their natural habitat." The Navy held two conferences of researchers and experts and determined that a reintroduction program would not be cost effective.

In an attempt to downsize its dolphin troops, the Navy offered to give its surplus trained dolphins to marine parks. However, interest in the free dolphins was low because many marine parks by this time had developed successful in-house breeding programs. The Navy only got only four requests, but pledged to care for the unclaimed dolphins until their deaths.

Later in 1994, the Navy agreed to send three dolphins to Sugarloaf sanctuary, near Key West in Florida, a rehabilitation facility run by Ric O'Barry. O'Barry planned to reeducate the dolphins so they could be safely released into the wild, once the necessary federal permits were granted.

1996 illegal release of Luther and Buck
Two of the dolphins being held at the Sugarloaf Sanctuary, Luther and Buck, were being prepared for life in the wild while awaiting federal permits for their release. In May, before the permits had been issued, O'Barry released the dolphins into the Gulf of Mexico. He believed that the dolphins were ready for release and that the bureaucratric requirements for a permit were designed to prevent the release of the Navy dolphins. He thought that to wait any longer before letting them go would jeopardize their chances of successful adaptation to the wild.

The dolphins were recaptured less than two weeks later and returned to the Navy. All three of these dolphins are now back with the Navy. One of them is still in Florida;the other two are back in San Diego in the Navy facility there.

1997 Ukrainian dolphins trained by the Soviet Navy for military operations are now being used for therapy with autistic and emotionally disturbed children.

[SAMWolf]

They Find Cars, Too!



The Navy marine mammals have been in the news for helping to search for people and objects like cars under the water. In 1993, a Navy-trained sea lion in Charleston, SC helped the local sheriff’s department find a car that had fallen into a river. Although human divers had tried many times without much luck, the sea lion found it on the first try! On 21 May 1996, a boating accident occurred in San Diego Bay. Rescuers responding to the accident did not know how many people were on the boat, and those already rescued were confused and unable to help. A Navy marine mammal team working nearby with a dolphin was able to respond to the search task and verified that all the victims had been rescued. Dolphins and sea lions have also been trained to carry video cameras for underwater search operations. Perhaps these animals will become important in ocean search and rescue missions in the future.

Additional Sources:

www.pbs.org
us.news1.yimg.com
us.news2.yimg.com
www.defendamerica.mil

[SAMWolf]

'This US Navy handout shows “K-Dog”, a bottle-nose dolphin belonging to Commander Task Unit (CTU-55.4.3) leaping out of the water while training near the USS Gunston Hall (LSD 44).

CTU-55.4.3 is a multinational team consisting of Naval Special Clearance Team-One, Fleet Diving Unit Three from the UK, Clearance Dive Team from Australia, and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Units Six and Eight (EODMU-6 and EODMU-8). These units are conducting water mine counter-measure operations to clear shipping lanes.'

-- U.S. Navy

[SAMWolf]

The State of the Union is Strong!
Support the Commander in Chief
Click Here to Send a Message to the opposition!

[SAMWolf]

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Everybody.

Chow time!
NG's and ER's to the front of the line.

Standing Operating Procedures state:
Click the Pics For Today's Tunes

[Soaring Feather]

Good Morning SAMWolf!!

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Feather.

[Valin]

On This Day In History


Birthdates which occurred on March 31:
1499 Pius IV [Gianangelo de' Medici], Italian lawyer/pope (1559-65)
1519 Henry II King of Germany (1547-59)
1570 Louise Juliana countess of Nassau
1596 René Descartes France, philosopher (he thought, therefore he was)
1621 Andrew Marvell England, poet (To His Coy Mistress)
1675 Benedict XIV [Prospero L Lambertini], Italy, Pope (1740-58)
1684 Francesco Durante composer
1717 Florian Wrastill composer
1723 Frederik V King of Denmark/Norway (1746-66)
1732 Franz Joseph Haydn Austria, composer, helped develop classical style
1747 Johann Abraham Peter Schulz German composer (Moon has Risen)
1791 Franciszek Wincenty Mirecki composer
1809 Edward FitzGerald England, writer (Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam)
1809 Nikolai Gogol father of 19th-century Russian realism (Dead Souls)
1809 Otto Jonas Lindblad composer
1811 Robert Wilhelm Eberhard von Bunsen Germany, chemist (Bunsen Burner)
1822 Rafael Hernando composer
1831 Archibald Scott Scottish chemist
1835 John La Farge US painter
1837 Robert Ross McBurney 1st paid secretary of the YMCA
1837 Stephen Dodson Ramseur Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1864
1838 Léon Dierx French poet
1839 Nikolay Przhevalsky naturalist, explorer of east central Asia
1840 John Herbert Kelly Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1864
1844 Andrew Lang Scotland, author (The Blue Fairy Book)
1847 Jarolslaw Zielinski composer
1848 John Henry Roberts composer
1854 Sir Dugald Clerk inventor (2-stroke motorcycle engine)
1868 Karl Bonhoeffer German psychiatrist/neurologist
1872 Arthur Griffith Irish journalist, founder of Sinn Féin
1872 Sergei Pavlovich Diaghilev Russia, dance master (Imperial Ballet)
1878 Jack Johnson 1st black heavyweight boxing champion (1908-1915)
1885 Jules Pascin [Julius Pincas], Bulgarian/US painter/cartoonist
1887 Jose Maria Usandizaga composer
1887 Saint-John Perse [MRA Alexis Léger], French poet (Nobel 1960)
1891 Erich Walter Sternberg composer
1891 Ion Pillat Romaniams poet/senator (Umbra timpului)
1891 Victor Varconi Hungary, actor (Divine Lady, King of Kings, Big City)
1892 Stanislav Wladyslaw Maczek Polish/British General-Major/commandant
1893 Clemens Krauss Vienna Austria, conductor (Berlin State Orchestra-1937)
1895 John Jay McCloy lawyer/banker (Secretary of War 1941-45, president-Chase Manhattan)
1895 Vardis A Fisher US author (Darkness & Deep)
19-- Evan Cohen Los Angeles CA, actor (David-The Ropers, Johnny-It's Not Easy)
19-- Mirla Castellanos Buenos Aires Argentina, Spanish singer
19-- Peggy Rea Los Angeles CA, actress (Red Skelton Show, Waltons)
1900 Henry WFA English duke of Gloucester/earl of Ulters
1900 Lörinc Szabó Hungary, poet (Huszonhatodik év)
1903 Arthur Godfrey New York NY, TV host (Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts)
1906 Lauri Saikkola composer
1907 Eddie Quillan Philadelphia PA, actor (Julia, Hell Town)
1909 Pieter Jongeling Dutch MP (GVP)/editor (Netherlands Daily)
1909 Robert Brasillach French author/Nazi collaborator
1912 Wilhelmus Berkelmans civil servant/resistance fighter
1914 Octavio Paz Mexico, writer/diplomat (Salamandra, Topoemas)
1915 Eliseo Morales Pajaro composer
1915 Henry Morgan New York NY, comedian/TV panelist (I've Got a Secret, Arena)
1915 Jack Perry businessman
1916 John Vivyan Chicago IL, actor (Imitation of Life, Mr Lucky)
1918 Ted Post Brooklyn NY, director (Peacemaker, Beneath the Planet of the Apes, Gunsmoke)
1920 Marga [Sara Voeten-] Minco Dutch writer (Bitter Herb)
1922 Patrick J G McGee North Ireland, actor (Clockwork Orange)
1922 Richard Kiley Chicago IL, actor (Man of La Mancha, Endless Love)
1923 Donald Argee Barksdale Berkley CA, basketballer (Olympics-gold-1948)
1923 Lawrie Miller New Zealand cricketer (opening bat in 13 Tests)
1924 Harry Cubitt 4th Lord Ashcombe ("Mad Harry"), English landowner
1924 Leo Buscaglia Los Angeles CA, "Dr Hug", psychologist (Love)
1926 John Fowles England, novelist (Collector, French Leiutenent's Woman)
1926 Sydney Chaplin son of Charlie/actor (Adding Machine, Psycho Sisters)
1927 Cesar Chavez Yuma AZ, farm labor leader (United Farm Workers)
1927 William Daniels Brooklyn NY, actor (Dr Mark Craig-St Elsewhere, 1776)
1928 Gordie Howe Floral Saskatchewan, NHL right wing (Detroit Red Wings)
1929 Lee Patterson Vancouver British Columbia, actor (Dave-Surfside Six, Another World)
1929 Liz Claiborne fashion designer
1931 Miller Barber Shreveport LA, PGA golfer (1968 Byron Nelson Classic)
1932 Godfrey Lawrence cricketer (South African fast bowler, 8-53 vs New Zealand 1961)
1932 John Jakes Chicago IL, writer (Sir Scoundrel, Great Women Reporters)
1932 Nagisa Oshima Kyoto Japan, director (Town of Love & Hope)
1933 Bob Simmons Fulham England, stuntman (double for James Bond)
1933 Shirley Jones Smithton PA, actress (Partridge Family, Elmer Gantry)
1934 Grigori Grigoyevich Nelyubov Russia, cosmonaut (Vostok 1 backup)
1934 John D Loudermilk rock drummer/vocalist (Language of Love, Norman)
1934 Wim H Sinnige Dutch alderman of finance (social democratic)
1935 Herb Alpert bandleader/trumpeter (Tijuana Brass)/CEO (A & M)
1935 Judith Rossner US, writer (August)
1935 Richard Chamberlain Beverly Hills CA, actor (Dr Kildare)
1936 Marge Piercy author (Small Changes, Gone for Soldiers)
1937 Willem Duyn [Mouth], Dutch singer (Mouth & MacNeal)
1938 John Jakes Chicago IL, writer (Sir Scoundrel, Great Women Reporters)
1938 Nathaniel Taylor St Louis MO, actor (Rollo-Sanford & Son)
1939 Liz Claiborne Brussels Belgium, fashion designer (women)
1940 Barney Frank (Representative-Democrat-MA, 1981- )
1940 Jim Criner WLAF head coach (Scottish Claymores)
1940 Patrick J Leahy (Senator-Democrat-VT, 1975- )
1943 Christopher [Ronald] Walken Astoria Queens NY, actor (Deer Hunter, Brainstorm)
1944 Rod Allen [B Rodney Bainbridge] rock bassist/vocalist (Fortunes)
1945 Valerie Curtin Jackson Heights NY, actress (Judy-9 to 5)
1946 Aftab Gul cricketer (Pakistani opening batsman in six Tests 1969-71)
1946 Al Nichol Winston Salem NC, rock guitarist/vocalist (Turtles)
1946 Gabe Kaplan Brooklyn NY, comedian/actor (Welcome Back Kotter)
1947 Al Goodman rock vocalist (Ray, Goodman, Brown)
1947 César Gaviria Trujillo President (Colombia, 1990-94)
1947 Jon-Jon Poulos Chicago IL, rocker (Buckinghams)
1948 Albert Gore Jr Washington DC, (Senator-Democrat-TN, 1985-92)/45th US Vice President (1993- )
1948 David Eisenhower Eisenhower's grandson (married Julie Nixon)
1948 Mick Ralphs rocker
1948 Rhea Perlman Brooklyn, actress (Zena-Taxi, Carla-Cheers)
1948 Thijs van Leer Dutch singer/flutist (Focus, Introspection)
1950 Alison McCartney pathologist/Breast Cancer campaigner
1950 Ed Marinaro New York NY, actor (Joe-Hill St Blues, Sonny-Laverne & Shirley)
1950 Richard Hughes rocker (Johnny Winter Band)
1953 Greg Martin Louisville KY, singer (Kentucky Headhunters-Davy Crockett)
1953 Sean Hopper California, rock keyboardist (Huey Lewis & The News)
1954 Tony Brock England, rock drummer (Babys-Missing You)
1957 Marc McClure San Mateo CA, actor (Ross-California Fever)
1957 Mary Cadorette East Hartford CT, actress (Vicky-Three's a Crowd)
1957 Patrick G Forrester El Paso TX, Lieutenant Colonel Army/astronaut
1958 Jay Feenan Windham NH, rower (Olympics-1996)
1958 Ken Meeker New York NY, actor (Rafe Garretson-One Life to Live)
1958 Pat McGlynn Edinburgh, rock guitarist (Bay City Rollers)
1959 Angus Young Glascow Scotland, rock guitarist (AC/DC-Highway to Hell)
1960 Anne Howard San Diego CA, actress (Nicole Love-Another World)
1960 Mark Tuinei NFL tackle (Dallas Cowboys)
1961 Ron Brown Los Angeles CA, 4x100 meter runner (Olympics-gold-1984)
1962 John Taylor NFL wide receiver (San Francisco 49ers)
1964 Dave Wyman NFL linebacker (Denver Broncos)
1964 David Diaz-Infante NFL guard (Denver Broncos-Superbowl 32)
1964 Erik Turner Omaha NE, rock guitarist (Warrant-Cherry Pie)
1964 Isabelle Ferrari Italy, (Italy's Miss Teenager)
1964 Rod Jones NFL cornerback (Cincinnati Bengals)
1965 Marlon Vonhagt cricketer (1 ODI Sri Lanka 1984-85 World Series Cup)
1965 Patty Fendick Sacramento CA, tennis star (1989 Auckland)
1965 Tom Barrasso Boston MA, NHL goalie (Pittsburgh Penguins)
1965 William McNamara Dallas TX, actor (Texasville, Beat, Stealing Home)
1966 Natalie Gosselin Levis Québec Canada, 52kg judoka (Olympics-96)
1966 Thomas Fitzgerald Brooklyn NY, team handball left wing (Olympics-1996)
1967 Glenn Montgomery NFL defensive tackle (Seattle Seahawks, Oilers)
1967 Nanci Bowen Tifton GA, LPGA golfer (1995 Nabisco Dinah Shore)
1968 J R Reid NBA forward (New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets)
1969 Kevin Sargent NFL tackle/guard (Cincinnati Bengals)
1969 Steve Smith NBA guard (Atlanta Hawks)
1970 Derek Brown NFL tight end (Jacksonville Jaguars)
1970 Oleg Romanov NHL defenseman (Belarus, Olympics-98)
1970 Stuart Carruthers Australian field hockey fullback (Olympics-96)
1971 Ewan McGregor Perth Australia, actor (Trainspotting)
1971 Pavel Bure Moscow Russia, NHL left wing (Team Russia Olympics-Silver-1998, Vancouver Canucks)
1972 John Godina Fort Sill OK, shot putter/discus thrower (Olympics-silver-96)
1972 Kelly O'Leary Halifax Nova Scotia, kayaker (Olympics-96)
1973 Vanessa Mambi Miss Curaçao-Universe (1996)
1974 Anthony Hicks NFL linebacker (Green Bay Packers-Superbowl 31)
1974 Carol Ann Plante actress (Sara Henderson-Harry & the Hendersons)
1974 James Burgess linebacker (San Diego Chargers)
1974 Jason Odom tackle (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
1974 Nina Georgala Miss Greece-Universe (1996)
1976 Amanda Moody Orem UT, Miss Utah-America (1995)
1976 Josh Saviano actor (Paul Pfeiffer-Wonder Years)
1980 Jenny Smith Western Australia, gymnast (Olympics-96)
1982 Jessica Joseph Royal Oak MI, dance skater (& Butler-1997 National)

---

Deaths which occurred on March 31:
1201 Absalon Asserssön Danish archbishop of Lund/statesman, dies
1340 Ivan I Kalita grand-duke of Vladimir, dies
1389 Everhard Tserclaes sheriff of Brussels, murdered
1567 Philip the Generous, count of Hessen, dies at 62
1578 Juan de Escobedo Secretary of Spanish land guardian Don Juan, murdered
1621 Felipe III King of Spain (1598-1621), dies at 42
1631 John Donne Metaphysical poet, dies (birth date unknown)
1656 Pierre de La Barre composer, dies at 64
1722 Campegius Vitringa Dutch theologist/exegete, dies at 62
1741 Peter Burmannus [Peter Burman], Dutch attorney/classicist, dies at 72
1809 Franz Joseph Haydn composer, dies on 77th birthday
1837 John Constable English painter/water colors painter, dies at 60
1850 John Calhoun dies at 68
1855 Charlotte Brontë English author (Jane Eyre), dies at 38
1877 Antoine A Cournot French mathematician (rule of C), dies at 75
1880 Henryk Wieniawski Polish violist/composer, dies at 44
1881 Gaetano Gaspari composer, dies at 73
1884 Jan T Beelen Netherlands/Belgian catholic bible expert, dies at 77
1885 Franz Wilhelm Abt German composer/choir conductor, dies at 65
1885 Philipp Fahrbach composer, dies at 69
1886 Giovanni Rossi composer, dies at 57
1892 Adolf Rzepko composer, dies at 66
1898 Edward Noyes Westcott US attorney/writer (David Harum), dies
1900 Frank Milligan cricketer (Mafeking 2 Tests England vs South Africa 1898-99), dies
1901 John Stainer composer, dies at 60
1913 John Pierpont Morgan US banker/CEO (US Steel Corp), dies at 75
1914 Ch Morgenstern writer, dies at 42
1928 Gustave Ador President of Austria (1919), dies at 82
1928 Medardo Rosso Italian sculptor (portraits), dies at 69
1931 Knute Rockne football player/coach, dies in a plane crash at 43
1934 Franz Ehrle German jesuit/head of Vatican library, dies at 88
1938 Willem J T Kloos Dutch poet/critic (New Guide), dies at 78
1939 Indrið Einarsson Iceland playwright (Skipið Sekkur), dies at 87
1944 Mineichi Koga Admiral of Japanese fleet, dies
1945 Hans Fischer German physicist (Nobel 1930), dies at 63
1945 Maurice Rose 1st US General in Nazi Germany, killed in action at 45
1948 Egon E Kisch Czechoslovakian writer/journalist (Raging Reporter), dies at 62
1951 Ralph Forbes actor (Riptide, Shock, Shock), dies at 45
1957 Gene Lockhart New York NY, actor (Going My Way), dies at 65
1959 Peter Suhrkamp German publisher (Suhrkamp Verlag), dies at 68
1960 Joseph Haas German (opera)composer (Totenmesse), dies at 81
1961 Seerp Anema Dutch poet/writer (Modern Art & Degenerating), dies at 85
1967 Don Alvarado actor (Morning Glory, Big Steal), dies at 62
1967 Hieronim Feicht composer, dies at 72
1970 Semjon Timoshenko Russian Marshal/Inspector-General (WWII), dies at 75
1971 Liselotte Liselot Beekmeyer Dutch actress (Child Crying), dies at 31
1973 Kurt George Hugo Thomas composer, dies at 68
1974 Andrea Checci actress (2 Women, Assassin, Black Sunday), dies at 57
1978 Astrid Allwyn actress (Love Affair, Girl for Calgary), dies at 68
1980 Jesse Owens of 1936 Berlin Olympics fame, dies in Arizona at 66
1982 Fritz Eberhard West German lawyer/resistor, dies at 85
1983 Stephen Murray actor (Guilty, Silent Dust, Master Spy), dies at 70
1986 Harry Ritz comedian/actor (Ritz Brothers), dies at 79
1986 Jerry Paris director/actor (Jerry-Dick Van Dyke Show), dies at 60
1986 O'Kelly Isley US, singer (Isley Brothers), dies of heart attack at 48
1988 Talib Rasul Hakim composer, dies at 48
1990 Lillian "Miss" Miller audience member (Merv Griffin, Tonight Show), dies
1991 John Carter US jazz clarinetist (Roots & folklore), dies
1993 Brandon Lee US actor (Crow)/son of Bruce Lee, accidentally shot at 28
1993 Jose Maria Lemus President of El Salvador (1956-60), dies
1994 Léon J Ramirez Reine [Degrelle], Belgian/Spanish Nazi (Rex), dies at 87
1995 Carl M Story fiddler, dies at 78
1995 Selena [Quintanilla Perez] Mexican Grammy winning singer, killed by a fan at 24
1996 Dante Giacosa engineer/designer, dies at 91
1996 Dario Bellezza poet, dies at 51
1996 Jeffrey Lee Pierce musician, dies at 37
1996 Julius Young fast food entrepreneur, dies at 73
1997 Edwin Alberian TV celebrity (Clarabell), dies at 76
1997 Laxmishankar Pathak food retailer, dies at 62

---

On this day...
1084 Anti-pope Clemens crowns German emperor Hendrik IV
1492 Queen Isabella of Castilia & Ferdinand of Aragon expels Jews
1504 France & Spain signs ceasefire
1521 Magelhaes takes possession of Homohon, Archipelago of St Lazarus
1547 Henry II succeeds François I as king of France
1644 Pope Urbanus VIII & duke of Parma signs Peace of Ferrara
1651 Great earthquake at Cuzco Peru
1657 English Humble Petition offers Lord Protector Cromwell the crown
1667 France/England sign anti-Dutch military accord
1683 Emperor Leopold I/Poland signs covenant against Turkey
1745 Jews are expelled from Prague
1796 Johann Wolfgang von Goethes "Egmont" premieres in Weimar
1808 French created Kingdom of Westphalia orders Jews to adopt family names
1814 Forces allied against Napoleon capture Paris France
1831 Mainzer Rijnvaart Convention ends
1831 Québec & Montréal incorporated
1841 1st performance of Robert Schumann's 1st Symphony in B
1849 Colonel John W Geary arrives as 1st postmaster of San Francisco
1850 US population hits 23,191,876 (Black population: 3,638,808 (15.7%))
1854 Treaty of Kanagawa: Commodore Perry forces Japan to opens ports to foreign trade
1861 Confederacy takes over mint at New Orleans
1862 Civil War action at Island #10 on the Mississippi River
1865 Battle of Boydton, Virginia (White Oaks Roads, Dinwiddie Court House)
1865 General Pickette moves to 5 Forks, abandoning the defense of Peterburg
1868 Chinese Embassy arrives aboard steamship China
1870 Thomas P Mundy became 1st black to vote in US (Perth Amboy NJ)
1877 British high director/Governor sir Bartle Frere arrives in Capetown
1877 Test Cricket debut of Fred "Demon" Spofforth, Australia vs England MCG
1878 Jack Johnson is 1st black to hold a heavyweight boxing title
1880 1st town completely illuminated by electric lighting (Wabash IN)
1883 1st performance of César Franck's "Le Chasseur Maudit"
1883 Utrecht begins water pipe system
1885 Great Britain declares Bechuanaland a protectorate
1889 300 meter Eiffel Tower officially opens (commemorates French Revolution)
1896 Whitcomb Judson, Chicago IL, patents a hookless fastening (zipper)
1900 Brigadier-General Broadwoods troops fall into guerrilla hands
1903 Richard Pearse flies monoplane several hundred yards (New Zealand)
1905 German emperor Wilhelm II visits Tanger
1906 George Bernard Shaw's German version of "Caesar & Cleopatra" premieres in Berlin
1907 Romanian Army puts down Moldavian farmers' revolt
1909 Baseball rules players who jump contracts are suspended for 5 years
1909 Gustav Mahler conducts New York Philharmonic for his 1st time
1916 Dutch government ends all military engagements
1917 US purchases Danish West Indies for $25M & renames them Virgin Islands
1918 1st daylight savings time in US goes into effect
1919 Strike against Ruhrgebied government of Scheidemann
1920 British parliament accept Irish "Home Rule"-law
1921 Albert Einstein lectures in New York on his new theory of relativity
1921 British coal miners goes on strike
1922 KFI-AM in Los Angeles CA begins radio transmissions
1922 Prince Hendrik opens trade fair building in Amsterdam
1923 1st dance marathon-NYC-Alma Cummings sets record of 27 hours
1923 French soldiers fire on workers at Krupp factory in Essen; 13 die
1923 Stanley Cup: Ottawa Senators (NHL) sweep Edmonton Eskimos (WCHL) in 2 games
1924 Croydon Airport; 1st British mig aircraft Imperial established
1924 London public transport strike ends
1925 WOWO-AM, Fort Wayne IN begins radio transmission (500 watts)
1926 German Special Court of Justice for state security disbands
1932 150 wild swans die in Niagara waterfall
1932 Ford publicly unveils its V-8 engine
1933 1st newspaper published on pine pulp paper, "Soperton News" (Georgia)
1933 Congress authorizes Civilian Conservation Corps
1933 German Republic gives power to Hitler
1934 Netherlands Indies BC Ltd begain radio transmission (Indonesia)
1935 Fusahige Suzuki runs world record marathon (2 :7 :9)
1939 Britain & France agree to support Poland if invaded by Germany
1940 Karelo-Finnish SSR becomes 12th Soviet republic (until 1956)
1941 Germany begins a counter offensive in Africa
1941 Ground broken for Union Square Garage, San Francisco
1943 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical "Oklahoma!" opens on Broadway
1943 US errantly bombs Rotterdam, kills 326
1944 Hungary orders all Jews to wear yellow stars
1945 3rd Algerian division crosses the Rhine
1945 Sicherheitsdienst murders 10 political prisoners in Zutphen
1945 Tennessee Williams' "Glass Menagerie" premieres in New York NY
1945 US artillery lands on Keise Shima/begins firing on Okinawa
1946 Belgian government of Acker, forms
1948 Congress passes Marshall Aid Act to rehabilitate war-torn Europe
1949 Newfoundland becomes Canada's 10th province
1951 US tanks exceed 38º of latitude in Korea
1953 Department of Health, Education & Welfare established
1953 UN Security Council nominates Dag Hammarskjöld Secretary-General
1954 US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs CO, established
1954 USSR offers to join NATO
1955 Chase National (3rd largest bank) & Bank of the Manhattan Company (15th largest bank) merge to form Chase Manhattan
1955 Collie Smith scores 104 on cricket debut West Indies vs Australia, Kingston
1955 US Assay Office in Seattle WA closes
1958 US Navy forms atomic sub division
1958 USSR suspends nuclear weapons tests, & urges US & Britain to do same
1959 Dalai Lama fled China & was granted political asylum in India
1960 Gore Vidal's "Best Man" premieres in New York NY
1961 Aklilou Habtewold becomes 1st premier of Ethiopia
1963 Los Angeles ends streetcar service after 90 years
1964 President Jango Goulart of Brazil chased out of office by military
1965 US ordered the 1st combat troops to Vietnam
1966 25,000 anti war demonstrators march in New York NY
1966 Labour Party wins British parliamentary election
1966 USSR launches Luna 10, 1st lunar orbiter
1967 Jimi Hendrix begins his tradition of burning his guitar
1968 LBJ announces he will not seek re-election
1968 Mickey Wright wins LPGA Palm Beach County Golf Open
1968 Pirate Radio Station Pegaus (New Zealand) begins transmitting
1968 Seattle's American League club is named Pilots
1969 George Harrison & Patti Boyd are fined £250 each for illegal drugs
1970 Federal bankruptcy court allows Seattle Pilots to be sold to Milwaukee
1971 South Africa national debt hits 5.45 billion
1971 William L Calley Jr sentenced to life for My Lai Massacre
1972 Official Beatles Fan Club closes down
1973 Flyers score 8 goals in 1 period vs Islanders, on 60 shots
1973 Ken Norton defeats Muhammad Ali in a 12 round split decision
1975 37th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: UCLA beats Kentucky 92-55; this is John Wooden's final game & UCLA's 10th NCAA championship in 12 years
1976 Cleveland Cavaliers clinch their 1st ever NBA playoff berth
1976 New Jersey Court rules Karen Anne Quinlan may be disconnected from respirator
1977 Michael Cristofer's "Shadow Box" premieres in New York NY
1978 Red Rum wins 3rd consecutive Grand National & retires
1978 USSR launches Kosmos 1000 navigational satellite
1978 Wings release "London Town" album
1980 Larry Holmes TKOs Leroy Jones in 8 for (WBC) heavyweight boxing title
1980 Mike Weaver KOs John Tate in 15 for (WBA) heavyweight boxing title
1980 President Jimmy Carter deregulates banking industry
1981 1st Golden Raspberry Awards: Can't Stop the Music wins
1981 53rd Academy Awards: "Ordinary People", Robert De Niro, Sissy Spacek win
1982 Arkas tanker at Montz LA, spills 1.47 million gallons of oil
1982 Rock group Doobie Brothers split up
1983 Earthquake in Colombia kills some 5,000 people
1983 Marsha Norman's "'night, Mother" premieres in New York NY
1984 US performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site
1985 15th Easter Seal Telethon raises $27,400,000
1985 4th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Old Dominion beats Georgia 70-65
1985 El Salvador's President Duartes Christian-Democrats win election
1985 Wrestlemania I at Madison Square Garden New York, Hogan & Mr T beat Piper & Orndorf
1986 167 die when Mexicana Airlines Boeing 727 crashes
1986 48th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Louisville beats Duke 72-69
1986 English Hampton Court palace destroyed by fire, 1 dead
1987 49th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Indiana beats Syracuse 74-73
1988 Last East Limburg coal mine closes in Gent Belgium
1988 New York Islanders celebrate Denis Potvin night
1988 Pulitzer prize awarded to Toni Morrison for "Beloved"
1989 Donald Trump purchases Eastern's Northeast Shuttle
1990 "Carol & Company" starring Carol Burnett premieres on NBC-TV
1990 Dionisio Castro cycles world record 20 km (57:18.4)
1990 Riots began in London over the new poll tax laws
1991 10th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Tennessee beats Virginia 70-67
1991 20th Nabisco Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Amy Alcott
1991 Albania offers 1st multi-party election in 50 years
1991 Danny Bonaduce attacks a transvestite prostitute in Phoenix AZ
1991 Musical "Will Rogers Follies" premieres in New York NY
1991 Soviet Republic of Georgia endorsed independence; Warsaw Pact dissolves
1991 St Louis Blues Brett Hull scores his 86th goal
1992 Delhi beat Tamil Nadu on 1st innings to win cricket Ranji Trophy
1992 UN Security Council voted to ban flights & arms sales to Libya
1994 James Farentino pleads no contest to stalking Tina Sinatra
1994 Walkway from Cleveland's Tower City to Jacobs Field officially opens
1995 1st game at Coors Stadium Colorado (replacement Rockies beat Yankees 4-1)
1995 Bombay beat Punjab on 1st innings to win cricket Ranji Trophy
1995 Federal judge orders injunction to end baseball strike
1996 "Getting Away With Murder" closes at Broadhurst NYC after 17 performances
1996 "Midsummer Night's Dream" opens at Lunt-Fontanne NYC for 66 performances
1996 15th NCAA Women's Basketball Championship: Tennessee beats Georgia 83-65
1996 1st Opening Day in history in March takes place in Seattle
1996 25th Nabisco Dinah Shore Golf Championship won by Patty Sheehan
1996 Karnataka defeat Tamil Nadu on 1st innings to win Ranji Trophy
1996 Radio Canada International's final shortwave broadcast
1996 Space Shuttle STS 76 (Atlantis 16), lands
1996 Wrestlemania XII: Shawn Michaels beats Brett Hart for WWF title
1997 "Daytime to Remember" a series showing old soaps premieres on ABC-TV
1997 59th NCAA Men's Basketball Championship: Arizona beats Kentucky 84-79 (OT)
1997 Pioneer 10, ends its mission
1998 Tampa Bay Devil Rays 1st game they host Detroit Tigers

---

Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Malta : Republic Day/National Day (1974)
Alaska : Seward Day (1867) - - - - - ( Monday )
US Virgin Island : Transfer Day (1917) - - - - - ( Monday )

---

Religious Observances
Anglican, Lutheran : Commemoration of John Donne, priest

---

Religious History
1787 English founder of Methodism John Wesley wrote in a letter: 'When the witness and the fruit of the Spirit meet together, there can be no stronger proof that we are of God.... Were you to substitute...reason for the witness of the Spirit, you would never be established.'
1816 Death of Francis Asbury, 70, pioneer Methodist bishop. Sent to America in 1771 by John Wesley, he saw the new denomination grow from under 500 members to over 200,000 by the time of his death.
1950 American missionary and martyr Jim Elliot wrote in his journal: 'How the Savior suffered in the sinner's place! What tormented him in time menaces the sinner for eternity.'
1958 English apologist C. S. Lewis wrote in "Letters to an American Lady": 'What most often interrupts my own prayers is not great distractions but tiny ones things one will have to do or avoid in the course of the next hour.'
1976 American Presbyterian apologist Francis Schaeffer wrote in a letter: 'You must not lose confidence in God because you lost confidence in your pastor. If our confidence in God had to depend upon our confidence in any human person, we would be on shifting sand.'

---

Thought for the day :
"All work and no play makes jack. And lots of it."

[SAMWolf]

1954 USSR offers to join NATO

France being the only country that voted yes on letting them join.

[Jen]

FALL IN to the FReeper Foxhole!

To be removed from this list, please send me a blank private reply with "REMOVE" in the subject line! Thanks! Jen

[E.G.C.]

BTTT!!!!!!

[Darksheare]

Hmmm....
Dolphins.
Fairly odd critters...

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Jen.

[Mortimer Snavely]

Thanks for the flag.

[manna]

Present!

[Salvation]

I got this in an email this morning and thought everyone might enjoy it.

We just received a message from a U.S. Marine that was so
compelling, we had to share it with you.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

I sat in a movie theatre watching "Schindler's List,"
and asked myself, "Why didn't the Jews fight back?"

I sat in a movie theatre watching "Pearl Harbor," and
asked myself, "Why weren't we prepared?"

Now I know why.

Civilized people cannot fathom, much less predict, the
actions of evil people.

On September 11, thousands of innocent people were murdered
because too many Americans naively rejected the reality that
some nations are dedicated to the dominance of others.

Many political pundits, pacifists and media personnel want
us to forget the carnage. They say we must focus on the
bravery of the rescuers and ignore the cowardice of the
killers. They implore us to understand the motivation of
the perpetrators...

I will not be manipulated. I will not pretend to understand.
I will not forget.

I will not forget the liberal media who abused freedom of the
press to kick our country when it was vulnerable and hurting.

I will not forget that CBS news anchor Dan Rather preceded
President Bush's address to the nation with the snide remark,
"No matter how you feel about him, he is still our president."

And I will not forget that ABC's Mark Halperin warned if
reporters weren't informed of every little detail of this war,
they aren't likely--nor should they be expected--to show
deference."

I will not forget the attack on the USS Cole...

I will not be appeased with pointless, quick retaliatory
strikes like those perfected by the previous administration.

I will not be comforted by "feel-good, do nothing" regulations
like the silly, "Have your bags been under your control?"
question at the airport.

I will not be influenced by so called, "anti-war demonstrators"
who exploit the right of expression to chant anti-American
obscenities.

I will not forget the moral victory handed the North
Vietnamese by American war protesters who reviled and
spat upon the returning soldiers, airmen, sailors
and marines.

I will not be softened by the wishful thinking of pacifists
who chose reassurance over reality.

I will embrace the wise words of Prime Minister Tony Blair
who told the Labor Party conference, "They have no moral
inhibition on the slaughter of the innocent. If they could
have murdered not 7,000 but 70,000, does anyone doubt they
would have done so and rejoiced in it?

There is no compromise possible with such people, no meeting
of minds, no point of understanding with such terror. Just
a choice; defeat it or be defeated. And defeat it we must!"

I will force myself to:
hear the weeping.
feel the helplessness.
sense the panic.
experience the loss.
remember the hatred.

I sat in a movie theatre, watching "Saving Private Ryan," and
asked myself, "Where did they find the courage?"

Now I know.

We have no choice. Living without liberty is not living.

--Ed Evans, MGySgt., USMC (Ret.)

+ + + + + + + + + + +

[SAMWolf]

Thanks Salvation. We must never forget.

[cherry_bomb88]

Morning, Jen...morning all!!!

What are all you monkeys up to today??? Have to run my daughter to the doctor, but I'll be back later!