"Alternate Headline:
CONGRESS TO MANDATE RECOVERY OF LOVED ONES
ON HEALS OF NAVYÕS FAILURE TO KEEP PROMISE
Happy Holidays All!
According to my anonymous sources within the Navy, it is OBLIGATED under either military law or policy to recover these men. Further sources state that either personal agendas within the Pentagon precluded giving the SECNAV proper information to make the proper decision to recover the crew or State stopped it due to the mega Antarctic land grab that the original mission was secretly undertaking for uranium deposits (seems a little far fetched to me.) The decision by SECNAV violates either military law or military policies. Many of us feel that he was given bad information.
On Friday I asked Congressman Mark Steven Kirk (Patrick Magnuson Military Liaison in the DC office) to introduce a bipartisan joint house resolution that will:
Mandate the recovery of the George One Crew:
Ensign Maxwell A. Lopez, Newport, RI;
Frederick Warren Williams, Aviation MachinistÕs Mate First Class, Huntington, TN and
Wendell K. Hendersin, Aviation Radioman First Class, Sparta, WI
along with the portion of the wing that has served as the tombstone of their temporary grave for the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.
Direct the nDepartment of Defense
National Science Foundation and
CILHI/JPAC ...to support North South Polar Recoveries, LLC (the 501c3 entity I formed to undertake this mission) in the recovery effort.
Patrick Magnuson forwarded the info over to the CongressmanÕs lawyers to have the resolution drafted It will be introduced between January 15th and the 23rd or theretofore abouts. Following the resolution a funding appropriation will be introduced or attached. The team WILL be on the ice November 2008.
I will be spending the next several weeks lobbying members of both houses to join Congressman Kirk in his introduction of the the resolution. We already have representation of family and friend constituents numbering 28 in the Senate and about 30 in the House. I plan to be in DC with members of the families for the passage of the resolution. I will get get further details for those of you who would like to also attend.
Happy New Year!
Lou
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For Further Information
Please Contact:
Lou Sapienza
George One Recovery Expedition
Executive Director
Expedition Coordinator
lou@george1recovery.org
www.george1recovery.org
SEATTLE, WA, DECEMBER 22, 2007Ñ On the heals of the NavyÕs statement that it will not honor its two-year pledge to recover the remains of three U.S. WWII naval air crewmen from their temporary Antarctic grave, Congressman, Mark Steven Kirk announced today that he intends to lead a congressional effort to mandate the Recovery.
Just days before Christmas, Congressman Kirk assured the families of the renowned George One Crew that their loved-ones-- Ensign Maxwell A. Lopez, Newport, RI; Frederick Warren Williams, Aviation MachinistÕs Mate First Class, Huntington, TN and Wendell K. Hendersin, Aviation Radioman First Class, Sparta, WIÑwill be returned to U.S. soil along with the portion of the wing of their downed aircraft that has served as the tombstone of their temporary grave.
Congressman Kirk, himself a Naval Reserve officer, is determined to return the three servicemen to the gravesites waiting for them in their hometowns, Ò I think it's a testament to American men and women in uniform that we will go to any continent, any environment, to bring you home,Ó stated Kirk. ÒI am unwavering in my effort to do so now.Ó
With the navy attempting to block any further recovery efforts, more than 75 congressional leaders are expected to voice their intention to pass a resolution and financial appropriation to recover the three crewmen who were the first American Servicemen to die in Antarctica in the line of service. The congressional bi partisan joint resolution is expected to be entered for a vote in mid to late January.
Earlier this week, Secretary of the Navy Donald Winter, under guidance from the Secretary of Defense Robert Gates submitted a letter to surviving family members of the three crewmen sharing that it did not intend to uphold its previous promises to recover their bodies.
ÒAgainst the advice of commissioned reports and former promises to the families, the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) Donald Winter is fervently attempting to lock closed the door on any further recovery attempts by the family,Ó said George One Recovery Team Executive Director and Expedition Lead, Lou Sapienza. ÒThe NavyÕs response elicits an even stronger determination by the families and me to make the return of our men a reality.Ó
Overwhelming support of the George One Recovery mission from Senators, Congressmen, and citizens throughout the United States has captured comprehensive national media attention and created the momentum necessary to move George One Recovery efforts forward.
The families expect to have a phase one ground penetrating radar team at the crash site on Thurston Island in November 2008. The team, under the leadership of Sapienza, who is a former Greenland Expedition Society member, will conduct a site survey to locate the aircraftÕs precise position, depth and debris field. Sapienza will return the following year with a full recovery team including other former members of the team that retrieved a WWII P-38 Lightning from 268 feet below the surface of the glacier.
Victimized by the AntarcticÕs notoriously foul-weathered Phantom Coast, the crew, Ensign Maxwell A. Lopez, Newport, RI, Fred Williams, Aviation MachinistÕs Mate 1st Class, Huntington, TN and Wendell Hendersin, Aviation Radioman 1st Class, Sparta and their photoreconnaissance Mariner Patrol Bomber, codenamed ÒGeorge One,Ó remain buried in up to 150 feet below the accumulating snows of Thurston Island. The crewmen perished during a classified and hazardous mission as part of Admiral ByrdÕs 4th and largest exploration of Antarctica.
Says Sapienza of the SECNAV's decision to thwart the mission, ÒThere is no question the NavyÕs response was a political move and not reflective of the true heart and spirit of our political leaders and our citizens.Ó ÒThe Recovery team and the victimÕs families are more motivated than ever to bring their loved-ones homeÉwe will be on the ice in 2008.Ó
For further information on the Pentagon decision please direct your Congressional members and the PRESS to:
SOURCES
Mr. John McCausland, Director, Personal Readiness and Community Support (N135);
the immediate supervisor @ Millington.
Mr. Michael Wardlaw, is the Director of the Casualty Assistance Division (N1352)
US Navy Personnel Office
Navy Personnel Command (PERS-312E)
5720 Integrity Drive Millington, TN 38055-3120
901-874-4885 - You may have to be transferred
www.george1recovery.org
http://georgeone.blogspot.com"