Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio Alumni: Unofficial

Navy fires Naval Medical Research Unit South commander.

Navy fires commander of biomedical research lab Capt. Abigail Y. Marter took command of the Peru-based command less than a year before her firing Friday.

Joe Higgins and I had a great luncheon last month as we start up our NAMRU-SA Old-Timers Luncheons.

Next Luncheon will be on 29 October 2022 @ 1130. The location is: Sea Island Shrimp House in Selma, TX. Address is: 8223 Agora Pkwy, Selma, TX 78154. Its in the Forum I-35 N. https://www.shrimphouse.com/forum/

The following letter is a prime example of buerocracy at its best. It was written and sent on 11 Jun 1942 by the CO of the USS Skipjack in an effort to get re-supply of a most important commodity. It did, however, ultimately result in the desired delivery.
Lt. Cmdr Coe was CO of the USS Skipjack when he wrote his famous "toilet paper" letter to the Mare Island Supply Office.

USS Skipjack (SS-184) near Mare Island in 1942
June 11, 1942
From: Commanding Officer
To: Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, California
Via: Commander Submarines, Southwest Pacific
Subject: Toilet Paper
Reference: (a) USS HOLLAND (5148) USS SKIPJACK req. 70-42 of 30 July 1941.
(b) SO NYMI Canceled invoice No. 272836
Enclosure: (1) Copy of cancelled Invoice (2) Sample of material requested (a roll of toilet paper).

1. This vessel submitted a requisition for 150 rolls of toilet paper on July 30, 1941, to USS HOLLAND. The material was ordered by HOLLAND from the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, for delivery to USS SKIPJACK.
2. The Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island, on November 26, 1941, cancelled Mare Island Invoice No. 272836 with the stamped notation "Cancelled---cannot identify." This cancelled invoice was received by SKIPJACK on June 10, 1942.
3. During the 11 ¾ months elapsing from the time of ordering the toilet paper and the present date, the SKIPJACK personnel, despite their best efforts to await delivery of subject material, have been unable to wait on numerous occasions, and the situation is now quite acute, especially during depth charge attack by the "back-stabbers."
4. Enclosure (2) is a sample of the desired material provided for the information of the Supply Officer, Navy Yard, Mare Island. The Commanding Officer, USS SKIPJACK cannot help but wonder what is being used in Mare Island in place of this unidentifiable material, once well known to this command.
5. SKIPJACK personnel during this period have become accustomed to use of "ersatz," i.e., the vast amount of incoming non-essential paper work, and in so doing feel that the wish of the Bureau of Ships for the reduction of paper work is being complied with, thus effectively killing two birds with one stone.
6. It is believed by this command that the stamped notation "cannot identify" was possible error, and that this is simply a case of shortage of strategic war material, the SKIPJACK probably being low on the priority list.
7. In order to cooperate in our war effort at a small local sacrifice, the SKIPJACK desires no further action be taken until the end of the current war, which has created a situation aptly described as "war is hell."
J.W. Coe

Here is the rest of the story:
The letter was given to the Yeoman, telling him to type it up. Once typed and upon reflection, the Yeoman went looking for help in the form of the XO. The XO shared it with the OD and they proceeded to the CO's cabin and asked if he really wanted it sent. His reply, "I wrote it, didn't I?"
As a side note, twelve days later, on June 22, 1942 J.W. Coe was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on the S-39.
The "toilet paper" letter reached Mare Island Supply Depot. A member of that office remembers that all officers in the Supply Department "had to stand at attention for three days because of that letter." By then, the letter had been copied and was spreading throughout the fleet and even to the President's son who was aboard the USS Wasp.
As the boat came in from her next patrol, Jim and crew saw toilet-paper streamers blowing from the lights along the pier and pyramids of toilet paper stacked seven feet high on the dock. Two men were carrying a long dowel with toilet paper rolls on it with yards of paper streaming behind them as a band played coming up after the roll holders. Band members wore toilet paper neckties in place of their Navy neckerchiefs. The wind-section had toilet paper pushed up inside their instruments and when they blew, white streamers unfurled from trumpets and horns.
As was the custom for returning boats to be greeted at the pier with cases of fresh fruit/veggies and ice cream, the Skipjack was first greeted thereafter with her own distinctive tribute-cartons and cartons of toilet paper.
This letter became famous in submarine history books and found its way to the movie ("Operation Petticoat"), and eventually coming to rest (copy) at the Navy Supply School at Pensacola, Florida. There, it still hangs on the wall under a banner that reads, "Don't let this happen to you!" Even John Roosevelt insured his father got a copy of the letter.
The original is at Bowfin Museum in Hawaii:

https://eugeneleeslover.com/Humor/Infamous_Toilet_Paper_Letter.html?fbclid=IwAR1yXyxK_7vtNGIm04q_0CVZ8YoA3unKTgCYFOUGdzB1yk4ngxv3yNV7KOY

This page tells the story of the "Infamous Toilet Paper Letter" written and sent in 1942 by the CO of the USS Skipjack in an effort to get re-supply of a most important commodity. Updated 1/18/2013 to add photo of original document.

USNS Mercy is underway.

Check out this infographic by to learn about the capabilities of Hospital Ships, and
.

The hospital ships are expected to serve as a relief valve for traditional patients to open up capacity at the civilian hospital for the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The ships will work closely with local health officials to decide which cases are sent to USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy. These decisions will be based on the capabilities of USNS Comfort and USNS Mercy medical teams and the local officials’ determination of patient priority. The presence of these ships will allow local health professionals to better focus on treating COVID-19 patients.

We've lost a brilliant mind and a great human being. I just learned that Dr. Mauris DeSilva passed away last month. Anyone that had the pleasure of working with him quickly saw his genius and his heart.
--Joe Wiggins, former PAO, NAMRU-SA

A Scientists’ Perspective on Research and Navy Medicine in San Antonio – Navy Medicine A Scientists’ Perspective on Research and Navy Medicine in San Antonio Dr. Mauris N. DeSilva, principal investigator, Craniofacial Health and Restorative Medicine Directorate, Naval Medical Research Unit San Antonio It was September of 2007 when I drove to the naval base at Great Lakes, Il. where ...

I’m looking for any surviving members of U.S. Navy Seabee Construction Battalion Maintenance Unit – 546 (CBMU-456). The Seabee Unit served in the south Pacific area from 1943-1946,

My uncle William F. Laurents of Rayne, Louisiana is 94 y/o U.S. Navy Seabee veteran who was assigned to CBMU-546 from 10/1943 to 03/1946 while in the South Pacific during World War II.

Please contact me if you have information aboutb anyone who was assigned to this unit. I have a lot of pictures of individuals from the unit.

Randal K. LeBlanc, email: [email protected].

Child calling Santa reached NORAD instead; Christmas Eve was never the same

Child calling Santa reached NORAD instead; Christmas Eve was never the same This Christmas Eve will mark the 63rd straight year that NORAD will publicly track Santa's sleigh on its global rounds. And it all started with a wrong number.

Retired Master Chief Britt Slabinski to Receive Medal of Honor