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QM MUSEUM OPENS NEW UNIFORM EXHIBIT The historical institution sheds light on military uniforms through the years and the men and women who wore them
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SOLDIER SHOW ENTERTAINS The annual song and dance extravaganza makes its way to Fort Lee with messages of resilience and support SEE PAGE 10
MAJOR CHANGE TO NCO RATINGS The Army’s new noncommissioned ofďŹ cer evaluation reports are more stringent on performance
SEE SUPPLEMENT INSIDE
SEE PAGE 11
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CHAPLAIN’S CORNER | RESILIENCE IN THE FACE HARDSHIPS
Thoughts, lessons, wisdom about overcoming obstacles Chap. (Maj.) David R. Kirk Installation Chaplain’s Office
There is no such thing as “business as usual.” Nobody is exempt from unforseen circumstances and life-changing events. It does not matter who you are or what comprises your life history. To use a much worn out cliché ... We are all in this together. There are times when people feel they are the recipients of “life’s circumstances” more than others and many times that truly is the case.
Here is an example of where that happened. Michael Lewis’ 2006 book, The Blind Side: Evolution of a Game, and the 2009 Academy Award-winning film “The Blind Side” focuses on the lives of Michael Jerome Oher and the Sean Tuohy family from Memphis, Tenn. The book and the film are the story of a lad who was one of twelve children born to Denise Oher. She was an alcoholic and crack cocaine addict living in one of the housing projects in Memphis. Michael’s father, Michael Jerome Williams, was
frequently in prison. Michael did not receive much attention or discipline in his early years having extremely poor study habits having had to repeat both first and second grades. He attended eleven different schools his first nine years as a student. He started in foster care at age seven and spent time either in foster homes or homeless living on the street or wherever he could find shelter. His father, a former cell mate of Denise Oher’s brother, was murdered in prison when Oher
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Environmental Management Office
It’s hot and dusty in Virginia each summer and new construction just adds to it. A little-known fact is that
Fort Lee has guidance about dust emissions from con-
struction projects that may benefit everyone. The Fort Lee Environmental Special Conditions Package notes: • The Contractor shall not cause or permit any materials or property to be handled, transported, stored, used, constructed, altered, repaired or demolished with-
Fort Lee
Commanding General ........ Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lyons Garrison Commander ....................... Col. Paul K. Brooks Public Affairs Officer............................. Stephen J. Baker Command Information/Managing Editor...Patrick Buffett Senior Writer/Special Assignments ......... T. Anthony Bell Production/News Assistant Editor.................. Amy Perry Family/Community Life Reporter ..........................Vacant Production Assistant .............................. Ray Kozakewicz
out taking reasonable precautions to prevent particulate matter from becoming airborne. Such reasonable precautions include, but are not limited to, the following: • Use, where possible, of water or chemicals for control of dust in the demolition of existing buildings or structures, construction op-
was a senior in high school. The Tuohy’s are just the opposite of Oher. They are extremely wealthy, owning 85 restaurants in the Memphis area and Leigh Anne – an awardwinning interior designer. There were many things they did for him that came from the goodness of their hearts. They gave him what, up to that point in his life, he had not experienced: a stable home, loving caring people who eventually legally adopted him, and the opportunity to grow into the person Michael Oher is today.
erations, the grading of roads or the clearing of land. • Application of asphalt, water, or suitable chemicals on dirt roads, materials stockpiles and other surfaces that may create airborne dust or the paving of roadways and maintaining them in a clean condition. • Installation and use of hoods, fans and fabric filters to enclose and vent the handling of dusty materials. Adequate containment methods shall be employed during sandblasting or other
The Fort Lee “Traveller” is printed by offset process every Thursday as a civilian enterprise in the interest of personnel at the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee, Va. 23801, by Military Newspapers of Virginia, 114 Charlotte Avenue Suite A, Colonial Heights, Va. 23834, in accordance with Department of the Army Regulations 210-20 and 360-1. This publication receives armed forces material and civilian newspapers are authorized to reprint such material without specific clearance except material specifically designated as copyrighted. Liaison between the printer and the commanding general, Fort Lee, is maintained by the Public Affairs Office, Fort Lee. Circulation: 13,000. This Civilian Enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication. Contents of the “Traveller” are not necessarily the official view of, nor endorsed by, the U.S. Army Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee. Advertising in this publication including inserts or supplements does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army or Military Newspapers of Virginia. Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other non merit factor. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the printer shall refuse to print advertising from that source until violation is corrected. The “Traveller” is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-1, and printed by the Military Newspapers of Virginia, a private firm in no way connected with the U. S. Army Combined Arms Support Command or Fort Lee. The editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of Headquarters, U. S. Army Garrison, Fort Lee.
He is a 2009 graduate of Ole Miss with a degree in Criminal Justice, having made the honor roll both his sophomore and senior years. He still considers himself a part of the Touhy family. He is currently an offensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers after having spent his first years with the Baltimore Ravens receiving a Super Bowl ring in the process and then playing one year with the Tennessee Titans. Michael could have turned out very differently considering his early life experiences and the difficult circumstances he found himself in. With the help of the Touhy’s and others who believed in him and helped him believe in himself, he did not follow the wrong path. Michael Oher’s story is not that much different from many
similar operations. • Open equipment for conveying or transporting materials likely to create objectionable air pollution when airborne shall be covered or treated in an equally effective manner at all times when in motion. • The prompt removal of spilled or tracked dirt or other materials from paved streets and of dried sediments resulting from soil erosion. If you feel there is a need to report a concern about
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SEE LESSONS, PAGE 13
dust, contact Brandy Reeves, Air Program manager, by email at brandy.l.reeves. civ@mail.mil or call (804) 734-5061. • You are asked to report: • Date • Time of day • Location or nearest street intersection • What created the dust (if known). Want to learn more on this topic? Vitsit http://www.deq. virginia.gov/Portals/0/DEQ/ Air Regulations/501.pdf.
COVER The Fort Lee Traveller began its 75-year journalism tradition on July 2, 1941. This somewhat tattered front page is from the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum collection. See special supplement.
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OD Corps welcomes Ryan as new chief Amy Perry Production/News Assistant Editor
Brig. Gen. Kurt J. Ryan took charge of the Ordnance Corps and School during an assumption of command ceremony Friday on Whittington Field, Ordnance Campus. He is the 39th Chief of Ordnance. Ryan replaced Brig. Gen. John F. Haley, who departed Fort Lee last month to take Ryan’s command at Joint Base LewisMcChord, Wash. Col. Mark Migaleddi, the Ordnance School assistant commandant, served as the acting director during the transition. Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, CASCOM and Fort Lee commanding general, recognized Migaleddi for his efforts in between the two chiefs. “I would like to thank our assistant commandant, Col. “Migs” Migaleddi for an exceptional job as acting commandant – we’ll call him 38.5,” said Lyons. “He
was the acting (commandant) since Haley departed a few weeks ago to replace Ryan … and the Ordnance Corps has never missed a beat. Thank you for your continued leadership, Migs.” Turning to the new chief, Lyons had nothing but praise for the corps’ newest leader. “We could not have hoped for a more talented or committed leader to serve as the 39th Chief of Ordnance than Brig. Gen. Kurt Ryan. Lyons and Ryan have crossed paths during their Army careers many times, and Lyons said he knows from experience Ryan will do a great job. “There is no one more qualified to be a representative to TRADOC and advocate for the Ordnance Corps than General Ryan,” he said. “The Army desires innovative, adaptive, competent and committed leaders of character, and in my mind, I SEE RYAN, PAGE 13
Amy Perry
Brig. Gen. Kurt J. Ryan, incoming Chief of Ordnance, takes the Ordnance School colors from Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, CASCOM and Fort Lee commanding general, during an assumption of command ceremony Friday on Whittington Field, Ordnance Campus.
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(ABOVE) Forty-four Mortuary Affairs Soldiers from the 54th Quartermaster Company Detachment 2 salute the colors while in formation at their deployment ceremony Monday at the Post Field House. The Soldiers are deploying for six months in support of Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. The detachment’s leadership is 1st Lt. Gavin Keisling, commander, and Sgt. 1st Class Daryl Cossey, first sergeant. (RIGHT) Staff Sgt. Michael Carrigan holds his son Garrison, and says good-bye after the ceremony.
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Exchange Expands Layaway Program For the back-to-school season, the Army and Air Force Exchange is extending its layaway program for shoppers to hold computers, notebooks, tablets and iPads – items not typically eligible for the program – until Aug. 31. A $3 service fee and a deposit of 15 percent are required to hold the items. Shoppers can visit customer service at the local Exchange for details.
Kenner Offers Nutrition Services Ray Kozakewicz
Charles H. Cureton, director, Museums Division, U.S. Army Center of Military History, Fort McNair, Wash.; Brig. Gen. Ronald Kirklin, Quartermaster General; Paul Morando, director, U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum; and Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Sellers, regimental CSM; cut the ribbon to open a new permanent uniform exhibit at the QM museum July 8.
Historic uniform exhibit opens at QM museum Ray Kozakewicz Production Assistant
Over a year in the making, the U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum opened a permanent exhibit July 8 chronicling military dress from 19th century attire to more functional uniforms of the 21st century. Titled “Parade to Battle – The Evolution of Army Uniforms,” the new gallery includes 26 styles of uniforms such as rare quartermaster sample pieces, a jacket worn by Gen. Dwight Eisenhower and a General Officer Dress Coat from 1832. “It’s a great day to be a Quartermaster and a great day to be in the Army,” said Brig. Gen. Ronald Kirklin, Quartermaster General, in welcoming roughly 60 senior leaders and dignitaries. These included Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, Combined Arms Support Command and Fort Lee commanding general. “Paul (Morando) and his team of professionals did amazing work behind the scenes that has not gone un-
noticed. I want to thank the team for creating this new gallery highlighting key historic uniforms.” Kirklin noted, “Putting together an exhibit of this type takes a lot of time and careful research. From 1775 until now, the Quartermaster Corps has played a major role in designing, producing and supplying Army uniforms to Soldiers. This exhibit could not have come at a better time. The Army unveiled its newest uniform this month. We will learn from the exhibit how the Army camouflage uniform has evolved over time.” “It took a lot of hard work in building this new exhibit,” said Paul Morando, director of the museum. “We also had to have an amazing amount of patience. Exhibiting clothing in a museum setting is one of the most challenging tasks. They require special lighting, handling and cases.” He praised his staff for their work in facing a number of challenges. “One challenge was to acquire custom-
made, all-glass, professional quality, exhibit cases that are aesthetic to the eye. These also will ensure the artifacts will be properly protected.” The museum has a treasure chest of more than 3,000 clothing items among the 23,000 pieces in its entire collection, said Morando. “So, we had to decide on the first 26 items to showcase. Many have never been exhibited before. We plan to rotate the collection over time so visitors can view a variety of uniforms on repeat visits,” Morando said. Charles H. Cureton, director, Museums Division, U. S. Center of Military History, Fort McNair, Wash., was the guest speaker at the ceremony. “A fragment of cloth can say a lot about its owner and the civilization that produced it,” said Cureton. “When you look at the American uniforms in this gallery you will have an idea of where our culture is at any particular time. This exhibit has an eclectic mix of uniforms. Each has a story onto itself.”
Kenner Army Health Clinic is offering nutrition counseling services for diet and health, weight management, stress and emotional eating, vegetarian guidance, building muscle, preventing disease and more. Kathleen A. Viau, KAHC’s dietitian and nutritionist, is available to help beneficiaries, dependents, retirees and service members. She is a registered dietitian with more than 30 years of experience and nutritional expertise, and she has an advanced certification in sports nutrition. To receive assistance, patients should contact their provider team for a referral.
Operation Homefront Accepting Donations for Military Kids Operation Homefront is joining forces with McDonald’s® Family Restaurants of Greater Richmond to collect school supplies for military families until July 31. The most-needed new supplies include: pencils, crayons, scissors, rulers, looseleaf notebook paper, spiral notebooks, composition notebooks, glue sticks, three-ring binders, pencil sharpeners, erasers, ballpoint pens, binder dividers, highlighters, pencil cases, index cards, pocket folders and more. Each person who places items into the marked donation boxes at the restaurants will receive a coupon for a free McDonald’s dessert.
Exchange Celebrates Anniversary with Scavenger Hunt In honor of the 120th anniversary of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service, military shoppers have a chance to win $7,000 in prizes until July 25. Authorized shoppers can find the five winning words for the Patriot Family 120th Anniversary Scavenger Hunt by searching for clues in the candy aisles of the Exchange. A grand prize of $3,000 will be awarded to one winner, $1,000 to two second-place winners and $500 will go to four third-place winners. The seven winners will be selected at random from a pool of all eligible entries. No purchase is necessary to win. To enter, visit www.shopmyexchange.com/patriot-family.
Kenner Commander’s Call Scheduled Kenner Army Health Clinic will curtail services July 30, 1-4 p.m., to allow staff to attend a quarterly commander’s call and training session. The clinic will re-open in the late afternoon for pharmacy services. Patients with routine needs should contact the clinic before or after the closure. To reach the on-call provider when the clinic is closed, contact the administrative officer of the day at (804) 734-9000.
Army Medicine Secure Message Enrollment Day at KAHC Kenner Army Health Clinic will host an Army Medicine Secure Messaging Service Enrollment Day July 21, 10:30 a.m. - noon, and 2:30-5:30 p.m., in the active duty clinic, located on B Avenue in the trailers. Some of the available services the system can provide include requesting appointments online, prescription renewals, requesting recent lab results or diagnostic tests electronically, and more. By enrolling in the service, patients can avoid waiting on hold or playing phone tag. For details, call (804) 734-9086.
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Lee to lose Soldiers in Army-wide reductions Fort Lee is slated to lose 127 Soldiers as part of a total reduction of 40,000 personnel announced by the Department of the Army July 9. The Army announced force structure decisions and stationing plans for the reduction of the regular Army from 490,000 to 450,000 Soldiers. The reduction of force structure will occur in fiscal 2016 and 2017; will be completed by the end of fiscal 2018, and will be accompanied by the reduction of 17,000 Department of the Army Civilian employees. The Army is expected to release the number of civilian reductions in September 2015. Driven by fiscal constraints resulting from the Budget Control Act of 2011 and defense strategic and budgetary guidance, these cuts will impact nearly every Army installation, both in the continental United States and overseas. As part of these reductions, the number of Regular Army brigade combat teams, the basic deployable units of maneuver in the Army, will continue to be reduced from a wartime high of 45 in 2012 to 30 by the end of fiscal 2017. The Army will convert both the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Benning, Ga., and the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division at Joint Base ElmendorfRichardson, Alaska, into maneuver battalion task forces by the end of fiscal 2017. Additionally, the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division will remain at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, but will convert to a twomaneuver battalion infantry brigade combat team. The Army was directed to make reductions, and did so in a strategically considered approach to preserve warfighting capability and avoid a hollow force as the Army faces continuing fiscal pressures. In addition to reorganizing the operational force, the Army is reducing the size of two-star-and-above headquarters and cutting the civilian workforce supporting those leaders. If current law budget caps, commonly referred to as sequestration, are not addressed, end-strength will be further reduced to 420,000 Soldiers by fiscal 2019. This will result in a cumulative loss of 150,000 Soldiers from the regular Army – a 26-percent cut over a seven-year period. The resulting force would be incapable of simultaneously meeting current deployment requirements and responding to the overseas contingency requirements of the combatant commands.
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Army looks for new pistol FORT BELVOIR – The Army moved closer to releasing its long-awaited solicitation for a new, modern handgun system when it hosted a fourth industry day for interested vendors at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., July 8. The Army named the new weapon the “XM17” Modular Handgun System. It will replace the current M9 standard Army handgun with a more state-ofthe-art weapon system. “More than 20 companies attended the event,” said Debi Dawson, PEO Soldier spokesperson. Federal procurement restrictions do not allow the disclosure of the names of firms participating, she said. The government presented changes to its lat-
est draft solicitation for the XM17, which were posted to the Federal Business Opportunities website June 8. Among changes discussed at the industry day was policy that now opens up the competition to rounds other than ball (full metal jacket) ammunition. A representative from the Army Judge Advocate General’s Office discussed the decision in detail during the event. Richard Jackson, special JAG assistant for Law of War, told attendees that federal, state, local and military law enforcement elements routinely use expanding and fragmenting ammunition in their handguns due to the increased capability it provides against threats. “Expanding the XM17
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Sgt. Dave Salvador, 75th Medical Company Area Support, South Korea, shoots his M9 during the Stress Shoot Qualification Lane of the Pacific Regional Medical Command Best Medic Competition, Sept. 21-25, 2014, at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The Army is looking for a new pistol to replace the M9.
Modular Handgun competition to include specialpurpose ammunition will provide the warfighter with a more accurate and lethal handgun,” Jackson said. “Other types of ammunition allow the XM17 Modular Handgun System to be optimized by vendors, provid-
ing a more capable system to warfighters across the spectrum of shooter experience and skill level.” Through the upcoming competition, the Army intends to replace the M9 with a more modern handgun system. “Handgun technology
has advanced significantly thanks to lighter-weight materials, ergonomics and accessory rails since 1986, when the M9 entered the Army’s inventory,” Dawson said. “The Army is seeking a handgun system that outperforms the current M9 system. It also
must be modular, meaning it allows adjustments to fit all hand sizes.” The Army is encouraging industry to optimize commercially available gun, ammunition and magazine components to provide a system for maximum performance. Current plans call for the Army to purchase more than 280,000 of the new handguns from a single vendor. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2018. The Army also plans to buy approximately 7,000 compact versions of the new handgun. Dawson said that other military services, participating in the XM17 program, may order an additional 212,000 systems above the Army quantity. The draft solicitation spells out likely procedural and schedule details that responding vendors will have to follow to participate in the competition. – PEO Soldier
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Retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Rufus Montgomery Sr., center, his wife Patricia and son Rufus Jr., are joined by CW5 Roberto Figueroa, Regimental CWO for the Quartermaster Corps, and retired CW5 Jim Tolbert, a former QM Regimental CWO, at a July 9 ribbon-cutting ceremony in the C Wing of Bunker Hall on the Army Logistics University campus. The event marked the official unveiling of a historical display that pays tribute to Montgomery’s many contributions to the Army while serving as a QM officer. Foremost among those achievements is his work to revitalize the warrant officer training with industry program. He played a key role in the development and testing of the Mobile Kitchen Trailer and Supplemental Field Kitchen Kit, both part of the Combat Field Fielding System. When he ended his nearly 38-year Army career in 2003, he was recognized as one of the foremost food service advisors in the military. Montgomery is a QM Hall of Fame inductee and a distinguished member of the regiment. He continues to serve the Army as one of the board of directors for the Army Quartermaster Foundation, among other volunteer positions.
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Retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Rufus Montgomery Sr., the honorary chief warrant officer of the regiment for the Quartermaster Corps, speaks during Fort Lee’s Warrant Officer Corps 97th Birthday luncheon July 9 at the Lee Club. Montgomery talked about the history of the corps and reminisced about his time as a warrant officer. He started his career as an enlisted infantryman and later transitioned to food services. Climbing to the senior NCO ranks, he mentored food service teams that were frequently recognized with Philip A. Connelly Award and Best Culinary Arts Team titles. Becoming a warrant officer in 1977, he continued to serve the Quartermaster Corps and the sustainment community as a technical specialist and mentor. He retired in 2003 after nearly 38 years of military service. Amy Perry
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RECOGNIZING CIVILIANS | ACS SPOTLIGHT
1$1&< %8516 Family: “My husband retired as a major from the Army and we have two boys. Our oldest is in the military at Fort Campbell, Ky., and our youngest is in 10th grade.� Hometown: Camden, S.C. Title: “I’m the program manager for Army Family Team Building and the Army Family Action Plan within Army Community Service.� Duties: “Army Family Team Building is designed for new spouses. It’s the ‘A, B, Cs’ of the military. We know that transitioning into the military can be intimidating for some new spouses. It’s there to help them navigate their new military com-
munity. Army Family Action Plan is another program designed for our military members, and it’s a way for our leadership to know what Soldiers, family members, Department of the Army Civilians and retirees want changed within our military.� How long at ACS? 7 years How did you get started with ACS? “My husband was in the military, and we moved here on orders. ACS has always been an important part of our military community. I volunteered for a while and landed a job.� Why do you work at ACS? “I am a prior Soldier myself. I know how it feels to be a Soldier. Once I was out of the military,
I knew what it was like to be a military spouse. The job I have enables me to help both ends of the spectrum.â€? Hobbies: “I like to exercise. I like to stay active ‌ like with gardening. I also like to cook.â€?
What you can’t live without: “My family.� Dream vacation: “A dream vacation for me would be going to Belize. I’ve seen pictures of it and watched specials about it on television, and I think it looks beautiful. I can’t wait to go.� Pet peeves: “Not following through on what you said you would. If you made a promise to do it, please do it.� Favorite quote: “With Christ, all things are possible.� Favorite book: “I wouldn’t say I have a favorite book or author, but a book I’ve been reading lately is “Battlefield of the Mind� by Joyce Meyer. Very insightful.� Favorite food: “Ice cream.� Worst fear: “Drowning.� Talents: “Acting. I’ve always liked to act around the work
place and at home. I’ve always had a dream to be a famous actress.� Someone you admire: “My husband. He’s a Soldier and a decorated veteran. The way he loves his family. The way he loves me. He’s an overall good person with a great heart and good morals.� Qualities you admire: “Honest. Integrity. Loyalty.� What do you expect from your leaders? “To lead by example.� Something people would be surprised to know about you: “I don’t like pets. I’m just not into pets, and I’m not an animal person at all.� Future aspirations: “Being a terrific grandmother.� – Compiled by Amy Perry
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EDODQFLQJ DFW Two Soldiers from Delta Company, 16th Ordnance Battalion, carry containers of water while balancing themselves on a rope bridge during Leadership Reaction Course training at the Fort Lee range complex July 2. The object of the obstacle was to successfully cross the 30-foot span without setting foot or water container upon the ground. The two were part of a group of 50 Soldiers from the company who tried their hands at the rope bridge and several other obstacles.
T. Anthony Bell
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(LEFT) Advanced individual training students from the 832nd Ordnance Battalion express their excitement as the 2015 U.S. Army Soldier Show gets underway at Williams Stadium on July 8. More than 1,000 Soldiers from the Quartermaster and Ordnance Schools here, and several hundred community members and off-post visitors, attended the evening event that featured active duty, reserve and National Guard performers from across the Army. (BELOW) Pfc. Jovan Maires from Fort Hood, Texas, and the rest of the 2015 Soldier Show cast sing a compilation of patriotic songs during the show. This year’s production, titled “We Serve,” paid tribute to the 50th anniversary of the Battle of la Drang Valley, one of the bloodiest conflicts in the Vietnam War. Patrick Stephenson, who fought in that battle, was the narrator for the performance. Using song and dance, the talented Soldiers also recognized important Army issues like suicide awareness and sexual assault prevention.
‘We Serve’
(ABOVE) Ordnance School troops join in the singing of the “Army Song” as the Soldier Show performance concludes. (RIGHT) Maj. Gen. Stephen R. Lyons, CASCOM and Fort Lee commanding general, proudly shows the plaque presented to him by the Soldier Show cast. Also pictured is Command Sgt. Maj. Terry E. Parham Sr., CASCOM CSM, and Sgt. 1st Class Frederick McDuffy, noncommissioned officer in charge of the Soldier Show detachment.
Photos by Patrick Buffett
(ABOVE LEFT) Spc. Phillip Morris Jr., from Fort Bragg, N.C., sings “I Didn’t Know My Own Strength” with other cast members of the Soldier Show. The song was a tribute to the Army Community Service, which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year. The Fort Lee performance was a homecoming of sorts for Morris who attended advanced individual training here in 2012. (ABOVE RIGHT) Pfc. Brianna Walker from Fort Campbell, Ky., sings “I Drive Your Truck” during the performance. The song paid tribute to the strength of military families.
With new report, senior raters may identify only 24% as ‘most qualified’ C. Todd Lopez Army News Service
WASHINGTON – New policy changes for the noncommissioned officer evaluation report, due out in January, include a limit on how many “most qualified” ratings can be handed out by a Soldier’s senior rater. Under the new system, upper-level NCOs may rate only as many as 24 percent as being most qualified. That limit applies when those being rated are in the rank of staff sergeant through sergeant major. The expectation will be to make the rating of “highly qualified” as the “new norm,” said Sgt. Maj. Stephen McDermid, the evaluations branch sergeant major for the Adjutant General Directorate, Human Resources Command. “It’s important to understand the ‘highly qualified’ selection will be the norm and noncommissioned officers will remain competitive for promotion with highly-qualified NCOERs, given they complete their required professional military education,” McDermid said. The senior rater profile is new on the NCOER, and similar to what is being done on officer evaluation reports. Army leaders hope implementation of a senior rater profile will help reduce “rating inflation” within the enlisted evaluation system, which makes it difficult for promotion boards to select those most qualified for promotion. “It’s hard to use (the NCOER) as a determiner of success and for potential for promotion when everybody is a 1,” said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Daniel A. Dailey. “That should be the numberone thing we are using to decide promotion potential. And unfortunately, because it is so equivalent for everybody, you can’t.
Contributed
A new noncommissioned officer evaluation report is expected to more accurately assess Soldiers’ performance.
You have to go to other things like school reports, awards and decorations and all those other things.” McDermid said the limit of 24 percent is designed to reflect the promotion percentages common across various military occupational specialties within the enlisted ranks. The intent is to make it easier for promotion boards to identify those Soldiers who are most qualified to be promoted. The decision to set the limit to 24 percent was made by the sergeant major of the Army and his senior enlisted council. The recommendation was passed to both the Army’s chief of staff and Army secretary, who both agreed with the recommendation.
“It’ll give promotion boards the ability to see who actually is the best by using the NCOER as a true discriminator of talent what it’s supposed to do,” Dailey said. The NCOER includes a block labeled “Senior Rater Overall Potential.” That block includes check boxes where senior raters are asked to compare an NCO’s “overall potential” to that of other NCOs of the same grade that the senior NCO has rated in his or her career. For the NCO being rated, senior raters may select from: “most qualified,” “highly qualified,” “qualified,” or “not qualified.” They may choose only one of those ratings, and may rate up to 24 percent of their Soldiers as “most qualified.” Another change to the evalu-
ation report includes the supplementary review. Army leaders have asked for a supplementary review on NCOERs when the senior rater is a sergeant first class, first sergeant, master sergeant, warrant officer, chief warrant officer 2, second lieutenant or first lieutenant. “This supplementary review will be performed by a uniformed Army Soldier, senior to the senior rater within the rated NCO’s organization,” McDermid said. “As designed, the supplementary reviewer will monitor evaluation practices and provide assistance and/or advice to rating officials as needed.” COUNSELING REQUIRED With the implementation of the new NCOER, counseling
will remain critical in reviewing the Soldier’s demonstrated performance and potential while focusing on leader development throughout the rating period. Raters must counsel the rated Soldier initially and quarterly, while the senior rater should counsel the rated NCO twice during the rating period. “Ideally this will occur within the first 30 days of the rating period and then at the mid-point,” McDermid said. “To account for this, senior raters will have a section on the form to annotate comments from any counseling sessions conducted with the rated NCO.” The requirement for counseling also is expected to help curb rating inflation, Dailey said, because senior raters, who in the past have neglected to engage in counseling with an NCO for an entire rating period, have been reluctant to rate that Soldier as anything less than the best. “That’s why they got 1 blocks in the past,” Dailey said. “(Senior raters) didn’t do their job counseling, so they just gave them a 1 block.” Dailey said when senior raters hold counseling with the Soldiers they senior rate, they are more comfortable providing an honest rating at the end of the year. “If I tell you all throughout the year in counseling that you are not doing a good job, I have no problem at the end of the year telling you that you are not doing a good job,” Dailey said. “But if I haven’t done my job in telling you what you have done wrong ... then we tend to shy away from that when it is performance evaluation time. “ The new NCOER was at one point expected to hit the streets at beginning of the new fiscal year, which is Oct. 1. But Dailey asked the Army’s chief of staff and Army secretary to move the date to Jan. 1. The additional time will allow for a fine-tuning of the process and procedures for tracking senior rater profiles to ensure Soldiers have a fair chance at promotions while also preventing rating inflation.
12 | Traveller | July 16, 2015 | www.fortleetraveller.com
OPM moves to protect workers from cyber threats WASHINGTON. – The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has announced the results of the interagency forensics investigation into a recent cyber incident involving federal background investigation data and the steps it is taking to protect those impacted. Throughout this investigation, OPM has been committed to providing information in a timely, transparent and accurate manner. As information has become available and verifiable, the agency has updated Congress, the inspector general, federal employee representatives, and - most importantly – those who are affected. This announcement is the latest in this series of updates, and OPM will continue to provide additional information going forward. Since the end of 2013, OPM has undertaken an aggressive effort to upgrade the agency’s cybersecurity posture, adding numerous tools and capabilities to
its various legacy networks. As a direct result of these steps, OPM was able to identify two separate but related cybersecurity incidents on its systems. OPM announced the results of the interagency forensic investigation into the second incident. As previously stated, in late-May 2015, as a result of ongoing efforts to secure its systems, OPM discovered an incident affecting background investigation records of current, former and prospective federal employees and contractors. Following the conclusion of the forensics investigation, OPM has determined the types of information in these records include identification details such as Social Security numbers; residency and educational history; employment history; information about immediate family and other personal and business acquaintances; health, criminal and financial his-
tory; and other details. Some records also include findings from interviews conducted by background investigators and fingerprints. Usernames and passwords, which background investigation applicants used to fill out their background investigation forms, also were stolen. While background investigation records do contain some information regarding mental health and financial history provided by those who have applied for a security clearance and by individuals contacted during the background investigation, there is no evidence separate systems that store information regarding the health, financial, payroll and retirement records of federal personnel were impacted by this incident. This incident is separate but related to a previous incident, discovered in April 2015, affecting personnel data for current and former federal employees. OPM and
its interagency partners concluded with a high degree of confidence that personnel data for 4.2 million individuals had been stolen. Since learning of the incident affecting background investigation records, OPM and the interagency incident response team have moved swiftly and thoroughly to assess the breach, analyze what data may have been stolen, and identify those individuals who may be affected. The team has concluded with high confidence that sensitive information, including the Social Security numbers of 21.5 million individuals, was stolen from the background investigation databases. This includes 19.7 million individuals who applied for a background investigation, and 1.8 million non-applicants, predominantly spouses or co-habitants of applicants. As noted, some records also include findings from interviews conducted by background investigators and approximately 1.1 million include fingerprints. If an individual underwent a background investigation through OPM in 2000 or afterward (which occurs through the submission of forms SF 86, SF 85, or SF 85P for a new investigation or periodic re-
investigation), it is highly likely the individual is impacted by this cyber breach. If an individual underwent a background investigation before 2000, that individual still may be impacted, but it is less likely. OPM also is announcing the steps it is taking to protect those impacted: • Providing a comprehensive suite of monitoring and protection services for background investigation applicants and non-applicants, whose Social Security numbers, and in many cases other sensitive information, were stolen. • Helping other individuals, who had other information included on background investigation forms. • Establishing an online cybersecurity incident resource center. • Establishing a call center to respond to questions. • Protecting all federal employees to identify credit and identity theft monitoring programs that should be offered to all federal employees in the future. For more information, visit www.opm.gov/cybersecurity. – OPM
$$)(6 JLIW FDUGV DYDLODEOH URFNV DZDUG Americans can support military members who defend the U.S. with Army and Air Force Exchange Service gift cards. They can be sent to Soldiers, Airmen, Sailors and Marines deployed to Afghanistan, Kuwait and other contingency locations to redeem through the Department of Defense’s largest exchange service. These cards can be used by service members and their families for all the products they have available at home in the U.S., such as electronics, apparel, food and drinks.
With nearly $1.5 million donated since 2008, Exchange gift cards have proven to be a popular way for the American public to show support for the Armed Forces. “Having access to some comforts of home is very important for the more than 150,000 service members stationed overseas,” said the Fort Lee Exchange General Manager, Rita Inchaurregui-Powell. “Exchange gift cards remind our troops that the American people want to take care of them while they work to protect our freedom.” Redeeming an
Gen. David Perkins, U.S. Army TRADOC Commanding General, receives the 2015 Honorary ROCK of the Year Award from retired Brig. Gen. Earl Simms at a special luncheon at the Fort Eustis Club June 23. Simms is chairman of the national board of ROCKS that is a mentoring, professional development and networking organization whose mission is to strengthen the Officer and Senior Civilian Corps. After receiving the award, Perkins spoke on the value and importance of mentoring within the Army. He emphasized mentoring is one of the bedrocks for developing current and future leaders of the Army, and commended ROCKS for providing scholarship assistance to students pursuing a commission as a military officer.
Exchange gift card is reserved for authorized military shoppers, however, any American can give their support by visiting www. shopmyexchange.com/ scs and sending a card from as little as $10 up to $500. The gift cards can be addressed to a specific Soldier, Airman, Sailor or Marine or sent to “any service member” through the Fisher House Foundation, Air Force Aid Society, Warrior and Family Support Center or Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society. – Fort Lee Exchange
Contributed Photo
www.fortleetraveller.com | July 16, 2015 | Traveller | 13
LESSON | Positive support networks,
chaplains are there to help Continued from page 2
others, including our own, when we take the time to reflect. There are numerous people who find themselves faced with issues and circumstances that are not the most pleasant to endure. There are those who experience various healthrelated issues, unemployment, are passed over for promotions, experience the death or multiple deaths of loved ones in a
short span of time. There are those who turn to alcohol and other drugs or other means to numb the physical, emotional or spiritual pain they are feeling. They seem to feel there is no other way to deal with what they are going through at the moment. Then, there are those – who, even though they find themselves in similar life circumstances – believe in themselves or can immediately turn to a support network to restore their con-
fidence. They have faith in others and an “I can get through this circumstance/ issue.� Yes, it is possible mentality any one of us could have difficult circumstances or “setbacks� in our lives. It is how we approach them that determines if we overcome them or not. Chaplains and others are always ready and willing to assist you in finding positive ways to cope with difficulties. So, when “life’s circumstances� happen, what are you going to do?
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new chief, school commandant Continued from page 3 think of Kurt Ryan. He’s a naturally curious thinker and an incredible team builder who brings out the best in people. I can’t wait to see the ordnance version of his warriors. He’s reliable in his word and his deeds. “He has a huge fan club, and I am among his top fans,� continued Lyons. “I can’t imagine anyone else more qualified to be the 39th.� Ryan said he is excited to serve as the top ordnance officer. “I am extremely humbled and proud to stand on this parade field today and serve as your 39th Chief of Ordnance,� he said. “I am truly honored to return to the “home of ordnance� – our newest gathering place of sustained and continued ordnance history and legacy – the place we reflect on our past and build our future.� Ryan said he is looking forward to
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14 | Traveller | July 16, 2015 | www.fortleetraveller.com
KENNER CONNECTION | PREVENTION OF SKIN CANCER
Protection from sunlight among measures to combat melanoma Velvie Bennett RN, MSN, FNP-C, Family Medicine Clinic, KAHC
For those planning to spend time outdoors this summer, it is essential to protect skin from exposure to harmful sun rays known to cause skin cancer. It is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States, and melanoma is the deadliest form of the disease. According to the National Cancer Institute, more than 68,000 Americans are diagnosed with melanoma each year and another 48,000 are diagnosed with an early form of the disease that involves only the top layer of skin. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, melanoma causes about 8,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. People with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop skin cancer. Risk factors vary for the different types of the
disease but here are some of the general ones listed by the CDC: • Lighter natural skin color • Family history or personal history of skin cancer • Chronic sun exposure • History of sunburns, especially early in life • History of indoor tanning, primarily before age 35 • Skin that freckles, burns, reddens easily or becomes painful in the sun • Multiple moles (more than 60) Sun exposure is the most modifiable risk for melanoma. Ultraviolet rays come from the sun or indoor tanning – such as using a tanning bed, tanning booth or sunlamp. When UV rays reach the skin’s inner layer, the skin makes more melanin – the pigment that colors the skin. It moves toward the outer layers of the skin and becomes visible as a tan. A tan does not indicate healthy skin or good health.
Tanned skin is a response to injury because skin cells signal they have been hurt by UV rays producing more pigment. Although everyone’s skin can be damaged by UV exposure, people with sensitive skin and those who burn easily and tan very little are at the highest risk. What are the signs of melanoma? Most have black or blue-black areas, but may appear as a new mole. It may be black, “ugly-looking” and abnormally shaped. The National
Cancer Institute reminds people to think “ABCDE” to remember what to look for: • Asymmetry – the shape of one-half of the suspicious mole does not match the other half • Border – the edges are ragged, irregular or blurred • Color – the color is uneven and may include shades of black, brown and tan • Diameter – there has been a change in size, usually an increase
• Evolving – the mole has changed over the past few weeks or months Surgery is the first treatment of all stages of melanoma. Prevention, however, is the best treatment. The National Institute of Health recommends to avoid or reduce of exposure to direct sunlight, especially from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are the strongest. Other tips to help prevent melanoma include the following: • Wear a widebrimmed hat and clothing that protects the body from direct sunlight • Wear sunglasses that absorb UV radiation to protect the skin around the eyes. • Apply sunscreen lotions with a sun protection factor of 30 or greater, reapply every two hours, and after swimming. It is important to use a broadspectrum sunscreen lotion that filters both UVB and UVA radiation • Perform routine checks to monitor changes in your skin. If you notice a mole that is changing or is concerning you, see a primary care provider for an evaluation. There has been increased concern regard-
ing Vitamin D deficiency in the news. Vitamin D is produced by the skin with UVB exposure. Some promoters of tanning have recommended tanning bed use to help produce Vitamin D. It is important to note it is produced with moderate exposure to UVB rays. Tanning lamps typically emit more UVA rays and fewer UVB rays. Vitamin D can be more safely obtained by eating a healthy diet and supplementation if needed. According to the CDC, indoor tanning is estimated to cause about 419,000 cases of skin cancer every year. For comparison, smoking is thought to cause about 226,000 cases of lung cancer every year. Melanoma is the deadliest skin cancer, but early diagnosis gives the best chance for long-term survival. To find more information on melanoma, go to the NIH website and visit the online booklet What You Need To Know About Melanoma and Other Skin Cancers at www.cancer. gov/cancertopics/wyntk/ skin. The book includes melanoma symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and questions to ask doctors.
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www.fortleetraveller.com | July 16, 2015 | Traveller | 15
LOCAL ACTIVITIES
FOR THE
EVENTS Communication Training at Chapel | July 16 and 23 An Installation Communication Training program is set for July 16 and 23, 1 p.m., at Liberty Chapel, building 9100, C Avenue. The free class is titled Real Life Management, and it will focus on communication and conflict resolution stills. It will be led by Chaplain (Maj.) Todd Kepley, Family Life chaplain at Fort Lee. It is open to all military members, DOD Civilians, contractors and family members. For details, call (804) 734-0968.
Fort Lee Job Fair | July 23 A Fort Lee job fair is set for July 23, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the Regimental Club, building 2609, C Avenue. More than 60 employers, education service representatives and others will be on
FORT LEE COMMUNITY
hand. It is open to military members, reservists, national guardsmen, spouses and DOD Civilians. The event is sponsored by the U.S. Army Transportation School, Soldier for Life Transition Program and Army Community Service. To pre-register, visit www.lee2-dev. lee.army.mil/hrd/sfl-tap/documents/ FortLeeJobFairPre-RegistrationForm.pdf. For details, call (804) 765-7601.
266th QM Battalion Blood Drive | July 25 The 266th Quartermaster Battalion will hold a Blood Drive July 25, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m., at Fire Station No. 2 across from the Commissary. For details, call (804) 765-3324.
Education Fair at Field House Track | July 29 The Fort Lee Education Center will host a Civilian and Military Education Festival July 29, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the physical fitness field adjacent to the Post Field House.
The free event will include activities, games, refreshments, prizes, raffles and more. Participants can meet with a number of local college representatives and learn more about installation and area services. They also can win an iPad mini. For details, call (804) 765-3571.
ACS 50th Birthday Celebration | July 30 The Fort Lee community is invited to the Army Community Service 50th birthday celebration July 30, 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., in the ACS parking lot on Mahone Avenue. The free event will include hot dogs, cupcakes, snow cones, face painting, balloon creations and outdoor games for children. There will be vendor booths offering information about installation clubs and nonprofit groups, Family and MWR recreational activities and more. In the event of inclement weather, the celebration will be moved to the Post Field House. For details, call (804) 734-6388 or visit
www.leemwr.com.
FMWR Red, White and Boots Party | Aug. 1 Community members can break out their country garb, hats and cowboy kickers for a Red, White and Boots party Aug. 1, 8 p.m., at the HideAway. The event will include country music, line dancing, manager’s drink specials and costume-contest prizes. There is no cover charge. For details, call (804) 765-1539.
Backpack Giveaway at Exchange | Aug. 8 The Fort Lee Alumni Chapter, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, will give away backpacks filled with school supplies Aug. 8, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the PX. This is the 4th consecutive year the organization has provided this community service to help offset the cost of purchasing back-to-school supplies. For details, call (804) 765-4079.
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16 | Traveller | July 16, 2015 | www.fortleetraveller.com
Calendar, continued
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Registration is underway for the Fort Lee Vacation Bible School program set for Aug. 10-14, 6-8:30 p.m., at Memorial Chapel. Camp Kilimanjaro will feature crafts, songs, games Bible lessons and more. To register, visit http:// answersvbs.com/vbs/lee. For details, call (804) 734-6483 or email jonathan.w.yost.civ@mail.mil.
FLASC Sign-Up Event | Aug. 11 The Fort Lee Area Spouses Club has scheduled a Super Sign-Up event and Ice Cream Social Aug. 11, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., at Liberty Chapel. Participants can make new friends, learn more about installation services from post agencies and local vendors and more. The event is free. For details, email flasc@gmail. com.
Junior Troop Registration for Free Backpack Giveaway | Aug. 18 Operation Homefront will distribute free backpacks filled with school supplies Aug. 18 at Fort Lee. Eligible recipients include active duty E1-E6, and 9/11 wounded,ill or injured. To register, visit http://events. operationhomefront.net.
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FMWR Cornhole Tournament | July 18 FMWR will hold a free Cornhole Tournament every third Saturday through October, 6:30 p.m., at the HideAway, 5th Street. The next two dates are July 18 and Aug. 15. There are prizes for the lst place team and first team out. For details, call (804) 765-1539.
Kayaking on the Appomattox | July 22 A kayaking excursion on the
Appomattox River, coordinated by Family and MWR Outdoor Recreation, is set for July 22, 5:30 p.m., at Roslyn Landing, 265 Charles Dimmock Parkway, Colonial Heights. All equipment will be supplied with a trip map at Roslyn Landing. The cost is $12. Participants must register at least two days prior to the session. Additional excursions will be held twice a month through September including Aug. 5 and 19, and Sept. 2 and 16. For details, call (804) 765-2212.
FMWR Learn to Water Ski | July 21, 23 Water ski lessons, sponsored by Outdoor Recreation, are offered every Tuesday and Thursday until Aug. 27. All experience levels are welcome. The cost is $25 per person. The lesson schedule next week is July 21 and 23, 9 a.m. - noon, 1-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. Participants should meet at the water ski launch at the Appomattox Small Boat Harbor, 1604 Fine St., Prince George. For registration and details, call (804) 765-2212.
YOUTH CYSS Registration Period Opens | July 20 CYSS will hold registration for fall cheerleading, tackle football and flag football, July 20-31, at Parent Central Services, building 10624 Yorktown Drive. Cheerleading is for ages 5-13. The cost is $40 for military, DOD Civilians and contractors, and $50 for non-DOD civilians. Tackle football is for youngsters, 7-13. The cost is $65 for military, DOD Civilians and contractors, and $75 for non-DOD civilians. Flag football is for youth, 5-7 years old. The cost is $40 for military, DOD Civilians and contractors, and $50 for non-DOD civilians. Coaches are needed for all activities. For details, call (804) 765-3852.
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Patriot Boating Days in Gloucester | July 18 A family event offering free military boat rides, music and activities for children is set for July 18, 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., at the York River Yacht Haven, Gloucester Point. Proceeds will benefit Fields of Honor, which provides scholarship assistance to the children of military service members killed in action. The event is free except for food and beverages. For details, call (804) 642-2156.
Scout Badge Workshop in Chesterfield | July 18 The Chesterfield Historical Society of Virginia will present a badge workshop for Boy Scouts July 18, 10 a.m. - noon, at Historic Trinity Church, 10111 Iron Bridge Road. The American Heritage Badge Workshop fulfills requirements concerning history and cultural heritage. The cost is $10. For registration and details, visit www.chesterfieldhistory.com.
Military Job Fair in Norfolk | July 22 CivilianJobs.com will host a job fair for military members July 22, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the Ted Constant Convocation Center on the campus of Old Dominion University, Norfolk. The free event is open to all transitioning military members, veterans and military family members. More than 100 companies will be on hand. For registration and details, visit http://www.civilianjobs.com/ careeradvice/jobfairs.aspx.
Poetry, Prose, Pizza at PG Library | July 23 People can bring their original poetry or prose to an open mike event July 23, 6-7 p.m., at the Prince George Library, 6605 Courts Drive. Nathan Richardson, a published poet, will emcee the program. For details, call (804) 458-6329 ext. 3700.
www.fortleetraveller.com | July 16, 2015 | Traveller | 17
18 | Traveller | July 16, 2015 | www.fortleetraveller.com
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www.fortleetraveller.com | July 16, 2015 | Traveller | 19
CROSSWORD | BY SGT. MCGILLICUDDY
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HOW TO SUBMIT:
• No more than 5 ads per week, per household. • Free ads will not be accepted via official mailing channels such as guard mail or postage and fees paid indicia. Free ads will be accepted by fax, mail, delivery or Web site. See end of this ad for details. • We cannot accommodate phone inquiries regarding free classified ads. • Renewals, corrections and cancellations cannot be taken by phone and must be resubmitted. • Copy for free classified ads should be typed or printed legibly. • Ads which are illegible, too long or otherwise do not conform to instructions will not be published • Automotive ads must begin with make, model and year (in this order). • Real estate ads must begin with the name of the city, followed by the neighborhood. DEADLINE: 5pmcode___________________________________________________________________ Thursday the week prior to publication. Address and phone number must be included on form. City, state, ZIP Name of Person Placing Ad: Work phone# Home phone# ______________________________ Mailing Address: City, State, ZIP Code: Sponsor Rank/Rate/Grade____________________ Work Phone #: Home Phone #: Command: __________________________________________________________________________ Sponsor: Rank/Rate/Grade: Command: Include home # and/or address within text of ad. Approximately 25 characters (including spaces) per line.
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T. Anthony Bell Senior Writer/Special Projects
ACROSS 1. A country that culturally straddles Europe and Asia 2. The southernmost country in the Balkans 4. A Scandinavian country 5. It split with another country after the fall of communism 6. One of the Baltic countries 8. Flemish is spoken in the north here 10. This Eurasian state’s name is exactly the name of a U.S. state 11. Montenegro was among the countries it joined to form Yugoslavia 12. Valletta is its capital 13. Prussia is a former state
associated with this country 15. Before it was Turkey, it was this (two words) DOWN 1. The smallest recognized state in Europe (two words) 3. The largest country in Europe 7 . You can find these particular geographical features in Germany, Slovenia, Italy and several other countries 9. What we know as the west started here 14. Fjords are found here
For this week’s answers, visit www.ftleetraveller.com/ community_life/puzzle/.
20 | Traveller | July 16, 2015 | www.fortleetraveller.com
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Fort Lee
INSIDE Understanding the purpose of Army newspapers ........... 2-3 Chronicling 75 years of Traveller front pages .... 4-5 Telling stories through the lens ........................................ 6-7 The challenge of keeping the troops informed and entertained ...... 8 The legacy of the Traveller name .............. 10
2 | Traveller | July 16, 2015 | www.fortleetraveller.com
COMMENTARY | TELLING FORT LEE’S STORY
FOR
75 YEARS
The function of the camp newspaper is to interest and entertain. (It) gives to Soldiers within the camp the news concerning them and their affairs, which they can obtain in no other way so well. I know that here at Camp Lee we have the talent to make the (Traveller) one of the best, if not the best, publication of its sort in the United States.” – Maj. Gen. James E. Edmonds, , Camp Lee commander, 1941-1943
Value of post newspaper a matter of perspective Patrick Buffett Managing Editor
What does a military newspaper like the Fort Lee Traveller mean to the community it serves? That’s a question with many answers. It certainly meant something different to the newly drafted enlisted men at Camp Lee when the first edition of the publication was printed on July 2, 1941, than what it does 75 years later with a much more diverse audience capable of extracting news and information from multiple sources. Furthermore, there are aspects of this publication and others like it across the Army that many overlook; a key one being its historical value. The community newspaper offers a day-to-day glimpse of lifestyles, individual achievements, command decisions and news events that can’t be found in history books. From that perspective, the Traveller could be dubbed the “logbook of logistics,” or as a previous editor who wrote a column similar to this 50 years ago put it, “a lengthy and vivid chapter in the tale of our times.” With those points in mind, and
in recognition of this publication’s diamond anniversary, let’s take a look at the Traveller’s success in meeting the needs of the Army and its Fort Lee audience, then and now. Voice of the commander Military newspapers were never meant to replace or compete with civilian publications off post. Their niche in the news market is content that influences, informs and entertains U.S. service members and associated audiences – families, retirees, DOD Civilians, local reservists, etc. “In these pages, we offer the instructive side of the news at Fort Lee … new policies, programs, methods, facilities and equipment,” the 1965 tribute to the Traveller noted. “(We) report on personalities – new faces, new leadership. We give readers the latest word on achievements; who did what, where, when and how. We also deal with the lighter side (of military life) – exciting sports events, colorful entertainment, interesting hobbies. “Anything that captures the essence of living,” the editor’s column continued, “that makes the reader wiser or more knowledgeable, that makes him think seriously or entertains him,
or causes him to reminisce, or makes him laugh – that is what constitutes the mission
of a newspaper serving the military. And that is the aim and purpose of the Traveller.” Early versions of this publication reflected that vision. Here’s a sample of the headlines appearing on the front page of the Aug. 12, 1941, edition: “Committee Expects Sell-Out For The Circus (yes, this was an Armysponsored event), “Pvt. Wallace Wants To Be ‘Just Soldier’” (son of then vice president explaining he wanted to be treated like every other G.I.), “Payday To Fall Before Holiday” (a first at Fort Lee; troops would have their money before Labor Day weekend); and Who Is The Prettiest Girl Writing To A Soldier Here?” (a contest created by the newspaper staff to entertain the troops). By the way, Dorothy Mae Condon from Janesville, Wisc., won the prettiest girl contest. She was the 19-year-old fiancée of Cpl. Robert Carr, Mike
Newspaper Archive Photo
Moments after stepping off a plane in Richmond on Sept. 30, 1941, Dorothy Mae Condon, winner of the Traveller-sponsored “Prettiest Girl Writing to a Soldier at Camp Lee” contest, is held aloft by her fiancée, Cpl. Robert Carr (left) of Mike Company, 8th Quartermaster Regiment, and Pvt. D.W. McKinley, editor of the post newspaper.
Company, 8th Quartermaster Regiment. The Army funded her travel to Fort Lee where the commanding general presented her an engraved silver trophy. Community influence The contest and the aforementioned headlines reflect the challenges Army leaders faced in that era, and the Traveller’s role in addressing those issues. Imagine Camp Lee as a giant tent city with more than 10,000 (and growing) involuntarily enlisted troops slogging through muddy streets and lacking any of the creature comforts of home. Maintaining morale in those conditions would be a top priority, and Maj. Gen. James E. Edmonds, camp commander and a former managing editor of the New Orleans Times-Picayune, recognized the role a post newspaper could play to that end. “The function of the camp newspaper is to interest and entertain,” wrote Edmonds in a column that appeared on the front page of the first edition. “(It) gives to Soldiers within the camp the news concerning them and their affairs, which they can obtain in no other way so well. I know that here at Camp Lee we have the talent to make the (Traveller) one of the best, if not the best, publication of its sort in the United States. The endeavors of its editors will have my cordial continuing interest and cooperation.” In a highlighted box at the bottom of Page 1 of that first edition, the newspaper also explained the origin of its name under a headline, “Lee’s Traveller Returns to Army.” “The ghost of General Robert E. Lee’s famous grey horse, Traveller, comes back to Camp Lee today with the publication of this newspaper. Traveller was a familiar sight and name in this part of the country during the Civil War, as General Lee rode back and forth among the ranks spreading cheer and confidence among the Soldiers,” it read.
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Newspaper Archive Photos
(LEFT) Cartoon drawings of key installation leaders were common in early editions of the Traveller. They were meant to instill pride and confidence as the troops trained for war. A quartermaster officer is shown in this work of art with side panels that emphasize the quality of Army cold-weather uniforms. (ABOVE) Camp Lee Soldiers look for a ride back to post at one of the new Richmond pick-up stations established in 1942. Military regulations did not allow troops to hitch-hike, so the city created marked locations where they could wait for a friendly motorist to give them a lift.
“It is hoped that the new Traveller can perform a similar function at Camp Lee in the months to come.” And that it did … with months growing into years and then decades of reporting. Along the way, Traveller staff members employed every trick in their journalistic arsenal. They created one of the first color comic strips to appear in a military newspaper (circa 1943). There were frequent pictures of pin-up girls and Hollywood actresses – a popular feature for the mostly single-male post population in the early days. A gossip column called “Physical Wreckage” was contributed by the Kenner Army Hospital correspondent. Large banner headlines heralded important national events like President Franklin Roosevelt’s declaration of war against Japan in December 1941, and local happenings like Camp Lee
becoming the training base for the Women’s Army Corps when it was officially approved as a military branch in 1948. (Additional top headlines are highlighted in a separate feature starting on Page 4 of this insert.) The human element Let’s jump ahead a bit to the Traveller of the 21st Century. It has a new look with a dominate front-page photo and modular design elements that do a better job of grabbing the attention of busy readers who now have ample access to news headlines and need-to-know information through television, the internet, social media and so on. Would a cutest girl back home contest make the cut in this publication? Probably not. Pinups and three-ring circuses are out as well. The human element, however, has remained unchanged. The commanders’ concerns
about morale, good order and discipline have simply transitioned to new issues like force restructuring, crippling budget cuts, ending sexual crimes among the ranks, and general wellness of the Army Family. The post newspaper continues to be a tool of learning and command emphasize in matters related to safety, force protection and readiness for emergencies. This publication is still a leader’s best opportunity to communicate with large segments of the Fort Lee population. It’s pretty clear as well that the Traveller staff takes just as much pride today in telling the Fort Lee story as it did 75 years ago. Noteworthy reporting projects over the past six months have shed light on the new Army-mandated access control procedures, the longawaited return of a Korean War Soldiers’ remains to his family
in Richmond, the pride felt by immigrant Soldiers who have achieved citizenship, and the high-visibility Military Culinary Arts Competitive Training Event. Will the Traveller see another 75 years? The prospects of that happening don’t look as good as they once did. Ad sales have declined, Army Public Affairs staff levels have decreased and immediate news gratification has become the name of the media game. But we’ll hold on as long as we can. In the words of our reporting predecessors, “giddy-up Traveller!” In closing, I ask for a few more minutes of your time so I can recognize the tremendous, hard-working reporting staff of today’s Traveller. They include T. Anthony Bell, the newspaper’s senior reporter and one of the most gifted photojournalists in the Army Public
Affairs field today. Amy Perry, assistant editor, is the primary newswriter in the office and the “commanding general” of the weekly production schedule. Ray Kozakewicz, production assistant, is the newspaper’s “jack of all trades”as a writer, proofreader and page designer. This insert is a reflection of their skills. It represents countless hours of research, writing and page design. And it is just one of the products this staff is producing to highlight the newspaper’s 75th anniversary. In recognition of that work, an invitation is extended to the Fort Lee community. Visit the Traveller Facebook page (www. facebook.com/ftleetraveller) and post a happy birthday message and/or a comment about this insert. Reader feedback is highly valued in the newspaper business, and the Traveller team welcomes your story ideas.
4 | Traveller | July 16, 2015 | www.fortleetraveller.com
Top headlines across 75 years
Archives provide glimpse of Lee’s storied past Amy Perry Production/News Assistant Editor
Through the last 75 years, the Traveller has had many variations of its name such as Camp Lee Traveller, Lee Traveller, The Traveller and Fort Lee Traveller. The size and format changed often as well. During the early years, it was a 5-column tabloid, but switched to a 8-column metro-sized “broadsheet” through a good part of its first four decades. The tabloid format returned in the 90s and the paper switched sizes many times before settling on its current 10.5-by-10.5-inch “super-tab” format. Those many changes, however, could be described as superficial in comparison to the content that graced its pages. The Traveller’s tradition of bring news, entertainment and the occasional snicker to military personnel has remained steadfast. It all started with a vision by an old newspaper editor who wanted his to give his troops a sense of pride, community and camaraderie. First Edition The first Camp Lee Traveller – July 2, 1941 – featured a special message from the commanding general of the camp – Maj. Gen. James E. Edmonds. In his front page message, he declared the paper would “serve the interest and entertainment of all who wear the uniform at this Station.” That was often the case, and the articles were peppered with entertaining quips, even while reporting the news. In that same edition, under “Medico Guards To Be Armed,” there was a story about how medical Soldiers and trainees would be trained to shoot so they could serve as armed guards if needed. While the policy was not an Army-wide policy as medical Soldiers were unarmed, per Red Cross tradition. Further into the piece, the writer poked fun at the cadre training and said the scores were good, “though none seriously threatened the perfect score made by Lt. A. M. Greenberg, of 1st Medical Training Battalion, when he offered to show the non-coms how it was done.” In the early days The early days of the Camp Lee Traveller featured many stories about entertaining the troops. In the Aug. 27,
Archive photo
Archive photo
This graphic accompanied the welcome message from Maj. Gen. James E. Edmonds in the first edition of the Traveller on July 2, 1941. In those days, medical and quartermaster training occurred at Camp Lee.
1941, edition, a big story of the week was the “First Circus Ever Presented By The Army.” The staff dedicated the first-ever full page of photos to the event. Aside from that coverage, a special photo spread on the cover told the story about “Here’s How the Lion Was Caught” when a lion escaped the center ring cage before the circus. The lion was trapped in a coal bin outside one of the companies and his trainer, Cpl. Merritt L. Mathers was quoted as saying “The lion
Archive photo
This small photo montage sported images of an escaped lion and was featured on the newspaper’s cover.
In one of the first banner-headline stories in the newspaper, the staff covered the announcement of war and included this photo of 20,000 Soldiers listening to the president’s declaration.
was just curious. He’d never had a chance to walk around an Army camp before.” Girls back home During World War II and the early days of newspaper, a reoccurring theme was the question: who was the prettiest girl writing a Soldier on Camp Lee? Occasionally, there would be a small story about a Soldier bragging about his cute girl back home. In September 1941, the Traveller ran a command-approved contest to determine “The Prettiest Girl Writing to a Soldier at Camp Lee” and ran a photo on the cover of the paper labeled “General Choose ‘Prettiest Girl’” and three generals from the camp were the judges who chose the final eight contestants. The winner of this contest – Dorothy Mae Condon – was invited to the camp and received a tour of the installation. While this was the largest of the contests, the cover would feature visits by those “pretty girls back home” with photos of their tours. Entering World War II Up until this point, the installation was getting ready in case of war, but after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the Camp Lee Traveller had one of the first banner headlines: “Camp Lee Meets War Emergency” on Dec. 10, 1941, and featured a photo of 20,000 Soldiers in formation who heard President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s call for war. The rest of the cover featured the other top stories on the minds of Soldiers: “Great Holiday Program Prepared for Soldiers”
where it was stated “War or No War, Men To Be Entertained” and “Status of Christmas Furloughs Unchanged” where the Soldiers were assured that their holiday leave wasn’t going to be affected … yet. WAACs arrive The installation received several groups of the Women Auxiliary Army Corps Soldiers and the paper covered their arrival when eight second lieutenants saluted the QM School executive officers as they arrived for their supply training in a photo labeled “First WAAC Officers Report At Lee” in the Oct. 10, 1942 edition. In the April 14, 1943, edition, the headline read “WAACs Are Coming To Camp Sometime Before Next Monday” and mentioned that 150 women Soldiers would be arriving on the installation soon. Also on the cover was a look ahead at the next Traveller, which read “The suspense is finally over, men – Camp Lee’s contingent of the WAACs is due to arrive this week. Complete coverage – pictures, and plenty of them; news stories, human interest features – are promised in the next issue of the Lee Traveller if the unit arrives as scheduled. Be sure to get one. The paper will come out as usual at mess Wednesday event. But, as the WAACs come in, rationing still goes on and copies cannot be printed for each man in camp.” Even more telling is the “Etiquette Rules Are Simple for WAACs G.I.s” article that ran alongside the news of the new arrivals. The lead read: “However strong the urge –
www.fortleetraveller.com | July 16, 2015 | Traveller | 5
Archive photo
This photo was the first of many cover stories announcing the arrival of women Soldiers to the installation.
however attractive the girl – you DO NOT whistle and coo “Hi, Toots” or “Hello, Beautiful” to a member of the WAACs.” Instead, the article urged the Soldiers to call the equivalent of Pvt. Jones as “Auxiliary Jones” or “Miss Jones.” The article also mentioned the hope that the Army would drop the “Auxiliary” part of the name, so that the women would have ranks similar to those in the Army, which finally happened July 1, 1943. Traveller Scoops In the Jan. 20, 1943, and Jan. 27, 1943, editions of the Traveller, the staff happened on huge news and actually scooped other newspapers. In the Jan. 20 edition, the banner headline read “Army Pilot Gives Life To Save Soldiers From Injury” and featured a story about Richmond Air Base Flight Officer Clayton W. Huntsman who was killed instantly when his plane crashed at the Recruit Reception Center on Fort Lee. The story read “Huntsman was piloting one of three plans on a routine training flight over Camp Lee when his machine plunged from the formation and went into a dive. The
aviator, according to eye witnesses, has plenty of time to bail out, but chose to attempt to guide his plane down rather than leaving it to hurtle earthward uncontrolled.” A Traveller staff photographer – Sgt. Edward Reiner – got a photo of the plane in its descent, as he was covering an event when he saw the plane “screaming toward earth.” In the photo, the band members continued playing, unaware of the aircraft. For the second scoop, the
Traveller staff was among the first to announce the meeting of President Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. According to an article in the Jan. 27, edition, the Progress-Index actually turned over his editorial offices to Traveller staff members to allow them to write their coverage. Although many in the news community knew the meeting was scheduled to happen, they all kept silent to keep the details of the meeting away from Axis leaders. ‘Extra, Extra, read all about it’ Special early editions of the Lee Traveller were released near the end of World War II and sported Tuesday publication dates and were marked “EXTRA.” These issues announced major news from the war front. On June 6, 1944, the headline read “ALLIES PUSH ON – TANKS LEAD DRIVE FROM SHORE” and the cover had numerous stories about D-Day and a blow-by-blow account of the actions that day. Nearly a year later, after victory in Europe was announced, the Lee Traveller featured a large headline of “’JAPS DOOMED’ – PRES. TRUMAN” in 3-4 inch-high type on May 8, 1945. A special photo pictorial showed images of the war within the letters of the word “VICTORY.” And finally, on Aug. 14, 1945, the Lee Traveller printed “WAR ENDS!” and “JAPS
Archive photo
The Traveller staff had their first of two scoops in as many weeks when a pilot gave his life to save other Soldiers from injury. A staff member – covering another assignment – was able to get photos of the plane’s final descent.
Archive photo
This cover was a special early edition of the Lee Traveller and showed the excitement after the victory in Europe was announced.
ACCEPT ALLIED TERMS” in 3-4 inch-high type. The date is interesting, because August 15 is typically recognized as the Victory in Japan day. In a story that week – “President Truman Names General MacArthur Supreme Commander” – this is explained with “V-J Day will not be proclaimed until after the former signing of the surrender terms by Japan.” Another headline worth noting from that era is “FDR IS WINNER” that ran Nov. 8, 1944. While this was not a special edition, it showed the importance that national news played in the early Traveller newspapers. The headline was also several inches high and ran across the entire paper. These four issues were representative of many issues in early editions of the Traveller. During World War II, many received their news from the installation newspaper, and the editorial staff ensured the important news was noticed with large headlines. While many papers back then had eight or more headlines, these special news editions featured far less to help display their significance.
Draw downs As we are experiencing today, a reoccurring theme in the Traveller is news of the post getting larger during the early days of war, and then the severe drawdown after the conclusion. An early cover of the Jan. 29, 1947, paper had a story titled “QMTC Folds Friday; Center Strength Almost Nil” and the lead read as “The strength of Camp Lee’s fabulous Quartermaster Training Center, which once crowded the 45,000 mark, was down to rock bottom today and officials confidently predicted its closure this Friday.” Another headline read “Last Basic Company Ends Era of Combat Training at Camp Lee Jan. 24; Seven Year Old Post to Become Main Research Center of QM Corps,” and declared a million men passed through Camp Lee for training. The post would continue on as the technical training center of the Quartermaster Corps. Skipping ahead to the Jan. 23, 1992, edition, headlines featured on the cover read “Reduced threat changes need for large force” and SEE HEADLINES, PAGE 10
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6 | Traveller | July 16, 2015 | www.fortleetraveller.com
(LEFT) Anatomy of a photo: This image, taken May 28, 2013, and published in the Traveller two days later, is a good example of visual storytelling. Without any caption information, the reader could readily discern there is a moment of sadness between two young people. It is likely due to the Soldier’s pending deployment (note the truck and Soldiers in the background) to possibly Afghanistan (note the woodland-patterned uniform). It can also be determined it is the Soldier’s first deployment because he is not wearing a patch on his right shoulder sleeve. (FAR LEFT) Bigger and bolder: During the 1970s, the Traveller began designing around the images in a way that emphasized them more. This was a departure from years past when stories were the driving force behind newspaper design. (BELOW): Posed shots and grip and Grins: Many of the images that appeared on Traveller newspaper pages in the 1940- ‘50s were posed or set up. Additionally, award presentations, called “grip and grins” in military journalism circles, dominated the pages. In some respects, they still do because commanders consider them vital to the good order and morale of the troops.
VISUAL HISTORY
‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ is more than an old adage, it’s a window to the meaning of the moment T. Anthony Bell Senior Writer/Special Projects
O
ne could argue newspapers would lack an important element of storytelling if illustrations of some sort didn’t grace their pages. It would be an easily winnable debate, considering there are virtually no newspapers without them. In fact, the illustration component of newspapers, specifically photographs, has evolved into an element of design that is the driving force behind its popularity. But it wasn’t always that way. From the beginnings of the first publications during the time of the original 13 colonies up until the mid-19th century, newspapers were deserts of illustration. The pages were typically filled with short stories in multiple columns of type, led by small competing headlines that were as inconspicuous as the columns of gray. Newspapers generally looked more like scientific journals, and from a modern design standpoint, uninteresting to the eye. When woodcuts and photographs became popular in newspapers starting in the 1850s, the race was on among publications to provide the most telling images to support their stories. They now had a visual weapon that could not only help put the reader at the scene but help sell more newspapers as well. Matthew Brady and his enterprise to capture
ve case in point. the Civil War is the definitive mented the He and a crew of 17 documented war through thousands of images. His work helped birth American photojournalism and take newspaperss ty. to another level of popularity. More than 11,000 publications were counted during an ism 1880 census. Photojournalism was here to stay. While newspaper photog-raphy had gained a footholdd with the public, it was still a acy process that lacked immediacy and simplicity. In the early days of photojournalism, picturess were nt and made using bulky equipment nd teprocesses that were slow and dious. The invention of the signifira format cantly smaller 35mm camera inements in the 1920s and further refinements to film processing changed that. It journalists was now possible for photojournalists to capture action rather thann posing e. It also subjects or shooting still life. raph a subwas also possible to photograph ject on one day and publish it the next. By the 1950s, the newspaper aper public became comfortable with the idea of immediate photojournalism. It expected to see pictures of the prior day’s city hall fire or murder arrest the following day. It was not, however, as simple as newspapers made it look. Capturing the scene or subject with a camera was easy compared to the amount of work involved in processing film in a darkroom. The processor was required to run the film through a succession of chemicals – paying attention to details such as time and
temperature – then dry it for 30 minutes or more. After drying, the film or negative needed to be projected on an enlarger then printed on a sheet of paper or positive, run through a similar succession of chemicals and then dried. The entire process could take roughly four hours. When the Traveller opened for business in 1941, the first staff had access to 35mm or slighter larger format cameras. Its photographers or publisher would have processed its film and prints in a darkroom.
Judging by the small number of images present in those early issues, photograph was either not a priority for the newspaphy pe or a lack of resources prevented it from per making it so. More photography appeared in the latter years as the Traveller staff grew. The type of photography that made the pages of the Traveller was a curiosity in and of itself. Action shots such as those of fires or crime scenes were not to be found. It was not customary for advocacy publications (all Department of Defense media) to print such images that might affect the good order and morale of the installation’s population. Instead, grip and grins – photos show-
ing senior officials presenting awards to Soldiers or civilians – were the shots of the day. They were easy to shoot, highlighted individual or unit achievement and put commanders in a favorable light. Besides, they were mostly always command-directed. At the opposite end of the Traveller photo spectrum were the pinup photos. What does a pretty girl posing have to do with good order and morale, you say? Plenty. Fort Lee during the 1940s grew to be the third largest city in the state behind Richmond and Norfolk with a population that was more than 90 percent male, and it was the command’s intent to provide them with a
break from the monotony of military life. In fact, senior officials were often photographed with young women, wide grins and all. Pinups were not exclusive to the Traveller or to Fort Lee for that matter. They appeared frequently in Stars and Stripes and other military newspapers and also graced the turrets of tanks and noses of military aircraft. Pinups in newspapers today are considered sexist. In the 1950s, photography in the Traveller became a bit more action-oriented. Grip and grins were still prevalent, but there seemed to be a greater effort to photograph training, ceremonies and recreational events. Many of the training and recreational shots were taken naturally as it occurred and not posed or manipulated as was the standard practice in the beginning. Photographs of ceremonies, as they are today, were predictable, meaning either the commander
or the Soldiers holding the national or unit flags were ripe aas subjects for the front page. For 30 years after its birth, the Tr Traveller’s photography was standa dard fare as far as military newspap papers can be judged. In the 1970s, how however, the emphasis on photo stor storytelling emerged. One or two page pages in the Traveller were regularly dedicated to telling a story with imag images – not the other way around in which they are used to complement a story. P Photo features such as the duties of mili military police and culinary competitions provided p more of an illustration to the re reader about the subjects, demonstratin onstrating imagery’s ability to capture nuances and subtleties at once, without the columns colum of gray copy. The shift to photo pag pages can be attributed to larger pages and the emphasis on photojournalism at milit military journalism institutions. The Traveller’s Trav shift to a tabloid-sized format in the th 1990s brought with it the use of singled-themed cover pages like those of magazines. To work effectively, the image has to be strong enough to stand on its own but is always accompanied by a hardhitting headline that sometimes acts as a teaser to further explore the subject inside. The 1990s also ushered in the advent of digital photography. The technology made possible a number of conveniences not only to picture-taking but to processing and layout and design. For starters, digital cameras were better and faster at calculating exposure and faster at focusing on subjects than its manual counterparts. Software programs such as Adobe Photoshop allowed for instant processing, saving Traveller staff members hours on a shoot had it been shot using film. Did digital cameras and its associated wares result in better photos? That
is not clear, but the time savings alone provided a basis for improvement. The millennium has pushed forth a number of challenges to photojournalism as well as to newspapers. Social media – namely Facebook and Twitter – have emerged as competitors to the popularity print media has enjoyed for decades. Social media’s power of immediacy and interactivity is even changing how photographers use pictures to tell stories. Photographers can now potentially reach millions of people with a click of a button and tell a story in near-real time; or start an instant two-way conversation about an image that can include thoughts and opinions of people from all over the world. Photography has been a major catalyst behind the growth and potency of social media as a distributor of information. Photojournalism, the practice of telling a story with pictures, however, should never be confused with the practice of photography. The two are different but have been involved in a convergence due to phenomenon of social media. Photographers – anyone who takes pictures – can act as photojournalists with the technologies accessible to them. Who says they can’t? It’s been proven countless times. Photojournalists on the other hand, make at living at what they do and are trained in methods and technique of a practice that goes back 150 years. In the end, does it matter who tells the story? There is an overwhelming body of evidence that says it does not. Regular everyday users of social media share millions of images hourly on a plethora of social media websites. They are telling the stories of their everyday lives. If they didn’t have the ability to share their moments, some of those sites would shut down. Does this prove we are far more of a visual society than we ever were? It’s hard to counter that argument. In the end, pictures have proven its ability to tell stories. A look at the Traveller photo and newspaper archives over the past 75 years is a testament. Those images, regardless of who generated them, act as windows to the world of the subjects at a particular time and place. They represent something telling at the moment the image was recorded. Collectively, they tell stories of peoples, cultures and histories, providing subtleties and nuances that mere sentences sometimes miss.
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A legacy of capturing the ‘right’ word to inform troops Ray Kozakewicz Production Assistant
“We capture frames of life and tell the world the Army story – our cameras filled with mud and uniforms with dirt.” Sgt. Erika Gladhill, editor of the Fort Lee Traveller, penned this opening sentence in a “Letter from the Editor” in the Dec. 13, 2001, edition of the newspaper. Mark Twain wrote many years ago, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word ‘tis the difference between lightning and a lightning bug.” Capturing the “right word” or catchy headline has been a passion for a host of editors, reporters, photojournalists and columnists at the Traveller for 75 years. Some were experienced journalists in their civilian life but many like Gladhill, learned their craft in the military. While completing her two-year assignment at Fort Lee, Gladhill wrote, “As a military reporter, my motto is always ‘where the story goes – we go.’ Now, I must move on as a Soldier and go where I am needed.’” Like all others who filled her shoes before and after, they were “needed” at the Traveller to gather, write and report the news for the tens of thousands of military members who trained at the installation. They have been the city room at Camp Lee and Fort Lee – just like civilian newspapers. Through the years, the Traveller staff has always found a good story to tell to keep military
members informed and often entertained. Above all, to keep morale high among the enlisted ranks. “To my readers, I have offered hard work and heart, and to some – even a cup of coffee to go along with the paper,” Gladhill wrote. Another editor, Pfc. Jack Hamilton wrote in an open letter in the Traveller on Jan. 28, 1955, “Although I have had the extreme good luck to serve my uniform time behind a typewriter instead of a gun, I hope that through the pages of the Traveller I may have accomplished some patriotic good. While there will be little on my military record I will be able in future years to point to with much pride, I know that two entries on the form sheet will mean most to me. I served as editor of what I consider to be the best newspaper in the military, and I have a served in the ranks with the men as an enlisted man.” Reviewing many editions of the Traveller from its inaugural issue published on July 2, 1941, through the next seven decades provides a remarkable glimpse of the wordsmiths who tackled their jobs informing and entertaining the troops who passed through the gates. Creating prose can be demanding, frustrating and often stressful. Reporters start with a blank page and then must plow ahead to tell an interesting story one word at time. Looking through past issues, a variety of styles were used based on the accepted reporting and slang of the period – amusing, gos-
We capture frames of life and tell the world the Army story – our cameras filled with mud and uniforms with dirt.” -Sgt. Erika Gladhill, editor of the Fort Lee Traveller, Dec. 13, 2001
sipy, tongue-in-cheek and sometimes pretty straightforward. The editorial in its first edition set the stage with the “right” words. “As newspapers go, the Traveller is in swaddling clothes. It is new, small and eager, and probably a little blinded by the light of its first day. With the ink of the presses still fresh on its pages, it comes into a world of Soldiers where to succeed it must be good,” it read in part. A heavy focus on the lighter side was a particular interest in the early years – carrying numerous sporting events, colorful entertainment, hobbies, cartoons and more. The Traveller staff likely admired the wit and folksy writing style of Ernie Pyle, the World War II columnist who relayed “the life of grunts back to the home front.” A front page note in 1941 read, “The newspaper Traveller strives to keep the men of Camp Lee well informed, to increase their general knowledge of Army affairs and to add a chuckle that serves handily at the end of a day’s toll.” For example, while many civilian newspapers reported births daily, the Traveller employed a light-hearted approach. One example was
the “Stork Report” in the May 1949 edition with a subhead “Nude News.” The writer wrote, “Girl to Capt. and Mrs. Sam Meadow, 2nd Quartermaster Battalion. “Medications” was a regular weekly column in 1940s. A short item written by Cpl. A.H. Pyatt read, “Pvt. Art Grossman, D-5, told us about the rookie who wrote his mother he was a kitchen policeman, to which Mom replied, ‘glad to hear you have been promoted already to a kitchen policeman, but please be careful and don’t arrest anyone unless you have to.’” The editions included many different columns, “Editorially Speaking,” “It Happened at Lee,” “Quartermaster Quips.” “Sports Before Your Eyes,” “Sports DOTS,” “Sports Shorts,” “Radio Ramblings,” and many others. “LEE LAUGHS” was a column featured on Page Two of the late 1940s editions. An item among more than 25 short write-ups in the Jan. 7, 1949, newspaper read, “Visiting Chaplain: ‘Well, well, I can see you’re a bright little man. And how high can you count?’ Top Kick Jr.: ‘One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, Jack, Queen and King.’” The Traveller also has
0XOHV 'URS LQ 7R 6HH *HQHUDO The following article appeared in a 1942 edition of the Camp Lee Traveller. Light-hearted reporting was a standard practice of the newspaper in this period for many articles to gain attention of readers. The Army’s mules are said to have more sense than some of its Soldiers. Often, they have more nerve too. What GI, for instance, being AWOL at the time, would dare to pay his respects to the commanding general in person at 0230 and awaken him by standing on his lawn and conversing loudly with friends? That’s precisely what Camp Lee’s mule contingent did in late August – not once but twice. Led by a ring-leader known as “Breachy” for his skill at breaking down social barriers, the mules poured through a hole in their corral and wandered down the road to the front lawn of the house occupied by Maj. Gen. James E. Edmonds, camp commander. Claiming he could distinguish a mule’s hoof-beat from that of a horse, the general called Staff Sgt. Walter Heppler, chief stableman, to come round up his errant charges. Heppler said he guessed that mules were just paying a social call of the “Old Man,” but the general opined they had chosen his lawn for another reason. It was the only green one left in camp after a severe summer drought, he pointed out.
covered hard news like civilian newspapers. In its first issue, a headline “Sergeant Killed in Auto Wreck,” carried the sad news story on the front page. Covering medical news took some creative approaches. “Tooth or Consequences” was a headline from the Jan. 25, 1996, issue about the Bull Dental Clinic. A lead-in to the story read, “The smell of the office can make you queasy. The buzz of the drill is enough to send you running from the building.” The Traveller has not been adverse to poking fun at other medical developments. “Watch That Slice” read a headline in 1944 over a photo of surgeons performing an operation at the ASF Regional Hospital at Camp Lee. “The patient probably is
dreaming sweet dreams,” the caption read. Looking back at the first Camp Lee in 1917-1918, a reporter wrote in a column called “Old Camp Lee Memories” in late 1941, “A selectee as he begins his training at Camp Lee finds a new experience awaiting him. But is nothing new to Camp Lee itself. For our present emergency, a new Camp Lee has been born and memories of the doughboys of 1917 and ‘18 still echo through the fields where Soldiers of 1941 now march.” In 2015, the Traveller staff is still passionate about writing the “right” word to keep the strong journalism tradition alive maintaining its 75-year mission.
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Tribute to a famous horse named Traveller Originally named Greenbrier, Traveller was nearly four years old when soon-toto-be Confederate General Robert E. Lee laid eyes on him in the spring of 1861. The grey American Saddlebred was bought from Capt. James W. Johnston by Capt. Joseph L. Broun so he would have a serviceable horse to use during the war. Lee was stationed with Broun when he took command of the Wise legion and Floyd brigade near the Big Sewell mountains, and he “took a great fancy” to the horse, according to a recount by Thomas Broun, Capt. Broun’s brother. Lee referred to Traveller as “his colt” and said he would use it before the war ended. Lee saw the horse again near Pocotalipo, S.C., and inquired again about “his colt.” Capt. Broun offered to give the horse to the general, but Lee refused to accept the gift. He said he would test it for a week and would purchase the horse if it suited him. After the week was up, the sale was a done-deal.
While Lee had several other horses, he most often used Traveller, especially going into battles. This is one recount of Traveller’s experience during war: “Some of the most dramatic incidents involving Lee and Traveller occurred during the Overland campaign in 1864 when soldiers literally grabbed the horse’s reins to prevent their commander from personally leading attacks on six occasions between May 6 and May 12. “The most notable incident occurred in the Wilderness on May 6 when soldiers of the Texas Brigade surrounded Traveller and shouted, ‘Lee to the rear!’ That day Traveller carried Lee until well after midnight, and when they finally returned to camp, Lee dismounted, and overcome with exhaustion, he threw his arms around Traveller’s neck to hold himself up.” – Contributed information
Courtesy graphics
Gen. Robert E. Lee, the installation’s namesake, sits atop his war horse Traveller, the newspaper’s namesake in this photo from 1866. (INSET) The newspaper’s nameplate in the early years included a graphic of the Confederate General Robert E. Lee on Monument Avenue in Richmond. The banner has changed multiple times over the years, and though some versions didn’t include the horse, the current nameplate has introduced a gray horse to represent the famous steed.
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10 | Traveller | July 16, 2015 | www.fortleetraveller.com
HEADLINES | Traveller top
stories through the years Continued from page 5 “Drawdown continues …” to show the rapid decrease the Army would undergo as part of the drawdown after the Cold War threat was diminished. A chart showed in fiscal 1991, there were 706,000 Soldiers and by fiscal 1995, the numbers were expected to be decreased to 531,000. Later that year, the Traveller featured a cover story “Post begins to offset civilian job loss” in the May 7 edition. Options for those civilians are similar to the same programs today: reduction in force, early retirement or the priority placement program. Fort designation In the May 5, 1950, edition of the Traveller, it was announced the “Post Officially Redesignated Fort Lee In Ceremonies Friday” and meant that “Fort Lee enters upon the permanent status and is a fulfillment of the promise made during World War II that the installation would be placed on a permanent basis, a move loudly praised by local civic leaders in Petersburg, Hopewell and the surrounding communities.” Interestingly, the article stated Fort Lee was known as “Fort Lee” when the post was being rebuilt in 1940, but after two months, it was changed to Camp Lee. Crimes against Soldiers Another story that got front page attention was crimes on the installation. One poignant article, titled “What soldiers do to Soldiers!!! Assault, rape, rip-offs should shatter feeling of safety while on military post” featured examples of crimes often found on the installation, and highlighted a simulated attack on a female Soldier. The cutline read “A cry for help will do little for this soldier trapped by her comrades (?) in arms (SIMULATED). A walk alone through a dark area no matter how open can mean a loss of property – even life. Don’t let a military
base offer you a false sense of security. Everyone who wears a uniform is not your buddy.” A May 21, 1987, cover article declared that a trend in the community has allowed crimes to go unreported, titled “Unreported crimes MPs’ job.” The article mentioned many failed to report crimes until the third or fourth one just because “people don’t want their names to appear in the blotter because they fear everyone will know and they will be embarrassed.” The blotter is a report of all the incidents on the installation, and in the article, the post provost marshal informs readers that the report only goes to those with a “need to know.” Fit to fight A renewed focus on fitness was evident in several issues of the Traveller. In the Feb. 25, 1965, edition, the Traveller staff laid out the details of the new Army Regulation that outlined the basic fitness requirements for Soldiers. The new standards – for those under 40 – included a 40-yard low crawl in a maximum of 36 seconds; crossing of a 36-rung horizontal ladder; dodge, run and jump event in less than 26 and a half seconds; grenade throw; and a one-mile run to be finished in less than 8 and a half minutes. In the March 11, 1976, edition had a headline on the front page that read “Soldiers Should be Fit, Not Fat” and featured a graphic of an overweight Soldier with the caption of “A fat soldier is a liability to the Army.” The article quotes several Fort Lee employees, including the QM School Command Sgt. Maj. Anthony D’Amato saying “Overweight soldiers present a poor image in today’s Army.” Tragedy strikes For many years, the Traveller moved away from reporting the national news, as there’s an Army regulation stating military newspapers can’t compete with local newspapers for news. But
Archive photo
This graphic was created to represent the 9/11 attack and was featured on the cover.
when 9/11 hit – on a Tuesday – the first paper after on Sept. 13, 2001, announcement the attack with a headline that read: “A glimpse of horror: America, Pentagon attacked! Post, 54th QM Co. soldiers respond” and posted information on the center spread about the attack and the 54th QM Co. deployment to the Pentagon and how the Fort Lee Fire and Emergency Services personnel responded. In the months that followed, the attacks would be reported on and would include the military response. Annually, a remembrance ceremony is held on Fort Lee and covered by the newspaper. Installation gains While Fort Lee was no stranger to the various military drawdowns after conflicts wound down, when it came to Base Realignment and Closure activities, the installation usually saw increases, rather than decreases. In the May 4, 1978, edition of the paper, a headline read: “29 bases studied for closure” but mentioned the Army Logistics Management Center was named in the announce-
ment because it could potentially gain 73 civilian positions due to the potential disestablishment of the Army Management Engineering Training Agency. More recently, the BRAC of 2005 was a boon for Fort Lee’s population and size. In the May 18, 2005, newspaper, the cover page boasted a story about how “BRAC Recommendations May Double Post’s Population.” At this point in the paper’s history, the cover was typically an image that directed readers to read more inside. The fact the staff changed the cover shows the importance of
the announcement. At this point, the BRAC wasn’t approved by Congress or the president yet, but it mentioned that the installation could gain about 7,400 personnel. After the BRAC recommendations were approved, the news from 2007-2011 – December 2011 was the deadline for all BRAC actions – included many ground-breaking ceremonies, ribbon-cutting ceremonies, announcements of new students arriving on the installation and lots of information about the new schools coming to Fort Lee. The most prominent event was featured in the Sept. 17, 2009, edition of the Traveller when it was announced with a cover photo and headline that read “Ordnance Corps Joins Team Lee” and an article inside that announced that the Ordnance Corps began a new era at Fort Lee while the community gathered for the official uncasing of the Ordnance flag. In that same Sept. 17 edition, it was announced the long-time headquarters of the Quartermaster School was scheduled for demolition. While the headquarters staff had moved into the brand new CASCOM and Sustainment Center of Excellence headquarters building, many were still sad to see it go. Interested in more news? Covering 75 years of headlines is difficult in one article. If you’re interested in seeing the articles mentioned here, along with several others, visit our website at www.ftleetraveller. com to see images of more than 60 headlines across the years.
Archive photo
This cover photo heralded the arrival of the Ordnance Corps.