Summer is here! The weather is great! It's the time for taking kids and grandkids to the beach and all the recreation parks and the summer movies. But there is one caveat that we should be aware of and remember and maybe take some action about. Here it is.

Lest we forget while here in our comfortable Southern California area, remember America is in a state of war against terrorism and is in battle against terrorist in Iraq and Afghanistan in an attempt to stabilize those countries so democracy can flourish. Our Armed Forces regular, reserve and National Guard are being stretched thin. The rotations in and out of combat zones are getting more frequent for all of them. Let us not forget.

We see the statistics from these endeavors almost a thousand brave service men and women killed and over twenty thousand wounded. We who have seen combat and/or its horrible results know down in our gut that those cold statistics represent pain and suffering. Each death or wound causes great pain to many people connected to that cold number. Many of those not killed or wounded will suffer Post Traumatic Syndrome (PTS). I read a report that stated that on a percentage basis significantly more will suffer PTS
from this war than occurred from the Vietnam War.

So that we do not forget, I propose that our Squadron do something positive for our Service people. We have Naval and Marine bases here in Southern California. Let us honor them in some practical way. I am open to all suggestions. Please, think about what we can do. Contact the XO, Mel Locke or me with your suggestion or better yet come to our staff/lunch meeting at 1200 hrs on the first Thursday of each month, at the Navy golf course in Los Alamitos and present your idea. We would appreciate your input. Please help us with this cause.

GPS CO,

Jim Menees

We were most fortunate to have Bob Wood from Northrup Grumman Corporation
speak to us on the E-2C Hawkeye Upgrade Program as well as the future of
Airborne Early Warning and Naval Battle Management Command and Control. I want
to thank Bud Kretsinger for his ground work of over a year ago in making the
initial contact that resulted in this presentation.

I took a hand vote during the July meeting on potential interest in a field
trip to the Midway in San Diego in October. It appeared that there would be
enough to fill a bus so I will initiate efforts for setting it up.

In September, our speaker will be COL Harry Sexton, USMC(Ret) and Joe
Driscoll(one of his squadron pilots) who will talk about Operation Tailwind
which was conducted in Vietnam and Laos in September of 1970 and involved 4
Marine Cobra Gunships and 5 CH53 Transport Helicopters. COL Sexton was CO of
HML 367 at the time and received the Navy Cross for commanding this operation.

It should be noted that it has only been one year since classification restrictions have been lifted for discussing Laos related operations.

GPS OPS

Andy Gilcrest

Guest Speaker - CDR Robert F. Wood, USN (Ret)

By Ray LeCompte, Assistant PAO

JULY LUNCHEON REPORT

OP-Plan 7-2004 aptly introduced our luncheon guest speaker, Mr. Robert Wood,
of Northrop Grumman, who, with the aid of a power point presentation,
enlightened us all on the exceptional capabilities of the E-2C Hawkeye. He
defined the future of Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and Naval Battle Management
from undersea to outer space to cyberspace.

Robert confined his talk to his specialty within the Northrop Grumman
"integrated systems" division; Namely, the AEW & EW system as they relate to
the E-2C Hawkeye evolution beginning with the coming 25 aircraft (8 bladed
propellers) of the 2000 era followed by the Advanced Hawkeye (75 aircraft )
which will represent the 2011 era.

The following paragraphs are the sense of Northrop's presentation
Within three weeks time following 9-11, Carrier Air assumed its roll as the
front-line global strike-arm against terrorism. It was the carrier based E-2C
that served as the only AEW platform on station at the beginning of Operation
Enduring Freedom (OEF). It proved to be indispensable to Theater Air Control by
providing theater intel, surveillance, and reconnaissance as well as AEW and
Control.

The E-2C's provided: Airspace de-confliction for multiple manned/unmanned
aircraft at multiple altitudes. Critical theater tanker control allowing for
extended range of operations. Strike control for multiple ingressing/egressing
flights from multiple directions as well as quick response to Dynamic Battle
conditions.

The E-2C's have three starboard-facing controller stations, manned by officers
with the ability to display airways and flight corridors, national borders and
waterways, airports with their names, target labels, a track history function
and multiple surveillance operation links.

During Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF), the addition of powerful new tools
enabled the E-2C's displays to provide battle space de-confliction, on-call
response to both Army and Marine units on the ground for target prioritization
and strike control, and advance theater tanker control.

Lessons learned from both OEF and OIF were to expand the E-2C's capabilities
for the future, such as: to extend the aircraft's on-station time by a factor of
2 or 3 by providing an in-flight refueling capability; to provide a coherent
tactical picture thru multi-source interrogation and to provide more reliable
communications with tactical flexibility by using more Sat Com channels so as to
automate the air-tasking order.

In the past, the Dynamic Battle Management (DBM) was made up of information
and intelligence systems designed to feed up the chain for processing which was
often delayed while being processed and decided upon, before finally being sent
down to the users.

Today and in the future, the advanced E-2C must capitalize on collaborative
architectures designed to compress the DBM decision time so as to feed DYNAMIC
perishable information and intelligence to the users (Shooters). In a dynamic
targeting environment, the CAOC Battle Manager and targeting (whether land or
sea based) may not have the time or luxury to focus on one particular area of
time-sensitive or critical targets.

Coming on the Advanced E-2C will be a tactical cockpit wherein we'll see in
the right front seat an Airborne Battle Manager (Officer) attuned to the dynamic
situation and in contact with all parts of the chain and in the best possible
position to affect a compression of the decision cycle. Serving as Naval
Battle Management Command & Control provides a means for the E-2C to become the
FORCEnet -sea basing, sea shield, sea strike-enabler that develops a single
integrated air picture. In short, the kill-chain compression is the goal of the
Advanced Hawkeye and beyond.

Many countries of the world are acquiring advanced SAMS, cruise and ballistic
missile capabilities. These emerging missile-capable operations worldwide
require revolutionary new capabilities. The Navy must shift its mind set from
self defense to force defense consistent with sea shield construct. Thus, an
example might well be that the Advance Hawkeye at altitude can and will detect
and track both fixed and mobile missile launcher emplacements which may be out
of sea-based surface combatant's radar line of sight.

Exploiting the emerging radar technology delivered by the Hawkeye for earlier
and precise detection will extend the surface ship missile engagement range out
to the maximum range of the ship's interceptor missiles. This is accomplished
by sharing precise detection of enemy-launched missiles through cooperative
engagement capability (CEC) for optimum engagement opportunities. The E-2C
links the targeting missile track back to the CVN or Aegis via CEC for AN active
retaliatory ship-board missile shots.

The E-2C has evolved from primarily an over-water platform concentric
operation to the Network Concentric warfare of today and on into the next 25
years. Through the connectivity of maritime, costal and land based battle
space, situational awareness, airborne early warning, overland operation,
theater air and missile defense, the Advanced E-2C becomes an Airborne Battle
Manager unique to the US Navy's forward projection global strike arm.

It is best said by others, [Los Angeles Times quotable quotes]
Those who fly and fix the E-2C Hawkeye's . . . are the linchpin of air, ground
and naval war fighting."

IN MEMORIAM
EDWARD F. GALLAGHER
CAPTAIN, USN(Ret)

GRAMPs has belatedly learned of the passing of Captain Edward F. Gallagher,
USN(Ret), on March 15, 2004. As many members will remember, Ed was Grampaw
Pettibone Squadron's (GPS) seventh Commanding Officer (1982-1983) and a GPS
Fellow.

CAPT Gallagher was a U.S. Naval Academy Graduate in the Regular Navy. He was
the C.O of GMGRU-1, a Regulas delivery squadron based at Barbers Point.

Ed also was the C.O. of Astronautics Group, at NAS Point Mugu during 1965-1968.

Ed also organized a recognition banquet in September 1983 with black tie and
mess dress hosting CNO on the Queen Mary. As part of that event, "Pioneers of
Naval Aviation" honored were Ed Heinman, Admiral James Russel and Grampaw
Pettibone's artist Robert Osborn. We had a huge turn out of more than 250 people.
GPS "Old Timer" attendees wereDave Newbro, Cliff Nord, Red Tandvig, Denny Bowen,
Gerald Fink, Jack Prentice,Bob Goosen, Dexter Maddox, Bob Kanze, J.D. Burton,
Dick Folk, Jack Dalby, ArtDavis and others.

Ed Gallagher's wife, Carmen, has been deceased for several year.

NATHMAN NAMED VICE CNO

Admiral brings vision energy to No. 2 job, ex-assistant says
By Matt Hilbuns
NAVY TIMES 6/28

Vice Adm. John B. Nathman has been tapped to add a forth star and become Vice
Chief of Naval Operations.

In a written statement, Nathman said he was "honored to be nominated" and
"looks forward to working with the Senate during the confirmation process."
Nathinan has served as deputy chief of naval operations for warfare'
requirements and programs since August 2002. He previously was commander, Naval
Air Forces.

Rear Adm. Garry Hall, who once served as Nathman's executive assistant,
described the vice admiral as someone who is "always thinking." In fact, when
Nathman was in the process of moving from San Diego to Washington, Hall dropped
by to bid farewell. Hall said Nathman ripped a piece of cardboard from one of
the moving boxes and began mapping out his plans for his warfare requirements
post.

"That's exactly what he's done there," Hall said.

That kind of energy and vision will serve Nathman well as the Navy's No. 2
admiral, according to Hall.

"CNO provides the vision, and he needs other people to do the impossible," he
said. "Nathman has vision and he can realize the vision. He's always on, he's
always thinking. It's like we're all 286 processors, and he's a Pentium. Whoever
works with him will have to bring their game up."

A 1970 graduate of the Naval Academy, Nathman has flown more than 40 types of
aircraft during his career, which included a stint as a test pilot.
According to his official biography, he flew the first F/A-18 combat missions
over Libya in 1986, was commanding officer during operations Desert Shield and
Desert Storm, and commanded the carrier Nimitz from 1992 to 1994. Nathman will
replace Adm. Michael G. Mullen, who was appointed commander, U.S. Naval Forces
Europe, and commander, Regional Command South, Naples, Italy.

In other flag announcements, Vice Adm. Timothy J. Keating also was tapped to
add a fourth star, which he'll wear as commander, Northern Command, and
commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson Air Force Base,
CO. Keating now serves as director, Joint Staff at the Pentagon.
The nominations were announced June 15. Both require Senate approval.

Editor's Note: ADM Nathman spoke at a GPS Luncheon in February 2001, when he was
COMNAVAIRPAC. ONLY THE BEST FOR GRAMPS' MEMBERS.

"WE'RE ABOUT TAPPED OUT"

Worldwide war pushing Marines
to their limits

By Christopher P. Cavas
Navy Times 6/21

Thirty-two months of continuous warfare are taking their toll on the Marine
Corps.

Battling insurgents in Iraq, chasing the Taliban in Afghanistan, peacekeeping
in Haiti and patrolling the Horn of Africa from Djibouti, the Corps is "exactly
where we always wanted to be, over the globe," said Marine Lt. Gen. Robert
Magnus. "But it stretches the force."

The 177,000-strong Corps is being stretched in ways planners never
anticipated. More than 25,000 Marines are in Iraq. Another 5,000 are arriving
soon. More than 4,000 are in Afghanistan. Nearly 1,500 are in Haiti, about 1,600
are in Djibouti and other parts of Africa, and about 14,000 remain stationed on
Okinawa. More than half the Corps has been deployed since October 2001, many
Marines for two and three times.

And the strain is beginning to show. "We can't do that indefinitely,"
Magnus, deputy commandant for programs and resources, told reporters in
Washington June 8. The Corps, he said, simply isn't big enough to "do continuous war, year after
year after year." The strain is showing on the service's people, its equipment
and. its budget, even as the Marines are being ordered to accelerate deployments
to Iraq and extend the time in-country of those already there.

EQUIPMENT

At the top of the stress list, said Magnus, a veteran CH-46 helicopter pilot,
is the service's fleet of AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopters.
"We're about tapped out for Marine aviation," he said. ‘This is a rotary-wing
and C-130 war," referring to the helicopters and KC-130 Hercules aircraft that
bear the brunt of Marine aviation operations in Iraq. The KC-130 transport
aircraft of Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 352 from Miramar Marine
Corps Air Station, Calif. and VMGR234, a reserve squadron from Fort Worth,
Taxas, have been busy moving troops, equipment, supplies and food between the
Marine Corps bases in Iraq and Kuwait.

The Marines' helicopters — CH46 Sea Knights, CH-53E Super Stallions, UH-1N Hueys and Super Cobras — are in big
demand, too. Super Cobra gunships, which can be heavily armed for attack
missions, are escorting ground convoys, transport helicopters and medevacs in
Iraq. The ground threat from rocket-propelled grenades, small-arms fire and
anti-air missiles forced the Corps earlier this year to fund and install
survivability systems, such as chaff dispensers and radar suppressors, and some
aircraft have gotten extra armor protection.

But the turbine engine blades of the Cobras, Magnus said, "are being eaten
alive by the fine, hard sand of the Arabian Peninsula."

The demands of combat and resulting decline in regular maintenance are leading
to fewer Cobras being available, meaning AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18D Hornet jets
are taking over many of the reconnaissance and surveillance missions previously
handled by the helos. But that too has a price: It's "more expensive to drive an
F-18 around the sky than it is to drive around a Cobra," he said.

MONEY

‘The war is putting a tremendous amount of pressure" on service budgets,
Magnus said. War costs are exceeding all of the services' budgets, and
supplemental funds are falling short. "But when you're at war, you don't stop
combat operations because you think you're about to run out of your account in
the treasury;" he said.

To help pay for operations, the Corps — like the Navy; Army and Air Force — is
scouring programs to find money that, while allocated, might not be used in the
current year. For the time being, Magnus said, major programs like the F-35 Joint
Strike Fighter, V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle are not being cut.
"We have taken money out of a lot of programs, a lot of small ones that really
got nicked pretty well."

PEOPLE

Marines themselves are holding up best, Magnus said. He regularly reads
unofficial Web sites where Marines and their families talk about the issues
they're facing.

‘There is a stress on them, but I think they're doing marvelously well," he
said.

One of the biggest factors for families is the unpredictable nature of the
deployments to Iraq.

Service officials have indicated the current seven-month tour for the 25,000
Marines now in Iraq could be extended to 10 months.

For the moment, the Corps is fighting to keep to the sevenmonth schedule, even
as the Army has settled into a 12-month rotation. Marines, Magnus said, are
younger than people in the other services, and fewer Marines sign up for more
than the initial four years.

The impact on reserves, many called up for two and even three times, likely
will be negative, Magnus said. "Quite frankly, that may be the way it has to be.
I mean, the nation is at war."

As to whether Marines can hold up under the continued stress of operations,
Magnus expressed confidence.

"They're not Gen-X. This is not the Calvin Klein generation," he said. Then,
referring to a famous action in the Korean War, where a few Marines held off
thousands of communists, he added, "These are the grandkids of the Marines who
went to the Chosin."

From Your Membership Officer
Fran Pieri

I am quoting a little from the latest issue of Wings of Gold. It says "the
very heart and strength of ANA is membership". Each of you in the GRAMPS Sqdn.
is encouraged to consider yourself as an ANA recruiter. Please do what ever you
can to sign-up new members. We need your help to sustain ANA as a prime
advocate for U.S. Naval Aviation.

I know that many of you are already an ace.

But, ANA has a program that will make all of you an ace, and save you some money
too. Just recruiting five (5) new members, makes you an ace, and gets you one
years membership FREE. Also, your name will appear in the Wings of Gold
publication along with the other aces. On page 36 in the latest issue is the
latest list of new members to ANA. You will notice that nine of the names are
in the GRAMPS Sqdn., along with their sponsors. "Well done and thanks".

If you know of anyone who would like a copy of an Op-plan, let me know and I will send
them a copy. The Ray Pett "let me buy you a drink" contest is still yours for
the taking. Whenever you sign up the most members before Nov 2004. $150.00 is
still in the pot. So far you have signed 20 new members. Keep up the good work.

Our latest members are: Mr. Walt Laurence, Mr. Larry Woodridge, Mr. Harry
Sellings, Mr. Ed Valle and Mr. & Mrs. Don & Pam Lambert. Kudos to their
sponsors, Roger Schaufle, Bob Olds, Tim Brown and Bud Kretsinger. Thanks to all
of you for that extra effort. Hope to see you at the August 13th luncheon.
Keep the blue side up. FRAN

HIGH VOLTAGE SPIKE

Ever wonder what happens when computers are hit with a high voltage spike?
Gramps found out last month.

For years computer users have been told to buy voltage surge protection devices
to protect computers from high voltage spikes on the Southern California Edison
Company's power lines. All of Gramps' equipment was protected or so we thought.

One day before Editorial Day, when we get the OP-Plan ready for the printer,
there was an electrical fire in a lighting fixture in the Seal Beach Naval
Weapons Station gym. There was lots of smoke and that smell of an electrical
fire. So much so that the fire department had to inspect every office in the
building, including Gramps' locked office.

Locks are not a barrier to firemen. They removed the door the hard way. No
fire at Gramps. Just the smell.

When we arrived to get the OP-Plan ready the electricity was off. A few panic
phone calls got the power back. The lights worked but the four computers didn't.
Three of the computers are very old with very old software but do their jobs
very well and we don't have the heart to retire them or buy new software to do
their jobs. These computer have on/off switches that were off. They survived.
With power on they work fine.

The newest computer, an E-Machine 700, is the computer used to write the
OP-Plan. It was off but not really off. Seem the new technology allows them to
be half on when they are off. One smell told us that Gramps' E-Machine was a victim. Try as we may it was
dead.

Gramps' Phone Answer Machine survived but the battery backup we use to insure
the reservations are not lost didn't. It too had that smell along with a surge
protector power strip.

The proof readers and helpers beat a path to my door and the July OP-Plan was
sent to the printers on time.

Bud Kretsinger took the E-Machine to his repair shop. Not wanting to spend
much to fix a $200 computer, Bud found out the only problem was a burned-out
power supply. Gramps bought a new $25 power supply(with an on/off switch) and I
installed it. The computer now works.

A new battery backup for the phone is installed along with a new surge
protector power strip.

Total cost was a little panic, a little money for parts and a lot of hard work
getting everything back to working order.

Hal McDonnel Editor.