NAVAL RESERVE FLAGE-GRAM 01-07

From:  Rear Admiral Steven B. Kantrowitz, JAGC, USNR

To:     All Naval Reserve Judge Advocates and Legalmen

Subj:   FlagpE-Gram 01-07

Date:  15 September 2001

1. This FlagpE-Gram will update you on the terrible events of 11 September and their aftermath. I will not restate the inspiring messages we have received from the President, other national leaders, and Navy leaders, including our own, Admiral Guter. They said it better than I could. I do, however, want to put things into perspective for our Reserve JAG Corps community.

2. The despicable and horrific attacks on the United States and its citizens have been a tragedy for the whole country and devastating events for the families and friends of the many victims. It appears that many thousands of innocent lives were lost; to add to the heartbreak, many were heroes responding to the emergency. The Navy family has not been spared. The Navy alone lost 33 sailors and officers, and five civilians, in the Pentagon. More of our own were lost on the aircraft involved. Unfortunately, these include the Captain of the American Airlines flight that struck the Pentagon, a retired Naval Reserve Captain, and Rear Admiral Bud Flagg, USNR (Ret.), and his wife. Lieutenant Mari-Rae Sopper, JAGC, USNR, formerly on active-duty with the Appellate Defense Division and in the Individual Ready Reserve at the time, was also killed while a passenger on the same flight. These terrible events truly touch us all. Please keep all the victims and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

3. All of the judge advocates and legalmen on duty in the Pentagon at the time were able to evacuate the building without significant injury. This included our active-duty leadership, Admirals Guter and Lohr, as well as their personal staffs, the Assistant Judge Advocates General, and OJAG’s International and Operational Law Division. Admirals Guter and Lohr are back in the Pentagon working. Admiral Totushek, Commander Naval Reserve Force, and his Pentagon staff also are safe. As well as we can tell, the many Reserve judge advocates and legalmen who found themselves, for various reasons, near the attacks in New York and the Washington area were also spared. We are thankful beyond words for this.

4. Our Navy is actively involved in assisting the survivors, consoling the next of kin, and attempting to prevent any further terrorist attacks directed against the people of the United States. We will keep you advised as to how you can help in these efforts. Use your chain of command to advise your gaining command, with copy to Code 62, of your willingness to provide assistance, including members’ availability for recall, active-duty training (ADT), rescheduling of drills, and other opportunities to assist outside of regularly-scheduled drills and annual training (AT). Keep in touch and be alert for guidance that may affect access to drilling locations and drill schedules as we experience Force Protection Conditions Charlie and Delta.

5. As directed by the President, we are also about to embark on a campaign to eliminate the evil-doers who are the sworn enemies of our people. The Navy/Marine Corps Team will undoubtedly be a vital component in this effort. Again, we will advise you of how you can support our Team. It may be as judge advocates or legalmen with special expertise being sent forward as recallees, it may be as such recallees acting to "backfill," to relieve our deploying active-duty partners, or it may be via drill support to reinforce gaining commands or to get deploying forces ready. Regardless of the form your service may take, I know that you are ready and anxious to provide it. Be patient. This will be a long struggle and we will all have a role to play, both in our regular lives as contributing members of society and in our Reserve roles. Your leadership will keep you posted as information becomes available. Again, stay alert and "plugged in"; watch the Reserve Law Program’s Web page and maintain close contact with your chains of command, starting, of course, with the leadership of your Reserve units. Continue as before with training and contributory support. What we do, day in and day out, has never been more vital to the country.

6. There are several important things to focus on in addition to our Reserve duties. First, we are all experiencing much anger -- and rightfully so. Let it be a cold anger, focused via intellect rather than emotion. We must follow our force-protection and anti-terrorism training. Review all available guidelines with your chains of command. Vigilance is critical. Second, at this difficult time, we should be leaders in our civilian communities. Support relief and recovery efforts and educate others about this struggle. Things as straightforward as giving blood and flying the Flag make a difference.

7. I send my personal, heartfelt thanks -- and those of our Navy and JAG leadership -- to the many judge advocates and legalmen who have already volunteered. I also send our deep appreciation for all the great, patriotic efforts that everyone in our community has contributed and – of this I am sure -- will contribute in the weeks and months ahead.

8. God Bless America.

9. I request that you forward this FlagpE-Gram to those under your cognizance promptly. Spread the word; keep the spirit.

R,

Steven B. Kantrowitz