he went to the marines. can you imagine? and there's a great probably the best memoir by a woman is linda van zanter's home before morning. she was a nurse in the vietnam war. then there's tim o'brien's "if i die in a combat zone," it's nonfiction. albert french's "patches of fire" is also another great memoir african-american vietnam veteran, and david maraniss' they. marched into sunlight. and that's only the nonfiction top of the list. as far as fiction, you know we've had pulitzer prize winners like robert butler connected series of short stories each one told in the voice of a vietnamese ex-patriot living if louisiana. a brilliant book. larry heineman's close quarters, an autobiographical novel, and larry also wrote "taco's story" in 1987. robert stone, who just died this year, his book, "dog soldiers," right up there on vietnam hut church richard curry's "fatal light." like danny, he was a navy corpsman with the marines, and it's brilliant. jim webb, our former senator, you know he wrote several novels one of which was

these are the marines in the pacific. i can assure you that your deployed marines are well trained, well bred, and well-equipped. we have had to make tough choices to face sequestration and reduce budgets. in order to maintain the readiness of our deployed forces, we have not sufficiently invested in our infrastructure is a statement, and quality of life programs. as a result, approximately half of our deployed units, those that you depend on for onset -- on for seen situations have resulted in shortfalls. this has resulted indiana's is a loss of american allies. over time, modernization will be needed at higher costs. in areas we are unable to innovate and a dock for tomorrow's threats. it will eventually a road -- erode our advantage. the town just today provide context for my message. we can meet requirements with the presidents budget, but there are no margins. it will exacerbate our challenges for today. it will also result in fewer active duty marines. perhaps more concerning, it will result in fewer marines and sail

the sailors, marines and the civilians. i was an army guy myself. general dunford i've had many of your marines tell me that the army stands for ain't ready for marines yet. that's not true, is it? >> it just may be senator. >> shocking revelation. well there is no substitute for having a army but also no substitute for having a navy and marine corps constantly on watch around the globe. that is never in peace time phase because it's always deployed somewhere. we're very grateful for what y'all do. admiral greenert you have written and spoken in other forums about the concept of payloads not platforms. could you give us a truncated simple version of what you mean by that and how it informs the procurement plan for the navy in the future? >> we're a capital intensive service. so when we build a ship it is there for 30 years at least. and a bit longer to. put an integrated, complicated system in there, inside -- weapons system in such a vessel. when you want to change it i you have to take the ship out of service for 18 months to two years. we can't do

the sailors, marines and the civilians. i was an army guy myself. general dunford i've had many of your marines tell me that the army stands for ain't ready for marines yet. that's not true, is it? >> it just may be senator. >> shocking revelation. well there is no substitute for having a army but also no substitute for having a navy and marine corps constantly on watch around the globe. that is never in peace time phase because it's always deployed somewhere. we're very grateful for what y'all do. admiral greenert you have written and spoken in other forums about the concept of payloads not platforms. could you give us a truncated simple version of what you mean by that and how it informs the procurement plan for the navy in the future? >> we're a capital intensive service. so when we build a ship it is there for 30 years at least. and a bit longer to. put an integrated, complicated system in there, inside -- weapons system in such a vessel. when you want to change it i you have to take the ship out of service for 18 months to two years. we can't do

these are the 22,500 marines in the pacific west of the international date line. i can assure you that your forward deployed marines are well trained, well lit and well equipped but we've had to make tough choices to deal with the effects of two wars, sequestration in 2013 and reduced budgets in 2013, into 2015. in order to maintain readiness of our forward deployed forces we have not sufficiently invested in our home station readiness modernization infrastructure sustainment and quality of life programs. as a result, approximately half of our non-deployed units, those are the units you depend on for unforeseen contingencies are suffering personnel equipment and training shortfalls. this results in the unnecessary loss of american lives. over time under investing in modernization will result in maintaining older and obsolete equipment at highers cost erser costs and degraded capabilities. instead of innovating and adapting for tomorrow's threats. it will eventually erode or competitive advantage and we don't ever want our marines and sailors in an unfair fight. the

then he went to the marines. can you imagine? and then the best memoir by a woman is as lenders in the vietnam war in then so with those patches of fighter with those of african american in then of great book about the anti-war movement. as far as fiction rehab pulitzer prize winners such as strange mountain to connect those short stories as a expatriate living in the louisiana. that is brilliant and autobiographical. and one of those won the national book award in 1987. dog soldiers says wright affair. and richard rose said navy corpsman and to come home are were former senator jim webb wrote several novels one of the first in a country novels and the gold standard that won the national book award. but those that have turned into a phenomenon. like a community reach should be on the top of your list. there were two really good novels you may have heard of 15 is the short termers from the kubrick movie and another rain spent 35 years writing his novel that can amount in 2010 and it is brilliant. then going back to the quiet americ

the model we've seen over the past year where marines have immediately responded to the evacuation operations in south sudan, libya and yemen. we haven't heard much in those cases. there was a case a few years ago when marines weren't forward postured and ready to respond on a moment's notice and we heard about that for years. i think that is the difference between funding the budget in support of marines and not. there's two lines of the response and i'd outline those for your constituents. >> i would agree with what the commandant said and i believe the fundamental issue is going to be that the american people cannot expect their military to do what we've been asked in the past if we stay at these funding levels. >> new. also y'all were talking i was thinking to some comments made by a committee member earlier today. that basically it means that lives are at greater risk and more lives are lost. because that is what the bottom line to what we ask you and those who serve under you to do. ms. sanchez. >> thank you mr. chairman. i actually have two questions. first for general odierno and for

in fact the marines are shrinking. the navy is staying steady in the staffs are staying steady or going down. we are doing a 20% reduction in headquarters staff. but again it's what we call the for the state. the department of defense agencies, things like the defense finance and accounting service, things like the defense logistics agency and their contractors have just grown exponentially. so that's where the growth is coming. i was paid just for the department of the navy, it's not in the department. >> thank you. >> thank you and secretary mabus maybe we will have time to get back to that point but let me go ahead with my plan questions. admiral greenert we sort of decided on this rebalanced asia before the latest provocations from russia, before i says to took over so much territory. if sequestration returns in october what sort of gap will these cuts create between americans asian rebalanced strategy and already important tasks of deterring aggression in defeating isis and the role amphibious ships will have been

he served in the marine corps 2nd battalion 1st marine regiment. his date of death is january 12, 1968. he died at the age of 18. william was a third-generation veteran. his grandfather served in the army in world war i and was awarded the silver star. his father served in the army in world war ii. william had three brothers, paul jim and john. william's brothers remember him as a dedicated marine who gave his life for the cause that he strongly believed in. they cherish his memories and the stories that they keep in their heart today about their brother. gil bardman july 26, 1960 was the date of his birth. he grew up in hanover. served in the army, 4th battalion, 9th infantry regiment. he died june 19, 1968 at the age of 18. gil had three brothers and two sisters. he grew up on a dairy farm in the hanover area. one of his squad leaders credits gil for saving his life by covering his flank the day gil died. gil's niece brianna contacted three men who served with gil's vietnam with his family. three of his friends and his wife traveled to hanover to

the air force. my late brother-in-law and father-in-law were proud marines. so firsthand i know of your commitment and how military families are putting so much trust in you. i also want to point out the context to where we are today. somebody that we all respect, i believe it is universal bipartisan, dr. henry kissinger testified, the united states has not faced a more diverse and complex array of cry cease since the end of the second world war,ent quote. and i appreciate in particular you pointed out how the reduction of air capability is putting the american people at risk and we want to work with you. additionally though we need to recognize according to bob woodward in his book "the price of politics" that it was the president who came up with defense sequestration. i'm very grateful that house republicans have voted twice to replace defense sequestration. sadly neither of our initiatives were taken up by the former senate. but hope springs eternal this can be addressed. in regard to a question, general odierno. i will be always very grateful visiting you

corps. >> the marine corps is a little less than 1 or 2 for deployment, we have 130,000 marines on deployment around the world and 1 to 2 is to use the chairman's term the ragged edge of how much you can ask someone to deploy without their effectiveness suffering. on the knee beside our deployments are getting longer, less predictable, we are trying to get into all the optimize response plans which make deployments more predictable, which make maintenance more predictable, which make trading more predictable. all that would be seriously jeopardized and scuttled by sequestration. >> mr. wilson. >> i would like to thank each of you for being here today. i know firsthand your commitment, how military service members, veterans truly appreciate your service. our family's joint service, i cover each of you. thanks to my wife. i give her all the credit. we have three send in the army national guard, had a son in the navy we have a nephew in the air force. my late brother in law and brother-in-law were proud marines. chris and, i know of your commitment and all military families are put

. >> martin: for the first time in its history, the marine corps has opened up this punishing course to women. can they pass the test? have a look and judge for yourself. >> stahl: damian aspinall likes to play tug of war with tigers and pet rhinos on his very own wildlife refuge in england. but gorillas are his best buddies, and wrestling with them is his favorite pastime. >> now, the tricky thing is getting out. >> stahl: but damian is controversial because of his efforts to move his zoo-born gorillas to the wilds of africa, a project conservationists warned us might not go well. >> i'm steve kroft. >> i'm lesley stahl. >> i'm morley safer. >> i'm bill whitaker. >> i'm scott pelley. those stories tonight on "60 minutes." in my world, wall isn't a street. return on investment isn't the only return i'm looking forward to. for some every dollar is earned with sweat, sacrifice, courage. which is why usaa is honored to help our members with everything from investing for retirement to saving for college. our commitment to current and former military members and their families is without e

when the age brothers was a proud marine. so first team and military families put so much trust in you. somebody we all respect dr. henry kissinger recently testified united states has not faced a more diverse array of crisis since the end of the second world war and i appreciate you pointing out how the reduction in the air capability puts the american people at risk and we do want to work with you but additionally we need to recognize according to bob woodward and his book -- his book the president came up with the sequestration. i am thankful the republicans voted twice to replace sequestration but sadly neither was taken up by the former senate but hope springs eternal this can be addressed. in regard to a question you'll always be grateful visiting you in baghdad. i had two sons served so i know of your insight into what milestones you are looking man in afghanistan before the drawdown. >> i would say the important thing is to fold but to make sure the afghan security forces continue to improve through the institutional t

you expect a lot from the marines, and you should. this morning, as you hold this hearing, marines are engaged doing exactly what you would expect. our role influences how we

in the marine corps from 2004 to 2008, i had a pretty diverse speerbs there, i served as a judge advocate representing service members and advising them on a wide range of interests and at the end of my commitment i also served with an infantry battalion in iraq. after we got back home i eased, received an honorable discharge, came back to cooly which was the law firm i was practicing with before i joined the marines. i think if you look at my application you'll see i have a commitment to public service. that's something that was instilled in my by my parents but also schools here in san francisco, i went to public school, high school so when you look at my application you have somebody really committed to doing something for others and you can see that in my leaving private practice first for the marine corps and most recently to serve as a prosecutor with the u.s. attorney's office. another thing that i want to highlight is the mandate of this advisory committee, of the veteran's affairs committee, is pretty broad. i think it's important to have folks on the commission that have a broad

the presence of u.s. marines in uniform in these areas and locations, that is a political decision. but the foreign policy makes that decision. when you look at the marines and a benghazi, that was a foreign-policy decision that was made by the u.s. embassy and by ambassador stevens and washington, to determine whether or not the marines can be there. it is -- will the marines raise the threat level, or will their presence be a deterrent, there is no doubt in my mind, knowing how good they are that if you have a marine security card -- guard and benghazi on the ground, that would have been a game changer. that is an issue that has been looked at in the committees. host: fred burton, vice president of intelligence for --, in austin, texas. what is this company? guest: we provide analysis of terrorism around the globe. we're trying to make sense of the world. we have that many products on our website, for anyone who is interested maybe you want to become familiar with the kind of work that we do. host: we have a call from michigan. henry, hello. caller: i would like for you if you coul

the navy and marine corps have always answered when called. to make sure we continue to provide what the american people expect will afford to answering your questions and working together with this committee and congress to maintain our great navy and marine corps. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you. in now to a former staff member of this committee we will take credit for you secretary james. [laughter] >> thank you. it is a pleasure to come before all of you to day to come home where i began. also with my colleagues from sister services it is always a pleasure. mr. chairman i am still the rookie among the service secretaries i have been on the beat 15 months of a bite to begin by telling you my take away of the top things i have learned in my 50 months of being secretary of the air force. first which was the shock to me is that united states air force is the smallest airforce we have never had since our inception as a separate service in the year of 1947 for calligraphy we have been building down the airforce for the better part of two de

what does it mean if the marine corp declares i.o.c. in 2015? >> it's a sham. programme has been embarrassing, and they are just at the point to say that we'll take whatever we get. >> do you think the plane is combat ready? >> no, absolutely not. that capability is years away in my book. >> how is it taxpayers bought 150 f35s with more in the pipeline. christy says he's seen the play book before. pentagon officials team up with the defense contractor promising lots of jobs tempted members of congress vote for the weapons to keep coming. lockheed martin the manufacturer, has a website boasting about the enormity of plane's economic footstep claiming it benefits 49 states in puerto rico. >> you don't stop one of these things once it's come this far. >> reporter: literally the plane has left the tarmac. >> yes. >> reporter: a final thought. the pentagon has been massaging the numbers, according to a report, and recent pentagon claims about the plane's improved reliability is not because it is getting better but not all failures are being counted. in other words, t

the president's budget called for 184,000 marines down from the war-time high of over 200,000 marines. i'm interested to learn how the marine corps will manage mission risk with a force this side, particularly with increased embassy security. the marine corps clearly remains committed to the revitalization to the assault capabilities with a budget request that includes funds for its current family of armored amphibious assault vehicles and continued a competitive search for new-wheeled combat vehicle. we understand the amphibious combat vehicle program would integrate a number of technologies into a new vehicle. the marine corps has described this program as, quote, non-developmental. which raises questions about what non-developmental means when you're developing a new system. i'm interested in your incitessights on this whole program. all the real amphibious challenge on the amphibious gap has more to do with ships and connectives than air and sea-born assault systems. navy witnesses have testified about the number of ships required to meet shipping goals. sometimes lost in that dis

mammals are being rehabilitated regularly at the sausalito marine mammal center. usually they charge an admission, but sunday it's free for you and the family. very educational experience and you can find out about all the sea life right here in the bay area. i was in santa cruz last weekend

the marines have never explained different town. >> what is the objective by the navy or by authoritiesto disappear people? what is the logic behind it? the allegations of disappearances by security forces have continued into pena nieto's administration. and not just in tamaulipas but around the country. we were told that there are people who have been released after being held by security forces - but that they rarely speak about the experience...out of fear. but we finally found someone willing to tell us their story. so we had to change cars twice to be able to get here. so we gonna go and talk to this woman who was detained allegedly by the police and taken to a detention center that was run by the police. so this is very important - because it shows in a way. the complicity that exists between security forces and criminal organizations. and how difficult the corruption situation here in this country. she agreed to speak with us if we protected her identity. two months before we met her she was with her son in the car, driving home after work when they were stopped by armed men and

>> you are at the marin food bank? i think it's item w >> sorry. >> all right, thank you. >> july 1 is the one we're looking at. >> this is a new contract, right? only starting for 14-15 to 15-16. >> okay, that's the --. >> oh, sorry. >> okay, no problem. >> a lot of contracts. >> there's a lot of paperwork here. >> we're almost to the end. a couple of minutes. okay any other questions? hearing none i call for --. >> no, no, it's a mistake. we're on the same page, okay? is that on page 2? >> uh-huh. >> effective july 1 home-delivered grocery program on page 2, table a again. >> uh-huh. >> there is the first year, second year, two year total should be 825. >> you know why? we don't -- this is a little strange. it's not a summation, it's the total unduplicated people that we serve. so, you know, total is 450 so we're not double counting the people that we are already serving. that's why. >> all right, any other questions? hearing none, i will call for the vote. all in favor of approving this san francisco marin food bank

the 22500 marines in the pacific west. forward deployed marines have been well-trained, let him and equipped. reducing budgets in 2014 and 2015. we have not sufficiently invested in our home station readiness as a result approximately a result approximately half of our nondeployed units, the ones you depend on for unforeseen contingencies. in a a major conflict these are the result of a delayed response or the unnecessary loss of american lives. over time it will result in maintaining older and obsolete equipment at higher cost integrated capabilities. funding levels are forcing us to maintain legacy abilities instead of adapting. we don't want our marines and sailors to not be in a fair fight. context for our message this morning. there is no margin. funding levels we will exacerbate the challenges we have today and we will result in a marine corps with fewer active duty battalions and squadrons. squadrons. it will result in fewer marines and sailors being deployed to crises involving diplomatic posts, american citizens, o

with the return of the marine layer. tonight downright windy with some of these winds up to 30 miles per hour around the coast right there. it's all because of this. this is an area of low pressure. it's dry. butted has a lot of cooler air mass associated with it. as i bangs up through that ridge of high pressure it's going to cause the pressure gradient therefore the breezy to windy conditions. and then enhances that marine layer. marine layer mixes up tomorrow afternoon and then the controller air mass -- cooler air mass filters into the bay area. that is coming up in the seven day forecast but meanwhile temperatures, today, mid 60s in monterey bay. it's 32 going up to 70 in the lake tahoe area. hey, sun is coming up earlier and earlier. kind of like that. 6:58. it sets at 7:31. and smack in-between today 60s 70s to the low 80s. so cooler than yesterday when it was 86 degrees in livermore down to about 78 degrees. here's the pollen report michelle. we're just going to be dying tomorrow. we're not going -- just going to

the names of the marines and soldiers are currently be withheld. ather clears. we will continue to update you on this story as it develops. back to you. >>> maria malona handed me the national weather service up date when that crash happened. it went from seven miles of visibility and plummeted to two miles and almost a half a mile within an hour time span. >> our hearts and prayers go out to the families. >> 28 minutes before the top of the hour. heather nauert a final update of the day. >>> another helicopter crash to tell you about. this one in argentina. horrifying new video shows the moment that two helicopters collide midair in argentina and plunged to the ground. ten people on board the helicopters were killed. they were headed to a remote area to film a reality tv show. among the dead, two french olympians and other top international athletes. french prosecutors say they've opened a manslaughter investigation. both helicopter pilots were experienced. >>> adults caught acting like children at a long island school board meeting. >> we have not

this is a good place to see the little guys and learn about the marine life across the bay area. ne life, let's take you to the beach. we are talking temperatures of 69 degrees. a little bit cooler from yesterday because of the morning cloud cover we are seeing right now. even down towards half moon bay, the cloud cover is inundating down towards half moon bay. since you aren't waking up to extensive cloud cover there, temperatures will be a little bit warmer, 74. we got up to 81 in santa cruz. upper level wind pattern detects our jetstream and what is happening in the upper levels of the atmosphere. that tells us where our storm systems are coming from. you can see the big storms brewing. we have high pressure that's in control for a couple of more days. you will notice our winds are beginning to shift. that's why we have the cloud cover this morning. more of an onshore flow this morning at the coastline. that's going to make way for a rainy pattern as we head towards this upcoming week. tuesday night, we will be watching this is is stim that will be making its way to the bay are

when america is called, the navy and marine corp have always answered. in order to ensure that we continue to provide the naval force our nation's leaders and the american people expect we look forward to answering your questions and to working together with this committee and with congress to maintain our great navy and marine corp. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you. and now to a former staff members of this committee we'll take credit for all sorts of you folks, secretary james. >> thank you very much, mr. chairman, congresswoman sanchez, it is a pleasure to come before you today, to come home where my roots began. and an honor to sit here with my colleagues with my sister services and to be a with my wingman, general mark welsh. i'm still a rookie among the services and i've been in my seat for 15 months and i would like to tell you my key takeaways from the top things i've learned in the top 15 months as being the secretary of the air force the privilege of my professional lifetime. the fir thing i learned which was a shock when i first got in the

what's the biggest threat to your marines? he improvised explosive devices. >> pelley: he told us, then, that he joined the marines because he didn't want to regret not serving. it turned out, we met on what would be his worst day. >> o'hara: we should be good pushing up through here until we get near that i.e.d. site. >> pelley: it was a mission to defuse a landmine, and it went exactly according to plan. but on the way back, lance corporal david hall detonated a second bomb. and the next day, o'hara tried to give meaning to hall's death. >> o'hara: just understand we're doing the right things-- we're doing good work, we're making a difference here, we're here fighting for the people of afghanistan, we're here ultimately fighting for our country. should we have been in afghanistan? i don't know. maybe the answer's yes, maybe it's no. and so, when i run into people who say, "tell me about afghanistan. what were our goals there? should we have been there?" i think i'm in the same boat where i would say, "you know, to be honest w

one of the marines was from williamsburg, virginia. three of them were from new jersey new york and wisconsin. the other marines were from michigan. students at t.c. williams are mourning this week after one of their classmates fell from a building and died. northern virginia bureau chief jeff goldberg joins us live from alexandria to tell us what happened. >> well maureen, yesterday, the principal of t.c. williams sent a letter home to family saying that grief counselors will be on hand for anyone in need and the school will be spending the next several months focusing on support for students and staff. meanwhile, the alexandria police department wants to set the record straight. the start of the weekend is typically a happy time at t.c. williams high school. but today is different. >> there's a lot of people walking around school like crying. >> hard to go through it. >> jamal hunt who was friends with the young man for many years says this loss comes as a total shock. >> he was kind. he was loving. you know like he was just fun to be

and as the downsloping wind moves from land to sea, it is go ing the negate the marine influence, and look at that beautiful day shaping up at the beaches. that is scott mcgrew who enjoys the beach weather so we have 72 in pacific ka aa and 75 in half b bay. >>> and the chinese new year's parade, and we like to tell you what is going on, and if if you are headed out, by 8:00 in chinatown, san francisco, the temperatures will drop rapidly once the sun sets. sunday, it is family day at the wharf pier 39 and the temperatures are going the be lovely for you and the family to e head out there. they will have a rock climbing wall and inflatable maze, and so as we kick it off next week, it is the last warm day, and things will change getting into tuesday and the rain will move in as we head throughout early, early wednesday, and you will see it moving n and by 10:00 a.m., the rich moisture passing through the bay area, and keep it going through next week as well. right now, back to you, scott and laura. >> thank you so much. some of the biggest tech giants in the bay area are going to band t

>> well we were supporting the marine corps. and so that's really about the extent that i know. we were doing lift operations for them. i would refer you back to the marine corps for any details on the specifics of the missions or the training missions they were on. yes, ma'am? >> [ inaudible ] -- telling the -- at home -- [ inaudible ]. >> i do not have that information. i have been talking to the command post over at eglin, and you know what i'm getting back from them is that is a search and rescue operation. >> [ inaudible ]. >> i don't have the specific dates. they've been there for two or -- they left sunday? okay. they left sunday and it was normal course of business for us to work across the services in training missions. >> [ inaudible ]. >> yes, sir? >> at what point do you -- [ inaudible ]. >> they -- now i'm not a pilot. so i'll speak from a novice standpoint but they were very cognizant of the mission, but you know apart from one station, and the weather you didn't expect, and so they had to be -- they is several thousand hours in that cockpit and they had several th

one of the aircraft which had four aircrew and seven marines assigned from camp lejeune was involved side a-17. it was in the vicinity of one of our test and training beach areas. the helicopter was reported missing about 8:30 last night. debris was located by the search and rescue team about 2:00 a.m. this morning. >> reporter: carol, we know about the weather conditions at that time of the evening. although the officials have not said if weather was involved or contributed to the accident there were foggy conditions in the area so that's obviously something they're looking into. none of the names has been released by either the marines there at camp lejeune in jacksonville north carolina or by the louisiana army national guard. we have been told that that second chopper involved or that second chopper involved in the training mission was not involved in the accident and that black hawk landed safely back at eglin air force base. >> i know the governor bobby jindal has weighed in. what does he have to say? >> reporter: the governor just before the top of the hour released a statement

a little bit off the marin coast. san francisco i doubt this does much here. but to the north a better opportunity. so lake county into mendocino county and northern sonoma county. it's mainly more show than go. the 57 on saturday tied the 57 set in 1878. my goodness. and the water temps are incredibly warm again. 58 in monterey. so you add the cloud cover. no wonder the lows on the coast are mild. it will be a cloudy to mostly cloudy day and any rain will be to the north. light rain to the north. cloudy 60nd and 70 pz. still temps for many. all right sal we have a big issue here. >> we have a crash reported.

integral, vital part of our navy and the marine corps. >> thank you mr. secretary. admiral? >> ma'am, this morning there is a great article on what the director for office of personnel management is traying to do for quick highing. we are trying desperately to hire people into the shipyards. it is hard. the sequestration has hurt us and the gourdion knot to get through is incredibly hard. >> and these are incredible people. i've had a chance to meat many of them. >> yes, ma'am. >> thank you. >> thank you mr. chair. admiral greenert i want to associate my comments. it must be -- i'm sure you are very sad that is your last hearing before the committee. but you have had a long and distinguished career. i want to thank you. and your dad must have met my dad. i think they would have some spiritual kinship.

the marines advance. e japanese defenders were select, specially chosen men fighting with their army's newest weapons and with every advantage of terrain in their favor. their fortress caves are wiped out by high explosives. iwo jima is concorde -- concord. only isolated snipers remain. its airstrip is already in use by american super fortress. just 625 miles from tokyo. ♪ the inter-american conference at mexico city reaches a successful conclusion as mexico's foreign minister signs the significant impact. the statesmen of the americas applaud. also brazil, followed by representatives from cuba and peru, among the 20 nations taking part in this important hemisphere conference. the secretary for the united states reaching agreement on the hemisphere cooperation. the meeting is an important step toward world security. the united states navy task force 58 plows through heavy seas to open up a full scale -- to the japanese homeland. these mighty forces go to the tokyo area. over 1200 planes prepare for the att

first i will offer my condolences to the families of the seven marines who lost their lives in the gulf of mexico trade the exercise. anything i can do in the second congressional district please do not hesitate to call upon me or my team. the first question as congress debates said new authorization for military force one of my priorities is knowing shed we engage militarily service members go into the fight with confidence to take care of them when they return home. in 2007 the commission recommended the establishment of recovery care coordinator to care for wounded warriors. service members it should become severely ill or wounded while serving our country we will do everything in our power to get them the care they need when they return home. so what you're britches' doing to insure the transition from active service to the veterans administration for the most were did and what more can we do to make sure we identify every discharge service member who qualifies for federal recovery care through the v.a.? and i have another question. >> if i may start coming it is a critically import