I want to say a few words about Elaine Luria

[Stinky The Clown]

She is clearly one of those people who are exceedingly competent, ready and willing to do their job well and to a high standard, all while not seeking the spotlight. 20 years in the Navy, almost all of it as a line officer aboard combat ships. She served as CO of an assault craft unit. Nuclear trained, she was a Navy pioneer and an overall BadAss Woman.

Tonight she will gain, quite likely, as much or more national recognition than she ever has. It is well deserved.

Her district is swingy-flippy. Many speculate she will lose her seat because of her J6 committee service. Being a BadAss woman and patriot, she's doing her job, as she always has, quietly, unassumingly and exceedingly well.

Thank you, Commander Luria. This old, old swabby salutes you, Ma'am.

[gab13by13]

1. I second that,

she is one fine anchor clanker.

[Haggis 4 Breakfast]

24. SEMPER FORTIS !!!

[uponit7771]

2. K&R,

[FakeNoose]

3. I'm looking forward to tonight's Select Committee hearing - should be a good one

[IcyPeas]

4. from her wikipedia page:

and her husband is also a retired naval commander

Luria graduated from Indian Springs School in 1993. She graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science (BS) with a double major in physics and history, and a minor in French. In 2000, Luria attended the United States Naval Nuclear Power School. While serving in the Navy and stationed aboard the flagship USS Blue Ridge, she earned a Master of Science (MS) degree in engineering management from Old Dominion University in 2004.

Luria served as a naval officer for 20 years, operating nuclear reactors as an engineer, where she rose to the rank of commander. Luria was among the first female American sailors to spend her entire career on combat ships. She commanded Assault Craft Unit TWO, a combat-ready unit of 400 sailors, from 2014 until her retirement in 2017. She held a Passover seder on an aircraft carrier after 9/11.

As of 2019, Luria's service was the longest active-duty tenure of any current member of the House Democratic Caucus

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_Luria

[Stinky The Clown]

5. The image on the left is when she was at Annapolis, The black rim on the Dixie Cup gives it away.

She's the same age as one of my sons.

[Irish_Dem]

9. Her cap on the right looks a lot better with all the golden scrambled eggs.

I did not realize the NA cadets wore dixie cup caps.
Not the most flattering look, but cute in its own way.

Thanks for posting this info!

[Stinky The Clown]

11. They only wear them as incoming freshman (Plebes) and only for part of the year.

I think they also wear them when crew on training boats.

[Irish_Dem]

12. That makes sense.

The plebes really stand out, which is good since they are green as grass most likely.
The others need to know that on the training boats especially.

They do the same kind of thing in teaching hospitals with undergrad students.

[Stinky The Clown]

13. These are what they train on, YPs - Yard Patrol boats

Smallish for the Navy, about 100 feet. A crew of three is all they need. For training they might be 20 plebes.

[Irish_Dem]

16. Wow so great, neat!

I am an US Air Force brat, growing up looking at airplanes which is ho hum to me.

But I love the Navy for some reason and watch all the navy movies, submarines movies, etc. that I can find.

I also read and watch documentaries about WWII and VN war...

In WWII I think the patrol boats were used in China? And of course later in Viet Nam.

Three man crew would be commanded by a Navy Lt. jg, a first Lt in the AF?????

Oh my that would be a sight! To see 20 plebes in their cup cake hats running around a patrol boat.

The Navy has the best uniforms hands down.

[Stinky The Clown]

18. USNA YPs are captained by an E6 or higher Boatswain Mate or Quartermaster

[Irish_Dem]

19. I thought a boatswain was in charge of maintenance and handling of a boat.

Not being the boat commander. But E-6 is a fairy high enlisted rank.

I was just going by movies and John Kerry who was a Lt in command of a patrol or swift boat in VN?

But really I don't know.

In the AF is it very simple, pilot, co-pilot, navigator, other crew of course on really big planes or complicated ones. But the basics are the same. Pilot is the commander of the plane.

[Stinky The Clown]

22. The "swift boats" (PBRs) are VERY different from YP

Patrol Boat River

Armored, heavily armed, highly maneuverable, high speed.

[Irish_Dem]

23. OK I am going to have to read about naval boats now.

I have been reading a lot about subs which I love.
But I better go look at boats.

Thanks so much for the info.

[bluecollar2]

47. In the Blue Water Navy

Surface vessels are called ships and submarines are called boats.

Brown water Navy....most are referred to as boats.

Some of us are a little touchy about that...lol

[Irish_Dem]

52. Sorry, I knew subs weren't ships, but forgot they were boats.

I know, it can be irritating when people get it wrong, like calling a helicopter an airplane.

USAF ranks and aircraft are easy and straight forward, but naval ranks and vessels are much more confusing. So I keep making mistakes!

I know there are a number of different kinds of subs, I love movies about the boomers.
But actually I love all submarine movies. Watch them several times each.
I find them very relaxing for some reason. Even the ones where they blow up the world.

All that water and silence.

I also like stories about PT boats, loved the movie "They Were Expendable." Story of Navy's experimental Patrol Torpedo boats during WWII in the Philippines. One of them actually evacuated MacArthur when he bugged out of the Philippines. MacArthur said he would rather fight it out with the enemy onboard a PT boat, as opposed to the recommended submarine evacuation which he felt were underground coffins!

Have seen movies and read about all the Pacific Naval WWII battles.
Midway was astounding. Yamamoto really failed there, thank God.

One of my uncles was active duty navy, killed when he was on the USS Meredith, a destroyer, sunk by the enemy during WWII, bringing supples to Guadalcanal. I am fascinated by the war in the Pacific and watching some of the army/marine battles on the islands helps me understand why the supples were so critical, and why my uncle died trying to bring ammo, food, medical supplies, to the men.

[bluecollar2]

54. No need to apologize

I was an airdale in the navy. Attached to a P-3 squadron.
VP-40 based out of Moffett Field. Cold war so we spent our time chasing Soviet Submarines. Mostly in the Northern Pacific and the China sea.

We were part of the 7th fleet and operated out of Misawa Japan mostly with occasional detachments to NAS Adak Alaska and NAS Diego Garcia.

There's a rivalry between the submariners and airdales so we call subs boats just to get a rise out of them...lol

One of the best books I've ever read is Neptune's Inferno by James D. Hornfischer. It's the story of the U.S. Navy's role in the Battle of Guadalcanal. I highly recommend it

I always had trouble understanding the Air Force structure. Between Commands and Squadrons and Groups and Airwings....

Good to meet you!

[Irish_Dem]

55. Wow.

That is really neat.

Airdale, P-3s and VP-40. At Moffett. Tracking RU subs. That is so exciting.
I can't ask you any questions because most of what you did is classified.

Amazing that airplanes can track subs. In the movies the airplanes see a sub coming to the surface or close to the surface, and then alert a USN sub to do its thing tracking the sub.

It is amazing how long the subs can stay underwater.

Airdale is supposed to be a dangerous job.

So tracking RU subs in the Pacific and China Sea.

We were stationed in Yakota AFB in Japan during the Viet Nam war, and yes we knew about Misawa since there was an AFB there as well as navy station.

I don't know anything about Diego Garcia, that sounds like a very interesting posting. British in Indian Ocean.

I can imagine, the Navy flyers and ship/boat crews giving each other a hard time. Flyers and flight crews are a different breed. Even in the AF, pilots are seen as hotdogs and given a hard time. Of course the AF mission is to support the fliers.

My father was a navigator and flew combat in three wars. WWII, Korea and VN. In VN he flew cargo and air refuelers.

Yes I have heard of NI and it is on my list to read for sure. I have to psych myself up for it as I don't want to read a lot about ships sinking. I worry that my uncle had a very rough time. However my brother says that uncle was a boatswain on the bridge so was killed outright in an instant.

That is funny, the AF structure, rank, nomenclature is so simple compared to the Navy.
Flight, squadron, group, wing, command. That is bottom to top.

I guess when you grow up with it every day, it is seems simple.

Nice meeting you and thank you for the info.

[cloudbase]

33. I wouldn't fuck around with her.

Those two ribbons with the E attached show a high level of competency with a rifle and a pistol.

[NJCher]

44. she's obviously a gifted person

Notice how competent she is in a wide range of areas

Not commonly known is that the gifted are not just gifted in one area. They can do a wide range of activities exceedingly well. I've workd with gifted students at several points in my career as a teacher.

I noticed immediately what a good communicator she is. Very clear, neutral. I had to laugh at how she was so neutral when she transitioned to Hawley running his sorry ass out of the Capitol. That was priceless.

[Dave in VA]

6. Yes she is.

She is our Congresswoman. Glad to see her get some national attention.

[virgdem]

7. Thanks for that writeup. She is my representative and

I hope against hope that she wins in November.

[dchill]

8. K&R.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. This congressperson is a very impressive person

I agree with your opinion of this Congressperson

[Fla Dem]

14. Thank you for that very complementary and respectful statement.

I did not know of Rep Lauria’s or her background until I first saw her when the J6 committee first began to get coverage.

She’s been very impressive.

[jaxexpat]

15. I can get squarely behind that sentiment, Stinky.

And I usually hedge my support for anything. Cool.

[gademocrat7]

17. Spot on, Stinky

She is an amazing woman.

[iluvtennis]

20. KnR... definitely a badass woman. This Air Force veteran salutes her. n/t

[blogslug]

21. Here is her campaign website where people can make a donations

https://elaineforcongress.com/

[Deuxcents]

25. The difference between her n MTG are stark

Even tho they both have the same title of Representative.

[NJCher]

45. truer words

...

are they even in the same species? I think MTG is a throwback to a Neanderthal.

[moondust]

26. Calm competence.

Very, very much appreciated.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

27. 'Fess up now. You hittin' on that Navy lady, aintcha?

[Bucky]

28. .

[Hermit-The-Prog]

30. Hey, now. He made a point of being an old swabby!

You keep the Captain outta this.

To get somewhere near on topic again...
At one point during her closing remarks, Mrs. Luria appeared seriously pissed off at those who violated their oaths.

[Bucky]

31. I don't think that's just a Navy thing

Used to be, everyone was supposed to honor their oaths

[lonely bird]

35. Hell...

Everyone is supposed to honor their word as well.

Not honoring their oath is a big step worse.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

29. That is not my congressperson

but I wish she was

She rocks

[JoshieR]

49. That IS my congress person...

And I couldn’t be prouder!

[Karma13612]

32. Such a stark difference

Between her and my Rep Stefanik

[panader0]

34. Recommended. A very impressive lady. Thanks for the background info.

[lark]

36. This daughter of a swabby salutes her as well.

She is good people and so competent.

[Farmer-Rick]

37. Wow, what a career

A lot of what she did describes my spouse's career. But only 40 years earlier. Back then, women were not allowed to be on combat ships only supply ships. And they had allowed only 81 women into the academy in 1975 a lot of them dropped out.

My what a long way we've come. Kick some butt Commander.

[spanone]

38. K&R

[Lonestarblue]

39. Impressive indeed. Democrats elect people like Rep. Luria; Republicans elect idiots like

Greene, Boebert, and Gosar whose collective brain power might fill a thimble.

[NNadir]

40. She was extremely impressive. Her quiet patriotism came through clearly.

[UTUSN]

41. K&R

[rlexx]

42. I'd trade her for Stefanik (mine) in a minute or even Cheney or Kinzinger

She's my daughter's representative. Much respect for my fellow retired SWO CDR.

[sop]

43. My congresswoman likes to pose with big guns and post angry videos of herself at the border.

[Cha]

46. TY!

Focus!
Please Fight to Save Our Democracy💙 in 2022 & 2024!

[YavapaiBlue]

48. Prior Squid

Nothing but respect to Commander Lauria, She’s got guts and a backbone unlike 99% of the republican senators and congressmen

[bluboid]

50. well put, Stinky!!! thank you -

my thoughts exactly, after she told us about her military service.

[TexLaProgressive]

51. I was very impressed with her calm, crisp and confident demeanor

I imagine that the sailors who served under her felt like they were in good hands.

[Justice]

53. Donated to her campaign today.