Naval Reserve Association

Reservists in ActionBurke Chapter Mess NightThe Ensign James F. Burke, Jr. Chapter of the NavalReserve Association held its nineteenth annual messnight on Friday, 19 January, at the historic LarchmontYacht Club; Larchmont, NY.The chapter is named in honor of Ensign Burke, a Navalaviator, who was killed in action in Vietnam while returning fromhis 35th mission on 1 August 1967. Ensign Burke was 22 yearsold at the time. He left a wife and daughter who was born fivemonths after his death. The daughter is now a Federal Fire Chiefin the Federal Fire Department System. She is responsible forover 200 fire stations covering the states of California, Arizona,and Nevada.Master Chief Boatswain Mate James F. Burke, USNR (Ret), aretired New York City policeman survives his son. His other son,LCDR Tim Burke, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate and a Navalaviator, is a captain with American Airlines and was an attendeeat the Mess Night. A special commendation, signed by all of themembers of the Mess, which featured a drawing of the USSBarney (DD149), the destroyer that Master Chief Burke servedaboard during WWII, was presented at the dinner.The featured speakers of the evening were RADM Robert A.Rosen, NYNM, and RADM J. Robert Lunney, NYNM, whorecounted the saga of the long overdue delivery of the Medal ofHonor to the relatives of Chief Watertender Peter Tomich, USN.Chief Tomich earned the award for his heroic actions aboard theUSS Utah (BB-31) on 7 December 1941, during the attack onPearl Harbor. He lost his life while saving the lives of manyof his shipmates.(L to R) CAPT Eric Holmquist, NYNM; HM1 Richard Heine,USNR; LCDR Tim Burke, USNR; CAPT Tom Dufficy, USNR;RADM Robert A. Rosen, NYNM; RADM J. Robert Lunney, NYNM;RADM Andrew P. O’Rourke, NYNM; and BGen Richard Crabtree,NYNM, gather at the Larchmont Yacht Club prior to the 19thAnnual Mess Night of the James F. Burke, Jr. Chapter of theUnited States Naval Reserve Association.Mess nights find their origins in the rituals of the ancientViking warriors who mourned their dead and celebrated theirvictories. Mess nights are full of tradition and comradeship. ThePresident of the Mess is CAPT Tom Dufficy, USNR (Ret), whowas most ably assisted by CAPT Liam Murphy, NYNM (Ret).Stolen Valor Act of 2005By LT Marc J. Soss, SC, USNOn 20 December 2006, the Stolen Valor Act of 2005(the “Act”) became Public Law No. 109-437. A similarversion of the Act was originally proposed in theU.S. House of Representatives in July 2005 and laterpresented to the House of Representatives on 10 November 2005.The Act amends Title 18, United States Code, by closing a loopholein current Federal law that had allowed individuals falsely toclaim receipt of military decorations and awards (service medals,badge, ribbon, button, or rosette) but escape prosecution if they didnot physically wear the awards. An individual caught wearing anunearned military medal faced a misdemeanor charge and up tosix months in prison.The Act expands section 704(a) of Title 18, United StatesCode, to include the purchase, attempt to purchase, solicit forpurchase, mail, ship, import, export, production of blank certificatesof receipt, manufacture, sale, attempt to sell, advertisement forsale, trade, barter, or exchange for anything of value any of theservice medals or badgesawarded to the membersof such forces. The Actestablishes a $5,000fine; up to six monthsimprisonment; or both, forfalse claims (verbal orwritten) of receipt of U.S.military decorations andmedals. The punishmentis increased to a $10,000fine; up to one year imprisonment; or both, if the U.S. militarydecoration or medal is the Medal of Honor, Navy or Air ForceCross, Silver Star, or Purple Heart. The Act also classifies thecrimes as felonies, which can carry additional penalties, such aslimits on gun ownership and disqualification from certain publicoffices.30 NRA NEWS/APRIL 2007