Under the Sea fromtheeditor
I
Established in 1927, following a series of tragic accidents, the Navy Experimental Diving Unit continues to support national defense through submarine rescues and experimental diving.
It wouldn’t pass muster to write a July column without mentioning one of the nation’s most important holidays. On the Fourth of July, we celebrate our declara- tion of independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain. On this occasion, we also salute the nation’s military tradition and the men and women serving today. When the colonies fought for indepen-
dence, they waged war on land and on the seas. I doubt whether they imagined future wars being fought not only on land and on water but also in the air, in space, and under water. This takes us to the subject of our cover
story about the Navy Experimental Div- ing Unit (NEDU). This might be one of the lesser-known functions within DoD, yet many of the unit’s missions have been in support of some of the biggest news events. For example, NEDU divers were called in to recover debris when the space shuttle Chal- lenger exploded over the Atlantic Ocean in 1986, and they searched many lakes when the space shuttle Columbia disintegrated over Texas in 2003. The NEDU also assisted in raising portions of the USS Monitor, the Union ironclad that sank in 1862. The Navy formally started research
into experimental diving in 1912, testing theories of staged decompression and developing the fi rst standard Navy diving equipment. The NEDU offi cially was es- tablished at the Washington Navy Yard in 1927. One of its primary missions was sub- marine rescue, following a series of tragic
12 MILITARY OFFICER JULY 2012
accidents. Since that time, the NEDU re- peatedly has demonstrated the value of its submarine rescue technology. Check out “Diving Pioneers,” page 50, for the rest of the story. And now it’s time to close on a personal
story. After 15 years at the helm of MOAA’s publications, I will be transitioning to a new personal mission. (Time to check out that MOAA retirement guide!) During my time here, I’ve had the honor of serv- ing you — a dedicated group of citizens focused on a strong national defense and intent on taking care of military people and their families. Many things have changed over the
years, such as our name, from The Re- tired Offi cers Association to Military Of- fi cers Association of America. We have had great successes, such as winning TRICARE For Life. And we face stiff challenges in the near future, such as proposals for disproportionate increases in military health care fees. But the constant factor is the quality
of MOAA members who lend their voices to this important cause. As I transition from creating pages of the magazine to reading them, I thank you all for making my job such a pleasure. And together, let’s sound off for America’s troops — as One Powerful Voice®!
— Col. Warren S. Lacy, USA-Ret.
PHOTO: STEVE BARRETT
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