January 2018 MAINE COASTAL NEWS Page 21. U. S. N N Continued from Page 9.


commander of the U.S. Pacifi c Fleet, to George’s daughter, Joe Ann Taylor, on Dec. 7 during a 4:30 p.m. (Hawaii-Aleutian time) ceremony at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. “The presentation of the medals is not


only appropriate but simply the right thing to do,” said Spencer. “One of my highest prior- ities is to honor the service and sacrifi ce of our Sailors, Marines, Civilians, and family members and it is clear that Lt. Schmitt and Chief George are heroes whose service and sacrifi ce will stand as an example for current and future service members.” In addition to George’s Bronze Star,


the Secretary also awarded the Silver Star Medal to Lt. j.g. Aloysious H. Schmitt for action at Pearl Harbor while serving on the battleship USS Oklahoma (BB 37). In 1942 George was offi cially com-


mended by his commanding offi cer follow- ing the attack, but he was not awarded any medal. Lauren Bruner and Don Stratton, two of the USS Arizona Sailors saved by George’s actions, petitioned for him to be presented a medal. George’s family is happy to celebrate the heroism of their loved one. In keeping with the tendency of World


War II veterans, Taylor says her father never really talked about Pearl Harbor or World War II when she was growing up. But after he retired, he started going to reunions and that is when she began to get the full story. “It was kind of surreal. You grow up


with your dad thinking of him as dad; you’re not used to thinking of him as a hero,” said Taylor. “But it’s a wonderful story and I’m quite proud of him. Plus I’ve gotten to know the men he saved and have developed a real bond with the Stratton and Bruner families.” As recounted in an oral history inter-


view conducted by the University of North Texas on Aug. 5, 1978, George said on Dec. 7 he was settling down to read the Sunday newspaper when General Quarters (battle stations) was sounded. That’s when he realized there was an attack underway. To get a better sense of what was going on, he went outside, and the fi rst thing he saw was a Japanese plane going down. With no time to think, his training kicked in and he began to act.


With Japanese torpedoes passing under


his ship then striking Arizona, fi res were breaking out everywhere. George recalled that the fi rst thing he did, with help from several of his shipmates, was remove the awning covering the guns so that Vestal could fi ght back. Then he ran across the deck


Maine DMR News Continued from Page 10.


ignated as Limited Access areas, meaning harvesting in those areas will be limited to one day a week per gear type to allow the resource to re-build. In Zone 1, those areas include Casco Bay, the Sheepscot River, Muscongus Bay, and Western Penobscot Bay. In Zone 3, Whiting and Dennys Bay are both limited access areas. In Zone 2, Rotational Areas, which are


areas opened and closed like crop rotation in agriculture, will continue as part of a 10- year plan. Territorial waters around Machias Seal Island and North Rock, also part of Zone 2, will be open for daily harvest during March, providing additional opportunity for harvesters on days when other areas in the Zone are closed. A law change passed in the last legis-


lative session which takes eff ect in January 2018 will require the owner of a boat used for harvesting scallops to also hold a license and be on-board. The law change allows a licensed family member to be on-board in place of the boat owner and provides certain exemptions for illness, disability, mechani- cal failure and previous fi shing activity.


Elver Lottery to Allow New Entrants into Maine’s Lucrative Elver Fishery A handful of lucky Mainers will soon


have a chance to join the state’s lucrative elver fi shery. Starting November 15, the Maine De-


partment of Marine Resources implemented a lottery to allow at least seven new licenses to be issued for the 2018 season, which starts March 22, 2018. The lottery, authorized during the past


legislative session, is available to Maine residents who are at least 15 years of age by the start of the 2018 season, and who are eligible to purchase an elver license in 2018 because they have not had their right to obtain an elver license suspended. Each new license holder will receive a


minimum of four pounds of quota, which at the most recent season’s average value could amount to nearly $6,000 of income. “Maine’s elver fi shery is by far the most valuable on a per-pound basis,” said Maine Department of Marine Resources Com-


missioner Patrick Keliher. “We’re pleased to be able to provide new opportunity for commercial fi shing in Maine, or perhaps a chance for an existing fi sherman to diversify into another fi shery.” The cap on licenses was established


at 425, seven more than are currently el- igible for renewal in 2018. If additional license-holders choose not to renew their license by the end of the year, more licenses will be available through the lottery. Individuals can enter the lottery online.


The Department is not accepting applica- tions sent by mail however applicants may come to the DMR offi ces in Augusta to complete the application on paper. DMR will be accepting online lottery applications between noon on November 15, 2017 and 5 pm on January 15, 2018. DMR offi ces will be closed January 15, 2018 due to the holiday, so those who plan to submit paper applications may do so until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, January 12, 2018. By law, each individual will be allowed


to submit up to fi ve applications at a cost of $35 per application. Those who submit applications online will incur an additional processing fee of $2 per application. $25 of the application fee will be depo sited in the Eel and Elver Management Fund, which is used to research and manage the State’s eel and elver resources, to enforce laws related to eels and elvers, and to cover the costs asso- ciated with determining eligibility for elver fi shing licenses. By law, $10 is provided to the Department to fund Department costs associated with administering the lottery. The Department of Marine Resources


last held a lottery for elver licenses in 2013. The Legislature suspended any further lot- teries after that season because of the over- all state quota established by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission which reduced the amount available for every licensed harvester. The overall quota has remained at 9,688


pounds for the past three seasons and the individual quotas have been stable. Each year the Department has redistributed any quota associated with licenses that are not renewed, or held by individuals who are suspended for the duration of the season, to existing license holders.


WASHINGTON (Dec. 1, 2017) An undated


fi le photo of Lt. j.g. Aloysius H. Schmitt who was killed during the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (U.S. Navy photo


Courtesy of Loras College/Released) Navy Posthumously Awards Silver Star Medal for Valor at Pearl Harbor By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Eric Lockwood Naval History and Heritage Command Communication and Outreach Division


WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The Navy re-


from fi re to fi re to help put them out. Meanwhile, Arizona was taking a


pounding with explosions and fi res encir- cling the Sailors on her decks. There were “people over on the Arizona


that were trying to get off , and there was fi re all around,” George said. “I threw a line over.”


After securing the line as best he


could, George returned to fi ghting fi res and controlling damage aboard Vestal. When it became apparent Arizona was doomed, George assisted with getting Vestal un- derway and away from the burning and fast-sinking battleship. Arizona lost 1,177 crewmembers during the attack. Vestal lost seven.


George went on to serve throughout


the war and retired in 1955 as a chief petty offi cer after twenty years in the Navy.


cently authorized the posthumous award of a combat medal to a Sailor who was present at Pearl Harbor during the Japanese attack of Dec. 7, 1941, offi cials announced Dec. 4. Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spen-


cer awarded the Silver Star Medal to Chap- lain Lt. j.g. Aloysius H. Schmitt for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving on the battleship USS Oklahoma (BB 37). As Oklahoma was capsizing, Schmitt sacrifi ced his own life to assist many of his shipmates in escaping to safety. Navy Chief of Chaplains Rear Adm.


Margaret Kibben will present the Silver Star Medal to a member of Schmitt’s family during a ceremony on the campus of Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa on Dec. 7. The 8:45 a.m. (Central time) presentation cere- mony will be preceded by a special Catholic mass in a campus chapel previously dedicat- ed to Schmitt, and in which his remains are interred. “The presentation of the medals is not


only appropriate but simply the right thing to do,” said Spencer. “One of my highest prior- ities is to honor the service and sacrifi ce of our Sailors, Marines, Civilians, and family members and it is clear that Lt. Schmitt and Petty Offi cer George are heroes whose ser- vice and sacrifi ce will stand as an example for current and future service members.” In addition to Schmitt’s Silver Star,


the Secretary also awarded the Bronze Star Medal to Chief Boatswain’s Mate Joseph L. George for action at while serving aboard the repair ship USS Vestal (AR 4). In October 1942 Schmitt was posthu-


mously awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the Navy’s award for non-combat heroism. The Navy later published a clearer defi nition of combat for award purposes, making Schmitt retroactively eligible for the Silver Star Medal, the military’s third-high- est personal decoration for valor in combat. Schmitt’s family petitioned the Navy to upgrade his recognition to a combat valor award.


Schmitt’s family is happy to celebrate Continued on Page 22.


EFFORT AND ART PRIDE AND JOY


SEA HISTORY ALIVE mysticseaport.org/stories


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