(click on the pics to enlarge) I first met Gov. Christie on election day (picture on the right) I thought I would only have about 15 seconds to speak with him; so when we spoke I introduced myself, shook his hand and introduced myself and said,”the first thing that I want you to do when you get into office is stand up the state guard.” he finished shaking my hand, touched me on the shoulder and said,”help is on the way.” he had to move on. I went into the diner and ordered a hamburger, I wondered if he even knew what the state guard was…As I was eating my hamburger I was considering sending him a letter.  To my surprise he came back over to me and shook my hand again: I started to explain that my unit was made up of mostly retired Nationalguardsman and that my unit responded to 9-11-01, guarded Earl Naval base…” he stopped me..He said,”Paul, I am a former federal prosecutor, I know who you guys are, I’ll take care of you as soon as I am in office.” he put his hand on my shoulder and an associated press photographer took a picture that was on the front page of the Burlington county times. The third time I spoke with Governor Christie I presented him with my unit coin. the fourth time the Governor and I spoke I had a copy of that paper with me.  Someone from his staff saw it and told me that the Governor did not give autographs.  I said,” I don’t want his autograph…I autographed it for him (I wrote under the picture,” congratulations” and signed my name. I handed the paper to the governor, told him that I wanted him to have it, he opened the paper and said, “I can never see that too often” (the headline read, Christie ousts Corzine”

Nicola Fiore and Lloyd Kaufman have already been cast and filmed for this project.

Jack McGreevey
C/O
Senator Joseph Vitale
569 Rahway Ave.
Woodbridge, NJ 07095

Dear Jack,

It was nice to get a chance to chat with you on 2/26: I now have a better understanding of your concerns about the early formation of the NJ Naval Militia Joint Command.

What is left of the unit is a group of dedicated professionals.

Bill Devereux’s  (who was never affiliated with the NJNM-JC) alleged crimes turned out to be a great embarrassment to the department and the state of NJ (this is my own personal opinion-and of course he is innocent until proven guilty) yet despite that the department still carries out important functions.  ( “http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20081127_N_J__veterans_official_faked_record__officials_say.html” http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20081127_N_J__veterans_official_faked_record__officials_say.html)

My point is: Please don’t hold the mistakes of leadership against those who do important work.

When I was at the World War II memorial Dedication I ran into M.G. (Ret) Garratt and among other things I asked him were he had been and what he was up to.  He said that he was at home now.  I asked him why he hasn’t ‘come over with us’ and he said ,” Because no one has asked me”  M.G. Garratt was the  former 42nd Division commander who had his “boots on the Ground” at ground zero on and after 9-11-01 among his many other accomplishments he had direct experience in dealing with state guard units and he knows first hand how valuable they can be. (his bio from when he worked at DMAVA is Included-After he left DMAVA he went on to work for the Office of Counterterrorism)

The NJNM-JC is a force multiplier with capacities to handle much more than waterborne problems.  I often think of it like a “CERT Team on Steroids” A mix of first and military responders with the training and experience to carry on sustained missions (like Katrina/Rita) recovery.

I hope that you will help put the legislation in place that will enable the unit (which trains for free) to be re-stood-up. (see previous letter-enclosed)

Sincerely,

Paul S. Kale