Correspondence issued by the Government Accountability Office with an abstract that begins "Spending reductions under sequestration affected DOD’s civilian workforce and many programs and functions, and required DOD to accept some risk in maintaining the readiness of military forces. However, DOD was able to mitigate some near-term effects of sequestration on its mission. Reduced spending levels required DOD to take actions such as furloughing most civilian employees for 6 days, cancelling or curtailing training for units that were not preparing to deploy by early in 2014, postponing some planned equipment maintenance at its depots and repairs or renovations of facilities, reducing some weapon system quantities or deferring modifications, and delaying system development and testing. DOD took various actions to plan for and implement sequestration, such as issuing guidance and establishing processes to identify priorities and evaluate alternatives for spending reductions. Generally, DOD’s approach to sequestration was a short-term response focused on addressing the immediate funding reductions for fiscal year 2013. DOD was able to reduce spending levels for the remainder of fiscal year 2013 without making permanent changes, such as adjusting the size of its forces or canceling weapon systems programs. By setting priorities for funding and using available prior …

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with August Hodde. Hodde joined the Navy in July 1943. He completed gunnery school, and served as a 40mm gun instructor through early 1944. Around November, Hodde served as a gunner’s mate aboard USS Hugh W Hadley (DD-774). At battle stations, he was gun captain on the portside twin 40mm. Beginning February of 1945, the Hadley escorted HMS Ranee (D03). Hodde describes their role during the Battle of Okinawa in April, helping protect against submarines and aircraft as the Japanese made final attempts to stop the invasion. He provides details of their 11 May attack by the Japanese, receiving bomb hits and downing numerous kamikazes. Hodde remained aboard as the torn Hadley was towed back to the US. He continued his service after the war, receiving his discharge in 1946.

The National Museum of the Pacific War presents an interview with Harold Heist. Heist joined the Army Air Forces in January of 1943. He completed navigation school and received his wings and commission in July of 1944. He was assigned to the 15th Air Force, 376th Bomb Group, 514th Bomb Squadron, and served as a navigator aboard a B-24. He also navigated the position of a Victory Ship in a convoy for a 28-day trip across the Atlantic, working with the radio system, arriving in Oran, Africa in October of 1944. He met up with the 376th Bomb Group in Italy. He flew his first mission on 6 December 1944 over Hungary and completed a total of 47 missions. Heist provides details of his experiences through several of his missions over Germany and Italy. Their bomb group was known for their precision bombing, keeping enemy viaducts, roads and rail lines destroyed and useless. After the war, he served in the Reserves and then was released from active duty and assigned to the Voluntary Air Reserve Training Unit (VARTU). He retired in 1973 from the Air Force.