From Iraq, Edgartown soldier talks about his job, the war and his sense of duty

Posted on 1/7/2007 at 11:31 PM - 0 Comments - Link

From Iraq, Edgartown soldier talks about his job, the war and his sense of duty
 
Taking a short break by my vehicle at an Iraqi border castle. Photos courtesy of Major Sean SmithBy Nelson Sigelman - December 28, 2006

After reading a Veterans Day story by reporter Janet Hefler on The Martha's Vineyard Times web site, Major Sean M. Smith e-mailed The Times to say how refreshing it was to know that Islanders remember the sacrifices of their nation's armed forces. Major Smith is an Islander himself, a 1991 graduate of Martha's Vineyard Regional High School and the son of Lucie and Mike Smith of Edgartown.

In his e-mail, Major Smith wrote, "As you can imagine, I take a lot of flack from my fellow officers for being from the same state as John Kerry, so it was nice to have that article to show them that the state of Massachusetts is not anti-military."

At the moment, Major Smith serves as an Army advisor to the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement. The battalion he works with is responsible for securing 54 kilometers of the border with Iran.

Our team departing an Iraqi border castle on the Iran-Iraq border. Vehicles are M1114 up-armored Humvees.Major Smith and his wife Shantel, a former Kansas State Trooper, graduated from Norwich University in Northfield, Vt. They have been married for six years and have two children, Ryan, 4, and Savannah, 2.

His wife and children live in Poquoson, Va., near his permanent duty station, Fort Monroe. His tour ends in February, and he expects to return briefly to the Virginia area for his next level of Army professional schooling before moving on to his next assignment.

Major Smith agreed to discuss his job and Iraq in an e-mail interview with Times news editor Nelson Sigelman. His answers arrived in an e-mail dated Dec. 17.

Why did you decide to seek a career in the military?

Having lunch with our Iraqi counterparts. Lieutenant Colonel Bakir, the Iraqi battalion commander, is at the front of the table. Standard fare is poached chicken, lamb kabobs, rice, and fresh vegetables. The men are standing because there were not enough chairsThis is what I always aspired to. I guess there was an unspoken influence in my family to pursue a military career. My father was a career NCO [noncommissioned officer] in the Army and served three tours in Vietnam (1966-69), my Uncle Nelson was a Seabee in World War II, my Uncle Bill served in the Air Force in the Korean War, and my Uncle Mark was stationed in Berlin in the early 1960s when the wall went up. Additionally, my older brothers both joined the service. My brother Patrick is a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy and my brother Ricky served in the Air Force in the 1980s. I think I've always felt obligated to serve. My mother came to the United States in 1968 from Vietnam following the death of her first husband as a result of the war. Through her eyes I can truly appreciate the things we, as Americans, take for granted. Many of us have forgotten that we should give something back to our nation. It is a special place, a unique place, really. For all the flaws of America and Americans, I think I'm safe in saying that we have it better than most people in the world. I'd rather take some pride in knowing I've done something productive and selfless with my time, rather than go through life complaining about the state of things while sitting on my hands. As a teenager my goal was to be an NCO like my father, but my parents encouraged me to pursue a college degree and enter the military as a commissioned officer. I'm glad they pushed me in this direction because my career has been varied and very rewarding.

Going over some instructions with members of my team.Can you think of any ways in which growing up on the Vineyard influenced your decision?

In military circles Massachusetts is regarded pretty poorly. My peers see it as nothing more than a den of liberalism and big government. Bear in mind that most military types tend to be of a conservative stripe. Still, I think the Vineyard is different because our community is pretty varied. As a kid I spent a lot of time hanging around the VFW and the American Legion with my uncles. I was always enthralled by the wartime experiences of the veterans that hung around these places. One thing I learned at an early age, and a theme that all these men shared, is that war is not something to be romanticized. I always looked at people like my father, my uncles, Ted Morgan of Edgartown, and many others with respect and reverence for their willingness to do something that isn't easy: serving. I've always been struck by the stoic nature all these people possess. I've never heard a single word of complaint from any of them. Their influence has served me well in my career.

I also had some great teachers in high school that took me under their wing. No, they never influenced my career decision, but these people really taught me how to think for myself, be self-reliant, and how to ask the hard questions; in no particular order: Marge Harris, Duncan Ross, Greg "Bumpy" Joannidi, and John Morelli. I really owe them a lot.

Major Smith recommended for Bronze Star Medal

The following narrative accompanies a recommendation for the award of a Bronze Star Medal to Major Sean M. Smith.

Major Sean M. Smith, United States Army, distinguished himself by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the United States as the Team Executive Officer and Battalion Logistics Advisor, Border Transition Team 4312, 1st Infantry Division, Iraqi Assistance Group (Forward), FOB Caldwell, Iraq from 16 January 2006 to 27 February 2007 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Major Smith demonstrated outstanding professional skill and knowledge as an advisor to the 2nd Battalion, 1st Brigade, 3rd Region, Department of Border Enforcement (DBE). He tirelessly coached, mentored, and advised his Iraqi battalion staff counterparts in the improvement of their logistical support mission, enabling the unit to better accomplish its wartime mission with less coalition support. Bringing a wealth of knowledge to the fight, Major Smith rapidly identified the battalion's logistics problems and instituted procedures to ensure the provision of combat support services to each unit level. Recognizing the difficulty Iraqi counterparts faces with these initiatives, he introduced procedures and techniques gradually in order to ensure feasibility and ultimate success. Major Smith devised logistics reporting mechanisms that enabled the tracking of supplies, allowed the unit to forecast needs, and enabled cross-leveling to best support operational requirements. Working with coalition partner units, he was able to provide needed support in all classes of supply. By locating and delivering ammunition, fuel and life support items, the unit became more combat effective than ever before. Working with limited contingency funds, he also provided critical repair parts that resulted in a 25% increase in equipment serviceability. Bridging the gap with counterparts through rapport building and a constant display of technical expertise, Major Smith demonstrated that they could in fact succeed despite their limitations. Through his efforts, the 2nd Battalion achieved logistics and equipment readiness increases. Prior to Major Smith's implementation of supply discipline and more reliable combat support services, the unit's ability to sustain itself could not be measured by any standard. Despite these demanding challenges, he always made supporting his team a priority, providing all their life support needs. He took great pride in mentoring junior officers and NCOs in their duties without seeking credit or personal recognition for their vast accomplishments, Major Smith took charge of the overall mission, serving as acting team leader for thirty days. During this time, he conducted a dozen combat missions, ensured the installation of the 2nd Battalion's communications equipment, and represented coalition forces at critical engagements with tribal leaders in the unit's area of responsibility. Major Smith demonstrated outstanding personal courage and reliability as the team was attacked with three IEDs over the course of more than a hundred combat missions. Major Smith's outstanding effort assured success and enabled its Iraqi counterparts to achieve greater autonomy and less dependence on Coalition Forces. His actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of military service and reflect distinct credit upon himself, this Command, and the United States Army.
Please tell me something about your other assignments prior to your current assignment to Iraq.

Kurdish girls in traditional dress. The photo was taken at the dedication ceremony for the Iraqi Department of Border Enforcement's new brigade headquarters.After graduating from Norwich I was branched into the Quartermaster Corps, with a two-year detail as an Armor Officer. The Army often branches new officers into support services, but assigns them to combat arms for a few years to gain experience and learn firsthand what support the actual war fighters need.

My first assignment was in Korea, 1997-1998, where I was a tank platoon leader (4 M1A1 Abrams tanks and 16 soldiers under my command), and I later served as a tank company executive officer (second in command of the company, 16 tanks and 75 soldiers). This was a great experience. Korea is a vestige of the Cold War, the last frontier where a standoff exists between us and an aggressive communist nation.

 
At the Newport News/Williamsburg Airport in Newport News, Va, Major Sean M. Smith gets hugs from his daughter, Savannah and son, Ryan, following a brief two-week visit home before returning to Iraq.My next assignment was in a Forward Support Battalion at Fort Stewart, Ga., from 1998-2000, during which time I was a supply platoon leader and battalion logistics and budget officer.

After being promoted to Captain in 2000 and attending my next round of Army schools, I was placed in command of the 267th Quartermaster Company (189 soldiers) at Fort Lee, Va. Our mission was to operate fuel terminals and employ 90 miles of petroleum pipeline in contingency operations. I took command right before 9/11 and took the company to Egypt shortly after 9/11 in support of Operation Bright Star. This was a bi-annual exercise conducted with several other nations. Bright Star 01 proved to be the last time it was held since our current commitments prevent support of the exercise.

My next assignment was at United States Central Command Headquarters in Tampa, Fla., in 2003. USCENTCOM is the unified combatant command that has geographic responsibility for the Middle East. I was sent there as an augmentee to the command's Joint Petroleum Office just prior to the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This was an insightful time since I helped plan and execute fuel support for the entire invasion. It was also an interesting glimpse into the military decision making process at the highest levels. We honestly thought the whole thing would be over in a matter of months. Of course we were way off base in our assumptions on how things would unfold once U.S. forces invaded Iraq.

In 2003, I applied for accession into the Army Acquisition Corps. This is the Army's research and development arm that oversees military contracts and the development of new systems, weapons, and technology. After being accepted and attending specialized schooling I was assigned to Fort Monroe, Va. The notable point of my time there was working on the Army's Counter-Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar initiative. We developed, tested, and fielded the system in one year. We utilized Phalanx cannons, employed on Navy ships for missile defense, and radars already in the Army inventory to develop a system that could detect and destroy incoming mortars. At the time this was the primary killer of soldiers in Iraq; of course it's now IEDs [improvised explosive devices]. The system is currently utilized in Iraq. I was also pursuing my Master's of Science in Acquisition and Contract Management. I only had five classes left but had to put my studies on hold when I received orders for Iraq.

I was promoted to Major on 1 July of this year.

My career has been atypical. Most officers have a single field, whereas I've had three.

Please tell me about your current job and responsibilities.

Right now I am the logistics advisor on a Border Transition Team. I also serve as second in command of the team. Our job is to train, coach, and mentor an Iraqi Border Patrol battalion that has 340 officers and men. They patrol a 54-kilometer stretch of the Iran-Iraq border. Our purpose is to mature the unit to a point where they can become self-sufficient and capable of conducting their border interdiction mission without coalition forces supporting them. As you can imagine, this is a daunting task. Their level of expertise is much lower than ours, they are poorly equipped, and most of the officers and soldiers lack the institutional training that U.S. soldiers take for granted. We've had to power down our expectations and take things one step at a time. This is also complicated by the language barrier. We do have four interpreters, but anything technical must often be explained a multitude of times to ensure proper execution.

Our team has 11 officers and NCOs. We all have a different specialty and are responsible for training the battalion in different areas. My lane is logistics (supply, fuel, ammunition, food, water, accountability of supplies, repair parts, weapons and vehicle maintenance, etc.). We have another officer that trains them on combat operations, another that advises on intelligence gathering, etc.

Like Americans across the country, many Vineyarders question our country's continuing involvement in Iraq. What is your reaction to the apparent erosion of public and political support for the war?

I can understand the frustration that Americans have with this war, and it's easy to see how parallels can be drawn with Vietnam. I think the frustration is rooted mainly in a few things: the fact that this was a war of choice, that it seems we keep redefining success when we fail to achieve the current definition, and the lack of an exit strategy. I can't blame people for wanting to see a faster end to this war (I left home on 15 January and won't be back until 1 March 2007). Obviously we came for reasons that proved ultimately to be the wrong ones (weapons of mass destruction) and our presence spawned a robust insurgency that now has this country spiraling toward civil war. Still, I would like to see American involvement in this war end with honor and not simply by pulling out. Obviously the president realizes that "staying the course" is no longer viable and I think we'll see a response to the political pressure he's under to employ a new strategy. I think that during the next few years we'll see a reduction in the number of American combat units actively engaged in the fighting, and there will be more American troops devoted to the mission I'm on, which is advising Iraqi forces and preparing them to take charge of their own problems. You have to remember that Americans like clean, fast victories. We demand instant gratification and the concept of a protracted, counter-insurgency fight like we have on our hands right now is an alien concept to anyone that isn't old enough to remember Vietnam. My generation grew up with quick wars: Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm. That said, this is a sticky situation and a quick resolution just isn't possible. I hate to say it, but we have a lot of tough times ahead before this is over for us.

Do you think the people back home have an accurate picture of the situation?

Yes and no. I hate to put it this way, but Americans only know what they read in the newspaper or see on television. Of course, depending on what news you like to watch, you get a different point of view. This is where the media has lost its way in recent years. I don't feel they report objectively enough. CNN and MSNBC are obviously liberal and focus on the negative; FOX is too right-wing despite their "no spin" mantra. I would hope that any person watching the news employs their own judgment, is open-minded, and looks at the situation from many points of view. When I watch the news I get more scared than if I don't watch it. To hear reporters tell it, you'd think we were in a state of constant peril here in Iraq, that IEDs are blowing up every second, and the shooting never stops. This is not the case. Yes, I have been in perilous situations, yes I've experienced IEDs and mortar attacks firsthand, but it's not a constant thing. People who really want to educate themselves on the problems of this country probably need to do some serious reading. Don't rely on what you hear or see on television alone. I think that Americans should read the "Iraq Study Group Report." It's available online and only takes a few minutes to download. Of course, it's only a single point a view, so people shouldn't stop there.

As we enter 2007 what is your assessment of the future?

As I said before, I think we'll start to slowly step back from our direct combat role. Please bear in mind that this is my opinion, not U.S. government policy. My emotions on this war have run the complete gambit. I've been disillusioned and ready to throw in the towel many times. It doesn't really matter how we got here. We can ponder the what-ifs and who screwed up for the next several decades. Guess what? The what-ifs are meaningless and we've got the war we've got. The best we can do is affect the things that we can and do our best. I don't want to say this war is absolutely winnable, but I will say that I think we are capable of not losing. I'm not sure if that makes sense or not, and I realize I'm sounding very political by talking out both sides of my mouth. My point is that we simply can't decide that we're leaving here tomorrow or even next year. The fragility of Iraq could cause the entire region to spiral into worse chaos. I think we'll have a presence here for many years, albeit one that gets smaller over time. I think our government will probably start looking at the region's problems more holistically. I think it's apparent that doing so is the only course of action at this point since all these countries are undeniably symbiotic.

Would you describe a personally rewarding moment during your tour?

My most rewarding time was when the battalion I advise captured 53 landmines that were being transported on donkeys. My Iraqi colonel was ordered by his general to bring them to the general's headquarters. He wanted to keep them as trophies. This was after I'd already made the decision to destroy them and called for my Explosive Ordnance Disposal team. I just didn't feel comfortable letting these weapons out of my control since there would be no way to account for their ultimate disposition. I stood my ground with the colonel and the general and proceeded with my decision to destroy the mines. I slept well knowing that 53 potential IEDs that could be used to kill Americans were no longer a threat.

What would you say to people distressed by news reports?

I would say that they should be. Americans are going into harm's way over here every day and facing the possibility that they won't make it out of here alive. We are approaching 3,000 Americans killed in action since the invasion and the global war on terrorism has already lasted longer than World War II. That said, they should bear in mind that we are in fact succeeding in some of the things we do here in Iraq. There are many good news stories you'll never hear. For instance, my commander is in the process of arranging treatment for the daughter of one of our Iraqi counterparts. She has leukemia and care will require money. My commander has worked through his church at home to assist with this situation. All is not lost in Iraq. Are we making mistakes? Yes. It's unfortunate that this war is being won in battles of public opinion alone. If we were experiencing the same level of casualties we had in Vietnam, I'm sure this wouldn't have lasted as long as it has. The immediacy with which events in Iraq reach the airwaves really skews the overall picture. Immediacy lacks perspective.

Is there anything you would like to say to the Vineyard community?

When I came home on leave in October I was overwhelmed by the number of people that approached me in airports to simply say thanks. The men and women in our armed forces don't do this for glory or recognition. Still, hearing those words from complete strangers really made me think that I could get through this. It made me remember the reasons I chose to be in the military. So, I'd ask that Islanders remember to support our soldiers. Regardless of how you may feel about the war, remember to appreciate the sacrifices of those who have to fight it. A simple gesture like shaking the hand of a soldier, or buying him a cup of coffee while you're sitting in Logan Airport on your way to a vacation, speaks volumes. Home has become a mythical place for those of us here. Reminding a soldier that home is worth it all really matters. I could be disgruntled about being away from my wife and children for the past 11 months, but I chose to serve and I can deal with it. Believe me, it wasn't easy to hear my son tell me every day I was home on leave that he didn't want me to go back. Knowing that what my family and I have been through is appreciated makes it worthwhile.

What are you looking forward to when you return to the Vineyard?

Because of this life I've chosen I've been home probably only a half-dozen times in the past 11 years. The last time I was home during the summer was 1995. My wife and I have been married six years and she finally saw the Island in the summer this past August, without me of course. I'd really like to spend some time with her and my children on the Vineyard in the summer months. Also, I miss the peace of fishing with my father like when I was young. We had our spot where we'd always go, cast our lines, and I'd get to hear my Dad tell me the same story about the one that got away time and again. It's been a long year. I'd like to go fishing.

Search on for missing SC couple

Posted on 12/11/2006 at 10:33 PM - 0 Comments - Link

Search on for missing SC couple
12/11/2006 3:02 PM
By: News 14 Carolina Staff

NEW YORK -- The search is on for a missing South Carolina couple.

Family members say Wayne and Dianne Guay were traveling from South Carolina to New York on I-95. No one has heard from the couple for three days.

State troopers say there has been no word of any accidents on the route which passes through North Carolina.

The couple's daughter says her parents were heading to Queens, New York from their home in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to celebrate her birthday and an early Christmas.

The daughter has her mother’s cell phone number but there is no answer.

The couple left home at 4 a.m. Wednesday morning and last spoke to family members that evening.

A clerk at a gas station in Virginia that the couple normally visits on their road trips does remember seeing the two early Wednesday morning.

If you have any information concerning the missing couple, you're asked to contact your local police department

Donations overflow after 100 toys stolen

Posted on 12/7/2006 at 6:20 PM - 0 Comments - Link

Donations overflow after 100 toys stolen

Howell police trying to track down thieves who swiped items intended for Toys for Tots charity.

Candice Williams / The Detroit News

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How to help

Those interested in donating can call (800) 964-2315.

Police are asking anyone with information on the theft to call the department at (517) 546-1300.
 

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HOWELL -- As police try to find who stole nearly 100 toys intended for Toys for Tots, the program has seen an outpouring of support from county residents and business members.

"People are coming out of the woodwork," said Gary Dunn, program coordinator. "My phone is just locking up. I'm getting so many calls."

The number of drop off locations has increased from 119 to 130 since the theft, Dunn said.

Businesses and schools that have opened their doors include Maple Tree Montessori Academy in Brighton Township and Castaway Cafi in Howell. Toys can be dropped off through Dec. 22.

Students at Scranton Middle School in Brighton will hold a contest to see which classroom can bring in the most toys.

"We felt we needed to do something," said Henry Vecchioni, principal of Scranton.

Chris Makowski, owner of Marcy's Dry Cleaning and Laundry in Howell, said he and his wife were initially just going to purchase some toys to donate, but decided to become a drop off location.

"I try to help when I can," he said. "I plan to put a sign up on the marquee that we're a Toys for Tots location. That should get more people to come in."

Howell police are trying to find out who stole the toys, with an estimated value of $2,000, from two trailers at the Salvation Army church at 503 Lake St. sometime last Thursday night.

"We've got a couple tips we're following up on," said Detective Jason Gadsby.

Makowski said the incident was unfortunate.

"Christmastime is for the kids," he said. "You wouldn't think that would happen in this area."

Delaying Technology Can Be Deadly

Posted on 11/28/2006 at 1:14 AM - 0 Comments - Link

Delaying Technology Can Be Deadly
November 02, 2006 02:22 PM EST

In sub-Saharan Africa and poor areas of Asia and Latin America, diarrhea isn¡¯t just a source of mild discomfort and juvenile bathroom humor. Because of unsanitary conditions, contaminated water and food infected by bacteria in feces used for fertilizer, people in those regions endure 4 billion episodes of severe diarrhea a year. Up to 2 million die annually.

Among children in the United States, acute diarrhea accounts for more than1.5 million outpatient visits, 200,000 hospitalizations, and 300 deaths a year. It imposes a multi-billion dollar burden on the US healthcare system.

But miracles of modern medical and agricultural science offer hope.

For years, glucose-based rehydration solutions (similar to Pedialyte) were used to treat diarrhea. They saved countless lives, by replacing lost salts, sugars and bodily fluids. However, even with the successful health outcomes, these solutions did not reduce the incidence or severity of childhood diarrhea.

Now Ventria Bioscience has developed an advanced solution that augments standard rehydration solutions, by adding protective human proteins (lactoferrin and lysozyme) found in all human saliva and breast milk.

A recent child health study demonstrated that the proteins cut the average duration of children¡¯s diarrhea by 30 percent (1.5 days), and patients were half as likely to get diarrhea again during the next twelve months. Equally important, Ventria produces the proteins in a special variety of rice, which makes its rehydration solution affordable, even for people in poor countries.

Ventria achieved its remarkable breakthrough by altering rice DNA and using rice plants as factories that utilize the sun, soil and water as raw materials to produce the proteins. The company extracts the proteins and adds them to rehydration solutions. Its success could convert one of the world¡¯s most essential foods into a valuable life saver.

In another achievement, SemBioSys Genetics created genetically engineered safflowers that produce insulin at commercial levels: an acre of safflower can produce a kilogram of insulin, enough for 2,500 patients. Fewer than 16,000 acres ¨C about 0.2% of what Iowa farmers devote to corn (maize) ¨C would cover projected 2010 world demand for insulin. With diabetes on the rise in India and elsewhere, this advance could be vital.

Syngenta is working on plant-based antibodies that fight infections and skin disease. Other scientists are enhancing plants to produce vaccines, hormones and enzymes that can treat HIV, cancer, heart and kidney disease, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, hepatitis, anthrax, West Nile virus and arthritis.

It costs around $1,000 to produce 1 gram (0.035 ounce) of protein from animal cells, making many such vaccines prohibitively costly for even the wealthiest countries, and completely out of reach for destitute countries. Producing the same amount from gene-altered plants would cost less than $20 ¨C and that means pharmaceutical companies will be able to put a higher priority on finding cures for rare and ¡°orphan¡± diseases across the globe.

But amazingly, instead of applauding these life-saving innovations, critics are attacking them. Luddite radicals like the Center for Food Safety, Union of Concerned Scientists and Greenpeace assert that this ¡°Frankenstein¡± technology tampers with nature and could ¡°contaminate¡± other crops. These groups are well funded by organic food interests and others who profit by attempting to scare the public. The European Union and organic food industries demand stringent, costly, unnecessary regulations that impose unconscionable delays and result in death for some of the world¡¯s most needy children.

Breeders have been improving plants for millennia, using a variety of genetic technologies. Plant biotechnology is simply a refinement of the earlier, cruder techniques. Today¡¯s researchers employ genetic technologies that are far more careful and precise ¨C and management practices that maintain closed production systems and virtually eliminate any risks of accidental cross-pollination and gene migration.

But none of these facts are persuasive to ¡°anti-humanists who put unfounded fear-mongering ahead of the world¡¯s children,¡± says Greenpeace co-founder Patrick Moore. Healthy, well-fed, safe from diseases that kill millions in other countries, with access to abundant clean water and electricity ¨C they obsess about purely speculative risks from technologies that could improve and save countless lives.

In so doing, they prolong disease risks for countless human beings. They throw roadblocks in the path of scientific and technological progress that so far has eluded the world¡¯s poor, even as it improved our own health, nutrition, living standards and life spans.

My personal experience with polio (luckily after receiving two Salk inoculations) made me eternally grateful that these ¡°ethicists¡± weren¡¯t around 50 years ago to stymie research and field trials of that vaccine. My generation can also count its blessings for treatments, antibiotics and other vaccines that have saved many of us and our children.

It is now the responsibility of our generation to protect children, the poor and future generations from mean-spirited Luddite groups that are paid to undermine our technological progress and humanity. It is time for legislators, regulators, judges and people of conscience to say ¡°enough.¡±

The world needs these miraculous technologies ¨C today. And those who support radical anti-biotech organizations need to understand that, by blocking healthcare innovations, they are perpetuating misery, disease and premature death in countries the world over. That is simply immoral.

Paul Driessen is senior fellow for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii, senior policy advisor for the Congress of Racial Equality and Center for the Defense of Free Enterprise, and author of Eco Imperialism: Green power ¡¤ Black death (www.Eco-Imperialism.com). His extensive report on La Oroya and Doe Run will be released in two weeks.

Sparkle Of Optimism

Posted on 4/19/2006 at 1:30 AM - 0 Comments - Link

Sparkle Of Optimism
 

By PAUL MARKS, Courant Staff Writer  Although gold prices were at their highest level in 25 years and still climbing Tuesday, Connecticut jewelers preparing for the season of class rings and June weddings said they expect sales to remain healthy.

Trading at more than $620 a troy ounce Tuesday, the price of gold has risen about 45 percent during the past year. But only part of that increase translates to the retail price of gold jewelry, Hartford-area jewelers said.

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High gold prices, if they persist, will add 10 percent to 15 percent to jewelry prices this summer, they said. Pieces already tagged and in display cases, in most instances, are not being marked up - at least for now.

"It's slowly filtering in," said Lewis Baribault III at Baribault Jewelers in Glastonbury, referring to the price increase. "A lot of times the market for gold will go up on a day-to-day basis, but it doesn't always affect [retail] prices."

Two factors mitigate the upward pressure, jewelers said.

First, the cost of gold rings, chains, watches and necklaces largely reflects the craftsmanship of the piece and the cost of any jewels set into it, along with the terms a retailer negotiated when buying it and other wares.

Items bought in large quantities typically get a volume discount from the wholesaler.

Second, 14-karat gold - the most common grade used in jewelry - is an alloy of 58 percent gold and 42 percent copper or nickel and other metals.

Pure gold, rated as 24-karat, is generally too soft for use in rings or watches.

Alloying the gold dilutes the effect of rising commodities prices, said Stanley Szwed, president of Swede's Jewelers, a family-owned shop in East Windsor.

For instance, class rings for high schools and colleges generally are only 10-karat gold, he noted, so non-precious metals make up 58 percent.

"The prices will not go up that much" unless gold continues to rise on the commodities market, Szwed said. "A lot of our [wholesale] companies, as gold fluctuates, they stay with the price list that they've had. When it goes up as much as it has lately, they might have to change those prices."

Market analysts say investors are pushing demand for gold up - and driving prices higher - because of perceived uncertainties in the global economy and worries that inflation may lower returns from other investments. Increased sales in the growing economies of India and China are also adding to worldwide demand.

Gold futures prices reached a historic high of $850 a troy ounce in 1980, then dropped to less than $300 in 2000-01. The price climbed steadily before surging past $500 in the past few months, according to figures from the World Gold Council.

The industry group says U.S. shoppers spent $17.7 billion on gold jewelry last year, up 4.3 percent from the previous year.

Platinum, also used in high-end jewelry, is on an upswing, as well. On the Nymex Tuesday, it was trading at more than $1,100 a troy ounce. Last year, platinum passed the $1,000-an-ounce mark for the first time since 1980.

Silver also has been up sharply in commodities trading, but it is far cheaper than gold or platinum. May silver contracts hit a high of $13.68 a troy ounce Tuesday, the highest level since 1983.

John Green, president of Lux Bond and Green, a West Hartford-based group of nine stores, said a customer who is prepared to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on jewelry, as many do, will hardly notice a 10 percent or 15 percent rise in price.

In part, that is because jewelry is only an occasional purchase for most people.

"At our end of the business, the high quality, we've seen little hesitation by the consumer because the consumer doesn't look at the price," Green said.

Should gold and platinum commodity prices rise even more, as some analysts predict, that would be "a cause of concern," he said.

Small jewelers with limited inventory, who must replenish their stock quickly and pay higher wholesale prices, would suffer most, he said.

Baribault said high gold prices are leading some shoppers to consider jewelry made of alternatives such as palladium and titanium.

Palladium, which was trading Tuesday at $365 a troy ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange, can replace nickel as an alloy in making white gold and produces a purer whiteness, he said.

"I guess you could say palladium is a great way to get the effect of platinum" at a much lower cost, he said.

Titanium, which has a grayish-white luster, is being used in some rings and watches. Szwed said that last week he sold a man a titanium wedding ring for $175 that would have cost $600 in gold.

"It's very light and durable," he said.

But Green offered a caution to male shoppers: Stick with gold, and don't expect women to take to titanium. "It's a guy's metal," he said. "I haven't found a woman yet who wants to wear titanium."