VOLUME 16 NO. 12 JANUARY 22 – FEBRUARY 4, 2021 SUBMIT STORIES TO: [email protected] FACEBOOK.COM/STRIPESPACIFIC FREE Asheville sailor STARTS JAN. 25 named top CSS-15 junior officer YOUR VOTE COUNTS!
BY PO2 KELSEY HOCKENBERGER, new year is upon us, and it’s time once again to And if you do, you may qualify to win a $300, $200 or SUBMARINE SQUADRON 15 turn your attention to the yearly tradition unlike $100 Exchange gift card. SANTA RITA – Lt. Matthew A any other – Best of the Pacific voting season! We at Stars and Stripes want to thank you for For the past 20 years, our annual Best Flores, assigned to the Los An- helping us make our community products Cellphone Provider geles-class fast-attack subma- of the Pacific magazine has been the ones that help you enjoy rine USS Asheville (SSN 758) authority on the best places YOU your stay in the Pacific. Off-Base Shopping was selected as the Command- need to go in the Pacific. How That’s what we’re all er, Submarine Squadron 15 Ju- do we know? Because you about. As we are nior Officer of the Year. told us so! fond of saying, our papers, Place to Buy a Car Flores, a native of Las Vegas, You’ve made your websites and Nevada, serves as the subma- voices heard over magazines “are Bowling Alley rine’s damage control assistant. the years, and in about you, for DentalD Clinic “My selection as Junior Offi- turn, informed you, and in cer of the Year is a big stepping fellow members some cases, stone for a tour of hard work Real Estate Agency of the military by you.” done every day,” said Flores. community like The votes “It’s great to be recognized yourselves of keep rolling in AFN Radio Personality as one of the Pacific’s year after the best best attractions, year and it’s amongst restaurants, On-Base Outdoor Rec all thanks by peers on festivals, Sunday to you! We the water- brunch, getaways Enlisted/Officers’ Club had a great front.” and more. A dedi- turnout in Have a favorite Off-Base Event cated lead- 2020, and we bowling alley that also er, Flores expect nothing just happens to serve the On-Base Restaurant was recog- best wings around? What short of a record nized for Off-Base Restaurant about that on-base lodging number of votes in Lt. Matthew Flores his work 2021. So, be sure to take during that goes above and beyond in ensuring you enjoy your stay? We want a minute or two and vote for Sunday Brunch Asheville’s 2020 Western Pacific your favorites so even more deployment, his quick thinking, to know what you like and most importantly, of you can experience the best the positive attitude, and tactical why you like it so much. On-Base Lodging Voting is quick, easy and you just might get your Pacific has to offer! abilities. Off-Base Lodging Flores was also selected name in the magazine. So, please take a few minutes to as one of only six naval offi- vote by going to bestofpacific.stripes.com. – Stars and Stripes staff Travel Agency cers accepted into the Wood’s Exchange Store / Mini Mart/ Express/ Marine Mart Military Resort Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. VOTE BY GOING TO: bestofpacific.stripes.com “I work to do my best every day and to the best of my abil- ity,” said Flores. “I hope this will be motiva- CTF-75 medical officer wins award tion to my colleagues in the wardroom and drive them to be BY PO2 COLE PIELOP, the best they can be.” close, and known’ to sailors and COVID-19 alternate sources of care. COMMANDER TASK FORCE 75 identify and quickly treat their response,” “While this is an individual areas of distress,” said award, it certainly wasn’t earned SANTA RITA – Lt. Neil Rampy, Rampy completed nearly 300 Rampy. “It in a bubble,” said Rampy. “I had the senior medical officer and one-on-one behavioral health en- was an all- the support of a fantastic CTF psychological health officer counters with service members hands ef- for Navy Expeditionary Forces 75 team, the mentorship and throughout the year. His close fort to re- peer support from many in Navy Command Pacific-Commander, attention to sailor’s behavioral spond and Medicine, and – most of all – the Task Force 75, was awarded health exacerbated by the CO- adapt to support and understanding from Navy Medicine’s Clinical Social VID-19 pandemic and restric- the crisis.” my wife and our kids. My fam- Work Officer of the Year for 2020. tion of movement quarantine Lt. Neil Rampy Rampy “I preserve our force’s psy- orders resulted in a 99 percent implement- ily understood that this was a chological readiness while the fit for full duty and a worldwide ed tele-health programs to reach year in which we all had to make CTF 75 mission continues,” said deployable rate among 1,200 patients during this unprec- sacrifices. My wife jokes that I Rampy. “I provide confidential deployed and forward-deployed edented era of social distancing have a few gray hairs after this one-on-one screening and coun- naval forces. and integrated with local behav- year, but I don’t mind - I earned seling. The aim is to be ‘quick, “I’m most proud of our ioral health resources to provide them!” 2 STRIPES GUAM A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC JANUARY 22 − FEBRUARY 4, 2021
Year of Ox offers optimistic look Chinese Horoscope at 2021 after dreadful 2020
BY DAVE ORNAUER, faithful wives and parents, who put great em- Max D. Lederer Jr. STARS AND STRIPES Publisher phasis on their children’s educations. Yet the oxen can be stubborn. They work Lt. Col. Richard E. McClintic he turning of the page from a year bygone Commander maybe too much, have a tough time relaxing and to a new year brings with it new hope and Chris Verigan tend to forget meals, which may cause intestinal optimism, especially after what we expe- Engagement Director T problems. Solutions: Regular diet and rest. https://www.thechinesezodiac. Marie Woods rienced in 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic org/chinese-horoscope-2021- Colors considered lucky for those born in the Publishing and Media Design Director turned life as we know it pretty much upside year-of-the-metal-ox Chris Carlson down. year of the Ox are white, green and yellow; blue Publishing and Media Design Manager At least according to the Chinese Zodiac, 2021 is considered unlucky. Eric Lee Peach blossoms and tulips are thought to be Advertising and Circulation Manager could be a harbinger of good things to come, a lucky flowers, as well as numbers 1 and 4 and Monte Dauphin very welcome sign after all the trials and diffi- Guam Area Manager culties endured during the last 12 months. numbers containing each, like 14 and 41; 5 and 6 Kentaro Shimura Welcome to the Year of the Ox, the second of are considered unlucky. North and south are said Production Manager the 12 zodiac signs: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Drag- to be lucky directions, while southwest is consid- Rie Miyoshi ered unlucky. Engagement Manager on, Serpent, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog Signs considered best matched for those born Denisse Rauda and Boar. Publishing and Media Design Editor Technically, the Year of the Ox does not be- in the year of the Ox are the rat, monkey and Publishing and Media Design Writers gin until the Chinese or Lunar rooster; the worst matched signs ChiHon Kim Shoji Kudaka New Year, which this year falls on EXCLUSIVE NEWS FROM: are the tiger, dragon, horse and Takahiro Takiguchi Feb. 12 and lasts through Jan. 31, goat. Layout Designers Among the many famous (or in Mamoru Inoue 2022, but it’s generally observed Yukiyo Oda on Jan. 1 according to the western some cases infamous) people who Yuko Okazaki Kayoko Shimoda calendar. Previous years of the Ox were born in the Year of the Ox Multimedia Consultants have been 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997 and were: Max Genao Doug Johnson Napoleon (1769), Adolf Hitler (1889), Walt Chinese Zodiac Sign Jason Lee Hans Simpson 2009, and the next one will be 2033. Chae Pang Yi Gianni Youn According to thechinesezodiac.org, the Year Disney (1901), British Prime Minister Marga- Robert Zuckerman of the Ox will be a lucky one and is also perfect ret Thatcher (1925), presidents Gerald Ford and Graphic Designers Kenichi Ogasawara Yosuke Tsuji to focus on relationships, whether friendships Richard Nixon (both in 1913) and Barack Obama Sales Support or love, and when hard work will be rewarded. (1961), Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein (1937), Kazumi Hasegawa Hiromi Isa Those zodiac signs lucky in terms of money will actor-filmmaker Charlie Chaplin (1889), actors Ichiro Katayanagi Yoko Noro Yusuke Sato Saori Tamanaha be ones who make a considerable effort. George Clooney (1961), Richard Gere (1949), Toshie Yoshimizu Un Chong Yu The Chinese zodiac describes oxen as crea- Meryl Streep (1949), Morgan Freeman and Distributors Joe Guzman tures known for dependability, strength, deter- Dustin Hoffman (1937), artist Vincent Van Gogh John Wesley mination and diligence. (1853) and Princess Diana (1961). https://www.chinahighlights. For feedback and inquiries, Male oxen are strongly patriotic, according But whatever sign you are, a very happy and contact [email protected] com/travelguide/chinese- to the zodiac; they have ideals and ambitions for blessed New Year to each and every one of you! zodiac/ox.htm To place an ad, call 355-5160 life and attach great importance to family and [email protected] guam.stripes.com/contact work. Female oxen are known to be traditional, Twitter @daveornauer JANUARY 22 − FEBRUARY 4, 2021 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC STRIPES GUAM 3
R 2019 WIINNER 4 STRIPES GUAMM A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PAPACIFICCIFIC JANUARYY 22 − FEBRUARYY 4, 2021
www.guampedia.com
S r) y e n b a um p uc t C ld Sea alate’ ( Se B a Cu cum be r Balåti SplkedSplSpSp kededed BaBalate’latatte’ Sea stars, u d rchins an other echinoderms of Gu
BY ALEXANDER M. KERR, GUAMPEDIA Reproduction Rich reef life development Echinoderms are members of a phylum (i.e., Most animals inhabit a major group) of common, often large and col- lands are broadcast spa orful shallow-water invertebrates seen on the including most echinod annually or biannually e reefs around Guam. The phylum is comprised and sperm are released of five classes: sea stars, sea urchins, sea cu- the eggs are fertilized. cumbers, brittle stars and sea lilies. The first the water column, drif three classes need little introduction and have plankton, feeding and g been recognized since ancient times. phosis into a miniature Brittle stars resemble starfish, but their ment onto the reef. Ea arms are thin and can writhe independently. has a distinctive larva Deepwater sea lilies resemble their namesake, tal times may be longe stalked with their petal-like arms spread into broadcast spawning spe the current. The shallow-water cousins of days for those, like the the sea lilies are stalkless, and often go by the saken a feeding Odyssea name of feather stars and may be seen by div- ers at night perched atop coral heads. These Ecology five classes are united under the phylum Echi- Guam echinoderms nodermata (from the Greek for “spiny-skinned butions around the isla ones”) by the presence of hydraulically pow- restricted to the shallow Crown of Thorns ered tube-feet, an internal skeleton of crystal- may be particularly ab line chalk, and the unique ability to change must be able to tolerat their skin from leather hard to gelatinous ooze are called balåti. Neither of these terms are coral cuts to stem bleeding. there, where water tem at will. translatable. No Chamorro names for sea lil- over 40 C (120 F) duri Cultural history ies or feather stars has been identified, perhaps Diversity and systematics where salinity may dr because in Guam waters, the animals are un- There are more than 200 species of echi- percent of that of ambie Throughout Micronesia, sea urchins are common, nocturnal and restricted to deeper noderms known to inhabit the shallow waters rain runoff. collected and their gonadsnads eaten. Their reef slopesslopes.. around Guam. There are about thirty-six spe- Common reef-flat sp skeletons, called tests, are knownknown EEconomically,conomi sea cucumbers blue sea star Linckia lae cies of sea stars, fifty-three sea urchins, forty- from the refuse middensdens of aarere the most important echino- spined sea urchin, Diad seven sea cucumbers, forty-seven brittle stars prehistoric Chamorros,, susug-g- dderms.erm They are a gourmet black, sand-covered sea and twenty-one sea lilies. While echinoderms gesting that the animalsmals ffoodoo item in northern Asia atra. This latter spec are relatively well known for invertebrates, were also eaten in thehe aand several commer- densities of 20/m2 on new species, even large, plentiful ones, are con- Marianas. Sea cucum-- cially valuable species facing reef flats. Some stantly being discovered on coral reefs, includ- bers are also eaten on were exported from mottled chestnut sea ing those around Guam. other Micronesian Guam by the Chinese mauritiana or the plated islands today, but during the Spanish Currently, there are at least a dozen species trotus mertensi prefer t there is no evidence and American admin- that have been found recently around Guam reef margin. of these animals istrations of the island that cannot be identified to species and may be Other species, such from archaeological in the 19th and early new to science. ies, are restricted to th deposits, though it is 20th centuries. A red While new species of echinoderms have been and may only be seen a doubtful that anyonee secretion from the skin discovered around Guam, very few, if any, are SCUBA. Occasional la has thought to look. of a common black spe- likely to be restricted to the island or the Mari- storms and typhoons m The other three classesses ciciese Holothuria atra is still ana Archipelago, as nearly all species have po- fewer large echinoderm of echinoderms have toooo lilit-t- uusedsed on Guam to evict octo- tentially widely dispersed eggs and larvae. The facing windward shores tle flesh to be eaten. Chamorrohamorro F n ppusus ffromrom their holes. Another most common family of tropical sea stars, the lowe Lå’o call the sea stars and bbrittlei l stars ry Urchin, species, Bohadschia argus, releases Ophidiasteridae, have fifteen representatives This is a reprint fro puti’on tåsi, which means “star of the sea.” sticky, white collagen tubules (“bubblegum on Guam, including the distinctive large, blue online resource about Sea urchins go by lå’on, while sea cucumbers balåti”) when disturbed that are placed over Linckia laevigata, often seen while wading. CHamoru people, used h JANUARY 22 − FEBRUARY 4, 2021 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC STRIPES GUAM 5
BY ALEXANDER M. KERR, in the family Partulidae from the genera Partula and Sa- GUAMPEDIA moana. The first Partula described from the Mariana Islands, Partula gibba, is the most widely distributed acific Islands, including the Mariana in the archipelago. Another species, Partula ra- Islands, often have many small na- diolata, is endemic to, and still widely distributed Ptive snails. Many of the species in the within, the largest and southernmost island of Marianas are unique to the archipelago, Guam. Another species, Partula salifana was dis- or even to only one of the islands. Some of covered in the forests surrounding the summit of these snails live in trees in the moist and Mt. Alifan of Guam. The fourth species, shaded forests, while others live in the moss P. langfordi is restricted to the tiny island and leaf litter of the forest floor. Guam has oof Aguiguan. The fifth Marianas partulid, about 100 species of land snails, although Giant African Snail SSamoana fragilis, is known from northern about twenty of these have probably been in- GGuam and Rota. troduced. Current decline Cultural history Across the Pacific, there is an ongo- i In the Chamorro language, land snails in general are called inging and unprecedented rate of extinctions åt al B akaleha’. Land snails appear not to have been used as food or ddocumentedoc for native snail species. Sadly, ber Spo cum used in material culture, given their absence from the archeo- tted Sea Cu Rice tree Snail on Guam ththee same holds true for the snail fauna of logical record and oral culture. Intriguingly, someme snails spread thet Mariana Islands, where the numbers of through the Pacific by hitching a ride on ancient ccanoesanoes and nenearlyear all species have declined precipitously cargo. Archeological research indicates that severaleveral duringdurin the latter half of the 20th century. Many m widely distributed snails repeatedly show up on speciesspec have not been seen alive in half a cen- ua islands at about the same time as did the earliestest tury,tu some, in fact, not since the publication human inhabitants. The same pattern appears to ofo their original descriptions. hold true for the Mariana Islands. The cause of the declines in the Marian- The first Europeans to collect the land snails as are primarily due to habitat destruction of the Mariana Islands were Jean-René Con- anda the imprudent introductions of general- stant Quoy and Joseph Paul Gaimard, the sci- isti predators such as the gastropods snails and entists aboard the French naval vessel Uranie, – Gonaxis species and Euglandina rosea to Captain Louis Claude de Freycinet command- controlc yet another invasive gastropod, the ing, which stopped on Guam in April of 1819 dur-r- agraagricultural pest Achatina fulica, the giant ting tropical oceanic is- ing its circumnavigation of the world during thethe Akaleha’ bracelet AfricanAfA land snail. In unparalleled biological awners. These species, years 1817 to 1820. The only recorded use for landand irony,iro these predators, as well as their endemic derms on Guam, spawn snails was an apparently relatively recent practice–to prey,p have now fallen prey to the introduction en masse at night. Eggs bead the large and colorful Partula snails into purses of the generalist predatory flatworm Platydemas d into the water, where for export and sale to tourists. This practice is of manokwari. The worm appears to have also The larvae will stay in uncertain origin, but one that apparently ceased essentially eliminated the introduced snail fting amongst the other after World War II and as Partula became rarer predators, but still decimates native spe- growing, until metamor- on the heavily populated larger islands after the cies. e adult form and settle- mid-20th century. The upshot is that the forests of the ach class of echinoderm southern Marianas are now nearly devoid al form. Developmen- of native snail species, including on most islands the iconic and once prolific Partula. er than a month among Diversity and systematics Declines of partulids have been of the or- ecies or as short as a few Land snails belong to two main evolutionary or der that the two Marianas Partula having the sea lilies, that have for- taxonomic groups, the informal group Pulmonata most restricted distributions–Partula salifana an larvae. (formerly a taxonomic order), that is, the lung-bear- and Partula langfordi, are now undoubtedly ex- ing snails, and the clade Caenogastropoda (formerly a tinct,ti and Partula radiolata is probably re- Courtesy photos taxonomic superorder), a large group of primarily Akaleha’ product display ducedd on Guam to a few thousand animals. have distinctive distri- marine snails that all retain the ancestral gills of their EvenE Partula gibba no longer occurs in vast and. Some species are marine gastropod or snail cousins. areas off itsi formerlyf l broadb range; on Guam, it probably exists as a w reef flats, where they The shell-less slugs are all members of the air-breathing pulmo- few hundred animals. bundant. These species nate family, but several slug groups have independently evolved As a result of the carnage wrought by the foolish introduction of te the harsh conditions through the partial or complete loss of their shell. The land snails the predatory worm, the faded, pocked and empty shells of Partula mperatures may reach of the Indo-west Pacific are not at all well documented. In the Mari- and other snails now litter Guam’s forests. They will soon erode ing spring low tides or ana Islands, there are about 110 known distinct species, and even and fragment, such that most evidence of their existence will be rop to only twenty-five a couple of dozen of these still require formal scientific names and gone forever in another decade or so. ent seawater because of descriptions. Many of the Mariana Island species have only been collected from the southern islands of Saipan, Tinian, Rota and This is a reprint from Guampedia.com, an online resource Guam. The fauna of the northern islands remains the least known. about Guam history and the CHamoru people, used here with ecies include the large The best-known snails in the Mariana Islands are the tree snails permission. evigata, the black, long- dema setosum, and the a cucumber Holothuria cies sometimes reaches some protected, west- species like the white- cucumber Actinopyga d sea urchin Colobocen- the wave-battered outer
as many of the sea lil- e deeper forereef slope at night with the aid of arge waves from severe may also account for the ms seen on shallow, east- s. Production of Akaleha’ products om Guampedia.com, an Guam history and the here with permission. 6 STRIPES GUAM A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC JANUARY 22 − FEBRUARY 4, 2021
GUAM VIRTUAL TOUR Creation Point
GUAM VISITORS BUREAU Fu’una admired all they had created, and with her power she troll through the cultural- made the earth bloom. In her ly rich village roads of the final gift to the world, Fu’una S south or take a dip in the threw her body into the earth island’s most well-known natu- and transformed into a tower- ral pool – all from the comfort of ing limestone pillar, from which your screen! the first humans In one of emerged. Because Guam’s most the stone marked enduring leg- the final resting ends, Puntan and place of the god- Fu’una are the brother and sister dess Fu’una, the gods of creation ancient Chamorro who sacrificed people believed themselves to cre- the stone held ate the universe. mystical healing At her broth- powers. er’s request, Videos Today, the pil- Fu’una used her of Fu’a lar is known as spirit to divide Fouha Rock (also Puntan’s body and called Creation use it to create Point) and it sits the universe. With his back she at the point of a secluded bay in made the earth, with his chest the southern village of Umatac. she made the sky. One of his eyes Fouha Rock has been a designat- became the sun, and the other ed National Natural Landmark became the moon. With his eye- with the National Parks Service brows she made rainbows. since 1972. G.A.I.N. Pet of the Week
Pappy A sweet pup looking to meet a new family.
Call G.A.I.N. (Guam Animals In Need) Animal Shelter in Yigo at 653-4246 or visit
Stripes Guam is A Stars and Stripes Community to remote and isolated locations where overseas DOD Publication. This newspaper is authorized for publication personnel are located. The appearance of advertising in by the Department of Defense for members of the this publication, including inserts or supplements, does military services overseas. However, the contents not constitute endorsement of those products by the of Stripes Guam are unofficial, and are not to be Department of Defense or Stars and Stripes. Products considered as the official views of, or endorsed by, the or services advertised in this publication shall be made U.S. government, including the Department of Defense available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard or the U.S. Pacific Command. As a DOD newspaper, to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital Stripes Guam may be distributed through official status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any channels and use appropriated funds for distribution other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. JANUARY 22 − FEBRUARY 4, 2021 A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC STRIPES GUAM 7 Boonie Stomps Guam
INFORMATION PROVIDED BY GUAM BOONIE STOMPERS
Jan. 23 Difficult Anao 5 hours for 4 miles
We descend the northeastern cliff to the isolated, beautiful coastline of northeast Guam. We walk along the coastal cliffs, visit the push/suck cave to swim, the wave cave, Shangri-la, the wind tunnel, and land’s end with its blowhole. Bring: 4 quarts water, hiking boots, sun screen, sunglasses, lunch and snacks, and camera. Special conditions: Hiking over rough sharp rocks, climbing steep slopes and boulders, little shade, and a long ascent at the end.
Jan. 30 Very Difficult Cross Island Hike 6 hours for 5 miles Tarzan Falls Only Medium 3 hours for 2 miles Crossword by Margie E. Burke
1234 56789 10 11 12 13 Two separate hikes starting at the same place. Tarzan Falls Only is a ACROSS 1 Got a perfect great family hike that visits three big waterfalls, including swimming 14 15 16 score Anao and jumping. The very difficult Cross Island hike continues on to 5 Divvy up 17 18 19 Lower Sigua Falls and is only for experienced hikers. 10 Judge's order Every Saturday, Guam Boonie Bring: 2 quarts water (4 quarts), hiking shoes, gloves, 20 21 22 14 Wild hog Stompers offers public hikes to swimsuit, sun screen, insect repellent, lunch (and a variety of destinations such 15 Cashless deal 23 24 25 snacks), and camera. 16 Put in a position as beaches, snorkeling sites, Special conditions (Medium): short steep 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 waterfalls, mountains, caves, latte 17 "So what ___ is slopes, mud, slippery trail. Boonie Stomps new?" sites, and World War II sites. We 34 35 36 37 38 Special conditions (Very difficult): 18 "Crying" singer meet at 9:00 AM in the Center 10 Sword grass, long very steep 20 Info bank 39 40 41 Court of Chamorro Village in slopes, walking in water, little 22 _____ of truth Hagatna. The cost is $5.00 for 42 43 44 shade, and a very long hike. Complete 23 Sitter's head- hikers over 17. Children must be to earn a Boonie T-Shirt! Stomp ache 45 46 47 48 49 accompanied by a responsible 24 Rider's handful Stomp Tips: 50 51 52 53 adult. Hikers should provide 1) Alcohol and hiking do not mix. 26 "Gosh!" their own transportation. Guam’s 2) Do not bring beverages with caffeine on hikes. 28 Night flier 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 trails are not developed. Weather 3) Bring plenty of water with you on hikes. 30 Consecrates conditions can make the hikes 4) When hiking, lots of little snacks are better than one big meal. 61 62 63 5) Always carry a well stocked personal first aid kit. with oil more difficult than described. No 6) Carry a couple of extra shoelaces in your first aid kit. 34 Frank or Joe of 64 65 66 reservations required. They have many uses. kids' books For more information: 7) Always bring a small flashlight in case you get lost, or delayed. 36 Spanish flower 67 68 69 www.facebook.com/ Save your phone battery for calls. 8) Do not hike alone and let someone know where 38 Word in a Paul Copyright 2021 by The Puzzle Syndicate GuamBoonieStompersInc you are going and your return time. Newman prison or call 787-4238. 9) Carrying a loud whistle can help others find you if you get lost. film title DOWN 33 Frozen rain 53 Mower's path 39 Leer at 1 Bead anagram 35 Set boundaries 54 Rather sugges- 40 Kind of engineer 2 Pepsi or RC 37 Egg cells tive 41 Hathaway of 3 Locale of a 40 Garden of the 55 Bluish hue Hollywood bygone wall Gods state 56 ____ and void 42 Like some 4 Gloomy, in 44 Parodied 58 Pitch-black chances poetry 46 Explosive sound 59 Hollywood Blvd 43 Cameo shape 5 Rock layers 48 Narrow side sight 44 Unescorted 6 Major-leaguers streets 60 Bicycle part 45 Not easily 7 Cake section 51 Trough diners 62 Chest protector? debunked 8 Wedding words 47 Go on and on 9 Airport building Answers to Previous Crossword: 49 Safety device 10 Playfully eccen- 50 Alex Haley saga tric ACHE GALA ABHOR 52 Not as much 11 Greet the day LOAN ADAM GRAPE 54 Ill will 12 Chipping choice TART RASP RURAL 57 Setting for many 13 Circus structure ACRONYMS GENT LY shootouts 19 One-named RHYME SO I REE 61 Blue-green gem rocker BETA NESTEGG Stripes Sports Trivia 63 Pro's foe 21 Pampered one? GYM DENUDE TA I L 64 Extremist sect 25 With little effort LOOT ADMI T ERGO 65 Pint-sized 26 Whoopi's Oscar OGRE SLAVES NOW SAY MY NAME! I don’t know how to put this. I’m kind of a big deal. People know me. Well, soccer 66 Bygone despot film PANACHE IRIS people for sure. My U.S. soccer career, paired with my MLS run, is pretty remarkable. I might not have 67 Where Bill met 27 Top scout SHORTS LLAMA PDQ\OHDWKHUERXQGERRNV RUPD\EH,GR EXW,GH¿QLWHO\KDYHDQ093WURSK\QDPHGDIWHUPH:KRDP," Hillary 29 Hot-dish holder TR I PUP AIRLINER 68 Heeds a 31 Strictly business AARON ELBA DORM command 32 Heavy metric CROOK ALLY EDGE
69 ____ and now weight KENNY RYES REED Answer Donovan Landon
68'2.8 (GLWHGE\0DUJLH(%XUNH 'LIILFXOW\ (DV\ ,KtdK^K>s ͗ ĂĐŚƌŽǁŵƵƐƚĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƚŚĞ ŶƵŵďĞƌƐϭƚŽϵ͖ĞĂĐŚĐŽůƵŵŶŵƵƐƚ ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƚŚĞŶƵŵďĞƌƐϭƚŽϵ͖ĂŶĚ ĞĂĐŚƐĞƚŽĨϯďLJϯďŽdžĞƐŵƵƐƚ ĐŽŶƚĂŝŶƚŚĞŶƵŵďĞƌƐϭƚŽϵ͘ Answers to Previous Sudoku: &RS\ULJKWE\7KH3X]]OH6\QGLFDWH 8 STRIPES GUAM A STARS AND STRIPES COMMUNITY PUBLICATION 75 YEARS IN THE PACIFIC JANUARY 22 − FEBRUARY 4, 2021 Volume 7 Edition 25 ©SS 2021 JANUARY 22, 2021
New Arctic angle
Navy releases strategy calling for more activity in the region amid competition from Russia, China Page 2
The crew of the Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut enjoys ice liberty after surfacing in the Arctic Circle during Ice Exercise (ICEX) 2020 in March.
MICHAEL B. ZINGARO / U.S. Navy PAGE 2 •STARS AND S TRIPES • Friday, January 22, 2021
COVER STORY Navy looks to further utilize Arctic region BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY Stars and Stripes WASHINGTON — The U.S. Navy released its strategy earlier this month on how the service plans to become more active in the Arctic as the region opens up to more economic and military competition from Russia and China. “In the face of increasing ag- gressive activity in the high north from both Russia, which is an Arctic nation, and China, which claims to be a near Arctic nation, we in the United States must maintain a favorable balance of power in this region for ourselves and for our allies,” Navy Secre- tary Kenneth Braithwaite told reporters ahead of the docu- ment’s release. With more navigable waters due to melting sea ice, the Navy’s strategy refers to the region as a “Blue Arctic.” Russia and China, both nations mentioned in the 2018 National Defense Strategy as “great-power” competitors with the United States, have increased their military and MIKE DEMELLO/U.S. Navy economic presence in the Arctic The Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut surfaces in the Arctic Circle during Ice Exercise 2020. in recent years due to the open- ing of arctic waters, the Navy Braithwaite, Adm. Michael Gil- earth minerals,” the document that the current situation re- reopening and rebuilding bases. said. day, the chief of naval operations, states. quires,” he said. Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, “Without sustained American and Gen. David Berger, the com- Russia has been reopening old The Navy document also states an advocate for increased mil- naval presence and partnerships mandant of the Marine Corps, military bases and moving forces the U.S. has a limited window of itary presence in the Arctic, in the Arctic region, peace and and it lays out the economic and there, and it operates a large opportunity to reassert itself in praised the strategy in a state- prosperity will be increasingly military necessity of a greater icebreaker fleet. China is in- the region through increased ment, saying the country needs to challenged by Russia and China, Navy presence in the Arctic in creasing its shipbuilding and port presence and partnerships. better protect its sovereignty and whose interests and values differ the next two decades. infrastructure in the region. The “Left uncontested, incremental homeland in the north. dramatically from ours,” accord- About 90% of trade travels document also states that the gains from increased aggression “Although I believe the depart- ing to the 25-page document. across the oceans, and that is U.S. Navy expects to see more and malign activities could result ment’s new blueprint lacks some The U.S. is an Arctic nation expected to double within 15 Chinese naval deployments in in a fait accompli, with long-term of the urgency needed to drive and has maintained a presence years, according to the Navy the Arctic, both on the surface strategic benefits for our compet- the development of critical capa- there for decades, including document. The Arctic has the and underwater. itors,” the document states. bilities that are required to effec- submarines and the U.S. Coast potential to “connect nearly 75% In his previous position as U.S. In the next 20 years, the Navy tively compete with our rivals in Guard’s icebreakers. The Navy’s of the world’s population” as ice ambassador to Norway, Braith- will increase participation in the Arctic, it rightfully acknowl- recently reestablished 2nd Fleet melts and trade routes open up waite said that he saw the in- exercises, port calls and training edges the need to evolve our and 6th Fleet also operate and shorter routes to and from Asia, creased presence of the Chinese of its personnel, the document forces to more adeptly project participate in exercises with Europe and North America. at a northern Arctic port due to states. and sustain naval power through- other Arctic countries in the The area also has an “estimat- more open trade routes. Braithwaite also said the Navy out the high latitudes,” he said. region, according to the docu- ed 30% of the world’s undiscov- “So that presence is formid- is looking at sharing infrastruc- ment, which was referred to by ered national gas reserves, 13% able. And the U.S. Navy…alth- ture at bases that are already officials as a “blueprint.” of global conventional oil re- ough we’ve operated up there, we located in the region by other [email protected] The strategy was signed by serves and [$1 trillion] in rare have not had the kind of presence services or countries instead of Twitter: @caitlinmkenney Top officer of Navy pays visit to Nimitz group BY JOHN VANDIVER gives any potential adversary pause,” the U.S. military in a revenge attack con- On Dec. 21, the Navy also announced a Stars and Stripes Gilday said in a statement after meeting nected to the death of Maj. Gen. Qassim similar maneuver by the Ohio-class sub- STUTTGART, Germany — The Navy’s with sailors aboard the USS John Paul Suleimani, who was killed in a U.S. air- marine USS Georgia, which transited the top officer visited a warship in the Persian Jones, part of the Nimitz group. strike last year in Iraq. Strait of Hormuz with cruisers USS Port Gulf recently after ongoing tensions with Gilday’s visit to the region came two “I’ve spoken with Nimitz Strike Group Royal and USS Philippine Sea. The USS Iran led the Pentagon to extend an aircraft weeks after the Pentagon ordered the leadership and they understand the mis- Georgia carries up to 154 Tomahawk land- carrier group’s deployment to the region. Nimitz group to stay in the Middle East, sion, expectations and why they are need- attack cruise missiles and also can be used Adm. Mike Gilday, chief of naval oper- reversing an earlier decision to send the ed in the region right now,” Gilday said. to carry special operations forces. ations, met with members of the Nimitz carrier home. Acting Defense Secretary In recent weeks, the U.S. has been flex- Iran’s navy also was displaying its capa- Carrier Strike Group during his two-day Christopher Miller said this was due to ing its muscles in the area. On Jan. 14, bilities last week, testing short-range mis- visit and also held talks with officials in threats issued by Iranian leaders against Iranian media posted footage that ap- siles in the Gulf of Oman as it showcased Bahrain, home to 5th Fleet headquarters. President Donald Trump and other U.S. peared to show a U.S. Navy submarine two new warships. “The work they do every day helps us government officials. operating near the Strait of Hormuz, a provide security and stability and demon- The Nimitz’s extended mission coinci- strategic chokepoint for global oil suppli- [email protected] strates a maritime combat prowess that ded with concerns that Iran could target es. Twitter: @john_vandiver Friday, January 22, 2021 •STARS AND S TRIPES • PAGE 3
MILITARY High court to hear case seeking Navy help to clean dump
BY CAITLIN DOORNBOS and Stripes reported in March Stars and Stripes 2017. The U.S. Supreme Court will “Guam is left on the hook for hear arguments this spring in all of the costs — more than $160 Guam’s quest to get the Navy to million — of cleaning up a waste help pay to clean up a dump the site that the United States Navy service used for three decades, itself created and then used to the court announced. dump toxic wastes for decades The case, filed in 2017, says the going back to World War II,” Navy should foot the $160 million according to Guam’s petition in bill to remediate Ordot Dump — October to the Supreme Court. or “at least pay its fair share of “That figure is a staggering the cleanup costs,” according to sum for the people of Guam, court documents. alone comprising nearly a fifth of The landfill, which leaked its total annual budget,” it contin- waste into the Lonfit River and ued. “Meanwhile, the United two of its tributaries, was under States, which indisputably is a Navy and U.S. government su- responsible party, gets off scot- pervision before World War II free.” Pixabay until it was given to Guam in the Guam brought the suit under Guam’s quest to get the Navy to help pay a $160 million bill to clean up Ordot Dump has reached the U.S. early 1970s. the Comprehensive Environ- Supreme Court. The United States in 2002 sued mental Response, Compensation Guam under the Clean Water Act and Liability Act, “which allows to have Ordot cleaned, according parties to recover remediation “Guam is left on the hook for all of the costs — more to court documents. The parties costs from other responsible settled in 2004, leaving Guam to parties within six years of the than $160 million — of cleaning up a waste site that the pay a penalty, design and install initiation of a remedial action,” a cover and close the dump. according to the petition. United States Navy itself created ...” Cleanup began in 2013, when A federal district court in Con- petition to Supreme Court Ordot closed. necticut ruled the suit could Guam’s lawsuit argues the proceed, a decision reversed by years. eral Leevin Taitano Camacho for review — about 70 of the Navy should help pay for the the appellate court in Washing- Guam turned to the Supreme said in a Dec. 8 statement. “This 7,000-8,000 petitions filed an- cleanup and fixing the envi- ton, D.C. The appellate court Court to decide whether the shows that issues are significant nually, according to Camacho’s ronmental damage, “which in- ruled that the 2002 settlement settlement triggered that provi- locally and nationally and we statement. Arguments are ex- cluded capping the landfill, in- between Guam and the U.S. sion. look forward to presenting our pected to begin in April. stalling stormwater management triggered a provision in the Clean “We are pleased that the Su- arguments to the court.” ponds, discharge water storage Water Act that reduced the statu- preme Court has agreed to hear The Supreme Court accepts [email protected] tanks and a sewer line,” Stars te of limitations from six to three this case,” Guam Attorney Gen- less than 1% of cases submitted Twitter: @CaitlinDoornbos Reservist finds missing girl atop roof after search on Guam BY MATTHEW M. BURKE Command officials in Hawaii Stars and Stripes “We ... just happened to shine a light on the roof at and Guam who did not immedi- An Army Reservist on Guam ately return phone messages and earned his unit’s recognition for the same time she had poked her head up.” emails seeking comment. finding a child who went missing “Sgt. Robinett is responsible, for several hours in Yigo late Sgt. Cody Robinett dedicated, and loyal,” Robinett’s last month. initial assess- the statement said. He is licens- which had been previously boss, Maj. Howard Santiago Jr., Sgt. Cody Robinett, of the ment before we ed as a National Registry Emer- searched that afternoon, the said in the statement. “Selfless 3303rd Mobilization Support got her off the gency Medical Technician and statement said. service is not something that just Battalion, first heard about the roof.” an amateur radio operator. “We were near the back side stops when you take off the mil- missing girl through a WhatsApp The girl was Robinett was in Yigo when the of the house and just happened itary uniform, and Sgt. Robinett group chat on Dec. 28, according handed over to message went out about the to shine a light on the roof at the is a true testament to that.” to a 9th Mission Support Com- the local fire missing girl, the statement said. same time she had poked her For their role in the rescue, mand statement. department in Her last known location was head up,” Robinett said. “We Robinett thanked the Guam fire Robinett He immediately joined the Yigo for a full nearby. were unclear if it was her; how- and police departments, the search and, more than five hours evaluation, he said. Robinett reached out to au- ever, there was a kid on the roof, statement said. later, found the girl atop the roof Robinett, who holds a civilian thorities for directions to that so we investigated and verified it “In a time of need, many came of her family’s home. position at Guam’s Andersen Air location, the statement said. He was her.” together and offered their sup- “I could tell she was scared Force Base as a supply tech- and a neighbor met up with first Robinett could not be reached port, and that is what makes this when we found her,” Robinett nician for the 734th Air Mobility responders and volunteered to for comment. Joint Region Mar- island so great,” he said. said in the statement. “She ap- Squadron, also serves as a trans- assist. ianas spokesman Navy Lt. Cmdr. peared to be in good health, and portation management coor- He was asked to re-scan the Rick Moore referred Stars and [email protected] I was only able to conduct an dinator in the Army Reserves, area around the child’s home, Stripes to 9th Mission Support Twitter: @MatthewMBurke1 PAGE 4 •STARS AND S TRIPES • Friday, January 22, 2021 Friday, January 22, 2021 •STARS AND S TRIPES • PAGE 5
MILITARY Alabama’s Redstone Arsenal to house Space Command HQ BY COREY DICKSTEIN was established in August 2019. Stars and Stripes The Air Force confirmed Red- The Air Force has chosen Ala- stone’s selection Jan. 13. The bama’s Redstone Arsenal to house decision is contingent on a re- the 1,400-member U.S. Space quired environmental impact Command Headquarters, service study and could be finalized by and state officials said. 2023, the Air Force said in a state- Outgoing Air Force Secretary ment. Barbara Barrett selected Red- Ivey said the Huntsville re- stone this month “as the preferred gion’s reputation for supporting location” for SPACECOM, Air the military and its vast history of Force officials said. Service offi- involvement in space operations CAROLYN KASTER/AP cials told Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey was a key factor in the final pitch President Donald Trump watches with Vice President Mike Pence and then-Defense Secretary Mark Esp- of their decision in a phone call last month to Air Force officials to er as the flag for U.S. Space Command is unfurled as Trump announces the establishment of the U.S. Jan. 13, Ivey’s office said in a choose Redstone, according to her Space Command at the White House in Washington. statement. office. “I couldn’t be more pleased to “This combination only enhanc- house U.S. Space Command. The including installations’ infrastruc- structure, the military services — learn that Alabama will be the es the outstanding relationships process was estimated to cost ture capacity, support from the in this case, the Space Force — are new home to the United States we have with the 65 diverse feder- about $1 billion. community and costs to the De- responsible for training and Space Command!” Ivey said in the al agencies on Redstone Arsenal, Huntsville is known as Rocket fense Department. equipping troops who then oper- statement. “The bottom line is not to mention the growing pres- City, largely because Wernher “Huntsville compared favor- ate under the leadership and simple, the Redstone region is the ence of the FBI and other federal von Brohn and other rocketeers ably across more of these factors control of a combatant com- most natural choice to become installations,” she said in the settled in the city in the 1950s to than any other community, pro- mand— in this case, the Space home to such an important mis- statement. help develop the U.S. space and viding a large, qualified work- Command. Space Force, as it sion for our country.” Redstone beat out Peterson rockets program, according to a force, quality schools, superior grows, is expected to provide the Redstone, an Amy installation AFB, one of the other announced 2018 report by The Associated infrastructure capacity, and low bulk of the troops assigned to just outside Huntsville, was finalists, which has long hosted Press. initial and recurring costs,” ac- Space Command, but the other named one of six finalists for the the military’s top space operations The city is still home to NASA’s cording to the Air Force state- military services will also provide headquarters in November after and was seen as the front-runner Marshall Space Flight Center on ment. some troops to the command, the Air Force conducted two to be named the permanent home Redstone Arsenal, responsible for Space Command’s establish- officials have said. searches for a permanent home for SPACECOM. civilian rocketry and spacecraft ment in 2019 was actually a re- Space Command is led by four- for the Pentagon’s newest com- But Peterson is expected to propulsion research. Huntsville is establishment of the combatant star Army Gen. James Dickinson. batant command, which is retain Space Command head- also home to the U.S. Space and command, after the Pentagon Space Force, like all military charged with overseeing and quarters for several years “until Rocket Center, a space explora- shuttered it in 2002 as part of the services, is headquartered at the controlling the U.S. military’s the permanent location is ready to tion museum, perhaps best known post-9/11 government restructur- Pentagon, where it will remain. It myriad space-based infrastruc- support the mission.” as the home of Space Camp. ing. It was established just months is led by Gen. Jay Raymond, the ture and operations. The com- Air Force officials have previ- Air Force officials said that before the newest military chief of space operations. mand has been housed tempo- ously said that the service esti- Barrett, who is set to leave her branch, U.S. Space Force, was rarily at Peterson Air Force Base mated it could take some six years position Jan. 19, considered sever- founded. [email protected] in Colorado Springs, Colo., since it to build the facilities necessary to al factors in reaching her decision, Under Defense Department Twitter: @CDicksteinDC In reversal, DOD to analyze WWII remains in Philippines BY WYATT OLSON identification,” Anthony Tata, currently article Jan. 12 Nininger, a 1941 West Point graduate, Stars and Stripes performing the duties of undersecretary of Patterson was stunned about the speed was serving with the 57th Infantry Re- The Defense Department agreed to defense for policy, said in an email sent to of the policy reversal after the release of giment, Philippine Scouts, as he defended analyze remains in a Philippines grave Defense Department officials and John the letter, he said during an interview with against the Japanese invasion of the Philip- long believed by family members to be Patterson, who is Nininger’s nephew and Stars and Stripes from his Rhode Island pines. those of Alexander closest next of kin. home. He died on Jan. 12, 1942, near Abucay on “Sandy” Nininger Jr., the The exception to policy comes a day “This is obviously the furthest we’ve the Bataan peninsula of Luzon Island and first service member after Patterson sent a letter to Defense ever gotten,” he said. “The bottom line is, was hastily buried. awarded the Medal of Department officials on behalf of the fam- I’m pleased and now I want to wait and see He became the first service member to Honor during World War ily requesting that the soldier’s name be what their action is — and when.” receive the Medal of Honor during World II. removed from all federal installations, Tata told Stars and Stripes he had War II. Medals of Honor were subsequent- The Defense POW/ plaques and other sites. Patterson ex- learned of Patterson’s letter in an email he ly awarded to service members involved in MIA Accounting Agency pressed frustration over what he described read during a flight back to the United the earlier Japanese surprise attack on and its precursors had as a “bureaucratic logjam” on his uncle’s States after a week of official international Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Nininger denied repeated requests case. travel.. “Though exposed to heavy enemy fire, by the family to exhume the remains for “Sandy's country has failed him and “This is the first time I’ve really had an he continued to attack with rifle and hand DNA testing, maintaining that the agency’s because of that we ask that the U.S. Gov- opportunity to review the case,” he said. “If grenades and succeeded in destroying documentation could not validate taking ernment promptly begin the process of there’s a chance, even if it’s remote, to several enemy groups in foxholes and that step. removing the name of Lt. Alexander R. discover the identity of these remains, then enemy snipers,” Nininger’s Medal of Hon- “I have directed DPAA to immediately Nininger Jr from all Federal facilities and I think that is something we should do. or citation said. generate the necessary exception to policy cease trading on his good name and repu- “I believe we have no more solemn duty in order to expeditiously execute scientific tation,” Patterson concluded in the letter, than to take care of our fallen and their [email protected] analysis of the remains to confirm or deny which was detailed in a Stars and Stripes families.” Twitter: @WyattWOlson PAGE 6 •STARS AND S TRIPES • Friday, January 22, 2021
MILITARY Joining Forces to relaunch to help military families BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY cation, according to the initia- Stars and Stripes tive’s Obama White House-era WASHINGTON — The Joining website. The initiative was able to Forces initiative that supported challenge businesses to hire military families and veterans is veterans and spouses, as well as coming back to the White House work with states to improve state with President-elect Joe Biden’s licensing procedures. Department of Defense administration under the office of Biden is the daughter of a Navy Jill Biden, right, the wife of then-Vice President Joe Biden, meets with spouses of Coast Guards members the future first lady Jill Biden, veteran and her son, Joseph in 2012. The meeting was part of a Joining Forces program that Biden said will resume when her husband who helped establishit in 2011. “Beau” Biden III, served in Iraq enters the White House. “I know the love and strength with the Delaware National and resilience that makes this Guard from 2008-2009. executive director of Joining make sure that we are as timely build on the work done during the community so unique, and it’s Joining Forces worked with Forces and a special assistant to and as targeted as we need to be. Obama administration, and they such a joy to be a part of it, and a public and private sector orga- President Biden. I take my mandate and our bias will start by listening to members privilege really have the chance nizations to help military and Brosius, the spouse of a Marine for action very seriously,” Brosi- of the community on their needs. to serve it,” Jill Biden said Jan. 14 veteran families. veteran, was previously the depu- us said during the announce- “We’ll continue to listen and during the virtual announcement During the call, several mil- ty director of Joining Forces ment. work with you, making sure that with some military family orga- itary family organizations were during former President Barack During President Donald your experiences and expertise nizations. present to hear the announce- Obama’s administration and then Trump’s administration, second are the North Star of this effort, Biden worked with former first ment including the Elizabeth an adviser for military families to lady Karen Pence had focused on and that starts today. That’s the lady Michelle Obama to launch Dole Foundation, Blue Star Fam- the Biden Foundation, according supporting the military. promise that I made to you on the the initiative, which aimed to ilies and the Military Spouse to a news release. She started her own awareness campaign trail, that we would bring attention to the needs of Advocacy Network. “This is my community, and campaign in 2018 for military relaunch Joining Forces and get service members and their fam- Jill Biden also announced Rory it’s one I care deeply for. The spouses to highlight issues in- to work on day one,” Biden said. ilies as well as veterans. Their Brosius, the military families world has changed since Joining cluding employment and child work focused on three areas: engagement leader for the Biden Forces started in 2011. And I care. [email protected] employment, wellness and edu- transition team, would be the new know that we have work to do to Biden stated the relaunch will @caitlinmkenney Army to review discharges of thousands of veterans BY CAITLIN M. KENNEY self-isolating, and self-injuring, diagnosis or showing symptoms Stars and Stripes which ultimately led to him going of military sexual trauma, PTSD, WASHINGTON — The Army will absent without leave for two TBI or other behavioral health review thousands of discharge weeks,” the document states. conditions, might be eligible for records of veterans affected by His commander ordered a psy- relief, according to the Army. military sexual trauma, post- chiatric evaluation and he was Upgrades to a discharge are not traumatic stress disorder and diagnosed with major depressive guaranteed and will be decided other behavioral health condi- disorder but not PTSD, despite on a case-by-case basis, the ser- tions following a class-action his symptoms. Kennedy was then vice said. lawsuit, the service announced discharged due to his two-week The Army has also agreed to recently. absence, according to the docu- change the procedures for how The review is part of a settlement ment. veterans apply to have their dis- reached in the lawsuit Kennedy v. Carson deployed to Afghanistan charge status upgraded in the McCarthy, which was prelimina- in 2010 and served with a Special future and how the review board rily approved Dec. 28, according Forces unit as a gunner, taking addresses these cases, according to the Army. The service will look part in more than 100 missions, to the statement. Some of these at discharges of veterans affected according to the court document. changes include allowing veter- by PTSD, traumatic brain injury, She was diagnosed with PTSD ans to appear via telephone to military sexual trauma or other and a TBI by Defense Depart- their review board hearings, behavioral health conditions. JENNIFER BROFER/U.S. Marines ment and Department of Veter- more training for review board “Under the agreement, the Army Seaman Blake Hargis fills out a traumatic brain injury questionnaire ans Affairs doctors after return- members and “updated protocols will automatically reconsider for Sgt. Denver Owens at Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, in August. ing from her deployment. Despite for decision making in cases certain discharge-status-upgrade receiving a doctor’s note to ex- involving symptoms or diagnoses decisions made by the Army 2011, will also be able to reapply ic at Yale Law School. cuse her from National Guard of PTSD, TBI, MST or other be- Discharge Review Board be- due to the settlement. Kennedy served in the Army drills, the Guard discharged her havioral health conditions.” tween April 17, 2011, and the The lawsuit was filed April 2017 from 2006 to 2009, including a due to her absences, according to A hearing to give final approval effective date of settlement that in the U.S. District Court of Con- deployment to Iraq in 2007 and the document. on the settlement will occur partially or fully denied relief to necticut by Army combat veter- 2008. He returned home from the Their appeals to the review board March 24 at 10 a.m. EST. For Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veter- ans Steve Kennedy and Alicia deployment with PTSD and ma- to have their discharges upgrad- more information on the settle- ans with less-than-fully-honor- Carson, both of whom suffered jor depression but was not prop- ed to honorable were both denied, ment, veterans can go to at http:// able discharges,” the statement from PTSD and other health erly diagnosed or treated by the according to the court document. www.kennedysettlement.com reads. conditions, but were given a gen- Army, according to the court Now due to the settlement, Army, and https://arba.army.pentagon. Veterans who were discharged eral discharge despite their med- document. National Guard, and Reserve mil/adrb-overview.html. and did not receive an upgrade to ical issues, according to the com- “Mr. Kennedy continued to lead veterans who received a dis- honorable from the review board plaint. Their case was handled by his team to top performance charge that was downgraded [email protected] between Oct. 7, 2001, to April 16, the Veterans Legal Services Clin- marks but began abusing alcohol, from honorable while having a Twitter: @caitlinmkenney Friday, January 22, 2021 •STARS AND S TRIPES • PAGE 7
MILITARY Green Beret earns Soldier’s Medal for aid BY CHAD GARLAND Stars and Stripes An Army physician assistant earned the Soldier’s Medal for his bravery and deci- siveness when he strapped a makeshift tourniquet on his own mangled arm and treated his badly wounded mentor after motorcyclists slammed into them at high speed. Lt. Col. Larry Wyatt, a clinic director with U.S. Special Operations Command, was on a bicycle ride with retired Ranger Col. Thomas Wells, a Princeton-trained trauma surgeon and avid cyclist, when a pair of motorcycles sped toward them on a narrow bike trail bridge near Tampa on April 7, 2019. “I could see a motorcycle front end com- ing up and the trail motorcycle pulled around to pass,” Wyatt recalled in an Army statement this week. “There was nowhere for us to go because of the chain link fence around the bridge.” The motorcycles hit them at about 50 mph, knocking them unconscious. Wyatt was dragged some 30 yards, waking up moments later with a broken nose, cracked teeth, a split eyebrow and a gash in his left forearm down to the bone, which was gush- ing blood. “All I could hear was my dad’s voice in BARRY LOO/U.S. Air Force my head, ‘You will face rough times in your Gen. Richard D. Clarke, commander, U.S. Special Operations Command, presents Lt. Col. Larry Wyatt, SOCOM clinic director, with a life. You always get up on your own two feet Soldier’s Medal at MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., last month. by yourself. So get up,’ ” Wyatt said in the Army statement. bones. Wyatt recalled. “And I said, ‘I’m not going commander Gen. Richard D. Clarke in a After borrowing a motorcyclist’s belt and “He was in a lot of pain,” said Wyatt, anywhere, brother, I’m right here with Dec. 22 ceremony at MacDill Air Force tying it as a tourniquet for his own arm, whose wound was still dripping blood. “I you.’ ” Base, Fla. Wyatt tended to the bikers. He then went to kept apologizing, ‘I’m sorry for bleeding on Wyatt, who has spent more than 1 ½ “Wyatt’s personal example of selfless check on Wells, who was on the ground you, Doc.’ … His response was, ‘Just do years in recovery and underwent several service, superb medical knowledge and entangled with one of the motorcycles. what you got to do.’ ” surgeries, promised himself he’d always unhesitating decisive action are consistent Wyatt got one of the bikers to help him After Wyatt called 911 and relayed the carry a tourniquet after the incident. He with the greatest traditions of our uni- move Wells away from the motorcycle, list of injuries, the emergency responders and Wells both still need more surgeries, formed services and played a pivotal role in where he began trying to stabilize him. A had to walk to the scene because the the Army said in a statement. saving the lives of two individuals,” the former Green Beret medical sergeant, wounded men were still on the narrow For working through his own injuries to citation reads. Wyatt did a hands-on check of the man he bridge. They were rushed to a nearby hos- help his friend, Wyatt received the Sol- considered something like an older broth- pital. dier’s Medal, the Army’s highest award for [email protected] er, feeling for the grinding of any broken “Doc kept saying, ‘Don’t go anywhere,’ ” bravery outside combat, from SOCOM Twitter: @chadgarland Smithsonian historians searching for military stories from 2020 BY NIKKI WENTLING The Smithsonian’s National researchers. The Smithsonian photographic history collection The Smithsonian titled the Stars and Stripes Museum of American History is has asked specifically for stories at the museum, said they want project “Stories of 2020” and is WASHINGTON — The Smith- urging Americans to share pho- from health care workers, edu- stories from service members describing it as a digital time sonian Institution is collecting tos, videos and written stories of cators, refugees, agricultural and their families because they capsule for future generations. stories from 2020, and historians 2020 — a historic year that the workers and the military com- have likely had unique experi- To participate, volunteers are want service members and their institution assumes will be of munity. ences. asked to visit the museum’s families to share theirs. interest to future historians and Shannon Perich, curator of the “We know military families website and answer the question, and military members who live “How did your life change dur- both here in the U.S. and around ing these times?” They’re asked the world will have had a range to share their experiences with Max D. Lederer Jr., Publisher This publication is a compilation of stories from Stars and Stripes, the of experiences that include those the coronavirus pandemic, racial editorially independent newspaper authorized by the Department of Defense- Terry Leonard, Editor for members of the military community. like everyone else around isola- injustice, politics or other events Robert H. Reid, Senior Managing Editor The contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, and are not to be consid- tion, education and so forth,” and life changes in 2020. Some of Tina Croley, Managing Editor for Content ered as the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, including Perich said. the stories will be shared publi- the Defense Department or the military services. The Guam Edition of Stars “But there is probably also cly on the museum’s website. Doreen Wright, Guam Edition Editor and Stripes is published jointly by Stars and Stripes and this newspaper. Scott Foley, Revenue Director The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or something specific about what it “Everyone has a story to tell,” supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense means to be a military member Perich said. CONTACT US or Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. or family member during this More information can be Products or services advertised in this publication shall be made available time. What does it feel like to be found at americanhistory.si.edu/ 633 3rd Street NW, Suite 116, Washington, D.C. 20001 for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, an American overseas during stories-of-2020. Editorial: (202) 886-0005 national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or Advertising: (202) 886-0014 any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron. this time? What has been the same, what has been different? Additional contact information: stripes.com © Stars and Stripes, 2021 [email protected] Only they can tell us.” Twitter: @nikkiwentling PAGE 8 •STARS AND S TRIPES • Friday, January 22, 2021