Guantanamo Gazette
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Guantanamo Gazette Vol. 44 -- No. 144 --U.S. Navy's only shore-based daily newspaper -- Wednesday, August 3, 1988 En route to Guantanamo Bay USS Whidbey Island rescues stranded Haitians 23 miles northeast of By JOSN Bert Olsen ing a small boat with ship's company and and shoes to replace the migrant's salty, Guard Cutter Chase, USS Whidbey Island (LSD 41) Coast Guard personnel to further investi- threadbare garb. And Supply Department Punta Maisi, Cuba, in order to transfer gate the situation. catered hot food and cold drinks for the rest custody of the migrants over to the Coast En route to Guantanamo Bay for In- Lead by Lt. Paul P. Anglade, ship's of the day. Guard. terim Refresher Training, USS Whidbey Public Affairs Officer, who was born in "The crew was wonderful. Very gener- At 7:09 p.m. Whidbey Island lowered Island (LSD41) took an unexpected detour Haiti and still speaks fluent Creole, the ous. The donation of clothes was outstand- its accommodation ladder to begin debar- on July 18 to participate in U.S. Coast small boat established communications ing. Also, it would have been easy for the kation of the boatpeople. At 10:51p.m., 16 Guard Law Enforcement Operation in the with the vessel using a bullhorn. CO to say, 'I've got aschedule to keep.' But hours after the ordeal began, the last mi- Caribbean Sea. "They identified themselves as Haitian a lot of people had the right attitude," grant departed Whidbey Island. Coast At 6:30 a.m., while Whidbey Island migrants en route from Port de Paix, Haiti Broadway commented. Guard Cutter Chase then returned them to sailed south through the Crooked Island to Miami, FL. They had been at sea for the International Red Cross in Port au Passage, 90 miles off the northeast coast of three days and most of them looked hungry While the boat people waited patiently Prince, Haiti, where, in accordance with a Cuba, the ship's Surface Search Radar and dehydrated. Incredibly, they had in the well deck, some sleeping and others standing treaty between the United States picked up an unidentified vessel. It was somehow managed to carry 92 people playing checkers or cards, Whidbey Island and Haiti, they were repatriated to their dead in the water, seven and one quarter onboard without sinking," Anglade noted. sailed on to rendezvous with U.S. Coast homeland. miles off the starboard bow. When the With scant provisions such as flour, vessel did not respond to communications, rice, water, carnation milk, oranges,m two Whidbey Island, with U.S. Coast Guard bags of charcoal and a hand held magnetic District 5 Law Enforcement Detachment compass, the boat people had navigated embarked and closed to investigate. point to point, or island-to-island, before According to Lt. John T. Broadway, being found by Whidbey Island. Cmdr. Officer in Charge, USCG DIST 5 LEDET, Gordon S. Holder, Commanding Officer of "It is standard operating procedure to have Whidbey Island, was reluctant to leave the Coast Guard teams stationed aboard ships vessel adrift and requested assistance from transiting potentially high drug-running USCGDIST7 Miami. Commander, USCG waters, especially the Caribbean." He 7, directed Whidbey Island to embark the added that "We are an extension of law boat people until further assistance could enforcement authority on Navy ships. Pri- be arranged. The migrants agreed to be marily, we look for drugs, but we also deal towed and taken onboard. Once they were with violations of boating safety, migrants safely inside the ship's well deck, their and refugees." wooden-hulled craft was scuttled to avoid After the blip on the radar screen had it becoming a potential navigational haz- been visually identified by lookouts as a ard to other seagoing vessels. 30-foot, single-masted sailboat with pas- Medical personnel immediately sengers riding low in the water, the ship treated the ragged travelers for various closed to within 150 yards of the vessel in medical ailments ranging from diarrhea, an attempt to establish communications stomach cramps,and eyeand earinfections with a loud hailer. Lookouts initially to rashes. Repair Division rigged a fresh sighted 30-35 people topside but could not water shower stall which the refugees had Small boat from USS Whidbey Island investigates a stranded craft loaded understand what they were saying. Conse- long awaited and seemed to thoroughly with 92 Haitians. Whidbey Island encountered the craft while en route to quently, Broadway recommended lower- enjoy. The crew donated clean clothing Guantanamo Bay (Photo by JOSN Bert Olsen) Rector finds Ombudsman work for NSGA a unique experience Editor's Note: As a service to the commu- To Susan, becoming an Ombudsman nity, the Guantanamo Gazette has been was a unique experience to her because her runninga series of articleson the command husband is in the Marine Corps. Ombudsman. This week we introduceSusan "The Marine Corps doesn't have an Rector, Ombudsman for NSGA. Ombudsman program and I had never even heard of one before," said Susan. Susan Rector has been living in Guan- According to Susan, becoming an tanamoBaywithherhusband,Capt.Darrel Ombudsman has many advantages. "I have Rector, NSGA, and their 8-month-old really enjoyed it so far," she explained. daughter, Kristen, for over a year. "Being an Ombudsman has given me the opportunity to meet a lot of people." Susan says she has also learned a great deal about theprograms on base. "We have monthly meetings where all of the Om- budsman get together and discuss new programs and happenings on base," she said. "This has given me the chance to hear about the programs and pass the informa- tion on to the family's of NSGA," she explained. There is a great deal to be learned about coming to a new command, says Susan. "It's just so much easier when you have a little help," she said."I like helping people and I really like meeting new people. The Ombudsman program not only benefits the families of a command, but the Ombuds- Susan Rector man receives a lot of benefits herself." CAPTAIN'S BAY NEWS Captain John S. Boyd, USN MB/GDF enlisted wives meeting SEC 6, PARA 27, states the basic speed rule is that no person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater The MB/GDF enlisted wives are meeting Naval Base Commander than Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m., at M 118. All is reasonable and prudent under conditions and having regard to the actual and potential enlisted wives are invited. For more information, call Shanta at 2907. hazards then existing. Example: When special hazards exist with respect to pedestrians. I get "the business" from lots of a United States Naval Station, and MCX note folks here on our fine Naval Base in you're receiving that mail at that NLSO open Compare and save: Wrights Service Co. Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. We have address because you have "bought The court term scheduled for will be in Marine Corps Exchange main store Aug. 2-9 has been slightly more than 7,000 residents into" a United States Naval Station canceled. Aug. 12, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Aug. In view of this, the Naval Legal Service on our base, and about 2,400 of and all it stands for. Fortunately or Office Detachment will be open during normal 13, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. these wear the uniform of a sailor, a unfortunately, depending on your hours of operation. Appointments may be sched- Marine, a soldier, an airman, or a personal views, zoos and museums uled by calling 4600. Powers of attorney and other CPO Association meeting notarizations will continue to be prepared Monday Coast Guard member. The largest aren't what Naval Stations are pri- The August meeting of the Guantanamo through Friday, from 8 to 11 a.m. segment of our population is non- marily about. Civilian or military, it Bay CPO Association will be held Friday, military. It's easy to conclude that requires an impersonal and selfless Aug. 5, at 3:30 p.m., in the Harbor Lights CPR Recertification class since that's the case, non-military perspective to understand the nec- Lounge. All active duty and retired, as well as Did you know that your CPR card is good for a issues ought to "carry the day" essary hardships of living on a TAD CPOs are invited. Agenda items may be period of one year? If yours is due to expire soon or here. More priority ought to be United States Naval Station. Mili- submitted to LNC Callahan, guardmail stop 18, or by phoning her at 4600. has expired within the last 30 days, the Red Cross focused on the largest proportion- tary priorities are going to right- will be sponsoring a CPR Recertification class ate population - the non-military fully prevail on our base. EOD training Saturday, Aug. 13, from 8 a.m. until completion. folks. This is America and democ- Okay, Skipper, so we'll be Class will be held at the Red Cross Building next Small boating, swimming, and diving will racy demands it, right? Hence, I get offered only various shades of tot he NEX Furniture Store. Bring your current or be secured from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. today in the expired CPR card with you to class to show to the lots of suggestions from folks who camouflaged green at the Ex- vicinity of Phillips Park between the Wind- instructor. think that non-military issues re- change, right? Well, I hope not.