Hawaii Marine Night Landing Volume 28, Number 4 January 28, 1999 Island Hopping A-5 B-1
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Hawaii Marine Night Landing Volume 28, Number 4 January 28, 1999 Island Hopping A-5 B-1 . 1/3 gets ambush aining Pfc. Otto C. Pleil-Muele Combat Correspondent Hidden behind brush. Marines frOm A Company, 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, surprised their enemy with a flurry of lead, then jumped from their hid- ing places and stormed the enemy with a fiery attack. Though the Marines were only filling target dummies full of holes, the ambush training they were getting Jan. 21 at the rifle range here was important, according to many A Co. Marines. "This training is advanced and it will help me get better in my (military occupa- tional specialty)," said Pfc. Carmine Costanzo, a rifleman with 1st Platoon, A 4 Co. '"It's going to help me know what I have to do in combat." Unlike -similar ambush exercises in the 11 past, this one featured a moving sled with target dummies that Marines aimed at res,""'''14,,''' from nearly 200 yards down range. "The whole intent was to give Marines '49411*4..'4% something to shoot- at besides pop-up tar- ill Photo by Pk. Otto C. Ploil-Muete See 1/3, A-4 Marines of A Co., 1/3, await their opponents in a practice ambush exercise at MCB Hawaii Kaneohe Bay Jan. 21. Anthrax K-Bay Marines fire vaccine heavy weapons in Japan is safe Lance Cpl. Erickson J. Barnes "Coming here allows us the opportunity to fire these Camp Fuji Correspondent Commandant of the Marine Corps weapons at greater distances and affords us to be more-effec- CAMP FUJI, Japan - Nearly freezing temperatures tive with indirect fire," said Golden. ; HEADQUARTERS MARINE didn't stop Marines here, as they conducted their first heavy "This live-fire training is extremely important to the pro- CORPS, Washington, D.C. As your- - weapons live-fife training during the Combined Arms Live- ficiency of our Marines," said lstLt. Kurt Martin, Weapons ' commandant, I want to discuss with you Fire Exercise 99-1. Platoon commander, 3/3. "It's hard to be proficient if you the ongoing Anthrax vaccination pro- The Combined Arms Exercise involves two weapons aren't firing." gram. I want you to know why I think it companies, an artillery battery and a combined armor com- Some of the Marines firing said the climate added to the is so important to the Corps and why each pany conducting mission-oriented live-fire and maneuver training. of us, from private to general, needs to training. Weapons Company, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines "Coming from Okinawa to Fuji really is a big difference," participate. I also want to address some of employed heavy weapons from fixed sites as Weapons Co., said LCpI. David Garcia, ammo tech, B Buy., 1/12. "There, the "burn scoop" that is being circulated 1st Bn., 8th Marines; B Battery, 1st Bn., 12th Marines and a we're worried about heat exhauStion. Here, we're worried about the danger of the vaccination. detachment from Combat Assault Bn. all joined in for train- about frost bite." We have instituted this critical force The 3/3 Marines also assisted Marines from B Btry., 1/12, protection program because biological They fired high explosive rounds from the MK-19 and in re-qualifying and cross training on heavy weapons. and chemical weapons are proliferating at armor piercing and incendiary rounds from the M2 .50 cal- " l/12 had machine gun teams that needed to re-qualify," an unprecedented rate worldwide, and iber machine gun at silhouetted targets 500 meters away. said Martin. "So, this gave us a great opportunity to do that, Anthrax is the leading biological weapon Photo by Lance Cpl. Erickson J. Barnes According to Capt. John C. Golden, Weapons Co. com- and get our Marines behind the guns." of choice. Lance Cpl. Varick D. Rainey, communica- mander for 3/3, they haven't had an opportunity to live-fire "This is motivating, to come out and fire these weapons Marines only have' to read accounts of tions technician, B Btry., 1/12, prepares to throw a grenade during training some of their heavy weapons in a while because of restric- like we were trained to do," said Sgt. Daniel R. Devlin, sec- the terrorist group Auin Shinrikyo's use at Camp. Fuji during Combined Arms Exercise 99-1. tions on Okinawa. tion leader from 3/3. of sarin nerve gas against innocent com- muters in Japan's subway, or view the photographs of the Iraqi Kurds and Iranians who were killed by Saddam ew FBI range to open at K-Bay in February Hussein's chemical weapons, to be con- Lance Cpl. David Salazar dards, said Chief Warmnt Officer 3 Eric B. down because of it." pistol qualifications. vinced that a rogue leader or terrorist Combat Correspondent Garcia, bage range officer here. It will be able The bullet traps are devices that do just that 'With all the units on base, these ranges are group will not hesitate to employ Anthrax A new outdoor range, complete with bullet to cater to training with anything from small -trap bullets, Garcia said. stretched to capacity," he said. "It could be if it achieves their aims. traps to protect the environment, is under con- arms to 7,62mm weapons. In addition to traps, the range will have a used for known distance shooting and in case I never want to have to explain to a struction at K-Bay's range and will be com- "Instead of shooting into dirt burms, you driveway for vehicles to drive on for training something comes up, we could use it as a mother or father or spouse why their son, pleted in Febmary. shoot into the bullet traps," Garcia said. "This scenarios, Garcia said. Marine Corps qual cotuse." daughter, husband, or wife died from Funded and used by the FBI, will meet cuts down on polluting the environment and Garcia said the range will also serve as a The range will be ready for use after its exposure to Anthrax when we could have new Environmental Protection Agency stan- the possibility of the. EPA closing the range second pistol range for Marines during annual completion in late February. prevented their death simply by vaccinat- 'ing against this threat. This is the same concern for the welfare of our troops that drives all leaders to seek protection for Head 'em up, move 'em out! their Marines. It is the same reason that Index we are fighting .sd hard to get new body armor, ballistic helmets, and other improved individual fighting equipment A Section into the hands of our troops. I would not send you into combat Sgt. Maj.'s Comer without flak jackets, nor would I send you ASE at Pacific impact 3 unprotected against the very real threat of Every Clime and Place 5 Anthrax. Junior ROTC 6 I am aware that misinformation and Blotter 7 rumors abound concerning the Anthrax Word on the Street vaccination program. I also believe that BOOST Friend Performs. Re-ienlisitueut 9 much of the incorrect information found Missouri Memorial Opens 9 on the Internet is being disseminated by Word to Pass persons who have their own reasons and agenda for trying to undo this critical Photo by Plc. Otto C. Pleil-Muete force protection program. B Section I am confident that once Marines Left, Cpl. Dale Wills, logistics Boxing understand that Anthrax is life' threaten- chief with Headquarters & Island llopping ing, and once they are made aware that Service Co., 1st Bn., 3rd Pro Bowl Clinic the vaccine we are using to counter this Marines, drives a HMMWV up the loading ramp of the USS Red Cross Babysitting Classes threat is both safe and effective, they will Frederick at Pearl Harbor Jan Playground Clean-up 3 eagerly comply.with this vaccination pro- 21. Above, Marines board the Auto Hobby Shop '4 gram. Frederick for upcoming exercis- Ads, Religion 6 A wealth of materials derived from es at Pacific Impact on the '99 Ticket to Fun 6 highly credible and independent Big Island. See COMMANDANT, A-2 Photo by Cpl. Barry Melton , A-2 January 28, 1999 Hawaii Marine Peel Closure Sergeant Major's Corner The main base pool, across from the howling alley, is scheduled to be closed Feb. 16 through March 15 for annual maintenance. The Hilltop Pool, at the Officers' Club, will be open for public swimming. Rumors about anthrax vaccine untrue Red Cross Change Sgt. Maj. Robert W. Holub I can tell you that I stand behind my leaders 1. Anthrax vaccinations have been tested by the Food MarForPac Sergeant Major with the trust and confidence that they are looking and Drug Administration and found to be safe. Pearl Harbor's American Red Cross. which handles all Someone once wrote, "You've got to stand for out for my best interest. Beginning with the 2 The vaccine has been safely and routinely used emergency communications fOr Marines, Sailors and their something. or, you'll fall for anything." I mention Secretary of Defense, the Honorable William S. in the U.S. since 1970, families after working hours, changed its phone number and this little saying because of all] Cohen, down to MARFORPAC's commander, Lt. 3. The national Academy of Sciences has found no address. The new number is 473-3155 and the new address is the negative "scuttlebutt" Gen. Fulford, they have led by example by receiv- link to health problems from anthrax vaccinations. American Red Cross, Pearl Harbor Service Center, 1255. going around saying that the ing their anthrax vaccinations before asking any of 4.