Mail Myths, Rumors Rampant
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Family grams to deployed Marines Keiki gridiron Pail A -2 heats up Page 0 k Family members cruise coast Page A-4 Published at MCAS Kaneohe Bay. Also serving 1st MED, ( 'limp H.M. Smith and Marine Barracks, October 4, 1990 Mail process speeding up Mail myths, rumors rampant BY OP(. Aeon Erickson Saudi definitions of pornog- their religion, they are ac- During a Community Infor- raphy differ from those in cepting small quantities of mation Day held Sunday, Some people are saying that the U.S. Additionally, the religious materials intended lstSgt. George M. all mail to Saudi Arabia is Saudis prohibit pork and pork for individual servicemen's Hohnberger, who recently being censored by the U.S. products and material con- use. Sending large quanti- returned from Saudi Arabia military's' Arab hosts; others trary to the Islamic religion. ties of religious materials are told family members present say that i im possible because discouraged, how- the mail process was There are rumors that a strongly that nothing is getting there in ever, as this could be miscon- moving slowly in the first picture of a women dressed the first place. Both accounts strued by as an couple weeks because there according to accepted Ameri- the Saudis are wrong, the Saudi were so can customs would be con- attempt to convert many units over there sidered pornography, and public. and most weren't settled in There are many rumors yet. floating around the Air that all women in photos Additionally, greeting cards Station about mail to Saudi must be completely covered. depicting religious holidays He explained however, that Arabia. Kaneohe Bay is not This is not true. Photos are not being prohibited as this problem no longer exists alone with this problem. which would be considered some reports and rumors have now that the various units Rumors are rampant at many good taste in America are suggested. are in place. He said that military acceptable for mail to Saudi each unit has a mail clerk hoses across the letter mail is not United States. Arabia. In fact, that makes mail runs back being censored unless it and forth between the camp To dispel some of these As for restrictions on relig- appears unusually bulky, in and the post office at least rumors the Commandant of ious materials, the U.S. which case it may be exam- once a day. the Marine Corps published government is checking into ined to see if it contains n recent message containing news reports of individual contraband, such as drugs. "We get huge amounts of the facts. bibles being returned to their A small proportion of parcel mail every day," said senders. Thus far, these mail is being examined on a Hohnberger. Saudi customs officials are reports have not been con- spot check basis to determine Another rumor was that not censoring U.S. mail. firmed. As beat the admini- with Saudi cus- conformity mail with stamps depicting However, there are restric- stration can determine, any toms regulations. Liaison the U.S. was being tions on what is allowed to being from the U.S. flag not incidents of bibles personnel allowed into the country. enter the country, and cus- returned are isolated cases of postal service are military This again is incorrect. toms and postal officials do misinterpretation of regula- working side by side with All randomly check parcels to tions by postal officials in Saudi inspectors and are postage stamps are valid. ensure that these restrictions the United States. These closely tracking the inspec- There are also concerns are being honored. Most of misinterpretations are being tion process. They report that that servicemen are not being these are similar to restric- rectified. The liaison person- they are aware of no in- allowed to practice their relig- tions by U.S. customs. For nel working with Saudi postal stances of censorship or ions. The Department of instance. Saudi regulations and customs authorities have interference with mail for Defense reports that those prohibit the entry of alco- seen 11, instances of such U.S troops. who choose to do so are able holic beverages of any kind, items being rejected after to worship according to their A Disney aloha narcotics, weapons Using good judgement and and arrival in the Middle East. beliefs. This right is exer- stands with two youngsters during the "Mouse- explosives, and pornography. paying attention to Saudi Minnie Mouse cised with sensitivity for the a-Rail" visit to the Air Station Sept. 28. In addition to Minnie, This is the same as U.S. While Saudi regulations postal regulations can reduce beliefs and feelings of the Mickey Mouse and Goofy met, posed with and greeted postal regulations, although prohibit literature contrary to the problems of slow mail. Saudis hundreds of Air Station children outside the Exchange. Civil Affairs aids in communication By Cpl. Slaw Nelson commanding officer, said the does have plans to evacuate Corps and the civilian gov- main role of civil affairs is to all the civilians, including ernment, civil affairs schools New Pacific commanders SAUDI ARABIA, - When minimize interference between Americans," he said. "If that Marines who most often come Admiral Charles R. Larson has been nominated by the U.S. forces arrived in Saudi the presence of military forces should happen, we will be in contact with Saudis. President for reappointment to the grade of admiral and Arabia in support of Opera- and the local civilian govern- attempting to respond to Subjects include culture, assignment as Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Com- tion Desert Shield it was ment during military opera- whatever military threat history, geography and mand. Admiral Larson is presently serving as the obvious the American and tions, as well as minimizing occurs. We have to make general customs, and teach- Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Vice Adm. Robert Arabian cultures didn't have the effect a civil government sure the Saudis in charge of ing I MEF Marines about Joseph Kelley has been nominated by the President for much in common. Although structure has on military that evacuation are not these subjects involves exten- appointment to the grade of admiral and assignment as the United States and the commanders executing their interfered with by our mili- sive research. Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet. Vice Adm. Kelley host nation both have the plans. tary operations and move- "The area studies are nor- is presently serving as Senior Navy member of the Military same objective - thwarting "What we're doing here is ments." mally done before arriving in Staff Committee of the United Nations and Deputy Chief Iraqi aggression into Saudi coordinating our activities In the area of public safety, country," Kaheny said. "But of Naval Operations, Plans, Policy and Operations, OP- territory - there still may be with the local government in the 3d CAG has also made this deployment happened so 06, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations. The change some miscommunication such matters as civil defense, liaison with the county's fast, we didn't have time to of command dates have not been confirmed. between the two in their public safety, and displaced eastern district chief of police prepare and had to wait until efforts to successfully carry civilians," Kaheny said. to establish some formal we got here to begin." out the mission. ground rules on how matters Knowing what's "ii'at Only the Saudi government One way the Marine Corps of concern will be handled there" is an important fairer is handling displaced civilians between the Saudi is breaking that barrier is by police in the U.S involvementin House of Hazards coming to such as Kuwaiti nationals department and the Marine Operation Desert employing its 3d Civil Affairs who have fled their country. Group of the 4th Marine Corps. The meeting was also With help from the 3d COB Air Station But if hostilities were to break attended by American Con- Affairs Group, interaction. Division. The reserve group would be many l'revention Division out, there sulate General Kenneth between I MEF and the S The Federal Fire Department's Fire is 'headquartered in down. world country refugees of Hazards" Tuesday through third Stammeran, and I Marine government and people is sponsoring the "House town Los Angeles and ar- crossing the border into Saudi 10 a.ti.-6:30 p.m. at 1981 A Hanson Circle. Expeditionary Force officers. make the mission much eaz Oct. 12 from rived here Aug. 22. Arabia. The focus of the program is preventing fires in the home In addition to ensuring all to accomplish throughout by making people aware of the various things that can Col. John Kaheny, 3d CAG "The Saudi government goes well between the Marine Persian Gulf crisis. cause home fires. For more informalion, coil 21,7.7100 Navy answers Desert Shield call ai (NNS) With little tine and Surgery (BUMED) Marine Corps forces ashore consumption and sanitation; Marines, sailors continue to fanfare, Navy health care has staffed and moved three have their own medical unite, have been effective so far-in: professionals have moved major medical facilities to the augmented by p. ramie] from keeping our troops healthy : aid Liberian refugees quickly to deploy the person- Persian Gulf Region. Nearly stateside Navy treatment in the desert's harsh env_ i- nel, ships and equipment to 2,400 Naval Reserve medical facilities. For Desert Shield, ronment. Marines and sailors aboard Marine Corps helicopters the Middle East to support specialists were called up to nearly 1,400 medical person- In addition to medical re-. carried more than a ton of emergency medical supplies from Operation Desert Shield.