K-B Ay Sailors Return
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Hawaii Marine Big Island Visit Toys for Tots Volume 28, Number 50 Serving Marine Corps Base Hawaii December 16, 1999 A-10 B-1 K-B ay Sailors return Staff Report Since departing out of the former tical sorties. The aircrews participated in MCB Hawaii Public Affairs Office Naval Air Station Barbers Point in June, different missions including emergency Personnel from two Navy squadrons the VP-47 "Golden Swordsmen" operat- medical evacuations, search and rescue, are looking to close out 1999 aboard ed out of Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, and access, presence and influence trips MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.after deploy- Japan and from Misawa, Japan. to numerous countries. ments that took them all over the world. The squadron supported the Navy's "We were able to meet all our mis- Patrol Squadron 47's Western Pacific strategy of forward presence and forward sions and everyone was able to step up to deployment came to an end when its last engagement in hundreds of missions the plate to do what we had to do," said deployed P-3C Orion fixed-wing aircraft flown around the clock in the Western Chief Petty Officer David Gouldman, the touched down on Marine Corps Air Pacific theater of operations. quality assurance supervisor for VP-47. Facility's flightline at Kaneohe Bay At times, the Golden Swordsmen The squadron flew in support of four Friday. In addition Helicopter were stretched from the Sea of Japan to Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Antisubmarine Squadron Light 37's the Straits of Malacca, to the waters of Training exercises in Malaysia, Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Malcomb Teyanian Detachment Six is scheduled to return to Australia, flying nearly 4,300 mishap- The USS Chosin is shown in foreign waters. Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron K-Bay this week. free flight hours and more than 500 tac- See RETURN, A-11 Light 37's Det. Six will return from their deployment aboard the ship this week. VIKINGS VISIT SecDef extends holiday greetings William S. Cohen Secretary of Defense - Greetings. 4;tree, Every year, it is my pleasure to take a moment during the holi- day season to review the events of the past year and to reflect on the meaning of the season as well as on the mean- Cohen ing of your service. At this time last year, many of you were engaged in two great missions: pro- viding relief and rescue to the people of Central America in the wake of Hurricane Mitch; and standing up to Saddam Hussein and his weapons program in Operation Desert Fox. Since then, many of you have taken part in or supported the largest military operation in Europe since the Second Photo by Chief Petty Officer .ieff Abbott World War. You turned back aggression in An S3 Viking conducts a "trap " on the Marine Corps Air Facility runway arresting gear Dec. 6. The aircraft was among those from two Navy squadrons, Kosovo. You offered a hand of help and Sea Control Squadron 38 and Sea Control Squadron 21, that visited MCB Hawaii as they crossed the Pacific Ocean. hope to refugees across that region. Now you are keeping the peace across Kosovo. Indeed, whether patrolling the danger- ous no-fly zones over Iraq, standing vigi- MCB Hawaii poised to squash Y2K bug lant on the Korean Peninsula or serving at bases here at home, all of you have been Cpl. Trent Lowry be effected by the so-called "millennium The utility providers in Hawaii, how- are each confidant that their systems will working without pause to give the great- Community Relations Cheif bug." ever, have issued reassurances that their be ready for the new year. est gift of all, the gift of peace. Editor's note: This is the final install- Facilities maintenance personnel systems have been tested for Y2K and "They've got back-ups for their back- Last year, I wrote that because you are ment of the Hawaii Marine series on aboard MCB Hawaii have tested and re- are not expected to experience any sort ups," said Curtis Nakamura, base Y2K always there for America, America is preparations for the year 2000. tested base systems, assuring the base of interruptions in service. team coordinator for the facilities depart- determined to always be there for you. As the hands of the clock wind closer populace that MCB Hawaii is prepared The telephone providers for family ment, who has witnessed the utilities' This year, I can point to a recognition for to the year 2000, the tension mounts over for the millenium. Since many utility housing, GTE, issued a statements, via testing first-hand. "They've done a sin- you and your families that takes note of the anticipation of what may happen if resources come from off-base sources, their Internet address, that the switch - cere, genuine effort and spent a lot of your remarkable service: the largest computer systems experience problems. though, base personnel can't speak for hoards for phone number prefixes 253, money to be (year 2000) compliant. increase in military pay and benefits in a An important concern for most people everyone. 254, 257 for Kaneohe Bay and 477 for Everybody (utility companies, govern- generation. This includes increased is how the computer systems will be able "According to testing done by Camp H.M. Smith are ready for the mil- ment agencies) feels good about where rewards for performance, targeted pay to handle providing for basic needs, such Headquarters Marine Corps, the base is lenium. Barracks residents, who receive they're at, and I feel comfortable about raises and bonuses, and the restoration of as utilities like electricity, water and gas, prepared," said Kent Murata, assistant telephone service from AT&T In-Room where the base is at." retirement benefits by returning you to 50 which are controlled by computers. Also chief of staff to the commanding general Service, can also expect their phone Equally confident are representatives percent at 20 years of service. We can of interest to the public is the status of for facilities. "We were the first base to needs to be met. of financial institutions, including those never pay you enough for what you do. financial institutions, transportation pass the test. I don't foresee any Y2K Hawaiian Electric Company, The Gas But we can, and we will, pay you more. agencies and any other service that can problems." Company and the Board of Water Supply See Y2K, A-11 So wherever you are serving today, know that all Americans are eternally indebted to each of you for your service. Seven servicemembers die in helicopter crash Wherever you serve in the coming year, know that you are in our prayers. On Press Release native; Headquarters; Cobb County, Ga. native; behalf of a grateful nation, have a won- MCB Camp Pendleton Public Affairs Staff Sgt. Vincent A. Sabasteanski, 34, infantry unit Staff Sgt. Michael S. Archer, infantry unit leader with derful holiday season. God bless you and CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Six Marines and a leader with I MEF Headquarters; Cumberland County, MEF Headquarters; Altamonte Springs, Fla. native; your families, and God bless the United Sailor, missing since the CH-46 Sea Knight they were Maine native; Gunnery Sgt. Vojin Marjanovich, infantry unit leader States of America. riding in crashed Dec. 9 about 14 miles off the coast of Staff Sgt. Jeffrey R. Starling, 27, field radio operator assigned to I MEF Headquarters; Lake Station, Ind. Point Loma, Calif., have been declared deceased. with I MEF Headquarters; South Daytona, Fla. native; native; An extensive search-and-rescue operation was called Cpl. Mark M. Baca, 22, reconnaissance Marine with Staff Sgt. Mark R. Schmidt, infantry unit leader off Saturday. Recovery operations remain ongoing. I MEF Headquarters Group; Arvada, Colo. native; assigned to I MEF Headquarters; Marshalltown, Iowa. Index "Our hearts and prayers go out to the Marines and Eleven Marines were injured in the accident and res- native; Sailors of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit, as well cued immediately afterward. Three of the injured were Staff Sgt. Robert G. Ward, radio chief assigned to I A Section as their families and friends," said Lt. Gen. Bruce B. transported to Naval Hospital Balboa. MEF Headquarters; Tacoma, Wash. native. Thrift Savings Plan 2 Knutson Jr., commanding general, I Marine The rescued Marines are: A memorial service for the deceased servicemembers Every Clime and Place 3 Expeditionary Force. "We are doing everything we can Capt. James I. Lukehart Jr, CH-46 helicopter pilot will be held after the 15th MEU returns from its training Sergeant Major's Corner 4 to support them in this time of sorrow." with H1VIM-166; Springfield, Ohio native; exercise. 2/3's Tent City 5 Deceased are: Capt. Andrew Q. Smith, CH-46 helicopter pilot with The Force Recon Association has established a Japanese Visitors 6 Gunnery Sgt. James P. Paige Jr., 37, an air mainte- HMM-166; Decatur, Ga. native; memorial fund for families of the deceased Marines and Salutes 8 nance mechanic assigned to HMM-166; Middlesex, N.J. Sgt. Robert T. Evers, air maintenance mechanic with Sailor. Donations are being accepted at: 15th MEU Suicide Prevention 12 native; HMM-166; Spokane, Wash. native; Memorial Fund, c/o Force Recon Association, PMB B Section Staff Sgt. William C. Dame, 33, explosive ordnance Cpl. Adam L. Johns, air maintenance mechanic with 1775, 3748-B Mission Ave., Oceanside, Ca., 92054- Toys for Tots, Holiday Events disposal technician with MEU Service Support Group HMM-166; Fairfield, Ohio native; 1460. Retired Maj. Gary Mane, reachable at (760) 439- SM&SP, Tree Lighting, Holiday Safety 2 15; Yuma; Ariz.