HMI-1-362 Is Squadron of the Year
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Hawaii Marine Marine to Medical Day on the Docks A-6 Volume 29, Number 21 Serving Marine Corps Base Hawaii May 25, 2000 B-1 wwwwwwornarr 111111111P HMI-1-362 is squadron of the year Cpl. Charles C. Moore The squadron captured the award Combat Correspondent because of their consistently high level While Marine Heavy Helicopter of performance, even on short notice, Squadron 362 may not have gone from Gordon said. The "Ugly Angels" were the halls of Montezuma to the shores of put to the test when they deployed to Tripoli, they have gone from the shores India to support the president of the of Hawaii to the country of India, among United States with little notice. other places. With less than a week notice, the CO Charles F Moore Because of their meritorious service squadron deployed five CH-53D heli- Col. T.M. Gordon, the Aviation Support Element, Kaneohe, commanding officer, addresses Marines from HMM 362 during their deployments over the . past copters. The squadron remained 100 after presenting them with a trophy for being named the top squadron in the ASEK Friday in Hangar 101. year, these "Ugly Angels" won squadron percent mission capable during their time of the year trophy for the Aviation in India. They participated in five presi- Maj. Brian Cavanaugh, maintenance port element helped give the trophy addi- Mitchell had only been with the Support Element, Kaneohe Bay. dential lifts there as well. officer. tional meaning. squadron two days when they received Their hard work and perseverance The squadron also provided support to While HMH-362 was given more than "It's a very competitive ASE," said Lt. the trophy. The award shows evidence of paid off Friday as Col. T.M. Gordon, the III Marine Expeditionary Force, a week's notice for most of their deploy- Col. Doug Wadsworth, the HMM-362 the caliber of HMM-362, and the ASEK commanding officer, presented deployed to an expeditionary environ- ments, the squadron often felt the time executive officer. "It's an honor to be Marines that make up the squadron. them with the trophy. ment five times and participated in two constraints, Pancerella said. awarded." "This award makes me look forward "It's definitely motivating for the combined arms exercises as the aviation "You don't go into it looking for an The honor says something about the to the people I'm going to be working squadron," said Sgt. Jim Pancerella, crew combat element. award. - You just accomplish your squadron and the individual Marines with," he said. "It makes me feel excited chief. "It shows the work we did didn't "We were very fortunate, over the past assigned missions," Cavanaugh said. working there, said Pfc. Jason Mitchell, a for what I'm going to see and do in the go unnoticed." year, to accomplish a lot of things," said Their competition in the aviation sup- flightline mechanic. future." Riveting site dedication ceremony recalls Iwo Jima Lance Cpl. N. Trent Lowry scene, though, the background noise was only that servicemembers of World War Two's "great genera- Hawaii, echoed Durham's sentiments on its planned Combat Correspondent of an occasional Marine and Navy helicopter pass- tion." placement near the Main Gate. She said that a corn- In some areas of the beach, the wail of Marine ing by and of automobile traffic leaving the base as "Our veterans' stories make up the story of puter graphic rendition of what the monument bagpipes could be heard over the chaotic din of the afternoon sunlight glittered off the bay. America - the America that rose to greatness dur- would look like at the site, in a position where it American and Japanese gunfire while the ground The bagpipers, members of the Hawaiian Thistle ing the 20th century on the shoulders of ordinary cit- may be seen from across Kaneohe Bay day and units of the 5th Marine Division landed on the Pipe Band, played at the site dedication ceremony izens who did not shirk at the highest responsibility night, created enthusiastic support from the associa- shores of Iwo Jima the morning of Feb. 19, 1945. for the Iwo Jima Memorial, which is project plan- of citizenship - and who were willing to pay the tion's board of directors. More than 50 years later, three bagpipers played ners hope to dedicate at the ceremony site in 2001. highest price to preserve peace and freedom," said "At last there will be a symbol of the flag-raising the same tune, "Cock of the North," in a similarly The moving ceremony, attended by Marine and Brig. Gen. R.E. Parker Jr., commanding general of in the Pacific area, where it belongs," Clark said. haunting moment May 17 near the main gate of other armed service veterans, set an appropriate MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, during the ceremony. "Many of the veterans with whom I've spoken are MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay. In contrast to the first atmosphere for respectful tribute to all American The ceremony featured a scale model replica of overjoyed that there will finally be an Iwo Jima the planned memorial, remarks by Brig. Gen. Parker memorial in the Pacific." and special guest Dr. George Durham, and a tradi- The monument will not only beautify the tional Hawaiian religious blessing of the site, per- entrance to the base, it will also serve a greater pur- formed by Rev. William Kaina. Music for the cere- pose, according to the base commander. "This mon- mony was provided by the Marine Forces Pacific ument is for all of us, including the veterans of Iwo Band and the three bagpipers - Marines 2nd Lt. Jima. But more importantly, it is for your generation Justin Stodghill and Major James Kennedy, and of Marines and Sailors and those who come after Pipemajor Jacob Kaio of Kailua. you," Brig. Gen. Parker told a reporter after the cer- Durham's tent mate at Camp Tarawa on Hawaii - emony, "so (the future generations) don't forget the where the 5th Marine Division trained before sacrifices that were made on their behalf. When departing to fight the Battle of Iwo Jima - was jazz they see this monument, they will understand the composer/arranger (turned Sailor) Larry Wagner. significance of freedom and peace, and what the Before and after the battle, Wagner wrote "The Men cost often is to keep them." of Iwo Jima March," a patriotic musical piece dedi- Mr. Ray Lovell, the master of ceremonies and a cated to Iwo Jima veterans, which the MarForPac well-known voice in Hawaii over the past 30 years, Band played at last week's ceremony. invited any audience members who took part in the "The composition involved a Marine and a sailor, Battle of Iwo Jima, or who had served in any capac- just like the flag-raising on Iwo Jima involved ity during World War II, to join Brig. Gen. Parker, Marines and a Sailor," Durham said. "I think it's Mrs. Clark and Dr. Durham in the symbolic break- really appropriate now, especially since Kaneohe ing of ground for the memorial. Each veteran came Bay has Sailors and Marines again together." to the microphone and gave his name, his unit, Speaking of the planned Iwo Jima memorial here at where he had served and, in a few cases, the name MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, he continued, "The of a friend who had not returned from battle or who monument belongs on a military base, and this loca- could not attend that day. tion (provides). a good vantage point for people to The World War II veterans included Tom Kalus, see it," Durham added. Allen Anderson, Richard Fiske, retired Marine Lt. Lance Col M. Trent Lowry Alice Clark, chairperson of the Pacific War Gen. Alpha Bowser, John Mitchell, and several Members of the Hawaiian Thistle Pipe Band play a mournful piece during the groundbreaking cer- Memorial Association, Inc., the non-profit organiza- emony for the Iwo Jima Memorial which is scheduled for completion in early 2001. tion whose goal is to make the memorial a reality for See Iwo JIMA, A-2 Iwo Jima remarks Commanding General approves Editor's Note: Senator Daniel Akaka was unable to attend the recent groundbreaking ceremony for the Iwo Jima memorial. In the following reflective he sends his regards to Hawaii. attire remarks Marine Corps Base regulations Cpl. David Salazar It is with great pleasure that I extend my warmest aloha to all who have gath- Lifestyles Editor viduals exercising or "just plain getting ing headsets while running or working ered for this site dedication of a copy of the National Iwo Jima memorial. from point 'A' to point '3' on base in out, and guideliges for running or dri- I take this opportunity to congratulate Ms. Alice Clark and members of the Changes to Marine Corps Base the hours of darkness, are required to ving near the base flightline. Pacific War Memorial Association and the National Iwo Jima Survivors' Hawaii Order P5500.15A, which gov- wear light-colored clothing in conjunc- Association for their hard work and cooperative efforts that brought this project erns the use of reflective attire during tion with reflective gear, Rivera said. to fruition. The replica of the bronze monument depicting the flag raising atop hours of darkness, were approved May 8. Formations must also "use all means Mt. Suribachi, during the Battle of Iwo Jima is a monumental tribute to the men The changes were approved more possible to make (themselves) visible to Index and women in the U.S. Military, who served in the Pacific, during World War IT- than three months after initial efforts to vehicle operators during the hours of This memorial symbolizes the unified efforts of our armed forces, and the clarify the original order were made.