New Members As Vips by Lcpl
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
\fn.. MAR 11: (1 Helping to keep Hawaii Marine green Apr I 20 1973) Joint Reception Center Treats All New Members as VIPs By LCpl. Bob McManus Among tire many advantages of will receive in administrative and the new reception process are orientation matters, K-BAY Checking in probably but probably the - man hours saved by both the individual most important tire most frustrating, factor will be the tiring, checking in and the offices winch time-consuming experience a Marine previously processed each arrival in a effective all-encompassing reporting to a new duty station must briefing fragmented individual basis. each man fact:, but starting this week checking in receives on the facilities and An additional benefit will be the services will be an entirely new experience for available to him and his professional treatment new personnel family. Marines and their families reporting for 'duty here. A Joint Reception Center was established Monday in Building 279 and. with it comes a new concept in the reception process for new arrivals here. "In the past," said Colonel W.I. White, Station commanding officer, "personnel reporting for duty with Brigade and Station units not only were processed through separately, but in all cases accomplished the check-in process on an individual basis. This arrangement could at best be called marginally satisfactory." The primary purpose of the Joint Reception Center is to welcome the new member, convey the feeling that he is the most important person aboard, handle his administrative matters quickly and familiarize him with his new surroundings during the first 24 hours he is aboard the Station. The reception process DECLARED DEAD FIVE YEARS AGO -Marine Sergeant Ronald L. Ridgeway, 23, of Houston, Tex., vividly relives moments consists of two half-day cycles, administrative from more than five years of captivity during a news conference held U.S. Naval Hospital, April 9. and at Camp Pendleton's orientation, which Ridgeway who returned here March 19, was officially on Feb. run concurrently declared dead after his patrol was ambushed 25, 1968, the action twice daily in which he was taken prisoner. to insure that every man is processed within one clay of arrival. Upon reporting to the Joint Reception Center, the Marine will begin administrative processing. This Declared Killed in1968, will entail in Action billeting, endorsing orders, receiving and computing pay records, by ySgt. Larry Saskl SACKED OUT - Two newly arrived Marines take full advantage of a few extra filing travel claims, preparation of the minutes during the checking-in process and catch a little shut-eye. While checking in unit diary feeder information sheets, is still a tiring experience, the newly organized Joint Reception Center will now Marine POW auditing health and dental records and Is Very Much Alive ease the process by providing consolidated one stop facilities for new arrivals updating here. lsy LCpl. Bob James from their psalm's, thinking that the other man worked together, required innoculations. Soon to be included they had annihilated the Marine force. pulling the pin and throwing the in the process is a dental examination. CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Ridgeway fired a burst of automatic grenade off to the right. The next Orientation and briefing, Private First Class Ronald L. Ridgeway fire into the troops moving from the thing they saw was an American jet the Moving Now Made Easier second half of the reception looked up, hoping to see a Marine left, hitting two, as another Marine coming straight down at them. cycle, What he saw consists of a 45-minute bus tour of the pulling him to safety. shot the enemy soldier on the right. When the pilot broke from the instead was the startled face of a Station to acquaint the new man with The enemy troops opened fire dive, he released a napalm bomb, North Vietnamese Army soldier, facilities and their location. Following on the Marines in the trench. As one which exploded in the enemy For Marine Transfers surprised at seeing the American still the tour, a 30.rninute audio-visual of the Marines stood up to fire, he positions ahead of them, so close that May questionable areas and will assist the presentation is CAMP SMITH - The period alive. The enemy trooper was pulling took a burst fire in the chest planned to include a of rifle they were hit with fragments of the through September of each year is military member and his family in off his wristwatch, not pulling him to welcome aboard message and and was killed. Ridgeway and his sole burning jelly. Within seconds a grenade customarily the largest making a smoother and safer PCS safety. information on services and facilities the time when companion decided that the time was was thrown towards the Marines who number of personnel transfers occur. move. That was Feb. 25, 1968. But for now available to the Marine and his family, if they were to ever get out of the had been responsible. The Marine with A suprisingly large number of military The briefings will be presented Sergeant Ridgeway, the moment was such as housing and local economics trench. the face wound raised to his knees just members are inadequately informed by the Director, Household Goods crystal clear during his news and culture. The other Marine sprinted across as it detonated and was killed concerning their personal entitlements Division, Naval Supply Center and conference held April 9,1973 at Camp All personnel will be processed the open field as Ridgeway struggled instantly. in the area transportation and Fourteenth Naval District Passenger Pendleton's U.S. Naval Hospital. through the Joint Reception Center of to get out of the trench, his pack "As night fell over the area, we movement of personal property. Transportation Officer at the "1 imagine I am probably the administrative cycle. Officers, staff caught on the side. As he started out, hoped we could make it away under Submarine Base Theater at 9 a.m. on only Marine who survived the NCOs and personnel accompanied by Briefings have been scheduled to he saw the Marine kneeling beside the darkness. I was wounded in the April 25; at 9 a.m. on May 17; and 9 ambush," said the Texan, who arrived dependents are not required to apprise personnel of the current another wounded Marine in the field. left shoulder and the other man had a a.m. on June 1. They will last at Camp Pendleton, March 19. participate in the bus ride, but are situation regarding their personal Moving up beside them, he could see broken right arm, so we were both approximately an hour and will be a doubt, he was luckier than required to attend the next scheduled transportation and the shipment of Without the man had a broken arm. Enemy fire weak," said the sergeant. followed by a question and answer the rest. welcome aboard presentation as well household goods and privately owned continued to pour in on the trio as Evening brought darkness, but it period. as check in with the Housing Office vehicles. The morning of Feb. 25 brought they sought any possible cover. also brought fire from American and Temporary these briefings more of the same for the Marines Ridgeway felt something bounce Lodging Allowance Attendance at (Continued on Page 8) (TLA) Office. clarify many fighting to hold Kite Sanh. Mortar on his legs and when he looked back, will undoubtedly Policy Changes rounds, rockets, and machinegun fire he could see the Marine, who had been continued to make the area a hot spot. with him in the trenches, laying there, Ridgeway's unit, the 26th Marine shot through the face. At the same Regiment, later to earn the time, a , round smashed into For Retirement Presidential Unit Citation for their Ridgeway's shoulder, slamming him to OAHU Headquarters Marine heroism there, fought day by day to the ground after putting his arm out of - Corps announced a change of policy hold the outpost. use. last week regarding retirement or "The mission of our patrol that The Marines spotted an transfer to the Fleet Marine Corps day was to check the perimeter observation plane flying overhead. defenses, Reserve. since we knew that enemy Pulling a smoke grenade from the man Effective immediately, requests troops had been digging under the wounded in the face, Ridgeway and concertina wire, attempting to reach for transfer and retirement to Fleet our position," Ridgeway recalled. Marine Corps Reserve must reach not earlier than six With that goal in mind, a 45-man Special Services Headquarters patrol set out to find and repair any months nor later than three months damage done by the enemy. Things prior to the desired date of retirement went smoothly until two enemy or transfer. Offers Antidote of forward observers were spotted. The Results and certification should Marines set off after them. The next physical examinations few minutes became hours. Hours accompany the request. became days. For Travel Itch' Marines whose applications have been submitted under the previous 14 A network of trenches dug by reapply. OAHU Have the month provision need not the enemy troops was soon sighted by - itch to travel, but short on the "scratch" the Marines. Heavy fire rained down and time for it? on Ridgeway and the Marines around Union A one-day Panorama K-Bay Credit him. The order came: "Move toward Air Tour of all islands the trenches." eight that includes a ground-tour of the three Drops interest Rates "Three of us were together. major islands is now available through Special Almost immediately a grenade fell into The Kaneohe Federal Services for $60 per person.