Hostages Receive Awards WASHINGTON, D.C
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HAWAIIVoluntary payment MCAS per four week period for delivery MARINEto housing/$1 VOL. 10 NO. 28" KANEOHE BAY, HAWAII, JULY 15, 1981 EIGHTEEN PAGES Hostages receive awards WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Marine Corps Recruiting Station Sgt John D. McKeel Jr., now hostages by refusing to cooperate Department of Defense has in Milwaukee, attempted to escape attending aviation maintenance with his captors." announced that the nine Marine during captivity. He . "was technician school at Naval Air Sgt Rodney V. Sickmann, who security guards held hostage in physically assaulted, placed in Station, Memphis, Tenn., was told has since left active duty in the Iran will be awarded the Defense solitary confinement, and by his captors that his mother had Marine Corps, also faced a mock Meritorious Service Medal. threatened with death by his died. "Intensely interrogated for 12 firing squad during his captivity. The Meritorious Service Medal is captors for refusing to assist them hours after his capture and later "Directed to the second floor of the presented to active duty members by providing information about falsely advised that his mother building and realizing that the of the U.S. Armed Forces who his fellow hostages and the nature was dead and that he would be situation was critical, he assisted distinguish themselves in joint of his Marine Corps duties." released if he cooperated, he Embassy personnel in barricading activities by noncombat meritori- Sgt Steven W. Kirtley, currently steadfastly rebuked his captors the second floor entrance and ous achievement or service that is assigned to the Armed Forces and revealed only his name, rank, prepared to defend the area incontestably exceptional and of a Examining and Entrance Station, and social security number." against further penetration . magnitude that clearly places an in Little Rock, Ark., protected the Subjected to physical mistreat- individual above his peers. life of a fellow hostage while in Sgt Gregory A. Persinger, now ment and interrogation during the Citations accompanying the captivity. According to his on Marine Security Guard duty in initial takeover and later forced to medals stated the Marines citation, "On several occasions, he Djakarta, Indonesia, faced a mock stand before a mock firing squad," "reflected great credit upon" displayed exceptional courage by firing squad during captivity. he also was commended for themselves, "the United States attempting to protect the life of a "Subjected to physical mistreat- refusing to cooperate with his Marine Corps, and the Depart- fellow hostage who had been ment and interrogation during the captors. ment of Defense . by frequently beaten. He harassed the initial takeover, then later forced to The medals have been forwarded ' exceptionally meritorious service guards and diverted attention from stand before a mock firing squad, to appropriate commands for from Nov. 4, 1979 through Jan. 20, that hostage, thus exposing he kept faith with his fellow presentation this month. 1981, while being held hostage by himself to more personal danger." the Revolutionary Government of Sgt Paul E. Lewis, who has since Iran." been released from active duty in SSgt Michael E. Moeller, the Marine Corps, provided Policy currently attending the Computer information after his release which Science School at Quantico, Va., assisted the United States in was the senior Marine at the assessing the damage caused to Tehran Embassy. His citation national security. "Placed in Officials redefine terminal leave states, "On duty during the attack solitary confinement for his WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the advent of a new policy, MOON WALK - During Apollo 11 lunar exploration 12 years ago, upon the Embassy he, as obstinate behavior towards his "Terminal leave," or leave in authorized commanding officers Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., walks on the moon's surface while noncommissioned officer-in- captors, he attempted to determine conjunction with separation or can approve separation leave up to being photographed by Astronaut Neil A. Armstrong with a 70mm charge of the Marine Security which classified material was retirement, has been redefined, 90 days without Headquarters lunar surface camera. Guard, immediately ordered all compromised during the takeover affecting thousands of Marines Marine Corps consent. However, Marines present to don their riot of the Embassy. Whenever his annually. no replacement will be provided for control gear and take up captors made an accusation that Marine while he/she is in a emergency defensive duty against the United States, he told THE SEPARATION and separation leave status. Addi- Moon Day honors stations." his captors to prove it." Retirement Branch emphasized in tionally, Marines seeking Sgt William A. Gallegos, Sgt James M. Lopez, currently ALMAR 080/81 that commanding retirement or transfer to the FMCR currently serving at the U.S. on Marine Security Guard duty at officers authorized to grant leave with separation leave must add the Marine Corps Recruiting Station the U.S. Embassy in Helsinki, can disapprove requests for amount of separation leave to the historic lunar feat in Denver, singlehandedly held the Finland, aided three embassy terminal leave, unless the Marine minimum submission time. militants at bay for almost an civilian employees to escape. retiring or separating has accepted It's a long way from historic phrase "one nation should commit hour. "For refusing to cooperate "Realizing an avenue to escape a position with a government REQUESTS FOR SEPARA- the sands of a North small step for man, one itself to achieving the with his captors, a pistol was remained open, he assisted several agency. tion leave by a Marine who has Carolina field to the giant leap for man- goal before this decade placed against his head and the Consulate civilians to that exit and The change in policy occurred accepted employment with a dust of a lunar plain. kind." is out, of landing a man trigger pulled. In an attempt to remained behind to ensure all had due to the large number of requests government agency must be And it seemed impos- Today, the remem- on the moon." divert attention from fellow safely escaped. The successful by enlisteds asking for transfer to forwarded to Commandant of sible at times for people brance of that tre- hostages and to spare them escape of these civilians was the Fleet Marine Corps Reserve, the Marine Corps, Code MMSR. to conceive a man on mendous feat is pre- FULFILLMENT of additional trauma, he volunteered directly attributed to his actions. plus those Marines seeking Approval of the request is subject the moon starting with served in the form of that resolution was to be interviewed before Iranian Captured after attempting to retirement and officers who are to command concurrence. those four less-than-a- Moon Day each July 20. further urged by the cameras in order to communicate escape, he continuously resisted resigning. With the many requests Additional information regard- minute flights by This year the week of earlier space successes with his military commanders and the interrogation efforts of his handled monthly by the ing leave and separation under the Orville and Wilbur July 19.25 is designated of the Russians. inform them of the true hostage captors and expressed his separation branch, if has been new policy can be found in Wyjsht in that Carolina as U.S. Space Obser- America pulled to- situation." resistance through drawings and difficult to replace those in a forthcoming changes to MCO INN Dec. 17, 1903. vance Week. This 12th gether, pooled their Mgt Kevin J. Hermening, writings that lifted the morale of "separation leave" status. P1050.3E and P1900.16B. anniversary of man's collective resources of currently assigned to the U.S. his fellow hostages " BUT IT WAS just first trek on the moon is ingenuity, industrial less than 66 years later dedicated to honoring know-how, scientific that another two men, man's exploits in space. knowledge and ability Neil Armstrong and to achieve a dream and Edwin "Buzz" Aldrin, The historic landing reached to the heavens. became the first men on of Americans on the The majority of us the moon. It was July moon was the culmin- may never walk on the 20, 1969. ation of a whole moon or feel its dusty Following the long nation's efforts. Presi- terrain. But each year awaited statement "the dent John Kennedy we can all share in the HOMEWARD BOUND - The Eagle has landed" Neil said May 25, 1961 that, observance of that first remains of three unidentified Armstrong voiced his "I believe that this moon walk. prisoners of war were returned to the United States by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, July 8. Carrying the Americans observe casket of one are Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Riordan, Air Force Airman let Class William Solomon, P.O.W.-M.I.A. Day. Marine Sgt Gene Huguenin and WASHINGTON, D.C. - On and for all of us. Our nation will Army Spec 4 Christian Gruber. June 12, 1981, President Ronald continue to seek answers to the After a brief, solem% ceremony Reagan proclaimed Friday, July many questions that remain about at Hickam Air Force Base the 17, 1981, "National P.O.W.-M.I.A. their fate. remains were taken to the Recognition Day." The following Now therefore, I, Ronald Army Central Identification is the text from the proclamation. Reagan, President of the United Laboratory in Honolulu. Throughout American history States of America, do hereby USAF photo by SSgt. Lo,o Sabot our prisoners of war have been proclaim Friday, July 17, 1981 as called upon to make uncommon National P.O.W.-M.I.A. Recogni- sacrifices. In fulfilling their duty tion Day, a day dedicated to all as citizens of the United States former prisoners of war, to those they have defended American still missing and to their families.