Hawaii Haleiwa B-1 MCCS & SM&SP B-2 Volunteers B-3 Menu B-5 Word to Pass B-6 Baseball C-1 Sports Briefs C-2 the Bottom Line C-3
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INSIDE SecNav Letter A-2 SOTG A-3 Recycling A-6 Hawaii Haleiwa B-1 MCCS & SM&SP B-2 Volunteers B-3 Menu B-5 Word to Pass B-6 Baseball C-1 Sports Briefs C-2 The Bottom Line C-3 Operation SPURS D-1 MVMOLUME 35, NUMBER 7 ARINEARINEWWW.MCBH.USMC.MIL FEBRUARY 18, 2005 31st MEU begins journey home Press Release Natonski and Sgt. Maj. Wayne R. Bell, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 31st MEU Public Affairs Office sergeant major of the 1st Marine 3rd Marine Regiment, the MEU’s ground Division, visited the Marines and Sailors combat element, fought in the battle for CAMP RIPPER, Iraq — The 31st as they transferred responsibility of the Fallujah alongside the Marines and Marine Expeditionary Unit relinquished area of operations to RCT-7. Sailors of RCT-7 and MEU Service Support the responsibility of providing security “This generation of Marines is as good, Group 31. MSSG-31, the MEU’s combat and stability in Iraq’s western Al Anbar if not better, than previous generations of service support element, provided neces- province to Regimental Combat Team 7 Marines,” said Bell. “I am proud to have sary logistical support during the Fallujah of the 1st Marine Division, Feb. 7. served with (the MEU).” operation. Marine Medium Helicopter The Okinawa-based unit has been in The 2,200-member Marine Expedi- Squadron 265 (Reinforced), the MEU’s air place since mid-October 2004 and was tionary Unit was responsible for a wide combat element, accumulated more than tasked with planning and executing vari- range of missions that included assistance 4,300 flight hours, which included more ous missions throughout a 33,000 square- and security for Iraq’s first free elections, than 2,000 hours flown during night mile area of operations, approximately cordon and knocks operations against the operations. The squadron transported the size of South Carolina. insurgency, civil affairs missions, Iraqi more than 10,000 personnel and lifted “I don’t believe anyone else could have border security, training of Iraqi security more than 835,000 pounds of cargo Lance Cpl. Will Lathrop done as good of a job,” said Maj. Gen. forces, security of the Hadithah Dam, as throughout the Al Anbar province and its Sgt. Maj. Wayne R. Bell, sergeant major, 1st Marine Division, thanks Richard A. Natonski, commanding gener- well as other operations needed to further AV-8B Harriers supported the 3rd Marine the Marines and Sailors of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit for al, 1st Marine Division, I Marine stabilize the area in support of the inter- their support in Operation Iraqi Freedom during a formation at Expeditionary Force. im Iraqi government. See 31ST MEU, A-7 Camp Ripper, Iraq on Feb. 7. Fallujah battles On the advance highlight joint capabilities Mr. Jim Garamone destroying the insurgent safe haven American Forces Press Service in Fallujah,” Hagee said. “This close- quarters fight against an adaptable WASHINGTON — Nothing high- and dangerous enemy was executed lights the importance of flexibility rapidly and successfully.” and joint capabilities better than the What’s more, the general said, recent battle of Fallujah, the com- once the fight was over, the Marines mandant of the Marine Corps told and soldiers “immediately returned to the Senate Armed Services Committee counterinsurgency and civil affairs Feb. 10. operations.” Gen. Michael Hagee said the battle While the battle highlighted suc- in November and December 2004 cess, there are challenges ahead, highlighted the flexibility, adaptabili- Hagee told the senators. “The tempo ty and joint capabilities of the U.S. of operations and demands on the military. force are extremely high across the “The Marine force, tightly integrat- entire Marine Corps, both regular and ed with Army brigades, Seabees, joint reserve, in supporting the global war air assets, and coalition forces includ- on terror,” he said. ing five Iraqi battalions, mounted a Since Operation Enduring high-intensity joint assault in a demanding urban environment, See FALLUJAH, A-7 Marines awarded Purple Heart Sgt. Jereme L. Edwards Cpl. Lewis, a fire team leader with Combat Correspondent 1/3 Bravo Company was injured near Fallujah in late October of last year. Everyone is born, physically, with “Our convoy was headed back to base a heart; however, there have been camp after a patrolling mission, and events in life that have enabled many we were struck by a vehicle-born of the men and women in our improvised explosive device,” said nation’s military to be awarded a sec- the 24-year-old Handen, Conn. ond. Cpl. Christopher Lewis and native. Lance Cpl. Joshua Fincham, both Lance Cpl. Fincham, a rifleman with 1st Battalion 3rd Marine with 1/3 Charlie Company was Regiment, were awarded the Purple injured in Fallujah in November of Heart at a ceremony held here aboard last year. Fincham was a member of MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, Charlie Company’s house-cleaning Wednesday as a result of injuries sus- mission, which he said was scheduled tained while doing their part in the to take four days to complete. But, War on Terror. within a “dramatic” 12 hours, Charlie Company had covered two miles and Cpl. Michelle M. Dickson cleared more than 20 houses. Marines from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment receive training from Special Operations Training Group, Okinawa, “In Fallujah, all the houses blend Japan on the pistol range. Through Feb. 26, 2/3 Marines will learn how to load and unload their weapon, presenta- together so one house can look like tion, correcting malfunctions and how to shoot on the move. See page A-3 for the whole story. two and two can look like one,” explained the 20-year-old Virginia Beach native. Fincham said that his team was clearing houses, when upon entering one house something just Corps takes look at structure didn’t seem right. “My team leader cleared a room 2nd Lt. Clinton Gebke flicts, including Operation Iraqi include, but are not limited to, the under the stairs, then we realized a MCB Quantico Freedom and Operation Enduring addition of active duty elements group of insurgents had cut holes in Freedom, and developed 60 initia- such as two infantry battalions, the ceiling. Then they begin to fire at MARINE CORPS COMBAT tives to help the Marine Corps three light armored reconnaissance us. While we were returning fire we DEVELOPMENT COMMAND, adjust to an ever-changing world companies, three reconnaissance didn’t see that they had dropped MCB QUANTICO, Va. — In March environment. These initiatives will companies, two force reconnais- grenades through the holes. The first 2004, representatives from Marine create, disestablish and realign units sance platoons, and one air and one went off, blowing me into anoth- Corps combat, support and acquisi- throughout the occupational spe- naval gunfire liaison company. er room with my friend Lance Cpl. tions elements came together to cialties affecting several thousand Additions to the Marine Corps Robert Carter,” he said. form the Force Structural Review active duty and reserve Marines. Reserve will include one anti-terror- Fincham went on to explain that Group. The purpose: To take a hard, “We made some hard decisions,” ism battalion, two light armored when he realized what was going on, detailed look at the Marine Corps’ said Gen. Mike Hagee, commandant reconnaissance companies and one and after getting over the initial force structure and adapt it to meet of the Marine Corps. “We are going intelligence support battalion. Sgt. Jereme L. Edwards shock of what had happened, he real- the unified combatant commander’s to realign some force structure in In addition to the units men- ized that Carter was on the ground, Cpl. Christopher Lewis (left), a fire team evolving needs in the global war on order to increase our flexibility, tioned above, the Corps is also look- leader with Bravo Company 1/3 and hurt. It was then that he realized that terrorism. adaptability and agility to respond ing to increase the number of lin- Lance Cpl. Joshua Fincham, a rifleman he, too, had been hit. The 30-day conference took into to contingencies and the global war guists, explosive ordinance disposal with Charlie Company 1/3 receive the account many factors, focusing on on terrorism.” Purple Heart, Wednesday. See HEARTS, A-7 lessons learned from recent con- High priority changes will See STRUCTURE, A-6 A-2 • FEBRUARY 18, 2005 HAWAII MARINE Secretary of the Navy Expresses Condolences to Kaneohe Bay Marines/Sailors and Their Families NEWS BRIEFS The commanding general, Marine Corps Base Hawaii received the following letter from the Secretary of the Navy, the Honorable Clarification of Gordon England. Base Order on Signs There was one piece of information that was erroneously published in last week’s article regard- ing the Base Order on signs. The following is the corrected information: Units and individuals may post signs two days prior to arrival. Signs may be posted as follows: •On unit buildings and family quarters — any number of personalized signs for individuals or groups is authorized. •On the fence at Riseley Field that parallels “G” Street (across from the Semper Fit Center) — any number of unit signs. No personalized signs for individuals are authorized at this location. Note: The returning unit and individuals must remove welcome home signs no later than three days following the return of the main body of troops. The base inspector will remove signs that do not conform to these regulations. National Prayer Breakfast The National Prayer Breakfast will be held on Thursday at Anderson Dining Facility, Building 1089. Col. Richard C. Roten, deputy commander, MCB Hawaii will be the guest speaker. The cost for the breakfast is $1.90.