U.S. Navy fi le photos See pages A-3, A-4, A-5 Welcome to RIMPAC 2018 and B-1
June 22, 2018 www.issuu.com/navyregionhawaii www.hookelenews.com Volume 9 Issue 24 15th Wing welcomes new commander Story and photo by As the new commander, Capt. Nicole White Burks expressed his gratitude for the 15th Wing Public Affairs opportunity to lead the wing and spoke directly to Members of the 15th the Airmen of Joint Base Wing offered aloha to a Pearl Harbor-Hickam. new commander during a “To the men and women change of command cer- of the 15th Wing — I emony June 20. During cannot put into words the ceremony, Col. Kevin what an honor it is to be Gordon transferred here today,” he said. command to Col. W. “Thank you for raising Halsey Burks. your right hand and Lt. Gen. Kenneth Wils- volunteering to serve in bach, 11th Air Force a time of war. Since the commander, presided 2001 terror attacks a over the ceremony be- little over five thousand fore a crowd of Airmen, Airmen have joined to Sailors, Soldiers, civilian serve on active duty, both and military dignitaries, officer and enlisted side. and community leaders The road is never easy but at h istoric Hickam Field you continue to serve. To Base Operations. people all over the world, Wilsbach noted the you represent liberty. Be 15th Wing’s Airmen for proud of that. I’m proud their contributions and of that. I’m excited and impact to the Pacifi c Air deeply honored to serve Forces mission. alongside you.” “The lineage of the Burks entered the Air 15th is one that goes back Force in 1995, earning through World War II by his commission from the taking part in the attack Men and women of the 15th Wing render a fi rst salute to incoming 15th Wing commander, Col. W. Halsey Burks at U.S. Air Force Academy. on Dec. 7, 1941 — also to the 15th Wing change of command ceremony, June 20. Burks arrives to the 15th Wing from 455th Air Expeditionary He is a command pilot the end of the war where Wing, Bagram, Afghanistan. with more than 3,500 they participated in long- hours including combat range escort missions. world dominance not only “Today we celebrate the do great things.” and authority were time in support of Today, the wing employs in the Indo-Pacifi c Region accomplishments of one With the ceremonial transferred from one Operations Enduring the C-17 for worldwide but around the world,” commander and welcome passing of the wing’s offi cer to another in front Freedom, Iraqi Freedom lift and the F-22 for Wilsbach said. another that will go on to guidon, responsibility of those present. and New Dawn.
Pearl Harbor survivor Ray Emory honored U.S. Navy photo by MC2 Justin Pacheco Retired Chief Boatswain’s Mate and Pearl Harbor survivor Ray Emory is rendered honors during a surprise ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, June 19. Bill Doughty ships. USS O’Kane rendered three “He then fought across the Pacific,” Taylor presented Emory with a cheers, and chief petty offi cers shouted Fort said. “He served in seven invasions shadow box and folded Prisoner of War/ Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Surface the “Navy Chief, Navy Pride” chant as across the Pacific: Tarawa, Kwajalein, Missing in Action fl ag printed with the Group Middle Pacifi c Public Affairs Emory, followed by several family mem- Saipan, Guam, Leyte Gulf, Lingayen words: “You are not forgotten.” bers and close friends, approached. Gulf and Iwo Jima.” Looking out over the hundreds of Sailors from seven homeported sur- The ceremony also included a fly-by After the war and after he retired Sailors, Fort said, “Ray never forgot face ships in Pearl Harbor saluted, from three SH-60Rs from the Heli- from a civilian career Ray continued his shipmates. We will never forget our cheered and thanked 97-year-old former copter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 to serve. shipmate: Navy Chief Ray Emory.” Chief Boatswain’s Mate Ray Emory in a “Easyriders.” USS O’Kane provided He made it his life’s mission to iden- Emory plans to leave Hawaii next surprise ceremony, June 19. a wreath that was placed at the USS tify the remains of more than 100 week to live with family in Boise, Idaho. Emory thought he was just visiting Honolulu marker. previously unidentified service mem- Earlier in the morning, the Defense the site of where his beloved USS Hono- Rear Adm. Brian Fort, commander, bers killed on Dec. 7 and buried at the POW/MIA Accounting Agency an- lulu (CL 48) was berthed Dec. 7, 1941. Navy Region Hawaii and Naval Sur- National Memorial Cemetery of the nounced that another USS Oklahoma On his way down the pier toward the face Group Middle Pacific, welcomed Pacifi c (Punchbowl). Sailor was identified and will be bur- Honolulu’s commemorative marker, Ray and thanked him for his service Pearl Harbor Survivor Liaison retired ied June 26 in Pensacola, Florida: Navy Emory, riding in an open-air golf-cart- throughout the war in the Pacifi c. Master Chief Yeoman Jim Taylor spoke Pharmacist’s Mate 1st Class John H. style vehicle, was treated to an honor During the attack 76 years ago Emory at the ceremony and said, “Ray, you’re Schoonover, 39, of Port Edwards, Wis- cordon of 520 Sailors. ran to his battle station, a .50-caliber the man that did it ... If it wasn’t for consin, who was killed during the attack Sailors lined the rails on three nearby machine gun, to return fi re. you, it would have never been done.” on the USS Oklahoma in World War II. A-2 • June 22, 2018 HO‘OKELE taff gt. kyler oss, air traffi c control s ecialist for the th ir raffi c Control uadron, communicates o er a H fre uency with a ci ilian helico ter ilot as he checks into the tem orary ight restriction airs ace in ahoa, une . Air traffi c controllers U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. James Ro answer call
Master Sgt. waii to support Operation “We are monitoring Working in such a dy- safety in mind, the task the distance from the Christopher Schepers Ho‘opalekana. In less than the entry and exit of namic environment with force also realizes there shoreline which benefits 24 hours, Bicoy was able aircraft into and out of so many moving parts, is a need to be flexible to twofold by allowing tour State of Hawaii, Depart- to gather a team of five the TFR and providing safety is always a priority many factors and adapt to helicopters to take closer ment of Defense, Public people to deploy to Ha- deconfliction to all for everyone involved. an ever-changing environ- pictures and if a helicopter Affairs Offi ce waii’s Big Island. aircraft operating in Bicoy’s team had to ment in Hawaii County. ever got into trouble with “Most of us have been the temporary flight ensure that there was a “We redefined the TFR weather they could use When the Kilauea away from our families for restriction area.” common practice between because when we first the shoreline to navigate.” volcano erupted on seven months,” Bicoy said. Staff Sgt. Skyler all involved parties when came here it was just a The National Guard’s Hawaii’s Big Island, “It was the fi rst day back Ross, air traffic control they hit the ground. 5-mile circle that focused mission during Operation members of the 297th Air to work for me and most of specialist assigned to the “The biggest thing is on the Leilani Estates Ho‘opalekana is to conduct Traffi c Control Squadron, the technicians after our 297th Air Traffi c Control that we developed safe area, it didn’t encompass National Guard domestic Hawaii Air National reconstitution time and Squadron said they are procedures, when we hit the entire area of respon- operations and defense Guard, were just getting that was the day that we also assisting the fire the ground running there sibility,” Bicoy explained. support to civil authorities home from a seven-month were activated.” department in making the were no procedures in “As the area of responsibil- to save lives and prevent deployment that sent The team deployed to operation a sustainable place so we were able to ity changed, we developed human suffering. them to Al Asad Airbase, Hilo to support Hawaii one until their services get a memorandum of un- a new TFR that’s more of “I joined the Hawaii Air Al Anbar Province, Iraq. County Civil Defense, are no longer needed. derstanding between the a polygon shape that en- National Guard to stay in The day before he was specifically the Hawaii “The fire department Hawaii Civil Defense and compasses areas that are Hawaii and to protect the supposed to return to County Fire Department had a very good reaction the users of the TFR,” Bi- critical to air commerce.” land and no matter what work Air National Guard in the management of air- to the emergency, but coy said. “We want to work with the emergency is we are Maj. Irving Bicoy, 297th craft entering and exiting they didn’t have the sus- “By getting everyone on the community so we glad to do anything to Air Traffi c Control Squad- the area under a tempo- tainability plan set up,” the same page and devel- gathered ideas from every- help,” said Ross. ron commander, received rary flight restriction Ross explained. “We have oping common procedures one that was operating in “Being a local boy, every- a call that he was to put (TFR). a very good sustainability and getting out to the com- the TFR to develop an air where we go whether we’re a team of air traffic con- “We are providing a plan doing this on a daily munity we were able to space that was more user in uniform or not, people trollers together for a temporary flight restric- basis and always consis- make a safer operation.” friendly for all users,” Bi- recognize that we’re local deployment to Hilo, Ha- tion service,” Bicoy said. tently reacting.” While always keeping coy said. “We shortened and we’re here to help.” Innovative postal solution provides rapid package retrieval Story and photo by • The entire transac- quire at customer service Shannon Haney tion is recorded and stored windows or checking in- in the package manage- dividual mail receptacles NAVSUP FLC PH ment system for reference for notifi cation,” said Dale Offi ce of Corporate and accountability. Pinchart, director of NAV- Communications “The new intelligent SUP Postal Operations. mail lockers are an inno- “This initiative will Innovative intelligent vative solution to help re- provide managers better locker systems (ILS) are duce customer wait time in-house tracking, abil- in use at the Naval Sup- at the customer service ity to monitor time be- ply Systems Command window as well as pro- tween arrival at facility (NAVSUP) Fleet Logistics vide a delivery option for and delivery to customers Center (FLC) Pearl Har- our customers outside of while maintaining item bor Regional Mail Cen- normal working hours accountability. The foun- ter, the first Department because the lobby is open dation for this global ini- of Defense installation to 24/7,” said James McCaf- tiative was laid in Hawaii leverage this state-of-the- frey, director of Postal Op- and will be implemented art technology. erations, NAVSUP FLC in other locations in the As you walk through Pearl Harbor. very near future.” the automatic sliding “Sailors and Airmen are The second implemen- glass doors to enter the working long hours and tation will be additional mail center lobby, there often going to sea and it’s ILS for Joint Base Pearl are shiny blue lockers on hard to get to the mail Harbor-Hickam com- the left. center; so, we are always mands’ official mail, There are a total of 120 looking at ways we can expected by the end compartments that range support them in getting of fi scal year 18. in size to accommodate their mail and this is a For more news from Ca t. ric Morgan, commanding offi cer, a al u ly ystems Command leet ogistics packages of all sizes. great solution. These new NAVSUP, visit www.navy. Center earl Har or, scans a arcode on his cell hone to retrie e a ackage from the Whether you are receiv- lockers are a win-win for mil/local/navsup/. intelligent locker system at the C earl Har or egional Mail Center. ing a large care package management as well as from home or a small item our customers.” from an online purchase, The early successes your package is accessible of the first implementa- around-the-clock because tion of the ILS have es- the lobby is open 24/7. tablished a launch pad The ILS implemen- for other NAVSUP FLCs tation streamlines the across the enterprise. package process to imp- “The work NAVSUP rove deliverability. FLC Pearl Harbor and As packages arrive: Pitney Bowes did to get • They are registered the first set of intelligent into a cloud-based man- locker systems installed agement system, scanned and operational is a major and assigned both a locker milestone in the NAVSUP and a release code. postal global initiative to • The intended recipient use technology to provide receives this information customers email notifica- in an email and can pick tion of item arrival and up the package at his or greater access to mail via her convenience. ILS without having to in- HO‘OKELE June 22, 2018 • A-
Submitted by David D. Underwood Jr. and Ensign Heather Hill What is your ideal summer vacation?
Daniela White Lt. j.g. Ryan Howie Cryptologic Staff Sgt. Tech. Sgt. Tech. Sgt. Holomoku NEX USS Charlotte Technician 1st Class Betty Owens Michael Chavarria Sarah Petway Adrianne Fletcher PACAF 392nd Intelligence 65th Airlift Squadron “Not having to get “Even though it is IWTS Squadron up early and do my already great here, “Spending time with “Exploring a new daily routine!” somewhere tropical.” “South America, like family, frequent trips to “Family trip to foreign place with my family, Peru or Chile. I was the beach, and eating lands where we explore be it locally or not.” spoiled on deployment different foods.” the culture, history and would love to visit and foods that are those on my own time!” new to us.” Want to see your command featured in Diverse Views? Got opinions to share? Drop us a line at [email protected]
Rear Adm. Brian Fort Commander, Navy Region Hawaii and COMMENTARY Naval Surface Group Middle Pacific Let RIMPAC 2018 be ‘our finest hour’ The Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) At each RIMPAC our Navy trains with ory, a Pearl Harbor survivor, visited the and pay tribute to Chief Emor y. They exercise is the world’s largest maritime friends, partners and colleagues to be Pearl Harbor waterfront to see once manned the rails, formed an honor cor- exercise. It happens right on our capable, adaptive, innovative and ready. again where his ship, USS Honolulu, don, saluted, and shouted “hip, hip, hoo- doorstep once every two years. The From Joint Base Pearl Harbor- was berthed on Dec. 7, 1941, the day ray” to this American hero. Navy’s 26th RIMPAC starts here next Hickam, RIMPAC participants deploy Oahu was attacked. When the call came in 1941, Emory week, hosted by Commander, U.S. to train at Pacific Missile Range Emory fought back that day, man- and hundreds of thousands of other Pacific Fleet and led by Commander, Facility, Barking Sands, and in other ning his machine gun, taking on en- young Americans responded. They U.S. 3rd Fleet. locations in and around the Hawaiian emy planes. He continued to fight on, proved they were capable, adaptive, in- We are welcoming visiting ships and Islands. The people of Hawaii throughout the war in the Pacific. He novative and ready. Working with allies participants from 26 nations who are understand and support our need for and his buddies, with help from the and partners they fought to create a bet- bringing 25,000 personnel to Hawaii – realistic training with our partners. homefront, helped create an unprece- ter world for our grandparents, parents, to the best homeport and duty station RIMPAC offers relevant and realis- dented era of peace, stability and pros- ourselves and our families. in the world. What better place to come tic training that fosters and sustains perity. Victory at the end of World War II We do not take their sacrifi ce and com- together in peace to build cooperation cooperative relationships. At RIMPAC was Ray’s fi nest hour. mitment for granted. We remember. than Pearl Harbor. in 2002 I learned quickly that when we Emory, a long-time resident of Hawaii, At this moment in history, in this sa- In 2002 I participated in RIMPAC understand each other we can prevent is leaving Hawaii for the mainland next cred location, let us – each of us – re- here as executive officer aboard USS miscalculations. We can build trust. We week – two days before the start of RIM- member the heroes who forged the Port Royal (CG 73). It was exhilarat- can preserve peace and prevent confl ict. PAC. He said it was his last time to visit future. Let us dedicate ourselves to hav- ing, challenging and extremely re- History shows us that our former Pearl Harbor. ing another exciting, safe and rewarding warding. And it happened at a historic adversaries can become steadfast It was my honor to be there to shake RIMPAC this summer. Let us commit time for our Navy and nation: one year friends. Japan, Germany and Vietnam his hand and thank him for his service. to superior training, cooperation and after 9/11. are among the participants in Sailors aboard USS O’Kane, berthed readiness, building partnerships and Lessons I learned and friendships I RIMPAC 2018. nearby, and Sailors from throughout strengthening friendships. forged at RIMPAC 16 years ago con- This past Tuesday our shipmate, re- our waterfront, who are getting ready Let this RIMPAC be our fi nest hour tinue to guide me today. tired Chief Boatswain’s Mate Ray Em- for next week’s exercise, came to salute in 2018.