desert night Marines 'own' Page A-2 Flying Tigers set safety record Page A-3 Early visits lessen kids' dental anxiety Page A-8 Bay. serving 1st MEB, Camp N.M. Smith and Marine Barracks, Hawaii. VP1' 1111111111111----blished at MCAS Kaneohe Also Safe Cars, trucks protected for returning K-Bay warriors BY Cpl. Jason Erickson who didn't bother to store their Hawaii Marina Staff Write, cars the benefit of the doubt. Nearly 1,000 cars and trucks While some probably meant to live a lonely existence on the abandon the vehicles, he ex- far side of the Station runway. plained, many others might not l'hey've been there since Ma- have realized the consequences rines and sailors started deploy- of leaving their cars un-cared ing from here to the Persian for on public roads. ;tilf. They'll be there until the t mops return. Winslow said through a True colors Aside from their metallic special cooperative understand- comrades, these vehicles know ing with the Honolulu Police Children from Lanikai Elementary School show their true colors during their patriotic day to honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln only the company of the Marines Department, the same courtesy Feb 15. The school also dedicated the day to the men and women in the Middle East. According to school officials, more than 50 percent that walk the parking lot is being extended by civilian of the students have military parents keeping them safe. authorities. According to MSgt. George "We just check who the vehicle Winslow. Station Installations is registered to," Winslow said. and Logistics chief, the vehicles it's a Marine or sailor from are guarded 24 hours a day by "If here, we determine whether interior guards of the 1st Marine they're deployed or not. they Expeditionary Brigade. While If Volunteer spouses link families are, we bring the car here to the it may seem unnecessary to guard the vehicles while they're lot for storage." aboard the Station's closed There are also several cars in community, Winslow said there the lot belonging to the spouses under difficult circumstances have been isolated incidents of of deployed troops, who left By Cpl. Jason Erickson tions and the military families, burglary and vandalism. Hawaii for the duration of their HAMM Marine Staff Marino he said. "I think we've taken care of husbands absence. The phone rings several times Ombudsmen inform, listen This general job description is that problem though," Winslow a day at the Buhr residence. said. In some cases, the cars be- "It's crucial because we need expanded upon in a 50-page Patricia Buhr will usually She added that the massive handbook that hit the streets longed to a Marine or sailor, to take care of our families so deployment of Kaneohe Marines He said during past deploy- answer it herself, and most often 19. Its contents provide but was left in their spouses' the Marines in the field have and sailors starting in August Feb. ments, such as those to Oki- it's the family member of a examples of specific situations stored at Pearl care. If the spouses wanted to one less thing to worry about," has put the program to its first nawa, cars were Marine from her husband's unit. and offer various means for the size leave the Islands, but didn't Roberts said. "It's difficult major test. It has been a bumpy Harbor. But, because of Buhr is an ombudsman. She's fulfilling their missions. Sev- of Desert Shield /Storm, the have the power of attorney to the because it takes hard work, and mad by all accounts, but offi- make legal decisions about the the official link between often there eral ombudsmen have already Station made provisions for Transport are no easy answers cials here say the program is vehicle, I &L would have them Marines of Motor or solutions. It takes patience read the material and said it storage here. Brigade Service going very well under the cir- sign a waiver releasing the Company, and very good judgement." helps a great deal. the 59 cumstances, and it continues to To discourage intruders, Station from liability, and al- Support Group-1, and Their most frequent and per- Winslow's Marines from families left behind by the unit's improve with time. l&I, lowed them to store it anyway. While the Navy/Marine Corps haps most difficult mission is wire around the deployment to Saudi Arabia. Time brings experience. And laid concertina Ombudsmen program just dealing with individual concerns perimeter of the parking lot. "We will go out of our way She is one 74 ombuds- through experience, all parties but of hurdled its 20th year, it was as they arise. This most often Additionally, the location of the to help the families. men here. Collectively, their involved are getting a better They're established here only last April, requires the ability to recognize lot, a wide-open spot in the going through enough as efforts are providing thousands feel for just what it is ombuds- it is," according to Marine Medium the nature of the situation, and corner of the runway makes Winslow said. of families here with a place to men are here to do. Helicopter Squadron-165 Om- appropriately refer the person it difficult for anyone to ap- turn for help, advice, informa- budsman Katie lwanski, who Roberts said there's no simple to the proper command support proach undetected. He added that Installations tion and referrals. also presides over the Ombuds- explanation that spells-out all activity, Roberts said. and Logistics has also The Station and MEB staff The service they perform is man Council. "There were some the responsibilities of an om- "Families left behind by de- played taxi to some families who making a point both crucial and difficult, said variations before at unit levels, budsman. In general terms, ployments invariably run into personnel are it couldn't get from the lot back Col. Tim Roberts, chief of staff but as a Brigade-wide program however, ombudsmen exist to problems caused by even rou- to keep vandals away, but those, residences. On some vehicle in the lot to their (acting), 1st Marine Expedition- it is in its infancy," said serve as the link or liaison tine separations, to say nothing who store their occasions, they towed the vehicle a statement releasing ary Brigade. Iwanski. between the military organiza See OMBUDSMEN/A-5 must sign the person's residence it the Station from of theft from if liability couldn't be driven. or damage. "While the government accepts Although the Station has no no liability for damage or theft, obligation to maintain the Headquarters Marine Corps has vehicles, Winslow and his made provisions to allow up to Marines occasionally go through military personnel receiving hostile fire/imminent danger pay Tune-in to $2,000 reimbursement on a case- the lot putting air back in the for the Persian Gulf area. The program allows servicemembers by-case basis," Winslow said. tires so they'll be ready to go to make deposits in amounts not to exceed their unallotted Station information channel pay "Owners must have proof that when the owner gets back. and allowances, and to accrue interest at a 10 percent annual damage occurred while stored The most up-to -date information about activities, events and rate. Deposits can be made through pay deductions or cash He explained that the owners here. We out a damage programs of interest to active duty personnel, their families, civilian deposits. fill report were responsible for unhooking For more information, servicemembers or family members to note any existing marks when employees and retirees can be found on the station's new cable should contact local Disbursing representatives or call Ms. their batteries so they wouldn't television channel. Channel 2 on the Oceanic Cable dial is the Air the car first comes into the lot, drain. He said this will keep Francine Liggins, Defense Finance and Accounting Service - so we'll know if there's been Station Information Channel, and it can be viewed by all Oceanic Kansas City Center at (816) 926-7412 or Autovon 465-7412. the majority of the batteries Cable subscribers on the Windward side of Oahu. any changes." fresh enough to start back up Spouses of deployed military Not all of the cars are there when its time to drive away. Haivail Military Ohana fund is by the owners' choice. Winslow For those few exceptions, I&L invited to prayer breakfast explained that several of the has a portable charger. Winslow going strong found abandoned both said they've already had to use Spouses of military members deployed to Operation Desert cars were around it a couple times for people The Hawaii Military Ohana fund was established to provide Storm are invited to the Governor's/Mayor's 12th Annual Prayer aboard the Station and direct the Island. They were deter- who've returned. financial assistance to the families of Hawaii service- Breakfast March 22, 7 - 8:30 a.m. at the Hilton Hawaiian members deployed to Operation Desert Storm, and has raised Village. County mayors and Hawaii state legislators are scheduled mined to belong to deployed "There's really not much more and were to $70,000 thus far. It was created when the state legislature to attend. A special part of the program will honor Desert Marines, brought we can do," Winslow said. decided to the lot as a courtesy to the waive its traditional opening day celebrations because Storm participants and their family members.