Hawaii Marine Jane Wayne Volume 29, Number 15 Serving Marine Corps Base Hawaii April 13, 2000 Little league A-5 B-2 U.S. will not cut troop levels in Saudi Arabia Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service been no discussion whatsoever at any level about reduction of every two years. Prince Sultan suggested the United States join with American soldiers." There are about 4,000 U.S. service members in Peninsula Shield forces to achieve more multilateral exercises. JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia - U.S. troops will not reduce troop lev- Saudi Arabia. The prince also commented on U.S.-Iranian relations. He said Saudi els in the area, contrary to news reports. During a news conference following meetings between the prince Arabia called for peace, and he hoped Iran would respond "with what The April 9 story quotes an anonymous U.S. military official saying and Cohen, Sultan said the U.S. troops are in the Kingdom of Saudi is in its security interests. All steps taken by the United States toward that Defense Secretary William S. Cohen and Saudi Defense and Arabia under the U.N. framework to conduct operations over Southern this goal are welcome," he said. Aviation Minister Prince Sultan agreed to reduce troop levels at Prince Iraq. "These troops are doing their duties to keep the peace only, not to Cohen and the prince also discussed the' Cooperative Defense Sultan Air Base. be aggressors," Prince Sultan said. "Whatever is said more than that is Initiative, which seeks to tie the gulf states, Egypt and Jordan into an "The story is complete hogwash," said Pentagon spokesman Ken not true." early-warning network to track missile threats. He said the United Bacon. "We have no plans to reduce the number of airmen or planes at Cohen and the prince said the discussions were fruitful. One part of States thinks the initiative is an important program for the gulf because Prince Sultan Air Base, and the topic of reducing airmen in Saudi the discussions centered on the Peninsula Shield forces of the six Gulf of the threat of chemical and biological agents in the region. Arabia was not discussed tonight between Secretary Cohen and Prince Cooperation Council - Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the "There is no particular sense of timing to this issue," Cohen said. "I Sultan. In fact, Prince Sultan expressed a strong desire for a continued United Arab Emirates and Oman. have been talking about it for several years. We are talking about it U.S. presence in Saudi Arabia at current levels." All six GCC countries contribute to the force, but it is more a paper because we have seen evidence that the spread of chemical and bio- U.S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Wyche Fowler said there "has force than a real one. The forces only exercise together about once logical weapons continues." Marines lend helping hands MarForPac commander sends anniversary greetings to MCBH Lt. Gen. Frank [oilman Commander, Morine Forces Pacific Congratulations to the men and women of Marine Corps Base, Hawaii as you cel- ebrate your sixth anniversary Saturday. The Mokapu penninsula has been vital to the defense of the pacific region for nearly a centu- ry. During that time, Kaneohe Marines, Sailors and civilians have helped ensure peace in the pacific by pro- Lt. Gen. Libutti viding the finest in training and support to the Fleet Marine Force. Your dedication and pro- fessionalism have contributed immeasur- ably to the combat readiness and effec- tiveness of Marines in the Pacific. Your commitment to excellence is not only demonstrated in the operational sup- port you provide, but is also evident in the support which you have rendered to the Photo by Cpl. Otto C Pleil-Muete families of Hawaii-based Marines and Corporal Mike Wright; a Marine from 1st Radio Battalion, helps a student Bose Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay's Single Marine and Sailor Program volunteered Sailors, in your concern for the environ- of Hau'ula Elementary School make her way across the monkey bars during to help kick-off the centenial celebration Friday. See page k5 for the full the school's 100th anniversary celebration. Marines from Marine Corps story. ment, and in your superior relations with the civilian community. Happy anniversary, Semper Fidelis. Names of crash victims released and condolences expressed Division of Public Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps Press Release Corona, 23, a machinegunner assigned to 3/5 of San Antonio, Texas. Winthrop, Wash. Lance Corporal Jason T. Duke, 28, a machinegunner assigned to 3/5 Staff Sergeant William B. Nelson, 30, a satellite communications WASHINGTON -- Marine Corps officials are expressing condo- of Sacramento, Calif. specialist with Marine Air Control Group 38, of Richmond, Va. lences to the families of 19 Marines killed approximately 8 p.m. Lance Corporal Jesus Gonzalez Sanchez, 27, an assaultman Private First Class Kenneth 0. Paddio, 23, a rifleman assigned to Saturday when an MV-22 Osprey crashed near Marana, Ariz. assigned to 3/5 of San Diego, Calif. 3/5 of Houston, Texas. Killed in the accident were: Major Brooks S. Gruber, 34, pilot assigned to Marine Helicopter Private First Class George P. Santos, 19, a rifleman assigned to 3/5 Sergeant Jose Alvarez, 28, a machinegunner assigned to 3rd Squadron 1, of Jacksonville, N.C. of Long Beach, Calif. Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, of Uvalde, Texas. Lance Corporal Seth G. Jones, 18, an assaultman assigned to 3/5 of Private First Class. Keoki R Santos, 24, a rifleman assigned to 3/5 Major John A. Brow, 39, a pilot assigned to Marine Helicopter Bend, Ore. of Grand Ronde, Ore. Squadron 1 of 2nd Lieutenant Clayton J. Kennedy, 24, a .platoon commander Corporal Can Soler, 21, a rifleman assigned to 3/5 of Palm City, Fla. California, Md. assigned to 3/5 of Clifton Bosque, Texas. Private Adam L. Tatro, 19, a rifleman assigned to 3/5 of Private First Corporal Kelly S. Keith, 22, aircraft crew chief assigned to Marine Brownwood, Texas. Class Gabriel C. Helicopter Squadron 1, of Florence, S.C. "The entire Marine Corps family grieves for the Marines we've lost Clevenger, 21, a Corporal Eric J. Martinez, 21, a field radio operator assigned to in this tragedy and our thoughts and prayers go out to their families," machinegunner Marine Wing Communications Squadron 38, Marine Air Control said Gen. James Jones, Commandant of the Marine Corps. "We have assigned to 3/5 of Group 38, of Coconino, Ariz. sent an expert team to Arizona to quickly investigate the circumstances Picher, Okla. Lance Corporal Jorge A. Morin, 21, an assaultman assigned to 3/5 surrounding this mishap." Private First of McAllen, Texas. Secretary of the Navy Richard Danzig released the following state- MV-22 Osprey Class Alfred Corporal Adam C. Neely, 22, a rifleman assigned to 3/5 of See CRASH, A-6 Veteran, friend of MCB Hawaii remembered Index Cpl. Charles E. Moore Shortly after his marriage, Nichols was called to active duty Combat Correspondent during the Korean War where he served with Marine Fighter A Section Squadron 311. Nichols saw combat again during the Chosin Sergeant Major's column 2 Robert Nichols, a former Marine and active member of Reservoir campaign and received a unit citation for distinguished SM/SP volunteers 3 theWindward Military/Civilian Council died March 30 from a action against enemy forces. Hawaii submarine 4 long bout with cancer. He was 73. After the Korean War, he ended his career in the Marine Corps Jane Wayne 5 Nichols, a Kailua resident, served in such famous Marine bat- as a staff sergeant and returned to Hawaii to work with Pan-Am, Military children 6 tles as Iwo Jima and the Chosin Reservoir. where he eventually retired. He then committed his free time to EOD 7 Born in Emmit, Idaho, on Nov. I, 1926, Nichols attended community service. Every Clime and Place 8 Emmit High School, but dropped out to join the Marine Corps on "He did so much, I don't even know where to begin. It almost his 17th birthday. His career took him to the sands of Iwo Jima got to be too much sometimes, but that's just how dad was," said B Section with the 5th Joint Assault Signal Company during World War II. Shayne Nichols, his daughter. "He was always doing things for USS Missouri Fixup 1 After the war, Nichols transferred to the reserves, finished other people." Dental Ball 2 high school and worked for Pan-American Airlines as a flight Nichols became an active member in the "Chosin Few" Little League baseball 2 instrument mechanic in Hawaii. He met his wife, Janice, during Ticket to Fun 3 a layover in Australia. After three dates, they were married. See VETERAN, A-6 Nichols SM/SP Briefs 3 A-2 April 13, 2000 Hawaii Marine SERGEANT MAJOR'S CORNER Honoring fallen warriors means more than you know Sgt. Maj. Robert W. Holub nation's veterans is one of those things, and that is what I would like thing. He knew the son was not a Marine, but it did not make a dif- Sergeant Major, Marine Forces Pacific to speak to you about this week. ference to him. All he knew was that a father who had just lost his son Now while the above story was not very good, the following story needed help and, by God, he would help him. That's what Marines do. I was reading a veterans magazine the other day, and I found a let- should make you as proud as it made me the day it occurred, and as I After getting the' information from the father, Staff Sgt.