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U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands Kwajalein Hourglass THE KWAJALEIN HOURGLASS Volume 41, Number 94 Tuesday, November 27, 2001 U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands Paintball games declared illegal By Barbara Johnson Feature Writer The message is aimed at all paintball play- ers: The RMI government doesnt allow the use of paintball guns on any of the atoll islands. Under RMI revised codes, paintball guns are considered a dangerous weapon, said Kevin Dykema, chief of police, explaining that this is because of the CO2cartridge used to propel the paintballs. Anyone who is caught using paintball guns, is subject to action from the RMI police, Dykema said, adding, If [people are] caught, the weapon is confiscated, they are ticketed and they have to appear in an RMI court. What happens after that? Its up to the judge, he said. During an investigation into an unrelated matter, the RMI police were told that Ameri- (Photo by Peter Rejcek) (See RESIDENTS, page 9) Leroy Kisling, left, shows Col. Curtis L. Wrenn Jr., USAKA commander, a map he carried with him onto the beaches of Betio Island, Tarawa Atoll, Republic of Kiribati, 58 years ago during an amphibious assault by the 2nd Marine Division during World War II. Sheila Wrenn looks on from the back. USAKA observes 58th anniversary of bloody battle at Tarawa Atoll By Peter Rejcek lifetime, said Kisling, 78, a demolitions Associate Editor expert with F Company, 2nd Battalion,18th ARAWA ATOLL, REPUBLIC OF Marine Regiment attached to the 8th Marine KIRIBATI Leroy Kisling drags a Regiment under Maj. Henry Crowe. I finger along the 58-year-old map, always wanted to come. Trecalling his first visit to the beaches of The dream was made possible by Tarawa Atoll nearly six decades ago. For a Kislings nephew, Larry Robinson, who moment, a flood of nostalgia chokes him to accompanied his uncle to this far-flung atoll silence. in the Republic of Kiribati, a part of a chain Its no tourist map he holds, but part of the of islands formerly known as the Gilberts. invasion plans the former Marine sergeant Kislings son, Leroy Jr., as well as several carried onto Red Beach No. 3 when the 2nd other veterans and family members crossed Marine Division assaulted Betio Island in its the Pacific to visit the famous battlefields in campaign to usurp Tarawa Atoll, and the rest Kiribati and the Marshalls as part of an (Photo by Peter Rejcek) of the Gilbert Islands, from the Japanese organized tour. A canal runs during World War II. This has been a healing process for Today, Nov. 20, exactly 58 years later, on him, Kisling Jr. said. through it another beach, Red Beach No. 2, everything Said Robinson, himself a retired Marine Canals run throughout the city of is peaceful. The only invasion is a horde of pilot who fought in Vietnam, It meant so Lijiang, China in Yunnan Province, young, shirtless Kiribati boys, curiously much to him and me. drawing obvious comparisons to watching the events unfold as Kisling tosses The Battle of Tarawa, Nov. 20-23, 1943, Venice. We conclude our two-part series about Vietnam and China in a wreath off the infamous beach and into represented the first domino to fall to today’s four middle pages. the shallow reef a few feet below. American forces in their long Pacific I feel like Ive come on a trip of a (See TARAWA, page 4) www.smdc.army.mil/KWAJ/Hourglass/hourglass.html Tuesday Page 2 Kwajalein Hourglass November 27, 2001 Editorial Family, BQ resident input sought on library question What does right look like? All of you cate, so their current area and the current have heard me ask that question. Now, library area could become the community Im asking myself that question what recreation center. I believe there is a does right look like for the Grace Sherwood synergy to be gained by having our bowl- Library and for the overall community? I ing center downstairs and a community have vacillated on a decision about the recreation center upstairs a new center library and decided to ask you the that would include all of the pool tables community for your help. and other games, a new CyberCafé, the I am strongly considering swapping fa- large-screen TV viewing room and an cility locations for the Unaccompanied library sufficient space, a ground-floor expanded video game area. The sound- Personnel Recreation Center, or UPRC, entrance or a restroom. So, it doesnt proof room, for our local bands to prac- and the library. In short, the library would answer the mail. tice, would relocate as well. move to the current UPRC, Building 511; The UPRC stems from the days when The truth is, as the commander, it is my and the UPRC would relocate to the sec- BQ residents did not have private rooms. responsibility to do what is best for the ond floor of Building 804 (currently the Now, all BQ residents have private rooms. collective all maybe not every indi- library and community activities), with the There are approximately 720 BQ resi- vidual, but the best for all. I ask for your fair intent of this becoming a community rec- dents. Statistically, the UPRC has 34 to consideration of the proposal and your fair reation center. If necessary, we would 45 patron visits per day in a 50-day period. support. Take a walk through both current entertain the possibility of select hours for That does not include the local bands that facilities with eyes wide open and with unaccompanied personnel and the com- practice in the soundproof room or fluctua- an open mind. Imagine the UPRC as the munity-at-large, but will address that issue tion during high-TDY periods. During a new library and visualize the current li- if and when we decide to make this switch. recent 30-day period, the library averaged brary/Community Activities space as an Weve temporarily put the brakes on re- 42 patrons a day, also with some variance. open, neighborhood community center. carpeting the library. It needs a lot more With the limited space and resources on Were looking for ways to better serve the than new carpet. It desperately needs the island, I cannot in all good conscience entire community in a cost-effective way, four things: a ground-floor entrance, a continue to ignore the fact that this is not and this concept answers the mail. restroom, space for the new computer the best use of space and resources, nor is Having said all of that, you tell me stations, and a separate, closed-off space it the best for the overall community. I need what does right look like? I need you to for children. We talked about relocating to ask you the community to fairly and read the facts given above again, and The Hourglass and the CPN office belong- objectively consider moving the library into think about this. Do you support the ing to the chief engineer, so the library the existing UPRC. switch, yes or no? I encourage your feed- could expand into that space. Its an With appropriate office space for Com- back. Catch me in the street. Share your affordable plan, but it doesnt give the munity Activities, they are willing to relo- (See COMMANDER, page 3) The Kwajalein Hourglass Buckminster and Friends By Sabrina Mumma Commanding Officer...Col. Curtis L. Wrenn Jr. Public Affairs Officer..............Preston Lockridge Editor..........................................Jim Bennett Associate Editor...............................Peter Rejcek Feature Writers....................Barbara Johnson KWHillis Graphics Designer ...........................Dan Adler Sports Writer ............................... Kim Parker The Hourglass is named for the insignia of the U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division, which liberated the island from the forces of Impe- rial Japan on Feb 4, 1944. The Kwajalein Hourglass is an authorized publication for military personnel, federal em- ployees, contractor workers and their families assigned to USAKA. Contents of the Hour- glass are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Depart- ment of Defense, Department of the Army or USAKA. It is published Tuesdays and Fridays using a network printer by Raytheon Range Systems Engineering editorial staff, P.O. Box 23, APO AP 96555. Phone: Autovon 254- 3539; local 53539. Printed circulation: 2,000 Tuesday November 27, 2001 Kwajalein Hourglass Page 3 Aviation reducing 1900D flight schedule Range operation scheduled for Friday By Peter Rejcek will be staggered after the first two flights, Associate Editor which leave at the same time. From the Command Safety Office Lighter loads and one less available plane We tried to work out something that will A range operation is scheduled for Friday, are trimming two flights off the 1900D week- make everyone happy, Koehler said. Nov. 30. Caution times are 12:01 p.m. through day schedule. Weekday flights average 70 hard-seat 8:30 p.m. The new schedule, found as an insert in commuters every day, according to In conjunction with this operation, a caution todays Hourglass, is effective Dec. 4. The Koehler, a number that is expected to area will exist within Kwajalein Atoll. See map last morning flight and one afternoon flight continue to fall as range modernization in last Fridays Hourglass for details. Tuesday through Saturday will be elimi- comes to fruition. Bigej Island, including the inner reef, is nated, according to John Koehler, Flight Another reason for the schedule change specifically excluded and is not a part of the Operations manager. involves off-island maintenance to one of mid-atoll corridor. An additional caution area There are fewer commuters, so we need the aircraft, Koehler explained.

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