HMH-362 Marine Saves Money, Lives
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INSIDE Sgt. Maj.'s Column A-2 Change of Command A-2 Bossltft A-3 H Word on the Sheet A-4 Windtalkers A-6 1/3 HRST A-8 ECAP A-9 py gets Lucky B-I MCCS B-2 Soccer B-3 Races B-4 JEC B-5 Word to Pass B -7 R 20tH) Volume 29, Number 34 www.mcbh.usmc.mil August 24, HMH-362 Marine saves money, lives Cpl, David Salazar tems on CH-53Ds and similar aircraft. Since the indicator button was defective, there was Lifestyles Editor Given the age of these multi-million dollar air- no telling exactly when and where the systems would craft, Cohen didn't think twice about checking the have failed. Saving the U.S. Government millions of dollars rest of the squadron's helicopters for similar discrep- "We could have lost the system anytime - even often requires the work of a highly-trained team of ancies and found that every single IIMH-362 aircraft in mid-flight," Cohen said. financial advisors - but for an airframes chief with had the same potentially lethal fault. Aside from saving countless dollars and lives, Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362, it's all in a This sparked further investigation. The result - Cohen also garnered intangible gains from his find in day's work. every CH-53D in the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing the form of respect from peers and co-workers. Staff Sgt. Jason N. Cohen, a 25-year-old Marietta, Aviation Support Element, Kaneohe was equipped "He saved lives and money and set the example Ga., native, single-handedly saved the Marine Corps, with the faulty indicator button. for us by doing the right thing at the right time," said U.S., German, and Israeli air forces millions of dol- Cohen's discovery was then immediately reported Cpl. Kenneth R. Oswood, a 20-year-old HMH-362 lars and saved hundreds of lives through a remark- to the Naval Aviation Depot at Cherry Point, N.C., airframes mechanic from Romney, W. Va. able discovery he made while performing a routine who summoned the helicopters' manufacturer and "In the 17 years that I've been in the Marine inspection on a CH-53D Sea Stallion Helicopter. found that it affected aircraft in U.S., German, and Corps, this is by far the best find I've ever seen," "Through his normal course of duties, Staff Sgt. Israeli air forces as well. Klein said. "Everybody's going to benefit from it Cohen found a leak in the vicinity of an indicator Not only did Cohen's find save each of these throughout the U.S. and the other countries who button designed to alert ground crews of a system forces millions of dollars in potential damages, but operate with this aircraft." uav'a Se113.Zar fault," said Capt. Daniel Rubel, the IIMH -362 the lives of flight crews operating the helicopters Although it was Cohen's expertise that helped dis- Staff Sgt. Jason N. Cohen, Quality Assurance officer. throughout the world. cover this major flaw in the helicopters' hydraulic the Marine Heavy Helicopter When Cohen went to check the source of the leak, "As old as these aircraft are, and given the fact system, he insists that it was all in a day's work. Squadron 362 airframes he found that the second stage hydraulic system was that none of the filters (or indicator buttons) worked, " "It's all part of my job It's the reason I'm qual- chief, stands proudly next to - severely contaminated. it's pretty amazing that none of the systems here ified to do what I do I'm supposed to find things one the countless CH-53D - of like Sea Stallion helicopters The contamination was so severe that it had dis- have seen catastrophic failure," said Gunnery Sgt. that," explained Cohen. saved thanks to his discov- abled the indicator button intended to ensure free- Franklin Klein, the HMH-362 Quality Assurance "Without the help of the Marines in QA, it never ery. flow of hydraulic fluid to crucial flight control sys- chief from Belpre, Ohio. would have happened." Weather at K Bay disrupts 13th MEU training, while recon adapts and overcomes Sgt. Richard W. Holtgraver Jr. Camp Pendleton Marines. Combat Correspondent "It's obviously much different terrain than what we're normally used to training in at Mother Nature's wrath put a damper on the Camp Pendleton," said Butler. "Training here plans of the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit to presents a good opportunity to train in a jungle perform training at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, environment." Kaneohe Bay, and Marine Corps Training Area A three-day patrol of MCTAB did have pos- Bellows Sunday. itive results for Marines from the recon pla- Amphibious landings near Hale Koa Beach toon, most were only familiar to training in the and Fort Hase Beach, and a helicopter assault desert. on MCTAB, scheduled for Sunday morning "We usually focus on the desert environ- were cancelled because of deteriorating weath- ment, but it was good to get out here and hone er conditions that threatened the safety of the our jungle tactics skills," said Sgt. Bart P. participants, according to Capt. Chad T. Lambert, a reconnaissance scout, and assistant Hedleston, 13th MEU advance party officer in team leader for force reconnaissance platoon. charge. The experience of a little rain during training The 13th MEU, from Camp Pendleton, was a welcome change for the Marines who Calif., visited MCB Hawaii briefly to train were adapted to the dry desert training of Camp before beginning their regularly-scheduled six- Pendleton. month deployment to the Western Pacific. The 13th MEU departed Tuesday, and is The cancellation of the amphibious assaults headed towards Darwin, Australia to conduct was not a total loss for the 13th MEU though, training with the Australia military, according according to Capt. Michael J. Butler, platoon to Lambert. commander for the 13th MEU's Force Although the main body of the 13th MEU Reconnaissance Co. was not able to perform some of its training For three days the force reconnaissance pla- objectives here at MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, toon got a chance to train at MCTAB, an envi- at least the force reconnaissance platoon was ronment that was unfamiliar to some of the able to make the best of a wet situation. 50th state celebrates 41 years Cpl. Roman Yurek tory. Once it was a territory, them many traditions and Combat Correspondent the Army began building lifestyles of America to the defensive positions around the islands. As of Monday, Hawaii has island at points like the By the early 1930's, Hawaii been a state in the United Honolulu Harbor, Diamond began to seek statehood in States of America for 41 years. Head, and on the Mokapu America. However, this date does not Peninsula. Unfortunately, World War II signify the beginning of In 1916, Pearl Harbor was and the Korean War delayed Lance GM M Trent Lowry Hawaii's relationship with the constructed, and two years the process. n Matt Morgan (center), DoD project officer with the Marine Corps Public Affairs United States. later, the Army used what is Then in 1947, the military Office in Los Angeles, motivates the actors and extras for the movie "Windtalkers" to stay together for the rest of their road march Aug. 16 aboard MCB Hawaii. Read more The Hawaiian and now Fort Hase on MCB made the island of Oahu the about "Windtalkers," on page A.6. American relationship began Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, as an Headquarters for the oldest in 1884 when the Hawaiian artillery site. and largest unified command monarchy granted only Within the next 20 years, in the United States, the U.S. America permission to dock military bases sprang up all Pacific Command. Discharges in Hawaii just got easier their ships on the island. over the island, representing In March of 1959, Congress More than 50 years later, all of the military services. passed legislation to make Sgt. Nathan Hanks Marines since November 1998. during the Spanish and The military soon became Hawaii a state, and more than MarForPac Public Affairs Currently, PSC is taking care of all dis- American War, America Hawaii's biggest attraction. 90 percent of the Hawaiian charges for Marine Corps Air Facility, 3rd gained Hawaii as a U.S. terri- Servicemembers brought with territory population voted for Making the transition from military to civil- Marines and Headquarters Battalion. Once the statehood. ian life a little easier, Marines in Hawaii who order is signed, units such as Marine Forces Former President plan to get out of the Marine Corps will soon be Pacific, 3rd Marines, Combat Service Support Dwight D. discharged here instead of being sent to Camp Group 3, 1st Radio Battalion and 1st Marine Eisenhower final- Pendleton for out-processing. Aircraft Wing will be handling their own dis- ized the deal with his In the past, Hawaii Marines were given the charges. signature in August option of being separated here or being sent to "We have several Marines who get out and of the same year. Camp Pendleton. decide to stay here," said Staff Sgt. Rosetta Today, Hawaii is a But according to the Separations Manual Robinson-Dixon the in/out processing and sep- major worldwide Marine Corps Order 1900.16F, which is cur- arations chief at Headquarters Battalion. tourist attraction rently awaiting signature at Headquarters, "Sending Marines to Camp Pendleton is more because of it's com- Marine Corps, all units in Hawaii will be of an inconvenience for them and their fami- fortable climate, rich responsible for discharging their own Marines.