INSIDE Colors A-2 MWDs A-3 3/3 in Afghanistan A-5 Hawaii Body Flyer B-1 MCCS & SM&SP B-2 Reading List B-3 Word to Pass B-6 Menu B-7 PacDiv Matches C-1 Sports Briefs C-2 The Bottom Line C-3 Postal Worker D-1 MVMOLUME 35, NUMBER 10 ARINEARINEWWW.MCBH.USMC.MIL MARCH 11, 2005 Capitol holds memorial Families hold treasured memories of fallen heroes Sgt. Danielle M. Bacon Marine Forces Pacific CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii — They were husbands, fathers, friends, sons and brothers. They are the 27 Marines and one Sailor from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, who were killed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in January and February. They are heroes — each mourned and remembered for one or more of these roles during a memorial service held at the Hawaii State Capitol Monday. “Everyone of these brave men are heroes who recently fought in the battle of Fallujah. I believe that battle had great significance,” said Col. Jeffery Patterson, 3rd Marine Regiment commanding officer. “I believe it was this battle more than anything else that inspired eight million Iraqis to face their fears and cast a vote against tyranny and oppression.” A mother of a fallen Marine agreed. “All of these boys left a legacy,” said Helen Gilbert, mother of Cpl. Richard A. Gilbert, 26, of Dayton, Ohio. “Richard wanted to be a politician. He wanted to make a difference ... and he did. Giving Iraqis the right to vote — that’s the legacy all of these men left.” There were many common traits shared by these service members – their love for their Corps, country and their mission. “He loved what he was doing,” said Rob Hopper, father of Lance Cpl. Brian C. Sgt. Danielle M. Bacon Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle speaks at the memorial service at the Hawaii State Capitol, Monday. The memorial service was held to honor 27 Marines and one See MEMORIAL, A-6 Sailor from 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, who were killed while serving with the 31st MEU during Operation Iraqi Freedom. 3/3 scores major success Pegasus Only when the night’s reverie was split ‘America’s Battalion’ by the blaring sounds of psychological works with village elders operations’ surrender appeals and the pulls roar of Cobra gun ship appearing a few to find terrorist threats hundred feet overhead, did the inhabi- tants realize they had been surrounded. Cpl. Rich Mattingly By the break of dawn, the battalion was together Combined Joint Task Force 76 well underway to completing one of its most successful operations to date in the Cpl. Megan L. Stiner KHOST PROVINCE, Afghanistan region. Press Chief — Under the light from a pale yellow “We moved over 44 kilometers at moon, the Marines moved swiftly across night, dismounted a few kilometers away, The Marine Corps has a proud the cold and barren wadi. Using hand and surrounded the village where we tradition of providing immediate and arm signals to silently mobilize believed the enemy to be hiding, by mov- support — anywhere in the world squads and fire teams, they moved into ing in on foot. Our enemies had never — at a moment’s notice. With position around the village. Shifting seen anything like this before, so they the same sense of urgency, but on from the shadow of trees to the low rock weren’t ready for us, and they had no a smaller scale, the Marines of walls in the surrounding fields as they chance to escape into the mountains,” Heavy Marine Helicopter neared, 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines sealed explained Capt. Ken Barr, commanding Cpl. Rich Mattingly Squadron 463, known as a seamless cordon to search for several officer, Weapons Company, 3/3. Second Lt. Luke Lazzo, platoon commander with Weapons Company, 3rd “Pegasus,” proved that tradition men they suspected of perpetuating ter- According to Barr, his company had been Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, takes a knee and gets his bearings before is still very much alive. rorist activity and attacks on Afghan and leading his Marines the final distance to where his platoon was responsible for Although the Pegasus Marines ensuring no suspected terrorists slipped through the Marines’ cordon. coalition forces in the area. See 3/3, A-4 were not called to a deployment on foreign soil, their expediency and efficiency made it possible to better their squadron in the long TMO urges K-Bay hosts Makahiki run. “We were supposed to send three Marines to the Weapons Marines participate in and Tactics Instructors Course in preparation Yuma, Arizona,” began Sgt. John Hawaiian traditions T. Logsdon, flight-line supervisor Cpl. Michelle M. Dickson Sgt. Joe Lindsay and crew chief for HMH-463. Combat Correspondent Community Relations Chief “But we thought it had been can- celled. Then at 12 a.m., on Peak season for shipping household goods Flying fish leaped from the ocean as if Saturday, we got the call that we for military personnel who are moving to a dif- to say, “welcome,” just moments before a had to be ready to leave this ferent duty station, finishing enlistments or procession of canoes — one of which car- Monday.” retiring begins in early May and continues ried the cloud-like akua loa, or tangible In order for three of their throughout mid-September. Preparation for represenation, of the Hawaiian god Lono Marines to attend the two-month transport of household goods and, in some — crossed their path before landing at the course, they had to bring two cases, vehicles, to duty stations, permanent Hale Koa Beach to mark the end of the CH53-D Sea Stallion helicopters homes and storage facilities begins well in four-month Makahiki season. and more than 40 other Marines advance. More than 100 native Hawaiians and a to support and maintain the hel- The process begins with those who work at handful of Marines gathered at the beach icopters. This meant, preparing the Traffic Management Office. It is their duty Gunnery Sgt. Claudia LaMantia aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, two helicopters for travel in two to get the job done; ensuring shipments leave Wearing a blue pareau, Kalei Hoopai simulates a fight against Kaneohe Bay to greet the canoes. In the days. and arrive at the correct destination, on time. Kanoa Nelson during the Makahiki closing ceremony, Saturday. The lead was Kapono Souza, a Windward resi- four-month season celebrates Lono, the god of clouds, thunder, “The Marines had to tear Since this is peak season, it is highly recom- dent and, on this ceremonious day, the lightning, rain, agriculture and fertility. down the helos enough so they mended that all military personnel get their guardian of Lono’s akua loa. would fit inside another craft to orders to TMO, at the very latest, 10 business Wrestling competitions, hula dancing, Hawaiian to preside as Makahiki event coordinator aboard transport them,” explained days from the time they receive their TMO music, and a “talk story” followed the canoe land- MCB Hawaii since the mid-1970s, the closing of Master Sgt. Miguel A. Castaneda, brief, said Sgt. Manuel L. Loggins, personal ing. For many, the most memorable event of the Makahiki is an event that is deeply significant for maintenance chief, HMH-463. property non-commissioned officer, TMO, day seemed to be the “fish greeting.” the Hawaiian people. “All the sudden they were tasked Headquarters Battalion. “To see the fish jump out of the water, like that, “From ancient times, the Makahiki season has with something extremely diffi- “If people bring us their orders too late, it as the canoes were landing was a beautiful been a time for peace, reflection, games, festivals and cult, but they came in and got it can put them at the mercy of the actual ship- moment,” said Kanoa Aikala-Nelson, a Heeia area planning,” said Camvel. “The presence of Lono — the done in no time.” ping companies,” said the Chicago, Ill. native. resident and Makahiki participant. He said that the god of clouds, thunder, lightning, rain, agriculture Usually, according to Logsdon, “That can put a huge dampener on people’s only way he could describe the moment would be to and fertility — during the four months of Makahiki it takes about two days per air- plans — if dates end up having to be switched say that it was “a sign from the gods that they were signifies to us that there will be no war or fighting craft to fully prepare a helicopter around.” pleased. For me, personally, it was an affirmation of among the Hawaiian people during this time.” for traveling. This time of year, the people at TMO are all I believe in.” According to Camvel, the Hale Koa Beach area, “The Marines had both of the competing with other services to secure move According to Donna Ann Kamehaiku Camvel, known as “Kahananui” by the Hawaiians, is consid- Super Stallions torn down in less Ahupuaa Restoration Council of Heeia chairman See TMO, A-2 and a member of the third generation of her family See MAKAHIKI, A-8 See PEGASUS, A-8 A-2 • MARCH 11, 2005 HAWAII MARINE NEWS BRIEFS Combat veteran dies at age 82 Cpl. Megan L. Stiner When World War II began, Tope wasted had a close encounter with death during his Lane Closure at Mokapu and Press Chief little time in joining the Marine Corps. In deployment to Korea in 1952. His plane was Lawrence Roads September 1942 he became a Naval hit by anti-aircraft fire, so he guided it to a There will be a lane closure at the intersection At an early age he showed dedication and Aviation Cadet, prompted by his love of air- ditch a mile offshore.