Sands of Iwo Jima
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iii marine expeditionary force and marine corps bases japan DECEMBER 19, 2008 WWW.OKINAWA.USMC.MIL ETTs return from Afghanistan tour Lance Cpl. Stefanie C. Pupkiewicz OKINAWA MARINE STAFF CAMP COURTNEY — Approxi- mately 40 Marines and sailors with Embedded Training Teams 6/3 and 4/3 returned home Sunday after a nine-month deployment to Afghanistan in support of Opera- tion Enduring Freedom. The ETTs conducted training SANDS OF with the Afghan National Army and helped provide relief aid to local villages. The unit completed several IWO JIMA humanitarian relief missions and medical civil assistance projects while deployed to Afghanistan. Three service members who attended the Iwo Jima tour stand on Invasion Beach Dec. 5. During the tour, travelers visited caves, bunkers, pill boxes, Mount Suribachi and Invasion Beach. SEE STORY ON PAGES 6-7. Photo by Lance Cpl. Aaron D. Hostutler They provided the Afghanis clean water and medical treat- ment, and sent the severely ill on to get treatment at larger installa- tions, said Maj. Dan Geisenhof, the MCBJ/III MEF water safety order changed officer in charge of ETT 6/3. A Marine injured during the Lance Cpl. Antwain J. Graham The order also states personnel and health specialist for MCB. deployment, Cpl. Adam Laman, OKINAWA MARINE STAFF operating a water craft are required “People need to understand that made the journey from Walter to use a tethered kill switch. we live in a unique environment Reed Army Medical Center, Wash- CAMP FOSTER — Lt. Gen. Rich- The order states scuba divers with many factors affecting local ington, D.C., to Okinawa to be ard C. Zilmer, III Marine Expe- shall be certified and are required water conditions,” he said. present for his unit’s return. ditionary Force Commanding to wear safety equipment and dive Sea Conditions are put in place The Purple Heart recipient General, enacted a water-recreation within the guidelines set forth in during elevated sea state times to helped hand out gift bags to single safety policy Dec. 10 for all Status MCBJ Order 1710.1. warn people of the danger. Marines from his unit. of Forces Agreement personnel as- The order also states snorkelers Sea condition “Caution” is an Families who waited nine months sociated with Marine Corps Bases and free divers entering the water advisory of adverse water condi- for this day could barely keep still Japan installations. at locations not supervised by life- tions. as the busses pulled up in front of The policy is outlined in Marine guards, at a minimum, shall wear Divers and water enthusiasts SEE ETT PG 5 Corps Bases Japan/III MEF Order an appropriately sized personal should exercise caution when enter- 1050.7, the Liberty Campaign Or- floatation device. ing the water, Curtis said. der, and is designed to curb water- Surfers must be attached by a Sea condition “Warning” means related incidents in Japan. leash to their board. dangerous sea conditions exist and According to the order, no SOFA The order is designed to protect people should be extremely cau- personnel shall enter the waters of service members in Japan where sea tious when engaging in activities Okinawa and surrounding islands conditions can change with little in the water. for the purpose of participating or no warning, according to water According to Curtis, novice div- in any water related recreational safety experts with the Marine ers should avoid ocean-related ac- activity without wearing or using Corps Base Safety Office. Safety tivities during this sea condition. the proper safety equipment desig- officials offered additional tips Sea Condition “Red” means the Staff Sgt. David Messenger, the nated for the specific water-related on how to make smart decisions ocean is too dangerous to enter. military advisor for the reconnaissance activity. when engaging in water-related SOFA personnel are prohibited platoon commander, 1st Kandar, 3rd The order states personnel par- recreation on Okinawa. from entering the water during Brigade, Afghan National Army with ticipating in water related-activities Embedded Training Team 6/3, hugs Weather should always be a fac- Sea Condition “Red” or when local his youngest daughter, Kaylee, upon must use the buddy system and tor when considering entering the conditions result in the closure of a return from a recent deployment. wear proper safety equipment such water, according to Shawn Curtis, beach area, according to the order. Photo by Lance Cpl. Stefanie C. Pupkiewicz as an appropriately-sized life vest. supervisory occupational safety SEE WATER PG 4 MAN’S BEST FRIEND MARINE CORPS FORCES JAPAN 100% Military working dogs play a COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN ‘08 75% % DE I large role in Marine Corps both UNIT MEMBER CONTACT GOAL MET 50% on and off the battle field. • As of Wednesday, all 14,701 unit members were 25% contacted, meeting the overall goal of 100 percent contact INS 86% PG. 9 0% 100 okinawa marine | OPINION & EDITORIAL | december 19, 2008 Looking back as an older lance corporal Lance Cpl. Joseph A. Cabrera shoulda, wouldas that would have My identity has not been The truth is that during my four- filled the chapters in my life’s story. taken as anti-war and anti-military year journey in the Corps, I know s the grand old man of the At age 20, I planned to enlist in groups may think. I have simply I have to do the right things and lance corporals, I often the Marine Corps as an infantry- assumed a new identity for the continue to push myself further in sit alone and think about man but had to put the plan on duration of my enlistment. I am everything I do. That is something Awhat life was like for me before hold when tragedy struck claiming a part of something bigger than all Marines should remember. the Corps. I’m almost two years my father in 2002. myself like all other Marines who Today I could get “devil dogged” into my first and only enlistment Years later at age 24, still carry- raised their right hand and recited from here to kingdom come, but contract and I sometimes question ing the weight of the past, I decided the enlistment oath. tomorrow is a new day to prove I whether I made the right decision. to move forward in my life and let Going from making my own can and will improve. That is a life This is a question I’m sure many future accomplishments define me, schedule and meeting with cli- lesson deeply rooted in the Marine Marines have asked themselves not the bad things that happened ents, to a day-to-day routine that is Corps experience. when times got a little tough, in past. structured and seemingly system- When I separate from the Corps whether machismo will let them So here I am, a Marine on atic has been difficult to adjust to. in 2011, I will take these lessons answer it or not. There is nothing Okinawa writing for the Okinawa Being 26 years old, I wonder if and experiences with me as a wrong with questioning Marine Newspaper. I have hung I’m just a little too old to be play- guide. I know whatever I do now, I OPINION your current situation. up the expensive ties, suits and ing the young man’s game of being will do it better than I would have Situational awareness promotes designer shirts to wear the same a lance corporal. I came into the before I enlisted. change, often for the better. digital camouflage utilities every Corps later than most, but with It is easy to think that the Corps I recently turned 26, which at other Marine wears. more life experience. is all give and no take. Maybe the time seemed like no big deal. Sure, I could be living comfort- Like most Marines, I have fam- having lived a little more before But now, as I realize that I’m pick- ably in the Chicago suburbs with a ily and friends back home who enlisting in the Corps isn’t such a ing up speed in the down slope of nice car, house, white picket fence proudly tell everyone their son, bad thing after all. It has helped me my twenties, there are a lot of ques- and a dog, making two to three brother, cousin, nephew, uncle and to realize that although I don’t have tions I ponder about life, like what I times the amount I make now, but friend is a Marine. I’m sure there all the freedom I did as a civilian, want and what I feel I should have I would have never had the oppor- is an ex-girlfriend back home still I’m taking more from the Corps accomplished by now. tunity to experience everything I grumbling about dating a Marine. than I’m giving. Before enlisting in the Marine have seen in the Corps. For me, the most joy has come No matter how much I think Corps, I was a Realtor selling resi- How many Realtors have fired from the way my mother is so about what I’m supposed to get dential real estate in the Chicago .50 caliber machine guns from proud that her son is a Marine; of out of life, or how much I evaluate area. I was in the beginning phases moving helicopters or spent four all of my accomplishments, this is where I am now, I keep coming to of what would be a lucrative career months assigned to the Headquar- the one she is most proud of. She the same conclusion: life is what had I stuck with it.