Camp Fuji Marines Help Japanese Trapped in Overturned
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
iii marine expeditionary force and marine corps bases japan MARCH 14, 2008 WWW.OKINAWA.USMC.MIL Camp Fuji Marines help Japanese trapped in overturned car Cpl. Jennifer Calaway Alvarado slammed on his brakes, and by the car,” Alvarado said. “I thought for sure they’d OKINAWA MARINE STAFF time his vehicle had come to a complete stop, be really mangled up.” the Cube was on its side. But when Alvarado peeked into the driver CAMP FUJI – He could see the car coming up Alvarado looked to Lance Cpl. Michael window, there was no blood, no broken bones. behind him, swerving in and out of lanes. His Langenstrass, a logistics clerk with Head- The woman in the car was still in her seat- eyes followed the black, speeding car just as it quarters Battalion, Combined Arms Training belt, and her male companion was struggling cut across two lanes of traffic, passed the car Center Camp Fuji, and without hesitation to free her. Moments later, Alvarado was directly in front of him and clipped a Nissan the two Marines instinctively rushed toward opening the car door and carefully helping the Cube, sending it fish-tailing and overturning. the wreckage. woman out. The driver who watched the accident unfold Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Lucas, Camp Fuji’s ser- As the Marines and a Japanese passerby within a few seconds March 1 on Route 16 near geant major, was in the back seat when, before helped the man out of the vehicle, lit and placed Camp Fuji was Lance Cpl. Jonathan Alvarado, he could even react, the Marines jumped out a road flare and directed traffic. a motor transportation operator with Camp to help. The Marines each gave the Japanese police Fuji’s Ground Motor and Equipment Manage- “They had absolutely no hesitation,” said statements, and, when there was nothing more ment Office. Lucas, who the Marines had picked up from they could do, drove back to Camp Fuji. Before Alvarado knew it, he and another Ma- the airport to take back to Fuji. “They didn’t The three drove in silence. rine in his vehicle found themselves rushing to the know if the car would start on fire; there was “Since it happened, I keep thinking back aid of two motorists in the overturned Cube. oil leaking everywhere.” to when I saw two people killed instantly in a “Both cars were out of control, and the From a distance, Alvarado could see the Cube motorcycle crash a few years ago, and I couldn’t speeding car sent the Cube rolling on its side,” was on its passenger side and two Japanese do anything,” Alvarado said. “That stayed with Alvarado said. “It was like slow motion, watch- citizens were trapped. me. I‘m really glad that, at least this time, I was ing the car ahead of us roll over.” “I paused for a millisecond before I got to the able to help those people.” EXERciSE FORCE LIGht 2008 CLR-3 first to test new logistics equipment Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Todd OKINAWA MARINE STAFF CAMP FOSTER — Combat Logistics Regiment 3 is at the forefront of testing for one of the Corps’ newest pieces of logistics equipment, which could drastically improve the way Marine logistics units operate. The Autonomic Ready Logistics system, developed by Applied Research Labs at Penn State University, is a new system capable of collecting and forwarding critical logistical data, such as equipment health, identification, location, fuel levels, ammunition levels and mobile loads. CLR-3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, has installed the ARL system on 12 vehicles, and each satellite-linked system has the capability to monitor fuel levels, water levels and vehicle maintenance. The ARL system uses onboard sensors, pro- A snow vehicle pulls Lance Cpl. Joe Harris along with fellow Marines and soldiers of the Japanese Ground cessors and transmitters to retrieve real-time Self Defense Force during ski training at the Yausubetsu Maneuver Area March 4. Marines of Combat logistical data and send it via a unit’s command Assault Battalion, 3rd Marine Division learned how to ski during cold weather training from experts and control systems. The system ensures com- with the JGSDF’s 6th Infantry Regiment, 5th Brigade, Northern Army Feb. 29 – March 13 at Yausubetsu, manders have real-time data to make timely, a northern training ground used by the JGSDF during exercise Forest Light II, a semi-annual bilateral informed decisions said Col. Charles Chiarotti, exercise between Marines and the JGSDF. SEE STORY PAGE 10 Photo by Lance Cpl. David Rogers SEE SYSTEM PG 6 CHAPLAIN OF MARINES ART EXCHANGE NINJA FOOTBALL Gunnery sergeant uses background Two Japanese soldiers Woodland Death Ninjas DE in ministry to fill unlikely roll during participate in MCMAP leave flag football I multiple deployments. instructor course. competition in the dust. INS PG. 13 PG. 14 PG. 17 okinawa marine | NEWS | march 14, 2008 3 MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII | Competitors low crawl through AROUND THE a part of Combat Service Support Group 3’s 14th Annual Swamp Romp at Nu’upia Ponds Feb. 23. Competitors trudged through more than five miles of water, sand, mud and swamp during Hawaii’s dirtiest footrace. Photo by Lance Cpl. Achilles CORPSFOR MORE MARINE CORPS STORIES AND PHOTOS, VISIT HTTP://WWW.MARINES.MIL SAQLAWIYAH, Iraq | U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Ginni Stolaas stands guard outside a medical clinic in Saqlawiyah, Iraq, Feb. 25, 2008. Stolaas is a member of the Iraqi Women’s Engagement Team assigned to I Marine Expeditionary Force FWD, which held an open clinic for local residents. Photo by Lance Cpl. Erin A. Kirk BETHESDA, Md. | (Left to right) Sgt. James Bone, Cpl Ray Hennagir and Cpl. Matt Bridges model the new Marine Corps running suit Feb. 29 at the National Naval Medical Center after the Marine Corps officially unveiled the new suit to Marines assigned to the Wounded Warrior Regiment. Photo by Staff Sgt. Leo A. Salinas NEW YORK, N.Y. | An improvised explosive device blasted the entrance to the U.S. Armed Forces Career Center, a joint-service recruiting station located in Times Square at approximately 3:45 a.m March 6. The blast caused no injuries; however, glass in the office’s front door and window was shattered by the explosion, and the door’s metal frame was bent. One of the busiest recruiting stations in the nation, the recruiting office is singularly located on a triangular island in the center of the iconic Manhattan intersection and has been the site of periodic anti-war protests. Photo by Cpl. Karim Delgado okinawa marine | OPINION & EDITORIAL | march 14, 2008 Reflecting on Lt. David B. Thames once endured, all bets are off. Part of the familiar lines and creases pose the question HEADQUARTERS BATTALION, 3RD MARINE DIVISION Reflectionintent, and indeed the wisdom of such a “wherefore honor, whither courage and com- period, after all, is to take a good look at mitment today?” he phrase “Period of Reflection” has ourselves, individually and collectively. The “Period of Reflection” must not be become a household term of late. While Whatever the genesis of the phrase, the tossed into the bin of political posturing some folks no doubt expressed frustra- principle it expresses is that each of us or the category of “one more bullet dodged.” Ttion over the restrictions placed on our day- must take a long and honest look in the Instead, it needs to be instituted as a standing to-day engagement with the local community, mirror to make sure that what we see is order that each of us (and all of us) do the dai- my own observation in sync with what we claim about ourselves. ly soul-searching required of those who aspire CHAPLAIN’S CORNER is that the vast major- Otherwise, we run the risk of holding our to the public trust, who accept the mantle of ity accepted the state of affairs with grace and integrity cheap — for all the world to see. stewardship for an honorable reputation, and quiet resolve. Now that a new set of rules has The “Man in the Mirror” metaphor is per- who dare to wear or live in association with replaced the more comprehensive limitations, haps a bit over-used. Nevertheless, it chal- the uniforms of our nation. life has begun to seem a bit more normal — lenges us to extend the “Period of Reflection” The beauty of a daily period of reflection as normal as any overseas duty ever feels. beyond the statutes of commanding generals is this — as we begin to see ourselves the way At least I don’t have to worry about how and into the daily discipline of being good we truly are — as God sees us — we are freed to get a re-supply of those special trash people. It requires that we give pause in from false illusions, and empowered to bring bags, without which I rate a stern — if in- the face of our own reflection to consider what we see into alignment with our highest comprehensible — lecture from the Ishikawa that we are guests in this land and to ask ideals and most noble goals. We raise the bar sanitation engineer who appears at my house “what can I do (or not do) today to be the for ourselves and for each other. every three days. kind of guest I would want in my home?” Now take a good look — and then go do Still, I think it would be unfortunate if we The visage staring back at me from the the right thing! simply relegate the “Period of Reflection” looking-glass wants to know “what kind of Thames is the chaplain for Headquarters to the status of unpleasant memory, as if ambassador are you going to be today?” The Battalion, 3rd Marine Division.