Vol. 13, No. 50 MCAS Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii December 13, 1984 Sgt. Gary Frage and his Battalion Christmas program Staff pass in review before SgtMaj. officer. Bjarne G. Runchel andMaj. David Eisenbrey, SOMS executive With Christmas just around the corner, everyone's hustling to prepare for the festive season. To start the season right, join the Air Station as it commemorates the holidays with a Christmas Parading their Concert skills at the Station Theater Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. by SSgt. Greg Berry SgtMaj. Featured at the concert will be the FMFPac Bjarne G. Runchel comprised the four watched with pride platoons, Michael 'Ryden and Kelly Band, the Hallulejah Chorus, a coral sing-a-long, a as "his" which were divided into two slide presentation "We're gonna knock their Marines passed in review Atkinson. of "T'was the Night Before socks off," said GySgt. Hank during companies, more than half of "Officers, center!" called Christmas," an NCO parade held them the and, last but not least Santa and his Nothen. But the words were during his retirement were NCOs. parade adjutant, Sgt. Susan helpers. Bieri, not uttered at an opposing ceremony last week at Dewey and the key personnel All active duty personnel on the Air Station, team because Nothen isn't a Square. Sgt. Gary Frage com- responded quickly and manded the troops as they civilian employees and their families are invited to sports coach ... he's a "This was a good parade, smartly - reminding performed the traditional everying that they attend. marching coach. and the NCOs did an ceremonies were The team of Marines under outstanding normally accom- indeed officers if only for an job," said plished by staff NCOs and Nothen's guidance wasn't SgtMaj. Pete Ross, afternoon. "These Marines 3/3, officers. Joining Frage' as the are officers, only they're not Santa practicing for just any speaking from experience Battalion to visit parade, the NCOs from Staff were Sgts. commissioned," Nothen said SOMS having watched several dozen Susan Bieri, were preparing to honor their NCO parades Mark Anthony, proudly. during his Mark Crossley and Jamie "Most of the sergeants and with, children retiring sergeant major with a career. Braham; parade. Approximately and Cpls. Gregory corporals had never drilled Santa Clain be coming on 110 Marines Stacy, Anthony Jones, with a sword before," Nothen is d said. But after countless hours of practice, both on and ffi'bOrs off duty, precision showed in party is being held their movements and they arid t Marine Brigade persolth age or younger. Childrenwho be accompanied by a the parade Oeld, ditty bid Clowns proved their profeastionalisin will to the spectators and to their Santa's arrival_ retiring sergeant major. engine at 1004. Runchel's military career leads th didn't begin in 1963 when he showh. joined the Marine Corps, but Following ons, Bailie, a in 1942 when he helped the .give gifts an dy to the childirbri Danish underground. The 8- year -old Copenhagen native "good lit rls and boys" . to assisted in identifying Those c en wishing 'to ante elin 6 German collaborators, and after 'fts and candy are banded out. even stole more than two dozen rifles from German sentries. The lure of the sea took Marine relief fund Runchel into the Merchant Marines, then the Danish comes to a close Royal Navy. He immigrated to the United States in 1961, The Beirut Marine Relief Fund, established by the and joined the Corps two Camp Lejeune community will stop aacspting a years later. donations Dec. 31. The 21-year Marine veteran "I appreciate their overwh is leaving Hawaii to retire the pins' g. assistance to the. e The Battalion Staff for the SOMS NCO parade stand ready. The NCOs impressed with his family in the Denver spectators with their sword manual and marching precision. area. Marinea'and asilore killed ea' 'Beirut ePeratinA." said General f'.T dant of the Marine Gyps, about elr familletrProviding Pri4il in 'taking care of our own' has Mt deniOnstrated." Runners honor Marine by lstLt. Kevin Nally, member of our group, and we MSSG-31 wanted in involve as many Marines as possible in an Running to America across event which honored him," Claims deadline an ocean can be difficult, but said Cpl. Deveraux. not impossible. Running 24 hours a day for Agent Orange On Nov. 15, MSSG-31 around the main deck of the started running when the ship seemed like the perfect A proposed settlement of a 1985. USS Mobile left Pusan, antidote. Each runner ran for suit against manufacturers of Funds would also he Korea. This trans-Pacific a half-hour and averaged four "Agent Orange" would provide provided for those who have "run" was completed on Nov. miles during each interval. $180 million to those who are not yet noticed ill-effects. These 27 when Cpl. Peter Devereaux Approximately 2,304 miles adversely affected by the people must submit a claim presented the baton to Col. were run during the 13 days chemicals. within 120 days after the Harry L. Solter at Pearl travel it took from Korea to If approved by the U.S. effects become known. Harbor's Victer Pier. Hawaii. Circuit Court for the Eastern Additionally, children - The Run to America was in "Life threatening situations District of New York, the including those unborn - memory of one of the exist during exercises. settlement would provide funds would receive funds if they members of the unit who Sometimes, the threat does for people presently suffering experience adverse effects. drowned during an exercise not settle in our minds until we are forced to deal directly adverse health effects be off the coast of Africa. The to the chemicals, Claim forms can obtained a commemorative with the situation," said Capt. attributed by writing to Clerk, U.S. Circuit Cal. Harry L. Salter, CO of BSSG, receives USS Mobile Runners Club, including spouses, parents, plague from the USS Mobile Runners Club to signify the 2304 dominated by Marines, Valentin, operations officer or Court for the Eastern District to honor their fallen to for MSSG-31. and children directly, Box 887, miles run by members of the club wanted honor their affected as a result of of New York, P.O. was presented by Sgt. comrade, who to Cold temperatures, com- indirectly Smithtown, NY 11787. comrade, Sgt. Kalifi Sofia. The plaque was assigned the exposure - such as birth George Parkins (c), and Cpis. Peter Devereaux and Douglas the Maintenance Plt, MSSG- bined with the early morning defects and miscarriages. For more information PJ/srrle, the guidon bearer, at Pearl Harbor's Victer Pier 31. His parent unit was 1st hours and turbulent seas, did People now experiencing contact the State Agent Orange when the 31st MAC returned. Maintiln., 1st FSSG, Camp not stop MSSG-31 from such health-related effects Committee in Honolulu at 548- Pendleton. paying tribute to a fellow should file a claim by Jan. 1, "Sgt. Kalif' Sofia was a Marine. Published by RFD Publications, Inc., a private firm in no way connected with the the Department of the Navy or the U.S. :Marine Corps. .The appearance of Department, of the Navy or the U.S. Maripe Corps. Opinions expressed by publishers advertisements in this publication, including inserts, does not constitute an and writers herein are their own and are not to be considered en official expression of endorsement Of the firma, products or.services advertised lw the Department of the Navy or the U.S. Marine Corps. December 13, 1984 HAWAII MARINE What's inside Hawaiian style Honolulu Marathon B-1 The meaning of Christmas by Chaplain Daniel R. Stewart K-Bay Generals significance of Christmas '84. day. We have football 13-2 Mele Kalikimaka! It means. "Merry Christmas" in Christmas is, and always has been, a holy Hawaiian. But for many military families, it's just one more allowed those two words to run together and become evidence that things are very different here as Christmas "holiday." In so doing we set ourselves up to believe Women's joiti)s studied D-1 approaches. Christmas is icicles and snow, relatives and loved ones and Far removed from family and loved ones; longing for a the perpetuation of family tradition. "white Christmas;" or experiencing separation due to Christmas is a party. It is a birthday party, and no matter the Fighting deployment, Christmas in Hawaii often seems to be more of what we don't have or cannot do we can always celebrate an ordeal than a blessing to many Marines and their birth of this special child. And celebrate we should, for His Hypertension D-6 families. life and its complications is significant for us all. Here are Yet, all the differences and challenges of Christmas in the some suggestionsfor making Christmas '84 one of the best Aloha state can make this year's celebration a valuable ever: exercise in discovering the true meaning of Christmas. ..I,earn about local customs and traditions. How have If Christmas is only a winter holiday, then it should not be Hawaiians celebrated this great event? Can we incorporate Weekly items celebrated in tropical climates or in the southern hemisphere elements of their celebration into ours? where Dec. 25 is in the middle of summer. Put in such terms, -Contact family and friends. Tell them you love them and most of us would confess that the real meaning of Christmas miss them. Write a note with the Christmas card you send. Sports shorts B-6 is not linked to weather. Relationships and friendship continue even through The absence of our larger family, or the active duty separation, but often not withotit communication.