MAC Flight Travelers Must Be in Uniform
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HAWAII MARINEI Voluntary payment for delivery to MCAS hou sing /8 per four olels VOL. 11 NO. .17 KANE( HE 11AV. HAWAII. NOV. 24, 1982 TWENTY PAGES Rescuer rescued One survives helo crash A memorial service was held here after transporting 40 helicopter from Station Opera- Monday at the Air Station Chapel members of the Young Presidents' tions and Maintenance Squadron) here in memory of Captains Organization from Maui to dropped a SAR swimmer into the Ronald G. Powell, Marine Medium Kahoolawe, then hack to Maui. water and he came out and got me. Helicopter Squadron-165, and "I was working on the life I was hoisted up. I didn't break Richard L. Ferguson, Marine Air preservers we used while hauling any bones, just bruised my body. Base Squadron-24. the Young Presidents' Organiza- Everybody keeps telling me I'm a The two pilots, along with the tion," Rager said. "I looked out the lucky fellow," he said. crew chief, Corporal Mark Roger, window and we were heading On Nov. 16, the day before the 22, also from HMM-165, were toward the other planes. helicopter mishap, Roger helped returning from Maui when their Everything seemed to be good. rescue the pilot of a downed Piper CH-46 Sea Knight helicopter The pilots were talking to each Cherokee aircraft that crashed crashed into the ocean between other. About a minute after that, one nautical mile south of Maui and Lanai Nov. 17. we hit the water and I was thrown Honolulu International's Reef Rager, who survived the crash, from the aircraft. Run way. Rager hoisted the was treated and released from "I inflated my life vest. I used civilian pilot into the Marine Maui Memorial Hospital Nov. 18, my left hand, pulled the toggle and transport helicopter. but was later taken to Tripler it inflated," he said. Search and rescue efforts Army Medical Center for According to Rager, his rescue continued until sunset Nov.18 for observation. took approximately 45 minutes. Powell and Ferguson, but to no :a4 "I used my radio (part of the life avail. HEROES - "It was just a routine rescue," Point Nov. 16. They are: (from left) First "I don't know what happened," vest equipment) to contact Maui Powell, 32, from Gadsden, Ala., quipped Captain Piete Velzehoer ... routine for Lieutenant Bill Guddeck, pilot; Velzehoer, co- he said of the incident. "We got control with a mayday. The other is survived by his wife, Sherry, his everyone except Joel Baker, pilot of a Piper pilot; Corporal Mark Roger, crew chief; and separated from the other birds and Marine helo may have heard me daughter, Kayla, and son, Ronald Cherokee aircraft that went down one nautical Lance Corporal Leonard Vermeulen, first were trying to catch up." The too. I shot a pen flare and they Jason. Ferguson, 29 from Tippe- mile south of the Reef Runway at Honolulu mechanic. The next day Hager was on the other downed helicopter was one of homed-in on my radio strobe light. canoe, Ind., is survived by his wife, International Airport. The CH-46 crew was end of a rescue when the Ch-46 helicopter he three returning to the air station They (Search and Rescue Cheryl and daughter, Nicole. diverted to the scene while enroute to Barbers was in went down between Maui and Lanai. MAC flight travelers must be in uniform Beginning Dec. 1, all military terminals have listened to rule all along," said Santiago, stated Gen. Allen, "but are acting responsibility. 'l'he policy may be waived for personnel traveling on Depart- complaints from leathernecks "but it's hard when they let them on behalf of the traveler's service. "They (passenger agents) will military people in civilian ment of Defense owned or about traveling in uniform for on in civics at Guam and Travis Our agents will limit themselves continue cheerfully to provide clothing for reasons beyond their controlled aircraft will be required years. In addition to complaints, (San Francisco). Now, there's no to what the policy requires." requested information to all reasonable control, provided to be in uniform, according to Air excuses abounded. Marines ifs, ands and buts about it, they The policy requirement is passengers and potential designated local representatives Force General James R. Allen, claimed to have lost their luggage, just don't fly." simple: passenger agents will not passengers, whether in uniform or of the members' services concur. Commander-in-Chief, Military spilled things on their uniforms, The policy applies to duty and process or board any service not," stated Gen. Allen. Airlift Command (CINCMAC). and some have even claimed to leave passengers traveling on member who is out of uniform. Enforcement of this policy CINCMAC announced the new have sold them. military and MAC contracted They will not attempt to arbitrate Exceptions to the uniform comes at a time when MAC policy in a message after Sergeant Jorge Santiago, (Category B) 'civil aircraft specific uniform combinations, ruling are limited to: when civilian terminals are busiest - holiday consulting with Army Gen. John Marine Liaison at Hickam Air departing from military airfields nor to judge any member's attire is required by the USAF leave time. Passengers can assist W. Vessey Jr., Chairman, Joint Force Base, is excited about the and commercial gateways. compliance with service's detailed Foreign Clearance Guide; and them in remaining a source of help Chiefs of Staff. new policy. "We've (Navy and "Our passenger agents are not policies on placement of insignia, when the service member's orders - not grief - to travelers by Marine Corps liaisons at MAC Marines) attempted to enforce the enforcing a MAC requirement," etc. That's the individual service's authorize civilian attire. wearing the proper uniforms. Beachmasters juggle supplies for MAU Marines in Lebanon Marines from getting their wheels causeway and ashore, they were by relieved another Beachmaster SSgt Stan Pederson outfit which had been here since wet," joked Smith. The water at counted and sorted by men of BEIRUT, Lebanon (Delayed) - the landing of the multi-national the other end of the causeway is MAU Service Support Group-24 Amphi- force. usually about 10 feet deep. who also moved them to storage When the 24th Marine the bious Unit came ashore here to "When they finished moving Around Bos'n Smith's cause- areas near Marine positions at replace the 32nd MAU, dug-in out the 32nd, they went aboard way floated other sailors helping airport. around the Beirut International ship and we took over," Smith with the change-over landings. "Our workdays depend on what commented. An Assault Craft Unit used utility is needed by the MAU," said First Airport, hundreds of tons of 25, supplies flowed ashore like the Much of the Beachmaster's landing barges and the smaller Lieutenant Joe Castle, relentless Mediterranean tide. efficiency was credited to the amphibian vehicles to move most commander of the Landing But the evolution was much unique causeway which was of the Marine equipment from Support Detachment. During the more difficult and complicated quickly shoved ashore to allow ship to shore. Lighter gear was first days of the landing than the ebb and flow of seawater. trucks and other vehicles to roll flown in by helicopter, but the changeover, Marines worked 24 Bringing the right items to the directly off the landing craft. tough task fell mainly to the hours as they moved the 24th beach at the right time took The causeway is a small, coxswains of the boats. MAU ashore. pier that can be set up on Bringing a landing craft to the tremendous, sometimes tedious, floatable gear ashore, coordination between Marines almost any beach. "It takes the end of the causeway for unloading "With most of their our work is down to 12 hours," and sailors on ships and shore. amphibious Seabees a couple of can be tricky for the crew. "They day In Beirut, a sweaty band of hours to put it together, said have to hook their front ramp onto said Castle, from Norstown, Pa. working with the 32nd Smith, veteran sailor and native the 'Rhino horn' at the end of the He expected the work days for his Navymen, even shorter as MAU as they moved back aboard of Bayonne, N.J. Causeways are pier," said Smith. That keeps the 70-man crew to get ship, also handled all supplies composed of 30 yard sections wide landing craft from drifting while the Marines became more settled the causeway to rise and here in Beirut. But the job on the coming in for the 24th MAU. "It enough for two vehicles to pass. allowing LONG DEPLOYMENT - Major Travis J ardon, Marine beach Usually the four sections stored fall with the waves. If the surf is beaches will never really end. at, was easier to have one are in Fighter Attack Squadron-232, gets a hug from his wife,P all the aboard an amphibious landing too rough the ramp can break As long as the Marines deployment. His family didn't group coordinating boat and be Lebanon, most of their resupply upon return from a two month movements," said Boatswain ship are put together at sea and away from the recognize the masked major, at first. He donned an old Smith Jr., the towed to the shore where one end damaged. will come from the amphibious seem to get (CW0-4) Harold R. ships anchored off the coast of man's mask to emphasis that deployments Beachmaster with is anchored to the beach. Once the supplies and loved ones. VM FA-232 was 36-year-old were across the Lebanon.