Beirut Relived Gecko Power Champs Commandant `G.K.' the lizard 3/3 leathernecks speaks before Congress speaks out bounce way; on Beirut tragedy for reptile rights to basketball title See Page A-4 See Page A-8 See Page B-7 HAWAII MARINE Voluntary payment for deliver, to MCAS housing/$1 per four-week period. .VOL. 12 NO. 52 KANEOHE 8:11. HAWAII. DEC. 28, 1983 SIXTEEN PAGES Military justice streamlined EDITOR'S NOTE: The "Before this bill, there was no would have to request the appeal the Uniform Code of Military following article is being used authority for either party to seek in all other cases. Justice. with the permission of Navy Supreme Court review of decisions Current pretrial procedures "This has become necessary due Times. by the Court of Military Appeals . require the convening authority to the seriousness of the drug (usually the installation offense matter and. therefore. the by Martha Lynn Craver There is no other major federal commander) to make a legal necessity for a distinct and judicial body whose decisions WASHINGTON Either the are determination as to whether or not common punitive article in all of - similarly insulated from Supreme a case should go to a general court- the military services." said Rep. government or the accused will be Court review," able to appeal decisions by the added a staffer martial. The legislation approved G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery (I)- from the Senate Court of Military Appeals to the Armed Services by Congress will allow these Miss.) when the bill was being Supreme Court following passage Committee. judgements to he made by the staff debated on the House floor. Limiting the automatic appeal judge advocate, although the by Congress of the Military A was made to the of courts-martial to death convening authority would have change Justice Act of 1983. sentence cases is another Manual for Courts Martial by In the last days of the session, the final say. President Reagan last year that Congress gave final approval to significant change in the Current law also requires the legislation, said both staffers. accomplishes the same thing, so the bill which also will streamline convening authority to review matter adding the cases trial for legal error. as a practical the military justice system by Currently. every court-martial after the separate punitive article for drug The hill will end this requirement. changing pre- -and post-trial involving a sentence of death, offenses will have no effect on the procedures and the appellate confinement for one year or more individual soldier or commander reveiw process. The Reagan or a punitive discharge must be "The bill retains the require- a Doll official explained. administration supported the bill, appealed to a Court of Military ments that the convening and the President is expected to Review, even if the accused does authority act on the case. but "The addition of the separate sign it into law soon. not want to appeal. Also, every emphasizes that this role article for drug offenses is mostly "Allowing the government or the general court-martial where primarily involves a determina- to emphasize congressional accused to appeal to the Supreme review by a Court of Mi'litary tion as to whether the findings or concern about the drug problem " Court is a very significant Review is not required must be sentence should he modified as a said the official. change," said a senior staffer on reviewed in the Office of the Judge matter of command prerogative the House Armed Services Advocate General. (as a Matter Of clemency) rather Finally, the hill will establish a Committee. The legislation approved by than as a result of formal nine-member commission to study "Of course, the review of cases Congress would end the automatic appellate review." a Senate staffer further changes to the military would be at the discretion of the appeal/review requirement, said. justice system and make supreme Court justices." the except in cases where the death A separate article dealing with recommendations to the Con staffer said. penalty is involved. The accused drug offenses also will he added to gress. NCOs renovate playground Story and phOtos community awareness. who was formerly sergeant major by Sgt R.D. Dewey "I initially spoke to the of 3/3. "I know the kind of principal of Mokapu Elementary material you're made of. I just The noncommissioned officers School." continued Kennedy. wanted to say that you've still got of Headquarters and Service "about the possibility of it! You're still fired up! And, I'm Company. 3d Battalion, 3d volunteering NCO mess manpow- very proud of you! Marines embarked upon thei; first er to the school. i then presented The playground equipment community awareness project at my proposal before a meeting of renovation was the first project for Mokapu Elementary School, Dec. the Parent-Teachers' Association. the NCO mess, but it won't he the 17. "The PTA provided paint. last. Approximately 15 Marines and brushes. and stripping equip- "We haven't decided what we'll NCO COMMUNITY AWARE- their supporting Navy corpsmen ment." explained Kennedy. do next," said Kennedy. "hut we NESS - Corporal Charles turned out to renovate the school's "Some members of the NCO mess do want to continue our work Gunn, Headquarters and playground equipment. which also brought their own equipment within the community. We don't Service Company, 3d Bat- was badly in need of repair and from home." want to get started too fast talion, 3d Marines, strips old paint. The NCOs weren't the only however: we want to complete one paint from a piece of play- "We formed our 70-man NCO individuals to show up during the project before going on to another. ground equipment at Mokapu - mess about three weeks ago, to playground equipment renova- We'd also like to get our company Elementary School. Gunn and htinstill the ideas of NCO unity and tion. Sergeant Major James area squared away. approximately 15 other leadership within the community McGuirk, 1st Marine Brigade, "Our command thinks the NCO Marines and sailors, of a Ind our own command," said jogged by to motivate the NCOs in mess is a great idea." continued newly founded NCO mess at tergeant Marvin Kennedy. true "McGuirk" style. Kennedy. "They're willing to give H&S Company, 3/3, were on President. NCO mess. "We then "I started out with many of you us all the support we need." hand to renovate playground volunteered to renovate the school when you first got here, as your equipment at Mokapu Elemen- equipment to prove our sergeant major," said McGuirk, Cont. on Page A-7 tary School, Dec. 17. 'Hawaii Marine' takes DoD award by GySgt Theresa Gallagher Judges for the print competition were: Paul V. Peterson. professor of journalism and "We did it!" resounded through the four- communication. Ohio State University: Anne room complex of the Joint Public Affairs Office. Keegan, feature writer. Chicago Tribune: and "We won the T.J.! We're the hest civilian Gene F. Policinski. deputy page one editor, USA commercial enterprise newspaper in the Today. Department of Defense." The judges studied three issues of the Hawaii The shouts echoed the response to a telephone Marine selected from the eligibility period of call Dec. 20 from Major Bill Wood. former air Oct. 1, 1982 through Sept 30 1983. incidentally, station public affairs director. Official each paper had a different editor. They were notification came the next day. Staff Sergeant William Saunders. Sergeant Less than a month ago the office staff Greg Berry and Corporal Christopher Wood. received word that the Hawaii Marine had won The issues were evaluated on content. the the Headquarters Marine Corps level of quality of stories. priority of those stories, competition in the prestigious Thomas headlines and photos and layout and design._ Jefferson Awards contest and would represent "It's a due reward for the hours spent in the Corps in the DoD portion. The staff was preparation. format changes. and the weekly equally excited then. but was concerned about sweat of maintaining standards and the stiff competition from the Army, Air Force surpassing them." said Captain Mary and Navy. Wilkowski. air station PA director. "It The annual contest is sponsored by the Office represents a culmination of a lot of people's of Assistant Secretary of Defense (PA) to efforts who have come and gone in this office. stimulate and reward excellence and It's been an evolutionary process. I'm glad the professionalism in military print a nd broadcast Marine Corps won. and particularly glad that journalism. we won." "They also recognize outstanding In addition to the HQMC Division of Public r achievement in promoting a fuller Affairs Merit Award earned for winning the understanding of the missions of the United Corpswide competition, the staff will receive a States Armed Forces: and in informing our first-place plaque from DoD. military personnel on the events of the times. That excites Bill Buck. deputy director and their heritage as American citizens, and the one-time public affairs chief here. "It's utterly vital roles they play in the defense of the nation fantastic. It reflects recognition of long hours and the preservation of peace," said Gunnery and personal sacrifices the writers, editors and Sergeant Steve Merrill. Division of Public photographers make to produce the Hawaii Affairs, Headquarters Marine Corps. Marine each week." FIRST VISIT - Six-month-old Connie Lee Stull isn't much bigger 1983 was held at the how do the sacrificial lambs feel? April 13, 1743 than Santa's beard, but she enjoys The T.J.