VOL. 38 NO. 16 | APRIL 24, 2009 INSIDE Pinwheels ignite abuse awareness Community shows support the lawn, representing the number of because there will be no abused chil- For more information about the phone calls received each year by The dren.” for child neglect and abuse Pinwheels for Prevention pro- Parent Line, a confidential statewide The annual event is part of a prevention programs gram or about child abuse pre- hotline that offers support and infor- monthlong series of events funded by the vention programs and activities mation to parents, caregivers and profes- State Department of Health to observe Story and Photo by throughout the year, call Prevent sionals regarding issues of child abuse April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. MOLLY HAYDEN Child Abuse Hawaii at 951-0200 and neglect. Outside of the capitol building, pass- Staff Writer or go to preventchildabuse “We ask the community to come out ing cars slowed down to get a closer HONOLULU — Eli Joor, 8, held the hawaii.org. with signs supporting child abuse and look at volunteers holding signs reading shiny blue metallic pinwheel in his hands neglect prevention programs and legis- “Prevent Child Abuse” and “April is Na- and carefully placed it onto the lawn of lation,” said Chet Akessa, Pinwheels for tional Child Abuse Prevention Month.” the State Capitol building here, Monday. “This is my third year doing this,” Prevention volunteer chairperson. “Our Registered nurse Elaine Homont, a Numerous other community volun- said Joor. “I’m helping kids like me.” profound wish is that one day there is no teers followed suit. More than 5,000 pinwheels graced need for a child abuse prevention rally SEE PINWHEEL, A-8 Pools rule Herb Wolff’s Garrison and Army Hawaii Family Housing passing will amenities are explained in depth. A-7 leave a void U.S. ARMY GARRISON-HAWAII Public Affairs Office Retired Maj. Gen. Herbert Wolff, former commander of the U.S. Western Com- Military mand (WESTCOM) — the forerunner of what is now U.S. Army-Pacific (US- appreciation ARPAC), from De- cember 1977 until Hawaii celebrates May his retirement in October 1981, as Military Appreciation passed away Friday Month. Service (April 17), at the members and families age of 83. are invited to take part Wolff was in- strumental in ele- Wolff in activities honoring vating USARPAC them. to a component command within the U.S. Pacific Command (USPACOM), on par with B-1 the other services. He was genuinely loved and admired by all who knew him. “Maj. Gen. Herb Wolff was a great Bike rodeo leader, warrior and statesman. He will be truly missed by this community and the military,” said Lt. Gen. Benjamin R. Mixon, Children can learn how commander, USARPAC. “He laid the foun- to play it safe this dation for the Army here in the Pacific, summer and parents which allowed us to accomplish many can get tips on dynamic missions over the years during safeguarding children and following his command.” and property, May 2, SEE WOLFF, A-8 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., at Porter Community Maj. Gen. Raymond Mason, commanding general, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, reads to students at Gustav H. Webling Center, Schofield Elementary School, April 17, to promote reading and the Month of the Military Child. Barracks. Army Hawaii See Community Calendar, B-2 gives thanks General encourages reading to volunteers Story and Photo by Usually, their teachers read the books, April was designated as MOMC in Volunteer Appreciation SGT. RICARDO BRANCH but today a general from the U.S. Army 1986, which has allowed the Army the 8th Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs read them their story. opportunity to focus on military chil- Week honors commitment Maj. Gen. Raymond Mason, com- dren and acknowledge their sacrifices. FORT SHAFTER — The students sat of selfless individuals manding general, 8th Theater Sustain- “I used to read to my children when in a semicircle in the school library with ment Command, made a special trip to they were growing up,” Mason said. “I their faces cupped in the palms of their Story and Photo by Gustav H. Webling Elementary School, don’t get an opportunity to read much to AMY L. BUGALA hands while they listened to a story read Friday, to promote reading and the Staff Writer to them by a visitor. Month of the Military Child (MOMC). SEE READ, A-5 SCHOFIELD BARRACKS — More than 25 community volunteers, senior spous- es and garrison leadership rallied togeth- er Monday morning to kick off the U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii (USAG-HI) Volun- 524th CSSB puts capabilities to the test teer Appreciation Week activities with a special breakfast and shopping event at Paddle boarding Training at PTA hones the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) Main Exchange, here. Soldier skills for support Outdoor Recreation In this instance, the volunteers weren’t troop deployments here to give, but instead, to receive sponsors paddle- “thanks” in the form of a VIP shopping boarding class for Blue Story and Photos by spree, giveaways and prizes at the post Star Card holders. SGT. RICARDO BRANCH exchange (PX). 8th Theater Sustainment Command Public Affairs As the group enjoyed breakfast, Tracy B-3 Clark, Army Community Service (ACS), POHAHULOA TRAINING AREA, Army Volunteer Corps coordinator, an- Hawaii — Soldiers from the 524th Com- nounced the activities that would take bat Service Support Battalion (CSSB) re- place to honor volunteers this week. turned to Pohakuloa Training Area “A free movie, bowling, a ‘Price is (PTA) this month to hone their Right’ breakfast event, with an opportu- This issue warfighting capabilities for future de- nity to win a two-night stay at the ployments. Pililaau Army Recreation Center and dis- Footsteps in Faith A-2 “You train as you fight,” said Lt. Col. count shopping (are available),” she an- Leona Knight, commander, 524th CSSB. Deployed Forces A-3 nounced, receiving cheers from the “You can’t be prepared for combat if Soldiers from the 524th Combat Service Support Battalion kick down a door, as they crowd. you don’t train for it, and we have sim- News Briefs A-4 prepare to move into the shoot house at the Pohakuloa Training Area, April 14. With more than 800 registered vol- ulated the situations many of the Sol- unteers, Volunteer Appreciation Week, talion’s wartime capabilities. voy live fires, and weapons qualifica- FMWR B-2 diers can face in combat.” April 20-23, began this year to expand Beginning April 3, Soldiers arrived During the training, they worked on tion courses. Sports & Fitness B-3 on the Big Island to improve upon their reflexive-fire drills, combat lifesaver existing knowledge and refine the bat- courses, room-clearing techniques, con- SEE 524th CSSB, A-5 SEE VOLUNTEER, A-6 A-2 | APRIL 24, 2009 HAWAII ARMY WEEKLY NEWS & COMMENTARY DES Straight Talk We want to hear from you... The Hawaii Army Weekly wel- comes articles from Army organ- Garrison adds school crossing guards izations, announcements from the general public about com- LT. COL. THOMAS DENZLER left unsupervised •Animal Control. Community mem- trade-ins. Aside from locking your res- munity events of interest to the Director, Directorate of Emergency Services at bus stops or bers are asked to keep their pets under idence, protect your property by record- military community, and letters walk to school control at all times. Incidents of dog ing your system’s serial number (or have The U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii and commentaries. alone. bites have occurred because younger it engraved by the Community Relations If you have newsworthy ideas (USAG-HI) and Directorate of Emergency Also, additional family members have been unable to Office, 655-8405). This recently led to the or stories you’d like to write, co- Services (DES) are implementing initia- ordinate with the managing edi- law enforcement control dogs while walking them. return of one system to its owner and tor at 656-3155, or e-mail edi- tives in response to concerns recently officers will be Residents are also directed to refrain some solid investigative leads. [email protected]. presented by the USAG-HI Army Family trained to augment from feeding wild animals. Feeding stray •Schofield Barracks “Flasher” Ap- The editorial deadline for arti- Action Plan (AFAP) committee. animal control of- cats will increase their population and prehended. A family member was appre- cles and announcements is the To enhance our children’s safety Friday prior to Friday publica- ficers to help catch Denzler dissuade them from preying on rodents. hended, April 16, for entering a USAG- tions. Prior coordination is walking to and around Schofield schools, stray animals. Ani- Feeding wild pigs will encourage them to HI facility and exposing himself. A sub- mandatory. additional crossing guards will be present mal control officers primarily work return to our communities and pose as a sequent investigation determined this Articles must be text or Word daily to augment those already provided daytime hours, seven days a week. possible danger. individual was also responsible for three files with complete information, by Solomon and Hale Kula Elementary no abbreviations; accompany- Additionally, unit leadership is getting •Game Console Thefts (e.g. X-Box). similar cases in January, and for inde- ing photographs must be digital, Schools. Drivers should abide with cross- involved in making sure Soldiers Our communities have experienced an cently assaulting a female jogger in high resolution, jpeg files with full ing guards’ directions and always keep an spay/neuter their animals and dissuade increase in the theft of game consoles March. captions and bylines. eye open for children walking to and pet abandonment upon PCS (permanent and video games, primarily from un- Thanks to those individuals who aid- The Hawaii Army Weekly is an authorized newspaper and is from school.