III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan November 9, 2007 www.okinawa.usmc.mil Zukeran to change Hospital officials drop-off, pick-up Off the beaten path warn of contagious procedure Nov. 19 Okinawa-based landing support specialists bacterial disease Lance Cpl. Corey A. Blodgett Lance Cpl. Robert C. Frenke OKINAWA MARINE STAFF help establish safer, faster supply route in Iraq OKINAWA MARINE STAFF CAMP FOSTER — Due to poten- CAMP LESTER — Officials from tial safety hazards with current U.S. Naval Hospital Okinawa are pick-up and drop-off procedures warning of a bacterial disease at Zukeran Elementary School, that has infected three people local officials recently devel- in the last six weeks, bringing oped a new policy which takes the number of infected this year effect Nov. 19, according to to 10. Dawn Yates, the school liaison Leptospirosis is a rare, conta- officer for Marine Corps Base gious but treatable disease that Camp Butler. affects humans and animals. According to the new pro- “Three of the 10 cases this cedures, from 7:15 a.m. to 7:45 year required admission into a.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 the special care unit,” said Lt. p.m. the school entrance will be Cmdr. Reid Holtzclaw, an in- open to vehicles of Zukeran staff ternal medicine doctor at the and parents of students in pre- hospital. “And those are only school, Sure Start, kindergarten the cases that have come to our and first grade. Older students attention.” riding in the same vehicle may Many of the reported cases also be dropped off at the en- of Leptospirosis have involved trance. Parents of these students Marines training in the North- will be given a parking pass is- ern Training Area and hiking or sued by their child’s teacher. swimming near falls and fresh Children in grades two water. through six will need to be Leptospirosis can be found dropped-off and picked-up off worldwide, but it is more preva- school grounds. Parents may lent in sub-tropical climates pick up and drop off their chil- such as Okinawa’s. The bacteria dren curbside on 1st Marine are usually passed from animals Division Street, Tower Build- to humans by way of fresh water ing 26 and the Youth Center. sources contaminated by animal Students in grades two through urine. six should walk to the school Small mammals, such as using designated sidewalks and mice, rats, mongoose and other crosswalks. rodents are the common reposi- The school entrance will be tories of the bacteria, according open to all vehicles during the to Holtzclaw, but some bigger school day with the exception animals such as cattle and dogs of the drop-off and pickup time can be carriers as well. frames. Landing support specialists with 3rd Marine Logistics Group’s Combat It causes a wide range of Because of the dangers caused Logistics Battalion 4 prepare to connect a load of supplies to a CH-53D Sea symptoms in humans, but in by many privately owned ve- Stallion helicopter at Asad, Iraq, Oct. 18. The Okinawa Marines, who deployed some cases, infected persons may hicles and the large number to Iraq in August, connect supplies to the helicopters bound for Combat have no symptoms whatsoever. SEE SCHOOL PG 6 Outpost Timberwolf. SEE STORY ON PAGE 13. Photo by Cpl. Wayne Edmiston SEE BACTERIA PG 6 MARINE CORPS FORCES JAPAN BUILDING BONDS HAPPY BIRTHDAY Marines and sailors with Marine Marines on Okinawa celebrate the 2007 COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN DE I Aircraft Group 36 conclude Exercise Marine Corps’ 232nd birthday, and 2006 contributions: $680,898.75 Talon Vision after completing several the commandant of the Marine 2007 contributions to date: $387,890.79 civic action projects. Corps offers a birthday message. Percent contacted: 61.2% INS pg. 7 pg. 10 Numbers current as of Nov. 2, 2007 Okinawa Marine | NEWS | November 9, 2007 BLACKSTONE, Around the Va. | Cpl. Ervin Hernandez, an administrative clerk with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, lays wire around the command element’s forward-operating base during the Realistic Urban Training Exercise For more Marine Corps stories and photos, Oct. 29. Photo by Lance CorpSvisit http://www.marines.mil Cpl. Alex C. Guerra ARLINGTON, Va. | 2nd Lt. Sean Barrett, a student at The Basic School, is welcomed to the finish line of the Marine Corps Marathon’s 10K race by a Washington Redskins cheerleader Oct 28. Barrett finished with a winning time of 33:06. Photo by Sgt. Leo A. Salinas MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. Marines with 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, practice firing projectiles during non-lethal weapons training Oct. 30. Photo by Lance Cpl. Nicholas M. Dunn MADINAH AS SIYAHIYAH, Iraq | A young Iraqi girl talks with Marines of 1st Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, Oct. 20. Marines from the unit travel to the town regularly to discuss issues regarding infrastructure and security with local Iraqi leaders. Photo by Cpl. Andrew Kalwitz Okinawa Marine | OPINION & EDITORIAL | November 9, 2007 Veterans Day honors dedication, sacrifice Navy Lt. Cmdr. Gregory J. McCrimmon ber and to follow.” survival of our nation. Since the beginning of our great nation, the Veterans Day is a day to honor those who n Oct. 22, President George W. Bush freedom we experience has been dependent on are serving and have served in our country’s awarded the Medal of Honor, posthu- the strong veterans who have fought to protect military forces. As a returning active duty Omously, to Navy Lt. Michael Murphy for us. As our men and women serve in Iraq and service member who answered our nation’s his distinguished service in Afghanistan in Afghanistan, we are reminded regularly as call after Sept. 11, 2001, and a chaplain in June 2005. Murphy gave his full measure of we read newspapers and listen the Kansas Eastern Health devotion when he led a four-man Navy SEAL to the news of the dedication, Care VA Medical Center, I team into the 10,000-foot peaks of Afghan- commitment, and sacrifice of have been privileged to work istan’s Hindu Kush to search for a terrorist the honorable men and women On Veterans alongside some of America’s thought to be in the region. But they were soon who are willing to pay the ulti- greatest veterans and have had spotted and began taking fire from more than mate price to protect and serve Day, we not only the privilege to provide care 40 insurgents. our country. and comfort to veterans who According to a Navy report on the incident, These brave warriors come remember those are our patients. the insurgents held the from many diverse cultures I would like to encourage advantage of terrain and within our nation, but they who paid for our each of you to take time out on CHAPLAIN’S launched a well organized, serve for the same reason — to Veterans Day to help celebrate CORNER three-sided attack on the protect the rights and benefits and honor these men and team, forcing them deeper that come with freedom and to freedom with their women and to personally say into a ravine where all four defend the principles of democ- “thank you” for all that they men were wounded and three killed. Ac- racy. life but also those have done and are doing to cording to the Navy’s report, Murphy moved Eighty-nine years ago, on protect us. into the open and “calmly provided his unit’s Nov. 11, a truce was signed that who were willing It is because of the noble location and the size of the enemy force while ended World War I. We have commitment and sacrifice of requesting immediate support for his team.” celebrated Veterans Day ever to give their life. the young men and women The report said that, at one point, Murphy since — honoring the coura- from across America through- was hit in the back and dropped the handset geous deeds of these men and out the ages that help us focus but retrieved it and completed his call, even women who serve. our attention on the important saying “thank you” at the end of his trans- On Veterans Day, we not only remember purpose of Veterans Day: a celebration to honor mission. those who paid for our freedom with their life American’s veterans for their patriotism, love President George W. Bush wrote in 2001, but also those who were willing to give their of country and willingness to serve and sacri- “We must remember that many who served life. We remember those who have fought fice for the common good. in our military never lived to be called veter- many years ago, and we also think about the Finally, I would like to say thank you to ev- ans. We must remember many had their lives men and women who are continuing to fight. ery veteran. I understand the sacrifices that are changed forever by experiences or the injuries Through every battle and war, our Ameri- made to serve this great nation, and I will be of combat. All veterans are examples of service can men and women have proven their dedi- forever grateful to each and every one of you. and citizenship for every American to remem- cation and commitment to the strength and McCrimmon is the Camp Kinser chaplain. Sempertoons Created by Gunnery Sgt. Charles Wolf marine corps fact check DECORATIONS If I served in another U.S. military service before joining the Marine Corps, can I wear the Q: ribbons and medals I earned while in that service? Yes.