New Metroliner to arrive — page 6 WWomen’somen’s CClublub CCoraloral BBQQ hheatseats uupp vvisitsisits EEbeyebeye rresidentsesidents sschoolschools — PPageage 7 — PPagesages 44-5-5 ((DonatedDonated sshoeshoes aandnd ssandalsandals ffromrom KKwajaleinwajalein llineine a ttableable iinn MMulti-Purposeulti-Purpose CCenterenter oonn EEbeye.beye. TThehe sshoeshoes wwereere aamongmong cclothinglothing aandnd ootherther iitemstems ggiveniven ttoo vvictimsictims ooff tthehe EEbeyebeye fi rre.e. FForor mmoreore oonn tthis,his, sseeee PPageage 33.).) ))(Photo(Photo bbyy NNellell MM.. DDrumheller)rumheller) Commentary Those who endured would say thank you Some time ago, I read a book by into the cell. His fellow prisoners tried to John McCain entitled “Faith of My render what aid they could to him. Fathers.” In the dimly lit, fi lthy cell, he laid with As most folks know, McCain is a his eyes almost completely swollen senator from Arizona and during the shut, bones broken and joints dislo- Vietnam War was held as a prisoner cated. And as his comrades watched, by the North Vietnamese for more Christian crawled to a loose block in than fi ve years. the wall, got bits of cloth he had hidden During those years, he and his there and with a bamboo needle began fellow prisoners were subjected to to make another American fl ag. unspeakable treatment. They were beaten, tortured, starved When I hear all the talk about whether people should and denied medical treatment. stand still and face the fl agpole during retreat or when Taps All of the abuse was designed to break their spirits and is played, I can’t help thinking about Christian and his brave force them to make statements that they were war criminals and defi ant act of heroism. and America had sent them to kill women and children. I can’t help thinking of the 11-year-old son of Sgt. 1st Class McCain recounts in the book how the prisoners held Paul Ray Smith. President George W. Bush just presented together and took courage and strength from one another. him with the Medal of Honor his father was recommended for They were determined not to be broken. in Iraq. He will only have memories of his dad now. McCain said he knew many a brave man in that prison. All around the world, people are willing to stomp, burn and He recounted the story of one who he said was the bravest spurn the American fl ag. They don’t need any help from us. man he ever knew. We all have our opinions and I guess we’ve all made our The prisoners said the Pledge of Allegiance every day be- decisions about how we will react to the bugle calls. I hope fore their noon bowl of soup. They said it to a small Ameri- this will be the last I hear about it. can fl ag that Lt. Mike Christian had made from bits of cloth I’d make a bet men like Mike Christian and Paul Ray Smith and fragments of prison garb and sewn to the inside of his would support your right not to stand during retreat or Taps. shirt. He risked terrible punishment if discovered. After all, that’s what freedom is about. Then Christian got caught. But I’d also bet that if they could see you honoring the He was beaten and tortured hour after hour without pity. fl ag and their comrades who have made the sacrifi ce, they When the torture ended at last, Christian was thrown back might say thank you. Marshallese Word of the Day To submit a Letter to the Editor or a classifi ed ad, e-mail to: hourglass@ bon - night kls.usaka.smdc .army.mil Jest For Fun Ron Tsubamoto The Kwajalein Hourglass Commanding Offi cer...COL Beverly Stipe Acting Public Affairs Offi cer..Polli Keller Editor...............................Nell Drumheller Assistant Editor......................Mig Owens Graphics Designer....................Dan Adler Reporter............................Elizabeth Davie Intern............................Brandon Stevison Circulation....................... Will O’Connell The Hourglass is named for the insignia of the U.S. Army 7th Infantry Division, which liberated the island from the forces of Imperial Japan on Feb 4, 1944. The Kwajalein Hourglass is an authorized publication for military personnel, federal employees, contractor workers and their families assigned to USAKA. Contents of the Hourglass are not necessarily offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or USAKA. It is published Wednesdays and Saturdays in accordance with Army Regulation 360-1 and using a network printer by Kwajalein Range Services editorial staff, P.O. Box 23, APO AP 96555. Phone: Autovon 254-3539; local 53539. Printed circulation: 2,000 The Kwajalein Hourglass 2 Saturday, April 9, 2005 Lending a helping hand Kwajalein extends aid to fi re victims By Nell M. Drumheller living now. Editor Taylor added that Mark Sakaio, of automotive, helped prepare the truck at lunchtime. Tusi Tagoilelagi, of pack- A week after a fi re destroyed several structures on ing and crating assisted in the packaging. “We were able Ebeye, the barge Manassas carried a truck laden with to get Tusi’s assistance because shipping had a house- donations to the displaced people. hold goods delivery to make to Ebeye,” Taylor said. “We As soon as the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll commu- were able to get their goods over to Ebeye; they were nity learned of the fi re, members began asking where able to help us offl oad the donated goods. And thanks they could donate products and money to help the to the Marine Department for the ride over and provid- Marshallese people. ing some water to the thirsty residents waiting at the More than $10,000 in cash donations were collected KADA ramp.” as well as 20 bags of clothes, 13 bags of shoes, 20 bags The Rev. Rick Funk, protestant chaplain, said “We of bedding, 10 bags of toiletries, 13 boxes of toys and are still receiving money and it can be brought to the 17 boxes of miscellaneous chapel offi ce and checks can be household goods according made out to Island Memorial to Alan Taylor, Republic of Chapel. We are considering dif- the Marshall Islands Rela- ferent ideas of how to spend it. We tions specialist. would like to spend it on housing. The cash and products were We would rather not receive any distributed in a small ceremo- more goods. If people have items ny on Thursday afternoon at to donate, please call fi rst to fi nd the Multi-Purpose Center on out what the families need and Ebeye. to make sure we have the means At the ceremony, Shirley to deliver it.” Jajo spoke as a representative Nearly 70 people were left of the families who had lost homeless by the blaze, according their homes. She thanked the to Noda Lojkar, RMI ombudsman, USAKA community for their the homeless people have found generosity and said that the temporary residences with ex- community would be in their tended family members. prayers. She asked if USAKA Military installations are located could do anything to help the around the globe and it is not un- displaced families get new usual for military members and homes. their families to help outside the According to Maj. David gates of the installations. Coffey Coffey, USAKA Host Nations explained that local commanders offi cer, “There are excess trail- have the authority, and in fact ers available. The problem is an obligation to assist when life that we cannot just send them or health is at risk. “However, over to Ebeye without permis- what occurred in this instance sion from land owners and a (Photo by Nell Drumheller) was more of a community-based planned site, transportation A truckload of donated clothing and other items effort to provide assistance with and utility hook ups. Had lo- for victims of the Ebeye fi re is offl oaded at Ebeye USAKA providing logistical sup- cal leaders been present dur- Wednesday. port. KRS took a lot of initiative ing the donation ceremony we in sending fi rst-response evalu- might have been able to resolve this issue already. My ators and then sending a fi re truck and should be given offi ce would be happy to help coordinate such an initia- credit, and then it was the community that pushed tive between all concerned parties and I will speak to donations through the chapel to those in need with- the GRMI’s chief secretary on the subject.” out even being asked. The outpouring of concern and Organizing the donations and getting them delivered support was immediate, sincere, and spontaneous and was a major feat, which took the cooperation of many of- for that reason meant as much to the victims of the fi re fi ces. “Packing all donated goods into three used packing as the donations themselves. For those of us who were crates, getting the crates on the ‘excessed’ truck, onto privileged enough to be able to represent the USAKA the boat and getting the truck over to the Multi-Purpose community at the actual presentation of the donations Center on Ebeye,” summarizes part of the process ac- let me say that it was a well organized but tremendously cording to Taylor. emotional event for donors and recipients alike and the The truck which was used had been considered an gratitude was genuine and complete,” he said. excessed, or no longer functional according to Army Funk added, “I believe we should get to know them standards, vehicle and will be donated to Kwajalein [our Ebeye neighbors.] I have discovered that the best Atoll Local Government and was also used to help the families transport the donated goods to where they are See DONATIONS, Page 8 Saturday, April 9, 2005 3 The Kwajalein Hourglass By Lauren Traweek general conviviality.