“When they ask of us, tell them that for their tomorrow, we gave our today.” — Epitaph at the war cemetery at Kohima, Burma ((TheThe KKwajaleinwajalein ccommunityommunity oobservedbserved MMemorialemorial DDayay wwithith a cceremonyeremony aatt tthehe fl aagg ppolesoles MMonday.onday. FForor mmoreore pphotos,hotos, sseeee PPageage 66..) (Photo by Nell Drumheller) wwww.smdc.army.mil/KWAJ/Hourglass/hourglass.htmlww.smdc.army.mil/KWAJ/Hourglass/hourglass.html LLetteretter ttoo tthehe eeditorditor Thanks to all for making Kwaj special My days on this island paradise are coming to you have offered, and friendships we have shared an end. I just wanted to take a moment to send will remain forever ingrained in my soul. I have out a huge kommol tata to everyone for making my become a better person due to my experience in the fi ve years on Kwajalein some of the best years of Marshall Islands amongst a culture who has taught my life. I came here for one year expecting little, me the true meaning of sharing. Taylor and I will and am leaving fi ve years later with a daughter be back someday, if not to work, at least to visit whom I love beyond words, friends I will cherish the family and friends we will leave behind as we for a lifetime, and having had the opportunity to head for the cornfi elds of Iowa! I am sure we will work with children who fi ll my life with purpose think of you more than ever during the frigid days and my heart with love. Kwajalein is one of those of winter. Kommol tata and thanks, Kwajalein, for places that you can’t really describe to anybody, a lifetime of memories. but instead you just have to experience it. Please know that every kind word you have said, support — Teri King To the police offi cer who helped two little boys when one of their bikes broke May 24. He Letters to put their bikes in his vehicle and drove the the editor boys to their homes. To submit a letter to the editor: Keep letters to less than 300 words, and keep com ments to the issues. No personal attacks will be printed. Letters must be signed. However, names will be with held if requested. We will edit Classifi ed ads for Associated Press style, grammar and punctuation and if you exceed the The deadline for Wednesday's issue is noon, Saturday word limit, space. Limit one letter every 30 days. Send your letter to: The Hour glass, P.O. Box 23, Local; or and for Saturday's paper is noon, Thursday. [email protected]. Correction To nominate an employee Billy Traweek is an employee of U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll, not Kwajalein Range Services as stated in Wednesday’s Hourglass about the U.S. Marines. The Hourglass regrets the error. or family member for USAKA Person of To people To the person(s) who knock the Week, who over other send submissions anonymously people’s bikes and to Sandy Miller, donated the don’t pick beautiful plants them up. Public Affairs offi cer, at the turtle To people who do not throw at sandra.miller@smdck. pond. away their empty boxes, but smdc.army.mil or Kommol tata. leave them outside in public areas. call her at 51404. TThehe KwajaleinKwajalein HHourglassourglass The Kwajalein Hourglass is named fi cial views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Printed circulation: 2,000 for the insignia of the U.S. Army 7th Government, Department of Defense, Fax number: 52063 Infantry Division, which liberated the Department of the Army or USAKA. It is E-mail: [email protected] island from the forces of Imperial Ja- published Wednesdays and Saturdays in pan on Feb. 4, 1944. accordance with Army Regulation 360-1 Commanding Offi cer..........COL Beverly Stipe The Kwajalein Hourglass is an au- and using a network printer by Kwajalein Public Affairs Offi cer.....................Sandy Miller thorized publication for military per- Range Services editorial staff. Editor.....................................Nell Drumheller sonnel, federal employees, contractor P.O. Box 23, APO AP 96555 Graphics Designer.........................Dan Adler workers and their families assigned to Phone: Defense Switching Network High School Volunteer.............Lisa Barbella U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll. Contents of 254-3539 Circulation..............................Will O'Connell the Hourglass are not necessarily of- Local phone: 53539 The Kwajalein Hourglass 2 Wednesday, May 31, 2006 Making a difference Kwajalein residents, Rotary Clubs, provide dental hygiene, care to atoll children By Alan Taylor group was children, U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll Host Nation’s Offi ce fl exibility is key when visiting some of the t began with a girl in the 10th-grade named Atota. smaller islands. Enn- IJudi Bramlett, former teacher at Father Hacker lyabegan, or Carlos as High School on Gugeegue and her husband David, it is known by Ameri- watched the decay slowly spread across Atota’s front cans, has a small teeth during their year on Gugeegue. They noticed a population, and their general lack of regular dental care in the Marshall fourth-grade class Islands, but were particularly disheartened as they was comprised of two watched Atota’s teeth deteriorate. Rather than feeling children, so they saw hopeless, shrugging their shoulders and moving on, every child living on they decided to affect change. island and provided Last year, the Rotary Club of Wahiawa-Waialua, some wonderful cos- galvanized in large part by the efforts of David Bram- metic dentistry to the lett, sponsored Dr. Nora Harmsen and Judi Bramlett adults as well. It was to come to Kwajalein Atoll and provide dental care to particularly gratifying the youth of Kwajalein Atoll. They were able to treat to see a young wom- more than 158 children in nine days, sealing 194 an who had decay in teeth, completing 78 fi llings, extracting 98 teeth that her top front teeth Dr. Nora Harmsen, a dentist were abscessed or would have become infected. Ad- not only have those from Hawaii, and a young ditionally, they provided 34 cleanings, a root canal, teeth saved but beau- dental assistant complete a one partial denture (for Atota, saving her permanent tifully restored with dental exam. (Photos by Alan Taylor) teeth) and all children to received fl uoride treatments. the help of composite This year, they saw an astounding 222 patients over material. The expression on her face when she looked their 11 working days, eclipsing last year’s efforts. in the mirror after her teeth were not just saved, but This year, David Bramlett cast his net wider and got shaped to form a beautiful smile was truly priceless. three Rotary Clubs from Wahiawa-Waialua, Waianae Harmsen said, “We’ve worked long, hard, hot hours, Coast and Kapolei involved. The Rotary Clubs consist but it is truly an amazing feeling. The tangible dif- of volunteers from the local business and professional ference that we made in the life of every child when community who seek to improve a tooth was saved makes us feel the quality of life in their local very good in the morning when area. Each club also selects an we wake up.” international project to be sup- This wonderful project is the ported and this year, the three vision of two individuals, Judi clubs pooled monetary dona- and David Bramlett who took tions and collected supplies and action to make a huge differ- equipment to provide dental ence in the lives of Kwajalein care to Ebeye and other islets of Atoll children. Individuals and Kwajalein Atoll, with the empha- organizations that need to be sis on children. thanked for their part in mak- Harmsen returned this year ing this humanitarian mission with a new assistant, Elizabeth a success are: The Rotary Clubs French, a retired biomedical of Wahiawa-Waialua, Waianae Volunteers came to the Kwajalein Atoll photographer. They are again Coast and Kapolei for their to combat tooth decay. The program was sponsorship of the dental team; working mostly with children, supported by Rotary Clubs in Hawaii. targeting fourth-grade children Continental Airlines, for waiving because young people that age the excess baggage fees for the have their secondary teeth and the use of sealants on copious amounts of supplies needed; John Pickler, six year molars can help prevent cavities from forming Kwajalein Range Services president, for his tenacity where the sealant is applied. They visited almost every in hunting down a portable generator that allowed school on Ebeye, and also had the opportunity to go the dental team to work up at Gugeegue, and the to Ennlyabegan and Third Island. While their target Host Nation Offi ce, for sponsoring the dental team. Wednesday, May 31, 2006 3 The Kwajalein Hourglass Soldiers and Marines attend a Mass for fallen comrades on Kwajalein in February, 1944. Chance meeting leads veteran to family of best friend killed on Kwajalein in World War II By Jonathan Doll to be specifi c. Fida smiled and continued that he had also served on a number of islands in the Pacifi c. My reply was that I had taught on Tinian (near “Thank you for serving your country.” Guam) from 1994-1996, the same island where the Six words that every veteran – past and present Marines landed in 1944 and the Enola Gay later took – needs to hear. And those same words changed six off in 1945. We both smiled, and Fida got me a hot cup peoples’ lives, forever. And even my life, too. of coffee. There I was in December of 2001, visiting Syracuse, We were on a roll, and Fida had plenty more to share.