INSIDE Hawaii Military Week Events A-2 Word on the Street A-3 Beach Clean Up A-4 Spouse Appreciation A-6 Every Clime and Place A-8 Waimea Beach Feature B-1 MCCS B-2 Sports B-3 Word To Pass B-4 M ARINEARINEMarine Makeponos B-5 VolumeM 30, Number 18 www.mcbh.usmc.mil May 17, 2001 Sending smoke signals Island veteran honored Cpl. Roman Yurek Combat Correspondent Nearly 34 years after his courageous acts in Vietnam, Joseph “Pineapple” Kam- aka received his Bronze Star, May 11, at a ceremo- ny at MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay. “On the night of 6 September 1967, Corporal Kamaka, a member of the Second Platoon point ele- ment, was ordered to lead his company forward to Cpl. Roman Yurek break through an encircling Joseph Kamaka speaks enemy and effect the relief to Marines during his of a Marine rifle company award ceremony Friday. that was heavily engaged the 54-year-old Maui resi- with a numerically superior dent. “The company was in force,” reads the Bronze really bad shape when we Star citation. got there. They had 132 Kamaka began his tour Marines, and of those, 29 of duty in the Marine Corps were killed in action and in 1966 at the age of 18. another 55 were wounded.” The memory of Sept. 6, At 8:30 a.m., Kamaka’s 1967, is one that Kamaka unit, Company Point, Kilo said he will never forget. Co., 3rd Bn., 5th Marine Cpl. Roman Yurek “In the morning, the Regiment, 1st Marine North Vietnamese Army Division, was called in to Sergeant Jeremy Riglesberger, the Nuclear, Biological and Chemical noncommissioned officer for HQ Bn., waves the gas towards the Marines as they break the seal of their mask. This training is required for all Marines and ambushed India Co., 1st assist India Co. Kamaka helps them stay profiient in the use of their protective equipment. Bn., 5th Marine Regiment, my sister battalion,” said See BRONZE, A-10 Spill management drill a success for MCB Hawaii Sgt. Richard W. There were three exercise objec- According to federal regulations, Windward side of the island.” “The exercise draws together Holtgraver Jr. tives for the SMTT. The team MCB Hawaii, like other entities This year’s seven-and-a-half- representatives from all the agen- Combat Correspondent wanted to create an awareness of which store and use bulk fuel, is hour exercise pulled together thir- cies that would be involved if a re- potential hazards and problems as- considered a “potential spiller” of ty-eight “players” from MCB al oil spill occurred on Oahu,” ex- More than 30 department heads sociated with an oil spill, and the re- oil and oil by-products. Hawaii including the Environmen- plained Maj. Rob Rouse, director of and key personnel from various quired response actions. All such entities are required to tal Compliance and Protection MCB Hawaii EC and PD. sections of MCB Hawaii success- They also wanted to exercise and prepare for and respond to any oil Department, specialists in wildlife, In order to gauge the installa- fully completed the Spill Manag- evaluate established plans and pro- spills. cultural and natural resources tion’s spill response procedures and ement Team Training Table Top cedures for responding to, contain- “This installation is not a high- preservation. its ability to handle a serious inci- Exercise on May 2. ing, cleaning up and reporting oil risk facility, but there is a chance of Other K-Bay sections represent- dent, a worst case scenario was giv- The annual exercise tested the spills. a spill, and we are prepared for ed in the exercise included water- en to the participants. ability to respond to a large spill The third objective was to re- that,” said Rocky Owens, emer- front operations, air operations, fa- A large spill has a quick and im- from within the base with minimal, view limitations, shortfalls, and gency planning and spill response cilities, waste management, legal, mediate impact on the local envi- if any, effect on the environment or concerns, and identify unresolved manager for MCB Hawaii. “We are communications, medical, comp- local community. issues. the only spill response team on the troller, and Public Affairs. See SMTT, A-10 Base Comm Center Marine Raider named best in Corps Pvt. Iain A. Schnaible headed for home Combat Correspondent Cpl. Jacques-René Hébert The G-6 communications center aboard MCB Hawaii, MarForPac Public Affairs Office Kaneohe Bay, was named “Local Control Center of the Year” HONOLULU – Norman “Mort” Mortensen of Camp recently by the Marine Corps Defense Message System Douglas, Wisconsin, should be 86 years old, sitting on his Program Office. front porch, bouncing his grandchild on his knee and look- The award is presented for outstanding achievement by an ing back on a life that was both long and fulfilling. But LCC in providing messaging services to the commands that he’s not. fall under their responsibility. Cpl. Jacques-René Hébert Instead, Pfc. Norman W. Mortensen valiantly gave his In a letter to the LCC staff, Lt. Gen. Frank Libutti, com- life to the cause of freedom more than 7,000 miles from The remians of Pfc. Norman Mortensen, along with a mander, Marine Forces Pacific, commended their inclusive set of dress blues and appropriate decoration, lie in home, on an island many Americans know nothing of. working environment that used the talents of every Marine wait during a ceremony at Borthwick Mortuary. On May 10, Mortensen received an emotional hero’s eu- to meet and exceed the standard. logy and farewell at Borthwick Mortuary, as his remains tions and strafing enemy aircraft forced the remaining “The credit has to go to everybody; it was a team effort,” departed for home after an absence of nearly 60 years. Raiders to leave their brethren on the small atoll, report- said Gunnery Sgt. Harold Holden, Comm Center staff non- Mortensen was a member of the Marine Corps Raiders, edly paying a local islander to bury them. Retrieving their commissioned-officer-in-charge. “Every Marine had a mis- a special operations group formed by then Lt. Col. Evans fellow Marines, however, proved much more difficult than sion to complete so that we could accomplish our overall F. Carlson. The Raider battalions were precursors to to- originally imagined. Nineteen of the Raiders never made mission.” day’s Marine Force Reconnaissance or the Navy’s SEAL it home, and remained in an unmarked, mass grave, until The Comm Center provides its customers with a reliable program, and were known for their unorthodox training many years later. means to transmit and receive organizational messages. tactics and philosophies. In 1948, a Graves Registration Team carried out a search The efforts of the Comm Center Marines to meet and ex- At the advent of World War II, a force of approximate- for the lost Marines, but to no avail – the Marines were ceed the requirements of the Marine Corps Defense Message ly 200 Raider Marines set out for Butaritari Island in the nowhere to be found. Subsequent searches came up with System Program Office have not gone unnoticed and have Makin Atoll, for an attack on a small, Japanese base for the same results. In November 1999, when the Army’s earned them acclaim as the best in the Marine Corps. seaplanes. On Aug. 17, 1942, though outnumbered by the Central Identification Laboratory, Hawaii, centered at “Your accomplishments are well deserved and are a direct enemy and challenged by a vicious sea, the Raiders suc- Hickam Air Force Base, sent a search and recovery team reflection of your leadership, commitment and dedication to ceeded in flushing out the opposition and taking the base Marine Corps Base Hawaii, our Corps and country,” said Lt. – not, however, without casualties. Dangerous surf condi- See RAIDER, A-10 Gen. Libutti. “Thank you for a job well done.” Hawaii Military Appreciation Week Begins see page A-2 A-2 • May 17, 2001 HAWAII MARINE President’s Armed Forces MCBH NEWS Civilian Employee Appreciation Appreciation Week message Meal scheduled for Wednesday I am proud to offer my sin- BRIEFS On Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Anderson Hall cere thanks during Armed Dining Facility will open its doors to all civilian workers Forces Week to the brave men aboard MCB Hawaii. Show your civilian counterpart just how TTENTION ILITARY and women who protect our A , M much you appreciate their efforts by taking them out for lunch. POUSES Nation. S Fees are as follows: $3.20 (standard) or $2.65 (family mem- Several seats remain for the Military Spouse During the past several bers of E-4/below.) Contact Gunnery Sgt. Sekeres at 257-1621 Reception at I’olani Palace on Monday, between months, I have been privi- or Gunnery Sgt. Hoffert at 257-9590. 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. leged to witness personally This event, one of several sponsored by the the depth of your dedication Menu Items Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii during Hawaii and the strength of your char- Military Appreciation Week, will include docent acter. The professional man- Steamship Round/Au’jus Dinner Rolls tours and lunch. ner in which you conduct your Gravy Assorted Pies Attire is Aloha semi-formal (avoid wearing duties, your can-do spirit, and Mashed Potatoes Chocolate Chip Cookies heels, as walking is required.) Call the Public your sense of patriotism all Chicken Noodle Soup Strawberry Shortcake Affairs Office (257-8840, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., to- reflect the fact that our Armed President Bush New England Clam day through Friday) to reserve your seat.