Decorated Hickam pilot
discharged for pot bust
A highly decorated 1991 Desert Storm Air Force pilot, caught trying to smuggle a gram of marijuana in his underwear through a mainland airport security checkpoint last year, will be dishonorably discharged.
Lt. Col. Jonathan Wills, who was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for combat missions against Iraq 12 years ago during the Gulf War, was apprehended May 31 by security officials at the San Antonio Airport, said Maj. Almarah Belk, Hickam Air Force Base spokeswoman.
Wills, who was assigned to the directorate of air and space operations at Headquarters, Pacific Air Forces, at Hickam, was returning from temporary duty in San Antonio when he was stopped.
Belk said San Antonio Airport security officials asked Wills to turn down the waistband of his underwear during routine security screening.
"The guard noticed a piece of plastic sticking out of his underwear," she said.
The package contained less than a gram of marijuana. Wills was turned over to San Antonio police and finally Air Force officials. Belk said urinalysis revealed that Wills had used marijuana.
At an April 15 court-martial at Hickam, Belk said Wills pleaded guilty to charges of possessing and using marijuana. He was sentenced to 14 days' confinement in the Ford Island brig and will be dishonorably discharged.
Besides the Distinguished Flying Cross, Wills was awarded two Air Medals and a Navy Commendation Medal during his 18-year Air Force career.