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In the Military
Gregg K. Kakesako
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Purple Heart organization honors Akaka for service
U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka received a leadership award last week from the Military Order of the Purple Heart, an organization made up exclusively of Purple Heart recipients, for his work on their behalf. Akaka served in the Army Corps of Engineers in the Pacific during World War II, but was not injured in combat.
Before assuming the chairmanship of the Senate Veterans' Affair Committee in 2007, Akaka served as the ranking Democrat in 2005 and 2006. He is the 18th recipient of this award and the first from Hawaii.
The Virginian-Pilot reported last week that the nuclear aircraft carrier USS George Washington, with a crew of about 3,200, will leave Hampton Road, Va., tomorrow for Yokosuka, Japan, where it will replace the conventionally powered USS Kitty Hawk, which is scheduled to be decommissioned later this year.
The George Washington is expected to arrive in Japan in August after participating in the "Partnership of the Americas" two-month exercise to enhance military-to-military relationships with nations in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Hawaii chapter of the American Ex-Prisoners of War will host the 2008 annual POW Recognition Day Ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery at 10 a.m. April 9. Keynote speaker will be Rear Adm. Donna L. Crisp, commander, of the Joint POW-MIA Accounting Command. April 9 is the day that a starving and exhausted U.S. military force at Bataan in the Philippines surrendered during World War II. Ten thousand American soldiers, along with thousands of Filipinos, were marched some 70 miles to a POW camp.
MOVING UP
Camp Smith
» Air Force Col. Joseph S. Ward Jr., comptroller at Headquarters U.S. Pacific Command, has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.
Pearl Harbor
» Navy Capt. Troy M. Shoemaker, executive assistant to the commander of U.S. Pacific Fleet, has been nominated to the rank of rear admiral.
» Capt. Ronald A. Boxall has assumed command of the cruiser USS Lake Erie, relieving Capt. Randall M. Hendrickson.
» Capt. Timothy T. Smith has assumed command of the cruiser USS Chosin, relieving Capt. Steven A. Lott.
Hickam Air Force Base
» Col. Scott D. West, commander of 613th Air and Space Operations Center at Pacific Air Forces, has been nominated to the grade of brigadier general.
"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other sources by reporter
Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at
gkakesako@starbulletin.com.