In the Military

Command Change

By Ken Sakamoto, Star-Bulletin
Navy Secretary Richard Danzig, in suit, officiated at
Ford Island ceremonies yesterday to pipe aboard Adm.
Thomas Fargo, second from right, as the new commander
of the Pacific Fleet. Fargo replaces Adm. Archie Clemins,
left, of Danzig, who will retire after 33 years of service.

Army Hawaii Down Under

By Gregg K. Kakesako, Star-Bulletin

Twelve U.S. Army Hawaii personnel are in Darwin as members of the Australian-led international peacekeeping force in East Timor.

The latest group of Hawaii-based soldiers includes five uniformed members and one civilian from the 20th Military Intelligence Battalion at Fort Shafter. They will provide communication support for the International Forces East Timor.

Two Army reservists, Lt. Col. Jose Uson and Lt. Col. Robert Sundberg, both of the 322nd Civil Affairs Brigade, were called to active duty to work with the United Nations peacekeeping force.

Uson, a financial planner with New York Life Insurance, will lead a 12-man team from the 96th Civil Affairs Battalion, normally located at Fort Bragg, N.C. Sundberg is an attorney with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Shafter. They will establish a Civil-Military Operations Center.

The Army's Pacific command also has sent four staff officers. Already in Darwin are 15 Pacific Fleet sailors.

Ten 25th Infantry Division soldiers also are supporting the mission. However, the Tropic Lightning soldiers will be loading Royal Thai military equipment and personnel onto U.S. transport planes.

Seabees in Albania

Navy Seabees Gadriel Morris and Flo Baltzar are members of Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 3, in Albania working to provide relief for thousands of Kosovar refugees. Their battalion repaved 32 miles of road and worked on community projects. They helped the 1st Infantry Division establish camps and restored an artillery base that now houses military units.

"I feel the greatest benefit is the experience that one gains from doing this kind of operation, especially in this kind of environment," said Morris, 21.