IN THE MILITARY

U.S. Army Pacific commander
heads charity campaign

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

The Hawaii-Pacific combined federal campaign has assembled a force of more than 2,000 volunteers for the 65 federal agencies in the islands to contact and educate its 65,000 employees in Hawaii about the annual charity drive.

Last year, Hawaii's federal employees donated more than $4.1 million to Combined Federal Campaign-sponsored charities.

This year's chairman is Lt. Gen. Ed P. Smith, U.S. Army Pacific commander.

At a recent kickoff luncheon at the Hickam Air Force Base Officers Club, Smith told the 800 volunteers present that "this is one time of year that we as a team, military and civilian, really do get a chance to make a difference."

New commanders

Naval Submarine Support Command: Cmdr. Kurt Irgens takes command of NSSC, which provides support for the crews and families of Submarine Squadrons One, Three and Seven at Pearl Harbor.

Navy Capt. Donald Kerrigan has assumed command of the Naval Computer and Telecommunications Area Master Station, which provides communication and information resource support in the Pacific.

At Pearl Harbor, Cmdr. William Stacia has become the skipper of the fast-attack nuclear submarine USS Cheyenne.

Canisters found

Sixteen canisters of World War II chemical agent identification sets were recently taken to Johnston Atoll for disposal after they were unearthed in Guam.

Army chemical experts from Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland surveyed the site in Guam and found no presence of chemical agents.

The canisters had no explosive charges and were not designed as weapons.

They were used during World War II to train American soldiers to detect and protect themselves against enemy chemical attacks.