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IN THE MILITARY

Neighbor isle vets can
get flu shots this week

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

The Veterans Administration is traveling to selected neighborhoods to reach veterans who probably would not make the trip to the VA clinic at Tripler Army Medical Center to get a flu shot.

Tomorrow, from 1 to 4 p.m., the van will be at the Waimanalo Health Center, 41-1347 Kalanianaole Highway; and on Wednesday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., it will be at the Waianae Army Recreation Center.

VA spokesman Fred Ballard said that veterans who are not already registered with his agency can still get the flu shots if they bring their discharge papers with them.

Those who should be immunized include veterans over age 65, those who work with large groups,l those who take care of high-risk patients, or those with chronic diseases.

For more information, call 433-0049 or 433-7676.

Nerve agents to be destroyed

The final destruction of chemical weapons stored on Johnston Island has begun.

Last week, the Army began destroying more than 13,300 land mines filled with the VX nerve agent at the chemical weapons incinerator on Johnston, located 825 miles southwest of Hawaii.

So far, nearly 400,000 munitions and bulk agents have been destroyed during the last 10 years. That's about 96 percent of the weapons stockpiled on the atoll.

The land mine cleanup is expected to be completed in January, the last phase of the effort to destroy all chemical weapons stored on the island.

Johnston will then be cleaned up and turned into a wildlife sanctuary.

Housing contract awarded

Nearly $30 million has been awarded to the Hunt Building Corp. of El Paso, Texas, to construct 130 new family units at Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay. The housing will replace units that were constructed in 1966, according to U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink.

Other options in the contract could raise the value of the contract to as high as $40 million. The housing units are expected to be completed in May 2002.

Medal recipients to L.A.

Medal of Honor recipients Barney Hajiro, Shizuya Hayashi, U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, Yukio Okutsu and Yeiki Kobashigawa will attend the final salute to the nation's newest heroes on Oct. 22 at a banquet luncheon in Los Angeles.

The island honorees will be joined by mainland recipients Rudolph Davila and George Sakato. The seven living World War II veterans were among the 22 Asian Americans whose Distinguished Service Cross medals were upgraded to the Medal of Honor under a public law authored by U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka.

The West Coast salute is co-hosted by the 100/442nd/MIS World War II Memorial Foundation, Japanese American National Museum and other mainland veterans and community groups.

Tickets are $100, and the banquet will be held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. More information can be obtained by calling (310) 715-3141.