[AT YOUR SERVICE] Col. James T. Hirai, who has been promoted to brigadier general, will leave Fort Shafter July 5 for Fort Hood in Texas to become an assistant division commander (Maneuver) for the 4th Infantry Division. Col. James T. Hirai
is headed for Texas,
4th infantryAT YOUR SERVICE
By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com
Hailston commanding general, Pacific Marines
Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Earl B. Hailston, now commanding general of the III Marine Expeditionary Force as well as commander of Marine Forces Japan and Marine Corps Bases in Japan, has been appointed as commanding general of all of the Marines in the Pacific. His new command includes about 80,000 Marines and sailors throughout the Pacific, covering over half the Earth's surface.This year, Hailston, as the head Marine on Okinawa, had to apologize twice this year, once for the actions of one of his young Marines and later for an e-mail that called officials there "nuts and a bunch of wimps." Hailston, 54, enlisted in the Marines in 1967 and earned a commission a year later. He received a Silver Star for bravery during his combat tour in Vietnam, then went to flight training and earned his pilot's wings in 1973.
Submarines once, submarines twice...!
Submariner Adm. Tom Fargo, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet, said there is a scene in the movie "Pearl Harbor" where the actor portraying President Franklin D. Roosevelt says: "I like those submariners - they don't put up with any bull.""Right after that movie came out the CNO (Chief of Naval Operations) called me and asked, 'How'd that get in there?'" Fargo told the audience at the Naval Submarine League Symposium in Alexandria earlier this month.
"I attributed it to the good work of the Naval Submarine League," he added, earning a hearty laugh.
Moving Up
Kaneohe Bay:
>> Rear Adm. Anthony L. Winns to command Patrol and Reconnaissance Force Pacific relieving Rear Adm. Michael Holmes.
Sand Island:
>> Lt. Stephen Adler to command of the cutter Washington relieving Lt. Cmdr. Patricia Hill.>> Rear Adm. Ralph Utley to command the 14th Coast Guard District relieving Rear Adm. Joseph McClelland Jr.
>> Capt. Christopher Conklin to command the Coast Guard Integrated Support Command relieving Capt. Catherine Kelly.
Schofield Barracks:
>> Lt. Col John Bird to command of 125th Military Intelligence Battalion relieving Lt. Col. James Phelps.>> Maj. Randy Durian to command of 6th Military Police Group relieving Maj. Terri Kohler.
>> Lt. Col. Kevin Beerman to command of 65th Engineer Battalion relieving Lt. Col. Michael Rossi.
>> Lt. Col. Curt Rauhut to command of the 125th Finance Battalion relieving Lt. Col. Victor Irvin.
>> Lt. Col. Steven Woods to command of the 17th Corps Support Battalion relieving Lt. Col. Joel Powell.
Fort Shafter:
>> Col. Monica Gorzelnik to command of 516th Signal Brigade relieving Col. Randolph Strong.>> Lt. Col. William Goetz to command of 29th Engineer Battalion relieving Lt. Col. William Harmon.
>> Lt. Col. Christopher Winnie to command of the 205th Military Intelligence Battalion relieving Lt. Col. John Chiu.
Hickam Air Force Base:
>> Lt. Col. Paul Sievert to command of the Pacific Air Forces Computer Systems relieving Lt. Col. Nurbert Hughes.
Camp Smith:
>> Brig. Gen. David W. Barno to command the United States Army Training Center and Fort Jackson in South Carolina. He has been nominated for his second star and is currently the deputy director for operations at the U.S. Pacific Command.>> Navy Rear Adm. Richard A. Mayo to fleet surgeon for Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and command surgeon, U.S. Pacific Command, Camp H.M. Smith. Mayo is currently is deputy director for Logistics, Medical Readiness on the Joint Staff in Washington, D.C.
Gregg K. Kakesako can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.