At Your Service
For and about Hawaii's militaryBy Gregg K. Kakesako
Sunday, August 12, 2001
[IN THE MILITARY] Calendar and Deployments
For Your BenefitThe sister of Hawaii Medal of Honor recipient Army Sgt. Leroy Mendonca, Genevieve Gibbons, and her family recently made their first visit to the cargo ship named after her brother. Family tours ship
named after brotherBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comIt was Gibbons' first visit to the Military Sealift Command ship USNS Mendonca since April 1999, when, as the ship's sponsor, she christened the ship with a bottle of champagne.
Last month, the Mendonca was in San Diego on its second mission. When the ship received orders to load cargo from an exercise in Korea and offload in San Diego, Military Sealift Command contacted Gibbons, who lives in Northern California, and invited her and her family to visit the ship.
Delivered to the Military Sealift Command in February, Mendonca's first port of call was Pearl Harbor. There the ship's master, Capt. Bill Dougherty, invited Leroy Mendonca's sister Leslie Mendonca and her family to tour of the ship and have lunch in the wardroom. The Mendonca sailed from Hawaii to Korea to load cargo and just happened to be there on July 4, the 50th anniversary of Sgt. Mendonca's heroic last action on July 4, 1951, in Korea.
"I'm so grateful I got to see my ship," said Gibbons; "Leroy would be proud."
[CALENDAR]
Today>> Club 100 picnic. Near DAV facility at Keehi Lagoon Park. For more information, call Ann Kabasawa at 734-0841.
Thursday
>> "Uncommon Courage" -- a film on Military Intelligence Service. Hawaii Public Television, 8 p.m.
[DEPLOYMENTS]
U.S. Navy (Pacific Fleet)Western Pacific
USS Asheville (SSN 758)
USS Buffalo (SSN 715)
USS Columbia (SSN 771)
USS Chicago (SSN 721)
USS Santa Fe (SSN 763)
USS Los Angeles (SSN 688)
USS Frederick (LST 1184)
USS O'Kane (DDG 77)
USS Olympia (SSN 717)
USS Port Royal (CG 73)
Hawaiian area
USS Charlotte (SSN 766)
USS Tucson (SSN 770)
USS Fletcher (DD 992)
USS Honolulu (SSN 718)
USS Crommelin (FFG 37)
USS Tucson (SSN 770)
Indian Ocean/Persian Gulf
USS Chosin (CG 65)
U.S. Army
Maldives: 7th Engineers
Russia: US Army Pacific
East Timor: 9th Regional Support Command, 25th Division
Bosnia, Kosovo, Germany: 25th Division, 9th Regional Support Command
Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia: Tripler Army Medical Center
Korea: 411th Engineers
Alaska, Pohnpei, Kosrae, Micronesia, Alaska: 84th Engineers
Los Alamitos, Vietnam: 25th ID
Cambodia: U.S. Army Pacific
Florida: 70th Engineers
United Arab Emirates: Pacific Regional Veterinary Command
England: 125th Signal
Carlos Island: 724th Engineers
Vietnam, Korea: 25th Division
Hawaii National Guard
Thailand, Alaska: 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, Air National Guard
Idaho, Louisiana and Puerto Rico: 204th Airlift Squadron, Air National Guard
[FOR YOUR BENEFIT] Question: My husband was very proud of his active duty service. How do I go about requesting a burial flag when he passes away? Guidelines for American
flags on veterans’ casketsAnswer: Veterans Affairs provides an American flag to drape over the casket of a service member who served in any war; died while in the active military after May 27, 1941; served after Jan. 31, 1955; died while a member of the Selected Reserve; or served at lease one enlistment or had been discharged or released from active service for a disability incurred or aggravated in the line of duty.
Additionally, flags are available for individuals entitled to retirement pay for service as a reservist at the time of death, or a member or former member of the Selected Reserves who completed at least one enlistment or period of initial obligated service as a member of the Selected Reserve.
Veterans separated from the service must have been discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
When making funeral arrangements, ask the funeral director to ensure the flag is available for the services. You can also apply for a burial flag at the Spark M. Matsunaga VA Regional Office Center, E-Wing, Tripler Army Medical Hospital. You will need a copy of the veteran's discharge certificate (DD 214).
Question: I am a veteran suffering from constant back pain. I have had some success with chiropractic care and was wondering if the VA would cover chiropractic treatments.
Answer: The VA will pay for only those chiropractic services related to manipulation of the spine, under certain conditions. The VA does not currently have chiropractors on staff, but will pay for treatment if you and your VA primary provider decide it is necessary.
You must be enrolled with VA to be eligible for chiropractic treatment.
If everyone agrees that the care will benefit you, the provider must arrange the necessary referrals. In some cases you may be required to see a VA specialist and receive rehabilitation therapy before being referred to a chiropractor.
For more information, you can call medical appointments and enrollment at 433-0600.
