[AMERICA ATTACKED]
Isle bases closed For the first time since the surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, all of Hawaii's military bases were closed today, except to those carrying a military identification card. Fighter jets were scrambled and armed boats launched to patrol island ports and skies.
to those without
military ID
Air Guard fighter jets and
Coast Guard vessels patrol
Hawaii's skies and portsBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comHawaii military bases stepped up their security level to what is known as "threat condition Delta" -- its highest threat condition -- several levels above normal. Earlier this summer the military increased security at all of its facilities requiring anyone wishing to enter a military base to have a Department of Defense sticker or register with base security.
Under a partial mobilization, the Hawaii Army and Air National Guard activated its rapid reaction force, soldiers and airmen specially trained in security and communications, to beef up security at Honolulu Airport.
The Hawaii Air National Guard's 15 F-15 Eagle jet fighters were scrambled from their launch pads at Hickam Air Force Base early this morning. The Air Guard's 199th Fighter Squadron is the only unit whose mission is to defend air spaces over Hawaii.
They were not expected to return to Hickam until after all of the planes in the air had safely landed at Honolulu Airport.
The Coast Guard launched heavily armed cutters and patrol boats to police all of the ports in Hawaii. There were no specific threats to any island harbors, but the Coast Guard will remain on "a heightened state of alert."
Only essential military and civilians were told to report to their jobs this morning at all military installations, except for Hickam Air Force Base which employs about 1,900 civilians and did not tell its civilian force to stay home.
However, the Navy said that all sailors and officers assigned to Pearl Harbor-based ships and submarines were expected to report to their vessels. Of the 150 ships based in Pearl Harbor, 19 warships -- one cruiser, 11 submarines, and one destroyer -- are at sea. The Navy declined to say if any of the ships in port will be deployed earlier than scheduled.
Essential workers at the shipyard were described as those needed to prepare the warships for sea in case they needed to get underway quickly.
Nearly, 16,400 civilians work for the military here.
The strength of the military in uniform here is nearly 32,400 with the largest force -- nearly 10,600 soldiers stationed at Schofield Barracks followed by 6,200 Marines and sailors at Marine Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay.
At 9 a.m. in Kaneohe, people waiting in their cars to get into the base said they had been waiting in line at least two hours. Many usually start their jobs at 7 a.m. or 7:30, but estimated they were still at least an hour away from getting into the base's main gate as they waited on the H-3 Freeway.
On Kauai, commercial boating traffic offshore of the Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility were ordered at stay at least three miles of the base. The vast majority of tour boats going to the Na Pali Coast pass by the missile range. Additionally, the road leading to Polihale State Park has been closed. The beach is adjacent to the missile range.
The largest civilian labor force of 3,700 civilians work at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard -- which for years has been known as the largest industrial employer in Hawaii -- were ordered to stay home for at least a day.
No indication was given on how long the shutdown will be in effect. A spokesman for the Pacific Command said it will be up to each installation commander "to determine what's best for them."
Schools on Army installations and Hickam were closed for the day as a precautionary measure.
The Army also was screening those trying to get into its three main posts on Oahu by limiting access to only one gate at installation. Guards were checking for military identification at Fort Shafter's Bruckner Gate; Kawamura Gate at Wheeler Army Air Field; and Lyman Gate at Schofield.
Earlier this month American citizens living in Japan and South Korea were alerted following an unconfirmed terrorist threat.
Star-Bulletin reporters Diana Leone and
Tony Sommer contributed to this report.