At Your Service
For and about Hawaii's militaryBy Gregg K. Kakesako
Sunday, December 16, 2001
See also: For Your Benefit
The Senate has approved the nomination of Army Brig. Gen. Joseph F. Peterson, a 1968 St. Louis High School graduate, for his second star as a major general. St. Louis grad gets second
general’s starPeterson is the commanding general of the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood.
He has a master's degree in business administration from Chaminade University.
The Senate also approved the advancement of two former 25th Division assistant division commanders to the rank of major general.
Brig. Gen. Karl Eikenberry, currently deputy director for strategy, plans and policy directorate in the office of the deputy chief of staff for operations and plans, was an assistant at Schofield Barracks in 2000.
Brig. Gen. David Barno, now commanding general of the Army Training Center at Fort Jackson, was a 25th Division assistant from June 1999 to June 2000. From there he became the deputy director for operations at the U.S. Pacific Command until he was assigned to Fort Jackson.
Six sets of remains thought to be those of fallen service members from the Vietnam War were returned to U.S. soil Tuesday. The remains were recovered during recent excavations conducted by military and civilian members of Joint Task Force-Full Accounting and the Army Central Identification Laboratory located at Hickam Air Force Base. Four sets of remains were recovered in Laos with the other two were recovered in North Vietnam.
Today's sailors are as ready to face the new enemy as their grandfathers were after the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark told sailors here during a recent visit.
"As the commemoration ceremony was in progress, I couldn't help but think that the events of Sept. 11 helped Americans relate to the events of Dec. 7th, 1941, in a totally new way," Clark said after speaking at ceremonies marking the 60th anniversary of the attack at the USS Arizona Memorial. "As a result of the Sept. 11 attack, we all understand Pearl Harbor a little better."
Since the terrorist attack, "the world has been counting on the U.S. military," he said. "Shortly after the attack, in a joint session of Congress, the President turned directly to us, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and said 'be ready.' This is our most important challenge -- to be ready. Our nation has called us and we are at war. Just like the enemy of the attack 60 years ago, this enemy wants to destroy our way of life. That's why we must be ready. We are not going to let this enemy destroy our way of life."
As a part of his trip to Hawaii, Clark visited the National Cemetery of the Pacific; USS Pearl Harbor (LSD 52); USS Lake Erie (CG 70); Ford Island and the U.S. Pacific Fleet Headquarters. During his meeting with sailors here, Clark stressed how future generations of Navy leaders will be measured by their personal commitment to mission accomplishment, and commitment to develop subordinates.
"At the end of the day, being ready and able to accomplish the mission is priority one, as that is what the founding fathers intended when they created our Navy over two hundred years ago," Clark said.
The CNO also relayed his thoughts that the fleet is a first priority, and that the Navy must focus on readiness for combat operations.
Additionally, he relayed sentiments on constantly improving the organization through careful thought and realignment.
Gregg K. Kakesako can be reached by phone at 294-4075
or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.
