In the Military
For and about Hawaii's servicemen and womenBy Gregg K. Kakesako
See also: For Your Benefit
Radford grad commands
Vinson’s escort groupCapt. David Yoshihara, who commands the four surface vessels accompanying the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, took charge of Destroyer Squadron 9 three days after Oct. 7, 2001, when the Vinson launched the first air strikes on Afghanistan. In all probability Yoshihara, who graduated from Radford High School in 1975 and the Naval Academy four years later, never thought that he might be asked to repeat the same task.
"We've been there before," said Yoshihara as he escorted his father, retired Navy Capt. Takeshi Yoshihara, and his mother, Elva, around the 4.5-acre flight deck last week at Pearl Harbor. Even after her son has completed seven tours in the Persian Gulf and was a skipper of a warship, Elva Yoshihara said she still worries for her son's welfare. '"There is never a moment that I don't worry for him," she said. "We always pray for his safety."
Yoshihara commands the squadron of destroyers, cruisers and other vessels that protects the Vinson. He has been the skipper of the cruiser USS Ticonderoga.
GREGG K. KAKESAKO / GKAKESAKO@STARBULLETIN.COM
Capt. David Yoshihara, center, explains flight operations on the USS Carl Vinson to his parents, Elva and Takeshi Yoshihara, during a tour aboard the carrier.
>>>><<<< Five sailors aboard the destroyer USS Fletcher returned home last week after a six-month western Pacific deployment as proud new fathers. The new fathers are Chief Petty Officer Curtis Evans and Petty Officers Phillip John, Jerald Honaker, Michael Schultz and Arnel Delacruz.
Minutes after getting of a Navy charter flight from Australia, Honaker was cradling his 2-month-old daughter Hayleigh and declaring, "It's just amazing. She's so cute."
>>>><<<< The Navy has received congressional approval to privatize military housing here for a public-private venture housing initiative, which will cover 7,000 Navy and Marine homes. A pre-proposal conference was held last week to discuss the process with prospective contractors.
Initially, the Navy will contribute up to $25 million, convey about 2,000 homes and ancillary facilities, and lease the land to the limited liability company that it will form. During this phase, 961 homes will be demolished and replaced with about 906 homes on Navy land. Additionally, phase one plans call for the repair and revitalization of 942 homes. Navy family housing on the island of Oahu at Halsey Terrace, Radford Terrace, Moanalua Terrace, Hokulani and McGrew Point will be included in the first phase of privatization.
>>>><<<< A one-year test starting April 1 will permit space-available air travel within the continental United States by family members who accompany their military sponsors. Defense transportation officials said dependents of active-duty members and military retirees will be eligible. The test ends March 31, 2004.
Current regulations allow dependents to travel space-available with sponsors to, from and between overseas points, but prohibit their travel point-to-point within the continental United States. Active duty and retired military members already have space-available privileges stateside and overseas. Generally, space-available is the seats left on military aircraft after official duty travelers and cargo are accommodated.
"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other
sources by reporter Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for
the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. He can be reached can be reached by phone
at 294-4075 or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.
