In the Military
For and about Hawaii's servicemen and womenBy Gregg K. Kakesako
See also: For Your Benefit
More than 1,500 expected
at 442nd’s 60th reunionMore than 1,500 people have registered to attend the 60th anniversary reunion of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team April 3-6. The event will feature a wreath-laying ceremony at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl and a banquet luncheon.
University of Hawaii President Evan Dobelle and retired Army Gen. David Bramlett will be the guest speakers at the Punchbowl ceremony, which will begin at 9 a.m. on April 5.
The banquet luncheon, on April 6 at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel, will honor U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, a 442nd RCT veteran who earned the Medal of Honor during a World War II battle in Italy.
The 442nd RCT was formed in 1943 and made up of Japanese American volunteers who enlisted to prove their loyalty to the United States following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. The unit became the most decorated fighting unit in U.S. military history, based on its size and length of service.
>>>><<<< Guam will receive its third Los Angeles-class, fast-attack submarine next year -- the USS Houston -- which will join the newly reactivated Submarine Squadron 15. The first nuclear submarine, the USS City of Corpus Christi, pulled into Guam in October 2002, followed by the USS San Francisco a year later.
>>>><<<< President Bush has established two military awards for service in the global war on terrorism, according to the American Forces Press Service. The Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal will be awarded to service members who serve in military expeditions to combat terrorism on or after Sept. 11, 2001. Operation Enduring Freedom is the prime operation for which the medal may be awarded.The awards do not take the place of the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, established Dec. 4, 1961, or the Armed Forces Service Medal, established Jan. 11, 1996.
No one may be awarded more than one of the four medals for service in the same approved expedition or operation to combat terrorism. No one is entitled to more than one award of the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal or the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
>>>><<<< Army Corps of Engineers Brig. Gen. Ronald L. Johnson, commander of the Corps' Pacific Ocean Division, has been named 2003 Black Engineer of the Year in the professional achievement category.Johnson, who has commanded the Pacific Ocean Division since July 31, 2001, was honored for his technical and professional achievement in engineering. He has also been selected to receive his second star as a major general.
Thomas Ushijima, a senior executive service member and chief of the division's military and management directorate, was awarded a presidential rank award for merit.
Ushijima, who retired in January after more than 44 years of federal service, was honored for "achieving results and consistently demonstrating strength, integrity, industry, and a relentless commitment to excellence in public service."
>>>><<<< Three Hawaii residents have been awarded Exceptional Civilian Service awards by the Army. They are James M. Philpott, assistant deputy chief of staff for resource management at Headquarters, U.S. Army, Pacific; Ann M. McFadden, chief of the Policy and Program Development Division at Headquarters, Department of the Army; and Stanley E. Sokoloski, director of the Pacific Region at the U.S. Army Installation Management Agency.Along with Philpott, Sokoloski is credited with establishing the U.S. Army Installation Management Agency for the Pacific, which is designed to ensure better and more efficient management of the Army's installations in Hawaii and the region.
Moving Up
Camp Smith:>> Army Col. Randolph P. Strong, director of the command, control, communications and computer systems at the U.S. Pacific Command, has been promoted to brigadier general.
Pearl Harbor:
>> Cmdr. William A. Kearns III has assumed command of the destroyer USS Russell, relieving Cmdr. Hank Miranda.
"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.
