|
In the Military Gregg K. Kakesako |
See also: For Your Benefit
Winfield to head
Joint POW/MIA
AccountingBrig. Gen. Montague "Que" Winfield, assistant 25th Infantry Division commander, on Oct. 1 will become the first commander of the Joint POW/MIA Accounting, which merges the operations of Joint Task Force Full Accounting at Camp Smith and the Army Central Identification Laboratory at Hickam Air Force Base. Both the Army forensic laboratory and Joint Task Force-Full Accounting, which is responsible for finding the remains of servicemen missing in action from the Vietnam War, will be deactivated Sept. 30.
The Washington Times reported on Sept. 12 that President Bush will visit the Philippines on Oct. 18 for eight hours as part of an Asian tour. Bush will fly to the former U.S. Clark Air Base north of Manila, then hold talks with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo at the Malacanang Palace, with the war on terrorism expected to be on the agenda. (Bush has been invited by Hawaii Republicans to make a stopover in the islands.)
The keel was laid Sept. 6 for the aircraft carrier George H.W. Bush (CVN 77). Former President Bush served as the keel authenticator and keynote speaker for the ceremony. Former first lady Barbara Bush also attended with their daughter, Dorothy Bush Koch, the ship's sponsor.
The former president authenticated the keel by chalking his initials onto a metal plate. His initials were then welded onto the plate, which will be permanently affixed to the ship.
"We as a country should be very grateful for the men and women who build these ships," he said. "You play a key role in defending our freedom."
The George H.W. Bush is the 10th and final Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. Named after the nation's 41st president, the warship will stretch 1,092 feet, weigh 97,000 tons and carry more than 80 combat aircraft. It will be among the world's largest warships. Its top speed will exceed 30 knots and, powered by two nuclear reactors, it will operate for more than 20 years without refueling.
The Pentagon has approved the use of the ceremonial bugle as an alternative to the recorded version of taps played on a stereo at military funerals. The ceremonial bugle consists of a small cone-shaped device inserted deep into the bell of a bugle that plays a rendition of taps. Fifty prototype bugles were distributed to military units and other authorized providers of funeral honors, such as veterans' service organizations. The ceremonial bugle will be offered to families as an alternative to the prerecorded taps, but will not be used as a substitute for a live bugler when one is available.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
"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.
