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In the Military Gregg K. Kakesako |
See also: For Your Benefit
National Guard, reserves
given new privilegesMembers of the Hawaii National Guard, as well as all members of the reserves in all services here, now have unlimited access to commissary stores, which are military supermarkets. Until Monday, Guard and Reserve members were authorized only 24 commissary shopping days a year. The change was in the National Defense Authorization Act signed by President Bush.
"Instructions have gone out to all continental U.S. stores informing them that reservists now have unlimited shopping and telling store managers how to welcome members of the National Guard and Reserve to the full use of the commissary benefit," said Patrick Nixon, deputy director of the Defense Commissary Agency.
The Library of Congress History Project and the AARP will host a Pearl Harbor Day remembrance program at the National Cemetery of the Pacific on Dec. 7. The candle-lighting ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will culminate a series of similar ceremonies held across America to honor the 1,700 veterans who die each day. Requested dress is "class A" for the military and aloha attire for civilians. It is free.
Nearly 2,400 pocket-size American flags will be handed out to all submarines of the Pacific Fleet thanks to Chase Barnes and an Eagle Scout project of Troop 180.
Barnes, 13, the son of Lt. Dwayne Barnes, wanted to do something unlike the field work normally affiliated with the Boy Scouts. As the son of a submariner, he wanted to pay homage to submariners like his dad who patrol the world's oceans.
"I chose to this project because I wanted to give them some recognition and let them know that they are a big part of my life," Chase said.
He chose the Boy Scouts "Pocket Flag Project," which was conceived in October 2001 as a way to show support to the men and women serving in the armed forces.
On the front of each note is an inscription that reads, "A flag for your pocket can always carry a little piece of home. We are praying for you and we are proud of you. Thank you for defending our country and our freedom."
He hopes to give a folded flag to every sailor stationed on a submarine at Pearl Harbor. Each flag comes with a note saying, "Thank you from Chase Barnes."
"And I put a smiley face to help encourage them," Chase said.
Navy Quarter Master First Class Cy Everage Jr. and Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Connie L. Braesch were recently recognized for their superior performance at the 43rd Annual Sea Services Awards luncheon. The two received a trip to Las Vegas. The awards have been made since 1960 by the Honolulu Council of the U.S. Navy League.
The commanding officer of the frigate USS Curts has been relieved following a July collision with a marker buoy off Indonesia. Cmdr. Bryan Caraveo, a 19-year veteran, was reassigned to a staff job after his superior, Capt. Terry Bragg, cited a "lack of confidence in his ability to command," the Navy said.
The warship struck a navigation buoy in the Strait of Malacca, the passage between the Pacific and Indian oceans. No one was injured. The Curts returned recently to San Diego after a five-month cruise to the Western Pacific and Indian oceans, participating in the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise, which involves ships from the United States, Singapore, Thailand and Brunei.
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.
