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In the Military Gregg K. Kakesako |
See also: For Your Benefit
PHOTO COURTESY OF HAWAII ARMY NATIONAL GUARD
Hawaii Army National Guard members of Bravo Company, 193rd Aviation in Afghanistan pose in front of an Apache helicopter. On the helicopter are Sgt. Gilbert Pascua and Spc. Maria Eugenio. In front are Sgt. Marlo Cabigon, Sgt. Andy Ventura, Sgt. Maria Fye Amodo and Staff Sgt. Mark Rivera.
Hawaii soldiers send
holiday wishes home
Members of the Bravo Company, 193rd Aviation for the Hawaii Army National Guard report in e-mails that the sunrises and sunsets are "breathtaking" in Afghanistan even though the skies may be dusty. "Every day is routine here. ... We are always on alert for possible incoming attacks. Everywhere we go, we have our weapons with ammo. ... As for the supply section, we have no days off, with two shifts of 10 to 12 hours." The soldiers send these messages to friends and family:
>> Spc. Maria Eugenio, of Pearl City, says to her mom, Naomi and her family: "Thanks for all your support and love. Naomi-Girl, mommy loves you very much and misses you very much."
>> Sgt. Maria Fye Amodo, of Waipahu, sends to her husband Jimmy and son Jeremy that she "misses you both very much! Love the goodies you sent me. Take care and God bless!"
>> Staff Sgt. Mark Rivera, of Waipahu, says he misses his wife Lucia and three children, Lianne, Bethany and Mark Jr., very much. To his co-workers at St. Francis Medical Center West, radiology department, "Thanks for the care packages."
>> Sgt. Andy Ventura, of Wahiawa, sends his love to his family in Hawaii and California, especially to his two kids, Andy Jr. and Caiteen-Leah. "Miss you all and happy holidays!"
>> Sgt. Marlo Cabigon, of Kalihi, gives his love to wife Gloria and two children, Marlo and Scott. He misses them all and hopes he sees them soon! Happy holidays.
>> Sgt. Gilbert Pascua, of Mililani Mauka, sends his love and season's greetings to all his friends and relatives. To his family, the Halemanos, Mom and Dad, "thanks for everything." His two daughters, Anuhea and Kilinahe, he loves and misses them very much. Lastly, to his "beautiful wife Kellie," thanks for her unconditional love and support.
The Blue Angels -- the Navy's aeronautical acrobatic team -- will perform here Oct. 9-10 at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay. The Hawaii show is one of 69 at 35 locations throughout the United States and Canada during the 2004 season. Since 1986, the Blue Angels have been flying McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornets. The team is made up of 16 officers and 110 enlisted members.
Marine Corps Maj. Michael Mori, who had served at Kaneohe Bay, will represent David Hicks, 28, the Australian who was captured about two years ago in Afghanistan and was among the first captives to be transferred to Cuba in the early days of Camp X-Ray. Hicks is held as an enemy combatant in the detention camp at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He has not been charged.
In May, Mori was acting commanding officer of Brigade Service Support Group 3 during the annual Cobra Gold military exercise in Thailand. In November 2002, Mori was the investigating officer who recommended that Navy Petty Officer David DeArmond face a court-martial for murdering his wife and his mother-in-law.
Moving up
>> Pearl Harbor: Rear Adm. Donna L. Crisp, deputy chief of staff for shore base management at U.S. Pacific Fleet, will become assistant to the chief of naval personnel for Sea Warrior in Norfolk, Va.>> Camp Smith: Rear Adm. Rosanne M. Levitre, director for intelligence at U.S. Pacific Command, will become director, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, FORCEnet in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in Arlington, Va.
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.
