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In the Military Gregg K. Kakesako |
See also: For Your Benefit
Lingle to honor
isle GuardAdm. Thomas Fargo, Pacific Forces commander, and Gov. Linda Lingle will be the featured speakers at the Hawaii Foodbank's annual Patriots Celebration July 2 which will honor the Hawaii National Guard. The dinner and program will begin at 7 p.m. at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. Tickets prices start at $200, with a special rate of $100 for veterans, active duty military and their spouses; Hawaii National Guard members and their spouses $60 each. All proceeds will good to the Hawaii Foodbank.
Hawaii Army Reserve Spc. Nicklaus Simon, a member of the 411th Engineer Combat Battalion, writes from Iraq that he misses "hot water, a day off, my wife and family." The Waipahu resident, who is working as a carpenter and mason as a member of Bravo Company, says what he likes most about the deployment is his "room, a chance to wear the 1st Cavalry Division patch and be a part of Operational Iraqi Freedom 2."
Nicklaus Simon: Writes from Iraq that he misses hot water, a day off and his wife and family
For the fourth time since last summer's controlled burn that raged out of control and destroyed half of the 4,190 acres of the Makua Valley Military Reservations, more than 200 Schofield Barrack soldiers bound for Iraq will spend three days undergoing convoy training.
The soldiers are members of the 536th Maintenance Company who will practice how to respond if their truck convoy comes under attack. The training, which allows soldiers to fire live ammunition at pop up targets while riding in Army trucks, will begin on Wednesday. The last live-fire training session was in May and involved Kaneohe Marines. A 2001 court settlement with the Leeward Oahu activist group, Malama Makua, allows a limited amount of live fire training in Makua Valley.
The Army's second Stryker combat brigade, now stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington, has been ordered to deploy to Iraq this fall. In October, the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division will replace the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, the Army's first Stryker brigade, also from Fort Lewis, which was sent to Iraq in November. The 1st Brigade comprises more than 4,000 soldiers and 300 Stryker vehicles.
The Pearl Harbor-based guided-missile frigate USS Crommelin rescued three fishermen who had been adrift for 17 days after one of two batteries on the Don Luis II exploded, south of Costa Rica, June 11. Crommelin crew members boarded Don Luis II to make repairs. The team replaced the faulty batteries and worked throughout the night to repair Don Luis II, but was unsuccessful.
The three fishermen were taken aboard, fed and given a full medical examination, fresh clothes and bedding. The abandoned boat was sunk to prevent it from becoming a hazard to navigation. On June 13, Crommelin rendezvoused with a Costa Rican patrol boat and transferred the fishermen.
MOVING UP
Pearl Harbor>> Capt. Richard Roth has assumed command of the Navy Public Works Center, relieving Capt. Stephen Baker.
>> Capt. Peter Gumataotao has assumed command of Destroyer Squadron 31, relieving Capt. Philip Greene.
>> Cmdr. Richard Testyon has assumed command of the nuclear submarine USS Cheyenne, relieving Cmdr. Charles Doty.Schofield Barracks
>> Lt. Col. Stephen Moniz has assumed command of the Oahu Base Support Battalion, replacing Lt. Col. Thomas Webb.
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.
