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Kaneohe Marine base
sees change in command

Brig. Gen. (Select) Steven A. Hummer assumed command of Marine Corps Base Hawaii on Friday from Col. Michael C.O. Neal at the Kaneohe Bay base. Hummer recently completed a tour as the chief of staff at the Joint Special Operations Command, at Fort Bragg, N.C. O'Neal, who assumed command of the base June 3, will become the deputy commander of Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

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The Marine Corps reported that comedian Drew Carey visited the Marines, soldiers and sailors from Kaneohe's 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment in Afghanistan on Aug. 25. "I love what you guys have done with the place," Carey told the troops at Task Force KOA at Jalalabad Air Field, according to a Marine statement. "I hear this all used to be just dirt and rocks; now it's just ... dirt and rocks."

He was accompanied by other comedians Jimmy Shubert, Pedro Hernandez, Steve Byrne and Dave Mordal. The group was touring American military bases in Afghanistan as part of America Supports You, a nationwide program launched by the Department of Defense in November 2004.

"You know, there are better things to do if you're bored," said Carey while talking about the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines deployment to Afghanistan and the rough conditions. "Make a note to the weatherman, the climate here is great: 120 degrees with a 30 percent chance of bullets."

"It was great that he took the time and effort to visit with Task Force KOA. The show provided a respite from the doldrums that the Marines and sailors go through; it was a nice break," said Eric J. Harris, Headquarters and Support Company first sergeant, from Portland, Ore.

Carey also talked about his time in the Marine Corps during a meal. "I was the best damn radio operator in the Corps. Most people don't believe it because of how fat I am now, but I used to run a 300 PFT (referring to a perfect Physical Fitness Test score). I liked being a Marine, but I found out I could make more money as a civilian. Thank God, because now I'm a millionaire."

"It was a good show; the guys that came out were definitely entertaining. I thought they were hilarious," said Lance Cpl. Matthew S. Clark, mortarman, from Rohnert Park, Calif. "It means a lot to us for them to come out here."

Moving Up

Hickam Air Force Base

» Maj. Gen. Loyd S. Utterback, commander of Second Air Force, Air Education and Training Command at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., will become deputy commander of Pacific Air Forces.