Cardiologist to take command at Tripler

Brig. Gen. Stephen L. Jones, assistant surgeon general for force projection in the Office of the Surgeon General at Falls Church, Va., will become the next commanding general of Tripler Army Medical Center. Jones will also head the Pacific Regional Medical Command and serve as U.S. Army Pacific Surgeon and Lead Agent of Tricare Pacific.

Jones graduated from Vanderbilt University in 1974 and Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in 1978. He completed his training in internal medicine and cardiology at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and earned a master's of science degree in national security studies from the National War College. He has served as surgeon for the 25th Infantry Division (Light) and director of the coronary care unit and cardiology clinic as well as assistant chief of cardiology service at Tripler.

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The battleships Iowa and Wisconsin are headed for permanent berths as floating museums.

The Navy plans to donate the Wisconsin (BB 64) to the city of Norfolk, Va., upon successful completion of environmental documents. The Navy also advised the Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square of Vallejo, Calif., that it is the last candidate for donation of the battleship Iowa (BB 61).

In 2006 the Navy was authorized to strike the battleships from the Naval Vessel Register and offer the ships for donation to eligible entities that would display the ships in the states of Virginia and California. The Historic Ships Memorial at Pacific Square, a nonprofit organization, plans to establish a battleship Iowa museum site in Vallejo and was notified Monday that it was the only remaining viable candidate for donation of the battleship Iowa. Two other groups, the Battleship Iowa Museum/Memorial Foundation, of Stockton, Calif., and the San Francisco Naval Heritage Museum, which proposed a berth at a San Francisco city pier, were ruled out of the running or withdrew.

The Navy's Ship Donation Program, part of the Navy Inactive Ships Program office, was created in 1948.

Today, there are 48 museum ships displayed in 21 states across the country.

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The Pearl Harbor-base guided-missile cruiser USS Port Royal and guided-missile destroyer USS Hopper will join the San Diego-based Tarawa Expeditionary Strike Group tomorrow for a six-month deployment in the western Pacific and the Persian Gulf.

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The Navy League, for the fourth consecutive year, honored spouses who served as volunteers for units that were deployed this year. Representing the Air Force was Judy Maharrey; Army, Erin Joslyn; Coast Guard, Amanda Smith; Marine Corps, Alison Hadzic; Navy, Christi Jones; Hawaii Air National Guard, Barbra Nobrega; and Hawaii Army National Guard, Georgiana Bernabe-Haina. They each received certificates from Mayor Mufi Hannemann, Navy League President Jack Flanagan, and state Rep. Mark Takai at a City Hall ceremony Friday.

Last night the honorees were to be recognized before the kickoff of the University of Hawaii vs. Fresno State University football game at Aloha Stadium. Each recipient also was to get a $1,000 check from the Navy League.

"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other sources by reporter Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at gkakesako@starbulletin.com.