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In the Military
Gregg K. Kakesako
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COURTESY PHOTO
The USS Hawaii is one of three nuclear subs that will be stationed here.
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Stryker team honors fallen comrade
The Golden Dragons of the 25th Infantry Division renamed their headquarters Daggett Hall on July 30 to honor the memory of Sgt. John Kyle Daggett, of Scottsdale, Ariz., who died May 15 from wounds he suffered when he was struck by shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade in Sadr City, Iraq. He was the first Golden Dragons Soldier lost on this deployment. Daggett Hall is located at the Golden Dragon's headquarters at Camp Taji, northwest of Baghdad. Daggett was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment "Golden Dragons," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team. He was wounded May 1.
Gov. Linda Lingle has proclaimed Saturday as National Airborne Day in Hawaii. This follows a congressional designation of this date to recognize 68 years of service and accomplishments of military airborne units. A recognition ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. at the Oahu Veterans Center at 1298 Kukila St. in Foster Village. All airborne troops, active, retired and prior service are encouraged to attend. Les Enderton, executive director of the Oahu Visitors Bureau will present the keynote speech. For more information, call Jim Bolan, 622-5142 or bolanj001@hawaii.rr.com
The USS New Hampshire, the fifth submarine in the Virginia class, was christened last month in Groton, Conn. The New Hampshire will be delivered to the Navy Aug. 31., about eight months ahead of schedule. In May the Navy's fourth Virginia-class attack nuclear submarine, the USS North Carolina, was commissioned in Wilmington, N.C.
The North Carolina is one of three Virginia-class nuclear submarines that will be stationed at Pearl Harbor starting in 2009. The other two are the USS Hawaii and USS Texas. The seventh Virginia-class submarine will be named the USS Missouri. The Pentagon already has announced that four other Virginia-class subs will be named after the states of California, Mississippi, Minnesota and North Dakota. The Navy says the Virginia class is the first major sub designed specifically for the post-Cold War environment. Each sub costs about $2 billion. Northrop is scheduled to deliver the next submarine, the New Mexico, in early 2009. That boat will be christened in Newport News, Va. later this year.
MOVING UP
Pearl Harbor
» Capt. Randall Moore has assumed command of the Fleet and Industrial Supply Center, Pearl Harbor, relieving Capt. Robert Carter.
» Cmdr. John Moulton has assumed command of Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit 1, relieving Cmdr. Daniel Coleman.
» Cmdr. Michael Coughlin has assumed command of the nuclear attack submarine USS Olympia, relieving Cmdr. James Horten.
>>Capt. Christopher Kaiser has assumed command of Submarine Squadron 7, relieving Capt. Jeffrey Powers.
Kaneohe Bay
» Capt. Rodney M. Urbano has assumed the duties of commodore of Patrol Reconnaissance Wing 2 relieving Capt. Matthew J. Carter who will become the executive officer for the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
Camp Smith
» Coast Guard Rear Adm. Steven H. Ratti, former chief of staff for Coast Guard Atlantic Area, became the director of Joint Interagency Task Force West, relieving Rear Adm. Paul F. Zukunft, who will become the commander of the 11th Coast Guard District, Alameda, Calif.
Fort Shafter
» Col. Mark W. Yenter has assumed command of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pacific Ocean, relieving Brig. Gen. John Peabody who has been reassigned as commander and Division Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Lakes and Rivers Division in Cincinnati.
Hickam Air Force Base
» Col. Charles "Rusty" Baumgardner has assumed command of the 15th Mission Support Group, relieving Col. Matthew Dorschel.
» Lt. Col. Jill Singleton has assumed command of the Pacific Air Forces Intelligence Squadron, relieving Lt. Col. Robert Krause.
» Col. Richard S. Marks has assumed command of the 154th Maintenance Group.
"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.