III Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan
October 19, 2007
www.okinawa.usmc.mil
MLG Marines host
exchange program
for JGSDF soldiers
Cpl. Bryan A. Peterson
okinawa marine staff
Inside
CAMP KINSER — Twice a year,
Marines with 3rd Marine Logistics Group get the opportunity to
show Japan Ground Self Defense
Force service members how the
Marine Corps operates. The
latest session of the Japanese
Observer Exchange Program
took place Oct. 15-17 and was
conducted by MLG’s Tactical
Readiness and Training office.
The program is designed to
give JGSDF officer candidates
and noncommissioned officers
an understanding of how and
why the Marine Corps operates
the way it does, according to
Capt. Jared A. Laurin, the TRT
officer in charge.
“We provide an informative
and quality presentation about
the Marine Corps for these
guys,” Laurin said. “This also
gives the Marines a good chance
to interact with them.”
The JGSDF NCOs learned
how to shoot the M-16A2 service
rifle in the Indoor Simulated
Marksmanship Trainer, while
Marines with TRT displayed
weapons and vehicles, demonstrated the Marine Corps
Martial Arts Program and ran
through the obstacle course for
the officer candidates.
JGSDF Sgt. First Class Minori
Oitate, an aircraft maintenance
inspector with the 101st Aviation
Squadron, has been stationed at
Camp Naha for 21 years and
had never visited any Marine
Corps installation until Oct.
15. He said the ways Marines
see PROGRAM pg 6
Marines from E Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., fire an M198 155mm
Medium Howitzer Sept. 27 during the Yausubetsu Artillery Relocation Training Exercise 2007 in Hokkaido, Japan. The
Marines of 2/11 are serving as 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines’ firing battery. Photo by Lance Cpl. Corey A. Blodgett
Going out with a bang
3/12 Marines complete artillery exercise in Hokkaido
Lance Cpl. Corey A. Blodgett
okinawa marine staff
CAMP HANSEN — A detachment
of Marines and sailors from 3rd
Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment,
3rd Marine Division, completed
Yausubetsu Artillery Relocation
Training Exercise 2007, Oct. 6,
which took place in the Yausubetsu Training Area in Hokkaido,
Japan.
During the exercise, detachment personnel improved their
proficiency in artillery and small
post office pointers
As the holiday season approaches,
post office officials remind service
members on Okinawa not to mail
restricted or counterfeit items.
pg. 7
arms as well as other types of
training.
“This training was important
because we do not get the opportunity to conduct live-fire artillery
training on the island of Okinawa,”
said Maj. Lou Palazzo, commanding officer of 3/12. “With the (Unit
Deployment Program) cycle on
hold, coupled with the operational
tempo of (Operation Iraqi Freedom
and Operation Enduring Freedom),
our artillery skills were not being
fully exercised. By conducting this
exercise, we were able to see where
island tradition
More than 280,000 people pack the
streets of Naha to take part in one
of the world’s largest tug-of-war
competitions.
pg. 10
we stand as a battalion as well as
hone some of our (Military Occupational Specialty) skills.”
The detachment was comprised
of Marines and sailors from Headquarters Battery, 3/12, accompanied by deployed service members
from E Battery, 2/11 from Camp
Pendleton, Calif.
E Battery personnel got extensive firing time with their M-198
155mm Medium Howitzers as
well as gun emplacement defense
training which was conducted
see EXERCISE pg 6
new in town
Basketball fans on Camp Foster
get a glimpse of Okinawa’s first
professional basketball team during
a pre-season exhibition game.
pg. 17
Okinawa Marine | News | October 19, 2007
MARINE CORPS
BASE CAMP
LEJEUNE, N.C.
Landing Support
Company Marines
with 2nd Marine
Logistics Group rig
a beam, simulating
supplies, to a
hovering CH-53E
Super Stallion
helicopter during a
Helicopter Support
Team operation
Oct. 11. Photo by Cpl.
Aaron Rooks
CorpS
Around the
For more Marine Corps stories and photos,
visit http://www.marines.mil
MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. | Assault amphibian vehicles slowly creep forward as the setting sun disappears behind the horizon Oct. 7.
Marines with Company B, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted a cordon and search of a
simulated village before a humanitarian assistance mission. Photo by Sgt. Bryson K. Jones
MARINE AIR
GROUND
COMBAT
CENTER
TWENTYNINE
PALMS, Calif.
Capt. Salvador
Aguilar,
transition
team 9-07
fire support
advisor, and
his interpreter
try to reason
with Iraqi role
players during
the Marine Air
Ground Task
Force Training
Command’s
Advisor
Training
Group’s
Military
Readiness
Exercise Oct. 5.
Photo by Pfc. Jared
J. Butler
GREENVILLE, N.C. | Cpl. Daniel Smith (left), scout sniper with 3rd Battalion, 6th
Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, helps a boy
position himself in a ghillie suit while holding an M40A3 sniper rifle during Military
Appreciation Day Oct. 6. Photo by Cpl. Chris Lyttle
Okinawa Marine | Opinion
& Editorial | October 19, 2007
If ignorance is bliss, how happy are you?
Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke
R
ecent studies show that 4 out of 5 Americans will believe just about anything you
tell them. Actually, that’s not true. I made
that up. It’s actually 9 out of 10 Americans. OK,
not really. I’m still lying. I actually have no real
statistical data to support what I’m saying, but
that’s the point.
Many people have a tendency to believe what
they are told without question and that tendency is the most formidable means of manipulation and deception for any individual or organization with an interest in spreading untruths.
That’s not to say those “easy believers” are
bad people. Those people represent the average
citizen. I had to go to college and study journalism for several years before my eyes were
opened to the way we average citizens consume
information.
These days, my job requires me to look at the
world objectively and question just about anything anyone tells me. Most importantly, my job
requires research, a time-consuming endeavor
that average citizens often forgo.
When I was studying communications, I had
to read a mind-numbing book called “Life, the
Movie: How Entertainment Conquered Reality,” a comprehensive study of the evolution and
influence of pop culture in America. It read like
a verbose chronology full of lofty, million-dollar
words, but made a few good points.
Among them is a quote from Raymond Price,
a former speech writer for Richard Nixon: “Voters are basically lazy, basically uninterested
in making an effort to understand what we’re
talking about,” Price says. “Reason requires
a high degree of discipline of concentration;
impression is easier. Reason pushes the viewer
back; it assaults him; it demands that he agree
or disagree. Impression can envelop him, invite
him in, without making an intellectual demand
… The emotions are more easily roused, closer
to the surface, more malleable.”
I think Price’s words are a pretty honest as-
sessment of the American political process, but
the message transcends politics and is true on a
much broader scale.
While it is arguably the most empowering
invention since freedom of speech, the Internet, which has exponentially increased the
accessibility of information for human beings,
is also one of the biggest tributaries for misinformation flowing into the
human mind.
There are endless examples
of falsities peddled around online as truths. Chain e-mails are
one of the most annoying and
frustrating to me. Here are a few
fun, totally untrue examples
of online falsehoods you might
find in your inbox: Target and
Starbucks corporations hate the
troops, Barack Obama is a radical Muslim and Denzel Washington loves the troops so much
he donated the entire cost of a
new building at Brooke Army
Medical Center.
How do I know those chain
e-mails are false? I researched
it online at http://www.snopes.com, a great, reliable source for dispelling Internet myths. The
site specializes in researching “urban legends”
and defines that term as “common fallacies,
misinformation, old wives’ tales, strange news
stories, rumors, celebrity gossip, and similar
items.” All research materials the site operators use to prepare their Web pages are made
available in a bibliography at the bottom of
each page.
It was on Snopes that I was able to research
one of the most common military myths I’ve
heard. I bet there are scores of military members who believe there is a bullet, a match and
a razor blade in the gold ball atop the flagpole
on all military installations. Unfortunately,
it’s not true at all. Don’t believe me? Check it
out yourself.
A few months ago, the Okinawa Marine’s
Marine Corps Fact Check section dispelled the
myth that Marine Corps regulations make a
concession for the standard three-mile physical fitness test, authorizing distances ranging
from 2.8 to 3.2 miles. This is not true, yet it has
been effectively propagated throughout our
Corps by word of mouth. I believed it for years
and probably passed it on to a
few people.
Looking back, I wonder
where my skepticism was on
that one. Maybe it sounded
reasonable enough at the
time. Maybe apathy got the
best of me.
I’m sure apathy probably accounts for the fact that roughly
50 percent of Americans don’t
vote. And of those who do,
how many actually research
all the candidates and issues
thoroughly and make decisions
based on reason instead of
impression?
The Internet tells me that
Thomas Jefferson once said,
“I know of no safe depository of the ultimate
powers of the society but the people themselves,
and if we think them not enlightened enough to
exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but
inform their discretion.”
Jefferson is absolutely right, but his words
also reinforce my point, which is that all of us
have a responsibility as American and global
citizens to be informed and ally ourselves on
the side of truth. We can do that by maintaining a healthy skepticism and taking the time
to know rather than simply believe without
question. When we don’t do that, we can find
ourselves deceived because we let the wrong
person inform our discretion.
Rocke is an editor with the Okinawa Marine
newspaper.
All of us have a
responsibility as
American and
global citizens to
be informed and
ally ourselves on
the side of truth.
marine corps fact check
Q:
A:
wigs
Can I wear a wig while in the Marine Corps?
Yes, if you are a female. Wigs, when worn in uniform, must look natural and conform to all grooming regulations, according to Marine Corps
Order P1020.34G.
To submit an opinion or editorial, e-mail us at okinawamarine.mcbb.fCT@usmc.mil
Commanding General Maj. Gen. Mary Ann Krusa-Dossin
public affairs Director Lt. Col. Douglas M. Powell
The Okinawa Marine is published by Marine Corps Community
Services under exclusive written contract with Marine Corps Base Camp
Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan.
The editorial content of this newspaper is edited and approved
by the Consolidated Public Affairs Office of Marine Corps Base Camp
Smedley D. Butler.
This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of
military services stationed overseas, at sea and their families. Its contents
do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government,
the Department of Defense or the U.S. Marine Corps and do not imply
endorsement thereof.
The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts of
supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense,
the U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler or Marine
Corps Community Services of the products and services advertised.
Everything advertised in this newspaper shall be made available
for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion,
gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political
affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron.
If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser
is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that
source until the violation is corrected.
All photos, unless otherwise indicated, are “official U.S. Marine
Corps photos.” For more information, e-mail us at okinawamarine.mcbb.
fct@usmc.mil or write to us at Public Affairs Office, H&S BN MCB PAO,
Unit 35002, FPO AP 96373-5002.
Press officer 1st Lt. Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway
Press chief Gunnery Sgt. William J. Ray
editor Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke
Design Editor Justin Zaun
okinawa marine newspaper
H&S Battalion MCB PAO
Unit 35002
FPO AP 96373-5002
Central Bureau chief
Cpl. Warren Peace
Camp Foster, DSN 645-7422
northern Bureau chief
Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso
Camp Hansen, DSN 623-4054
Okinawa Marine | News | October 19, 2007
briefs
holiday mailing dates
The following are the projected deadline
dates for sending letters and packages from
military post offices on Okinawa to U.S. addresses to arrive before Christmas:
• Space available mail, Nov. 20
• Parcel Airlift mail, Nov. 25
• Priority mail, Dec. 11
• Letter and first class mail, Dec. 11
• Express mail, Dec. 18
The following are the projected deadline
dates for sending letters and packages from
U.S. addresses to military post offices on
Okinawa to arrive before Christmas:
• Space available mail, Nov. 27
• Parcel Airlift mail, Dec. 4
• Priority mail, Dec. 11
• Letter and first class mail, Dec. 11
• Express mail, Dec. 18
For more information, contact your camp’s
post office.
Motorcycle safety stand-down
A mandatory motorcycle safety standdown for all Status of Forces Agreement-licensed motorcycle riders serving with Marine
Corps Bases Japan will be held Oct. 26 at the
Camp Foster Theater from 9 a.m. to noon. For
more information, call 634-2450.
Power outages
There will be scheduled power outages
Oct. 22 and Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at
Camp Shields and O’Donnell Gardens family housing. There will also be a scheduled
power outage Oct. 29 at Camp Courtney
family housing from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For
more information about these outages, call
634-0766.
Baseball event
The Kadena Eagles military baseball team
will play the Japan Air Self Defense Force
men’s baseball team Oct. 21 at Camp Foster’s
Field No. 9 at 3 p.m. The Kadena military
baseball team is comprised of all services
of the military and other Status of Forces
Agreement personnel. For more information
call 634-5030.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR COLLEGE FAIR
Kubasaki High School will host a College
Fair Nov. 1 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at its gym. The
school is seeking volunteers to represent their
alma mater. Volunteers are asked to share their
expertise, talents, enthusiasm, and experience with students. For more information or
to volunteer, call 645-5030.
Camp Kinser Young Marines
The Camp Kinser Young Marines will
host a recruit registration Oct. 20 from 8 a.m.
to noon and Oct. 24 from 6-8 p.m. at Camp
Kinser (Bldg. 107). For more information,
call 637-1344.
Professional dinner
Marine Corps Air Station Futenma will
host a Sergeants Major and Master Gunnery
Sergeants Professional Dinner at the Habu
Pit Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. For more information,
call 636-3110.
TO SUBMIT A BRIEF, send an e-mail to
okinawamarine.mcbb.fct@usmc.mil, or fax your
request to 645-3803. The deadline for submitting
a brief is noon every Friday. The Okinawa Marine
reserves the right to edit all submitted material.
Exercise Talon Vision underway
Brig. General Alexander A.
Flores (left), commander of
the Air Logistics Command
for the Armed Forces of the
Philippines, and Col. Ben
Mathews II, the commanding
officer of Marine Aircraft
Group 36, shake hands at
the conclusion of the Talon
Vision 08 opening ceremony
at Clark Air Base in Angeles
City, Philippines, Oct. 15.
Talon Vision is an annual
bilateral training exercise
designed to strengthen the
professional relationship
between the United States
and the Philippines. Photo by
Pfc. Audrey M. Graham
PROGRAM from pg 1
fire weapons can benefit JGSDF soldiers.
“Our shooting positions are old fashioned,”
he said. “The Marines taught us how to better ourselves when we shoot. They taught us
breathing techniques in the different positions.”
The JGSDF NCOs said their primary weapon,
the Howa Type 64, is similar to the M-16A2
service rifle, making it easy to adapt to the
ISMT training.
Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Tierney, the TRT readiness chief with 3rd MLG, said the ISMT is an
important tool for anyone who fires a weapon,
though it will never replace the actual firing
range.
The ISMT is a simulated firing range with
fire simulation rifles that recoil with the help
of compressed air tanks. The shooters aim at
computer-generated graphics on a screen, and
the system records hits and misses.
“First off, the ISMT will give them familiarEXERCISE from pg 1
through a series of mock day
and night attacks on the gun
lines.
Headquarters Battery performed training to enhance
skills necessary for the type
m issions t hey per for m i n
combat, such as firing and maneuver drills, night-firing and
shooting the M-203 grenade
launcher. They also supported
the gun line with transportation suppor t, a mmunition
supply, security, and explosive
ordinance disposal.
“If these guys go to Iraq,
they’re going to be introduced
to small arms in a large variety of ways, so we’re taking
the time to show them and let
them get familiar,” said Chief
Warrant Officer 2 John A. Ferguson, the chief instructor for
small-arms training with the
battalion.
Once the live-fire portions
of the exercise were complete,
the Marines and sailors were
able to take time to see the
ization with our weapons,” he said. “Second,
there is no doubt that nothing can replace the
firing range. However, there is a lot of capability here. Shooters can find out what they are
doing wrong, such as their shooting positions
and breathing technique.”
JGSDF 1st Lt. Katsuya Hori, the platoon
leader for 6th Anti-Aircraft Group based at
Camp Minami Yoza near Itoman, said he will
take recommendations back to his command
after the exchange.
“After we are finished today, I will submit
a report to the higher headquarters about the
effectiveness of the (ISMT),” Hori said. “We
would like to get something like this because
we can definitely improve our rifle skills.”
Tierney said that he was impressed with
how the soldiers shot on the ISMT.
“They took this exchange seriously,” he
said. “They were paying attention right from
the start. The soldiers did very well on the
ISMT.”
town of Kushiro on the island
of Hokkaido during a cultural
education day. Some of the
sites they saw were fish markets, a historic prison and lake
Mashu, which according to
its information center, is the
clearest lake in the world.
They also got a chance to
show their appreciation for the
community in Yausubetsu by
spending a day clearing foliage and debris to make way
for a new park. After that, the
Marines and sailors spent time
playing games and singing
songs with members of a local
school for the disabled.
“The (interaction with the
community) was important
because it allowed the local
Japanese people to actually
meet the Marines and sailors
and get to know them on a
personal basis,” Palazzo said.
“By actua l ly meet i ng a nd
talking to the Marines, they
realize why we are here and
overall that we are just like
them. It helps build a strong
relationship between the U.S.
and Japan.”
Ferguson said he could tell
the Marines took a lot away
from the deployment.
“It went well,” he said.
“I’ve got a lot of positive feedback from the Marines. I can
tell they got something out of
it; as I was walking around, I
could hear the conversations
of, ‘Hey, this was good-togo. Hey, I’ve never done this
before, and I saw this and
that.’”
Palazzo said that without a
doubt “the exercise was a huge
success.”
“First, all our training goals
were met. Second, it helped
establish a training baseline
for the battalion so we know
where we need to go in the
future in regards to training.
And third, we conducted realistic, motivating training for
the Marines which will better
prepare them for whatever the
future may hold for them,” he
said.
Okinawa Marine | News | October 19, 2007
5th ANGLICO receives new commander
Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso
okinawa marine staff
CAMP HANSEN — Lt. Col. Joseph
F. Shrader passed command of III
Marine Expeditionary Force’s 5th
Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company
to Lt. Col. Clifford S. Weinstein
Oct. 11 at the Camp Hansen Parade
Field.
Shrader took command of 5th
ANGLICO in March 2005. During
his tour as the unit’s commander, he
led his Marines during back-to-back
combat deployments to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Shrader left 5th ANGLICO for the
Fires section of III MEF.
Weinstein was commissioned as
a second lieutenant in the Marine
Corps Reserve in 1989 after gradu-
Shrader
Weinstein
ating Delaware Valley College, Pa.,
with a Bachelor of Science.
Following completion of The
Basic School in Quantico, Va., he reported to 1st Marine Division where
he served as a forward observer, fire
direction officer, platoon commander and fire support coordinator.
Weinstein was assigned to 3rd
Marine Division in 1997 and served
as assistant operations officer for
12th Marine Regiment; commanding officer for Headquarters Battery,
3rd Battalion, 12th Marines; commanding officer for L Battery, 3rd
Battalion, 11th Marines; and logistics officer and fire support coordinator for 4th Marine Regiment.
In 2002, he deployed to Afghanistan with the U.S. Army 18th Airborne Corps as part of Combined
Joint Task Force 180 in support of
Operation Enduring Freedom.
Between March and May 2003,
Weinstein deployed in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In 2004, Weinstein was assigned
to the Marine Air-Ground Task
Force Staff Training Program in
Quantico, where he served as the
Fires Section head, deputy MAGTF
Branch and MAGTF Branch head.
In 2006, he was assigned to
1st Marine Division as executive
officer for 11th Marines and immediately deployed in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom as the
Multinational Force–West operations planner.
In 2007, Weinstein was assigned
to III Marine Expeditionary Force as
the force fires coordinator.
Weinstein’s personal decorations
include the Bronze Star Medal, the
Meritorious Service Medal with
2 gold stars and Oak Leaf Cluster,
the Joint Service Commendation
Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps
Commendation Medal, the Army
Commendation Medal, the Navy
and Marine Corps Achievement
Medal, and the Army Achievement
Medal.
MTACS-18 welcomes new sergeant major
Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Todd
okinawa marine staff
CAMP FOSTER — Sgt. Maj. Gonzalo A. Vasquez assumed duties as
sergeant major of Marine Tactical
Air Control Squadron 18, replacing
Sgt. Maj. Jackie R. Robertson during a ceremony on Marine Corps
Air Station Futenma Sept. 21.
Robertson, who joined MTACS18 in December 2005, took over
as sergeant major of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262
Sept. 28.
Vasquez comes to MTACS-18
from Combat Logistics Battalion 15,
Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st
Marine Logistics Group in Camp
Pendleton Calif., where he served
as sergeant major.
Vasquez enlisted in the Marine
Corps in 1984 and attended recruit
training at Marine Corps Recruit
Depot San Diego.
After completing the Amphibious Reconnaissance School at Fort
Story, Va., Vasquez reported to 3rd
Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, in Okinawa.
Since then, Vasquez’s other
assignments include serving as
team leader, company gunnery
sergeant and training chief with
Robertson
Vasquez
1st Force Reconnaissance Company on Camp Pendleton, and
later as chief instructor of Special
Missions Branch, Special Operations Training Group, 1st Marine
Expeditionary Force, at Camp
Pendleton, Calif.
In 2002, Vasquez reported to
Transportation Support Company,
Combat Service Support Battalion 10, 1st Force Service Support
Group, Camp Pendleton. There he
served as the company first sergeant and participated in Operation
Iraqi Freedom.
Vasquez’s personal decorations
include the Meritorious Service
Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine
Corps Commendation Medal, Joint
Service Achievement Medal, Navy
and Marine Corps Achievement
Medal and the Combat Action
Ribbon.
Postal inspectors warn against mailing restricted items
Lance Cpl. Robert C. Frenke
okinawa marine staff
CAMP KINSER — As the holiday season approaches, service and family members start planning their
holiday gift strategy. They order presents from the
U.S. for family members in Okinawa, or they buy
gifts here to be shipped back home. But they need
to be mindful of what they send or receive.
Postal officials on Okinawa expect not only an
increase in the amount of mail during the holiday
season but an increase in the amount of counterfeit and restricted items flowing through military
postal facilities.
The Japanese Regional Customs for Okinawa
and military postal personnel work together on a
daily basis to ensure incoming and outgoing mail
does not contain restricted or counterfeit items,
according to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dillon M.
Miller, the officer in charge of Consolidated Postal
Services, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Each morning, a team of military and civilian
postal workers search outgoing and incoming mail
from the seven Marine Corps post offices and one
Army post office.
During the process, customs officials line up
packages for dogs to search. The mail is also passed
through an X-ray machine to search for swords,
firearms or illegal items. Suspicious packages
are opened and physically inspected. If anything
illegal is found, the Provost Marshal’s Office’s
Criminal Investigation Division is contacted to
begin an investigation.
While drugs and weapons are a major concern,
customs and postal officials also look for counterfeit items such as fake designer items like shoes,
handbags and wallets, many of which come from
Korea, Taiwan and China.
“People need to be aware of what they purchase
on the Internet and who they are purchasing it
from,” Miller said. “It can get people in trouble
with Japanese law, and they can be processed for
courts-martial.”
If counterfeit or restricted items are found, they
are confiscated and then destroyed.
“The public should know that there is a problem with counterfeit items,” Miller said. “There
are procedures in place to identify and confiscate
these items. Customers can go to their servicing
post office to find out what the mailable items are.
Ignorance is no excuse.”
Customers can also visit http://www.usps.com
to find the requirements for having mail sent to
and from Okinawa.
Hiroki Taira, a Japanese customs officer, opens a
package Oct. 16 at Consolidated Postal Services
on Camp Kinser to search for counterfeit or
restricted items. Photo by Lance Cpl. David Rogers
Okinawa Marine | NEWS | October 19, 2007
MLG Marines receive awards for actions in Iraq
Cpl. Bryan A. Peterson
okinawa marine staff
CAMP KINSER — Third
Marine Logistics Group
M a r i nes, fa m i l ies a nd
friends gathered in front
of the Group headquarters Oct. 15 as Brig. Gen.
Peter J. Talleri, 3rd MLG
commanding general, presented bronze star medals
to three Marines for their
actions in Iraq.
One of t he Ma r i nes,
Capt. Jared A. Laurin, received t he Bronze Sta r
Medal with combat distinguishing device.
According to the award
citation, from January 2006
to January 2007, Laurin
served as an advisor with
Military Transition Team
11, advising an Iraqi company of soldiers with 2nd
Brigade, 1st I raqi Division.
Laurin, who led a team
of 11 to 15 III Marine Expeditionary Force Marines,
advised the Iraqis on specific missions including
raids which netted 14 detainees, civil affairs operations and a total of more
than 150 separate combat
operations involving direct
enemy contact.
Laurin said he is more
pleased with the fact the
Iraqi brigade he served
with is now independently
running its own operations
than with receiving the
award.
“I never thought I would
get an award like this,” he
said. “But, more importantly, I am glad that the
work we did had a part in
the 2nd Brigade’s success.
The Marines I had working
with me did a great job and
without them, the mission
couldn’t have been accomplished. I’m proud as hell
right now.”
Another Marine honored was Master Sgt. Nathaniel E. Hill, who received t he Bronze Sta r
Medal for his service as
the Milita ry Transition
Team Advisor for 3rd Company, 2nd Battalion, 2nd
Brigade, 1st Iraqi Division
from May 2005 to February 2006.
Hill headed the training and mentoring of the
soldiers in the company,
according to the award citation. He kept the Iraqi soldiers’ morale high as they
were subject to constant
enemy fi re a nd t h reats
to themselves and their
families.
He participated in more
than 110 combat patrols in
Fallujah and Saqliwiyah,
which resulted in numerous caches of weapons,
rockets, mor ta r rounds
and ammunition being recovered from 45 captured,
suspected insurgents.
“This is a very humbling
experience and I am grateful and honored to have
received such a distin-
Brig. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, the 3rd MLG commanding general, speaks Oct. 16 at the 3rd Marine
Logistics Group Headquarters building about the accomplishments in Iraq of Master Sgt.
Nathaniel Hill (left), Capt. Jared A. Laurin (center) and Maj. Carlos O. Rowe (right). Laurin
received the Bronze Star for Valor, and Rowe and Hill received the Bronze Star for exemplary
service. Photo by Cpl. Bryan A. Peterson
guished award,” Hill said.
“To build a relationship
with the Iraqi people, I had
to learn their culture first
hand. Building their trust
and confidence was challenging, yet rewarding.”
A lso receiv ing t he
Bronze Sta r Medal was
Maj. Carlos O. Rowe, who
served in Baghdad as the
advisor to the director of
Iraqi A rmed Forces Recruiting for Multi-National
Security Transition Command from October 2006
to May 2007.
He is credited with leading recruiting missions
into the most dangerous
regions of Iraq, contributing to the strategic mission
of restoring confidence in
the government of Iraq and
laying the groundwork for
reconciliation of groups
who were brought into the
military, according to the
award citation.
Rowe’s efforts to improve new Iraqi combat
units’ readiness helped restore security and allowed
coalition forces to redeploy
with a professional Iraqi
army in place, according
to the citation.
After the awards’ presentation, Talleri highlighted
the Marines’ accomplishments as an example to follow when Marines deploy
to Iraq.
“As Marines, we take
care of business,” Talleri
said. “When duty calls, we
will step up to the plate,
just like these gentlemen
did in Iraq. We are privileged to be in the presence
of these fine warriors.”
Navy
celebrates
232nd
birthday
3rd MarDiv Marine awarded Bronze Star
CAMP COURTNEY | Maj. Gen. Robert Neller (left), 3rd Marine Division
commanding general, awards Lt. Col. Victor J. Bunch, 3rd Marine
Division’s intelligence officer, a Bronze Star Medal Oct. 12 at the Division
headquarters on Camp Courtney. Bunch received the award for his actions
in Iraq from Jan. 24, 2006 to Jan. 20, 2007. During his year in Iraq, Bunch
served as intelligence advisor and led a team of 15 Marines to improve the
military capabilities of the 7th Iraqi Division. Photo by Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso
CAMP COURTNEY
3rd Marine Division
chaplain, Navy Capt.
Conrad A. Targonski,
cuts a birthday cake
during a Navy birthday
celebration at the Camp
Courtney Mess Hall Oct.
12. The Continental
Congress established
the Continental Navy
Oct. 13, 1775, when
it authorized the
procurement of two
vessels with the mission
of tracking down British
supply ships. Photo by Cpl.
Tyson Holm
Okinawa Marine | FEATURE | October 19, 2007
CLR-3 Marines carry the load
Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay
okinawa marine staff
L
Marines with Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine
Logistics Group watch a CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter from Marine Medium
Helicopter Squadron 262 fly away after connecting an external load during training
at the Northern Training Area Oct. 11. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay
anding support personnel from Combat
Logistics Regiment 3,
3rd Marine Logistics Group
invested two training days to
external cargo load operations at the Northern Training Area Oct. 11-12.
The eleven Marines and
one sailor from Landing
Support Company focused
on improving their ability to
prepare external loads and
secure them to CH-46 Sea
Knight helicopters for speedy
transportation.
“Vehicles, trailers, generators, spare parts, palettes of
ammo, chow or water — basically anything that needs
to get somewhere fast, we
help take it there,” said Sgt.
Will Hardin, the noncommissioned officer in charge
of the company’s Helicopter
Support Team.
External cargo loading is
the solution when certain
terrain can not be accessed by
ground vehicles but critical
supplies must be delivered,
Hardin said.
During the training, three
helicopters from Marine
Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 took turns hovering
at about 10 feet above the
ground while HST Marines
connected loads to the belly
of the aircraft.
External load operations
require a two-man hook team
beneath the helicopter. The
“static man” touches a static
wand to the helicopter’s hook,
which grounds the static electricity that builds up while
the aircraft is in flight. The
“The first time I did
an external load and
had the helicopter
over me, I thought,
‘A little over a year
ago I was waiting
tables.’ Now, I’m
standing under a
helicopter flying over
my head.”
— Lance Cpl. Alex Castano
“link-up man” then connects
the load to the hook.
Meanwhile, a safety
noncommissioned officer
positioned about 10 yards
behind the team watches to
ensure a proper connection.
He also keeps an eye on the
helicopter wheels and load
to make sure neither hits the
hook team.
Having a 17,000-pound
helicopter hovering over
their heads is just another
day at the office for the HST
Marines, but Lance Cpl. Alex
Castano, a landing support
specialist, said the HST Marines enjoy the training.
“The first time I did an
external load and had the
helicopter over me, I thought,
‘A little over a year ago I was
waiting tables,’” Castano
said. “Now, I’m standing under a helicopter flying over
my head.”
Wing Marines complete NCO leadership course
Lance Corporals’
Seminar
Forty-three lance corporals with 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing graduated from
Marine Wing Support Group 17’s 2007
Lance Corporals’ Seminar at the Camp
Foster Community Center Oct. 12.
The seminar is a requirement for all
lance corporals in the Wing nearing
eligibility for promotion to corporal.
The seminar was developed in late
2002 under the direction of Lt. Gen.
John F. Goodman, who commanded 1st
MAW at that time, according to Sgt.
Maj. Michael Tuttle, the Wing sergeant
major. Photos by Lance Cpl. David Rogers
Lance Cpl. Benjamin Larivee (right)
receives a Lance Corporals’ Seminar
certificate of completion from Staff Sgt.
Timothy Clay at a graduation ceremony at
the Camp Foster Community Center.
10
Okinawa Marine | FEATURE
Thousands
gather
around an
approximately
600-footlong rope in
Naha during
the 37th
Annual Naha
Matsuri, or
Naha Festival,
Oct. 14, which
featured
one of the
world’s largest
tug-of-war
competitions.
Photo by Lance Cpl.
Kevin M. Knallay
Eisa dancers perform prior to the start of the tug-of-war competition. The Eisa
performances, a parade and other cultural attractions, along with the tug-of-war,
were all part of the 37th Annual Naha Festival. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay
Lance Cpl.
Luis Rocha
(left) and
Lance Cpl.
Taylor
Hardy, with
the Camp
Foster
Single
Marine
Program,
help the East
team win
the Naha
O-tsunahiki
during the
festival. The
Camp Foster
Single
Marine
Program
took 50
Marines
and sailors
stationed on
Okinawa to
the festival
this year.
Photo by Lance
Cpl. Robert C.
Frenke
11
FEATURE | October 19, 2007
Tug of war
officials position
one end of
the rope to be
connected to the
other half during
the festival.
When the two
sides of the rope
are brought
together, they
are connected by
a large pin called
a kanuchi. Photo
by Lance Cpl. Kevin M.
Knallay
Community ties
Marines, sailors join more than 280,000
to take part in annual tug-of-war tradition
Lance Cpl. Robert C. Frenke
okinawa marine staff
M
ore than 280,000 people gathered
for the 37th Annual Naha O-tsunahiki, one of the world’s largest
tug-of-war competitions, Oct. 14.
The tug-of-war was the highlight of the
two-day Naha Festival.
Each year at the Naha Festival, two
massive ropes, each more than 300 feet
long, are brought together and connected
by a large wooden pin called a kanuchi.
The two sides represent east and west,
and the side that pulls the giant rope
more than three meters in 30 minutes
wins.
If neither side can pull the rope more
than three meters, an additional 30 minutes is granted to give each side a chance
to move the rope two meters. A tie is
declared if neither side can pull the rope
two meters, according to official rules.
This year, the Eastern Kingdom won after a 30-minute struggle between the two
sides. Afterward, festival participants cut
off pieces of rope to bring them good luck
in the coming year.
Lance Cpl. Steven Palmateer, a radio
operator with 3rd Marine Division, attended the event for the first time.
“It was cool seeing people from all
over the world come here for this,” Palmateer said. “I met a man from France
who came for the tug-of-war. It was
fun joining in and learning about the
Okinawan culture.”
The long-time tug-of-war tradition is a
An actor representing the Ryukyu King of the
East is carried to the center of the rope to meet
the Ryukyu King of the West before the start
of the tug-of-war. Typically the two kings and
their royal courts meet at the center of the
rope, challenges are issued, and the tug-of-war
begins. Photo by Lance Cpl. Robert C. Frenke
symbol of Okinawa’s history, and attending the tug-of-war left a lasting impression on the Marines who participated in
the event.
“I was glad I was able to meet new people and participate in some of Okinawa’s
traditions,” Palmateer said. “I definitely
plan on coming next year and seeing more
of Okinawa’s events.”
12
Okinawa Marine | FEATURE | October 19, 2007
Marines face off in
‘Tinman’ physical
fitness competition
Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay
okinawa marine staff
M
ore than 120 service members took a
unique approach to physical training
in the early morning hours during
Marine Air Control Squadron 4’s “Tinman”
competition on Marine Corps Air Station
Futenma Oct. 12.
Twenty teams of three from MACS-4 and
13 teams from Marine Air Support Squadron
2 ran a four-mile course in combat boots and
utility trousers, stopping to complete exercises at stations along the way.
Each team had to do a number of threeman pushups and crunches, complete “fireman’s” carries and low crawl approximately
50 meters.
“This (event) was fantastic for camaraderie
and teamwork,” said Maj. Jeff Hanson, the
executive officer of MACS-4. “It was also
great to have our sister squadron MASS-2 to
give us a little competitive spirit.”
The competition is not a regularly scheduled event, but the Marines in MACS-4 try
to host the same event quarterly to mix up
physical training and keep esprit de corps
up, according to 2nd Lt. Patrick Steward, one
of the competition coordinators.
“We try and have a unit-wide competition
every three to four months,” Steward said.
“The Marines really enjoy them.”
After the competition, all the service
members had a special breakfast in the
squadron’s motor transportation bay where
awards were presented to the top male, female and coed teams.
“I had a great time, and you can tell a lot
of the Marines liked it too,” Hanson said.
“It was highly painful but worthwhile after
completing the course.”
The team of 1st Lt. Matthew J. Green, Cpl.
Matthew J. Harrel and Cpl. Jorqe Olivarez,
from MASS-2, took first-place in the men’s
division with a time of 31:18. Sgt. Jessica
White, Lance Cpl. Dorris Suay and Cpl. Elizabeth Campos, also from MASS-2, grabbed
top honors in the women’s division with a
time of 51:39. And MASS-2’s Capt. Bradley
W. Witham, Sgt. Whinston Tolow and Staff
Sgt. Nicole Ford were the best coed team,
finishing at 40:03.
Marines participate in the fireman’s carry portion
of Marine Air Control Squadron 4’s “Tinman”
competition on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma
Oct. 12. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay
Petty Officer 1st Class Nicola Campbell (left) and Petty Officer 3rd Class Sergio Rojas demonstrate
the Cumbia, a traditional Colombian dance, during the 2007 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration
Oct. 11 at the Palms on Camp Hansen. Photos by Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso
MLG Marines celebrate
Hispanic Heritage Month
Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso
okinawa marine staff
B
eautiful, difficult, unique and energetic — all words onlookers used
to describe the traditional Hispanic
dances they saw Oct. 11 at the Palms
on Camp Hansen during 3rd Medical
Battalion’s 2007 Hispanic Heritage Month
Celebration.
The event promoted an atmosphere of
cultural understanding among 3rd Marine
Logistics Group’s diverse ranks and highlighted the achievements of Hispanics who
have made an impact on society.
“We have an extremely diverse battalion,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tom E. McCoy, 3rd
Medical Battalion’s executive officer, as
he pointed to a group of sailors. “Months
of observance give us a chance to recognize where our sailors come from and the
importance of it.”
The event began with an “I am” demonstration in which several corpsmen
dressed as and stated the achievements of
Hispanic icons who have made significant
contributions to American society, such as
Major League Baseball player Sammy Sosa
and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Joe R. Campa, the first Hispanic sailor to
hold his position.
The celebration concluded with several
slide show presentations highlighting
Hispanic countries followed by live performances of those countries’ native dances.
Dressed in traditional Colombian attire,
Petty Officer 1st Class Nicola Campbell
and her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class
Sergio Rojas, demonstrated Cumbia, a Colombian dance style.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Franklin Torro
Petty Officer 3rd Class Franklin Torro and
his partner, Natsumi Komatani, demonstrate
the Meringue, a traditional Hispanic dance
performed in many Latin American countries.
and his partner, Natsumi Komatani, performed the Meringue and the fast-paced
and physically demanding Salsa, a traditional dance in Cuba and Puerto Rico.
“The whole show was just a class act,”
said Sgt. Maj. Nathaniel L. Simms, the
Camp Hansen sergeant major. “Hispanic
dances are all about coordination. It’s an art
form really, and the dancers complemented
each other so well. It was amazing.”
13
Okinawa Marine | FEATURE | October 19, 2007
“We do whatever it takes to get the birds back in the air as quickly as possible.”
— Cpl. Christine Silva
Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36’s power plants section, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, repair a fuel compressor from a CH-53E Super
Stallion helicopter Sept. 28 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Photos by Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso
MALS-36 Marines provide crucial support
Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso
okinawa marine staff
I
t takes more than
ground troops and air
assets to win battles.
A strong support element
is just as crucial, and
that’s exactly what the
Marines of Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron
36 do for Marine Aircraft
Group 36.
The squadron’s mission is to provide logistical support to MAG-36’s
three other squadrons,
as well as to U.S. Navy
ships based in the Pacific theater, including
some vessels currently
deployed in support of
Operations Iraqi and
Enduring Freedom, said
Capt. Thomas J. Denevan, MALS-36’s assistant
operations officer.
“We provide intermediate level support to
the squadrons,” Denevan said. “Each unit has
mechanics in charge of
maintaining the aircraft,
but they can’t do every-
thing. Sometimes an
engine or frame has to be
completely disassembled
and put back together
from scratch, or a part is
so damaged it needs to
be replaced. Operational
level mechanics don’t
have the time to deal
with that big of an issue.
That’s when the MALS
comes in.”
Over the years, MALS36 has developed a strong
reputation within 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing,
servicing AH-1N Hueys,
AH-1W Cobras, CH-46
Sea Knights, CH-53E
Super Stallions and KC130 Hercules aircraft,
said Gunnery Sgt. Shawn
D. Marshall, the Power
Plants Division control
chief.
Within the last year
alone, the MALS-36
Marines and sailors have
received, repaired and
shipped 35 engines to
locations such as Iraq,
Afghanistan, the Philippines, South Korea and
Thailand.
Cpl. Ryan J. Vanakker, a mechanic with MALS-36, repairs a
C130-Legacy model engine Sept. 28 at MCAS Futenma.
“A mission has never
been missed or delayed
due to engine unavailability or any other component for that matter,
whether it was an exercise or a real-world operation,” Marshall said.
“This squadron takes
pride in the support we
give. Not a single piece
leaves our hangars until
they are operational,
and the results speak for
themselves.”
But building and repairing aircraft isn’t the
only way the squadron
supports the entire Marine air ground task force.
The unit’s Repairable
Management Division is
responsible for replacing
parts for every aircraft
the other sections repair
and ships approximately
50 parts a day to units all
over Pacific and Middle
East.
“We pretty much take
every broken part coming
out of the aircraft and
immediately ship out the
replacement to whichever
section or squadron is
conducting the repairs,”
said Cpl. Christine Silva,
the division’s Repairable
Control Branch noncommissioned officer in
charge. “We do whatever
it takes to get the birds
back in the air as quickly
as possible.”
The squadron’s Marines are proud of their
commitment to excellence in supporting
Wing units in and out of
combat.
“It’s amazing how
quickly we put these
birds back in the air with
as little people as we
have,” said Cpl. Cedric
Anderson, a mechanic
with the squadron. “It
feels good knowing the
kind of reputation we
have and knowing that
Marines in combat can
keep fighting because
of what we do over here
in Okinawa. It’s the best
feeling in the world. It
makes me proud to be a
Marine and to be part of
this squadron.”
14
Okinawa Marine | FEATURE | October 19, 2007
Petty Officer 3rd Class Joel M. Grey, a hospital corpsman with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, swings alongside a Korean boy at the Sun
Rin Orphanage in Pohang, Republic of Korea­­­­­­­, Oct. 8. Volunteers from 3rd Marine Logistics Group’s 9th ESB and U.S. Marine Corps Forces,
Korea teamed up to lend a helping hand at the orphanage. Photos by Lance Cpl. Bobby J. Yarbrough
Helping hands
Military volunteers boost spirits at Korean orphanage
Lance Cpl. Bobby J. Yarbrough
okinawa marine staff
V
Marines assist a Korean boy on a slam dunk
during a basketball game.
olunteers from 3rd Marine Logistics Group’s
9th Engineer Support
Battalion and U.S. Marine
Corps Forces, Korea spent Oct.
8 at the House of Love, or Sun
Rin, Orphanage in Pohang,
Republic of Korea, performing landscaping and spending
time with the children.
The Marines and sailors
trimmed tree limbs and built
picnic tables. Once finished,
the Marines and sailors
spent time with the children,
breaking off for activities
such as basketball, riding
bicycles and swinging on the
swing sets.
“The experience with the
children puts into our minds
the impact that we have on
others,” said Petty Officer 3rd
Class Joel M. Grey, a hospital corpsman with 9th ESB.
“It makes us appreciate the
bonds we build serving the
Korean community.”
Dong H. Han, the superintendent of Sun Rin, thanked
the Marines for taking the
time to volunteer at the orphanage.
“We have a strong relationship and history with the
Marine Corps,” Han said. “We
are thankful and appreciative
to have Marines serving in
our community.”
The history Han mentioned
began in 1954 when the orphanage was originally built
by the 1st Marine Aircraft
Wing as the Marine Memorial Orphanage. In the early
1950s, Marines and Navy
chaplains noticed an estimated 10,000 children in the Pohang area who were orphaned
during the Korean War. They
took the children to local
orphanages, which quickly
became overloaded. To assure
the childrens’ survival, the
1st MAW Marine Memorial
Orphanage was created.
Other orphanages, such
as Pohang Marine and Little
Flower, were also created to
ease the overcrowding. The
orphanages were funded
through donations by 1st
MAW Marines until the early
1980s when the government
of the Republic of Korea took
over the funding.
The Republic of Korea
renamed the orphanage the
House of Love to reflect its
roots as an act of mercy and
unconditional love from the
Marines for the children.
The home initially housed
17 children, but by 1986,
it had grown so much the
orphanage needed a larger
building.
With help from 9th ESB,
in 1986, the original building
was torn down and construction began on the current
facility, which is now home
to 82 children. Okinawa
Marines who deploy to Korea
have continued to help out
the orphanage throughout the
years.
Okinawa Marine | Sports | October 19, 2007
17
U.S., Japanese service
members compete in
friendly softball tourney
Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay
okinawa marine staff
M
ore than 20 Marines with Marine Air
Control Squadron 4 spent the afternoon Oct. 12 playing fast-pitch softball against their Japan Air Self Defense Force
counterparts at the Yozadake Sub Base south of
Naha.
In the first game, JASDF took control early,
scoring two runs in the first inning, adding six
more in the third and then held strong defensively for an 11-2 victory.
The Marines fared better in the second game.
After JASDF scored twice in the top of the second inning, the Marines answered, scoring five
runs in the bottom of
the inning. The Marines
stayed ahead from that
point on, adding three
more runs to put the
game away 8-2.
In the final game,
JASDF started strong,
scoring first, but the
Marines answered right
back to tie it up. JASDF
scored two more runs,
only to have the Marines match them again.
However, a tie was
called at the end of the
sixth inning due to a
— jasdf Capt. Iida 60-minute time limit.
After the games,
Takayusu
the JASDF hosted the
Marines to a steak,
yakisoba and chicken
barbecue before both forces exchanged gifts,
expressing their generosity toward each other.
“Today has been very good,” said Capt. Iida
Takayusu, a maintenance officer with 56th Air
Craft Control and Warning Squadron, JASDF. “It
was a great time and nice to build on our great
relationship with the Marines.”
Many of the Marines felt very welcomed by
the JASDF personnel.
“This is fabulous. They went all out to make
us feel welcome,” said Brian Baez, a Marine
from MACS-4. “It’s been a great experience today. We got to share a side of America’s favorite
pastime, and they shared their great culture and
food and showed us their immense hospitality.”
“It was a
great time
... to build
on our great
relationship
with the
Marines.”
Marines with Marine Air Control Squadron 4 and
personnel with the Japan Air Self Defense Force shake
hands and congratulate each other after competing
in a softball tournament at JASDF Yozadake Sub Base
Oct. 12. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay
Tokyo Apache forward John “Helicopter” Humphrey launches a three-point attempt over Ryukyu Golden
Kings’ Forward Dae Kyun Han Oct. 13 in front of Golden Kings’ coach Hernando L. Planells during the
Basketball Japan League pre-season game at the Camp Foster Field House. Photos by Cpl. Bryan A. Peterson
Ryukyu Golden Kings gear up
for inaugural hoops season
Cpl. Bryan A. Peterson
okinawa marine staff
H
undreds of Japanese and
American fans turned
out at the Camp Foster
Field House Oct. 13-14 to
watch Okinawa’s first fully
professional basketball team
in pre-season play.
The Basketball Japan
League, which was established in 2005, added Okinawa’s Ryukyu Golden Kings
this year as an expansion
team. The Golden Kings took
on the Tokyo Apache at the
Foster Field House at 6 p.m.
Saturday and again at 3 p.m.
Sunday, losing both games
97-73 and 82-70, respectively.
“We didn’t do as well as we
planned because this was our
first game in front of our fans
in Okinawa,” said Golden
Kings coach Hernando L.
Planells. “We were nervous.
But this is our first year.”
Planells, who has coached
at the University of Nevada,
Las Vegas, and was an NBA
scout, said his team is here
to win and to provide the
Okinawan and American
communities a chance to
enjoy the sport together.
“We know a lot of U.S.
service members miss going
to professional games in the
States,” Planells said. “They
have some games to go to
now.”
Earlier this year, The Japan
Times reported that Tatsuro
Kimura, the Golden Kings’
Ryukyu Golden Kings’ forward
Danny Jones Jr. shoots a free
throw Oct. 13 during a pre-season
game against the Tokyo Apache.
general manager and former
sports-live director for NHK
Television in Okinawa, said
he wants fans on Okinawa to
enjoy a sport that has “much
potential of making a deep
impact.”
Kimura’s team was
spawned from a rise in
basketball’s popularity among
Okinawans, according to the
team’s official Web site.
“We found Okinawa has a
great number of people who
actually played basketball
in school. Also, people in
Okinawa are exposed to the
NBA and NCAA because of
Okinawa’s history. ... People
were able to watch them
through TV that came from
American (military bases) on
Okinawa,” Kimura said in the
Feb. 21 Japan Times article.
Kimura wanted to play the
exhibition games on base to
attract American fans, according to Michael N. Desmone,
the Marine Corps Community
Services athletic program
manager sports specialist.
“It took a lot of coordination, but in the end it was
definitely worth it,” Desmone
said.
Desmone added that the
Golden Kings will also be
involved with the base community, conducting community service projects such as
a youth basketball clinic on
Camp Foster Oct. 28.
“These kids will be excited
to attend because these are
professionals they’ll be playing with,” Desmone said.
Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, a
former NBA player and father
of Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant, is the head
coach of the Tokyo Apache. He
said the exhibition games were
the best way to get Okinawans
and Americans excited about
their new home team.
“Coming from a military
family, I know firsthand how
the military reaches out to its
local community,” Bryant said.
“This is another way of doing
that. Now both Okinawans
and service members have a
home team to root for.”
The Ryukyu Golden Kings
play their season opener
Nov. 3 at the Okinawa Convention Center in Okinawa
City against the Oita Heat
Devils.
18
Okinawa Marine | Marketplace | October 19, 2007
single marine program events
in theaters
oct 19-25
October 24 | kindergarten halloween event
• Share the Halloween tradition with the children of Chatan-Daini
Kindergarten by painting pumpkins and passing out candy. Bring
two bags of Halloween candy, and dress in your best costume.
Movie schedule is subject to change without notice. Call in advance to
confirm show times. For a complete listing, visit http://www.aafes.com.
Kadena
634-4422
foster
645-3465
Friday The Invasion (PG-13),
6 p.m.; War (R), 9 p.m.
Friday The Kingdom (R), 7 p.m.;
The Heartbreak Kid (R), 10 p.m.
saturday Ratatouille (G),
noon; Underdog (PG), 3 p.m.; The
Heartbreak Kid (R), 6 p.m.; War (R),
9:30 p.m.
saturday Daddy Day Camp (PG),
1 p.m.; Stardust (PG-13), 4 p.m.; The
Kingdom (R), 7 p.m., 10 p.m.
sunday Underdog (PG), 1 p.m.;
The Heartbreak Kid (R), 4 p.m.; War
(R), 7 p.m.
monday Closed
• Depart Camp Kinser at 7:30 a.m., MCAS Futenma at 8 a.m.
and Camp Foster at 8:30 a.m.
sunday Bratz (PG), 1 p.m.; The
Simpsons Movie (PG-13), 4 p.m.; We
Own the Night (R), 7 p.m.
For more information, contact
the Single Marine Program
Office at 645-3681.
All bus pick-up points will be
at Semper Fit gyms or the
Foster Fieldhouse.
monday The Invasion (PG-13), 7 p.m.
wednesday Illegal Tender (R), 7 p.m.
wednesday Closed
thursday We Own the Night (R),
7 p.m.
thursday Closed
Futenma
636-3890
Friday Rush Hour 3 (PG-13),
6:30 p.m.
Saturday The Game Plan (PG),
4 p.m.; We Own the Night (R), 7 p.m.
sunday Rush Hour 3 (PG-13),
4 p.m.; Stardust (PG-13), 7 p.m.
monday The Kingdom (R), 6:30 p.m.
Schwab
625-2333
Friday Illegal Tender (R), 7 p.m.
Saturday The Invasion (PG-13),
7 p.m.
sunday War (R), 7 p.m.
monday We Own the Night (R),
7 p.m.
tuesday Closed
tuesday The Heartbreak Kid (R),
7 p.m.
wednesday Closed
wednesday Closed
thursday Closed
thursday Closed
Kinser
courtney
Friday The Game Plan (PG), 3 p.m.,
6:30 p.m.
Friday We Own the Night (R), 6:30
p.m., 9:30 p.m.
Saturday Bratz (PG), 3 p.m.; Resident Evil: Extinction (R), 6:30 p.m.
Saturday Bratz (PG), 2 p.m.; Rush
Hour 3 (PG-13), 6 p.m., 9 p.m.
sunday Daddy Day Camp (PG),
3 p.m.; War (R), 6:30 p.m.
sunday Stardust (PG-13), 7 p.m.
637-2177
monday Closed
622-9616
monday Stardust (PG-13), 7 p.m.
tuesday Closed
tuesday Closed
wednesday Mr. Bean’s Holiday (G),
3 p.m.; We Own the Night (R), 6:30 p.m.
wednesday Daddy Day Camp
(PG), 1 p.m.; The Heartbreak Kid
(R), 7 p.m.
thursday Closed
thursday Closed
USO movie nights
The USO hosts movie nights at the camps below.
For schedules and start times, call:
Camp Schwab 625-3834
mcas futenma 636-2113
Camp Hansen 623-5011
Kadena air base 632-8781
• The Camp Hansen Theater is closed for renovation.
• Depart Camp Kinser at 5:30 p.m., MCAS Futenma at 6 p.m.,
Camp Schwab at 4:45 p.m., Camp Hansen at 5:15 p.m. and
Camp Courtney at 6 p.m.
chapel schedule
tuesday War (R), 7 p.m.
tuesday Closed
October 27 | SMP’s fright night fear factor
• Think you can chug pig’s blood and swallow slime? These
tasty treats will all be part of the SMP’s 2nd Annual Fright
Night Fear Factor as well as various physical challenges. • Sign
up by Oct. 23 (two people per team).
Camp Foster | 645-7486/7487
• Catholic: Mon.-Fri., 11:45 a.m.
Sat., 5 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.
• Eastern Orthodox: Sun., 9:30 a.m.
• Gospel: Sun., 11:30 a.m.
• Hindu: Sun., 3:30 p.m., Bldg. 455
• Jewish: Fri., traditional, 6 p.m.;
informal, 6:30 p.m.
• Latter-day Saints: Sun., 2 p.m., Bldg. 455
• Muslim: Friday prayer at 12:45 p.m.
• Protestant: Sun., 8:30 a.m. Camp Lester | 643-7226
• Catholic: Sun., 8 a.m., Lester Chapel
Wed., 11 a.m., Hospital Chapel
• Protestant: Sun., 9 a.m., Hospital Chapel
Sun., 10 a.m., Lester Chapel
Camp Hansen | 623-4694
• Catholic: Sun., 10 a.m., East Chapel
• Protestant: Sun., 11 a.m., West Chapel
MCAS Futenma | 636-3058
• Catholic: Sun., noon
Mon., 5 p.m.; Wed., 5 p.m.
• Lutheran: 11:30 a.m.
• Contemporary: Sun., 9 a.m.
Camp Schwab | 625-2644/2866
• Catholic: Sun., 8:30 a.m.
• Protestant: Sun., 11 a.m.
Camp McTureous | 622-7505
• Lutheran: Sun., 9:45 a.m.
• Gospel: Sun., 12:30 p.m.
Camp Courtney | 622-9350
• Catholic: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., 7 a.m. Sun. 8 a.m., 11:15 a.m.
• Protestant: Sun., 9:30 a.m.
Liturgical, 6:30 p.m.
Kadena Air Base | 634-1288
• Catholic: Sun., 8:30 a.m., Mass, Chapel 1
Sun., 11:30 a.m., Reconciliation, Chapel 1
Sun., 12:30 p.m., Mass, Chapel 1
Sun., 5 p.m., Mass, Chapel 1
Sun., 10:30 a.m., CCD, Amelia Earhart School
Daily Mass, Mon.-Thurs., noon, Chapel 2
• Protestant: Sun., Contemporary, 10:30 a.m.,
Chapel 1
Sun., Project 196 (Contemporary), 7:06 p.m.,
Chapel 1
Sun., 8:30 a.m., Inspirational, Chapel 2
Sun., 10:30 a.m., Traditional, Chapel 2
Sun., 1030 a.m., Gospel, Chapel 3
Sunday School, 8:45 a.m., Bldg. 856
• Wiccan/Pagan
Women’s service, Thurs., 6:30 p.m., Chapel 2
Open circle service, Fri., 7 p.m., Chapel 1
Wiccan/Pagan service, Sat., 6:30 p.m., Religious Education Center, Bldg. 856
Camp Kinser | 637-1148
• Catholic: Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri., noon,
Chapel 2
Sun., 11 a.m., Chapel 1
• Gospel: Sun., 8 a.m., Chapel 1
• Protestant: Sun., 9:30 a.m., Chapel 1
classified ads
automobiles
’97 mitsubishi
Diamante jci Oct.
09, $3,500 OBO.
637-5239
’96 toyota emina
mini van jci June
08, $2,000 OBO.
633-8155
’96 nissan prairie
minivan jci Aug. 09,
$1,900 OBO. 622-6888
’89 toyota ace
van jci March 08,
$2,200. 636-2027
’91 Mazda eunos
roadster jci July
08, $1,200 OBO.
622-5221
’95 Toyota estima
van jci June 08,
$2,000 OBO. 633-1005
’94 Nissan laurel
jci Sept. 08, $1,900
OBO. 634-0855
’96 toyota celica
JCI Feb. 08, $1,800
OBO. 623-4111
’97 toyota camry
JCI April 08, $2,000
OBO. (080) 31713710
’97 Suzuki wagon
JCI Sept. 08, $1,800
OBO. 634-2336
’97 Mitsubishi
pajero mini jci
Nov. 08, $2,200 OBO.
634-2336
’97 nissan skyline
jci Oct. 08, $6,500
OBO. (090) 9787-2243
’95 toyota exiv jci
July 09, $1,500 OBO.
626-2337
’98 Honda capa
jci July 09, $3,000.
646-3799
’93 toyota emina
jci July 08, $1,900.
646-4102
’94 nissan largo
van jci Nov. 07,
$1,500 OBO. 622-5423
’94 toyota mark
ii jci Jan. 09, $1,500
OBO. 636-3613
motorcycles
’05 HarleyDavidson
sportster 1200xl
$7,500. 622-5423
’06 harleydavidson fat
boy $17,500. (080)
1763-1286
’05 harleydavidson
v-rod $13,000.
622-7093
MISCELLANEOUS
— HP laptop, $500
OBO, (090) 19492762
— Two Whirlpool
dehumidifiers, $250;
two black gaming
chairs, $50; oak chair,
$30. 637-4214
— Two twin-sized
mattresses, $40
each; antique China
cabinet, $175. 926-
2732
— Hitachi 19-inch
computer monitor,
$125 OBO. 622-8280
— 100-foot fence,
$150. 646-5388
— Men’s Nike cleats,
size 10.5, $20. 6228280
— TaylorMade R7
460 driver, $275 OBO.
646-4449
Ads appearing in the Okinawa Marine are a free service to active duty military and their dependents, DoD
employees and retirees. Ads are restricted to personal
property or service of incidental exchange. Ads are
run on a space-available basis. The deadline for ads is
noon Fridays. The Okinawa Marine reserves the right
to edit ads to fit available space. Please include your
name and the phone number you wish published. The
Okinawa Marine makes every effort to ensure accuracy but assumes no responsibility for services offered
in ads. Submit ads by fax to 645-3803, or send an
e-mail to okinawamarine.mcbb.fct@usmc.mil.