thedrifter
10-27-05, 02:56 PM
Guam celebrates 230th birthday of U.S. Marines
By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno
Pacific Daily News
gdumat-ol@guampdn.com
U.S. Marines are stretched across the globe: In Afghanistan and Iraq, they're at the front line to continue the war on terror. Back home on the mainland, they're helping victims of Hurricane Katrina and the other hurricanes that followed. In Pakistan, they're helping earthquake victims.
America's Marines might be very busy with numerous missions across oceans, but on Nov. 10, wherever they may be, they will also mark a milestone. The United States Marine Corps will be 230 years old that day.
And last night, the 3rd Marine Division Association, Guam Chapter, and the 7th Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Company hosted an advance birthday for the Marines.
The ballroom event was a chance to showcase Guam hospitality, as the island awaits a final decision whether the 4,000 to 5,000 Marines that might be downsized from Okinawa will be moved to Guam.
The hospitality did not go unnoticed by the guest speaker, Col. Scott Campbell, chief of staff of the 3rd Marine Division, based in Okinawa.
"When I get back to Okinawa," Campbell said, he will sit down with the top leadership of the 3rd Marine Division to say: "The people of Guam are anxiously waiting for the 3rd Marine Division to return."
The 3rd Marine Division first came to Guam to free the island during World War II.
The decision to move some of the U.S. Marines from Okinawa is expected to be an issue during high-level talks on Saturday in Washington on the broader realignment of the 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan.
Last night's birthday bash at the Guam Marriott Resort was made more meaningful with the presence of six members of the Navajo Code Talkers, who used their Native American language in relaying messages to confuse the Japanese military.
And for some of the Code Talkers, their ties with the Marines have continued with their children.
One of the guests at last night's event was Code Talker Teddy Draper, 82, who joined the Marines in 1942.
Visiting with him is his son Teddy Draper III, 30, who joined the Marines after the 9-11 terror attacks.
"I thought I had to do something," said the younger Draper, who had just returned from duty in Iraq.
The decision to choose the Marines over the other branches of America's military, he said, "was because of Dad."
Ellie
http://p089.ezboard.com/bthefontmanscommunity
By Gaynor Dumat-ol Daleno
Pacific Daily News
gdumat-ol@guampdn.com
U.S. Marines are stretched across the globe: In Afghanistan and Iraq, they're at the front line to continue the war on terror. Back home on the mainland, they're helping victims of Hurricane Katrina and the other hurricanes that followed. In Pakistan, they're helping earthquake victims.
America's Marines might be very busy with numerous missions across oceans, but on Nov. 10, wherever they may be, they will also mark a milestone. The United States Marine Corps will be 230 years old that day.
And last night, the 3rd Marine Division Association, Guam Chapter, and the 7th Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team Company hosted an advance birthday for the Marines.
The ballroom event was a chance to showcase Guam hospitality, as the island awaits a final decision whether the 4,000 to 5,000 Marines that might be downsized from Okinawa will be moved to Guam.
The hospitality did not go unnoticed by the guest speaker, Col. Scott Campbell, chief of staff of the 3rd Marine Division, based in Okinawa.
"When I get back to Okinawa," Campbell said, he will sit down with the top leadership of the 3rd Marine Division to say: "The people of Guam are anxiously waiting for the 3rd Marine Division to return."
The 3rd Marine Division first came to Guam to free the island during World War II.
The decision to move some of the U.S. Marines from Okinawa is expected to be an issue during high-level talks on Saturday in Washington on the broader realignment of the 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan.
Last night's birthday bash at the Guam Marriott Resort was made more meaningful with the presence of six members of the Navajo Code Talkers, who used their Native American language in relaying messages to confuse the Japanese military.
And for some of the Code Talkers, their ties with the Marines have continued with their children.
One of the guests at last night's event was Code Talker Teddy Draper, 82, who joined the Marines in 1942.
Visiting with him is his son Teddy Draper III, 30, who joined the Marines after the 9-11 terror attacks.
"I thought I had to do something," said the younger Draper, who had just returned from duty in Iraq.
The decision to choose the Marines over the other branches of America's military, he said, "was because of Dad."
Ellie
http://p089.ezboard.com/bthefontmanscommunity