thedrifter
04-11-06, 11:55 AM
April 17, 2006
Marine News Briefs
Airfield battle continues
In Southern California, where strict environmental regulations protect the pocket mouse, military airfields could become a new sort of endangered species.
The threat comes from the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, which has set its sights on kicking the military off one of the area’s bases to make room to build a larger international airport.
Despite repeated refusals, the agency continues to meet and vote and spend millions of tax dollars for studies it believes will help pressure the military to give up Marine Corps Air Station Miramar or North Island Naval Air Station for a new civilian international airport.
Agency officials pleaded their case in person with Navy Secretary Donald Winter, but he rejected the idea citing national security needs and combat readiness.
The agency recently suggested a joint use plan, but the military rejected that idea also.
However, on April 3, the agency’s members voted, 6-3, for another study, this one on ways to shift squadrons out of Miramar to make room for commercial airlines and jumbo jets.
Gunny receives Bronze Star
“Bravery under fire” in Iraq earned a gunny the Bronze Star with combat “V,” awarded during a March 24 ceremony at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Gunnery Sgt. Torain Kelley served as the company gunnery sergeant for Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, in Fallujah from October to December 2004.
Returning from a battle, Kelley’s convoy was hit by a vehicle-borne bomb, Kelley’s award citation said. Despite enemy mortar and small-arms fire, Kelley “quickly maneuvered about the crisis site, establishing a defense, orchestrating recovery efforts and reassuring Marines.”
During a separate foot patrol en route to the company’s firm base, Kelley’s 15-man patrol came under fire. Kelley ignored his own wounds to establish security and treat the wounded. He constructed improvised litters and provided suppressive fire while maneuvering the patrol to the base, the citation said.
T-shirts lead to suspension
A group of students at a Westminster, Colo., middle school were suspended April 6 for wearing patriotic clothing that honored the U.S. flag or military, the Denver Post reported.
Sixth-grader Katie Golgart and three other students were given one-day suspensions after wearing Marine Corps T-shirts or clothing featuring the American flag.
Golgart, 11, said she was trying to show support for a family member who had been a Marine.
In response to the Colorado attorney general’s warning that a ban on patriotic clothing violates state law, Shaw Heights Middle School principal Myla Shepherd lifted the ban late in the day, the report said.
Shepherd’s ban had included political and camouflage clothing after several incidents stemming from disagreements over immigrants’ rights, including one in which 25 students wore camouflage one day.
Troops’ blood saves girl
Four service members serving in the Philippines recently aided a 3-year-old Filipina on the brink of death.
According to a March 28 Marine Corps news release, doctors at the Zamboanga City Medical Center had been searching for a week for a blood donor for a little girl named Frail, who was diagnosed with typhoid fever and anemia.
Petty Officer 1st Class Frank Thompson, who is deployed to the Philippines with the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, said Frail needed a transfusion of type A-negative blood.
Thompson said that meant “almost certain death” in the Filipino community because that blood type is most common in Caucasians.
In response to a doctor’s request for service members who could donate the correct blood type, Army Sgt. Maj. Robert Saiz, Petty Officer Jeffrey Simpson, Marine Cpl. David Bombard and Army Sgt. Michael Light gave blood on March 28.
Thompson said the donations came in the nick of time for Frail and her family.
“They were going to take the girl back home the next day to let her die.”
Who is your hero?
Marine Corps Times is looking for heroes. Not the type who make headlines for combat exploits, but rather the quiet, everyday heroes whose dedication, professionalism and concern for their fellow Marines set a standard for us all.
Through April 17, we are accepting nominations for the Marine Corps Times’ Marine of the Year.
To nominate someone, send us:
• Your name, address, commercial phone number and e-mail address.
• The name, address and commercial phone number of your nominee and his/her unit commander.
• An explanation in 300 words or less of why your nominee deserves this award.
• Names and contact information for three people who can verify the nominee’s achievements that took place in 2005.
You can submit nominations in one of four ways:
• Online at www.marine corpstimes.com/marine.
• By e-mail at marine@marinecorpstimes.com.
• By fax to Marine Corps Times’ Marine of the Year Award at (703) 642-7325.
• By mail to Marine Corps Times’ Marine of the Year Award, 6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA 22159.
Clarification
A story in the April 10 edition quoted a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement saying that Capt. Richard Toschiaddi had been arrested on suspicion of possessing and distributing child pornography. The spokeswoman, Lauren Mack, now says she was in error. Toschiaddi was questioned, fingerprinted and his mug shot was taken, but he was not formally arrested. No federal charges have been filed. As the story noted, he was turned over to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. No military charges have been filed against the Camp Pendleton, Calif., logistics officer.
Ellie
Marine News Briefs
Airfield battle continues
In Southern California, where strict environmental regulations protect the pocket mouse, military airfields could become a new sort of endangered species.
The threat comes from the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, which has set its sights on kicking the military off one of the area’s bases to make room to build a larger international airport.
Despite repeated refusals, the agency continues to meet and vote and spend millions of tax dollars for studies it believes will help pressure the military to give up Marine Corps Air Station Miramar or North Island Naval Air Station for a new civilian international airport.
Agency officials pleaded their case in person with Navy Secretary Donald Winter, but he rejected the idea citing national security needs and combat readiness.
The agency recently suggested a joint use plan, but the military rejected that idea also.
However, on April 3, the agency’s members voted, 6-3, for another study, this one on ways to shift squadrons out of Miramar to make room for commercial airlines and jumbo jets.
Gunny receives Bronze Star
“Bravery under fire” in Iraq earned a gunny the Bronze Star with combat “V,” awarded during a March 24 ceremony at Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.
Gunnery Sgt. Torain Kelley served as the company gunnery sergeant for Bravo Company, Battalion Landing Team 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines, in Fallujah from October to December 2004.
Returning from a battle, Kelley’s convoy was hit by a vehicle-borne bomb, Kelley’s award citation said. Despite enemy mortar and small-arms fire, Kelley “quickly maneuvered about the crisis site, establishing a defense, orchestrating recovery efforts and reassuring Marines.”
During a separate foot patrol en route to the company’s firm base, Kelley’s 15-man patrol came under fire. Kelley ignored his own wounds to establish security and treat the wounded. He constructed improvised litters and provided suppressive fire while maneuvering the patrol to the base, the citation said.
T-shirts lead to suspension
A group of students at a Westminster, Colo., middle school were suspended April 6 for wearing patriotic clothing that honored the U.S. flag or military, the Denver Post reported.
Sixth-grader Katie Golgart and three other students were given one-day suspensions after wearing Marine Corps T-shirts or clothing featuring the American flag.
Golgart, 11, said she was trying to show support for a family member who had been a Marine.
In response to the Colorado attorney general’s warning that a ban on patriotic clothing violates state law, Shaw Heights Middle School principal Myla Shepherd lifted the ban late in the day, the report said.
Shepherd’s ban had included political and camouflage clothing after several incidents stemming from disagreements over immigrants’ rights, including one in which 25 students wore camouflage one day.
Troops’ blood saves girl
Four service members serving in the Philippines recently aided a 3-year-old Filipina on the brink of death.
According to a March 28 Marine Corps news release, doctors at the Zamboanga City Medical Center had been searching for a week for a blood donor for a little girl named Frail, who was diagnosed with typhoid fever and anemia.
Petty Officer 1st Class Frank Thompson, who is deployed to the Philippines with the Joint Special Operations Task Force-Philippines, said Frail needed a transfusion of type A-negative blood.
Thompson said that meant “almost certain death” in the Filipino community because that blood type is most common in Caucasians.
In response to a doctor’s request for service members who could donate the correct blood type, Army Sgt. Maj. Robert Saiz, Petty Officer Jeffrey Simpson, Marine Cpl. David Bombard and Army Sgt. Michael Light gave blood on March 28.
Thompson said the donations came in the nick of time for Frail and her family.
“They were going to take the girl back home the next day to let her die.”
Who is your hero?
Marine Corps Times is looking for heroes. Not the type who make headlines for combat exploits, but rather the quiet, everyday heroes whose dedication, professionalism and concern for their fellow Marines set a standard for us all.
Through April 17, we are accepting nominations for the Marine Corps Times’ Marine of the Year.
To nominate someone, send us:
• Your name, address, commercial phone number and e-mail address.
• The name, address and commercial phone number of your nominee and his/her unit commander.
• An explanation in 300 words or less of why your nominee deserves this award.
• Names and contact information for three people who can verify the nominee’s achievements that took place in 2005.
You can submit nominations in one of four ways:
• Online at www.marine corpstimes.com/marine.
• By e-mail at marine@marinecorpstimes.com.
• By fax to Marine Corps Times’ Marine of the Year Award at (703) 642-7325.
• By mail to Marine Corps Times’ Marine of the Year Award, 6883 Commercial Drive, Springfield, VA 22159.
Clarification
A story in the April 10 edition quoted a spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement saying that Capt. Richard Toschiaddi had been arrested on suspicion of possessing and distributing child pornography. The spokeswoman, Lauren Mack, now says she was in error. Toschiaddi was questioned, fingerprinted and his mug shot was taken, but he was not formally arrested. No federal charges have been filed. As the story noted, he was turned over to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. No military charges have been filed against the Camp Pendleton, Calif., logistics officer.
Ellie