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thedrifter
05-15-03, 07:46 AM
Article ran : 05/15/2003
Marines bound for Okinawa
By ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF
When reserves from New England arrived at Camp Lejeune in January, they expected to stay for one year. But they probably weren't expecting a six-month detour to Japan. That's where about 1,000 troops from 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, are headed in what military officials say is a historic deployment for the reserves. While in Okinawa, the reservists will likely be assigned to the 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division. Gunnery Sgt. Daniel McMorrow was finalizing the details this week at Lejeune. "It's not like filling out a change-of-address card and dropping it off at the post office," said McMorrow, 39, a policeman from Boston assigned as operations chief for Weapons Company, 1/25. "The most difficult thing is being away from our families, but we have (experienced) no more than the expected challenges in the Marine Corps." The reserves arrived at Camp Lejeune in January with orders to stay for a year. With war looming in Iraq, most thought they would be heading into a combat zone. To illustrate the point, they got to Lejeune as 20,000 of the 30,000 Lejeune troops were departing for Iraq. But with the war over and troops already returning home, the reserves are set to play a different role. They will take up the slack so that units returning from combat will have time off to spend with their families. "We're going over to Okinawa for operational tempo relief for units over there and so others don't have to go right from the Iraq war over to Japan," said Gunnery Sgt. Forrest Marsh, 35, a maintenance specialist from Weymouth, Mass. He is serving as the 81 mm mortar platoon sergeant with Weapons Company, 1/25. "It may not sound like much, but for the guys we're relieving and those who are coming home it means a lot." During their time at Camp Lejeune, the reservists have rotated duties with 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, as the Quick Reaction Force, a short-notice, anti-terrorist fly-away team that was established after Sept. 11, 2001, to respond to threats to the United States. But it has been tough for those who wait and watch the war with the rest of the world. "There are no guarantees, but it's difficult when you're snapping in on the rifle range and the war is starting," said Cpl. Ron O'Brien, 23, a Wall Street Broker from Ridgefield, Conn. He is an infantry fire team leader with 1/25. "You start thinking about your friends who have passed away." O'Brien lost his best friend, Tyler Ugolyn, a mutual fund analyst in the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. "I don't complain because of him," O'Brien said. Many of the reserves said it was difficult waiting for a mission and training with no tangible goal. But soon they will be headed overseas and could be called upon to respond to instability in Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines, as well as any incidents that might arise from the friction between the U.S. and North Korea. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a reserve battalion to get a chance to go to the Far East," said Maj. John Grella, 35, a federal law enforcement officer from Hampton, N.H., working as the operations officer for 1st Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment. "The biggest challenge is making sure that we do a good job," said Lance Cpl. Steven Lesage, 25, a health insurance provider relations specialist from Epsom, N.H. currently assigned to the infantry training section of operations for 1/25. "Maybe we do have something to prove, but it won't be hard."

Contact Eric Steinkopff at esteinkopff@jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.


Sempers,

Roger

Sgt Sostand
05-16-03, 06:36 AM
Okinawa it like going to jail for 18Months that one place i did not like send me anywhere but that place

firstsgtmike
05-16-03, 08:12 AM
Sgt Sostrand,

You missed it. Okinawa was Paradise prior to two events. The "passing through" going or coming from Vietnam, and its return to the Japanese.

I was stationed in Paradise 60-64, passed through in 66-67, stationed there in '71 and spent an anniversary there in 73.

If you think it was the ****s in the 80's, you should see it now. I passed through in '95. Freeways and toll-ways, I couldn't find Camp Hauge where I was stationed in the 60,s, nor Chibana where we lived. Shopping centers, condominiums, and housing complexes cover the entire area.

Kin Village was NOTHING without Camp Hanson, and Henoko was NOTHING without Camp Schwab. Now, both bases are mere roadsigns leading off from the main highway.

The area between B.C. Street and Gate #2 Street is one hugh covered shopping mall. The bars, pawn shops, souveneir and tailor shops are now high priced boutiques.

I can appreciate what a US frontiersman would feel like if he awoke after sleeping for 150 years. I felt the same way after being gone from Okinawa for only 30 years.

It's also why I am here on Mindanao. Mindanao is the closest thing I could find to my Okinawa of forty years ago.

I can appreciate your distaste, but it is only because you came to the table after the dinner was spoiled and soured.


Mike Farrell
Cagayan de Oro
Philippines

Barrio_rat
05-16-03, 10:10 AM
Personally, I enjoyed Okinawa... Yeah, I'm nuts. I was there in 86-87 and again in 90 - even in that short time there were many changes. The Island actually GREW! Where there was once ocean there was now pachinco parlors.. couldn't believe it. I still have my stereos, cameras, paintings and a few other trinkets I got while there... I much prefered Okinawa to SoCal. Parties on the sea wall, shopping Gate 2 street, partying and shopping on BC street. Even made a few runs down to Naha and, south of that, there's the caves with cobra and mongoose fights. Always something to do. Plus, the Philippines and Korea were never too far away. Just a little leave time on a MAC flight or a one month DET and you were set! I figure, for the most part, you get out of a duty station what you put into it.

First Sgt Mike... as to giving the island back to the Japanese - I don't entirely agree with that as it wasn't theirs to begin with and we took it so it should have stayed in our hands. That said, under Japanese control it was better for the Japanese but worse for us.

Guess it's all perspective.

firstsgtmike
05-16-03, 11:14 AM
Barrio_Rat

I hated to see Okinawa go back to Japan, not for us, but for the Okinawan people. I preferred them to the Japanese. They had their own language, culture, etc.

You could always tell when a protest demonstration was brewing. The agitators, wearing red sweat bands would arrive through Naha port from Japan.

The Okinawans were as much a part of Japan as Mindanao is to Manila, or American Indians are to Washington D.C.

"You get out of a duty station what you put into it."

I met air farce families who served an entire tour without ever once leaving Kadena AFB. I met Marines who never made it past the bars on B.C. St. I would ask them: Have you ever been skin diving, scuba diving, sky diving, spelunking, ice skating, roller skating, bowling, golfing, sport fishing, or sailing? "Huh?"

Have you seen the dolphin kill at Nago, the mongoose/cobra fights, bullfights, karate/Ikedo demonstrations (bringing a charging bull to his knees by punching him between his eyes)?
"Huh?"

Have you explored the caves, both above ground and underwater, the monuments, the battlefields, Shirii Castle, or the hour long Battle of Okinawa demonstration at the War Museum?
"Huh?"

Have you participated in an Obon Festival, visited the glass blowing factory, the Ceremacs Factory, or watched the wood carvers making the inlaid tables and figurines? "Huh"

I could also have asked them if they ever went down to the Army port at Machinado and stole jeeps to be cannabalized for spare parts by their Motor T Section? Or driven off the pier with Connex boxes loaded with gear the Army never knew they had? Sometimes you'd get lucky and it was loaded with booze for the O Club. "Huh?"

I could have played that game all day. "Didja ever ............." and the answer would have been the same. "Huh?"

No, there was never anything to do on Okinawa other than getting drunk on B.C. Street. It used to **** them off when I asked the hotshots, "After you spent your paycheck and passed out, who do you think took the naisan home?"

Those were the days, my friend, I wish they'd never end .............

DSchmitke
05-16-03, 01:23 PM
I left Okinawa the first time when we return it back to Japan in April 78. Stationed at Camp Foster. That day they switched driving to other side of the road. Was pretty nice duty then. Returned in June of 83 - 84 Stationed at Camp Kinser down by Naha. The old Army Base. Futema was acouple of clicks away.
We would ahead down to Mongolian BBQ and the Beachcomer for a steam bath and beer on paydays. Good times