Letters

Veteran’s Corner

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Column by Jesse Church

Hello veterans, old Jesse here with all the veterans’ news and upcoming events. On Aug. 13, 1918, Pvt. Opha Mae Johnson became the first woman to pin on the eagle, globe and anchor. Johnson was the first of 305 women to enlist in the Marine Corps Reserve, according to the Marine Corps History Division. Women were accepted in noncombat roles in the Corps in order to “free a man to fight.” They took over clerical roles and became recruiters so more men could be sent to France during World War I. At that time, women were not allowed to serve at Headquarters Marine Corps. The female Marines were called “Marinettes” according to the book “USMC: A Complete History,” and they did not go through boot camp. Less than a year after Johnson was sworn in on July 30, 1919, orders were issued to separate all women from the Corps due to the war ending. The last day for active duty female reservists was Aug. 11, 1919. It wasn’t until World War II that women were allowed to serve in the Marine Corps.

The Navy Times has reported a new missile being developed will be able to find and destroy enemy radars, even if they are turned off. In late May, the AGM-88E advanced anti-radiation guided missile finished initial flight integration tests on the EA-18G Growler and FA-18E/F Super Hornet. The AARGM, developed by ATK for the Navy, Marine Corps and the Italian Air Force is expected to provide more accurate attacks on enemy radar systems and radar-equipped anti-air defenses. It will supplement the AGM-88 high speed anti-radiation missile but will have a greater range, field of view and frequency coverage than HARM, which will not leave the fleet. When attacking enemy radar defenses with HARM, the enemy sometimes would hide from the incoming weapon’s radiation-seeking guidance system by turning off their radars. The AARGM can target arrays after they are shut down. If tests are successful, the missile is scheduled to enter fleet in 2012.

There was an article in the Aug.1 copy of the Marine Times by Patricia Kime, titled “Purple Heart Recipients Live Longer.” A study of aging World War II and Korean War-era veterans showed that those who were awarded the Purple Heart died at a much slower rate over the course of a decade than those who didn’t receive the medal. Researchers at the Central Arkansas Veterans Health Care System examined medical records of 10,255 military veterans over age 65 to determine whether troops wounded in combat were more resilient to disease, illness and death over a lifetime. And they were twice as likely to be alive after 10 years of follow-up, compared with veterans who did not have a Purple Heart. Researchers looked at veterans ages 65 and older in the late 1990s and followed their survival through 2008. They found that the Purple Heart recipients, if they made it to that age, were “too tough to die.” Those with Purple Heart citations had half the mortality rate of those without Purple Heart citations, said Dr. Tim Kimbrell, a research psychiatrist with the Center for Mental Health and Outcomes Research at the Arkansas facility.

Just a reminder that Joe Thompson, the veterans service officer will be on Molokai Friday, Sept. 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Veterans Center in Kaunakakai. If you need to see Joe, please mark your calendar. Please show our service men and women stationed around the world, and especially those brave men and women in harm’s way, that we care about them and that we are in total support of them. To all the men and women serving in our armed forces, and veterans at home, for all you’re doing and have done, I send a big mahalo. I also send a big mahalo to the people of Molokai for all their support; you are truly the cream of the crop, and I love you all.

Full of Thanks

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

On behalf of the members of the Maui Fire Department and their families, we would like to thank the community of Molokai for their generous hearts and donations. Each year during the Labor Day weekend, firefighters from across the nation hold “Fill the Boot” campaigns to help raise money for muscular dystrophy. The monies raised by the members help support the efforts of the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and is used for research and treatments to prolong children's lives. The money is also spent on braces and wheelchairs, on community health centers, support groups and summer camps.  The International Association of Firefighters has emerged as the single largest sponsor of the MDA in which we represent Hawaii Local 1463. The amount of donations raised on Molokai on Saturday Sept. 3 was a couple dollars over the previous record of $2,300 set in 2009. Even in these trying times it is amazing to see the warm aloha that the Molokai people continue to embrace in the selfless giving through the abundance of their hearts. A big mahalo and may God bless you all!!

Hanale Lindo

Veteran’s Corner

Wednesday, September 14th, 2011

Hello veterans, old Jesse here with all the veterans’ news and upcoming events. Marines and sailors use the term “deep six” to describe discarding something at sea. Ever wonder why? It refers to the tradition of burial at sea and the number six relates to sea depth, according to Naval History and Heritage Command. Sea depth has been measured in “fathoms” for centuries. A fathom is equal to six feet. When people are buried on shore, they are traditionally buried six feet under. During the days of sail, sea burial was believed to be at a minimum depth of six fathoms, or 36 feet, to keep the body from washing ashore. These days however, burials at sea within U.S. water must be in a depth of at least 600 feet, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Dept. of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials announced on July 15 that 1991 Persian Gulf War Veterans with medically unexplained gastrointestinal disorders can be considered as having a service connected disability, even if there is no record of the problem during military service. Functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) include irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation and are considered if the condition is a change in health that lasts for months or longer. This claim went into effect Aug. 15, but could apply to claims filed earlier if they are still pending before VA on that date.

Public housing agencies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia will receive $46.2 million in federal grants to supply permanent housing and case management for 6,790 homeless veterans. The funding is a coordinated effort by the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and VA, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and VA Secretary Eric Shinseki announced. Homeless veterans are referred to public housing agencies for vouchers based on a variety of factors, but most importantly with the need and willingness to participate in case management, officials said. Shinseki said the initiative is part of an effort to eliminate homelessness among veterans by 2015.

The Air Force Times has reported that four Afghan women are at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas training to become the first female pilots in the Afghan Air Force. All in their early 20s, these women are breaking the mold in male-dominated Afghanistan as foreign troops continue to help build the nation’s military. The only female pilot now in the Afghan Air Force is almost 40 and a holdover from the Soviet era. The women arrived in the U.S. in July and were introduced at a press conference July 13. British Royal Air Force Capt. Adrian Hill, deputy commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization Air Training Command in Afghanistan, said the Afghan women have the support of their families, a crucial element given the nation’s male dominated culture.

I ask everyone to remember the thousands of American Marines, sailors, soldiers and airmen around the world and in harm’s way. Let’s give them our support and let them know we appreciate all they do for us. Let’s also remember our veterans here at home for all they have done for us. I would like to send a big mahalo to all military personnel, veterans and the people of Molokai. You are the best and I love you all. Thank you also to everyone for your help and encouragement to make this column possible.