Veterans Corner

Community Contributed

By Jesse Church

Aloha my fellow veterans and residents of Molokai, old Jesse here with all the veterans news and upcoming events. Why are the five gallon containers used to transport fuel and water called jerry cans The cans were invented by the German military during the 1930s. In the early years of WWII, the British military began using captured German cans because they were superior to the flimsy British fuel containers. By then, the slang term for the Germans among Allied troops was “jerry.” The nickname came from the chamber put that looked like a German helmet, or a jerry in British slang. So the containers became known as jerry cans. Today, jerry cans can be used in different operations, including humanitarian relief missions. During Operation Tomadachi, the cans of fuel were provided as part of relief supplies taken to earthquake and tsunami-wracked Japan.

I hope everyone did well with the last questions which was, nearly a decade before the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, another nation launched an attack against the site. What country was it? The answer is the United States. Instead of an actual attack, however, the U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Harry Yarnell launched a surprise mock attack on Feb. 7, 1932, that hypothetically knocked stationary U.S. aircraft out of commission and sunk or damaged a multitude of warships. After the exercise, some admirals argued for a reassessment of naval tactics, but the notion was voted down. Japanese observers who had witnessed the American exercise forwarded a report to Tokyo. It concluded, in case the enemy’s main fleet was berthed at Pearl Harbor, the idea should be to open hostilities by surprise attack from the air. The next question is, trade of what Hawaiian product collapsed in 1830?

Women in combat, Afghanistan retrograde and enlisted retention are the top items on the agenda for this year’s Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Symposium in Washington, D.C. area from Aug. 11-15. Senior enlisted Marines who attend the symposium will be briefed on ongoing issues impacting the current state of the Corps, including the drawdown and budget. The symposium also provides a chance for those attending to discuss issues important to them during an open forum and this year will be no exception, said Gunnery Sgt. Chanin Nuntavong, a spokesperson for the Sgt. Maj. Of the Marine Corps, Mike Barrett. As in previous years, senior leaders will always welcome the opportunity to share their concerns throughout the week, he said.

I thank you all for your continued support of our troops stationed around the globe, especially the courageous men and women who are in harm’s way, and our veterans at home. For all that you do for us and have always done, I send you a big mahalo. If anyone has any questions, suggestions or news, please give old Jesse a call at 553-3323. I hope you all are having a wonderful summer, and remember that old Jesse loves you all. So until next week, aloha.