Veterans Corner

Community Contributed

By Jesse Church

Aloha all my fellow veterans and residents of Molokai, old Jesse here with all the veterans news and upcoming events. I want to remind everybody about a town hall meeting with Sen. Mazie Hirono, who is a member of the Senate Committee of Veterans Affairs, on Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. here at the Veterans Center. This is your chance to talk to a person who can get your thoughts and ideas to Washington. Also on the same day, our veterans clinic will conduct an immunization clinic at the Veterans Center before and after the town hall meeting, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

I would also like to remind everybody about John Candello, Veterans Services Councilor, will hold an open house on Nov. 20 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and he will be joined by some veteran specialists and a couple of VA lawyers to answer all your questions and help if possible.

The Marines have said their goodbyes to the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter, which was retired on Aug. 1, making its last flight that day. The Sea Knight was the backbone of Marine aviation for more than 50 years. The Marines used that aircraft since Vietnam and it served us well. Just about every Marine since Vietnam has flown in that aircraft sometime. I myself flew a good many missions in that bird in Vietnam. The guys on the ground were always glad to see us coming, I sure will miss that tough old bird, we could always count on that aircraft. But it’s time for change and the new guy is ready to take over, called the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, which is now on duty.

The date was Oct. 5, 1957 and on that day 58 years ago, the Soviet Union shocked the American people with their launch of the first manmade satellite into Earth’s orbit. They called it Sputnik, which is Russian for “fellow traveler.” Americans who saw this dot of light in the sky that night said it appeared to be moving slowed than 18,000 miles per hour. This little satellite really got the American people all worked up, especially a few weeks later when Sputnik II was launched. Americans thought about super new weapons orbiting above the U.S. and a new day dawning for the human race. In the next year, the U.S. launched four satellites of its own, and a great effort to catch up to the Soviet Union were in full swing within two years. The race for space has joined the arms race in the political battle between the two super powers. I am sure that everybody knows how that race turned out.

Please continue to support our troops wherever they are station, at home or abroad, especially those in harm’s way. Let’s all pray for their safe and speedy return home, and thank them for their service to our country. If anyone has any questions, suggestions or news, please contact old Jesse at 553-3323. Everyone have a wonderful week and remember old Jesse loves you all. Until next week, aloha.