InsI

deIII Marine Expeditionary Force and Marine Corps Bases Japan

October 19, 2007 www.okinawa.usmc.mil

new In townBasketball fans on Camp Foster get a glimpse of Okinawa’s first

professional basketball team during a pre-season exhibition game.

pg. 17

Island tradItIonMore than 280,000 people pack the streets of Naha to take part in one of the world’s largest tug-of-war

competitions. pg. 10

post offIce poIntersAs the holiday season approaches, post office officials remind service members on Okinawa not to mail restricted or counterfeit items.

pg. 7

Lance Cpl. Corey A. Blodgettokinawa marine staff

CAMP HANSEN — A detachment of Marines and sailors from 3rd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, completed Yausubetsu Artillery Relocation Training Exercise 2007, Oct. 6, which took place in the Yausub-etsu Training Area in Hokkaido, Japan.

During the exercise, detach-ment personnel improved their proficiency in artillery and small

arms as well as other types of training.

“This training was important because we do not get the oppor-tunity to conduct live-fire artillery training on the island of Okinawa,” said Maj. Lou Palazzo, command-ing officer of 3/12. “With the (Unit Deployment Program) cycle on hold, coupled with the operational tempo of (Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom), our artillery skills were not being fully exercised. By conducting this exercise, we were able to see where

we stand as a battalion as well as hone some of our (Military Occu-pational Specialty) skills.”

The detachment was comprised of Marines and sailors from Head-quarters Battery, 3/12, accompa-nied by deployed service members from E Battery, 2/11 from Camp Pendleton, Calif.

E Battery personnel got exten-sive firing time with their M-198 155mm Medium Howitzers as well as gun emplacement defense training which was conducted

see eXercIse pg 6

Going out with a bangMarines from E Battery, 2nd Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment, based at Camp Pendleton, Calif., fire an M198 155mm Medium Howitzer Sept. 27 during the Yausubetsu Artillery Relocation Training Exercise 2007 in Hokkaido, Japan. The Marines of 2/11 are serving as 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines’ firing battery. Photo by Lance Cpl. Corey A. Blodgett

3/12 Marines complete artillery exercise in Hokkaido

Cpl. Bryan A. Petersonokinawa marine staff

CAMP KINSER — Twice a year, Marines with 3rd Marine Logis-tics Group get the opportunity to show Japan Ground Self Defense Force service members how the Marine Corps operates. The latest session of the Japanese Observer Exchange Program took place Oct. 15-17 and was conducted by MLG’s Tactical Readiness and Training office.

The program is designed to give JGSDF officer candidates and noncommissioned officers an understanding of how and why the Marine Corps operates the way it does, according to Capt. Jared A. Laurin, the TRT officer in charge.

“We provide an informative and quality presentation about the Marine Corps for these guys,” Laurin said. “This also gives the Marines a good chance to interact with them.”

The JGSDF NCOs learned how to shoot the M-16A2 service rifle in the Indoor Simulated Marksmanship Trainer, while Marines with TRT displayed weapons and vehicles, dem-onstrated the Marine Corps Martial Arts Program and ran through the obstacle course for the officer candidates.

JGSDF Sgt. First Class Minori Oitate, an aircraft maintenance inspector with the 101st Aviation Squadron, has been stationed at Camp Naha for 21 years and had never visited any Marine Corps installation until Oct. 15. He said the ways Marines

see proGraM pg 6

MLG Marines host exchange program for JGSDF soldiers

Okinawa Marine | news | October 19, 2007 �

Around the

CorpSFor more Marine Corps stories and photos,

visit http://www.marines.mil

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. | Assault amphibian vehicles slowly creep forward as the setting sun disappears behind the horizon Oct. 7. Marines with Company B, Battalion Landing Team, 1st Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, conducted a cordon and search of a simulated village before a humanitarian assistance mission. Photo by Sgt. Bryson K. Jones

GREENVILLE, N.C. | Cpl. Daniel Smith (left), scout sniper with 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, helps a boy position himself in a ghillie suit while holding an M40A3 sniper rifle during Military Appreciation Day Oct. 6. Photo by Cpl. Chris Lyttle

MARINE AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif.

Capt. Salvador Aguilar,

transition team 9-07

fire support advisor, and

his interpreter try to reason

with Iraqi role players during the Marine Air

Ground Task Force Training

Command’s Advisor Training Group’s Military

Readiness Exercise Oct. 5.

Photo by Pfc. Jared J. Butler

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP

LEJEUNE, N.C.Landing Support

Company Marines with 2nd Marine

Logistics Group rig a beam, simulating

supplies, to a hovering CH-53E

Super Stallion helicopter during a Helicopter Support

Team operation Oct. 11. Photo by Cpl.

Aaron Rooks

The Okinawa Marine is published by Marine Corps Community Services under exclusive written contract with Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, Okinawa, Japan.

The editorial content of this newspaper is edited and approved by the Consolidated Public Affairs Office of Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler.

This newspaper is an authorized publication for members of military services stationed overseas, at sea and their families. Its contents do not necessarily ref lect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense or the U.S. Marine Corps and do not imply endorsement thereof.

The appearance of advertising in this newspaper, including inserts of supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of Defense,

the U.S. Marine Corps, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler or Marine Corps Community Services of the products and services advertised.

Everything advertised in this newspaper shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non-merit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected.

All photos, unless otherwise indicated, are “official U.S. Marine Corps photos.” For more information, e-mail us at okinawamarine.mcbb.fct@usmc.mil or write to us at Public Affairs Office, H&S BN MCB PAO, Unit 35002, FPO AP 96373-5002.

Commanding general Maj. Gen. Mary Ann Krusa-Dossin

publiC affairs direCtor Lt. Col. Douglas M. Powell

press offiCer 1st Lt. Adrian J.T. Rankine-Galloway

press Chief Gunnery Sgt. William J. Ray

editor Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke

design editor Justin Zaun

okinawa marine newspaperH&S Battalion MCB PAO

Unit 35002FPO AP 96373-5002

Central bureau ChiefCpl. Warren Peace

Camp Foster, DSN 645-7422

northern bureau ChiefCpl. Juan D. Alfonso

Camp Hansen, DSN 623-4054

Okinawa Marine | opInIon & edItorIal | October 19, 2007 �

to subMIt an opInIon or edItorIal, e-MaIl us at okInawaMarIne.Mcbb.fct@usMc.MIl

Can I wear a wig while in the Marine Corps?

MARINE CORPS FACT CHECk

wigs

Yes, if you are a female. Wigs, when worn in uniform, must look natural and conform to all grooming regulations, according to Marine Corps Order P1020.34G.A:

Q:

Sgt. Ethan E. Rocke

recent studies show that 4 out of 5 Ameri-cans will believe just about anything you tell them. Actually, that’s not true. I made

that up. It’s actually 9 out of 10 Americans. OK, not really. I’m still lying. I actually have no real statistical data to support what I’m saying, but that’s the point.

Many people have a tendency to believe what they are told without question and that tenden-cy is the most formidable means of manipula-tion and deception for any individual or organi-zation with an interest in spreading untruths.

That’s not to say those “easy believers” are bad people. Those people represent the average citizen. I had to go to college and study jour-nalism for several years before my eyes were opened to the way we average citizens consume information.

These days, my job requires me to look at the world objectively and question just about any-thing anyone tells me. Most importantly, my job requires research, a time-consuming endeavor that average citizens often forgo.

When I was studying communications, I had to read a mind-numbing book called “Life, the Movie: How Entertainment Conquered Real-ity,” a comprehensive study of the evolution and influence of pop culture in America. It read like a verbose chronology full of lofty, million-dollar words, but made a few good points.

Among them is a quote from Raymond Price, a former speech writer for Richard Nixon: “Vot-ers are basically lazy, basically uninterested in making an effort to understand what we’re talking about,” Price says. “Reason requires a high degree of discipline of concentration; impression is easier. Reason pushes the viewer back; it assaults him; it demands that he agree or disagree. Impression can envelop him, invite him in, without making an intellectual demand … The emotions are more easily roused, closer to the surface, more malleable.”

I think Price’s words are a pretty honest as-

sessment of the American political process, but the message transcends politics and is true on a much broader scale.

While it is arguably the most empowering invention since freedom of speech, the Inter-net, which has exponentially increased the accessibility of information for human beings, is also one of the biggest tributaries for mis-information flowing into the human mind.

There are endless examples of falsities peddled around on-line as truths. Chain e-mails are one of the most annoying and frustrating to me. Here are a few fun, totally untrue examples of online falsehoods you might find in your inbox: Target and Starbucks corporations hate the troops, Barack Obama is a radi-cal Muslim and Denzel Wash-ington loves the troops so much he donated the entire cost of a new building at Brooke Army Medical Center.

How do I know those chain e-mails are false? I researched it online at http://www.snopes.com, a great, re-liable source for dispelling Internet myths. The site specializes in researching “urban legends” and defines that term as “common fallacies, misinformation, old wives’ tales, strange news stories, rumors, celebrity gossip, and similar items.” All research materials the site opera-tors use to prepare their Web pages are made available in a bibliography at the bottom of each page.

It was on Snopes that I was able to research one of the most common military myths I’ve heard. I bet there are scores of military mem-bers who believe there is a bullet, a match and a razor blade in the gold ball atop the flagpole on all military installations. Unfortunately, it’s not true at all. Don’t believe me? Check it out yourself.

A few months ago, the Okinawa Marine’s Marine Corps Fact Check section dispelled the myth that Marine Corps regulations make a concession for the standard three-mile physi-cal fitness test, authorizing distances ranging from 2.8 to 3.2 miles. This is not true, yet it has been effectively propagated throughout our Corps by word of mouth. I believed it for years

and probably passed it on to a few people.

Looking back, I wonder where my skepticism was on that one. Maybe it sounded reasonable enough at the time. Maybe apathy got the best of me.

I’m sure apathy probably ac-counts for the fact that roughly 50 percent of Americans don’t vote. And of those who do, how many actually research all the candidates and issues thoroughly and make decisions based on reason instead of impression?

The Internet tells me that Thomas Jefferson once said,

“I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discre-tion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but inform their discretion.”

Jefferson is absolutely right, but his words also reinforce my point, which is that all of us have a responsibility as American and global citizens to be informed and ally ourselves on the side of truth. We can do that by maintain-ing a healthy skepticism and taking the time to know rather than simply believe without question. When we don’t do that, we can find ourselves deceived because we let the wrong person inform our discretion.

Rocke is an editor with the Okinawa Marine newspaper.

If ignorance is bliss, how happy are you?

All of us have a responsibility as American and

global citizens to be informed and ally ourselves on the side of truth.

� Okinawa Marine | news | October 19, 2007

holiday mailing datesThe following are the projected deadline

dates for sending letters and packages from military post offices on Okinawa to U.S. ad-dresses to arrive before Christmas:

• Space available mail, Nov. 20 • Parcel Airlift mail, Nov. 25 • Priority mail, Dec. 11 • Letter and first class mail, Dec. 11 • Express mail, Dec. 18

The following are the projected deadline dates for sending letters and packages from U.S. addresses to military post offices on Okinawa to arrive before Christmas:

• Space available mail, Nov. 27 • Parcel Airlift mail, Dec. 4 • Priority mail, Dec. 11 • Letter and first class mail, Dec. 11 • Express mail, Dec. 18

For more information, contact your camp’s post office.

motorCyCle safety stand-downA mandatory motorcycle safety stand-

down for all Status of Forces Agreement-li-censed motorcycle riders serving with Marine Corps Bases Japan will be held Oct. 26 at the Camp Foster Theater from 9 a.m. to noon. For more information, call 634-2450.

power outagesThere will be scheduled power outages

Oct. 22 and Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Camp Shields and O’Donnell Gardens fam-ily housing. There will also be a scheduled power outage Oct. 29 at Camp Courtney family housing from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. For more information about these outages, call 634-0766.

baseball eventThe Kadena Eagles military baseball team

will play the Japan Air Self Defense Force men’s baseball team Oct. 21 at Camp Foster’s Field No. 9 at 3 p.m. The Kadena military baseball team is comprised of all services of the military and other Status of Forces Agreement personnel. For more information call 634-5030.

volunteers needed for College fair Kubasaki High School will host a College

Fair Nov. 1 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at its gym. The school is seeking volunteers to represent their alma mater. Volunteers are asked to share their expertise, talents, enthusiasm, and experi-ence with students. For more information or to volunteer, call 645-5030.

Camp kinser young marinesThe Camp Kinser Young Marines will

host a recruit registration Oct. 20 from 8 a.m. to noon and Oct. 24 from 6-8 p.m. at Camp Kinser (Bldg. 107). For more information, call 637-1344.

professional dinnerMarine Corps Air Station Futenma will

host a Sergeants Major and Master Gunnery Sergeants Professional Dinner at the Habu Pit Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. For more information, call 636-3110.

brIefs

TO SUBMIT A BRIEF, send an e-mail to okinawamarine.mcbb.fct@usmc.mil, or fax your request to 645-3803. The deadline for submitting a brief is noon every Friday. The Okinawa Marine reserves the right to edit all submitted material.

eXercIse from pg 1through a series of mock day and night attacks on the gun lines.

Headquarters Battery per-formed training to enhance skills necessary for the type missions they perform in combat, such as firing and ma-neuver drills, night-firing and shooting the M-203 grenade launcher. They also supported the gun line with transporta-tion support, ammunition supply, security, and explosive ordinance disposal.

“If these guys go to Iraq, they’re going to be introduced to small arms in a large vari-ety of ways, so we’re taking the time to show them and let them get familiar,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 John A. Fer-guson, the chief instructor for small-arms training with the battalion.

Once the live-fire portions of the exercise were complete, the Marines and sailors were able to take time to see the

town of Kushiro on the island of Hokkaido during a cultural education day. Some of the sites they saw were fish mar-kets, a historic prison and lake Mashu, which according to its information center, is the clearest lake in the world.

They also got a chance to show their appreciation for the community in Yausubetsu by spending a day clearing foli-age and debris to make way for a new park. After that, the Marines and sailors spent time playing games and singing songs with members of a local school for the disabled.

“The (interaction with the community) was important because it allowed the local Japanese people to actually meet the Marines and sailors and get to know them on a personal basis,” Palazzo said. “By actually meeting and talking to the Marines, they realize why we are here and overall that we are just like them. It helps build a strong

relationship between the U.S. and Japan.”

Ferguson said he could tell the Marines took a lot away from the deployment.

“It went well,” he said. “I’ve got a lot of positive feed-back from the Marines. I can tell they got something out of it; as I was walking around, I could hear the conversations of, ‘Hey, this was good-to-go. Hey, I’ve never done this before, and I saw this and that.’”

Palazzo said that without a doubt “the exercise was a huge success.”

“First, all our training goals were met. Second, it helped establish a training baseline for the battalion so we know where we need to go in the future in regards to training. And third, we conducted real-istic, motivating training for the Marines which will better prepare them for whatever the future may hold for them,” he said.

Brig. General Alexander A. Flores (left), commander of the Air Logistics Command

for the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and Col. Ben

Mathews II, the commanding officer of Marine Aircraft Group 36, shake hands at

the conclusion of the Talon Vision 08 opening ceremony at Clark Air Base in Angeles

City, Philippines, Oct. 15. Talon Vision is an annual

bilateral training exercise designed to strengthen the

professional relationship between the United States and the Philippines. Photo by

Pfc. Audrey M. Graham

exercise talon Vision underway

proGraM from pg 1fire weapons can benefit JGSDF soldiers.

“Our shooting positions are old fashioned,” he said. “The Marines taught us how to bet-ter ourselves when we shoot. They taught us breathing techniques in the different posi-tions.”

The JGSDF NCOs said their primary weapon, the Howa Type 64, is similar to the M-16A2 service rifle, making it easy to adapt to the ISMT training.

Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Tierney, the TRT readi-ness chief with 3rd MLG, said the ISMT is an important tool for anyone who fires a weapon, though it will never replace the actual firing range.

The ISMT is a simulated firing range with fire simulation rifles that recoil with the help of compressed air tanks. The shooters aim at computer-generated graphics on a screen, and the system records hits and misses.

“First off, the ISMT will give them familiar-

ization with our weapons,” he said. “Second, there is no doubt that nothing can replace the firing range. However, there is a lot of capabil-ity here. Shooters can find out what they are doing wrong, such as their shooting positions and breathing technique.”

JGSDF 1st Lt. Katsuya Hori, the platoon leader for 6th Anti-Aircraft Group based at Camp Minami Yoza near Itoman, said he will take recommendations back to his command after the exchange.

“After we are finished today, I will submit a report to the higher headquarters about the effectiveness of the (ISMT),” Hori said. “We would like to get something like this because we can definitely improve our rifle skills.”

Tierney said that he was impressed with how the soldiers shot on the ISMT.

“They took this exchange seriously,” he said. “They were paying attention right from the start. The soldiers did very well on the ISMT.”

Okinawa Marine | news | October 19, 2007 7

Cpl. Juan D. Alfonsookinawa marine staff

CAMP HANSEN — Lt. Col. Joseph F. Shrader passed command of III Marine Expeditionary Force’s 5th Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company to Lt. Col. Clifford S. Weinstein Oct. 11 at the Camp Hansen Parade Field.

Shrader took command of 5th ANGLICO in March 2005. During his tour as the unit’s commander, he led his Marines during back-to-back combat deployments to Iraq in sup-port of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Shrader left 5th ANGLICO for the Fires section of III MEF.

Weinstein was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve in 1989 after gradu-

Lance Cpl. Robert C. Frenkeokinawa marine staff

CAMP KINSER — As the holiday season approach-es, service and family members start planning their holiday gift strategy. They order presents from the U.S. for family members in Okinawa, or they buy gifts here to be shipped back home. But they need to be mindful of what they send or receive.

Postal officials on Okinawa expect not only an increase in the amount of mail during the holiday season but an increase in the amount of counter-feit and restricted items flowing through military postal facilities.

The Japanese Regional Customs for Okinawa and military postal personnel work together on a daily basis to ensure incoming and outgoing mail does not contain restricted or counterfeit items, according to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dillon M. Miller, the officer in charge of Consolidated Postal Services, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Each morning, a team of military and civilian postal workers search outgoing and incoming mail from the seven Marine Corps post offices and one Army post office.

During the process, customs officials line up packages for dogs to search. The mail is also passed

through an X-ray machine to search for swords, firearms or illegal items. Suspicious packages are opened and physically inspected. If anything illegal is found, the Provost Marshal’s Office’s Criminal Investigation Division is contacted to begin an investigation.

While drugs and weapons are a major concern, customs and postal officials also look for counter-feit items such as fake designer items like shoes, handbags and wallets, many of which come from Korea, Taiwan and China.

“People need to be aware of what they purchase on the Internet and who they are purchasing it from,” Miller said. “It can get people in trouble with Japanese law, and they can be processed for courts-martial.”

If counterfeit or restricted items are found, they are confiscated and then destroyed.

“The public should know that there is a prob-lem with counterfeit items,” Miller said. “There are procedures in place to identify and confiscate these items. Customers can go to their servicing post office to find out what the mailable items are. Ignorance is no excuse.”

Customers can also visit http://www.usps.com to find the requirements for having mail sent to and from Okinawa.

Lance Cpl. Daniel R. Toddokinawa marine staff

CAMP FOSTER — Sgt. Maj. Gon-zalo A. Vasquez assumed duties as sergeant major of Marine Tactical Air Control Squadron 18, replacing Sgt. Maj. Jackie R. Robertson dur-ing a ceremony on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Sept. 21.

Robertson, who joined MTACS-18 in December 2005, took over as sergeant major of Marine Me-dium Helicopter Squadron 262 Sept. 28.

Vasquez comes to MTACS-18 from Combat Logistics Battalion 15,

Combat Logistics Regiment 17, 1st Marine Logistics Group in Camp Pendleton Calif., where he served as sergeant major.

Vasquez enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1984 and attended recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego.

After completing the Amphibi-ous Reconnaissance School at Fort Story, Va., Vasquez reported to 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Ma-rine Division, in Okinawa.

Since then, Vasquez’s other assignments include serving as team leader, company gunnery sergeant and training chief with

�th anGlIco receives new commander

Postal inspectors warn against mailing restricted items

Mtacs-18 welcomes new sergeant major

ating Delaware Valley College, Pa., with a Bachelor of Science.

Following completion of The Basic School in Quantico, Va., he re-ported to 1st Marine Division where he served as a forward observer, fire direction officer, platoon command-er and fire support coordinator.

Weinstein was assigned to 3rd Marine Division in 1997 and served as assistant operations officer for

12th Marine Regiment; command-ing officer for Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 12th Marines; com-manding officer for L Battery, 3rd Battalion, 11th Marines; and logis-tics officer and fire support coordi-nator for 4th Marine Regiment.

In 2002, he deployed to Afghani-stan with the U.S. Army 18th Air-borne Corps as part of Combined Joint Task Force 180 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Between March and May 2003, Weinstein deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 2004, Weinstein was assigned to the Marine Air-Ground Task Force Staff Training Program in Quantico, where he served as the Fires Section head, deputy MAGTF Branch and MAGTF Branch head.

In 2006, he was assigned to 1st Marine Division as executive officer for 11th Marines and im-mediately deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the Multinational Force–West opera-tions planner.

In 2007, Weinstein was assigned to III Marine Expeditionary Force as the force fires coordinator.

Weinstein’s personal decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with 2 gold stars and Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, and the Army Achievement Medal.

Shrader Weinstein

1st Force Reconnaissance Com-pany on Camp Pendleton, and later as chief instructor of Special Missions Branch, Special Opera-tions Training Group, 1st Marine Expeditionary Force, at Camp Pendleton, Calif.

In 2002, Vasquez reported to Transportation Support Company, Combat Service Support Battal-ion 10, 1st Force Service Support Group, Camp Pendleton. There he served as the company first ser-geant and participated in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Vasquez’s personal decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commenda-tion Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Joint Service Achievement Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon.

Robertson Vasquez

Hiroki Taira, a Japanese customs officer, opens a package Oct. 16 at Consolidated Postal Services on Camp kinser to search for counterfeit or restricted items. Photo by Lance Cpl. David Rogers

8 Okinawa Marine | news | October 19, 2007

Cpl. Bryan A. Petersonokinawa marine staff

CAMP KINSER — Third Marine Logistics Group Marines, fami l ies and friends gathered in front of the Group headquar-ters Oct. 15 as Brig. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, 3rd MLG commanding general, pre-sented bronze star medals to three Marines for their actions in Iraq.

One of the Marines, Capt. Jared A. Laurin, re-ceived the Bronze Star Medal with combat distin-guishing device.

According to the award citation, from January 2006 to January 2007, Laurin served as an advisor with Military Transition Team 11, advising an Iraqi com-pany of soldiers with 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Divi-sion.

Laurin, who led a team of 11 to 15 III Marine Ex-peditionary Force Marines, advised the Iraqis on spe-cific missions including raids which netted 14 de-tainees, civil affairs opera-tions and a total of more than 150 separate combat operations involving direct enemy contact.

Laurin said he is more pleased with the fact the Iraqi brigade he served with is now independently running its own operations than with receiving the award.

“I never thought I would get an award like this,” he said. “But, more impor-tantly, I am glad that the work we did had a part in the 2nd Brigade’s success. The Marines I had working with me did a great job and without them, the mission couldn’t have been accom-plished. I’m proud as hell right now.”

Another Marine hon-ored was Master Sgt. Na-thaniel E. Hill, who re-ceived the Bronze Star Medal for his service as the Military Transition Team Advisor for 3rd Com-pany, 2nd Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 1st Iraqi Division from May 2005 to Febru-ary 2006.

Hill headed the train-ing and mentoring of the soldiers in the company, according to the award ci-tation. He kept the Iraqi sol-diers’ morale high as they were subject to constant enemy fire and threats to themselves and their families.

He participated in more than 110 combat patrols in Fallujah and Saqliwiyah, which resulted in numer-ous caches of weapons, rockets, mortar rounds and ammunition being re-covered from 45 captured, suspected insurgents.

“This is a very humbling experience and I am grate-ful and honored to have received such a distin-

MlG Marines receive awards for actions in Iraq

navy celebrates 2�2nd birthdayCAMP COURTNEY 3rd Marine Division chaplain, Navy Capt. Conrad A. Targonski, cuts a birthday cake during a Navy birthday celebration at the Camp Courtney Mess Hall Oct. 12. The Continental Congress established the Continental Navy Oct. 13, 1775, when it authorized the procurement of two vessels with the mission of tracking down British supply ships. Photo by Cpl. Tyson Holm

�rd Mardiv Marine awarded bronze star

guished award,” Hill said. “To build a relationship with the Iraqi people, I had to learn their culture first hand. Building their trust and confidence was chal-lenging, yet rewarding.”

A l so r e ce iv i n g t he Bronze Star Medal was Maj. Carlos O. Rowe, who served in Baghdad as the advisor to the director of Iraqi Armed Forces Re-cruiting for Multi-National Security Transition Com-mand from October 2006 to May 2007.

He is credited with lead-ing recruiting missions into the most dangerous regions of Iraq, contribut-ing to the strategic mission of restoring confidence in the government of Iraq and laying the groundwork for reconciliation of groups who were brought into the military, according to the award citation.

Rowe’s efforts to im-prove new Iraqi combat units’ readiness helped re-store security and allowed coalition forces to redeploy

with a professional Iraqi army in place, according to the citation.

After the awards’ presen-tation, Talleri highlighted the Marines’ accomplish-ments as an example to fol-low when Marines deploy to Iraq.

“As Marines, we take care of business,” Talleri said. “When duty calls, we will step up to the plate, just like these gentlemen did in Iraq. We are privi-leged to be in the presence of these fine warriors.”

Brig. Gen. Peter J. Talleri, the 3rd MLG commanding general, speaks Oct. 16 at the 3rd Marine Logistics Group Headquarters building about the accomplishments in Iraq of Master Sgt. Nathaniel Hill (left), Capt. Jared A. Laurin (center) and Maj. Carlos O. Rowe (right). Laurin received the Bronze Star for Valor, and Rowe and Hill received the Bronze Star for exemplary service. Photo by Cpl. Bryan A. Peterson

CAMP COURTNEY | Maj. Gen. Robert Neller (left), 3rd Marine Division commanding general, awards Lt. Col. Victor J. Bunch, 3rd Marine Division’s intelligence officer, a Bronze Star Medal Oct. 12 at the Division headquarters on Camp Courtney. Bunch received the award for his actions in Iraq from Jan. 24, 2006 to Jan. 20, 2007. During his year in Iraq, Bunch served as intelligence advisor and led a team of 15 Marines to improve the military capabilities of the 7th Iraqi Division. Photo by Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso

Okinawa Marine | feature | October 19, 2007 �

Lance Cpl. kevin M. knallayokinawa marine staff

Landing support per-sonnel from Combat Logistics Regiment 3,

3rd Marine Logistics Group invested two training days to external cargo load opera-tions at the Northern Train-ing Area Oct. 11-12.

The eleven Marines and one sailor from Landing Support Company focused on improving their ability to prepare external loads and secure them to CH-46 Sea Knight helicopters for speedy transportation.

“Vehicles, trailers, genera-tors, spare parts, palettes of ammo, chow or water — ba-sically anything that needs to get somewhere fast, we help take it there,” said Sgt. Will Hardin, the noncom-missioned officer in charge of the company’s Helicopter Support Team.

External cargo loading is the solution when certain terrain can not be accessed by ground vehicles but critical supplies must be delivered, Hardin said.

During the training, three helicopters from Marine Medium Helicopter Squad-ron 262 took turns hovering at about 10 feet above the ground while HST Marines connected loads to the belly of the aircraft.

External load operations require a two-man hook team beneath the helicopter. The “static man” touches a static wand to the helicopter’s hook, which grounds the static elec-tricity that builds up while the aircraft is in flight. The

“link-up man” then connects the load to the hook.

Meanwhile, a safety noncommissioned officer positioned about 10 yards behind the team watches to ensure a proper connection. He also keeps an eye on the helicopter wheels and load to make sure neither hits the hook team.

Having a 17,000-pound helicopter hovering over their heads is just another day at the office for the HST Marines, but Lance Cpl. Alex Castano, a landing support specialist, said the HST Ma-rines enjoy the training.

“The first time I did an external load and had the helicopter over me, I thought, ‘A little over a year ago I was waiting tables,’” Castano said. “Now, I’m standing un-der a helicopter flying over my head.”

CLR-3 Marines carry the load

Marines with Landing Support Company, Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group watch a CH-46E Sea knight helicopter from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 262 fly away after connecting an external load during training at the Northern Training Area Oct. 11. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay

wing Marines complete nco leadership course

Lance Cpl. Benjamin Larivee (right) receives a Lance Corporals’ Seminar certificate of completion from Staff Sgt. Timothy Clay at a graduation ceremony at the Camp Foster Community Center.

“The first time I did an external load and

had the helicopter over me, I thought, ‘A little over a year ago I was waiting tables.’ Now, I’m standing under a

helicopter flying over my head.”

— Lance Cpl. Alex Castano

LANCE CORPORALS’ SEMINAR

Forty-three lance corporals with 1st Marine Aircraft Wing graduated from Marine Wing Support Group 17’s 2007 Lance Corporals’ Seminar at the Camp

Foster Community Center Oct. 12. The seminar is a requirement for all lance corporals in the Wing nearing

eligibility for promotion to corporal. The seminar was developed in late

2002 under the direction of Lt. Gen. John F. Goodman, who commanded 1st

MAW at that time, according to Sgt. Maj. Michael Tuttle, the Wing sergeant

major. Photos by Lance Cpl. David Rogers

Okinawa Marine | feature | October 19, 200710 Okinawa Marine | feature | October 19, 2007

Thousands gather

around an approximately

600-foot-long rope in Naha during

the 37th Annual Naha

Matsuri, or Naha Festival, Oct. 14, which

featured one of the

world’s largest tug-of-war

competitions. Photo by Lance Cpl.

Kevin M. Knallay

Lance Cpl. Luis Rocha

(left) and Lance Cpl.

Taylor Hardy, with

the Camp Foster Single

Marine Program,

help the East team win the Naha

O-tsunahiki during the

festival. The Camp Foster

Single Marine

Program took 50 Marines

and sailors stationed on

Okinawa to the festival

this year. Photo by Lance Cpl. Robert C.

Frenke

Eisa dancers perform prior to the start of the tug-of-war competition. The Eisa performances, a parade and other cultural attractions, along with the tug-of-war, were all part of the 37th Annual Naha Festival. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay

Okinawa Marine | feature | October 19, 2007Okinawa Marine | feature | October 19, 2007 11

Lance Cpl. Robert C. Frenkeokinawa marine staff

More than 280,000 people gathered for the 37th Annual Naha O-tsu-nahiki, one of the world’s largest

tug-of-war competitions, Oct. 14.The tug-of-war was the highlight of the

two-day Naha Festival. Each year at the Naha Festival, two

massive ropes, each more than 300 feet long, are brought together and connected by a large wooden pin called a kanuchi. The two sides represent east and west, and the side that pulls the giant rope more than three meters in 30 minutes wins.

If neither side can pull the rope more than three meters, an additional 30 min-utes is granted to give each side a chance to move the rope two meters. A tie is declared if neither side can pull the rope two meters, according to official rules.

This year, the Eastern Kingdom won af-ter a 30-minute struggle between the two sides. Afterward, festival participants cut off pieces of rope to bring them good luck in the coming year.

Lance Cpl. Steven Palmateer, a radio operator with 3rd Marine Division, at-tended the event for the first time.

“It was cool seeing people from all over the world come here for this,” Pal-mateer said. “I met a man from France who came for the tug-of-war. It was fun joining in and learning about the Okinawan culture.”

The long-time tug-of-war tradition is a

community tiesMarines, sailors join more than 280,000 to take part in annual tug-of-war tradition

symbol of Okinawa’s history, and attend-ing the tug-of-war left a lasting impres-sion on the Marines who participated in the event.

“I was glad I was able to meet new peo-ple and participate in some of Okinawa’s traditions,” Palmateer said. “I definitely plan on coming next year and seeing more of Okinawa’s events.”

An actor representing the Ryukyu king of the East is carried to the center of the rope to meet the Ryukyu king of the West before the start of the tug-of-war. Typically the two kings and their royal courts meet at the center of the rope, challenges are issued, and the tug-of-war begins. Photo by Lance Cpl. Robert C. Frenke

Tug of war officials position one end of the rope to be connected to the other half during the festival. When the two sides of the rope are brought together, they are connected by a large pin called a kanuchi. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay

12 Okinawa Marine | feature | October 19, 2007

Cpl. Juan D. Alfonsookinawa marine staff

beautiful, difficult, unique and en-ergetic — all words onlookers used to describe the traditional Hispanic

dances they saw Oct. 11 at the Palms on Camp Hansen during 3rd Medical Battalion’s 2007 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration.

The event promoted an atmosphere of cultural understanding among 3rd Marine Logistics Group’s diverse ranks and high-lighted the achievements of Hispanics who have made an impact on society.

“We have an extremely diverse bat-talion,” said Lt. Cmdr. Tom E. McCoy, 3rd Medical Battalion’s executive officer, as he pointed to a group of sailors. “Months of observance give us a chance to recog-nize where our sailors come from and the importance of it.”

The event began with an “I am” dem-onstration in which several corpsmen dressed as and stated the achievements of Hispanic icons who have made significant contributions to American society, such as Major League Baseball player Sammy Sosa and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Joe R. Campa, the first Hispanic sailor to hold his position.

The celebration concluded with several slide show presentations highlighting Hispanic countries followed by live perfor-mances of those countries’ native dances.

Dressed in traditional Colombian attire, Petty Officer 1st Class Nicola Campbell and her partner, Petty Officer 3rd Class Sergio Rojas, demonstrated Cumbia, a Co-lombian dance style.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Franklin Torro

Lance Cpl. kevin M. knallayokinawa marine staff

More than 120 service members took a unique approach to physical training in the early morning hours during

Marine Air Control Squadron 4’s “Tinman” competition on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Oct. 12.

Twenty teams of three from MACS-4 and 13 teams from Marine Air Support Squadron 2 ran a four-mile course in combat boots and utility trousers, stopping to complete exer-cises at stations along the way.

Each team had to do a number of three-man pushups and crunches, complete “fire-man’s” carries and low crawl approximately 50 meters.

“This (event) was fantastic for camaraderie and teamwork,” said Maj. Jeff Hanson, the executive officer of MACS-4. “It was also great to have our sister squadron MASS-2 to give us a little competitive spirit.”

The competition is not a regularly sched-uled event, but the Marines in MACS-4 try to host the same event quarterly to mix up physical training and keep esprit de corps up, according to 2nd Lt. Patrick Steward, one of the competition coordinators.

“We try and have a unit-wide competition every three to four months,” Steward said. “The Marines really enjoy them.”

After the competition, all the service members had a special breakfast in the squadron’s motor transportation bay where awards were presented to the top male, fe-male and coed teams.

“I had a great time, and you can tell a lot of the Marines liked it too,” Hanson said. “It was highly painful but worthwhile after completing the course.”

The team of 1st Lt. Matthew J. Green, Cpl. Matthew J. Harrel and Cpl. Jorqe Olivarez, from MASS-2, took first-place in the men’s division with a time of 31:18. Sgt. Jessica White, Lance Cpl. Dorris Suay and Cpl. Eliz-abeth Campos, also from MASS-2, grabbed top honors in the women’s division with a time of 51:39. And MASS-2’s Capt. Bradley W. Witham, Sgt. Whinston Tolow and Staff Sgt. Nicole Ford were the best coed team, finishing at 40:03.

Marines face off in ‘Tinman’ physical fitness competition

and his partner, Natsumi Komatani, per-formed the Meringue and the fast-paced and physically demanding Salsa, a tradi-tional dance in Cuba and Puerto Rico.

“The whole show was just a class act,” said Sgt. Maj. Nathaniel L. Simms, the Camp Hansen sergeant major. “Hispanic dances are all about coordination. It’s an art form really, and the dancers complemented each other so well. It was amazing.”

MlG Marines celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month

Petty Officer 1st Class Nicola Campbell (left) and Petty Officer 3rd Class Sergio Rojas demonstrate the Cumbia, a traditional Colombian dance, during the 2007 Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Oct. 11 at the Palms on Camp Hansen. Photos by Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso

Petty Officer 3rd Class Franklin Torro and his partner, Natsumi komatani, demonstrate the Meringue, a traditional Hispanic dance performed in many Latin American countries.

Marines participate in the fireman’s carry portion of Marine Air Control Squadron 4’s “Tinman” competition on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma Oct. 12. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay

Okinawa Marine | feature | October 19, 2007 1�

Cpl. Juan D. Alfonsookinawa marine staff

It takes more than ground troops and air assets to win battles.

A strong support element is just as crucial, and that’s exactly what the Marines of Marine Avia-tion Logistics Squadron 36 do for Marine Aircraft Group 36.

The squadron’s mis-sion is to provide logisti-cal support to MAG-36’s three other squadrons, as well as to U.S. Navy ships based in the Pa-cific theater, including some vessels currently deployed in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, said Capt. Thomas J. Dene-van, MALS-36’s assistant operations officer.

“We provide inter-mediate level support to the squadrons,” Dene-van said. “Each unit has mechanics in charge of maintaining the aircraft, but they can’t do every-

thing. Sometimes an engine or frame has to be completely disassembled and put back together from scratch, or a part is so damaged it needs to be replaced. Operational level mechanics don’t have the time to deal with that big of an issue. That’s when the MALS comes in.”

Over the years, MALS-36 has developed a strong reputation within 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, servicing AH-1N Hueys, AH-1W Cobras, CH-46 Sea Knights, CH-53E Super Stallions and KC-130 Hercules aircraft, said Gunnery Sgt. Shawn D. Marshall, the Power Plants Division control chief.

Within the last year alone, the MALS-36 Marines and sailors have received, repaired and shipped 35 engines to locations such as Iraq, Afghanistan, the Philip-pines, South Korea and Thailand.

MALS-36 Marines provide crucial support

“A mission has never been missed or delayed due to engine unavail-ability or any other com-ponent for that matter, whether it was an exer-cise or a real-world op-eration,” Marshall said. “This squadron takes pride in the support we give. Not a single piece leaves our hangars until they are operational, and the results speak for themselves.”

But building and re-pairing aircraft isn’t the

only way the squadron supports the entire Ma-rine air ground task force.

The unit’s Repairable Management Division is responsible for replacing parts for every aircraft the other sections repair and ships approximately 50 parts a day to units all over Pacific and Middle East.

“We pretty much take every broken part coming out of the aircraft and immediately ship out the replacement to whichever

section or squadron is conducting the repairs,” said Cpl. Christine Silva, the division’s Repairable Control Branch noncom-missioned officer in charge. “We do whatever it takes to get the birds back in the air as quickly as possible.”

The squadron’s Ma-rines are proud of their commitment to excel-lence in supporting Wing units in and out of combat.

“It’s amazing how quickly we put these birds back in the air with as little people as we have,” said Cpl. Cedric Anderson, a mechanic with the squadron. “It feels good knowing the kind of reputation we have and knowing that Marines in combat can keep fighting because of what we do over here in Okinawa. It’s the best feeling in the world. It makes me proud to be a Marine and to be part of this squadron.”

Marines with Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron 36’s power plants section, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, repair a fuel compressor from a CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter Sept. 28 at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma. Photos by Cpl. Juan D. Alfonso

Cpl. Ryan J. Vanakker, a mechanic with MALS-36, repairs a C130-Legacy model engine Sept. 28 at MCAS Futenma.

“We do whatever it takes to get the birds back in the air as quickly as possible.”— Cpl. Christine Silva

14 Okinawa Marine | feature | October 19, 2007

Lance Cpl. Bobby J. Yarbroughokinawa marine staff

Volunteers from 3rd Ma-rine Logistics Group’s 9th Engineer Support

Battalion and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Korea spent Oct. 8 at the House of Love, or Sun Rin, Orphanage in Pohang, Republic of Korea, perform-ing landscaping and spending time with the children.

The Marines and sailors trimmed tree limbs and built picnic tables. Once finished, the Marines and sailors spent time with the children, breaking off for activities such as basketball, riding bicycles and swinging on the swing sets.

“The experience with the children puts into our minds the impact that we have on others,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Joel M. Grey, a hospi-tal corpsman with 9th ESB. “It makes us appreciate the bonds we build serving the

Korean community.”Dong H. Han, the superin-

tendent of Sun Rin, thanked the Marines for taking the time to volunteer at the or-phanage.

“We have a strong relation-ship and history with the Marine Corps,” Han said. “We are thankful and appreciative to have Marines serving in our community.”

The history Han mentioned began in 1954 when the or-phanage was originally built by the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing as the Marine Memo-rial Orphanage. In the early 1950s, Marines and Navy chaplains noticed an estimat-ed 10,000 children in the Po-hang area who were orphaned during the Korean War. They took the children to local orphanages, which quickly became overloaded. To assure the childrens’ survival, the 1st MAW Marine Memorial Orphanage was created.

Other orphanages, such

as Pohang Marine and Little Flower, were also created to ease the overcrowding. The orphanages were funded through donations by 1st MAW Marines until the early 1980s when the government of the Republic of Korea took over the funding.

The Republic of Korea renamed the orphanage the House of Love to reflect its roots as an act of mercy and unconditional love from the Marines for the children.

The home initially housed 17 children, but by 1986, it had grown so much the orphanage needed a larger building.

With help from 9th ESB, in 1986, the original building was torn down and construc-tion began on the current facility, which is now home to 82 children. Okinawa Marines who deploy to Korea have continued to help out the orphanage throughout the years.

Helping handsMilitary volunteers boost spirits at Korean orphanage

Petty Officer 3rd Class Joel M. Grey, a hospital corpsman with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, swings alongside a korean boy at the Sun Rin Orphanage in Pohang, Republic of korea, Oct. 8. Volunteers from 3rd Marine Logistics Group’s 9th ESB and U.S. Marine Corps Forces, korea teamed up to lend a helping hand at the orphanage. Photos by Lance Cpl. Bobby J. Yarbrough

Marines assist a korean boy on a slam dunk during a basketball game.

Okinawa Marine | sports | October 19, 2007 17

Lance Cpl. kevin M. knallayokinawa marine staff

More than 20 Marines with Marine Air Control Squadron 4 spent the after-noon Oct. 12 playing fast-pitch soft-

ball against their Japan Air Self Defense Force counterparts at the Yozadake Sub Base south of Naha.

In the first game, JASDF took control early, scoring two runs in the first inning, adding six more in the third and then held strong defen-sively for an 11-2 victory.

The Marines fared better in the second game. After JASDF scored twice in the top of the sec-ond inning, the Marines answered, scoring five

runs in the bottom of the inning. The Marines stayed ahead from that point on, adding three more runs to put the game away 8-2.

In the final game, JASDF started strong, scoring first, but the Marines answered right back to tie it up. JASDF scored two more runs, only to have the Ma-rines match them again. However, a tie was called at the end of the sixth inning due to a 60-minute time limit.

After the games, the JASDF hosted the Marines to a steak, yakisoba and chicken

barbecue before both forces exchanged gifts, expressing their generosity toward each other.

“Today has been very good,” said Capt. Iida Takayusu, a maintenance officer with 56th Air Craft Control and Warning Squadron, JASDF. “It was a great time and nice to build on our great relationship with the Marines.”

Many of the Marines felt very welcomed by the JASDF personnel.

“This is fabulous. They went all out to make us feel welcome,” said Brian Baez, a Marine from MACS-4. “It’s been a great experience to-day. We got to share a side of America’s favorite pastime, and they shared their great culture and food and showed us their immense hospitality.”

Cpl. Bryan A. Petersonokinawa marine staff

Hundreds of Japanese and American fans turned out at the Camp Foster

Field House Oct. 13-14 to watch Okinawa’s first fully professional basketball team in pre-season play.

The Basketball Japan League, which was estab-lished in 2005, added Okina-wa’s Ryukyu Golden Kings this year as an expansion team. The Golden Kings took on the Tokyo Apache at the Foster Field House at 6 p.m. Saturday and again at 3 p.m. Sunday, losing both games 97-73 and 82-70, respectively.

“We didn’t do as well as we planned because this was our first game in front of our fans in Okinawa,” said Golden Kings coach Hernando L. Planells. “We were nervous. But this is our first year.”

Planells, who has coached at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and was an NBA scout, said his team is here to win and to provide the Okinawan and American communities a chance to enjoy the sport together.

“We know a lot of U.S. service members miss going to professional games in the States,” Planells said. “They have some games to go to now.”

Earlier this year, The Japan Times reported that Tatsuro Kimura, the Golden Kings’

U.S., Japanese service members compete in friendly softball tourney

ryukyu Golden kings gear up for inaugural hoops season

general manager and former sports-live director for NHK Television in Okinawa, said he wants fans on Okinawa to enjoy a sport that has “much potential of making a deep impact.”

Kimura’s team was spawned from a rise in basketball’s popularity among Okinawans, according to the team’s official Web site.

“We found Okinawa has a great number of people who actually played basketball in school. Also, people in Okinawa are exposed to the NBA and NCAA because of Okinawa’s history. ... People were able to watch them through TV that came from American (military bases) on Okinawa,” Kimura said in the Feb. 21 Japan Times article.

Kimura wanted to play the exhibition games on base to attract American fans, accord-ing to Michael N. Desmone, the Marine Corps Community Services athletic program manager sports specialist.

“It took a lot of coordina-tion, but in the end it was definitely worth it,” Desmone said.

Desmone added that the Golden Kings will also be involved with the base com-munity, conducting commu-nity service projects such as a youth basketball clinic on Camp Foster Oct. 28.

“These kids will be excited to attend because these are professionals they’ll be play-ing with,” Desmone said.

Joe “Jellybean” Bryant, a former NBA player and father of Los Angeles Lakers super-star Kobe Bryant, is the head coach of the Tokyo Apache. He said the exhibition games were the best way to get Okinawans and Americans excited about their new home team.

“Coming from a military family, I know firsthand how the military reaches out to its local community,” Bryant said. “This is another way of doing that. Now both Okinawans and service members have a home team to root for.”

The Ryukyu Golden Kings play their season opener Nov. 3 at the Okinawa Con-vention Center in Okinawa City against the Oita Heat Devils.

Tokyo Apache forward John “Helicopter” Humphrey launches a three-point attempt over Ryukyu Golden kings’ Forward Dae kyun Han Oct. 13 in front of Golden kings’ coach Hernando L. Planells during the Basketball Japan League pre-season game at the Camp Foster Field House. Photos by Cpl. Bryan A. Peterson

Ryukyu Golden kings’ forward Danny Jones Jr. shoots a free throw Oct. 13 during a pre-season game against the Tokyo Apache.

Marines with Marine Air Control Squadron 4 and personnel with the Japan Air Self Defense Force shake hands and congratulate each other after competing in a softball tournament at JASDF Yozadake Sub Base Oct. 12. Photo by Lance Cpl. Kevin M. Knallay

“It was a great time ... to build

on our great relationship

with the Marines.”

— jAsdf Capt. Iida Takayusu

18 Okinawa Marine | Marketplace | October 19, 2007

CAMp FoSteR | 645-7486/7487• Catholic: Mon.-Fri., 11:45 a.m. Sat., 5 p.m.; Sun., 10 a.m.• Eastern Orthodox: Sun., 9:30 a.m.• Gospel: Sun., 11:30 a.m.• Hindu: Sun., 3:30 p.m., Bldg. 455• jewish: Fri., traditional, 6 p.m.; informal, 6:30 p.m.• Latter-day saints: Sun., 2 p.m., Bldg. 455• Muslim: Friday prayer at 12:45 p.m.• Protestant: Sun., 8:30 a.m.

CAMp LeSteR | 643-7226• Catholic: Sun., 8 a.m., Lester Chapel Wed., 11 a.m., Hospital Chapel• Protestant: Sun., 9 a.m., Hospital Chapel Sun., 10 a.m., Lester Chapel

CAMp HAnSen | 623-4694• Catholic: Sun., 10 a.m., East Chapel• Protestant: Sun., 11 a.m., West Chapel

MCAS FutenMA | 636-3058• Catholic: Sun., noon Mon., 5 p.m.; Wed., 5 p.m.• Lutheran: 11:30 a.m. • Contemporary: Sun., 9 a.m.

CAMp SCHwAb | 625-2644/2866• Catholic: Sun., 8:30 a.m.• Protestant: Sun., 11 a.m.

CAMp MctuReouS | 622-7505• Lutheran: Sun., 9:45 a.m.• Gospel: Sun., 12:30 p.m.

CAMp CouRtney | 622-9350• Catholic: Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., 7 a.m. Sun. 8 a.m., 11:15 a.m.• Protestant: Sun., 9:30 a.m. Liturgical, 6:30 p.m.

KAdenA AiR bASe | 634-1288• Catholic: Sun., 8:30 a.m., Mass, Chapel 1 Sun., 11:30 a.m., Reconciliation, Chapel 1 Sun., 12:30 p.m., Mass, Chapel 1 Sun., 5 p.m., Mass, Chapel 1 Sun., 10:30 a.m., CCD, Amelia Earhart School Daily Mass, Mon.-Thurs., noon, Chapel 2

• Protestant: Sun., Contemporary, 10:30 a.m., Chapel 1 Sun., Project 196 (Contemporary), 7:06 p.m., Chapel 1 Sun., 8:30 a.m., Inspirational, Chapel 2 Sun., 10:30 a.m., Traditional, Chapel 2 Sun., 1030 a.m., Gospel, Chapel 3 Sunday School, 8:45 a.m., Bldg. 856

• Wiccan/Pagan Women’s service, Thurs., 6:30 p.m., Chapel 2 Open circle service, Fri., 7 p.m., Chapel 1 Wiccan/Pagan service, Sat., 6:30 p.m., Religious Education Center, Bldg. 856

CAMp KinSeR | 637-1148• Catholic: Mon., Wed., Thurs., Fri., noon, Chapel 2 Sun., 11 a.m., Chapel 1• Gospel: Sun., 8 a.m., Chapel 1• Protestant: Sun., 9:30 a.m., Chapel 1

In tHeaters oct 1�-2�

The USO hosts movie nights at the camps below. For schedules and start times, call:

Movie schedule is subject to change without notice. Call in advance to confirm show times. For a complete listing, visit http://www.aafes.com.

scHwab625-2333

FRIDAY The Invasion (PG-13), 6 p.m.; War (R), 9 p.m.

SATURDAY Ratatouille (G), noon; Underdog (PG), 3 p.m.; The Heartbreak Kid (R), 6 p.m.; War (R), 9:30 p.m.

SUNDAY Underdog (PG), 1 p.m.; The Heartbreak Kid (R), 4 p.m.; War (R), 7 p.m.

MONDAY Closed

TUESDAY Closed

WEDNESDAY Closed

THURSDAY Closed

FRIDAY The Kingdom (R), 7 p.m.; The Heartbreak Kid (R), 10 p.m.

SATURDAY Daddy Day Camp (PG), 1 p.m.; Stardust (PG-13), 4 p.m.; The Kingdom (R), 7 p.m., 10 p.m.

SUNDAY Bratz (PG), 1 p.m.; The Simpsons Movie (PG-13), 4 p.m.; We Own the Night (R), 7 p.m.

MONDAY The Invasion (PG-13), 7 p.m.

TUESDAY War (R), 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY Illegal Tender (R), 7 p.m.

THURSDAY We Own the Night (R), 7 p.m.

kadena634-4422

foster645-3465

uso MoVIe nIGHts

futenMa636-3890

courtney622-9616

kInser637-2177

FRIDAY We Own the Night (R), 6:30 p.m., 9:30 p.m.

SATURDAY Bratz (PG), 2 p.m.; Rush Hour 3 (PG-13), 6 p.m., 9 p.m.

SUNDAY Stardust (PG-13), 7 p.m.

MONDAY Stardust (PG-13), 7 p.m.

TUESDAY Closed

WEDNESDAY Daddy Day Camp (PG), 1 p.m.; The Heartbreak Kid (R), 7 p.m.

THURSDAY Closed

FRIDAY Rush Hour 3 (PG-13), 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY The Game Plan (PG), 4 p.m.; We Own the Night (R), 7 p.m.

SUNDAY Rush Hour 3 (PG-13), 4 p.m.; Stardust (PG-13), 7 p.m.

MONDAY The Kingdom (R), 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY Closed

WEDNESDAY Closed

THURSDAY Closed

FRIDAY Illegal Tender (R), 7 p.m.

SATURDAY The Invasion (PG-13), 7 p.m.

SUNDAY War (R), 7 p.m.

MONDAY We Own the Night (R), 7 p.m.

TUESDAY The Heartbreak Kid (R), 7 p.m.

WEDNESDAY Closed

THURSDAY Closed

FRIDAY The Game Plan (PG), 3 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY Bratz (PG), 3 p.m.; Resi-dent Evil: Extinction (R), 6:30 p.m.

SUNDAY Daddy Day Camp (PG), 3 p.m.; War (R), 6:30 p.m.

MONDAY Closed

TUESDAY Closed

WEDNESDAY Mr. Bean’s Holiday (G), 3 p.m.; We Own the Night (R), 6:30 p.m.

THURSDAY Closed

cHapel scHedule

For more information, contact the Single Marine Program

Office at 645-3681.

OCTOBER 24 | kINDERGARTEN HALLOWEEN EVENT• Share the Halloween tradition with the children of Chatan-Daini Kindergarten by painting pumpkins and passing out candy. Bring two bags of Halloween candy, and dress in your best costume.

• Depart Camp Kinser at 7:30 a.m., MCAS Futenma at 8 a.m. and Camp Foster at 8:30 a.m.

OCTOBER 27 | SMP’S FRIGHT NIGHT FEAR FACTOR• Think you can chug pig’s blood and swallow slime? These tasty treats will all be part of the SMP’s 2nd Annual Fright Night Fear Factor as well as various physical challenges. • Sign up by Oct. 23 (two people per team).

• Depart Camp Kinser at 5:30 p.m., MCAS Futenma at 6 p.m., Camp Schwab at 4:45 p.m., Camp Hansen at 5:15 p.m. and Camp Courtney at 6 p.m.

’97 mitsubishi Diamante jCI Oct. 09, $3,500 OBO. 637-5239’96 toyota emina mini van jCI june 08, $2,000 OBO. 633-8155’96 nissan prairie minivan jCI Aug. 09, $1,900 OBO. 622-6888’89 toyota ace van jCI March 08, $2,200. 636-2027’91 mazDa eunos roaDster jCI july 08, $1,200 OBO. 622-5221’95 toyota estima van jCI june 08, $2,000 OBO. 633-1005’94 nissan laurel

jCI Sept. 08, $1,900 OBO. 634-0855’96 toyota celica jCI Feb. 08, $1,800 OBO. 623-4111’97 toyota camry jCI April 08, $2,000 OBO. (080) 3171-3710’97 suzuki wagon jCI Sept. 08, $1,800 OBO. 634-2336’97 mitsubishi pajero mini jCI Nov. 08, $2,200 OBO. 634-2336’97 nissan skyline jCI Oct. 08, $6,500 OBO. (090) 9787-2243’95 toyota exiv jCI july 09, $1,500 OBO. 626-2337’98 honDa capa jCI july 09, $3,000.

646-3799’93 toyota emina jCI july 08, $1,900. 646-4102’94 nissan largo van jCI Nov. 07, $1,500 OBO. 622-5423’94 toyota mark ii jCI jan. 09, $1,500 OBO. 636-3613

classIfIed ads

Ads appearing in the Okinawa Marine are a free ser-vice to active duty military and their dependents, DoD employees and retirees. Ads are restricted to personal property or service of incidental exchange. Ads are run on a space-available basis. The deadline for ads is noon Fridays. The Okinawa Marine reserves the right to edit ads to fit available space. Please include your name and the phone number you wish published. The Okinawa Marine makes every effort to ensure accu-racy but assumes no responsibility for services offered in ads. Submit ads by fax to 645-3803, or send an e-mail to okinawamarine.mcbb.fct@usmc.mil.

autoMobIles— HP laptop, $500 OBO, (090) 1949-2762— Two Whirlpool dehumidifiers, $250; two black gaming chairs, $50; oak chair, $30. 637-4214— Two twin-sized mattresses, $40 each; antique China cabinet, $175. 926-

2732— Hitachi 19-inch computer monitor, $125 OBO. 622-8280— 100-foot fence, $150. 646-5388— Men’s Nike cleats, size 10.5, $20. 622-8280— TaylorMade R7 460 driver, $275 OBO. 646-4449

MIscellaneous

Motorcycles’05 harley-DaviDson sportster 1200xl $7,500. 622-5423’06 harley-DaviDson fat boy $17,500. (080) 1763-1286’05 harley-DaviDson v-roD $13,000. 622-7093

CAMP SCHWAB 625-3834MCAS FUTENMA 636-2113CAMP HANSEN 623-5011

kADENA AIR BASE 632-8781

• The Camp Hansen Theater is closed for renovation.

sInGle MarIne proGraM eVents

All bus pick-up points will be at Semper Fit gyms or the

Foster Fieldhouse.