Posted on 07/21/2004 3:22:16 PM PDT by Joee
MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS — The 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines hit the beach yesterday with the subtlety of a sledgehammer. Big troop-carrying CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters roared overhead, swaying Ironwoods below.
Amphibious assault vehicles surged out of the sea with Marines in camouflage face paint, followed by 87-foot fan-driven hovercraft that disgorged Humvee after Humvee.
It was part of Rim of the Pacific 2004 war games, but the possibility of going to war in Iraq or Afghanistan for Hawai'i Marines is all too real.
"What is the possibility? I think if you're asking me (about 3rd Marines) going to the Middle East or another theater that's active in the global war on terror — very, very real," said Lt. Col. Norm Cooling, the battalion's commanding officer.
"There is obviously a portion to play for everyone in that fight, and 3rd Marines is certainly expecting and preparing to go into that campaign area," he said.
Cooling said he has been given a general warning "that we should prepare to deploy on short notice to relieve forces that are currently there," but a specific deployment date hasn't been given.
The battalion commander said he's prepared for three potential missions: Afghanistan, Iraq or with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), in the Pacific theater.
As part of the regular deployment rotation for nearly 7,000 Kane'ohe Bay Marines, the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines recently deployed to Okinawa for six to seven months.
The 3/3 Marines, known as "America's Battalion," are expected to make that trip in the winter, but that is subject to changing mission needs.
Staff Sgt. Jason Jerome, 30, said he'll go wherever Cooling tells him to go, including Iraq or Afghanistan.
Asked if he wants to go, Jerome, who is married and has a 10-year-old son, said: "It all depends on how you look at it. I like being with my family. But also, it's my job, and whatever my country calls for, I'll gladly do it."
While Schofield Barracks' 25th Infantry Division (Light) is distributed between Iraq and Afghanistan, Hawai'i's Marines remain ready at Kane'ohe Bay.
Nearly 2,000 Hawai'i-based soldiers with the Army National Guard's 29th Separate Infantry Brigade were told they need to report Aug. 16 for active duty and a yearlong mission to Iraq beginning in February.
John Pike, director of the military think tank GlobalSecurity.org, last month said he doubted the Hawai'i Marines will remain out of the war zones.
"At the rate we're going, everyone's going to get an opportunity to get a campaign medal," he said.
During Operation Desert Storm, about 7,600 Kane'ohe Marines were deployed. Hawai'i Marines with Task Force Taro were the first to cross the mined Iraqi-Kuwait border.
Cooling said yesterday's beach assault at Bellows was good practice — regardless of the fact such a landing wouldn't be used for Iraq or Afghanistan duty.
"Anytime we can participate in an exercise — get them out of garrison, get them into the field — it's great preparation," Cooling said.
He added the effectiveness of amphibious landings can't be discounted. Marines pushed several hundred miles into Afghanistan in the opening of the war in 2001.
"Certainly we can do that over long distances as we demonstrated when we opened the campaign in Afghanistan, so the legs, the traditional legs of amphibious reach, if you will, is quite a bit longer than we used to think they were," he said.
More than 40 ships, seven submarines, 100 aircraft and almost 18,000 service members from seven nations are participating in RIMPAC, which runs through July 27 in Hawai'i.
Yesterday's beach landing was preceded by antisubmarine warfare and mine-clearing exercises. About a dozen Marine amphibious assault vehicles and the Landing Craft Air-Cushioned hovercraft were launched from the amphibious ships Rushmore and Tarawa several miles off the coast.
The ongoing exercise included attacks on mock terrorist camps at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island with close-air support from a B-52 bomber out of Guam, and about 50 "opposing force" Marines in the forests of Bellows resisting the 3/3 Marines with blank gunfire.
An Australian diesel submarine was among the participants in the exercise, and a company of Australian soldiers made the helicopter assault on Bellows with Kane'ohe Marines.
There were some hiccups. The morning beach assault was delayed several hours when the stern ramp of the Tarawa would not lower. It had to be cranked down by hand. And the Marine amphibious assault vehicles landed on the beach at about the same location as the hovercraft — instead of separated as planned.
"It is part of the training because believe me, there were a lot of people scrambling to figure out how to manually raise that stern gate — not a common thing we do — but something that is great training," Cooling said.
Possible assignment to actual war zone 'very, very real'
By William Cole Advertiser Military Writer
MARINE CORPS TRAINING AREA BELLOWS — The 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines hit the beach yesterday with the subtlety of a sledgehammer.
Big troop-carrying CH-53 Super Stallion helicopters roared overhead, swaying Ironwoods below.
Amphibious assault vehicles surged out of the sea with Marines in camouflage face paint, followed by 87-foot fan-driven hovercraft that disgorged Humvee after Humvee.
It was part of Rim of the Pacific 2004 war games, but the possibility of going to war in Iraq or Afghanistan for Hawai'i Marines is all too real.
"What is the possibility? I think if you're asking me (about 3rd Marines) going to the Middle East or another theater that's active in the global war on terror — very, very real," said Lt. Col. Norm Cooling, the battalion's commanding officer.
"There is obviously a portion to play for everyone in that fight, and 3rd Marines is certainly expecting and preparing to go into that campaign area," he said.
Cooling said he has been given a general warning "that we should prepare to deploy on short notice to relieve forces that are currently there," but a specific deployment date hasn't been given.
The battalion commander said he's prepared for three potential missions: Afghanistan, Iraq or with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), in the Pacific theater.
As part of the regular deployment rotation for nearly 7,000 Kane'ohe Bay Marines, the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines recently deployed to Okinawa for six to seven months.
The 3/3 Marines, known as "America's Battalion," are expected to make that trip in the winter, but that is subject to changing mission needs.
Staff Sgt. Jason Jerome, 30, said he'll go wherever Cooling tells him to go, including Iraq or Afghanistan.
Asked if he wants to go, Jerome, who is married and has a 10-year-old son, said: "It all depends on how you look at it. I like being with my family. But also, it's my job, and whatever my country calls for, I'll gladly do it."
While Schofield Barracks' 25th Infantry Division (Light) is distributed between Iraq and Afghanistan, Hawai'i's Marines remain ready at Kane'ohe Bay.
Nearly 2,000 Hawai'i-based soldiers with the Army National Guard's 29th Separate Infantry Brigade were told they need to report Aug. 16 for active duty and a yearlong mission to Iraq beginning in February.
John Pike, director of the military think tank GlobalSecurity.org, last month said he doubted the Hawai'i Marines will remain out of the war zones.
"At the rate we're going, everyone's going to get an opportunity to get a campaign medal," he said.
During Operation Desert Storm, about 7,600 Kane'ohe Marines were deployed. Hawai'i Marines with Task Force Taro were the first to cross the mined Iraqi-Kuwait border.
Cooling said yesterday's beach assault at Bellows was good practice — regardless of the fact such a landing wouldn't be used for Iraq or Afghanistan duty.
"Anytime we can participate in an exercise — get them out of garrison, get them into the field — it's great preparation," Cooling said.
He added the effectiveness of amphibious landings can't be discounted. Marines pushed several hundred miles into Afghanistan in the opening of the war in 2001.
"Certainly we can do that over long distances as we demonstrated when we opened the campaign in Afghanistan, so the legs, the traditional legs of amphibious reach, if you will, is quite a bit longer than we used to think they were," he said.
More than 40 ships, seven submarines, 100 aircraft and almost 18,000 service members from seven nations are participating in RIMPAC, which runs through July 27 in Hawai'i.
Yesterday's beach landing was preceded by antisubmarine warfare and mine-clearing exercises. About a dozen Marine amphibious assault vehicles and the Landing Craft Air-Cushioned hovercraft were launched from the amphibious ships Rushmore and Tarawa several miles off the coast.
The ongoing exercise included attacks on mock terrorist camps at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island with close-air support from a B-52 bomber out of Guam, and about 50 "opposing force" Marines in the forests of Bellows resisting the 3/3 Marines with blank gunfire.
An Australian diesel submarine was among the participants in the exercise, and a company of Australian soldiers made the helicopter assault on Bellows with Kane'ohe Marines.
There were some hiccups. The morning beach assault was delayed several hours when the stern ramp of the Tarawa would not lower. It had to be cranked down by hand. And the Marine amphibious assault vehicles landed on the beach at about the same location as the hovercraft — instead of separated as planned.
"It is part of the training because believe me, there were a lot of people scrambling to figure out how to manually raise that stern gate — not a common thing we do — but something that is great training," Cooling said.
I always get a funny feeling as I view aircraft belonging to Japan, sporting the red "Meat Ball." parked on the Tarmac out at the Marine Base Hawaii, taking part in Rim-Pac. Only 60 short years ago, such an observation would have had a totally different meaning.
Maybe they can deploy to Iraq via Iran.
Goodness, K-Bay still has the bullet marks in the sidewalks, and Japanese aircraft visited?
Did anyone explain why there were pairs of pock marks in the sidewalks?
Huh??
GHo to PLESS HALL, or whatever they callit, the old Air Wing chow hall, it is now a store of some kind, right near the transit barracks, next to the NCO School.
Look in the sidewalks, pairs of holes, pockmarks in the walls, and in the sidewalks near the opening of the chow hall.
Also, go to the OLD General's building, look in the sidewalks there, too, there used to be the same pairs of holes, like either twin mounted machine guns or sighted in wing mounted guns from both wings.
I was there in 98, and I saw the holes in Pless Hall and the sidewalk still, so, they may still be there, but the knowlege of what they are is gone, I spoke to the SMaj of the NCO school and he had no idea of what they were, but it was common knowlege of K-Bay Marines back in 79 - 80.
Asked if he wants to go, Jerome, who is married and has a 10-year-old son, said: "It all depends on how you look at it. I like being with my family. But also, it's my job, and whatever my country calls for, I'll gladly do it."
This guy just said this so perfectly!
Semper Fi, Staff Sgt. Jason Jerome
Ah, yes, ... used to eat in Pless and I lived and worked at transient building for 10 months.
can't say I recall the pock marks, but I'm sure there are more than a few reminders on Kaneohe.
someday maybe I can get back to visit :-)
I was at that NCO school at K-bay in 85. I made the mistake of going out to the 23 Step for nickle beer night.
The next morning I was the Platoon Guide for the morning run. I have no idea how many danged times we ran up and down Kansas Tower that morning. I've not hurt that bad since.
Semper Fi
1st bat/3rd Marines 83-87
U.S. Marines might actually see combat? Who would've thunk it?
Ah yes, the 23rd Step....Fast Eddie's....and the White Rose....all in beautiful downtown Kailua.
The good old days in Hawaii....I killed a lot of brain cells there :)
Semper Fi!
MCAS Kaneohe 1983-1986
Was the NCO School next to Pless Hall then?
That same barracks was CCU when I was there, in 98 it was the NCO school.
I don't remember exactly where it was, (I've killed a few brain cells since then. Something about Okinawa and the Phillipenes!)
I do remember it was on the older part of the base. It was an older barracks, open squad bay with wall lockers making "cubes".
Did you ever get out to the M-203 range? I always wondered what would happen if you had a round go long and end up hitting that hillside full of birds!
Semper Fi
one of my "island" cars was externaled from a 53 to the range and used as target practice.
Way kool.
Aloha my haoli friends.
Thanks! I will check out the area tomorrow and if they are still there, I will grab the Public Affairs Officer and see what we can do about getting them recognized.
The most obvious building is the former Pless Hall, right next to the NCO school, that old chow hall that was converted into a storage area or housing goods outlet for the base, next to the enlisted transient barracks that used tobe MACS-2 Barracks back in 1981.
Pless Hall had a lot of them, in the north wall and sidewalk. You can also see them in the sidewalks near the old General's building.
You didnt go to the white Rose, did you???
Please dont tell me you actually went there as a WM....
Ping!
Semper Fi
For your interest, there is now a cement Marker denoting the spot where the 1st Jap plane impacted. It is just down the hill from Kansas Tower, across from the Child Care Center. The new General's office is now located in old Dispensary. The Old General's office now houses Base Legal.
If you stand facing the door under the walkway, look to the lft side, and on the wall and deck, you should see two pairs of dents in the concrete, anout 2 feet apart each or so as I remember.
There are more on that same deck by the front doors under the walkway...
You Sailor or Marine?? That barracks right next to Pless hall was my barracks, MACS-2, last i knew in 1998 it was a transient barracks. If you walk toward that barracks, then turn left, that is NCO school.
That still ike that? The NCO school used to be CCP!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.