Posted on 02/01/2010 4:57:31 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Most Americans have heard of the naval base at Pearl Harbor. Some are also aware of the air base next door called Hickam, where Japanese planes destroyed U.S. bombers during the 1941 aerial attack.
On Sunday, the two historic sites will cease to be separate bases, merging into Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. They will be among 26 installations across the country that are combining to form 12 joint bases as the military strives to become more efficient.
Commanders are bringing together two very distinct military service cultures while making sure one doesn't dominate or overwhelm the other. The large role the Japanese attack has in the national memory gives them an especially solemn responsibility to preserve and protect the historic sites within their grounds, military officials said.
"We are caretakers in this effort for the sake of all who came before us and actually died on our fields," said Col. Giovanni Tuck, commander of the 15th Airlift Wing and the Air Force's leader in the merger. "We just need to make sure we do this right by them."
Pearl Harbor and Hickam have been close but distant neighbors for decades. They're right next to one another on the southern edge of Oahu, but each have their own schools, golf courses, bowling alleys, churches and other facilities.
A chain-link fence divides the two properties even though the only people they're keeping out are other military personnel. In 1975, the Navy even built a sentry post from where guards screened those crossing between the bases. On Sunday, sailors and airmen will take down part the fence in a symbolic ceremony.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
I loved that movie. I've crawled all over those hollers.
It was named after Horace Hickam
Oh wait! That was 1969 when they were filming TORA TORA TORA!
Horace Meek Hickam (August 14, 1885 November 5, 1934) was a pioneer airpower advocate and an officer in the United States Army Air Corps. Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, is named in his honor.
I sure hope not.
But it makes me wonder if it is just a small step toward eliminating the Air Force and rolling the Air Force bases into either the Army, or Navy. Considering that most the work they do if for the Army, or the Navy. I think this would be a good idea since it would eliminate a duplication of various military units and save money. Pease keep the flames to a mimimum as this subject is really an Off Topic subject.
Already been done.
NAS Fort Worth, Joint Reserve Base (JRB) at Carswell ... back in 1994. Joint Navy/Air Force. Had no real problems as all units worked together cooperating. Stationed there almost 15 years AF and then Joint ops.
Military has 1/2 of original Carswell AFB while Lockheed-Martin has the other half.
The Hawaii weather was as perfect as it can get and it even got boring after a while. lol
Boy, sitting here in VT where its been below 0 this past weekend, I'd love to be "bored" for the next 6 weeks or so.
At that time I was a Crew Chief on C-124's (Old Shaky)and if you are going to work outside on a flight line, that was the place to be.
My barracks was a stone's throw from the golf course and we used to meander over there regularly to the 10th Puka (a snack bar) for Burgers and Brew-skis.
Also remember the outdoor cinema where you could go to the movies for (I think) .25 cents and was like regular movie Theater, absent the roof or walls. Really neat!
Even then, it was very expensive off base, so we used to not frequent downtown too often.
God Bless our Military, wherever they may be serving and God Bless America!
Shades of Robert Strange McNamara !!
I think this is where we came in.
Went to scuba school at the Sub base in Pearl.
That's a bit naive.
When Canada combined its forces 40 years ago, it took proud, strong services and took all the spirit out of them for decades. A terrible move still mourned by most Canadians over age 50.
Ut Oh....
Maybe if there had been better unified command, the December 1941 attack might not have been as successful.
"Gee look, everybody, we are getting soooooo... efficient and effective!"
"We just know that matrix management will work so well..."
Blah...blah...blah...
That gate got pulled over 25 years ago. The problem was the traffic driving through NCO housing for a short cut off base. Now with the fence gone, the kids will wander all over.
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