Air Force
B-29 crews memorialized
Sixty years after the completion of their last mission the men of the 315th Bomber wing were memorialized on a quiet stretch of road off Route 3 on Aug. 15. Members of the Guam Visitors Bureau corporate sponsors as well as those from the military and the community gathered to dedicate a monument that pays homage to the B-29 crews that played a large role in ending the second world war. The “Last Mission” as it has become known recognizes those who flew from Andersen’s Northwest Field in what would be the final bombing mission in the war. Many historians feel the mission which resulted in a Tokyo blackout foiled an attempted coup of the Japanese Prime Minister and brought an abrupt surrender and conclusion to WW II. Among the dignitaries attending the event were Col. Michael Boera commander of the 36th Air Expeditionary Wing at Andersen Air Force Base; David B. Tydingco chairman of the board of the Guam Visitors Bureau; and Kenneth T. Jones Jr. president of Jones & Guerrero Co. and a chief petty officer in the 25th Seabee Battalion in 1945 on Guam.
Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard terminated the voyage of the 72-foot fishing vessel Grace for numerous safety violations 75 miles southeast of Pago Pago in American Samoa on Aug. 6.
Navy
Echols |
MWR streamlines bus service to town
Morale Welfare and Recreation modified the express bus service of the Sailor Transportation System in mid-August to encourage more frequent usage by Navy personnel — removing little-used stops and adding one at Polaris Point.
Stops on the island include those centrally located to popular destinations of sailors including Hagåtña Micronesia Mall Tumon Bay and Guam Premier Outlets. The daily bus service stops at each destination five to seven times per day.
Leif E. “Ed” Echols regional director for MWR at Naval Forces Marianas told the Journal “Although it has only been one week it appears that usage has increased. In the first week since we made these changes almost 300 people rode the Off-Base Express Shuttle.”
Echols said he was pleased with the way passengers were adapting to the schedule. “I think our customers are pleased as well.”
Kloppenberg Enterprises Inc. which does business at Turtle Tours provides drivers to operate MWR-owned buses for the bus system. “In the past year we provided base-to-downtown transportation to approximately 15 000 folks. And we expect an increase in these numbers following the recent changes we’ve implemented Echols said.”
An ongoing DUI initiative on the Naval base and DUI and speed checkpoints on base may encourage bus usage also.
Passengers also receive discount coupons. MWR would welcome more participation in the coupon program Echols said.
“At this time we are providing riders with some Micronesia Mall discount cards good for discounts (5% to 25%) at various locations inside Micronesia Mall free appetizers at Outback Steakhouse and MWR Bucks good for discounts (food or activity) at various MWR locations. We are actively looking for more sponsors for this program.”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Peabody |
Peabody takes command of Pacific Ocean division
Col. John W. Peabody became the new commander and division engineer of the Pacific Ocean Division of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on July 30 replacing Brig. Gen. Robert L. Davis who retired.
The ceremony took place at Fort Shafter in Hawaii. The division is responsible for all Department of Defense agencies and U.S. installations in Guam the Northern Mariana Islands Palau Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands Japan and Korea; and the engineering design construction and real estate management for the U.S. Army and Air Forces in Hawaii and Alaska. The Pacific Ocean division is one of nine divisions worldwide.
Veterans
USMC Vet memorializes comrades
USMC (Ret.) Darrell Doss who took part in the liberation of the island on July 21 1944 donated a commemoration plaque in his name and the name of his late wife Evelyn to commemorate the efforts of the U.S. military and the Chamorro people. The plaque will be displayed at the Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport Guam tells of the joint effort of the United States military and the Chamorro people who came together to liberate Guam from the Japanese.
The unveiling ceremony took place on Aug. 18 at the airport. The dedication is a joint effort of the Guam Visitors Bureau The A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority Guam and the 3rd Marine Division Association. Doss participated in the invasion and battle of Saipan and the liberation of Guam. He landed at Agat on July 21. He was awarded the Navy Commendation medal with combat “V” for his service in the Marianas Campaign. Doss and his wife returned to the island numerous times and he has served as Grand Marshall for the Liberation Day Parade. MBJ
“
