Hawaii Marine, October 30, 2015

Front page

NHCH holds change of

command, retirement

Naval vessels push Marine amphibious

capabilities during Blue Chromite

‘Expendables’ return to K-Bay from deployment

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Low 69°

Saturday Sunday Thanks for the memories Look back at Marines in Hawaii through history, B-1

Kick it Spouses assist the Navy- Marine Corps Relief Society with kickball tournament, A-6

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Low 69°

The two MH-60Rs carrying the crew of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 Detachment 5 land at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Oct. 22. The “Expendables” of HSM-37 Detachment 5 returned home to Kaneohe Bay culminating a seven-month deployment onboard the USS Preble.

A landing craft air cushion-class hovercraft approaches Kin Blue, Okinawa, Japan, for a beach landing exercise, Tuesday, during Blue Chromite 2016. Blue Chromite is a large-scale, cost effective on-island training event led by 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force.

Susan Schultz

Naval Health Clinic Hawaii

JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR- HICKAM—Naval Health Clinic Hawaii held a change of command and retirement ceremony at Kilo Pier 8 on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Oct. 23. Navy Capt. Lynn Wheeler, Medical Service Corps assumed command of Naval Health Clinic Hawaii from Navy Capt. Andrew L. Findley, Jr., Medical Corps with more than 400 staff, colleagues and friends in attendance.

“Today is a day to honor excellence, the excellence of a departing skipper who has truly raised the bar for Naval Health Clinic Hawaii and the excellence of an outstanding team that has realized his vision with their hard work and their own commitment to excellence,” said Commander, Navy Medicine West, Rear Adm. Bruce L. Gillingham, the guest speaker. “Today we celebrate Capt. Findley’s dedication and the realization of his vision to establish Naval Health Clinic Hawaii as a model of health care excellence providing unsurpassed service to the Fleet and Fleet Marine Force. Today is also about welcoming a new leader, one with fresh ideas and the energy required to drive Naval Health Clinic Hawaii and its staff to even higher levels of achievement and to meet the unknowable challenges ahead, welcome aboard Capt. Wheeler.”

Findley is retiring from the U.S. Navy after 34 years of service. Findley served as NHC Hawaii’s commanding officer since July 2014. Before assuming command, Findley served as Tripler Army Medical Center’s deputy commander for two years. During his remarks, Findley thanked Naval Health Clinic Hawaii for the support, caring and friendship and asked them to always remember why Naval Health Clinic Hawaii is here, “readiness — Job 1, patient care, and quality and safety — the foundations for a high-reliability organization.”

Wheeler served as USNS Mercy’s executive officer before assuming command of Naval Health Clinic Hawaii. Wheeler is no stranger to Hawaii as she served as the deputy surgeon, U.S. Pacific Fleet from 2010 to 2013.

“During my three years at U.S. Pacific Fleet, I learned that the people of Hawaii demonstrate a special kind of devotion to family and friends,” Wheeler said. “‘Ohana’ translates into English as “family,” but it is so much more than being related. It implies a deep dedication and commitment to the welfare of the members of the ohana. I am truly honored to be part of the Naval Health Clinic Hawaii ohana, and I am committed to do my best to ensure the welfare of the command.”

Lance Cpl. Steven Tran

III Marine Expeditionary Force

Not every day can a Sailor say he’s taken a ride in a hovercraft. Not long ago, the hovercraft was close cousin of the Starship Enterprise, Millenium Falcon, and other vehicles of fictional lore. But during a logistics training exercise Tuesday, Sailors with Shock Trauma Platoon, 3rd Medical Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group discovered that the landing craft air cushion-class hovercraft is very much a reality.

Two hovercrafts ferried the platoon, 10 tactical vehicles and all equipment for a shock trauma treatment site, from White Beach to Kin Blue, Okinawa. The hovercrafts facilitated a logistics training event during Blue Chromite 2016, a large-scale amphibious exercise led by 4th Marine Regiment, 3rd

Lt.j.g. McKenzie Brannon

Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37

On Oct. 22, the “Expendables” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37 Detachment 5 returned home to Kaneohe Bay culminating a seven- month deployment onboard the USS Preble. Officers in Charge, Lt. Cmdrs.

Ken Sheffield and Meagan Barnett led Det 5’s 29 officers and sailors in super- lative fashion completing 946 opera- tional flight hours in support of Com- mander, U.S. Seventh Fleet objectives.

USS Preble and Det. 5 participated in multiple exercises prior to their Pa- cific Theater deployment. In February, both units participated in Initial Ship

Aviation Team Training, Independent Deployers Certification Exercise, and Submarine Commanders Course along with the USS Chafee and USS Chosin. These exercises provided Det. 5 and USS Preble training on the integration of surface, subsurface, and aviation

EXPENDABLES, A-7

Hawaii Marine

Petty Officer 3rd Class Khaiyl Bourque | Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 37

Pfc. Jorge A. Rosales | III Marine Expeditionary Force

October 30, 2015 Volume 46, Number 44

www.mcbhawaii.marines.mil

W

hen the Con- tinental Con- gress raised up two battalions of Marines in 1775, it launched the greatest fight- ing force the world has ever known — a force revered globally for its uncommon valor, unparalleled adaptabil- ity, and ferocious tenacity. Over the past 240 years, the battlefields and equip- ment have changed, but the spirit of the United States Marine Corps has prevailed in every clime and place.

One hundred years ago, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island opened its doors as the first base dedicated solely to making Marines. Since then, hundreds of thousands of men and women have been forged into elite warriors at Parris Island, Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, and the Basic School in Quantico. Each recruit had a different reason for stepping onto the yellow footprints, but all are unified by the intangible traits that characterize United States Marines and the remarkable legacy that has carried on across generations.

Whether you served on the hallowed grounds of Belleau Wood, fought on the iconic island battlefields of World War II, navigated the harsh terrain and climate of the Chosin Reservoir or Vietnam, conducted assaults during Desert Storm, marched on Baghdad, fought in close combat in Fallujah, or conducted combat operations in Afghanistan, everyone who wears the Eagle, Globe and Anchor is a member of that storied legacy.

As we celebrate the 240th birthday of our Corps, we pay tribute to all who served and we remember our fallen heroes. We take great pride in our legacy and in the fine men and women who carry our colors into the future. And we extend heartfelt thanks to our families for their steadfast support.

Our 26th Commandant, Gen. Louis Wilson, once said, “In the last analysis, what the Marine Corps

becomes is what we make of it during our respective watches. And that watch of each Marine is not confined to the time he spends on active duty. it lasts as long as he is proud to bear the title of “United States Marine.” Thank you for guarding the legacy of our Corps during your watch.

Happy Birthday Marines!

Semper Fidelis, Robert B. Neller General, U.S. Marine Corps Commandant of the Marine Corps

HOVER, A-7