March 27, 2015• VOL. 72 • NO.12• NAVY.MIL/LOCAL/GUANTANAMO • FACEBOOK.COM/NSGuantanamoBay
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA • PSC 1005 BOX 25 • FPO, AE 09593 • 011-5399-4090
Naval Station Hosts “GITMO BAY” Reunion Group
1st Sgt. Joshua Wruble, Marine Corps Security Company Guantanamo Bay First Sergeant briefs the history of the North East gate to the members of the GITMO BAY reunion group during their visit, March 20-27. MC3 Kegan Kay Photojournalist
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very good trip has a story to it but members of the Guantanamo Bay Association brought stories with them on their one week stay at Naval Station (NS) Guantanamo Bay that are usually only found in history books. Members of the association have traveled from around the U.S. just to be able to visit NS Guantanamo Bay once more as most members had been stationed, went to school or were born here. The members all provide a vast and unique personal experience into the history of the base. Robert Moran, stationed at NS Guantanamo Bay from 19621963, recalls waking up the morning of the Cuban Missile Crises and seeing the USS Enterprise off the mouth of the bay while John Kellett, stationed from 1960-1962, remembers standing at the fence line during the Bay of Pigs and recalling being 19 years old about to turn 20 the following day. Their stay included a base tour with visits to the Lighthouse Museum, Radio GTMO, the North East Gate, many other locations and the opportunity to experience the base on their own time. “As far as the TV station and radio station, the changes in time and technology are kind of hard to realize but they’re not spinning records anymore,” remarks Moran about his old work site. “It’s different but it is nice to see the record library I started cataloging in 1962 is still there. My time at this base built the rest of [my] life.” With special visits to many old work locations, barracks,
houses, etc… the trip was filled with many nostalgic stops for the reunion group. “Oh just being here has been a “want to” really ever since I left,” says LaNae McCracken, who lived here from 1957-1959 while her father served as a dental technician. “I’m just amazed at how obliging and kind and helpful everyone is.” Al Kotrola agrees with McCracken regarding the friendliness of the base residents, “Everywhere you go the people are so friendly. It doesn’t make a difference if you are a Sailor, Corpsman, a civilian or whatever, it’s amazing.” No trip to base is complete without a trip to the beach and the group members made sure to spend as much time there as possible including have a cook-out, going swimming, snorkeling, diving and collecting seashells. For Kotrola’s son, Joe, accompanying his father on this trip was the perfect opportunity to put a visual to all of his father’s stories he heard growing up. During a banquet held at the Bayview on March 25, Commanding Officer Capt. Scott Gray expressed his sentiments to the group that he hoped they enjoyed their trip and to come back again next year while the members expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to be able to come back and enjoy Guantanamo Bay. “It was a great homecoming,” states Kotrola. For more information regarding the Guantanamo Bay Association please visit their website at www.gitmobay.org.
PAGE 2• THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE
NS Guantanamo Bay Commanding Officer, Capt. Scott Gray congratulates CE2 Buck on his selection as Sailor of the Week.
■Job/Department: BCO / Central Office Technician ■Age: 27 ■Hometown: Maywood, IL ■Goal: Try my hardest and never give up. ■Favorite Musician: Miles Davis ■Favorite Sports Team: Chicago Bears ■Heroes: Michael Johnson ■Favorite Movie: Coming to America ■Favorite Quote: “Mental toughness is when you can find fuel in an empty tank.” ■Greatest Accomplishment: Joining the Navy ■Favorite Hobbies: Running ■Favorite TV Show: Big Bang Theory ■Sailor of the Week Because: CE2 was instrumental in the restoration of communication services to all residents of BLDG AV 640 Leeward NGIS. He verified all existing phone numbers and rewired the central office connections, returning phone and Internet services to 52 rooms and several staff offices.
CE2 JAMES BUCK
VOL. 72 • NO.12
COMMANDING OFFICER EXECUTIVE OFFICER COMMAND MASTER CHIEF
Guantanamo Bay Gazette
CAPT. SCOTT GRAY CMDR. AL ROSS CMDCM (SW) JEFFERY TIDWELL
PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICER GAZETTE EDITOR PHOTOJOURNALIST
NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA
KELLY WIRFEL MCC(SW/AW) KEITH BRYSKA MC2 KEGAN KAY
The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is an authorized publication for members of the military services and their families stationed at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official views of the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, or the U.S. Navy, and do not imply endorsement thereof. The editorial content is prepared, edited and provided by the Public Affairs Office of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. The Guantanamo Bay Gazette is printed by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Document Services with a circulation of 670.
March 27, 2015• PAGE 3
Medical Corps Birthday AND National Doctor’s Day LCDR Kristi Wood U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay
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his month we take time to recognize doctors both in the Navy and throughout the United States starting out with 144th Medical Corps Birthday on March 3rd and ending with National Doctors Day March 30th. In the US there are currently 700,000 physicians and surgeons currently practicing medicine. In 1990 then President George H.W. Bush and Congress unanimously declared March 30 to be National Doctor’s Day. In his Proclamation Bush wrote “Common to the experience of each of them, from the specialist in research to the general practitioner, are hard work, stress, and sacrifice. All those Americans who serve as licensed physicians have engaged in years of study and training, often at great financial cost. Most endure long and unpredictable hours, and many must cope with the conflicting demands of work and family life”. In no area of medicine is this more obvious than the Medical Corps. The Navy Medical Corps was officially recognized by congress on March 3, 1871 with the Naval Appropriations Act. The Medical Corps’ scope has increased tremendously over these past 144 years. Currently there are nearly 4000 Active Duty and over 500 Reservist Medical Corps officers serving in the Navy.
Navy physicians along with the Marine Corps serve in the Attending Physician’s Office to Congress and the White House. Navy providers also serve in the aviation and undersea medical communities, and as astronauts in space. Navy providers are on the forefront of biomedical research, graduate medical education and training, and patient care in clinics, hospitals, on platforms and in combat theater. Medical Corps providers serve in dozens of medical and surgical specialties with over 200 subspecialties, much of that training being completed within the military system. Navy physicians serve throughout the world in many varied care areas. Providers can be stations at major tertiary care teaching facilities, clinics, community hospitals within the United States and various overseas locations. Medical Corps officers are also working in research units, in joint commands and other federal institutions. Providers can be assigned as operational medical officers that directly support our Navy and Marine Corps commands, squadrons, battalions and units. At times providers are tasked on short notice to deploy in support of combat operations, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance missions. This March take a moment to wish your Navy Medical Corps a Happy Birthday and happy doctor’s day!
U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay celebrates the 144th Medical Corps Birthday on March 3 with an all hands cake cutting ceremony. The cake cutting was done by Captain James Flint and Lieutenant Andrew Delle Donne.
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PAGE 6• THE GUANTANAMO BAY GAZETTE
Chaplain’s Corner
“Easter Faith” LT Baron Miller
NS Guantanamo Bay Command Chaplain
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hat does Easter mean to you? For some it means bunnies and chocolates; others it’s eggs and a big Sunday lunch. For the Christian Church, Easter is about faith. Let me explain. Easter Faith compelled the early church to live out-loud their hope and love for the resurrected Jesus. Consider the often recited church mantra, “He is risen, He is risen indeed!” The tense of is means now, means present. It’s not ‘He was risen’, but rather ‘He is risen’. Easter Faith has been rejuvenating the church each and every year from the 1st century to the 21st century. It is Easter Faith that calls us all to deeper faith. Let’s look at the disciple Thomas as an example. In the Gospel of John, Thomas is presented as fiercely loyal. In chapter 11 he states he’ll follow Jesus to death and he’s theologically alert in chapter 14, but by the time we get to chapter 20, Thomas gets tagged as a doubter (you’ve heard the term “Doubting Thomas”). John 20:24-29 tells this story: Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” A week later
his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” The story of Thomas tells me that God meets us where we’re at without harassment. We give Thomas a bad rap and we call him a doubter, but the truth is his faith, like much of our faith, doesn’t come in an instant, single dramatic moment. Some disciples had that—not Thomas. I think Thomas and the “Thomas’s” of the world understand that too much is at stake to be quickly given over to blind belief. And so I try and be gracious to Thomas; I don’t peg him as weak, but rather as one of those disciples who believed because they had seen. Myself and all Christians since the time of Jesus are those who’ve believed without seeing. What Thomas wanted to see is the same proof the world today still wants to see. Fortunately for us, what was veiled is now fully revealed—the church explains Jesus, explains Easter Faith, and explains resurrection life. It is the church who is asked by the world today, “Show me—I’ll believe he is risen when I see and when I touch.” This is the question posed to us—how do we answer?
U.S. Naval Hospital Guantanamo Bay celebrates Women’s History Month with an all hands cake cutting ceremony and readings from Cultural Committee members. The cake cutting was done by Captain Nancy Condon, Commanding Officer (Acting) and Lieutenant Commander Janiese Cleckley, Executive Officer (Acting).
GTMO SHOPPER
MOVIES
E-mail classified ad submissions to
PAO-CLASSIFIEDADS@ USNBGTMO.NAVY.MIL If sent to any other e-mail, it may not be published. Submit your ad NLT noon Wednesdays for that week’s Gazette. Ads are removed after two weeks. Re-submit the ad to re-publish. The Gazette staff and NS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, page. The Public Affairs Office has final editorial discretion on all content. Call MCC Keith Bryska at 4520 with your questions or concerns. Please keep ads to a minimum of 5 items.
VEHICLE 1996 Dodge Dakota Pickup truck, $1400, Call John or Julie at 75803
OUTDOOR REC CMC Powerlift Transom Jack for Outboard Motor w/install instructions ($75), MARES mini sten Pneumatic Spear Gun w/ holster ($50,)Please contract Steven @ 55352 GREAT DIVE/SNORKEL FAMILY BOAT +30 feet barrel boat with recently refurbished 90HP Johnson Ocean Pro and new barrels; inclined ladder for getting on the boat with dive equipment, plenty of deck space and storage, hold 10+ people comfortably, recently painted, nice speakers, head facility, COME FOR A TEST RIDE! $5000 OBO, Contact Steven 55352 or Otis 84988
MISC
39 one foot paving stones $20, Girls bicycle helmet $35, call
MISC
Multi-Family Garage Sale, Caribbean Circle, Sat. March 28 from 0700 to 1200, No early birds.
The
Scoop
PHILIPPINES EMBASSY *The Embassy of the Philippines will have representatives on island to renew passports for Filipino citizens April 1-2 and are being sponsored by Centerra. They have scheduled their employees for passport updates and would like to also extend the offer to other Filipino’s who work for NEX and/or MWR the chance to renew their passport. They will be located in the Centerra Conference Room, bldg. 2159. Those in need of these services are encouraged to stop by. STRONG and KIND BARS If you are like most service members you lead a very busy life which means many of us are prone to grab a protein or snack bar on the run. One
popular snack bar, Strong and Kind energy bars contain an ingredient that is of importance to military members – hemp seeds. All five of the Strong and Kind bar flavors include hemp seeds. Since hemp contains THC, an ingredient also found marijuana it is prohibited for service members. Every military member is individually responsible for ensuring he or she is compliant with this policy and failure to do so is a violation of Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Even though several states have legalized the use of marijuana, the use of marijuana and hemp remains illegal under the UCMJ for all military members whether on or off duty. We do not sell these particular energy bars at our Navy Exchange on base but service members need to be cautious when ordering online. The UCMJ applies to military members 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
March 27, 2015• PAGE 7
DOWNTOWN LYCEUM
FRIDAY Home 8 p.m.:
March 27
PG
10 p.m..: Get Hard R
SATURDAY March 28 Kingsman: The Secret 8 p.m.: Service R
10:15 p.m.:Divergent : Insurgent PG13
SUNDAY 8 p.m.: The DUFF
March 29
PG13
MONDAY March 30 Jupiter Ascending 8 p.m.: PG13
TUESDAY March 31 Midway (CPO BIRTHDAY) 8 p.m.: PG
WEDNESDAY Seventh Son 8 p.m.:
April 1
PG13
THURSDAY April 2 McFarland USA 8 p.m.: PG
FACILITIES Need to place a trouble call? Facilities has changed their number. It is now 3694 for all CALL THE MOVIE HOTLINE @ 4880 trouble calls.
EASTER SERVICES April 4 & 5, 2015 NAVSTA Catholic: 1930 Easter Vigil April 4 and 0900 Main Sanctuary April 5 Liturgical: 0930 (RM 1) April 5 Protestant: 0630 Sunrise Service at Windmill Beach and 1100 Main Sanctuary April 5 JTF Trooper Chapel Protestant: 0900 and 1900 April 5 For more information about these and other religious ministries contact NAVSTA Chaplains’ office at x2323/ JTF at x2218
Residents Participate in Base Beautification Project Residents of Guantanamo Bay came out to support the Naval Station during a base wide beautification project, March 21. Volunteers took the time to paint buildings, side walks, cut grass, pick up trash and various other projects to help out. After the group effort they were treated to a BBQ that was organized by the Chief Petty Officer Association.
March 27, 2015• PAGE 7