Stars & Stripes US Edition Alaska 062714 by Steve Abeln

Volume 6, No. 28 ©SS 2014

FRIDAY, JUNE 27, 2014

Servicemembers below the rank of E-5 in Japan are not allowed to be off post after midnight due to curfew restrictions placed upon them after a string of incidents. ERIC GUZMAN / Stars and Stripes

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Friday, June 27, 2014

COVER STORY

TAKING THEIR CHANCES WITH CURFEWS IN THE PACIFIC 2 deaths among incidents made worse by US servicemembers possibly afraid to get help while disobeying liberty rules BY SETH ROBSON Stars and Stripes

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan t’s Friday night, and curfew is looming for U.S. servicemembers across Japan and South Korea. Some are sleeping, watching TV or playing video games. Some are partying on base or heading back to the barracks from nearby bars, perhaps sprinting to get to the gate on time or walking there unsteadily after one too many drinks. Others are disregarding a liberty policy — which requires that they be back on base or in a private residence or hotel room between midnight and 5 a.m. — despite the risks to their careers and, perhaps, even their lives. The curfew is wildly unpopular with young troops who complain that they are being treated like children and punished for something they didn’t do. A significant number defy the rules — moving their partying to off-base entertainment districts where they are unlikely to get caught after midnight. The mixture of alcohol and unsupervised young servicemembers in a foreign country has risks. Twice since the late-night restrictions were imposed, it appears that the combination has led to a death; cases where friends didn’t seek medical help for those in dire

ERIC G UZMAN /Stars and Stripes

Roppongi Crossing, one of Tokyo’s most popular landmarks among tourists and expatriates, is an intersection that divides one of the city’s busiest entertainment disctricts into quarters. Servicemembers are prohibited from being here after midnight under the current curfew policy, but without a U.S. military presence on the streets, troops can party on without much fear. need, possibly out of fear of getting in trouble themselves for being out too late. In one case, Sasebo-based sailor Petty Officer 2nd Class David Lange, 26, fled while his friend, Petty Officer 2nd Class Samuel

servicemembers in Japan in response to the rape of an Okinawa woman by two visiting sailors. In early May of this year, Army Spc. Carl A. Lissone, 20, died after a bar fight in Seoul, South Korea, that left him unconscious and bleeding from his mouth and ears. He died more than 10 hours later; his friends took him to a hotel instead of a hospital. The incident is still under investigation.

Lewis Stiles, 25, lay dying after falling from the roof of a train parked in a closed station after midnight. The pair had been “urban hiking” shortly after a curfew was imposed in October 2012 on U.S.

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’

Airman 1st Class Fred Camacho

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PAGE 3

COVER STORY FROM PAGE 2

The incidents appear to be accidental fallout from curfews aimed at maintaining discipline and readiness or dealing with hostcountry sensitivities about the small percentage of servicemen who commit crimes off base. Servicemembers at Yokota Air Base said curfew violators could be reluctant to go to authorities. Airman 1st Class Fred Camacho, 22, of Brooklyn, N.Y., said no one wants an alcohol-related incident on their record at a time when the military is cutting tens of thousands from its ranks. “You have the choice of losing money and losing rank and, possibly, getting kicked out versus staying at a hotel and taking your chances,” he said. Given those options, many servicemembers said they would go to a hotel rather than a hospital, he said.

Being good neighbors The liberty policies in Japan are credited with cutting off-base incidents, which shows the U.S. military is trying to play the part of a gracious guest in these foreign lands. U.S. Forces Japan spokesman Lt. Col. David Honchul said the USFJ liberty policy was part of an effort to address off-base incidents and improve host-nation relations. “While reducing misconduct rates is a positive outcome of the policy, the singular goal of the policy is to safeguard the vital relationship with our Japanese host nation and communities,” he said by email. Additionally, U.S. Forces Korea spokesman Christopher Bush said the curfew in Korea — instituted in October 2011 — is being kept in place “in order for leaders to rapidly assemble their units and respond to any situation.” “Leaders at all levels of USFK continually reiterate to servicemembers the importance of our very real mission in Korea,” Bush wrote in an email. Troops are also counseled by leaders regularly regarding safety and personal conduct. “We are all ambassadors in this country. Servicemembers have a personal and professional responsibility to adhere to the USFK curfew. They also have a moral and professional obligation to their

ERIC G UZMAN /Stars and Stripes

Servicemembers below the rank of E-5 in Japan need to get to the party early, because they are not allowed to be off post after midnight due to curfew restrictions placed upon them after a string of incidents. ‘battle buddies,’ ” according to Bush’s email. USFJ and USFK recognize that the vast majority of U.S. servicemembers in Japan act as great ambassadors, Bush and Honchul said. As with all of USFJ’s policies, the liberty rules are routinely evaluated to make sure they are appropriate and effective, Honchul said.

Partying far from base It’s well after midnight and the curfew has begun, but the night is still young for revelers — many of them U.S. servicemembers — at nightclubs in the Roppongi entertainment district of Tokyo. There are no military police or “courtesy patrols” here to worry about — or

to help out in an emergency — and most club owners aren’t going to ask questions of someone plunking down cash for a round of drinks. The situation is similar in Seoul, where courtesy patrols in the Itaewon district near the Yongsan base have led some troops to head to other parts of the capital to party late. Servicemembers who go drinking after curfew often go into a nightclub before midnight and stay inside until daybreak, when it’s safe to head back to base. The ones partying in Roppongi were reluctant to talk to a reporter after midnight. “Are you NCIS?” several asked, referring to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. One sailor drinking whiskey and

cola with a large group of shipmates in a nightclub near Roppongi Crossing said he and his friends often stay out all night and don’t fear being caught as long as they keep away from U.S. bases. Swedish tourist Josefin Svensson, 20, who was drinking alongside the servicemembers, said she’s met a lot of young sailors out after curfew. Svensson said all of them had been friendly and that she felt safer going out in Tokyo than anywhere else she has lived. “I have a friend who is in the U.S. Navy, and he can’t come out every night because he has to work,” she said. “When he can come out, he should be allowed to stay out late.” Personnel at Yokota Air Base echoed the Roppongi revelers’ views. Airman 1st Class Dominick Gutierrez, 22, of San Antonio, said it’s tough for young airmen to hear stories about how much fun their friends are having back home. “They say, ‘You should have been there the other night. We were out until 4 a.m.,’ ” he said. Senior Airman Kyle Smith, 22, of Cooper City, Fla., said he expects incidents to happen no matter what liberty policy is in place. “I think the curfew is pointless right now,” he said. Smith said he’s trying to explore Japan — he recently toured Kyoto — but that the liberty policy makes that complicated. If he wanted to watch the sunrise from the summit of Mount Fuji, which requires climbing at night, he’d need to fill out forms and get approval from a senior officer. Airman 1st Class Ryan Alexander-Mansker, of Escondido, Calif., said when he goes to bars in Tokyo, he has to leave by 9 — about the time that most other people start their nights out in the city — so he can be back on base before midnight. He called the liberty policy a “morale killer.” Stars and Stripes staffer Lisa Tourtelot contributed to this story. robson.seth@stripes.com Twitter: @SethRobson1

‘ I have a friend who is in the U.S. Navy, and he can’t come out

every night because he has to work. When he can come out, he should be allowed to stay out late.

’

Josefin Svensson Swedish tourist in Tokyo

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Friday, June 27, 2014

PACIFIC

Agreement means more GIs in Australia Trilateral engagements with other nations also envisioned in deal seen as strengthening ties BY WYATT OLSON Stars and Stripes

FORT SHAFTER, Hawaii — The U.S. military is expected to significantly increase the number of troops, ships and watercraft rotating through Australia as a result of the beefed-up Force Posture Agreement announced last week. Although details about numbers and initiatives remain largely unspecified, defense analysts from both countries expect an increased presence in Australia for the U.S. Air Force, Navy and Marines in the form of bombers, nuclear submarines, missiles and troops. The agreement ensures that the roughly 1,100 U.S. Marines now moving through a base in Darwin on six-month rotations will increase to 2,500 within a couple years — and possibly expand into “something larger,” said Andrew Davies, director of research at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute in Canberra. “I think this is an important step forward for the alliance,” said Zack Cooper, a defense analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The United States has a limited number of bases, which are highly vulnerable, in the Asia-Pacific region, he said. “The challenges for the United States in Asia are quite substantial,” he added. “Anything the U.S. can do to decrease the vulnerability of its forces in the region is a big positive.” America’s main bases in the region are in Japan and South Korea in the northern Pacific and on Guam, about 1,500 miles east of the Philippines — which itself had been home to massive U.S. Air Force and Navy bases until the early 1990s. While the U.S. won’t be establishing permanent bases in Australia, gaining further access to runways and ports would provide both haven and support for missions in the

BRANNON D EUGAN /Courtesy of the U.S. Navy

U.S. sailors man the rails aboard the USS Blue Ridge as it pulls into port in Darwin, Australia, in June 2013 on a mission to build maritime partnerships and conduct security operations. South Pacific. It’s also a way to step up training and joint exercises between the U.S. and the Australian Defense Force, Davies said. He said it’s likely the Air Force will begin using runways in the northern part of the country, possibly for the B-52 strategic bomber and B-2 stealth bomber. “The U.S. has been interested in using these bases, if not all the time, then at least being able to rotate forces through them,” Cooper said. “And geographically the bases are nicely located to make it easy for the U.S. to get quickly into Southeast Asia if they need to.” Two Royal Australian Air Force runways have been discussed as possibilities — RAAF Tindal in the Northern Territory and RAAF Learmonth in the northwest — said James Brown, a defense analyst with the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney. Learmonth is one of Australia’s three “bare bases” in the remote north, so-called because they are not home to any permanent flying or support units. Bates Gill, head of the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney, said that the agreement also settled a debate between the two countries about who would pay for U.S. Marine rotations through Darwin. Australia will pick up the tab on most of that, Gill said, although the exact figures and other details of the agreement aren’t expected to

become known until an August meeting of foreign ministers from member nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Davies said that the U.S. Navy would “most likely” have greater access to fleet base facilities in the western port near Perth. U.S. nuclear submarines have occasionally used those facilities, so a precedent exists, he said. But the U.S. would face considerable challenges to regularly dock nuclear submarines there, Cooper said. Because Australia doesn’t operate nuclear subs, it doesn’t have the kind of infrastructure the U.S. would ideally like in a base, Cooper said. “It’s costly, and it’s technologically challenging,” he said. Gill said his speculation was that the agreement would produce trilateral engagements among Australia, America and, sequentially, one other regional country. The engagements would start out low-key and relatively small, possibly with New Zealand. “The Holy Grail on all this, the hoped-for big

these bases. … And geographically the bases are nicely located to make it easy for the U.S. to get quickly into Southeast Asia if they need to.

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ticket under that rubric, would be with China,” Gill said. The first such trilateral engagement is symbolically important, Gill said, because the overall American strategy is to take some steps beyond the “traditional hub-and-spokes bilateral model and see the cooperation with Australia not just as a bilateral one but one in which both Australia and the United States can engage with third parties in the region.” There are also “political sensitivities” in both countries to consider, Cooper said. “Any time you’re putting some forces forward, it

means that those forces are no longer based in the districts they used to be based in, so it can be a congressional challenge,” he said. “But I think there’s also a domestic political problem for the Australians. Although the polls that I see generally tend to show pretty high support for increasing U.S.-Australian cooperation, there is this hesitance. There are different points of view in Australia, which is only natural, and some experts are wary of making the U.S. and Australia even closer than they are and the implications that might have for China.” Although no specifics were forthcoming about where the two countries are headed on missile defense cooperation, Brown said that cooperation is more likely to speed up under Australia’s new government, which was formed last year under newly elected Prime Minister Tony Abbott. Just how far Australia’s government is willing to go with military cooperation with America will be revealed in its defense white paper, expected to be released within the next year, Cooper said.

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W H I T ACROSS T I E R 1 6 11 19 20 21

crossword

ACROSS

68 In the direction of

1 Book of maps

70 Make very slow progress

6 Wrist bones 11 Botched 19 Fowl place 20 Arctic, for one 21 Cousin of a helicopter 22 Tree with purplish leaves 24 Trigonometric function 25 Helmsman 26 Uniform shade 28 LaBeouf of film 29 Pepsi, e.g. 30 Hipbone-related 32 Accumulated dirt 35 “The Merchant of Venice” heroine 38 They may be blown

71 Fashion industry 74 Gift on “The Bachelor” 75 New shoots 78 Gets one’s guitar ready

24 25 26 28 29 30 32 35 38 40 43

79 Olympic metal

45 46

82 It’s outside the outskirts

83 Mysterious craft 86 Goes as high as one can 88 Work, as dough 89 Gathered together 91 Pinocchio, at times 93 Drink greedily 94 Mozart’s “L’___ del Cairo”

51 52 54 55 57 59 62 63 64 66 68 70 71 74 75

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9 Classic board game from India

40 “Long, Long ___”

95 El ___, legendary city of riches

43 It’s often mixed with 29-Across

97 It may be explosive

10 Have an inspiration?

99 “All the Things You ___”

11 Asian language

45 Draft choice

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T A L K E E T N A

78 Gets one’s 4 Viewpoint 61 Back off Book of maps guitar ready 5 Drug abused by 65 Yonder woman Wrist bones 79 Olympic metal some athletes 67 Buggy terrain Botched 82 It’s outside 6 Charmer’s snake 69 Sun, e.g. Fowl place the outskirts 7 High card 72 More authentic Arctic, for one 83 Mysterious craft 8 Raise a stink 73 Alaska native Cousin of 86 Goes as high 9 Classic board 75 Scout’s mission a helicopter as one can game from India (Abbr.) Tree with 88 Work, as dough 10 Have an 76 Anti-ship missile purplish leaves 89 Gathered together inspiration? 77 Kama ___ Trigonometric 91 Pinocchio, 11 Asian language 80 Congo’s function at times35 Glazier’s items 12 Inning sextet 96 Final notice, former forname short 125 Clotting Helmsman 93 Drink greedily 13 One of 50 states 81 Beats by a hair Uniform shade 94 Mozart’s 14 Kind of boom 84 Guinness 97 Girl Scout emblemBook 36 Drink garnish 127 Like a hermit LaBeouf of film “L’___ del Cairo” 15 Actress listings Pepsi, e.g. 95 El ___, legendary Samantha 85 Uneven 37 Sum up statements 128 Downy duck Hipbone-related city of riches 16 Board-game 98 Ceremonies 87 Maple fluid Accumulated dirt 97 It may piece 90 Corn holder relief 38 Material sold the holder 103 International 129 “TheHawaiian Merchant island of be explosive 17 by Ashes 92 Do over, Venice” heroine 99 “All the Things 18 Flower holder as a joke org. for kids yard 130 locale You ___” TheyOktoberfest may 23 Set tiles again 96 Final notice, be blown 100 After expenses 24 Cloak-andfor short 105 Dish-shaped gong 39 In the preceding “Long, Long ___” 101 Dracula, at times dagger org. 97 Girl Scout 131 Admiral’s command It’s often mixed 102 Grand Canyon month 27 Smooch emblem 107 Tiger’s with Taints 29-Across 31 Banquet entree 98 miscue Ceremonies 132 with soot transport Draft choice 104 Book names 33 City planner’s 103 International relief 41 Whoopi’s Oscar movie 108 Mark with cutkids Hindu festival 106 “West Side Story” concern org.afor of lights extra 42 Alley-___ (basketball 34 Checked 105 Dish-shaped 110 Clairvoyant’s Gasoline 109 Fishnet with floats for prints gong claim, DOWNtool thief’s 111 ___ new play) 35 Glazier’s items 107 Tiger’s miscue briefly Mad cow world record 36 Drink garnish 108 Mark with a cut 1disease, Curvedfortrajectories short 112 Fork setting 37 Sum up 110 Clairvoyant’s 44 Track events burstbriefly of “Good going!” 115 Fail to tip statements 111 Suddenclaim, 2 Barfly’s binge 117 Peacock’s Balance pride 38 Material sold 111 Sudden burst growth 47 Hardly dry sheet item 121 Matrimony by the yard of growth Play ball prelude49 Rocks in a 39 the preceding Big section 3 Bound 113 Big113 section of bar In Linda of “Dynasty” 125 Clotting month of 1-Across 41 Whoopi’s Oscar 1-Across 114 Indian dish 4Courtroom Viewpointevent 127 Like a hermit 50 Broadcasting company Naval rank (Abbr.) 128 Downy duck movie made with Basic 129 Hawaiian island stewed legumes 114 Indian dish made 5Poison Drugbelief abused by some 53 Tangle up 42 Alley-___ in 130 Oktoberfest (basketball play) 116 Grow dim with118 stewed legumes the athletes blood locale 44 Track events Aborigine of 56 Justifications Fix firmly (var.) 131 Admiral’s 47 Hardly dry northern Japan In the direction of command 49 Rocks in a bar116 Grow 119dim Buzzing pest 6 Charmer’s snake Make very 58 Place 132 Taints with soot to recover 50 Broadcasting 120 Sponsorship (var.) 118 Aborigine of northern slow progress DOWN company 121 Young grizzly 7 High card Fashion industry 1 Curved60 Adjoin 53 Tangle up 122 Half and half Japan Gift on trajectories 56 Justifications 123 Manipulate 8 Raise a stink “The Bachelor” 2 Barfly’s61 binge Place to recover 124 Not feeling well Back off 58 119 Buzzing pest New shoots 3 Bound 60 Adjoin 126 “Fancy that!”

12 Inning sextet

46 Hindu festival of lights

100 After expenses

48 Gasoline thief’s tool

101 Dracula, at times

51 Mad cow disease, for short

14 Kind of boom

102 Grand Canyon transport

15 Actress Samantha

52 “Good going!”

104 Book names

54 Balance sheet item 55 Play ball

106 “West Side Story” extra

57 Linda of “Dynasty”

109 Fishnet with floats

23 Set tiles again

59 Courtroom event

111 ___ new world record

24 Cloak-anddagger org.

62 Naval rank (Abbr.)

112 Fork setting

27 Smooch

63 Basic belief

115 Fail to tip

31 Banquet entree

64 Poison in the blood

117 Peacock’s pride

33 City planner’s concern

66 Fix firmly (var.)

121 Matrimony prelude

34 Checked for prints

13 One of 50 states

16 Board-game piece 17 Ashes holder 18 Flower holder

65 Yonder woman

120 Sponsorship (var.)

67 Buggy terrain

121 Young grizzly

69 Sun, e.g.

122 Half and half

72 More authentic

123 Manipulate

73 Alaska native

124 Not feeling well

75 Scout’s mission (Abbr.)

126 “Fancy that!”

76 Anti-ship missile 77 Kama ___ 80 Congo’s former name 81 Beats by a hair 84 Guinness Book listings 85 Uneven 87 Maple fluid 90 Corn holder 92 Do over, as a joke

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D E N A L I

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F A I R B A N K S

Universal sUnday Crossword Edited by Timothy E. Parker

Co-siGned By Mary Jersey

Last week’s answers

6/29

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Friday, June 27, 2014

MILITARY

‘HE CONTINUED TO FIGHT’

Stars and Stripes tells the stories of courage and camaraderie, celebrating the lives and deaths of those who gave nothing less than everything for others. Online exclusively at:

stripes.com/heroes

Soldier in storied Battle of Wanat to be awarded the Medal of Honor BY CHRIS CARROLL Stars and Stripes

WASHINGTON ormer Staff Sgt. Ryan M. Pitts, a forward observer who fought through critical injuries to help turn the tide in one of the deadliest attacks of the war in Afghanistan, will receive the Medal of Honor next month, the White House announced Monday. Pitts, 28, will become the third member of 2nd Battalion, 503 Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team to receive the nation’s highest award for valor, joining former Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta and former Sgt. Kyle White. With the award for Pitts, a Lowell, Mass., native who now lives in Nashua, N.H., a total of 12 Medals of Honor will have been conferred for combat in Afghanistan. Pitts earned his on July 13, 2008, in what came to be known as the Battle of Wanat. His unit was in the final weeks of a 14-month deployment and had been ordered to close down a heavily embattled combat outpost known as Bella and move operations to the outskirts of the village of Wanat in the Nuri-stan province. Ominously, the new location, named Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler, was overlooked by parts of the village that were on higher ground. It also was surrounded by several “dead space” areas where enemies could gather undetected. In the enemy’s crosshairs at Kahler were 48 soldiers, as well as 24 Afghan National Army troops and a handful of Marine Corps advisers. The decision to place the base in such a vulnerable location would later be hashed over in multiple reports and investigations of the controversial battle. Reprimands to several commanders were issued and later revoked, and the Army concluded the matter essentially

with praise for the valor of the men who lived and died that morning in eastern Afghanistan. The attack came just after 4 a.m., when machine guns opened up from a building to the north. Then the entire valley erupted in fire, according to the Army’s narrative of then-Sgt. Pitts’ actions. About 200 Taliban fighters who had infiltrated the village had launched a coordinated attack with small-arms fire, rocket-propelled grenades and hand grenades tossed from covered locations nearby. The base’s own heavy weapons were destroyed or neutralized early in the attack. Pitts and eight other paratroopers were in an observation post, OP Topside, on a nearby ridge when the attack came; seven were immediately wounded, and two men were killed. Pitts had received grenade shrapnel wounds in both legs and his left arm. After crawling across the outpost, one of his comrades in arms, Cpl. Jason Bogar, applied a tourniquet to stop serious bleeding in one of Pitts’ legs. Bogar would later be killed in the fighting. Realizing that Taliban insurgents were close enough to throw grenades, Pitts crossed the observation post and began “cooking” grenades — allowing timers to tick down — before throwing them into a concealed area nearby. In doing so, Pitts risked being killed by a short fuse, but made it impossible for insurgents to toss grenades back into the observation post. To save grenades, Pitts — at that point unable to stand — grabbed an M-240 machine gun and began firing blind over the wall. During the fight, Pitts stayed in radio contact with Capt. Matthew Myer, company commander, who was fighting on the main vehicle patrol base.

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Staff Sgt. Ryan M. Pitts, shown in Afghanistan, will be awarded the Medal of Honor on July 21. Soon after, Pitts realized that he was alone on the observation post, and that all the other soldiers were either dead or had withdrawn to Kahler. Myer told him by radio that no reinforcements were then available to reinforce the outpost. Pitts, who believed death was certain, decided to take out as many enemy troops as possible, the official Army narrative stated. “Taking up the M-203 grenade launcher, Pitts began firing it almost directly overhead, straight up, placing grenades that would detonate just on the other side of the perimeter, where the insurgents had concealed themselves in the draw,” according to the Army account. “Pitts also called on the radio for any soldier with a sightline to the OP to begin firing over the sandbag wall at his position, to knock the enemy back if they breached the wall.” Pitts was soon reinforced by a group of four soldiers, one of whom was killed in the effort. When attack

helicopters arrived soon after that, Pitts was nearly unconscious, but stayed in touch by radio with Myer and provided necessary information to allow the captain to guide airstrikes that finally took some of the heat off of VPB Kahler. Pitts was evacuated at 6:15 a.m., nearly two hours after the attack began and after fighting with critical injuries for more than an hour. Nine soldiers had been killed, primarily those who had been stationed in or had gone to relieve OP Topside, and 27 were wounded. Pitts could have withdrawn from his position without shame, Myer wrote in his official account soon after the battle. But that’s not what he did. “Despite life-threatening injuries — injuries that merited retreat from the [observation post] — he continued to fight,” Myer wrote. carroll.chris@stripes.com Twitter: @ChrisCarroll_

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June 27, 2014

>> EXPLORE ALASKA

See Alaska by horseback There are lots of ways to enjoy Alaska’s long summer days and spectacular scenery. Hiking is fun, but limited by individual ability and stamina. There is another option available throughout Alaska -horseback riding. The horse watches the trail, often one difficult or impassable for the hiker, while the rider is free to watch the incredible beauty of Alaska unfold around them. There are several reputable places to enjoy a horseback experience in the great outdoors, and each uses their unique locations to access forest, mountain, lake or oceanfront beach trails. While a horseback ride is not appropriate for very young children, those from older children to their grandparents can enjoy the adventure, and no previous riding experience is required. There are two types of horseback trips available at most locations: a trail ride or a longer trail trip or “packing” service. The trail ride generally follows an established trail for one to four hours. The longer trail trip or packing tour can include overnight or multi-night trail camping. Take a look at some of Alaska’s horse businesses, and determine which sights you would like to enjoy. Alaska Horsemen Trail Adventures, located in Quartz Creek just outside of Cooper Landing, is the oldest of Kenai’s trail guide services. Owner Alex Kime, and his daughter Gretchen, have been exploring the Kenai Peninsula by horseback for over 30 years. Today they offer guided rides and a trail packing service, throughout the Chugach National Forest and the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, from their lodge in Cooper Landing. According to Kime, one of their customer favorites is the four-hour Ranch Day Trip. This is an easy-going trail ride with spectacular views, amazing forests, wildlife viewing opportunities, and a scenic break area where riders enjoy a hearty Alaskan snack. The trail almost cannot be done by foot, but even an individual with no riding experience can discover sights unavailable to others.

If four hours seems like too much time in the saddle, Alaska Horsemen also offers one and two-hour trail rides. The one-hour trip follows Quartz Creek to a scenic view of Kenai Lake, and the two-hour trail goes through their mountain valley. Both are appropriate for all ages and levels of experience. Kime’s favorite tours are the Deluxe Day Trips, custom built for each guest. Some destinations include high mountain valley lakes, offering the rider a chance to enjoy some fishing. The views are spectacular, and generally provide great wildlife viewing and photo opportunities. These tours begin at trailheads in the Chugach National Forest or the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and can be anywhere from 5 to 12 hours. Some of the most popular trails available include Devil’s Pass Trail, which goes high into the mountain valleys of the Chugach National Forest above the tree line; Juneau Lake Trail, a scenic ride along Resurrection Trail to Juneau Lake, and includes the beautiful Juneau Falls; Crescent Lake Trail, which circles to the high mountain valley lake popular for grayling fishing and photo buffs; Kenai National Wildlife Refuge Trail, an old hunter’s packing trail that goes above the tree line, with spectacular views overlooking the Peninsula; and Johnson Lake Trail is known for the spectacular views as well as fishing options. These trips require transporting the horses by trailer to the trailhead, and are for a 3-person minimum group. Lunch and snacks are included, and campfire cookouts may be an option. Alaska Horsemen provides “Outback” outerwear and hats for weather protection, and saddle bags are also available for personal items. Expect to see wildlife including wolves, caribou, moose,

brown and black bear, sheep, goat, coyote and wolverine. Birds include bald eagles, hawks, owls, spruce hen and ptarmigan. Alaska Horsemen also offers a “Saddle-Paddle” Day trip that includes two hours of horseback riding, a try at gold panning, and a campfire lunch followed by an afternoon rafting trip floating the Kenai River. For those seeking a longer trek, Alaska Horsemen also offers custom extreme wilderness trips. These trips are all-inclusive, and can be overnight or multi-night, with the company furnishing all the camping gear, food, and doing all the cooking. Private tents will be set up in areas with magnificent views. Guests should be physically fit for these treks, as they include some rugged off-trail riding. Many of these trips use Resurrection Trail, the historic trail from Cooper Landing to Hope, that was used by trappers, hunters, and gold miners in the pioneer days. Bardy’s Trail Rides is located in Seward, and uses trails only accessible by horseback in a permitted area in the Chugach National Forest. This two-hour trip begins in the rain forest, where moose and bear roam. It then passes through the old town of Seward that was destroyed by the Great 1964 Earthquake. There, the rider will learn the story of the people who lived through the tsunami and quake before riding to the shore of the bay. The rider passes through salmon-filled rivers and inlets, and bald eagles nest overhead. The rider will enjoy spectacular scenery including the majestic Seward Harbor and a view of town most visitors never get. USA Today rated

June 27, 2014

STARS AND STRIPES

>> EXPLORE ALASKA

horseback, cont. Bardy’s Trail Rides as one of their “Top 10 Trail Rides”. Castle Mountain Outfitters is another familyrun business with deep Alaska roots. Located just outside of Chickaloon, the riding trails begin at the foot of the majestic Castle Mountain in the Talkeetna Range. In the late 1800’s, the trails through the Talkeetna Mountains were used primarily by dogsled and packhorses shuttling supplies to isolated gold mining camps. Created by game, these trails saw a lot of traffic through the height of the local mineral exploration period. Eventually only hunters and trappers used the area. In 1948, John Luster moved to Alaska with wild mustangs to break for a local guide. He brought his family up the next year, becoming a guide/outfitter, and spent the next 40 years leading horseback rides into the Talkeetnas. John’s children and grandchildren now work as wranglers and guides. Their horses are mountain-bred, with large hooves that help them stay on top of boggy areas. Many have draft blood, weighing over 1300 pounds and standing 15 hands high. The Luster Family offers a variety of rides, from 2 hours through overnights and custom adventures. While the 2 hour trail is great for beginning riders, the other available rides are for those with riding experience and in good physical condition. One of the customer favorites at Castle Mountain is the all-day ride. The trail winds through forests of massive timber, through creeks and river bottoms, and up through high mountain passes. Clients bring their own sack lunch and water and ride to the top of Castle Mountain, at 4,000 feet elevation. The view from the top includes almost the entire Matanuska Valley, from the Matanuska Glacier to the inlet.

Overnight trips can be from1 to 4 nights, riding six to 8 hours each day. Clients bring their own sleeping bags, tents and personal items, and the Outfitters provide hearty campfire meals. There are many opportunities for hiking, fishing, fossil hunting and spectacular photos. Trails End Horse Adventures in Homer offers a real working cow ranch experience, with trails that follow Katchemak Bay. There have been working ranches around the Kachemak Bay for decades, and Trails End owner Mark Marette is a Homer rancher, raising a crossbred Angus herd in what he calls “Cowboy Country, Alaska”. Wishing to share the experience of riding on the coast and the hills around Homer, he has guided tours there since 1986. His ranch overlooks spectacular marine and mountain views, and the riders soon finds themselves in some of Alaska’s most incredible untamed country. The ride begins at the end of East End Road, where a switchback trail takes the riders to the shore at the head of Kachemak Bay, and covers diverse terrain. A photo of the rider and mount on the beach at sea level with the majestic 6000’ peaks surrounding the Harding Ice Fields in the background provide a lifetime of memories. Three glaciers are visible on the ride, as are land and sea animals, including seals, otters, wolves, coyotes, bear, as well as bald eagles and other shorebirds. The location provides stunning scenery. There are extreme tides to be viewed and, depending on the phase of the moon, incredible low and hide tides. Bring your camera! Custom trips for groups can also experience Fox River Valley, the largest river that flows into Kachamak Bay. This trip can include river crossings and steep climbs. Whatever the ride, Mark will share his knowledge of area history, the Russian villages that riders will pass, and the history of Homer.

WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS CALM WATERS

se! o l C y l b Incredi

WILD SIGHTS

Wranglers generally know how to best match rider and mount, and they are the ones who will choose your horse for you. Be honest about your experience and whether or not you are tentative about riding. You will receive basic riding instruction before each ride. Wherever you decide to ride, there are rules to follow. Always wear appropriate clothing, including layers. Weather conditions can change rapidly whether you are in the mountains or riding along the coast. Coats and slickers can be tied behind your saddle. Always wear boots with a heel, which will help prevent your foot from slipping in the stirrup. Long pants are also necessary, as you will be going through a variety of terrain that includes tree branches. Small items including your camera and binoculars can go into saddlebags provided by your wrangler, as can bottled water. Many longer treks include a break and light snacks. Summer is short. Get out and enjoy it in a brand new way!

Alaska Horsemen Adventures, Cooper Landing (907) 595-1806 alaskahorsemen.com Bardy’s Trail Rides, Seward (907) 362-7863 sewardhorses.com Castle Mountain Outfitters, Chickaloon (907) 745-6427 mtaonline.net/cmoride Trails End Horse Adventures, Homer (907) 235-6393

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June 27, 2014

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MILITARY

House OKs defense bill amendment to block ‘Warthog’ retirement SIERRA DOPFEL /Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force

A-10 “Warthogs” from the 188th Fighter Wing at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Fort Smith, Ark., fly earlier this month. On June 19, the House rejected the Pentagon’s plan to retire the aircraft, which has plenty of allies on Capitol Hill. The 300-114 vote reversed the Appropriations Committee’s initial backing for the administration’s cost-cutting move.

BY TRAVIS J. TRITTEN Stars and Stripes

WASHINGTON — The A-10 “Warthog” survived a key budget vote in Congress on June 19, increasing chances that lawmakers will reject Air Force plans to retire the aircraft beginning next year. The House passed an amendment to its $570 billion defense spending bill that would bar the service from axing the venerable A-10, officially known as the Thunderbolt. The full appropriations bill passed on June 20. The Senate has yet to pass its version of the spending bill but previously has voted to keep the aircraft as well. The Air Force has proposed to retire the A-10, a battlefield stalwart since it was introduced in the mid-1970s, and leave close-air support operations to the F-15 and F-16 fighter jets and B-1 bombers while it develops the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter over the coming decade. Getting rid of the Warthog would save the Air Force about $4.3 billion over the next five years. But opposition has swelled in Congress. Supporters including Rep. Ron

Barber, D-Ariz., whose district includes Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, said the Warthog has unique capabilities and is preferred by ground troops. “Our troops deserve the best closeair support we can provide, and there is no better close-air support than the A10,” said Barber, whose Arizona district includes the largest concentration of the aircraft in the world. The amendment to save the Warthog was also sponsored by Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich., whose state is home to Selfridge Air National Guard Base, where about 20 A-10s are based. “When our troops on the ground hear it, they know what is coming,” Miller said. “But you know what? So do our enemies, they know pain is coming.” Now the Senate must craft its version of the defense spending bill, which is expected this summer.

Congress has so far bucked the A-10 retirement and a raft of spending cuts proposed by the military services and supported by top brass. The Budget Control Act of 2011, also known as sequestration, mandates steep cuts in the coming years, and leaders say they fear the military’s ability to fight wars might be diminished without reduced spending. Aircraft, ships and personnel spending — including base grocery stores, housing benefits and health care — were put on the chopping block in the Department of Defense budget for the coming fiscal year. President Barack Obama also included the cuts in his proposed budget. To preserve the A-10, supporters passed an amendment on the House floor June 19 that bars the Air Force from using any money to retire it.

‘ When our troops on the ground hear (the A-10), they know what is coming. But you know what? So do our enemies, they know pain is coming.

’

Rep. Candice Miller, R-Mich.

The amendment drew criticism from fiscal hawks on the House defense appropriations subcommittee, which passed the earlier draft bill that would have retired the A-10. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, R-N.J., chairman of the subcommittee, said the A-10 has executed only about 20 percent of close-air support operations since 2008 and that its time is coming to an end. “The money that we save (from the A-10 retirement) will allow us to procure the next generation of aircraft,” he said. “It’s time we look to the future.” Rep. Peter Visclosky, R-Ind., the ranking member of the subcommittee, said the amendment will require the Air Force to spend at least an additional $539 million to keep the A-10 flying next year — $339 million for crews and fuel, and $200 million for spare parts and modifications. “The author of the amendment and those who support it have not shown where that money is going to come from in the bill,” he said. “We have to begin to make some tough decisions. There is a finite amount of money in this bill.” tritten.travis@stripes.com Twitter: @Travis_Tritten

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PACIFIC

US-Vietnam ties warming with China rift BY ERIK SLAVIN

been very rapid since 2010 in terms of U.S.-Vietnam military relationships,” said Christian Le Mière, senior fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. “Continued assertiveness by China in the South China Sea will only further convince the Vietnamese that they should be expanding their international alliances, and that includes the United States.” The U.S. Navy has been making port visits to Da Nang in recent years, engaging in activities that started with sports and ship tours with Vietnamese sailors, and developed into a joint searchand-rescue exercise last year. Greater U.S. Navy access to Cam Ranh Bay, further south near Nha Trang, would represent a bigger step in the military-to-military relationship. The deep water port is about 7 miles from open sea and is capable of accommodating aircraft carriers, and its facilities recently underwent millions of dollars in upgrades. Its airport is used by both Vietnamese military forces and by commercial carriers. U.S. Military Sealift Command ships have visited for repairs — the first came along with former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta in 2012 — but no active U.S. Navy ship has visited the port since the Vietnam War. On May 31, with senior Chinese military officials in attendance at the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore, Vietnamese Defense Minister Gen. Phùng Quang Thanh touted Cam Ranh Bay to all comers, commercial and military. “Vietnam sees that it is a waste if [Cam Ranh Bay] is

Stars and Stripes

YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan — The United States flag once flew over 25,000 acres of airfield and port facilities at Cam Ranh Bay, one of the military’s largest bases at the height of the Vietnam War. Although it is doubtful that the valuable South China Sea port would be shared by U.S. forces, a hearty welcome from Vietnam to visiting U.S. warships and aircraft is growing increasingly likely. When China moved a $1 billion oil rig in May into waters claimed by Vietnam, the ensuing sea standoff accelerated a warming U.S.-Vietnam military relationship like few other events could have, defense analysts and diplomats told Stars and Stripes following a regional security summit last month. China’s claim to about 90 percent of the South China Sea, largely based on what it calls historical discoveries, threatens Vietnamese claims to resource-rich waters and islands near their continental shelf. While the U.S. takes no position on territorial sovereignty, Vietnam’s interests — along with those of several other nations bordering the South China Sea — align with U.S. principles of freedom of navigation and international law. The United States also wants to protect what is, according to a 2012 U.S. estimate, $1.2 trillion in U.S. trade transiting along South China Sea shipping lanes. “There have been remarkable strides already made in the last few years, and it’s

JAY C. PUGH /Courtesy of the U.S. Navy

A Vietnamese officer watches the rescue-and-salvage ship USNS Safeguard steam into Da Nang, Vietnam, in April in support of a low-level exercise between the U.S. and Vietnam. A standoff at sea between Vietnam and China is accelerating the already warming relationship between the U.S. and Vietnamese militaries, according to security analysts. act less aggressively in the area, while at the same time allowing Vietnam to show that it took no provocative action against China. Although China and Vietnam have each accused each other of ramming ships and stoking tensions, it is clear that Vietnam can’t afford to be the aggressor against the much larger Chinese fleet. Vietnam’s functional coast guard is 40-odd vessels and most of them are relatively small, at 400 tons or less. China’s coast guard includes dozens of ships more than twice that size, and that’s assuming China sticks to a pledge of not using its navy — though Vietnam says China has already sent warships to the oil rig confrontation. “[Vietnam’s fleet] is like a junior varsity team playing football against NFL pros,” Thayer said. “Guess who’s going to be pushed down the field?”

emeritus at the University of New South Wales in Australia and Southeast Asia analyst who was in Hanoi when the China confrontation began. Vietnam paved the way for such engagement on May 20 in a little-noted but potentially important decision to join the Proliferation Security Initiative, Thayer said. The PSI was created by the U.S. and Poland in 2003 as an international effort to interdict vessels carrying weapons of mass destruction, and it has since garnered signatories from more than 100 countries. Vietnam joined with China in strenuously arguing that the PSI violated international law, until Hanoi changed its mind last month. “It’s a bait on the hook to request the United States to assist in standing up their ability to conduct maritime reconnaissance and surveillance and link to shore-based radars and other technical equipment,” Thayer said. The additional U.S. presence could force China to

not put into use, so we are considering our own investments, management and construction of the port to provide services to ships from all countries,” Thanh said. However, analysts agree that Vietnam will take a cautious approach to engagement with the U.S., balancing the relationship with other large powers. Russia remains Vietnam’s most important defense supplier. The Russians are building six Kilo-class submarines for the Vietnamese, and they’ll have a regular presence at Cam Ranh Bay as well. Most analysts don’t see the Russian presence as a sticking point. But U.S. rotational basing at Cam Ranh Bay, similar to the agreement struck earlier this year granting U.S. access to Philippine-run bases, is out of the question for now. Instead, the U.S. and Vietnam can send an effective message to China though regular port visits, refueling stops and other measures, said Carlyle Thayer, a professor

slavin.erik@stripes.com Twitter:@eslavin_stripes

code breaker In these Code Quotes from America’s history, each letter given is a code consisting of another letter. To solve this Code Quote, you must decode the puzzle by replacing each letter with the correct one. An example is shown. A ‘clue’ is available if you need extra help. Example: G E O R G E W A S H I N G T O N Is coded as: W J A M W J G I T C X Z W F A Z

F T

X T Y .

E C

X T

E O

T Y A

F T

X T G

K S

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D W

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Hint: This founding father, known as “The Chancellor”, made this statement after signing the Louisiana Purchase. Last week’s answer: A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.” John Adams

L W

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Friday, June 27, 2014

Syria transfers last batch of chemical weapons stockpile W

Military spouse gets kids involved in the community

hen Christy Gilgether. Each volunteer opporliland and her tunity is created for a child to Air Force family complete in one day alongside moved to Scott Air an adult. They work together. Force Base in Illinois, Gil“I wanted to get the kids liland began looking for ways involved in giving back, buildto engage her children, then ing strong relations between 7 and 10, in their new commilitary families and civilian munity. The family had come families,” she said. from Okinawa, where they had Showing kindness has taken helped out regularly at nearby different forms for Gilliland children’s homes. and her teams of volunteers. “I’ve always had my children They have baked cookies give back to the community for nursing home residents, since they were small,” Gilcooked dinners at Ronald liland said. McDonald Houses and helped After moving to Illinois, with Special Olympics. They she said she found a group for have also made family comfort everything from pet lovers to bags for families who visit gardening, but no opportuniSt. Louis Children’s Hospital ties for young volunteers. So in emergencies. Some of the she did what many military teen volunteers helped build spouses do, she created the houses with SPOUSE CALLS Habitat for outlet she was seeking. She found like-minded famiHumanity. lies in her military neighborKidz hood and initiated pages on Showing Facebook and Meetup.com to Kindness is organize the group, schedule an informal events and communicate with organization, participants. but Gilliland “It just started happening,” has initiated Gilliland said. “People started the process emailing and saying, ‘This is to turn it into great, I’ve been looking for a a nonprofit. Terri Barnes place to plug “I’ve been Join the conversation with Terri at my children asked why stripes.com/go/spousecalls in.’ So it just I want to kind of grew.” be a 501(c), because we As it grew the group needed a name. just volunteer,” she said. “But Gilliland called it Kidz Showwe could do so much more with ing Kindness. Since it began nonprofit status. Some comin January 2013, she said the panies don’t want to donate if group has grown to include we are not official. (It) would about 150 families, and offers open doors for us to be able to volunteer projects for ages 5 give more and donate more, to 18. because right now our budget Having an organization is zero. Everything is donated, proved helpful when looking and everything is given away.” for volunteer projects. Another of Gilliland’s goals “Before, when I was calling is to start other chapters, plantas Christy and wanted to get ing Kidz Showing Kindness my children involved, (organiwherever the Air Force takes zations) were not receptive.” her family. Gilliland said. “When I call She said her first purpose representing Kidz Showing was to show her own children Kindness and tell them we the value of doing something have a group of children and for somebody, while asking for families who want to parnothing in return. She said she ticipate, they are much more has seen that accomplished receptive to letting us come in in her own children and other as a group.” participants. She emphasizes that Kidz After one volunteer event, Showing Kindness is not just she said, “One of the kids for kids. came up to me and said, ‘Miss “It’s a children’s volunteer Christy, I feel like I really organization, but it’s really a made a difference today.’ ” family volunteer organization,” Responses like that let GilGilliland said. “The parents liland know she is making a can’t drop their children off. difference, too. They stay and they work to-

BY JON H ARPER Stars and Stripes

WASHINGTON — The Syrian government turned over the last of its chemical weapons stockpile to the international community, and U.S. chemical weapons experts will soon begin destroying the deadly materials, according to officials. The last of the remaining chemicals were loaded aboard the Danish ship Ark Futura at the Syrian port of Latakia on Monday, Ahmet Üzümcü, the director-general OPCW of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, said in a press release. The Assad regime agreed to hand over all its nerve agents and mustard gas last year under threat of American military force. The Obama administration made preparations to attack Syria after evidence surfaced that the regime had used chemical weapons against rebels and civilians. The civil war in Syria continues to rage with no end in sight. “The Syrian government’s handover earlier today of the final tranche of its declared chemical stockpiles marks an important milestone in the effort to eliminate Syria’s chemical weapons program. The United States and our international partners will now work to destroy these materials so they never again pose a threat to the Syrian people or America’s allies in the region — an outcome that was hard to

PETROS K ARADJIAS/AP

Containers carrying Syria’s dangerous chemical weapons are marked with stickers identifying them as poison on the Danish cargo ship Ark Futura that was transporting the weapons out of the country in Cyprus coastal waters on May 13. imagine a year ago,” Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said in a statement. American engineers and scientists on board the MV Cape Ray will use a new, high-tech Field Deployable Hydrolysis System to neutralize the dangerous chemicals at sea. The Cape Ray will depart Rota, Spain, and head to the Italian port of Gioia Tauro, where the chemical stockpile will be uploaded onto the Cape Ray. The vessel is scheduled to arrive in Italy sometime early next week, according to a Defense Department official, who agreed to discuss the ship’s movements on condition of anonymity. The Cape Ray left Portsmouth, Va., on Jan. 27. The vessel has been moored in Rota since February while the international community waited for the Syrian regime to hand over the remainder of its stockpile. Once all of the chemicals are onboard the Cape Ray, the

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ship and its crew will sail into international waters, where the FDHS will go to work. The neutralization process is expected to take about 60 days. Once all the chemicals are neutralized, the resulting effluent will be sent to facilities in Germany and Finland for further processing and destruction. Officials have said that the neutralization process is environmentally sound. The removal of Syria’s chemical weapons comes at a time when the Obama administration is deploying U.S. troops to Iraq to protect American diplomatic facilities and help the Iraqi security forces thwart Islamic militants who have overrun large swathes of the country in recent weeks. The militants belong to a group call the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which is also battling the Assad regime in Syria. harper.jon@stripes.com Twitter: @JHarperStripes

This publication is a compilation of stories from Stars and Stripes, the editorially independent newspaper authorized by the Department of Defense for members of the military community. The contents of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, and are not to be considered as the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, including the Defense Department or the military services. The U.S. Edition of Stars and Stripes is published jointly by Stars and Stripes and this newspaper. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DOD or Stars and Stripes of the products or services advertised. Products or services advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user, or patron.

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U S N N Y L V A E Q T B I W Z C L B L G P F

C S F N H V A C V Z Z B N V B I I S V A B Y

Untitled X BU L E NR E V IF Q R TS A F NO U J QD A N IA C L MA R H GR U X FY D C KF L U RS U E SS M T PX U F ZO N R ED E V SR O R ET E E RN H N TI E I KC J A GL B

L D J H Q T O W B D J T I I X R L P I T F U

R L V J E O U P S Z K F L O J F L H L A K P

SpotsylvaniaCourtHouse Chancellorsville Fredericksburg ColdHarbor CedarCreek Opequon

U I E U P P R N Y W W W L Q O L E G L M P L

N W S M O E T R T W Q A P G T J C I S F Y O

C V Z V H D H I T L S Y F C X T N O W V U N

U D U M G X O Z E K D W T O Z Z A F T B P P

Wilderness Petersburg MalvernHill

D S C I N B U J G Y G M I U V Z H L I Q K A

N U W M O W S E V E N P I N E S C R M N R T

V V T F V O E M C O L D H A R B O R Z L S V

Gettysburg Spotsylvania Court House Chancellorsville Wilderness Antietam Bull Run Fredericksburg Cold Harbor Petersburg Gaines’s Mill Seven Pines Cedar Creek Opequon Malvern Hill Petersburg

Antietam GainessMill Petersburg

June 27, 2014

STARS AND STRIPES

Can you:

Volunteers needed

Meet and greet guests, data entry, and give tours? Schedule volunteers & directors for duty each month?

Alaska Veterans Museum

Write press releases, call media organizations, and/or design ads? Coordinate with schools, Scouts, etc to arrange tours and other events?

is Yo ap ur pr he ec lp iat ed

Brief VFWâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, American Legions, AMVETS & DAV Chapters on AVM activities ? Help collect oral histories; work directly with our Veterans to document their experiences? Help by donating Military uniforms & artifacts form WWI, Korea, Vietnam & the Gulf Wars? Help raise money to continue and expand our programs, and ultimately move to a larger space?

Please call: Suellyn @ (907) 696-4904 to offer any help you can.

June 27, 2014

STARS AND STRIPES

FREELANCE WRITERS Stars & Stripes U.S. Edition – Alaska is looking for freelance writers to add a local flavor to our newspaper. Two specific areas of interest are “Veteran Spotlights”, focusing on Alaska Veterans, and “Explore Alaska” focusing on Alaska adventure. Other topics will be added as well.

If you have a desire to help tell our readers about our local Veterans, Alaska’s outdoors, and other newsworthy topics, please email SteveA@AK.net. Please include some writing samples.

STARS AND STRIPES • S

PAGE 16

TA R S

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T R I P E S

•

June 27, 2014 Friday, June 27, 2014

Veteran Owned Businesses Windy City LLC

1410 Rudakof Cir Anchorage, AK 99508 (907) 222-0844 adaktu.net

orionconstructioninc.net

Revl Inc

Historical Urban Wear

650 W 58th Ste J Anchorage, AK 99518 (907) 563-8302 revlinc.net/Contact.aspx

Denali Graphics and Frame

7120 Hart St Anchorage, AK 99518 (907) 349-2581 world-widemovers.com

PO Box 141402 Anchorage, AK 99524 (907) 351-8834 classyurbanwear.com

5001 Arctic Blvd Ste 3 Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 561-4456 denaligraphics.com

Mat-Su Tactial

4900 E Palmer-Wasilla Hwy Wasilla, AK 99654 (907) 357-3381 matsutactical.com/index.html

M-W Drilling Inc

12200 Avion St Anchorage, AK 99516 (907) 345-4000 mwdrillinginc.com

Orion Construction Inc

4701 E Shaws Dr Wasilla, AK 99654 (907) 631-3550

World-wide Movers Inc

Federal Resource Solutions

PO Box 244911 Anchorage, AK 99524 (760) 473-2982 www.4frs.com

A-Two Septic

8460 E Gold Bullion Blvd Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 841-8632 www.a2septic.com

Alaska Commercial Carpenting and Services 8530 Gordon Cir Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 830-9878 www.accs1.com

Alaska Construction Surveys LLC

4141 B St Ste 203 Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 344-5505 www.akconstsurveys.com

Alaska Veteran’s Business Alliance 3705 Arctic Blvd #1335 Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 279-4779 www.akvba.org

Computer Matrix Court Reporter

135 Christensen Dr Anchorage, AK 99501 (907) 243-0668 www.computermatrixcourtreporters.com

Container Specialties of Alaska

8150 Petersburg St Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 349-2300 www.containerspecialtiesak.com

Custom Truck Inc

Ace Delivery and Moving Inc

4748 Old Seward Hwy Anchorage, AK 99503 (907) 563-5490 www.customtruckak.com

Brown’s Electrical Supply

8240 Petersburg St Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 562-2312 www.denalidrilling.com

7920 Schoon St Anchorage, AK 99518 (907) 522-6684 www.alaskanace.com

365 Industrial Way Anchorage, AK 99501 (907) 272-2259 www.brownselectric.com

Central Environmental

311 N Sitka St Anchorage AK 99501 (907) 561-0125 www.cei-alaska.com/contactus.html

Denali Drilling

J&S Auto Repair

21065 Bill Stevens Dr Chugiak, AK 99567 (907) 688-1191 www.jsautoak.com

Lemay Engineering and Consulting

4272 Chelsea Way Anchorage, AK 99504 (907) 250-9038 www.lemayengineering.com/Contact.html

LMC Management Services

2440 E Tudor Rd 1123 Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 242-6069 www.lmcmanagementservices.com

Lugo’s Upholstery

648 E Dowling Rd Ste 101 Anchorage AK 99518 (907) 562-5846 www.lugosupholstery.com

Microbyte Computers

PO Box 90057 Anchorage, AK 99509 (907) 382-8397 www.mbcak.com/contact/

Mckinley Fence Co of Alaska, Inc

5901 Lake Otis Pkwy, Anchorage, AK 99507 (907) 563-3731 www.mckinleyfence.com