Volume 13, Issue 12 Friday, January 27, 2012

Here fishy fishy...

MSST lights the way 

at Windward Point

Movies, how do 

they work?

Mind, Body & Spirit:

A haunting in GTMO
| News from the Bay The Wire | Page 3

News from the Bay

Learn the art of leathercrafting at the 

Ceramic Shop every Tuesday from 7 p.m. to 

8:30 p.m. Each class costs $15. 

Register at the shop or call 74795/84435.

Turn your trash into cash for the students 

of U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. W.T. 

Sampson is taking part in the Box Tops for 

Education fundraiser. Each box top donated 

will be turned into 10 cents for Guantanamo 

Bay schools. A Box Tops collection bin is 

available at the NEX.

Grab some friends and some sunscreen 

and get ready for the coed Blizzard Sand volleyball tournament. The action runs from Feb. 

18-20. Register your team (four to six people) 

by Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. There will be a coaches’ 

meeting Feb. 16 at 5:30 p.m. You must be at 

least 16 years old to join a team.

For more information, call 2113.

Straight from Atlanta, Ga. comes Cartel: 

a pop-rock band which has toured around 

the world and was featured in Rolling Stone, 

USA Today and The New York Times. Watch 

them rock the stage tomorrow at O’Kelly’s 

Patio at 9 p.m. The subject of MTV reality 

mini-series “Band in a Bubble,” Cartel will 

perform songs from their upcoming album 

“In Stereo” as well as their hit “Honestly.”

Bring the whole family to the Bayview Patio tonight for sloppy joes and a showing of 

“The Smurfs.” Dinner starts at 6 p.m. and the 

movies begin at 7 p.m. 

For more information, call 75604.

Tomorrow’s GTMO Rock and Roll Half 

Marathon kicks off at 7 a.m. with musical 

acts Cartel and Something Distant among the 

motivational sections every mile. Come out 

and join a cheering section. There will be no 

same-day registration for the run itself.

 For more information, call 2157.

Are you looking for something new to do 

on base? Come to Downtown Lyceum tomorrow between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. for the 

MWR Expo. Representatives from the different MWR sections will be there to show 

you what exciting events and adventures they 

have to offer. There will be lots of prizes and 

free giveaways.

Rock band Something Distant will also 

bring their sounds to O’Kelly’s Patio tonight 

at 7 p.m. This band has shared the stage with 

bands including Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, 

Molley Hatchet, Fit For Rivals, Yellow Card, 

Tony Scozarro, Big 10-4, Hollywood Love 

Scene, Ben Robinson and many others.

Want to see Guantanamo Bay from a 

new perspective? Come to the Marina tomorrow at 8 a.m. for a mountain bike trip 

through some of the base’s beautiful trails. 

No bike? No problem. Reserve a bike or 

register for the trip today by 3 p.m. by calling 2345.

Want to purchase some treasures and gifts 

made by local craftsmen? Come to Downtown Lyceum tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 1 

p.m. for the craft fair.

Golf cart rentals will be half price every 

Tuesday in the month of January. $5 covers 

a rental for one person and $7.50 covers two 

people. 

Additionally, boat rentals will be half price 

every Wednesday this month. Prices vary 

based on the boat. 

For more information, call 2345..

Get in the mood for the Super Bowl by 

playing in the Super Fishbowl Tournament 

Feb. 4. Register at the Marina by Feb. 2. Registration costs $6. The Tournament starts at 

7 a.m. and ends at 12 p.m. There will be prizes for 1st place male and female winners with 

the longest mackerel, jack, and snapper. 

For more information, call 2345. 

Dinner and a Movie Free mountain 

bike trip

INDEX

The Wire

january 27, 2012

ARNG director visits

Peyton’s Fate

Lighthouses rule!

Here fishy fishy...

BG earns Legion of Merit

Movies, how do they work?

Cartoon: Only at GTMO

Movie review: Red Tails

Sand volleyball 

tournament

Leathercraft classes 

Craft fair 

Half price recreation 

in January

GTMO Rock & Roll 

Half Marathon

Something Distant 

concert

Cartel concert

MWR Expo

Super Fishbowl 

Tournament 

W.T. Sampson 

box top drive

5

7

8

10

12

13

17

18

The Wire | Page 2 Command Corner |

JTF Guantanamo

Commander

Rear Adm. David Woods

Deputy Commander

Brig. Gen. James Lettko

Command Master Chief

Cmd. Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Office of Public Affairs Director

Cmdr. Tamsen Reese: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Maj. Michelle Coghill: 9927

Operations Officer

Army Maj. Jon Powers: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant: 3649

The Wire

Editor: Army 1st. Lt. Amelia Thatcher

Assistant Editor: Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Photojournalists

Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Army Sgt. Landis Andrews

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Jon Dasbach

Mass Communication Spc. 3rd Class Marquis Whitehead

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3651

Commercial: 011-5399-3651

DSN: 660-3651

E-mail: amelia.c.thatcher@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

Online: www.jtfgtmo.southcom.mil/wire/wire.html

The WIRE is the official news magazine of Joint Task Force Guantanamo. It is 

produced by the JTF Public Affairs Office to inform and educate the Troopers 

of JTF Guantanamo through news, features, command guidance, sports 

and entertainment. This DoD news magazine is an authorized publication 

for the members of the Department of Defense. Contents of The WIRE are 

not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, 

the Department of Defense, or Joint Task Force Guantanamo. It is printed 

by Defense Logistics Agency Document Services with a circulation of 1,300.

To the Troopers who are here at Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo: you need to 

know that you make me proud. 

You make me proud to be part of 

the greatest military on the planet. Your 

dedication to duty and your willingness 

to meld into something greater than 

yourself for the greater good humbles 

me and my heart fills with pride when I 

look at our service.

A couple weeks ago one of my 

nephews sent me an email asking me 

about military life and talked of his 

various goals as he 

graduates from high 

school and considers his 

future.

As I began my reply, 

I naturally focused on 

the benefits the Navy 

provides. But as I 

wrote to him about 

the growth in maturity, 

opportunities for travel, 

and so it dawned on me 

that it isn’t just the Navy 

who provides these, it 

is all our branches of 

service.

So I revised my 

email and told my nephew of the 

opportunities afforded by all branches 

of service, including the National Guard 

and Reserves. I wrote to him of honor, 

commitment, and values.

The military isn’t for everyone, but 

for those who have made the choice to 

serve, we are blessed with opportunities 

for training and growth that few will ever 

experience. Though we may have great 

pride in the specific branch of service 

in which we chose to serve, we share 

camaraderie like no other profession 

shares with all. 

Though we may have joined for 

reasons other than “to be part of 

something bigger than ourselves,” by 

default that is exactly what we have 

become.

Here at JTF Guantanamo you are in 

a pressure-cooker of both personal and 

organizational growth. You are learning 

to evolve and mature while working in 

an organization whose immediate and 

long-term future is uncertain.

Regardless of external factors we 

cannot control, every Trooper here at the 

Joint Task Force remains unwavering in 

commitment to serve “Honor Bound.”

Each branch of service has a set of 

values and we are reminded of them by 

posting them on walls, or on the signs at 

the gates and entrances 

through which we travel. 

All those values are held 

together by trust.

In his book “Start 

With Why,” Simon 

Sinek writes: 

“Trust matters. 

Trust comes from 

being a part of a culture 

or organization with a 

common set of values 

and beliefs. Trust is 

maintained when the 

values and beliefs are 

actively managed... It’s 

not enough to just write them on the 

wall – that’s passive.”

And you, fellow Troopers, are not 

passive. You LIVE your values. If the 

value is “integrity” you exemplify it by 

“doing the right thing even if no one is 

looking.” If the value is “loyalty” you 

live it by “being your brother’s keeper, 

never leaving a fallen comrade.” You 

take the value presented as a noun; you 

turn it into a living example and for 

that I am proud to serve with you and 

use you as an example of who others 

should strive to be.

Keep up the good work!

You, fellow 

Troopers, are 

not passive. 

You LIVE your 

values. You turn 

them into a living 

example and for 

that I am proud 

to serve with you.

Cmd. Master Chief Reynaldo Tiong

Command Master Chief, JTF Guantanamo

Cover: Jan. 21’s Seabee Ball fundraiser-lionfish hunt targeted an invasive marine species – for more 

than one good cause. Read one special operation team’s harrowing account of the hunt on page 10. 

–photo by Army Maj. Jon Powers

Cc

ommand

orner
The Wire | Page 4 Trooper to Trooper |

 You have been trying to find balance in 

your life, even before you even knew what 

balance was. As an infant and a toddler, you 

tried first to sit up, then crawl, then stand 

up and walk. However, you might not have 

known that finding balance would become 

a lifelong event. Being at Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo can be a balancing act because 

of the stress of work and being away from 

your support system: your family and friends. 

You have to strive for balance in all you do. 

Now how do you find balance? This is a 

question that each one of you will have to ask 

yourselves. You will need to find something 

that you enjoy, or find something new to 

try. It may be walking, diving, kayaking, 

painting at the ceramics shop, working on 

your college degree, or reading. Volunteering 

is a great way to achieve balance your life. 

By volunteering you get to help someone 

in need, which in turn should help you feel 

better about yourself. Guantanamo Bay 

has many opportunities to volunteer, from 

working at the school, captaining a boat, or 

cleaning the hiking trails. If you would like 

more information on volunteering, ask your 

chain of command. They can help you find 

the volunteer opportunity which fits your 

personality.

When you lack positive activities or 

attitude, destructive behaviors can take 

hold and disrupt the balance in your life. A 

destructive behavior is anything that can 

cause harm to you, the people in your life, 

or your work performance. Examples include 

smoking and excessive drinking and partying. 

Even healthy and fun activities, when not in 

balance, can become unhealthy examples. 

Take care against losing too much weight, 

working out to excess with no rest periods, 

and playing video games for hours on end 

with no sleep. 

If your life is feeling out of balance, you 

have several choices on island to help resolve 

any issues: JSMART, the chaplains’ office, a 

friend, and your chain of command are ready 

and willing to assist. You have 1,440 minutes 

in a day to make this happen. I challenge 

you to find some balance in your life, and do 

something you enjoy or try something new 

while you are at Guantanamo Bay. What will 

you do to achieve balance in your day, and in 

your life? 

Trooper to Trooper

Sgt. 1st Class Heather Elias

J8 Senior Enlisted Leader

What is an adversary?

People or groups who mean to do us harm are called a “threat,” but to be an adversary they have to have 

two things: capability and intent. Have you ever heard someone give a threat? Unless they can actually act 

on it, it’s just that, a threat. But if someone can act, then that makes them an “adversary.” There are many 

threats to our information, so we must always use OPSEC and common sense to protect it before someone 

can act. If an adversary doesn’t know the plan, then they can’t try to stop it. Knowing what information 

a potential adversary knows, or wants to know, helps to keep them from acting against us. Don’t give 

information to an adversary. Be safe. Use OPSEC!

PSEC ALERT

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

deployment is a balancing act

| News The Wire | Page 5

Newly appointed director of the Army 

National Guard, Lt. Gen. William Ingram, 

visited New York Guardsmen Jan. 19 at 

Joint Task Force Guantanamo, and he was 

impressed with how well they are handling 

their essential mission. The 107th Military 

Police Company is tasked with external 

security at JTF Guantanamo. 

“This is an important mission, a highprofile mission,” said the general as he spoke 

to Citizen Soldiers from the 107th, who 

were gathered to meet with him as he toured 

the facility. “You are representing the Army 

National Guard of the United States in a 

very, very positive way.” He complimented 

the 107th on their outstanding feedback 

from the JTF command, and thanked them 

for their hard work.

Though he has only held the job of 

director since November, Ingram felt it was 

important to make a JTF Guantanamo visit 

high on his list of priorities.

“Boots on the ground makes all the 

difference, and seeing is much better than 

hearing. Being able to see the courtroom 

and to see the facilities here – now I can 

speak about it with personal experience,” 

the general commented as he toured Camp 

Justice.

Accompanying the Army Guard director 

was New York’s Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. 

Patrick Murphy, who was impressed with 

how well his Guardsmen are integrating with 

the other services that make up the Joint 

Task Force.

“The 107th MPs are a great company; 

they stepped up to the mission to do a 

security detail along with our partners from 

the other services,” said New York’s top 

Citizen Soldier. “As a group, the Troopers 

are doing magnificently.” 

With the recent hearings for the alleged 

Cole bombing mastermind, Abdal Rahim 

al-Nashiri, and the passing of the Joint Task 

Force’s 10 year anniversary, Ingram said it is 

no surprise that Citizen Soldiers can support 

such a critical mission.

“The National Guard is ready any time, 

any place, to do any mission,” he said. 

by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson

A star-studded week at JTF: 

Top brass visit 107th MPs

Army National Guard director Lt. Gen. William Ingram (left) and New York Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Patrick Murphy toured the Joint Task Force and later met with New 

York Army National Guard military police. –photo by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Re: Information Assurance

Facebook is the number one visited web site on the

Guantanamo Bay network. While it is a great way for 

us to keep in touch with family and friends back 

home, proper usage of the Internet, specifically 

Facebook, is needed from each Trooper. Please see 

below for tips on correct Facebook usage and how you 

can assist us with network resource management.

– Do not leave Facebook running in the background 

of your computer. Facebook continually updates advertisements, pictures, video, etc. while needlessly 

consuming limited, off-island network bandwidth.

– Limit video access and photo upload/download.

– Application usage (including Farmville!) drains 

precious network resources; use only as needed.
The Wire | Page 6 Trooper Focus |

trooper focus

Bullet Bio

Time in service: 9 years

Hobbies: sports, taking on new 

challenges

The boss says: “This office is 

operating at maximum capacity due 

to the PS2 Torio’s extensive and 

meticulous work.”

Advice to junior Troopers: “Own 

your challenges. Stay focused and they 

will soon turn into successes!”

By Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Petty Officer 2nd Class 

Dexter Torio is always up 

for a new challenge. Torio, 

an Iowa native, has been a 

part of the Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo community 

since September, and through 

learning various operating 

procedures, epitomizes what 

it means to work in a joint 

environment.

A nine-year veteran, 

Torio is a personnel specialist 

temporarily assigned to JTF 

Guantanamo from Oceana 

Naval Base, Virginia Beach, 

Va. His role on the JTF team 

currently has him working at 

J-8, accounting for leave and 

special travel.

“I’mthe first Sailor to 

work in the J-8 department, 

but I feel welcome here,” 

Torio said. “If I have any 

issues, the Soldiers here are 

always here to answer. I also 

bring my Navy skill sets to 

the table for the team.”

Sgt. First Class 

Heather Elias, Torio’s 

noncommissioned officer 

in charge, agrees. She 

believes Torio’s professional 

experience is a valuable 

resource to J-8. She said 

Torio’s knowledge of the 

Navy’s accounting systems 

allowed him to quickly learn 

the Army’s processes and 

utilize blended skills in the 

workplace. 

“PS2 Torio is a great asset 

to the JTF J-8,” Elias said. 

“Upon his arrival, he had 

never worked with an Army 

accounting system, but took 

great steps in assuring that he 

learned and understood the 

Army’s newest accounting 

systems in minimal time.

Elias thinks Torio was an 

integral part of J-8’s recent 

success. She said Torio 

brings a Navy skill set and 

expertise to J-8 that has 

enhanced the department’s 

ability to effectively meet the 

Department of Defense’s 

definition of “joint.”

 “Currently, we are 

operating one person short,” 

Elias said. “Torio has 

stepped up and filled in the 

gap, ensuring no steps are 

missed. He is a very wellorganized individual who 

operates at the top of his 

game on a daily basis.”

Torio encourages all 

Troopers to add to their 

professional knowledge. 

He said at times challenges 

will arise, but the growth 

Troopers receive personally 

and professionally are worth 

the time investment. 

“It was a challenge 

at first, having to adjust 

to operating the Army’s 

accounting system,” Torio 

said. “I have learned a great 

deal of information here, 

but at the end of the day the 

military services operate well 

together.”

What is the silliest thing that ever happened to you at the movies?

“I was watching ‘The Help’ 

and it started to rain. We 

were in the van, but if you 

turn to channel 97.1 you 

can listen to the movie in 

the car.” 

Sgt. Ashelei Johnson

“I was scared of animals 

being at the outdoor 

theater but when I went 

to see a movie a couple 

weeks ago, it was a really 

good experience.”

Master-at-Arms 2nd Class

Ashley Sprouse

“When we go to Camp 

America and see those 

banana rats, they walk 

up to you like they are 

your friends. They just 

congregate around you.”

Master Sgt. Gary Hayner

BOOTS ON THE GROUND

“I remember the first time 

I went to see a movie at 

Camp America. I saw 

banana rats everywhere!” 

Aviation Boatswain’s 

Mate 3rd Class Stephen 

Bolinski

| Student of the Game The Wire | Page 7

S t uden t of th e G a m e

You know things are screwed 

up in the National Football 

League when the Cincinnati 

Bengals make the playoffs, the 

Denver Broncos are successful 

with a quarterback that can’t 

throw, the Detroit Lions are 

a team that people fear and 

Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis 

(R.I.P.) is not around to make 

outlandish personnel moves in 

the offseason. Above all, the thing 

that might have the NFL on its 

head is the idea that quarterback 

Peyton Manning, a stalwart for 

the Indianapolis Colts may not 

suit up for the only team he has 

played for.

Manning missed the entire 

2011 season due to multiple 

neck surgeries. Normally, owner 

Jim Irsay wouldn’t have to make 

such a drastic decision, but 

Manning is due a $28 million 

bonus if he is on the Colts roster 

on March 8. With the 37-yearold’s health in question, and 

Stanford quarterback Andrew 

Luck looking as attractive as 

a cheerleader on a USO visit, 

Manning might be looking at a 

permanent change of station.

Will Peyton Manning wind up 

on your favorite team?

Let’s start with the list of 

teams that have the quarterback 

position secured: Patriots, Jets, 

Ravens, Bengals, Steelers, Texans, 

Chargers, Giants, Eagles, Lions, 

Packers, Falcons, Panthers, Saints 

and Rams. Those 15 teams have 

outstanding quarterbacks, or 

have a young guy that still needs 

time. No room for Peyton.

When one considers teams 

which can afford to pay a 

Hall of Fame shoo-in without 

compromising competitiveness, 

more squads fall to the wayside: 

Bills, Browns, Titans, Bears and 

Seahawks.

This leaves the Dolphins, 

Jaguars, Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, 

Cowboys, Redskins, Vikings, 

Buccaneers, Cardinals and 49ers.

Minnesota and Tampa Bay 

have top five picks so they can 

snag their rifleman from college if 

the decide their young guns aren’t 

going in the desired direction. 

As previously stated, Al Davis 

might have thrown the kitchen 

and bathroom sink at the Colts. 

But, without AD, it’s doubtful 

Manning will don the black 

and silver. Alex Smith and Jim 

Harbaugh seem to have found 

a formula that will be successful 

for years to come, so Manning 

won’t be in San Francisco. Jax 

and the Chiefs could make a 

surprising bid, but it’s doubtful. 

Broncos? I’ve got two words for 

ya: Tee-bow.

It looks like Miami, Arizona, 

Dallas and Washington are still in 

the hunt.

Manning doesn’t have the 

time left on his game clock to get 

Washington back to prominence. 

Plus, who really wants to play 

for Washington? Jerry Jones has 

stated time and time again that he 

is behind Tony Romo 200%, but 

Jones wants to win now. Manning 

might be the piece that is missing 

in Big D.

The Cardinals have been 

searching for a guy like Manning 

ever since Kurt Warner left. 

They are so thirsty for a strong 

quarterback they gave Kevin 

Kolb a $63 million contract. 

Kolb is $20 million in guaranteed 

money; they might be able to 

dump him and make a move for 

Manning. On top of that, the 

Cardinals took Emmitt Smith at 

the ripe old age of 33. Manning’s 

body hasn’t been through nearly 

as much as Smith’s did at the time 

of acquisition.

This leaves us in Miami. 

The Dolphins haven’t had a 

real quarterback since that 

Marino character. Matt Moore 

and JP Losman haven’t proven 

any worth at the quarterback 

position. Brandon Marshall, 

Davone Bess, Anthony 

Fasano and Reggie Bush 

are a better offensive 

package than 

Manning when he 

took Indy to the 

playoffs in 2010. 

Jake Long, Marc 

Colombo and Mike 

Pouncey can provide 

the protection he will 

need to stay healthy.

If Colts management 

decide to get rid Manning, 

they are going to cut 

him before March 8, 

meaning Peyton will be 

able to choose where 

he signs. A player with 

the winning pedigree 

he has will want to be 

successful immediately. 

The Cowboys and the 

Dolphins give him 

the best chance for 

that. But, with Romo 

getting paid to lose 

when it counts, the 

most probable option 

for Manning is take 

his talents to South 

Beach and take Dan 

Marino’s title as 

the best ever while 

wearing the same 

uniform Marino 

wore. Besides, isn’t 

Florida the best 

place for rich 

people to retire?

The fate of

Peyton Manning

By Army Sgt. Landis Andrews 
The Wire | Page 8

Lighting the way to pride:

GTMO lighthouse project und

Feature | 

U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo’s 

Windward Point Lighthouse is a historical 

pillar of the community. Deactivated in 

1964, the lighthouse has since served the 

Guantanamo community as one of the 

island’s most popular tourist attractions.

At 108 years old, the 60-foot-tall lighthouse 

and its keeper’s quarters understandably 

need some work. Several groups in the past 

have searched for a way to improve the 

lighthouse’s condition.

Joint Task Force Guantanamo’s Maritime 

Safety and Security Team – San Diego has 

established the means to refurbish this 

Guantanamo landmark. They have already 

eagerly begun work on the lighthouse 

keeper’s quarters. 

“The lighthouse is a piece of history here 

at Guantanamo,” said Lt. Jg. Aaron Dorrian, 

MSST shoreside officer-in-charge. “I feel we 

have an obligation to do our best to preserve 

it for future service members to enjoy.”

Chief Damage Controlman Matthew 

Caswell concurs. Caswell is the MSST’s 

Maintenance Department’s leading chief 

petty officer. He said at the time the MSST 

took helm of the project, participation 

was low. However, people quickly saw the 

historical importance of the landmark and 

volunteers increased in number.

“When Lt. Dorrian first brought this idea 

to us, I thought it was great,” Caswell said. 

“The lighthouse has been closed for a while. 

It would be a great accomplishment for all 

of us if our efforts lead us to opening the 

doors to see people walking through it again 

before we leave.” 

Dorrian said the lighthouse renovation 

project will be an ongoing, two-part 

project, lasting the duration of San Diego’s 

tenure at the Joint Task Force. He said the 

MSST plans to renovate both the yard area 

By Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Left: Members of the United States Coast Guard 

Maritime Safety and Security Team – San Diego 

recently began restoring the Windward Point 

Lighthouse site, a volunteer project open to the 

entire Guantanamo community. –photos by Mass 

Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Right: A statue of a military member overlooks 

Windward Point Lighthouse and its 108-year 

history. The lighthouse, a Guantanamo Bay 

landmark, contains historical documentation of 

the Spanish-American War. –photo by Mass 

Communication Spc. 2nd Class Louis Batchelor

| Feature The Wire | Page 9

erway

and interior of the lighthouse as a nod to 

their service branch’s overall mission. The 

Coast Guard has been responsible for the 

operation of U.S. lighthouses since 1939.

“There is a lot of history contained within 

the lighthouse itself,” Dorrian said. “All the 

historical documents housed inside recognize 

the past accomplishments of service 

members during the Spanish-American War. 

Those service members fought to pave the 

way for us. It is an honor to be a part of 

something extremely important: making sure 

the accomplishments of those before us are 

not forgotten.”

Petty Officer 1st Class Keyara Thompson 

of the MSST’s admin section is one of the 

volunteers. She said she enjoyed helping 

because for is a cause which needs to be 

done and she enjoys helping out.

“Whenever I see a lighthouse, it reminds 

me of the Coast Guard,” Thompson said. 

“As long as I have been in the Coast Guard, 

lighthouses have always reminded me of my 

service and give me a sense of pride in what 

I do. I chose to help out with this project 

because it is fun and also something that is 

important to me.”

Dorrian is proud of the progress this 

project has already seen and looks forward 

to seeing this project go further. He wants 

all Troopers and civilians to understand this 

project is open for everyone and extends an 

open invitation to join the MSST’s endeavor.

“I want to thank all who have volunteered 

their time and efforts assisting us,” Dorrian 

said.” I especially would like to thank the 

BEEF, Self Help, Paperclips and the Seabees 

for providing us supplies and logistical 

support. Without you, none of what we 

have accomplished and intend to keep doing 

would be possible.” 
Mission Log Twenty One 

January point Two:

 We met at o-dark-thirty for the 

mission brief. Our contact, Lt. Jg. 

Andrew Maughn, informed us that an 

alien species had established a foothold on the fringe of our territory. 

The aliens earned the name Lionfish for their ferocity. The poisonous 

spines and frilly bits all over somehow wasn’t accounted for in their 

name. Since arriving from territories 

unknown, they quickly took over the 

reef. Maughn was seeking volunteers 

for a black-op code named Seabees’ 

Ball. In the assassin’s lingo, it was 

“wet work” and not for the squeamish or easily car-sick. 

The assembled team came from 

the disavowed unit known only by 

its code name - Mindbender. Veteran 

Commander Reese was the leader for 

the mission. 

Just back from the urban warfare 

school in Camden, N.J. was Grant. 

Just Grant. He only needed one 

name and his classification was beyond standard rank. His specialty was 

hand-to-alien spear combat.

As for me, I had made it through a 

grueling pull a name out of a hat process. The skills necessary to be considered were just as demanding. Only 

warriors in the military specialty of 

“guys who are mostly expendable but 

still OK to hang around with in case 

they don’t get captured or something 

list” were included. And I was damn 

proud of it. 

Our contact drew us in close. 

Maughn informed us the alien invaders had no natural predators in this 

sector, and that they were proliferating by subjugating the local species 

and using them as a food source. 

Most of the Outer Zone was still a 

mystery: deep, dark and totally inhospitable to human forms. Those who 

had been there and survived called it 

the “Blue” mainly because... it was a 

mysterious blue. 

“If you are going into the outer zone then you have to sign the 

waiver,” Maughn said. “The government can’t be held responsible if, you 

know...” his voice trailed off as he 

absently gazed over the bay. 

“You have until 1600 to report 

back,” he said. “Good luck,” he added, offering a hand shake. Grant had 

heard enough.

“All right, sweethearts, we’re a 

team and there’s nothin’ to worry 

about. We come here, and we gonna 

conquer, and we gonna kick some, 

is that understood? That’s what we 

gonna do, sweethearts, we are going 

to go and get some. All right, people, 

on the ready line!” Grant shouted.

“OK, tactical convoy on Route 

Sherman, to Zone Windmill,” Reese 

barked. Her visage hardened into the 

steely demeanor of a warrior who 

had seen carnage in the Blue. “Keep 

it quiet, I don’t need the Lionfish 

scouts to know we’re coming.”

“So I am to collect strategic intelligence and document the mission for 

presentation to Fleet HQ for analysis, 

Ma’am?” I asked. I had never been a 

part of a more complex operation, 

and needed clarification.

“Yes, Powers, take pictures, bring 

them back and don’t get captured,” 

Reese explained. “You wouldn’t like 

what happens to people who get captured by Lionfish,” she said. Her expression changed to show that it was 

really, really awful. Like Nyquil aftertaste awful. 

“Fifteen minutes to DCS and mission prep!” Grant shouted. “Secure 

that hatch!” It had been nearly 45 

minutes since he had last killed something and he was getting cranky. 

The next thing I knew we were 

throwing gear on our backs like a kid 

unwrapping Christmas presents, wait 

not like that at all, opposite that but 

the same. Anyway, it was crazy.

“Go, go, go, go!” Reese got the 

group focused and running for the 

surf.

I ran for all I was worth, tripped on 

a shell, fell down, rolled over a couple 

times, got back up, ran slightly sideways and then straight in the heart of 

danger. The Blue met me with a cold 

embrace.

Reese signled to form up and 

follow. For 20 minutes we stealthily 

tracked our azimuth on the air-sea 

border. 

“Grant, have we reached the drop 

zone?” the commander asked.

“We’re in the pipe five by five, I 

can the see the landing area but there 

should be lights...” his sentence cut 

short by instinct. Something was 

wrong.

“Ma’am, scanners will be useless 

out here,” I noted just trying to be 

helpful.

“Good thing we’re all equipped 

with Mark II ocular target acquisition ports.” Reese said, finishing her 

pre-descent checks with practiced efficiency.

By Army Maj. Jon Powers

The Wire | Page 10 Feature | | Feature The Wire | Page 11

Operation: 

Lion Hunter

Joint Task Force Guantanamo Troopers were among the 

hunters. Lionfish, which are highly disruptive to the reef 

ecosystem, were the hunted. On Jan. 21, teams of divers 

competed to catch the largest, smallest, and most fish in support 

of the Seabee Ball Committee’s Lionfish Hunt fundraiser. 

The hunt, which concluded with awards and a fish fry, had the 

double purpose of eliminating an environmental hazard. 

The lionfish is classified as an invasive species which has 

already done significant damage in the Caribbean Sea.

 see THE HUNT next page

There are events in your life which so closely resemble a movie or story, your mind cannot 

help but overlay the cooler fiction over top of reality. The Lionfish Hunt fundraiser for the 

Seabees’ Ball was just that. Cruising around the coral heads searching for these “alien” fish 

reminded me of the great movie “Aliens”: hearing Cpl. Hudson whine in my head “It’s a 

bug hunt, sir!” made the whole day ten times as fun. It was a great event to start with, but 

now it is a memory worthy of its own story...
| Feature The Wire | Page 13

Who doesn’t love a free movie?

Movies at Guantanamo Bay: how does this work? 

Sure, you may have noticed the two outdoor movie 

venues on the Naval Station and Joint Task Force 

sides. Perhaps you’ve even attended a show. The 

Downtown Lyceum and the Camp Bulkeley Lyceum 

both offer a unique outdoor moviegoing experience. 

Big screen presentations are available with full stereo 

surround sound to be enjoyed while sitting under the 

stars. 

But how are the movies selected to be shown at 

Guantanamo? Out of all the newest film releases, 

what will get screened and for what duration? 

Guantanamo Bay’s Moral Welfare Recreation 

program coordinates the outdoor movies. 

According to Brittany Hanna, MWR marketing 

coordinator, there are two types of movies 

agreements that are made to show the movies here. 

“The first-run movies are released to us through 

the FROST program, which stands for First Release 

Over Seas Theater,” said Hanna. “We are able to 

show these movies within a week’s release of their 

run in the States. We are able to show these films 

over a three to four week time period. Then the films 

take a break and we don’t show them for three to 

four weeks. After that hiatus, we are able to show 

them again.”

The second film program is similar. Movies that 

have already been showing a few weeks in domestic 

release will arrive and be shown for three to four 

weeks only. After that, they are sent back to the Navy 

Motion Picture Service.

Just because MWR-GTMO has an agreement 

to show a given movie over a four week run, 

doesn’t necessarily mean they have to. MWR 

has the option to show certain movies more 

if there is more interest and demand for it. 

“We showed the recent “Twilight” movie a few more 

times because of the fanbase,” Hanna said. “Movies 

that don’t have an appeal for our audiences we tend 

to show less during the time we have it for.”

To determine what kinds of movies bring people 

to the two lyceums, patron counts are used. The 

attendance of adults and children is measured at 

various types of movies. There is a prerequisite for 

weekend movies showings.

“At least one ‘PG’ rated film will be shown for the 

families and kids on the Naval Station side. That’s 

something we always try to do,” said Hanna. “We 

also average about two new movies per week.”

As long as there are personnel stationed 

at Guantanamo Bay, MWR will do their 

part in to help them enjoy their moviegoing 

experience to the best of their ability. 

 “The movies are for everybody here on base,” said 

Hanna. “We really want people to enjoy themselves. 

Let us know if you have any questions or comments. 

We are here for you.” 

How does it work?

Are you curious about how things happen at Guantanamo Bay? 

Contact The Wire with your questions, and we will try to find out!

Use the comment boxes or email saul.e.rosa@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

New feature!

By Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

The Wire | Page 12 Feature |

“The Mark-o what?” 

“Ocular...oh, nevermind! 

Eyes, Powers, just look for the 

darn fish!” 

The mission itself was a 

blur. Heroism and violence, 

stealth and agility wove together 

in a tapestry of awesomeness. 

I followed the patrol through 

the murky domain. Recording 

what may have been the lasting 

image of these professionals. I 

would see Grant fly nap-o-thecoral with his weapon set to 

kill. Sometimes he would fade 

out of view; all I could hear 

were the sounds of metal on 

rock in a violent clash between 

hunter and hunted. Commander Reese took the tactic of outflanking the Lionfish outposts, 

disappearing into the haze only 

to return with yet another alien 

for the roll. On three separate 

sorties the team would emerge 

from the Blue, restock our life 

support systems, fuel up on 

highly technical drinks with 

silly fruity names and return 

into heart of darkness. Finally 

exhausted, the team stood to 

account for the day’s work.

“Wrap it up,” Reese declared. “No warrior can do 

more today.”

“We are all in pretty strung 

out shape,” Grant concluded. 

“Stay frosty and sharp. Because 

if just one of those things gets 

up here, all this we care so 

much about, we can kiss it all 

goodbye.”

“Yeah we sent them crawling back to someplace else,” I 

added.

“Lionfish can’t crawl, Powers.” Reese said patiently.

“Then I guess they learned a 

real lesson today, the lesson of 

humiliating Lionfish crawling.” 

But I knew in my heart 

that this was not the last time 

I would have to summon the 

courage and venture into the 

Blue to battle those aliens. I 

can only hope there will always 

be another Seabees’ Ball and an 

excuse to hunt lionfish.

THE HUNT cont. 

Deputy Commander 

earns Legion of Merit

Congratulations, sir!

Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo Deputy 

Commander Brig. Gen. 

James C. Lettko was 

awarded the Legion of 

Merit by his former boss, 

the Adjutant General of 

New York, Maj. Gen. 

Patrick Murphy Jan. 19. 

Lettko distinguished 

himself while serving 

as Chief of Staff to the 

Adjutant General prior 

to being selected for 

his current position. 

Murphy presented the award while visiting 

New York Guardsmen from the 107th Military 

Police Company, who are deployed here to JTF 

Guantanamo. 

The Legion of Merit is awarded to members of the 

Armed Forces of the United States for exceptionally 

outstanding conduct in the performance of 

meritorious service to the United States.

–photo by Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park
O n T h e win g

The Wire | Page 14 At Your Service |

I n th e fi ght

Expedited transfer possible 

for sexual assault victims

CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan – The 

Deputy Secretary of Defense released a memorandum detailing procedures for possible expedited transfer of service members who file 

unrestricted reports of sexual assault.

According to the memorandum, service 

members who file credible, unrestricted reports of sexual assault will be given the option 

to request a temporary or permanent transfer 

from their command or base.

“The intent behind the policy is straightforward: to protect and separate victims of 

sexual assaults from the offender,” said Col. 

Kevin D. King, the III Marine Expeditionary 

Force sexual assault response coordinator.

After submission, commanding officers 

have 72 hours to approve or deny the request. 

If approved, the request would immediately 

be forwarded to the appropriate office that 

processes permanent change of station, permanent change of assignment and unit transfers.

“Sexual assault is a traumatizing event for 

anyone,” said Sandra M. Beecher, a civilian 

victim advocate with Marine Corps Community Services. “However, this trauma is amplified for a military victim whose offender may 

also be on active duty, perhaps even in their 

own unit.”

If a request is denied by a commanding 

officer, service members will be given the 

opportunity to have the request reviewed by 

the first general or flag officer in their chain 

of command. Once submitted, the decision 

to approve or deny a transfer again must be 

made within 72 hours.

“This law (part of the National Defense 

Authorization Act of 2012) gives military victims the right to expedited consideration of 

a transfer request,” Beecher said. “This, along 

with other tools we already use, such as military protective orders, will give victims greater 

protection from revictimization.”

By Cpl. Aaron Hostutler

Marine Corps Bases Japan

ARLINGTON, Va. – Family members, 

friends and fellow service members gathered 

Jan. 20 here to honor the life and contributions of an original Tuskegee Airmen. 

Retired Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, 90, a 

member of the 302nd Fighter Squadron during World War II, received full military honors including an F-16 Fighting Falcon flyover 

by 113th Wing, an Air National Guard unit 

of Washington, D.C. The ceremony coincided with the release of “Red Tails,” a fulllength feature film chronicling the challenges 

and victories of the Tuskegee Airmen.

“The Tuskegee Airmen were dedicated 

heroes who gave so much for this country,” 

said Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Johnson, the 113th 

WG commander. “It is an honor to perform 

a flyover for this brave American.”

With World War II veterans like the 

Tuskegee Airmen entering their 90s, the 

numbers of these living history makers are 

dwindling.

During a time of racial segregation in 

America, the Tuskegee Airmen, the U.S. 

Army Air Corps’ first black fliers, proved 

they were just as qualified as their white 

counterparts to fly in combat.

“Along with serving their country, they 

changed America,” said retired Chief Master Sgt. John Patterson, the national 1st vice 

president of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. “They 

made it easier for me, when I came along 

many years later, to come into the military 

and have opportunities. “

Weathers, a P-51 Mustang and P-39 Airacobra pilot, shot down two German planes 

in November 1944 and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his actions. Later, 

in 2007, he and 300 original Tuskegee Airmen were presented with the Congressional 

Gold Medal. It is one of the highest awards 

in the United States.

“He was a part of the Tuskegee experience,” Patterson said of Weathers. “He went 

to the combat zone in World War II when 

there were no examples for blacks to look 

up to. These gentlemen set the bar high and 

gave society someone to look up to.”

Along with his legacy, Weathers leaves 

behind his children, grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, a host of family members 

and friends, and his wife, Jacqueline MooreWeathers.

Moore-Weathers said her husband continued to encourage Airmen to reap all the 

benefits the military has to offer and fulfill 

their goals.

“He was very proud of being a part of 

the (Tuskegee Airmen),” she said. “He was 

very proud of the accomplishments they 

were able to make. After the war, he went 

about his life trying to create and participate 

in Tuskegee Airmen activities.”

Tuskegee Airman laid to rest at Arlington

By Tech. Sgt. Mareshah Haynes

Defense Media Activity

SAN DIEGO – The U.S. Coast Guard is 

warning mariners transiting in San Diego Bay 

that an aid to navigation located near the west 

end of Shelter Island was damaged in an allision and could pose a hazard to navigation.

Shelter Island West End Light 4, LLNR1595, was struck sometime before Wednesday 

afternoon, shifting the day board portion of 

the aid out of position and bending a section 

of the ladder perpendicular to the aid near the 

waterline.

The light on the aid is still operating properly. This aid marks the right side of the channel into the Shelter Island yacht basin.

The responsible party left the scene without reporting the damage, leaving a potentially 

hazardous situation due to the steel ladder 

protruding from the pole and the misalignment of the day marker.

 Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team 

(ANT) San Diego responded to the damaged 

marker and removed the protruding ladder 

Wednesday evening. Preparations to repair the 

day board are currently underway.

Coast Guard responded to three separate 

vessel collisions with the aids to navigation 

near the west end of Shelter Island in the past 

year, two of which were unreported. 

“We are very fortunate that a mariner on a 

smaller vessel did not hit the dangerous protrusion from the pole and injure themselves 

or others,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Michael 

Tapp, officer in charge of ANT San Diego.

The collision’s circumstances are currently 

under investigation.

Coast Guard 

warns of damaged 

navigation marker 

in San Diego Bay

c o ast t o co ast

By 11th Coast Guard District Public Affairs

on th e g round

| At Your Service The Wire | Page 15

WASHINGTON – A newly released Army 

study on behavioral health shows a decline in 

Soldier suicides and more seeking treatment 

for their problems.

Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, Army vice chief 

of staff, discussed the findings of the report, “Generating Health and Discipline in 

the Force, Ahead of the Strategic Reset,” at 

a Pentagon news conference Jan. 19. The 

three-year study outlines the problem of suicide in the Army and related issues of substance abuse, spouse abuse and child abuse.

Two years ago, the Army reported 210,000 

Soldiers sought treatment for behavioral 

health problems, Chiarelli said, adding that 

public reaction was, “‘My gosh, you’ve got 

that many in the Army? That’s not good, is 

it?’

“I told them we’d like to see that number go up,” he said. “And in fact, it has gone 

up. It’s gone up to 280,000. I think we have 

begun the process in the Army of destigmatizing behavior health issues. That, to me, is 

absolutely critical. People who need help, get 

the help that they need.”

More Soldiers seek help because of the 

help of commanders and leaders at all levels, 

Chiarelli added.

Suicide Prevention

Three years ago, then Army Secretary 

Gen. Pete Geren and Chief of Staff Gen. 

George Casey appointed Chiarelli to look 

at driving down the number of soldier suicides.

Chiarelli found that drug abuse, suicide 

attempts, alcohol abuse, prescription drug 

abuse and anger management all are highrisk behavior common to soldiers who committed suicide.

In 2011, he said, overall suicide numbers 

decreased by 10 percent, from 350 to 315. 

“The only category where we had an increase of five suicides was in the active-duty 

category,” Chiarelli said.

Most important, he said, is that more 

Soldiers are receiving early intervention and 

treatment.

“This shows why I think we have arrested 

this problem and hopefully will start to push 

it down, because we have leader involvement,” Chiarelli said. “They’re not walking 

past the problem, and [they] are getting Soldiers the help that they need. And that, to 

me, is a very positive sign.”

Traumatic Brain Injury

One of the “huge advances” the Army 

has made downrange are the protocols that 

last year led to diagnoses for 9,000 Soldiers 

who had concussions downrange, Chiarelli 

said. The protocols include an initial screening and keeps Soldiers off the battlefield for 

another 24 hours for a second screening.

“If they fail any of those two screenings, they are sent to one of our concussion 

recovery centers,” he said. “Some of them 

stayed up to 21 days until their brain looked 

normal.”

Traumatic brain injury and the cognitive 

issues involved, Chiarelli said, occur when 

concussions are not treated.

“I think this is a huge step forward that 

we made,” he said, added that the Army has 

diagnosed 126,000 cases of TBI in the past 

10 years of war. “But I’ve got to tell you, if 

they’re treated properly, most Soldiers will 

have a full recovery from traumatic brain injury. The problem is if they return and get 

a second concussion before the brain has 

healed.”

Post-traumatic Stress

“PTS is one of the key ones,” Chiarelli 

said. “It represents a prevalent psychological 

injury with over 70,000 Soldiers diagnosed 

by the Army since calendar year 2003. That’s 

not 70,000 out of 1.1 million. That’s 70,000 

out of a much greater number because we 

have Soldiers entering and leaving all the 

time.”

The problem with post-traumatic stress 

(PTS), he said, is it is hard to diagnose. It 

shares many of the same symptoms as TBI 

and sometimes symptoms don’t appear 

for weeks, months, or even years after the 

event.

“I don’t think we’ve done a good job in 

explaining the immaturity in the science of 

the brain,” Chiarelli said. “I was quoted a 

figure that basically said that from the time 

an initiating event for PTS takes place to the 

time that somebody gets into treatment is 

12 years. Twelve years nationally – that’s not 

with Soldiers, that’s nationally.

“And the horrible thing about that is all 

Army study: behavioral health stigma drops

By Rob McIlvaine

Army News Service

Army Vice Chief of State Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli noted important findings in a three-year behavioral health study 

Jan. 19, including the fact that the overall Soldier suicide rate decreased in 2011. –Department of Defense photo

 see STUDY next page
The Wire | Page 16 Around the World |

Throughout the USO’s history, going 

back to World War II, the USO has supported healing heroes during and after major conflicts. Over the last decade, the widespread use of body armor, rapid evacuation 

from the battlefield, and advances in military 

medicine are resulting in many more service 

members returning home having survived injuries that in past conflicts would have been 

fatal. More than 40,000 service members 

have been visibly wounded in the conflicts 

in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some estimate 

more than 300,000 troops suffer from invisible wounds, such as post-traumatic stress or 

traumatic brain injury.

These wounded, ill and injured troops, as 

well as their families and caregivers, are facing a very difficult challenge, and the USO is 

doing all we can to strengthen their hope and 

confidence for the happy and fulfilling future 

they so richly deserve. When the USO asks, 

“Who needs us most?” our wounded, ill and 

injured troops, and their families and caregivers, are at the top of the list.

In an effort to ensure that the name of 

the programs and services in our continuum 

of care for our wounded, ill and injured warriors, their families and caregivers, as well as 

families of the fallen, captures all of those 

that we support, the USO has recently renamed the offering of these programs and 

services. The name, “USO Warrior and 

Family Care,” will now be the name of our 

programs and services that support this continuum of care.

We feel the name, “USO Warrior and 

Family Care,” represents the fact that USO’s 

programs serve the warriors who return with 

wounds, or are ill and injured, as well as their 

families and caregivers who are so important in the healing process. Also, we listened 

to troops who told us their concerns about 

being labeled “wounded,” and our tagline, 

“Healing with Honor,” reflects the respect 

and dignity afforded to these heroes on their 

journey. The name may have changed, but 

our mission never will.

Our programs have expanded over the 

last 10 years to encompass a continuum 

of care, including physical health and recreational activities, mental health support, 

family strengthening, education and employment training, career opportunities and community reintegration support. To learn more 

about the ways that the USO supports our 

healing heroes, their families and caregivers, 

as well as families of the fallen, please visit 

www.uso.org/warriorandfamilycare.

If you have any questions, or would like 

us to join you for a briefing, please contact 

me or our Vice President of USO Warrior 

and Family Care, Susan Thomas, at sthomas@uso.org.

Sincerely,

Sloan Gibson

President and CEO, USO

‘USO Warrior and Family Care’ 

program continues to serve

the bad things that happen in between,” he 

said. “The abuse of alcohol, the abuse of 

drugs, prescription drugs, the anger management issues.”

Drug Abuse

The Army continues to close the gap in 

drug surveillance and drug rehabilitation 

programs, although there was an increase 

last year believed to be related to increased 

surveillance, Chiarelli said. Illicit drug use 

declined by 19 percent from earlier highs in 

2006 and 2008, he said.

Army substance abuse programs saw 

more than 24,000 Soldiers last year. “I know 

because of the connection of alcohol abuse 

to post-traumatic stress, many people who 

go untreated for PTS self-medicate with alcohol,” he said. “I know that after 10 years 

of war, those numbers have gone up. So 

seeing an increase in the number who are in 

the program is a positive step.”

Sexual Assaults

Chiarelli said he is most concerned about 

an increase in violent sex crimes that rose 64 

percent from 2006 to 2011. “This is unacceptable. We have zero tolerance for this,” 

he said.

“Army leaders take sexual assault seriously,” Chiarelli said. “We’re expanding our surveillance and response against these crimes. 

We’ve identified numerous sex crime factors, such as alcohol and the newly designed 

barracks that offer privacy, coupled with a 

lack of leadership.”

This impacts the youngest and most junior female Soldiers, and the perpetrators 

mirror that age, he said.

Domestic violence among Soldiers increased during the same five-year span by 

33 percent, Chiarelli said, while child abuse 

cases rose by 43 percent.

Alcohol associated with domestic violence increased by 54 percent, and with child 

abuse by 40 percent, he said.

The research also shows that PTS contributes to domestic violence, Chiarelli said, 

with person diagnosed with PTS three times 

more likely to participate in some kind of 

partner aggression.

“That is why it is so critical to eliminate 

the stigma associated with PTS and get people in for treatment for their alcohol problem, their drug-abuse problem, prescription 

drug-abuse problem, or anger-management 

problems, spouse abuse and child abuse,” 

Chiarelli said. “That, to me, is critical. And 

the National Institute of Mental Health lays 

this out as not just an Army problem, this is 

a national problem.”

Looking to Reset

Similar to any post-war period, reset 

and recovery must remain focused on the 

health and discipline of the volunteer force, 

Chiarelli said.

“We have an opportunity to avoid mistakes of prior post-war environments by applying science and the many lessons learned 

to mitigate health, discipline and readiness 

challenges,” he said. “I often tell folks if you 

were to ask somebody what good comes out 

of war, they would point to military medicine and the advances that are made that 

benefit us all. And I think if you were to 

ask somebody today what is the greatest advancement in military medicine in this war, 

they would probably point to the advancements we’ve made in prosthetics.

“But I honestly believe 10 years from 

now with some of the things that I’m seeing and the advancements we’ve made in 

brain science, that ... people are going to 

look back and say, ‘You know the greatest 

advancements that were made in these particular conflicts was our understanding of 

the brain,’” Chiarelli said.

STUDY cont. 

From the United Services Organization

| Mind, Body & Spirit The Wire | Page 17

Mind, Body & Spirit

by Chaplain

Capt. Garland Mason

525th MP Battalion

to Live

One Loop

All My

Cuzcos TKs Turn

As the

Only at GTMO by Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

We all face daily challenges 

that make our jobs at Joint 

Task Force Guantanamo tough 

enough as it is. We do not need to 

compound it with useless and 

hurtful rumors, misconceptions or 

innuendos that can result in 

decaying our team spirit and 

camaraderie. Let’s all remember 

the Golden Rule: Treat others as 

you would want to be treated. 

The world is haunted

Professor of Philosophy at Boston 

College, Peter Kreeft asks in his book 

“Heaven: The Heart’s Deepest Longing,” 

“Have you ever felt it—the haunting of the 

world?” He says we should feel the haunting 

of this world with our “haunt detector.” 

Now we are accustomed to using our five 

senses to detect colors, shapes, sizes, sounds, 

smells, tastes, textures, heat, and many other 

things we encounter daily. “But,” Kreeft says, 

“we have inner senses too. For instance, we 

have truth detectors and lie detectors, love 

detectors and hate detectors, beauty detectors 

and ugliness detectors, and right and wrong 

detectors (usually called consciences).” 

Everyone has an inner haunt detector giving 

us the sense this world we see is “haunted” 

by something we don’t see. This is the sense 

that “often inspires awe and fear because it 

is not humanly predictable and controllable, 

not definable and tamable. It seems to come 

from another dimension, another kind of 

reality.”

There are many things that tend to activate 

our haunt detector but there are at least 

three that always do, namely love, beauty, 

and music. There is something which comes 

through these three from another world 

that haunts our own. This experience is one 

of intense longing that is sparked by love, 

beauty, and music but not wholly satisfied by 

them. Kreeft believes all the things that have 

deeply moved you have been hints of the 

other world. However, the things themselves 

(love, beauty, music) have only been channels 

through which the true satisfaction of our 

deepest longings has passed. 

For instance think of relational love. 

Isn’t there something about being in love 

that makes you ache for more love? Or 

think of a beautiful sunset over the 

ocean. Isn’t there something about a 

beautiful sunset that makes you pull the 

car over and take it all in? Music is also 

very powerful in this regard. Think of some 

of your favorite songs. Isn’t there something 

about that song that seems to come through 

from somewhere else, tugging at your heart 

to follow it back to where it came from? 

I recently watched “The Soloist,” which 

tells the story of Steve Lopez, a Los Angeles 

newspaper reporter (Robert Downey Jr.), 

who discovers a brilliant homeless street 

musician named Nathaniel Ayers (Jamie 

Foxx). There is a point in the movie where 

Lopez tries to describe to his wife the effect 

a symphony had on Ayers. Lopez says, “We 

are listening to the same music but I’m 

watching him and he’s watching the music. 

And while they’re playing I say, ‘My God, 

there is something higher out there! There 

is something higher out there and [Ayers] 

lives in it. . . But I don’t know what to call 

it!’” The Germans call this phenomenon 

of human longing or yearning “sehnsucht.” 

Many people’s haunt detectors are moved by 

love, beauty, and music. Haven’t you had the 

experience of feeling, even momentarily, that 

you were transported to another world? 

These things are strong indicators of 

another reality that moves you to long for 

something more. C.S. Lewis sums it up this 

way in “Mere Christianity”:

“Most people if they had really learned to 

look into their own hearts, would know that 

they do want, and want acutely, something that 

cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts 

of things in this world that offer to give it to 

you, but they never quite keep their promise. 

The longings which arise in us when we first 

fall in love, or first think of some foreign 

country, or first take up some subject that 

excites us, are longings which no marriage, no 

travel, no learning, can really satisfy... There 

was something we grasped at, in that first 

moment of longing, which just fades away 

in the reality. I think everyone knows what I 

mean. The wife may be a good wife, and the 

hotels and scenery may have been excellent, 

and chemistry may be a very interesting job: 

but something has evaded us.”

Many people would admit they have 

experienced the haunting of this world. Most 

of us know what it’s like to look into the 

eyes of our beloved, see a dazzling sunset, 

or listen to a particular piece of music that, 

at a certain spot, makes your heart ache. 

The problem is even when we have all this 

world has to offer we still say, “I can’t get no 

satisfaction.” What then are we to do? Lewis 

said, “If I find in myself a desire which no 

experience in this world can satisfy, the most 

probable explanation is that I was made for 

another world.” 

What about you? Do you long for 

something that you have not yet found in 

this world? Listen to your haunt detector. It 

may just lead you home.
Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

GTMO Quick Reference 

Bayview Club - 75605

 Wed.-Fri. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Sun. & Holidays 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bowling Center - 2118

Mon.-Fri. 6-11 p.m.

 Fri. 6 p.m.-12 a.m

Sat. 1 p.m.-12 a.m.

Sun. & Holidays 1-11 p.m.

Caribbean Coffee - 77859

Mon.-Sat. 6 a.m.-10 p.m. 

Sun. 1-10 p.m.

Jerk House - 2532

Sun.-Th. 5-9 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 5-10 p.m. 

KFC and A&W Express - 75653

Daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m. 

MWR Liberty Centers - 2010 

Mon.-Th. 11 a.m.-12 a.m.

Fri. 11 a.m.-1 a.m.

Sun. 9 a.m.-12 a.m.

Sat. & Holidays 9 a.m.-1 a.m.

Library - 4700

Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-9 p.m. 

Sun. & Holidays 12-9 p.m.

Pizza Hut - 77995

Mon.-Th. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Fri. 11 a.m.-11 p.m.

Sat. & Sun. 12-9 p.m.

Windjammer Cafe

Mon.-Th. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.

Fri. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Sat. 5-10 p.m.

Sun. 5-9 p.m.

Windjammer Club - 77252

Fri. & Sat. 5 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Windjammer Sports Bar

Mon.-Th. 5-9 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 5 p.m.-2 a.m.

Sun. 5-9 p.m.

Safe Ride - 84781

| Bulletin Board The Wire | Page 19

 FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU 28

Call the movie hotline at 4880 or see https://intranet/movies.html for more information.

27 29 30 31 1 2

Jack & Jill (last 

showing)

(PG) 7 p.m.

Extremely Loud 

and Incredibly 

Close (NEW)

(PG-13) 9 p.m.

Happy Feet 2 

(last showing)

(PG) 7 p.m.

The Sitter 

(NEW)

(R) 9 p.m.

The Sitter 

(NEW)

(R) 8 p.m.

Joyful Noise

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Jack & Jill (last 

showing)

(PG) 8 p.m.

Extremely Loud 

and Incredibly 

Close (NEW)

(PG-13) 10 p.m.

Immortals (last 

showing)

(R) 7 p.m.

Red Tails

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Joyful Noise

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

Immortals (last 

showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Red Tails

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

J. Edgar

(R) 8 p.m.

Twilight

(PG-13) 7 p.m.

The Muppets

(PG) 7 p.m.

New Year’s Eve

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

War Horse

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

GTMO Religious Services

JTF Trooper 

Chapel

Daily Catholic

Tues.-Fri. 5:30 p.m.

 Mass

Vigil Mass

Saturday 5 p.m. 

Mass

Sunday 9 a.m.

General Protestant

Sunday 11 a.m. 

Gospel Service

Sunday 1 p.m.

Christian Fellowship

Sunday 6 p.m. 

Iglesia Ni Cristo

Sunday 5:30 a.m. 

Room A

LDS Service

Sunday 10 a.m. 

Room A

Pentecostal Gospel

Sunday 8 a.m. & 5 p.m. 

Room D

Islamic Service

Friday 1 p.m. 

Room C

United Jamaican

Fellowship

Sunday 11 a.m. 

Room B

Liturgical Service

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room B

For other services, 

contact the NAVSTA 

Chaplain’s 

Office at 2323.

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Bible Study

Wednesday 6 p.m.

For more information, 

contact the JTF 

Chaplain’s Office 

at 2305.

NAVSTA 

Main Chapel

The Wire | Page 18 Movie Review |

For more than two decades, George Lucas has been developing “Red 

Tails,” his film version of the story of the Tuskegee Airmen of the 322nd 

Fighter Group. Lucas is rumored to have spent $100 million out of his 

own pocket to produce, distribute and market this picture: an investment 

he hopes will generate awareness of the history of the real “Red Tail” 

airmen.

The “Red Tails” moniker comes from the tails of their P-51 Mustang 

aircraft, painted red to distinguish themselves from other squadrons. 

During World War II, these pilots were the first African American aviators 

in the history of the U.S. armed forces. At that time, the military was 

federally segregated. During the first leg of the war, these aviators were 

on the sidelines in noncombat operations. 

As the war progressed, the members of the 332nd were tasked to 

escort bomber squadrons. Many troops were reluctant to have African 

American aviators for escorts: the consensus was these airmen were 

of limited intelligence and should not operate heavy machinery. Many 

questioned their bravery, thinking they would run at the first signs of 

trouble. As history would tell, nothing could have been farther from the 

truth.

The film follows the beginnings of the Red Tail pilots. Col. A. J. Bullard 

(Terrance Howard) knows these men are capable of aerial combat. He 

shows great determination and poise at Pentagon staff meetings to get 

his men into the war effort. When he is successful in doing so, Maj. 

Emmanuel Stone (Cuba Gooding Jr.) is only too eager to tell his men that 

they will start escorting bomber aircraft into combat theater.

These men believe that they are finally doing something special. After 

all, they aren’t what society expects them to be. They weren’t cooks, nor 

did they “clean the latrines in Milwaukee,” as was the expectation of 

blacks at the time. On the contrary, they were finally able to do what they 

were trained to do and all eyes were on them. Would they succeed or fail 

in their new challenge?

After many successful escort missions, it became apparent to the 

military that these men were highly trained and viable assets to the 

mission. Their reputation preceded them. It wasn’t long before the Red 

Tails’ services were requested by name. 

Historically, the 332nd Fighter Group’s Red Tails had a very impressive 

war record. They destroyed 261 enemy aircraft and damaged 148 while 

participating in 1,578 missions. Those are no small accomplishments by 

any standards, nor did it come without a toll: 66 Red Tail aviators were 

killed in action. Distinguished Flying Crosses were awarded to 95 others 

for their service during the war. 

George Lucas is very successful in creating a visually spectacular film 

in the recreation of the WWII dogfights between the Red Tails and the 

Germans. Computer-generated imagery (CGI) is used in a movie as a 

storytelling tool and not for cartoonish backgrounds as in so many other 

pictures. These scenes are expansive and all-encompassing. They are 

brought to you by Lucas’ own special effects house, Industrial Light & 

Magic (ILM). Lucas is on record saying the Death Star battle in the original 

“Star Wars” (1977) was modeled after real WWII dogfights. Now nearly 

35 years later, we are able to see those very dogfights Lucas discussed 

realized on the silver screen in style. These scenes do not disappoint.

What is disappointing is Lucas’ inability to write dialog beyond the 

sitcom level. I think characters on “Saved by the Bell” (1990) had far 

more meaningful conversations on life than the men in “Red Tails” ever 

do. Almost everyone on the screen is one-dimensional. The Germans 

are definitely your standard cardboard cutout bad guys of yesteryear. 

They only display their dislike of Americans and black aviators with 

disparaging comments and gunfire. No up-close-and-personals there. I 

guess they don’t need to be more than that, but at the same time their lack 

of dimension makes them about as menacing as Wile E. Coyote.

 Good character moments are few and far between, like in the scenes 

where the senior officers discuss the merits and effectiveness of black 

airmen. However, most of the time you feel like the acting is a little 

over the top. The best human interaction comes from daredevil pilot 

Joe “Lightning” Little (David Oyelowo) as he woos Italian beauty Sofia 

(Daniela Ruah).

At least the premise of “Red Tails” is really good. It is a part of 

World War II history that is worth knowing and talking about. There’s 

no denying “Red Tails” looks great despite the flat characters. The film’s 

co-writer Aaron McGruder defended the film by saying: “Some people 

are going to like this tonal choice and some people are going to say, ‘Oh it 

should’ve been heavier and it should’ve been more dramatic.’ But there’s 

a version of this (story) that doesn’t have to be “Saving Private Ryan.” We 

can be “Star Wars,” as crazy as it is.”

I can’t argue that. Lucas and director Anthony Hemmingway made 

the movie they wanted to make. It is entertaining, though given the 

seriousness and historical importance of the subject matter. It is apparent 

this film could have been so much more. It certainly never should have 

felt like a sitcom. The good thing about “Red Tails” is it will get people 

talking. The bad thing about “Red Tails” is it feels half realized in terms 

of drama and presentation. Darn it. “Red Tails” had so much potential 

and deserved to be more gripping than what it is.

Movie Review PG-13

121 min.

By Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Red Tails
Background: Kittery Beach reopened for 

weekend use recently after the previous BEEF’s 

improvements made the access road passable 

again. –photo by Mass Communication Spc. 

2nd Class Louis Batchelor

Left: Petty Officer 2nd Class Mark Snow of the 

Navy Expeditionary Guard Battalion took the 

time to volunteer to improve and beautify the 

Public Works Department Nursery. –photo by 

Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Donnelly

Above: 

Lt. Jg. Andrew Maughn measured fish Jan. 21 to determine 

the winners of the Seabees’ Ball 

Lionfish Hunt fundraiser. –photo 

by Army Maj. Jon Powers

Lionfish