Just another 

‘Day at the Bay’

TSP: Roth an option

Volume 13, Issue 26 Friday, May 4, 2012

Trooper Focus:

Airman loses 

weight to fulfill life 

goals
Capt. W. Andrew Docherty

Chief of Staff, JTF Guantanamo

I l i k e t h e f a c t t h a t w e h a ve s i g n s o n p o s t a n n o u n c i n g t h e “ Va l u e 

o f t h e Week.” This is a great way to help 

us refresh our thinking on the foundational 

values of the Profession of Arms and help us 

use that perspective to help us better perform 

our mission and live our lives as military 

professionals. I expect 

that leaders throughout 

the JTF use these weekly 

values to start discussions 

about what sets us apart 

from those who have never 

known service and about 

the many reasons we should 

be exceptionally proud how 

professionally we perform 

our mission every day. 

We use the core values 

of our respective services 

as the foundation upon 

which our professional conduct is built. 

They serve as the moral compass to provide 

clear direction for our actions when the fog 

and friction of the moment may make the 

appropriate course less apparent. For the 

Army, these core values are Loyalty, Duty, 

Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity, 

and Personal Courage. For the Air Force, 

they are Integrity First, Service Before Self, 

and Excellence In All We Do. The Coast 

Guard’s are Honor, Respect, and Devotion 

To Duty. For the Navy and Marine Corps, 

our core values are Honor, Courage, and 

Commitment. For generations, these core 

values have helped illuminate the path for 

service members as we perform our missions 

and live our lives. Our adherence to these 

values is what makes us so well respected 

by the American public and the rest of the 

world.

Again, I like the fact that we have these 

signs displaying the weekly values on post. 

It’s important to remember, though, that 

these values are equally important off-post as 

they are on-post. It’s absolutely critical that 

we continue to emphasize the importance of 

these values as an integral part 

of our non-mission actions, 

behaviors, and activities with as 

much diligence as we have used 

to make them part of the way we 

accomplish the mission. These 

core values must be a way of 

life both on and off duty, and 

it is only through the consistent 

application of these moral and 

ethical values that we can obtain 

the most basic component and 

fundamental foundation of the 

Profession of Arms – Trust. 

As a profession, we have already earned the 

trust of the citizens we serve, and as the 

eyes of the world turn to GTMO for the 

upcoming military commissions arraignment 

for the alleged 9/11 co-conspirators, I am 

certain that our actions will continue to earn 

us the trust we deserve. 

But by far the most important trust we 

need to maintain is from our own population 

of Troopers. All JTF personnel must 

redouble our efforts to live our core values 

on both sides of the fence line in order to 

preserve the vital foundation of trust which 

enables us to serve our fellow Troopers and 

our nation so effectively. Doing the right 

thing and taking care of each other is a 24/7 

responsibility from which there is no relief. 

Each of us must continue to live the “Value 

of the Week” in every action, every day.

Cc

ommand

orner

Joint Task Force

Guantanamo Safe Humane Legal Transparent l l l

Cover: Children enjoy kayaking and pedal boats, just two of many attractions that were available at “Day at 

the Bay” at Ferry Landing beach April 28. The event celebrated The Month of the Military Child.

–photo by Army Pvt. Loren Cook

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

Navy Capt. Robert Durand: 9928

Deputy Director

Air Force Lt. Col. Laurel Tingley: 9927

Operations Officer

Army Maj. Jon Powers: 3649

Senior Enlisted Leader

Sgt. 1st Class Jerome Grant: 8141

The Wire

Command Information Officer

Army 1st. Lt. Amelia Thatcher

Editorial Staff

Army Sgt. Saul Rosa

Spc. Ryan Hallock

Spc. Vanessa Davila

Pvt. Loren Cook

Photojournalists

Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven

Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Army Staff Sgt. Lewis Hilburn

Mass Communication Spc. 2nd Class Kilho Park

Webmaster

Mass Communication Spc. 1st Class Keith Simmons

Contact us

Editor’s Desk: 3499

Commercial: 011-5399-3499

DSN: 660-3499

E-mail: thewire@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil

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

 The Wire | Page 2 Command Corner

“We use the 

core values of 

our respective 

services as the 

foundation 

upon which our 

professional 

conduct is built.” 

News from the Bay

News from the Bay The Wire | Page 3

INDEX

The Wire

MAY 4, 2012

Command Corner

TSP: Roth started up

Day at the Bay

Trooper Focus

Notice - Windward Loop

MBS: Leadership

Movie Review: The Vow

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.

2

5

6

8

9

9

10

Moonlight Run

The Marine Corps Security Forces Company is hosting a Moonlight Run May 11. 

Runners will depart Marine Hill at 6:30 p.m., 

and the route will be from the Northeast 

Gate to Kittery Beach.

Register at the Marine Hill Whitehouse 

Monday or Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 

p.m. Registration costs $25. 

All proceeds will benefit the 237th Marine Corps Birthday Ball. For more information, call Staff Sgt. Tucker at 2643.

North East Gate Tour

Cubans used to shine a spotlight at the 

Marine barracks at the North East Gate until a large eagle, globe, and anchor was built. 

Learn more about the history and lineage of 

the North East Gate and the United States 

Marines at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

Meet at Marine Hill Parade Deck every 

third Friday of the month at 11 a.m.

Acoustic Friday

Come out to enjoy easy listening music by 

Marty Castillo at the Bayview beginning May 

11 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For reservations and more information 

call 75604.

Anger Management

Don’t let anger manage you! Learn ways 

to stay in control at the anger management 

course at The Fleet and Family Support Center May 8 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Call 4153/4141 to register.

Night Golf

Don’t enjoy golfing during a nice, sunny 

day? Well the Yatera Golf Association is 

sponsoring a night of glow-in-the-dark golf 

May 19. 

Sign up at the NEX Breezeway May 5 and 

6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The cost is $25. 

Cart and glow-in-the-dark golf balls 

included. Clubs are free to rent.

College Courses

Columbia College is offering Math 106: 

Intermediate Algebra for their summer session beginning May 28. 

Registration is open through May 27.

Classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays 

from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

There are hundreds of courses available 

online.

Call 7-5555 for more information.

Reef Raiders

There is a club meeting May 8 at the club 

house. There will be burgers and dogs for 

dinner. 

Bring your own liquid refreshments.

Become a member at the meeting!

Trail Blazers

Help keep the trails of GTMO beautiful and clean. The Trail Blazers are looking 

for volunteers to help cut grass, trim tree 

limbs, remove trash and anything else it 

takes to keep your hikes, trail runs and bike 

rides fun and easy. For more information, 

call Martin Sullivan at 8243/8242 or email 

Martin.E.Sullivan@jtfgtmo.southcom.mil.

Philippine Cuisine 

On your way out of the NEX, stop at the 

fund-raising event for the 114th Philippine 

Independence Day Celebration.

The food sale is scheduled for May 13 

and 27 and June 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Traditional Philippine dishes will be 

served including lumpia, pancit and adobo.

Filipino cookbooks are also available for 

$15.

BINGO!

Due to renovation, starting May 6, Bingo 

is moving from inside the Windjammer to 

outside on O’Kelly’s Patio and will only be 

held Tuesday and Sunday nights at 6 p.m.

Please bring some type of paper weight 

for your tickets to offset any wind challenges.

For more information call the Windjammer at 75503.

Leather Craft Class

Every Tuesday at the Ceramic Shop from 

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. $15 per class.

Register at the Ceramic shop.

For more information call 74795/84435.

Attention Divers

The re-compression chamber will be 

down for maintenance May 7 - 11.

Civilian and recreational diving will be secured at NAVSTA GTMO during this period.

For more information, contact the Command Diving Officer/Harbor Magistrate 

4444.

Moonlight Run – May 11
As members of the United States Army, Navy, 

Air Force, Marines and Coast 

Guard, we take pride in serving 

our country. We interact with 

each other as supervisors and 

subordinates to accomplish the 

mission. During these daily interactions, we give and receive 

instructions and advice and 

we ask questions. This is called 

communication.

Communication is defined as 

information conveyed or transmitted by one person to another 

or to a group of persons. Communication occurs when there 

is a message (conveyed information), sender (person giving 

message) and receiver (person 

obtaining message). 

Effective communication 

requires more than just an exchange of information. For 

communication to be effective 

the sender must present the 

message in a manner understood 

by the receiver. In communicating with a subordinate, a leader 

needs to convey his or her message in a manner suitable for 

the subordinate to comprehend. 

The subordinate receives and 

interprets the message. If there 

is any confusion in the communication, the subordinate asks 

questions for clarity. 

As a continuance of effective 

communication: 

- Smile when you speak to 

your colleagues; smiling requires 

use of 14 facial muscles while 

frowning requires 72. 

- Be friendly, helpful and cordial in your communication 

- Show genuine interest in the 

receiver of your message

- Be considerate of his or her 

feelings as they will affect communication 

- Do not be afraid to display 

patience and humility, and a dash 

of humor when appropriate 

These things will reduce 

stress among Troopers and allow them to fully comprehend 

what you are trying to convey. 

Your effectiveness will increase 

substantially. 

The advantages of effective 

communication are: 

- Troopers adopt your ideas 

- Conflict is reduced 

- Stronger relationships are 

established 

- Productivity increases 

Learn to communicate effectively. As a leader you will earn 

the trust and respect of your 

subordinates. As a subordinate, 

possessing the ability to communicate effectively will increase 

your ability to move up in the 

ranks and become the leader of 

tomorrow! Whether you are a 

leader or a subordinate, always 

strive to improve your communication skills. 

Trooper to Trooper

strive to communicate effectively

Master Sgt. Gary Chambers

First Sergeant, Base Emergency Engineering Force

 The Wire | Page 4 Trooper to Trooper

PSEC ALERT

PROTECT YOUR INFO!

Complacency 

1. Self-satisfaction especially when accompanied by unawareness of actual dangers or deficiencies. 

2. A feeling of being satisfied with how things are and not wanting to try to make them better. 

Keep your eyes wide open and your head on a swivel, fight complacency!

Protect sensitive information. Use OPSEC! 

By Sgt. 1st Class Kryn P. Westhoven

TSP: Roth start up

Before or after, that is the question

Command Information The Wire | Page 5

Money Matters

Super Troopers

Congratulations to the Joint Task Force 

Guantanamo Troopers who recently

 received commander’s coins! 

SPC Ladrillero

SSgt Thacker

TSgt Dixon-Scott

P02 Torio

Starting next week Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants 

will have their first chance to make 

Roth contributions to the popular 

savings plan. The contributions 

provide tax-free withdrawals once 

you are of retirement age.

 Unlike current TSP contributions, which are made with pre-tax 

dollars, Roth contributions come 

from money that has already been 

taxed.

“The Roth TSP is an important 

new feature that will give you greater flexibility in the tax treatment of 

your employee contributions,” said 

TSP Executive Director Greg T. 

Long in a letter to participants on 

the www.tsp.gov website.

Although contributions made 

to the new plan are taxed, any interest earned is not. However, like the 

traditional TSP, certain IRS requirements have to be met in order for 

withdrawals to be tax free, like being at least 59 and a half years old 

before making any withdrawals.

If you are in a lower tax bracket 

now and expect to be in a higher 

tax bracket when you retire, then 

the Roth plan could be a viable 

option. You need to determine if 

you will be paying less in taxes now 

than your potential tax rate when 

you retire.

Another positive scenario 

would involve Troopers who go 

on to serve in a combat zone. If 

they qualify for tax-exempt pay, 

then in addition to being a tax-free 

withdrawal, Roth contributions 

wouldn’t be taxed going in either.

Traditional TSP contributions 

are deducted from your pay before taxes, and the principal and 

earnings are taxed as you withdraw 

funds in retirement.

“I urge you to carefully consider 

whether Roth TSP would be to 

your advantage,” added Long. The 

TSP website noted that, as with all 

tax matters, you should seek the advice of a qualified tax or financial 

advisor for information pertaining 

to your specific tax situation. 

With the start of the Roth contributions option on May 7, you 

will potentially have two types of 

balances in your TSP account; the 

traditional TSP balance of pre-tax 

contributions and a Roth TSP balance. You will have to designate 

how much you will continue to 

place in the regular TSP and how 

much you will contribute to the 

Roth TSP. 

Participants will still have all five 

funds and five lifecycle funds to 

choose from. What you will have 

is duplicate funds that with show 

either before tax or after tax contributions. 

If you opt for a Roth TSP, 

money already in your TSP account 

will remain part of your traditional 

balance and cannot be converted to 

Roth contributions. You can transfer Roth 401(k), Roth 403 (b) and 

Roth 457 (b) monies to your TSP 

Roth, but not funds from a Roth 

IRA.

For either the traditional TSP 

or the Roth TSP, Troopers can 

receive a tax deduction equal to 

their contributions. This means 

members who contribute $10,000 

and earn $50,000 have a taxable 

income of only $40,000. The maximum contributions for Troopers 

younger than 50 is $17,000, and for 

Troopers older than 50 the max is 

$22,500. 

For more information visit 

www.tsp.gov or sit down with 

Walter Barrett, a personal financial 

specialist with the Fleet and Family Services Support Center at U.S. 

Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay. 

Barrett is available every Thursday 

from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Fleet 

and Family Support Center satellite office located next to the Camp 

America post office. Call 4050 or 

4141 to set up an appointment.

WASHINGTON – The Defense Department announced 

today its assignment policy 

changes will be implemented 

May 14, opening 14,325 additional positions to women. 

The two changes to the 1994 

Direct Ground Combat Definition and Assignment Rule, announced Feb. 9 in a report to 

Congress, could not be implemented without a Congressionally-mandated notification 

period, which has now expired. 

When implemented, occupations will no longer be closed 

to women solely because the 

positions are required to be 

co-located with ground combat units. Additionally, a sizable number of positions will 

be opened to women at the 

battalion level in select direct 

ground combat units in specific 

occupations. The services will 

continuously assess their experience with these exceptions 

to policy to help determine future changes to the assignment 

rules. 

“The secretary of defense 

has said this is the beginning, 

not the end, of a process,” said 

Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Jo Ann Rooney. “The department intends to continue 

to remove barriers that prevent 

service members from serving 

in any capacity in which they 

qualify.”

Defense Secretary Panetta 

has directed the services to update him in six months on assignment implementation, to 

include efforts to pursue gender-neutral physical standards, 

an assessment of the newly 

opened positions, and identification of any further positions 

that can be opened. 

“Women have contributed 

immeasurably to our efforts, 

here and abroad,” Rooney said. 

“We simply could not do the 

mission without them.” 

New assignments

opening to women

Department of Defense press release
 The Wire | Page 6 Feature Feature The Wire | Page 7

Children slid down water slides, swam in the gently-rolling waves of the 

Caribbean or laid on inflatable icebergs and 

banana boats, paddled around in kayaks or 

pedal boats, played water balloon volleyball, 

played impromptu games of tag or engaged 

in water fights, and laughed merrily all the 

while. Meanwhile, parents shopped for arts 

and crafts, ate hamburgers and bratwurst, 

and watched their children.

Such was the scene at Ferry Landing 

Beach April 28, at the “Day at the Bay,” 

which celebrated The Month of the Military 

Child with a splash!

“Day at the Bay is a fun, visible way 

to say to military kids ‘Hey, we know you 

sacrifice too and we support you!’” said 

Chris Dickson, school liaison officer with 

Navy Child and Youth Programs, a branch 

of MWR.

The Coast Guard Maritime Security 

Detachment and the Marine Corps Security 

Forces Company both turned out to show 

their support. The MSST sent a rescue 

helicopter and mounted a swimmer rescue 

drill while the MCSFCO set up a static 

display of a Humvee for children to look at 

and climb inside. The fire department also 

had a fire engine on display.

“We can plan a lot of cool events, but 

without volunteers helping out, they’re 

just plans. We appreciate the help we get 

from volunteers contributing their time 

and energy to put this on for the kids and 

community,” said Dickson.

Community organizations such as the 

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts sold souvenirs 

and collected donations. Other attractions 

included free T-shirts, free kites, and a pirate 

mascot walking around giving high-fives.

“You have a lot to get ready, for a lot of 

people, so a lot is involved,” said Dickson. 

“It’s a multi-activity event with many moving 

parts for the entire community, so it takes 

extensive, lucid planning and organization. 

It was more like a three-ring circus!”

The highlight of the day was a 

performance by the “The Dirty Sock 

Funtime Band,” a New York City-based 

children’s music band. Kids laughed at the 

band’s colorful outfits and danced to kidfriendly rock.

“The band was engaging and fun. They 

were flexible and adapted well to the setting. 

They were very good, both for and to the 

kids,” said Dickson.

 Although MWR faced a multitude of 

challenges planning and organizing the 

event, it was a success. Families showed up 

in force, and nary a sad face was to be seen.

“When all was said and done, it was 

worth it when I saw my daughter Amelia 

strolling around in a yellow shirt, all wet 

from enjoying her ‘Day at the Bay,’” said 

Dickson.

Just another ‘Day at the Bay’

By Pvt. Loren Cook

Background: A scurvy swashbuckler gives 

a landlubber child a high five.

Opposite Top: The four water slides at 

“Day at the Bay” proved to be a popular 

attraction.

Opposite Bottom: Children engage in an 

impromptu water fight.

– photos by Pvt. Loren Cook
Humberto H i n o j o s a 

weighed 360 pounds six 

years ago. The Airman 1st 

Class from Missouri is now 

at Guantanamo Bay, and he is 

more than 150 pounds lighter.

“I just woke up one day 

and I was like I need to change 

my life; I want a future,” says 

Hinojosa.

The Airman has kept the 

weight off and continues to 

lose weight, always through 

discipline and determination. 

Those traits have carried over 

to his military career and 

made him one of the hardest 

working members of the Base 

Emergency Engineering Force 

(BEEF).

The BEEF is responsible 

for maintaining Camp Justice, 

which houses various personnel 

involved with commissions, as 

well as the Expeditionary Legal 

Complex (ELC). Hinojosa 

is a utilities craftsman in the 

BEEF’s utilities shop. He does 

plumbing work throughout 

Camp Justice and the ELC but 

a plumber Hinojosa is not – at 

least not when he’s back home 

in Missouri.

It was a young Hinojosa’s 

goal to work in law 

enforcement, and he lost 

the first hundred pounds to 

make that happen. When he 

is not deployed as part of the 

Missouri Air National Guard’s 

139th Airlift Wing, he is a jailer 

at the Platte County Sheriff ’s 

department. 

“I didn’t want to go to the 

same kind of job every day,” 

says Hinojosa about his job 

choice in the Air Force. “I 

was never handy with tools, 

so I joined civil engineering 

to better myself as a man and 

learn something different. I 

already know how to be a cop 

so why not learn how to be 

handy in something else? Now 

I can go home and help build 

my house if I want to.”

Despite Hinojosa’s Guard 

status, he has only been home 

for about four months in the 

last two years. As soon as he 

returned home from tech 

school, he was informed of 

the Wing’s deployment to 

Guantanamo so off he went 

two months later. Before 

deploying, Hinojosa was 

working as a patrol officer but 

was moved to the jail when 

his deployment orders came 

down. He is set to return home 

in July, and Platte County 

residents might just find him 

patrolling their neighborhoods 

again.

 The Wire | Page 8 Trooper Focus

What’s your technique to beat the heat?

“Drink lots of water and 

take breaks.”

Sergeant

Nickolaos Simpson

Boots on the Ground

By Spc. Vanessa Davila

“I like to go snorkeling in 

the bay.”

Staff Sergeant 

Nathan Richard

“Stay inside!”

Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class 

Leotis Dixon

“I like to sit under a nice, 

shady banyan tree.”

Yeoman 2nd Class 

Janol Wright

trooper focus

Time in service: 2 years

Hobbies: Playing sports, going to the 

gym, listening to music

The boss says: “He always displays a 

good attitude in everything that is asked 

of him. He’s one of the first to volunteer for anything.”

Advice to junior Troopers: “Get in- volved while you’re here. It makes your 

time go by faster.”

Bullet Bio:

A1C Humberto Hinojosa

Mind, Body & Spirit The Wire | Page 9

By Spc. Ryan Hallock

By Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Dominique Cannon

Concerning Leadership

I

t remains fairly surprising the number 

of individuals who have a difficult time 

understanding the psychology behind military 

leadership. Much like a fine wine, leadership 

improves with age. The more experience 

we have interacting with those who serve 

beneath our guidance, the more we discover 

different methods that cultivate the most 

desirable attitudes and working relationships. 

However, lacking thoughtful consideration of 

the drives and motivations of subordinates is 

where many servicemembers have the greatest 

amount of difficulty applying leadership.

War, unfortunately, is one of the oldest 

and most easily recognizable features of 

human existence. In his book “War before 

Civilization,” archeology professor Lawrence 

H. Keeley says that throughout the course 

of recorded human history, nearly 90 to 95 

percent of known societies have engaged 

in warfare. In fact, some of the oldest 

archeological sites known today are mass 

graves believed to be locations of early 

conflict. According to anthropology expert 

Raymond Kelly, a cemetery in Sudan dating 

back 14,000 years is the earliest known site 

of organized human violence. The crucial 

moment in history where humans faced each 

other in armed conflict is the moment that 

military leadership was born.

Organized in small bands of raiding 

parties, the discipline needed to defeat the 

opponent was instilled by the chieftain. 

Mindful of both their surroundings and the 

disposition of those standing by their side, 

these ancient leaders exemplified effective 

military leadership. Although militaries around 

the world have evolved considerably from 

their prehistoric beginnings, the fundamentals 

of leadership remain the same. 

Every kind of leadership requires a firm 

acknowledgement of your subordinate’s 

worth. Leaders too must acknowledge that, 

much like a sophisticated machine, each 

individual under their command provides a 

vital function necessary for the unit to work 

as a whole. In addition, possessing a level of 

professional comfort that allows subordinates 

room to put forth opinions on certain matters, 

as well as respecting such views, is crucial to 

establishing a good working relationship. No 

matter what your rank is, everyone wants 

to have a voice. While it may be difficult to 

balance discipline and liberties in a military 

environment, taking the extra step in assessing 

the wants and needs of your subordinates can 

make the process easier.

Most of us have developed the tools 

necessary to assess what works best for 

different people. However, taking that 

additional step to examine their character and 

figure out exactly what makes them “tick” can 

be uncomfortable for some. Learn as much 

as you can about your subordinates. Offer 

Windward Loop Drivers

NOTICE FOR

Residents of Windward Loop have probably noticed the “No Right Turn” sign where the street joins Sherman 

Avenue. You may have also wondered why base police are enforcing this new restriction so aggressively... 

The reason for the sign is to prevent Windward Loop residents from driving east on Sherman Ave and cutting 

through the Villamar and Nob Hill neighborhoods to Skyline Drive on the way to the JTF. Residents have 

complained about JTF personnel driving too fast through their neighborhood (where the speed limit is 15) 

and the related construction area (where the speed limit is 5), and we need to immediately take steps to avoid 

cutting through in the morning and ensure we slow down when driving in any residential neighborhood. JTF 

personnel shall avoid transiting this neighborhood in the morning and anyone caught violating the “No Right 

Turn” sign or the posted speed limit will risk losing their vehicle privileges. 

Capt. W. Andrew Docherty 

Chief of Staff, JTF Guantanamo

 see MBS page 11

Mind, Body & Spirit
 The Wire | Page 10 Movie Review

What if the person you loved more than anyone 

else in the entire world 

one day did not know you 

anymore? Can you imagine? 

I cannot begin to fathom the 

sorrow I would go through. 

Unfortunately, this is a reality 

for people dealing with 

loved ones suffering from 

Alzheimer’s disease or from a 

traumatic brain injury. 

As I watched “The Vow,” 

I imagined myself in the 

character of the husband’s 

shoes. What startled me 

was how much of the 

movie actually reminded me 

of myself and of similar 

situations I’ve been in. I’ll be 

honest; this movie definitely 

struck a chord with me.

The movie opens with 

young Chicagoans Leo 

(Channing Tatum, “21 Jump 

Street”) and Paige Collins 

(Rachel McAdams, “The Time 

Traveler’s Wife”) leaving a 

movie theater late one winter 

night. They are madly in love 

and it’s obvious from the 

get-go they are best friends. 

While they are driving home 

on slick roads, fate intervenes. 

That’s when we learn of 

“moments of impact and 

ripple effects where some 

particles are brought closer 

and some are spun off into 

great adventures” that happen 

in life. 

This is when a dump truck 

rear-ends the young couple’s 

vehicle which sends Paige 

sailing through the windshield. 

During her hospital stay, she 

is put in a medically induced 

coma to help her recover. 

When Paige is revived, her 

motor functions are good and 

her personality is sound. Leo 

is elated to see his wife on 

the mend, it appears she will 

not have any lasting injuries 

from the accident. Herein 

lays the ripple effect: Paige 

has no memory of Leo. She 

is unable to recall the last five 

years of her life. This includes 

changing her college major, 

her works as an artist and 

sculptor, her estrangement 

from her parents, and how 

and why she met and married 

Leo. 

From Paige’s perspective, 

Leo is a stranger. There is 

no passion for him as there 

once was. Without the last 

five years of memory, she still 

has feelings for her former 

fiancé, the handsome and 

somewhat snaky Jeremy (Scott 

Speedman, “Underworld”). He 

never wanted his engagement 

to Paige to end. For him, this 

might be a chance to pick up 

where they left off.

Leo’s life is made even 

more complicated by Paige’s 

meddlesome parents Bill 

(Sam Neill, “Legend of the 

Guardians: The Owls of 

Ga’Hoole”) and Rita (Jessica 

Lange, “Big Fish”). With 

Paige’s memory of their 

estrangement gone, her 

parents now have a chance 

to implement a life “course 

correction” for her. Bill and 

Rita never wanted Paige to 

assume the career she did, and 

they certainly do not approve 

of Leo. 

Channing Tatum is good 

as Leo. In spite of the many 

challenges that come from 

Paige trying to put the pieces 

of her life back together, he 

always tries to remain calm 

and even keeled. This is no 

small task for a man who, 

for the most part, lost his 

true love to “a moment of 

impact”. Though hurt, he is 

determined to play straight 

with Paige and let her make 

her own decisions, including 

what she now wants to do 

with her life. Truly, if you love 

someone enough you will let 

them go. 

“The Vow” is aptly named. 

It is the very premise of 

the Collins’ wedding vows 

the movie is framed upon. 

What’s interesting to note, 

is our couple wrote their 

wedding vows on their copies 

of the menu from the café 

prominent during their initial 

courtship: the Mnemonic 

Café. Nice touch with the 

name.

“The Vow” was inspired 

by the real-life couple Kim 

and Kickitt Carpenter. They 

were married for only ten 

weeks when an auto accident 

robbed Kickitt of knowing 

her husband at all. When 

asked “Who’s your husband?” 

Kickitt responded with “I’m 

not married”. Tests revealed 

she had only maintained her 

long-term memories. She no 

longer had any feelings for her 

husband, Kim. “I don’t have 

a visual memory in my head, 

and I have no memory in my 

heart.” 

The Carpenters faced 

over $200,000 in medical 

bills for Kickitt’s care. Kim 

did not think their marriage 

could survive. “This isn’t my 

wife; my wife is in this body, 

trapped and trying to get out.” 

Kim valued their marriage 

and was determined to make 

it work. “I made a vow before 

God. ‘Until death do you 

part.’” It’s been nearly 20 years 

since the accident. Today, they 

are happily married and have 

two children. Kickitt never did 

regain the memories she lost. 

“The Vow” took creative 

liberties with the actual events 

on which it is based. A movie 

like this could have easily 

gone in so many directions. 

As it is, it is a bittersweet love 

story that deals with loss and 

heartache. How the movie 

resolves itself feels reasonably 

honest and noble. 

I don’t know if I would 

have had the stamina, 

will-power or heart that 

poor Leo had. He’s a very 

idealist character with great 

personality traits and few 

or no flaws. Many couples 

probably wouldn’t have 

handled this situation as 

well as the Collins. But the 

Carpenters did and that is a 

testament to their faith and 

determination. 

“The Vow” works best 

as a date movie. If I had 

to complain, some events 

take place feel a little too 

convenient. An example is 

the scene where Paige meets 

a former acquaintance in 

the floral store. That chance 

encounter is there to provide 

a plot twist, but it felt a bit 

much and a little too late. Oh, 

well. I can forgive that and 

some of the other clichés. 

After all, this movie has heart. 

That’s what brings this story 

home. For this kind of movie, 

isn’t that what really matters? 

PG-13

104 min.

Movie Review The Vow

By Mass Communication 

Spc. 1st Class Ty Bjornson

Bulletin Board The Wire | Page 11

them advice when they ask for it. 

Addressing problems outside work, such 

as financial issues, marital problems and 

family life can be a great way to establish 

yourself as a confidant to anyone under 

your command. Successful leadership is 

not always obtained by emulating those 

who led you in the past or by working 

outside of the norm. It is by establishing 

a respectful bond with your peers, 

subordinates and superiors to collectively 

accomplish the mission that good leaders 

become great.

Outside of the individualized mental 

health services provided to service 

members stationed throughout Joint Task 

Force Guantanamo, we here at the Joint 

Stress Mitigation and Restoration Team 

work hand in hand with leadership to help 

ensure that both personal and commandwide stressors are addressed. If you have 

any questions or just want to sit back, relax 

and enjoy one of our massage chairs, the 

JSMART clinic is open Monday through 

Friday from 7 a.m to 5 p.m and closed on 

the weekends and federal holidays. Call us 

during working hours at 2321 or, in case 

of an emergency, 24 hours a day at 3566.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

 FRI SAT SUN MON TUE WED THU 5

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

4 6 7 8 9 10

The Lucky One (PG-13) 8 p.m.

Silent House 

(NEW)

(R) 10 p.m.

A Thousand 

Words (NEW)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Act of Valor 

(R) 10 p.m.

A Thousand 

Words (NEW)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Silent House 

(NEW)

(R) 8 p.m.

Wonderlust

(last showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Tyler Perry’s 

Good Deeds

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Tyler Perry’s 

Good Deeds

(last showing)

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Wonderlust

(last showing)

(R) 8 p.m.

Gone

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Lucky One 

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Lorax

(PG) 8 p.m.

The Vow

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

The Vow

(PG-13) 8 p.m.

Act of Valor

(R) 8 p.m.

Downtown

Lyceum

Camp 

Bulkeley

MBS continued

Bulletin Board The Wire | Page 11

GTMO Religious 

Services

NAVSTA 

Main Chapel

Daily Catholic Mass

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

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. 

Pentecostal Gospel

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

Room D

Protestant Communion

Sunday 10 a.m.

Room B

LDS Service

Sunday 10 a.m. 

Room A

Islamic Service

Friday 1 p.m. 

Room C

Protestant Worship

Sunday 9 a.m.

Bible Study

Wednesday 6 p.m.

JTF Trooper 

Chapel

For other services, contact the 

NAVSTA Chaplain’s Office at 2323.

For more information, 

contact the JTF Chaplain’s Office 

at 2305.

SAFE RIDE 

84781
Top: Rear Adm. David Woods chats with Maj. Tom Tuttle at W.T. Sampson 

Elementary School April 30.

Bottom: Rear Adm. David Woods receives a box of Girl Scout cookies from 

Maj. Tom Tuttle. Tuttle organized the delivery of 10,000 pounds of Girl Scout 

cookies in conjunction with the Girl Scouts of Southcoast Florida program 

“Mints for the Military.”

– photos by Mass Communications Spc. 1st Class

 Ty Bjornson 

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