Volume 9, No. 43 �SS 2017
F2RIDAY1, O2CTOBER 16, 2017
PLACE
STAMP
HERE
DMZ is more tourist mecca than war zone
B5Y 4K5IM 4G5AMEL
though it's very near here. North
Stars and Stripes
Korea conducts provoca-
tions all the time," she
GOSEONG, South Korea
said.
-- Tourists snapped photos with
Such has been the
North Korean mountains in the
paradoxical state of af-
background, apparently unaware
fairs on the divided pen-
or unconcerned that they were
insula since the 1950-53
about 60 miles away from the
Korean War ended with
launch site of a morning missile
an armistice instead of
test.
a peace treaty.
The Korean Peninsula is bi-
The North is known
sected by the Demilitarized Zone,
to have tens of thou-
a misnomer because the 2.5-mile-
sands of soldiers and
wide, 150-mile-long no man's land
massive amounts of
is lined with barbed wire and is
artillery dug into posi-
dotted with land mines.
tions near its side of
That doesn't stop hordes of
the DMZ. But traffic
South Koreans, Americans and
jams clog southern
other sightseers from getting as
highways as people
close as they can, making the
head toward the
area near the world's most heavily
front lines, which can
fortified border an unlikely tourist
appear more like a
mecca.
theme park than a war
"I came here from Seoul with
zone.
acquaintances to look at the
SEE MECCA
views," said Lee Hae Eun, 31, dur-
ON PAGE 2
ing a recent visit to the observa-
tory that overlooks the DMZ at the
A tourist bikes
east coast border city of Goseong.
across a Korean War
She knew that North Korea had
memorial bridge
fired a trio of short-range missiles
near Inje, South
hours earlier.
Korea, on Aug. 26.
"I'm not worried that North
M9ARCUS 2F9ICHTL
Korea will do something even
Stars and Stripes
Stars and Stripes in partnership with MARCOA Media LLC. To Advertise in this edition contact us at 706.325.0758
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COVER STORY
PLACE
STAMP
HERE
Mecca: DMZ tour
at the demarcation
line favorite among
dignitaries, tourists
FROM FRONT PAGE
`Money shot'
Many foreigners are familiar
with the side of the DMZ that
includes the truce village of
Panmunjom in the Joint Security
Area, with a row of blue buildings
that straddle the military demar-
cation line and are used for talks
between the sides.
South Korean agencies and the
USO run near-daily bus tours to
the area, about 35 miles north-
west of the capital, Seoul, for
about $100.
It's usually on the agenda of
visiting dignitaries, who are
photographed standing on the
demarcation line in what news
photographers and camera crews
Above: Tourists spy on North Korea
call the "money shot."
near Goseong, South Korea.
During a trip in April, Vice
Left: Tourists watch a video
President Mike Pence gazed to-
about the Korean War.
ward the North from the steps of
P10HOTOS BY 9M10ARCUS 9F10ICHTL
the Freedom House -- the main
Stars and Stripes
visitors' hall.
Tourists can even step into
the 1950-53 war and snakes from
North Korea inside one of the
south to well north of the 38th
blue buildings after being briefed
Parallel until it reaches the white
sands that line the east coast.
about its history as the site of
If you drive, you may want to
talks leading to the armistice
stop at 38 Coffee before heading to
agreement that ended the fighting
parallels north. If you surf, there's
but left the countries in a techni-
the so-called 38th Parallel beach.
cal state of war.
seen on the other side, including
North Korea also conducts tours
Goseong, which has a population
Once outside, soldiers enforce
the now-closed joint industrial park
on its side of the JSA, but Ameri-
of about 56,000, used to be part of
strict rules about movements and
in Kaesong; the so-called propagan-
cans won't be joining those anytime
North Korea and is in the province
photos. Guides can no longer stop at
da village of Kijong-dong, which is
soon. President Donald Trump's
of Gangwon, which was split during
the Bridge of No Return and the site
believed to be largely vacant; and, on
administration has barred U.S. citi-
the war.
of the 1976 ax murders of two U.S.
a clear day, a giant statue of the com-
zens from traveling to North Korea
On the North Korean side, about
officers because of the tension.
munist state's founder, Kim Il Sung.
as of Sept. 1 because of concerns
60 miles away, is the port city of
People on these tours also trek
A new $7 million building, which
about detentions after the death of
Wonsan, which has been the launch
through a mile-long infiltration
will be nearly 40 feet closer to the
student Otto Warmbier.
site for several missile tests into
tunnel dug by North Korea and
North, is under construction to offer
the turquoise waters of the Sea of
discovered by South Korean forces
a better view.
North of the 38th Parallel 4Japan, known as the East Sea in
in 1978.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Stephen
South Korea.
Another highlight is peering out
Tharp, a Korea specialist writing a
Panmunjom is on the famous
The lush, mountainous inland
at the North through coin-operated
series of DMZ guidebooks, said tour-
circle of latitude that once divided
area was the site of some of the
binoculars from the Dorasan Ob-
ism in the area began in the early
the peninsula between U.S.-backed
fiercest fighting of the war, includ-
servatory as socialist propaganda
1970s and has developed rapidly.
forces in the south and communist
ing the 1951 battles of Heartbreak
blares through loudspeakers.
"Each place keeps changing," he
troops in the north.
Ridge and the Punchbowl.
A giant map explains what can be
said.
But the DMZ was carved after
SEE PAGE 3
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AGE 33
COVER STORY
PLACE
STAMP
FROM PAGE 2
HERE
"Sometimes
it was North
Korea, some-
times it was
South Korea,"
said Tharp, who
often takes U.S.
Korean War vet-
erans on trips to
see their former
battlefields.
Many monu-
ments testify to
victories and de-
feats, including a
unique red bridge
that crosses a
river near the city
of Inje dedicated
to the memory of
Army 2nd Lt. Thomas W.
Livingston Jr.
The bridge is decorated
with life-size statues and
silhouettes of U.S. soldiers
in action, reminiscent of
the Korean War Veterans Memorial
in Washington.
Top: Tourists pose for pictures and
A plaque says Livingston was
walk around a Demilitarized Zone
fatally wounded in an ambush in
observatory near Goseong, South
1952, leading many men to drown
Korea, on Aug. 26. Above: Tourists
trying to retreat across the river.
enjoy one of Goseong's beaches.
Livingston is quoted as saying that a
P10HOTOS BY 9M10ARCUS 9F10ICHTL9/Stars and Stripes
bridge in the area would have saved
many lives.
ploying to Camp Carroll this past
Other reminders of potential
summer with the 498th Combat
danger include artillery positions
Sustainment Support Battalion.
and South Korean army bases vis-
"I just love history and wanted to
ible from the highway, which is also
see it," she said before heading out
lined with stalls selling roasted corn
to the observatory deck.
on the cob and potato cakes.
Now it's popular with sunbath-
Olympic worries
ers and hikers, as evidenced by the
colorful hotels that dot the coast
Many South Koreans say they
until you hit the barbed wire fences
feel immune to the tensions after
and guard posts aimed at prevent-
decades of brinkmanship in rela-
ing amphibious infiltrations from
tions with North Korea.
South Korean tourists from Janu-
the North.
A display in the sprawling DMZ
of the DMZ.
ary through June, compared with
Popular tourist sites include
museum in Goseong offers sobering
Facing questions about security,
265,695 in the same period last
former villas used by the U.S.-
perspective with a list of incidents
the International Olympic Commit-
year. Those figures don't include
backed first leader of South Korea,
-- two South Korean soldiers
tee has expressed confidence that
the Joint Security Area, which is
Syngman Rhee, and North Korean
maimed by land mines, artillery
the games will go on as planned.
controlled by the United Nations.
founder Kim Il Sung.
fire exchanged, a border island
International Olympic Commit-
There were 1.4 million tourists
The Goseong Unification Obser-
shelled, a warship torpedoed.
tee President Thomas Bach has met
in the Goseon area for the first six
vatory offers a glimpse of North
Local officials say the number of
with the leaders of China and South
Korea's Mount Kumgang, which
tourists at the DMZ and surround-
months of this year, compared with
Korea. "In none of the discussions
was the site of past cultural ex-
ing areas has decreased slightly
1.5 million for the same period in
has anybody expressed any doubt"
changes between the two rivals
since last year, but that's largely
2016, according to the local tourism
about the Olympics, the IOC said in
until a tourist was killed by a North
because of a decline in Chinese
department.
a recent statement.
Korean soldier after wandering into
tourists due to a diplomatic spat
Rising fears over North Korea's
"Athletes' safety and security are
a restricted zone in 2008.
over a U.S. missile defense system.
nuclear weapons program have
of course a primary concern for the
Sgt. 1st Class Rebekka Johnson,
The area of Paju, which makes
cast a shadow over the Winter
IOC," it added.
36, of Rock Hill, S.C., joined a bus
up the western half of the DMZ,
Olympics, beginning in February in
gamel.kim@stripes.com
tour to the area weeks after de-
recorded 223,047 foreign and
Pyeongchang, about 50 miles south
Twitter: @kimgamel
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5
MILITARY
OFFICER UNDER FIRE
B8Y 7D8IANNA 7C8AHN
"Watch your 6 with that (exple-
AND 7M8EREDITH 7T8IBBETTS
tive) around," said one response,
Afghanistan vet had history of
Stars and Stripes
using military jargon for "be
careful."
WASHINGTON -- Since graduat-
On Sept. 25, Rapone posted an-
inflammatory social media posts
ing from the U.S. Military Academy
other photo of himself in uniform,
at West Point last year to become
pulling open his jacket to expose an
an infantry officer, 2nd Lt. Spenser
image of Cuban revolutionary Che
Rapone has left a long trail of social
Guevara. He tweeted the words:
media posts that take aim at top
political leaders including Defense
"In case there was any lingering
Secretary Jim Mattis and Sen. John
doubt, hasta la victoria siempre,"
McCain, and paint a picture of a
a favorite saying of Guevara's that
man with deep anti-establishment
means "To victory, always!"
convictions.
The tweets were the latest in
It was only when he posted
a long stream of political social
pictures of himself late last month
media posts that were public on
in full uniform with blatant com-
his Twitter and Facebook accounts
munist propaganda that Rapone
until Sept. 28, when they were
drew the attention of authorities
turned private. In the posts, he took
who are now investigating him
aim at President Donald Trump,
on suspicion of violating military
calling for resistance, and used
regulations.
expletives and insults against Mat-
Rapone had deployed to Afghani-
tis, Attorney General Jeff Sessions
stan as an enlisted soldier before
and Republican Senate Armed
becoming an officer. He graduated
Services Committee Chairman
from West Point in May 2016 and
John McCain.
just completed infantry officer
Mahar said Rapone was in the
training school at Fort Benning,
field with his battalion, where he is
Ga. The images went up within
an assistant operations officer help-
a month of his arrival at the 2nd
ing to facilitate live fire exercises.
Brigade Combat Team of the 10th
Those concluded Sept. 29, he said.
Mountain Division at Fort Drum,
Rapone was being scrutinized
N.Y., for his first assignment as an
under Department of Defense
officer, Brigade spokesman Capt.
directive 1344.10, Mahar said,
Michael Mahar said.
which states that "a member of the
In a tweet Sept. 24 from his
Armed Forces on active duty may
Twitter account @punkproletar-
register, vote and express a person-
ian, Rapone posted a photograph of
al opinion on political candidates
himself in his West Point cadet uni-
and issues, but not as a representa-
form with the words "Communism
tive of the Armed Forces."
will win" written inside his hat.
The 2nd Brigade Combat Team
The tweet bore the hashtag
issued a statement saying, "Both
#VeteransForKaepernick, refer-
the Department of Defense and the
ring to former San Francisco 49ers
Army have long-standing policies
quarterback Colin Kaepernick,
encouraging soldiers to participate
whose refusal to stand for the na-
in the democratic process.
tional anthem last year in protest of
However, the Army has strict
police mistreatment of minorities
rules regarding the wear and ap-
sparked controversy that mush-
pearance of Army uniforms. The
roomed last week into a standoff
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th
between President Donald Trump
Mountain Division chain of com-
and NFL players.
mand is aware of 2nd Lt. Rapone's
Rapone's tweet went viral on so-
alleged actions and is looking into
cial media, sparking outrage. "This
the matter."
Authorities are investigating Army 2nd Lt. Spenser Rapone,
man is in my unit. He is a traitor of
who's assigned to Fort Drum, N.Y., for posting photos of himself
Rapone did not respond to an
the United States and at the same
at his U.S. Military Academy at West Point graduation
attempt to reach out to him through
time a commissioned officer," one
with pro-communist messages under his uniform.
his Twitter account.
soldier wrote on Facebook.
Screenshot from Twitter
SEE PAGE 6
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7
MILITARY
Soldier killed in Iraq was
on his first deployment
B11Y 10C11OREY 10D11ICKSTEIN
Nineveh province, where U.S.-
security forces as they battle
Stars and Stripes
backed Iraqi security forces
the remains of ISIS in the
in recent months have driven
group's final Iraqi territories
WASHINGTON -- The U.S.
Islamic State militants from
-- Hawija in northern Iraq
soldier killed in a roadside
Mosul, the group's former
and in western Anbar prov-
bomb blast Sunday in Iraq was
capital in Iraq, and Tal Afar, a
ince near the Syrian border.
a 20-year-old transport driver
smaller town about 40 miles to
Missildine was the 13th
less than a month into his first
its west.
U.S. servicemember killed by
overseas deployment, accord-
Portions of the province
enemy actions in Iraq or Syria
ing to the Pentagon.
remain littered with explo-
since the United States began
Army Spc. Alexander W.
sives and other booby traps, a
fighting ISIS in 2014, accord-
Missildine died Sunday of
favorite weapon among ISIS
ing to Pentagon data. More
wounds suffered when his
fighters, Pentagon officials
than 50 troops have been
vehicle struck an improvised
have said.
wounded in action.
explosive device in northern
Missildine was from Tyler,
His awards and decora-
Iraq, according to a Pentagon
Texas. He joined the Army
tions include the Bronze Star,
statement released Tuesday.
in July 2015 and arrived at
Purple Heart and Combat
He was assigned to the 710th
his unit at Fort Polk that
Action Badge, according to the
Brigade Support Battalion,
December.
Army.
3rd Brigade Combat Team,
The unit deployed to Iraq
Missildine is survived by
10th Mountain Division from
in September, replacing an
his mother, father and step-
Fort Polk in Louisiana.
element of the Army's 82nd
parents, the Army said.
One other American soldier
Airborne Division, tasked with
dickstein.corey@stripes.com
Army Spc. Alexander W. Missildine joined the Army in 2015.
was injured in the attack in
training and assisting Iraqi
Twitter: @CDicksteinDC
FROM PAGE 4
`
Rapone graduated from
The Department of Defense and
West Point on May 27, 2016.
the Army ... [encourage] soldiers to
The institution issued a state-
ment, saying Rapone's actions
participate in the democratic process.
"in no way reflect the values
However, the Army has strict rules
of the U.S. Military Academy
or the U.S. Army."
regarding the wear and appearance of
"As figures of public trust,
members of the military must
Army uniforms.8'
exhibit exemplary conduct,
2nd Brigade Combat Team
and are prohibited from
engaging in certain expres-
sions of political speech in
Mattis was "the most vile, evil
"continue to drag their feet."
uniform," the statement said.
[expletive]" in the administra-
"Enough is enough," he
Francis Demaro, a spokesman
tion. And in July he tweeted
wrote. "Whether you are a
for the academy, said it issued
that he would "happily dance"
soldier, cadet or civilian, the
the statement after receiv-
on McCain's grave.
judgment of history is upon
ing media queries. Asked
In August, Rapone posted
us."
whether the photos were from
an article online that he wrote
After posting a link to the
Rapone's West Point gradua-
taking aim at the "Confeder-
article on Reddit as SRap1,
tion, Demaro said, "It seems
ate iconography" found at
Rapone expressed his admi-
to be."
West Point, including a statue
ration for Chelsea Manning,
Among the more contro-
and painting of Confederate
a transgender intelligence
versial social media posts,
Gen. Robert E. Lee.
analyst who, in 2009, leaked
Rapone wrote on his Facebook
His purpose, he wrote, "is
classified military documents
page -- under the name of the
for these vile displays of racial
and was convicted under the
Via Twitter
Italian politician who took on
oppression to be cast into the
Espionage Act.
Second Lt. Spenser Rapone tweeted a photo expressing
the Mafia, Giuseppe Impasta-
dustbin of history once and for
"I feel like we should not
support for Communism that went viral on social media,
to -- that Sessions is a "racist
all."
hide any longer," he wrote
sparking outrage.
piece of (expletive) who has
Rapone wrote that he and
in a post that has since been
caused nothing but pain and
others had confronted the
removed.
Rapone posted on Facebook
conviction truly entails."
suffering."
administration of West Point
Earlier, while Manning's
that she set "the example of
cahn.dianna@stripes.com
In June, he tweeted that
for a number of years but they
prison release was pending,
what integrity and strength of
Twitter: @starsandstripes
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AGE 311
WAR ON TERRORISM
Senators gril
DOD chiefs on
war strategy
B9Y 8C9LAUDIA 8G9RISALES
timony on Capitol Hill comes
Stars and Stripes
during the week of the 16th an-
niversary of U.S. forces fight-
WASHINGTON -- A key
ing in Afghanistan. U.S. and
group of senators took the
coalition forces began combat
country's top defense officials
operations against al-Qaida in
to task Tuesday over their in-
the country in 2001 following
ability to obtain crucial details
the 9/11 attacks. More than
from the Pentagon and the
2,000 U.S. troops have been
White House on the U.S. war
killed and more than 20,000
strategy in Afghanistan.
injured in the war.
Defense Secretary Jim Mat-
In highlighting the commu-
tis and Marine Gen. Joseph
nication breakdown between
Dunford, the chairman of the
Congress and the Pentagon,
Joint Chiefs of Staff, received
McCain scolded Mattis and
a frustrated and sometimes
Dunford for their "bizarre"
C14ARLOS 11B14ONGIOANNI11/Stars and Stripes
angry reception during a
move not to submit prepared
hearing of the Senate Armed
Sen. John McCain, left, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, speaks with
written testimony to the
Services Committee focused
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford, center, and Secretary of Defense Jim
Armed Services Committee
on military plans in Afghani-
Mattis before to the start of a hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill in Washington.
ahead of Tuesday's hearing.
stan and South Asia.
Mattis said defense officials
At the start of a full day of
realign with more advisers on
strategy in Pakistan.
hamstring military operations.
will do better.
congressional hearings for
training and advisory sup-
"Too often, members of this
Now, military officials contend
He recognizes "the need to
Mattis and Dunford, Sen. John
port and ensure the plans are
committee are learning in the
the United States has reached a
maintain the closest possible
McCain, chairman of Armed
sustainable, he said.
media for the first time about
"stalemate" in its longest war.
dialogue with Congress and,
Services Committee, said the
Today, there are about
major national security and
"After 16 years, should the
specifically, with this com-
Pentagon was woefully behind
11,000 U.S. troops in Afghani-
military activities," McCain
mittee," he said. "I pledge the
taxpayers of America be satis-
on its responsibility to work in
stan, along with more than
said last week.
Department of Defense will
fied we are in a `stalemate'?"
concert with Congress.
320,000 Afghan and coalition
Instead, Congress should be
be fully responsive to your
McCain asked. "I don't think
"We want to be your part-
forces.
requirement to be kept ap-
informed and consulted, Mc-
so."
ners. But this committee will
"We must always remember,
praised of current and planned
Cain said. Otherwise, it could
In August, Trump reversed
not be a rubber stamp for
we are in Afghanistan to make
operations."
be forced to take extreme ac-
course on a campaign pledge to
any policy or president. We
America safer and ensure
Mattis then expanded on
tions to ensure it is part of the
pull U.S. troops from Afghani-
must be well-informed," a
South Asia cannot be used
the Pentagon's new strategy to
conversation.
stan, instead laying out a new
frustrated McCain, R-Ariz.,
to plot transnational attacks
"regionalize, reinforce, recon-
"We have to provide our
but vague plan to boost the
told Mattis and Dunford at the
against the U.S. homeland or
cile and sustain" operations in
troops with the vital authori-
hearing.
our partners and allies," Mattis
troop count there. The move
Afghanistan. The strategy is
ties and resources they need
"We must be convinced of
said.
came after months of questions
to focus on a larger region that
to perform their missions,"
the merits of the administra-
Mattis and Dunford also
and delays.
includes India, Pakistan and
McCain said. "That is our
tion's actions. And, unfortu-
testified Tuesday afternoon
Since the Aug. 21 announce-
other surrounding countries,
separate, co-equal responsibil-
nately, we still have far more
before the House Armed Ser-
ity under the Constitution."
ment, there have been limited
questions than answers about
vices Committee.
Other senators raised a con-
new details on the plan, other
this new strategy," McCain
The hearings follow a con-
cern that the new Afghanistan
than the addition of about 3,000
said.
firmation hearing last week
strategy won't lead to success.
troops.
`6After 16
The hearing highlighted the
for Dunford, who was easily
"Sixteen years of evidence
"In the six weeks since the
strained relationship between
years, should
reappointed to his position.
suggests otherwise," argued
president made his announce-
key senators and President
However, this was after Mc-
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-
ment, this committee, and the
Donald Trump's administra-
the taxpayers
Cain raised growing concerns
Mass. The new strategy could
Congress more broadly, still
tion, especially as it attempts
over the disconnect between
be "more of the same," she
of America be
to revamp the U.S. strategy to
Congress and the Pentagon.
said.
does not know many of the
combat terrorism overseas.
satisfied we are in
Senators at the hearing also
Republicans have claimed
crucial details of this strategy,"
The new strategy includes
raised their concern that few
former President Barack
McCain said. "This is totally
a "stalemate"?
sending an additional 3,000
'
specifics have been revealed
Obama's administration, with
unacceptable."
U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
Sen. John McCain
about the Trump administra-
original plans to withdraw
grisales.claudia@stripes.com
Mattis' and Dunford's tes-
R-Ariz.
tion's plans to change the U.S.
from Afghanistan, helped
Twitter: @cgrisales
12
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MILITARY
Eligible AF captains
to be automatically
promoted to major
B8Y 7M8ARCUS 7F8ICHTL
Force jobs for field-grade
Stars and Stripes
line officers, whose main job
involves commanding troops,
Most Air Force captains can
are vacant while about one
count on automatic promo-
in four nonrated field-grade
tion to major after Dec. 1, the
officer jobs are unfilled, the
service has announced.
statement said.
"Beginning December
"With this change, cap-
2017, the pool of line officers
tains whose conduct has been
considered for promotion to
exemplary can expect to be
major will have a 100 percent
promoted to major," Wilson
promotion opportunity," said a
said. "We've been letting ca-
statement issued last month.
pable people leave the service
The move addresses a short-
and we need them."
age of 1,555 pilots and man-
Only a few officers will not
ning shortages in other jobs
be eligible for the automatic
usually filled by majors that
promotion -- those with a
have ballooned in recent years
record of disciplinary action
as officers opt for commercial
and those with rare "do not
aviation jobs, Secretary of the
promote" records, the Air
E14LIJAH 10L14EINAAR10/Courtesy of the U.S. Navy
Air Force Heather Wilson said
Force statement said.
Chief Victor Grandados carries a folded flag to present to family members during the USS John
earlier this year.
fichtl.marcus@stripes.com
S. McCain memorial service at Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, on Wednesday.
Just under one in 10 Air
Twitter: @marcusfichtl
Navy IDs pilots killed 11Yokosuka honors McCain
in jet trainer crash
B8Y 7C8OREY 7D8ICKSTEIN
years in the Navy and joined
Stars and Stripes
Training Squadron 7 in 2015,
sailors killed in collision
according to the service.
WASHINGTON -- Lt. Pat-
B8Y 7T8YLER 7H8LAVAC
Swift praised the McCain crew's response in
Burch, 25, was from Horn
rick L. Ruth and Lt. j.g. Wal-
Stars and Stripes
the aftermath of the collision.
Lake, Miss. He had served
lace E. Burch were the Navy
"I have no doubt that your damage control
nearly three years in the Navy
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE, Japan -- The
pilots killed Sunday when the
efforts not only saved the ship but also saved
and joined Training Squadron
T-45C training jet that they
7th Fleet's new commander said "words are
the lives of many of your shipmates, enabling
7 in 2016, according to the
were flying crashed into the
inadequate to express the grief we feel in losing
service.
them to join us here today," he said, according
Cherokee National Forest in
10 of our own," during a ceremony Wednesday
The Sunday crash was the
to the statement. "Know that your Navy family
eastern Tennessee, the Navy
honoring USS John S. McCain sailors killed in
latest in a string of incidents
is committed to ensuring that you, the families
announced Tuesday.
an Aug. 21 collision near Singapore.
that led the Navy to ground
and crew of John S. McCain, have the resourc-
Both pilots were assigned
"We owe it to the families of the fallen sailors
its T-45 fleet for four months
es you need to continue your healing."
to the "Eagles" of Training
to find out why this happened and to make
earlier this year. The service
Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer or-
Squadron 7, Training Air
changes so that this doesn't happen again,"
only returned the trainer jets
dered the fleet to fly U.S. ensigns at half-mast
Wing ONE and stationed at
Vice Adm. Phil Sawyer told those packed inside
to flight status in August fol-
from sunrise to sunset Wednesday to mourn
Naval Air Station Meridian
the 650-seat Fleet Theater for the service, a
in Mississippi, said Navy Lt.
lowing a series of physiologi-
the lost sailors.
Navy statement said.
Elizabeth Feaster, a spokes-
cal episodes, caused at least
Before the ceremony, more than 2,000
Most McCain sailors have returned to Yo-
woman for Naval Air Train-
in part by problems with the
servicemembers, civilians and Japanese base
kosuka after being grounded at Changi Naval
ing. An investigation into the
jets' oxygen-delivery system,
according to a Navy investiga-
workers saluted and waved American flags
Base, Singapore, after the collision between the
crash near the town of Tellico
tion released in July. The Navy
as a procession of McCain sailors, friends and
guided-missile destroyer and an oil tanker. A
Plains was ongoing Tuesday
blamed the deaths of at least
family members were bused from Yokosuka's
few are still in Singapore helping prepare the
and it remained unclear what
four F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet
chapel to the theater for the service, which was
McCain for transport back to Yokosuka by mid-
caused the incident, she said.
Training Squadron 7
pilots on a similar issue with
closed to media.
to-late October, Navy officials said.
grounded their aircraft Mon-
that plane.
The ceremony was also attended by new U.S.
Yokosuka's Fleet Theater was the site of a
day for 24 hours but returned
It was not clear Tuesday
Ambassador to Japan William Hagerty, Pacific
June ceremony that paid respects to the seven
to flying the two-seat jets
whether the fatal crash Sun-
Fleet commander Adm. Scott Swift, Japan
USS Fitzgerald sailors who died after the de-
Tuesday, Feaster said.
day was related to that issue.
Maritime Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff
stroyer collided with a cargo ship off the coast
Ruth, 31, was from Metai-
Adm. Yutaka Murakawa and Yokosuka Mayor
of Japan.
dickstein.corey@stripes.com
rie, La. He had served nine
Twitter: @CDicksteinDC
Katsuaki Kamiiji, the statement said.
hlavac.tyler@stripes.com
12
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15
MILITARY
Beacon use opens ships to online mapping
B12Y 11S12ETH 11R12OBSON
Stars and Stripes
Naval enthusiasts are tweet-
ing what they believe are U.S.
warship positions after com-
manders ordered the vessels
to activate their beacons while
in congested waters to avoid
collisions.
The order to turn on the Au-
tomatic Identification System
locators, reported by NPR on
Sept. 29, follows collisions that
have killed 17 sailors in the
Pacific in recent months.
However, it appears that
the new procedure is also
allowing people to track the
warships online.
A tweet posted Sunday
that maps the location of a
"US GOV VSL" approaching
Hong Kong reads, "Reason
to believe this is USS Ronald
Reagan (CVN 76)."
The aircraft carrier and the
guided-missile destroyer USS
Chafee anchored near Hong
Kong on Monday, a Pacific
Fleet statement said.
NPR reported that it still
isn't clear whether the USS
Fitzgerald was transmitting
its AIS at the time of a June
collision that killed seven
sailors off the coast of Japan.
Screenshot from Twitter
However, it is known that the
USS John S. McCain was not
A tweet posted Sunday that maps the location of a "US GOV VSL" approaching Hong Kong reads, "Reason to believe this is USS
when it hit a merchant ship
Ronald Reagan (CVN 76)."
near Singapore two months
later, killing 10.
locators in receive-only mode,
don't want to be broadcast-
lege in Newport, R.I., said in
Pacific Islanders and escaped
Retired Vice Adm. Wil-
which allows them to see other
ing our exact position to
an email that he doesn't think
prisoners of war monitored
liam Douglas Crowder, a
vessels using the system but
everyone."
America's potential adversar-
Japanese ship movements in
former 7th Fleet commander
doesn't let other ships see
However, Lyle Goldstein,
ies will gain much by studying
the Pacific.
and a former deputy chief of
them.
an associate professor in the
warships' AIS data.
"No one can imagine that
naval operations, told NPR
"It's all about operational
China Maritime Studies Insti-
"Chinese ISR (intelligence,
U.S. ships operate off of Hong
that Navy ships typically use
security," Crowder said. "We
tute at the U.S. Naval War Col-
surveillance and reconnais-
Kong undetected," Goldstein
sance) would already have
said.
a rather good notion of the
Turning on the locators in
Max D. Lederer Jr., 7Publisher
This publication is a compilation of stories from Stars and Stripes,
locations of U.S. surface ships
congested waters is a prudent
Terry Leonard, 7Editor
the editorial y independent newspaper authorized by the Department
from a variety of sources,
measure that won't have a
of Defense for members of the military community. The contents
Robert H. Reid, 7Senior Managing Editor
major impact on potential
of Stars and Stripes are unofficial, and are not to be considered as
including satellite monitor-
adversary knowledge of U.S.
Tina Croley,
ing, Skywave Radar, the large
Managing Editor for Content
the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government, including
Chinese fishing and merchant
ship movements, he said.
Amanda L. Trypanis,
the Defense Department or the military services. The U.S. Edition of
U.S. Edition Editor
Stars and Stripes is published jointly by Stars and Stripes and this
fleets, as well as China's huge
"I would imagine that
Michael Davidson, 7Revenue Director
newspaper.
Coast Guard and related mari-
anyways there are certain
The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts
sensitive zones (near Philip-
CONTACT US
time patrol assets," he said.
or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the DOD or Stars
pines and Japan for example)
and Stripes of the products or services advertised.
Classic espionage tech-
529 14th Street NW, Suite 350, Washington, D.C. 20045-1301
Products or services advertised in this publication shal be made
niques are also likely being
wherein U.S. warships will
Email: stripesweekly@stripes.com
available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard to race, color,
used to track U.S. warships
continue to operate without
Editorial: (202) 761-0900 Advertising: (202) 761-0910
religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap,
operating near places such as
active beacons as before for
Michael Davidson, Weekly Partnership Director:
political affiliation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user,
Singapore, he said.
military security purposes,"
davidson.michael@stripes.com
or patron.
During World War II, a
he said.
Additional contact information: 10stripes.com
� Stars and Stripes, 2017
network of 400 Australian and
robson.seth@stripes.com
New Zealand military officers,
Twitter: @SethRobson1
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