Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Clean up former U.S. bases
I sincerely very much appreciate your
front-page story "Toxic legacy" (Feb. 1),
covering the account of untreated waste
generated by former Clark Air Base in the
Philippines that, to this day, continues to
pollute and harm the local population.
This is a tragic and distressing event
that should never have happened, and one
that begs the question and raises the im-
portance of how U.S. military bases world-
wide are made accountable for their waste
disposal -- not merely in Europe or Japan
with their particularly strong environmen-
tal laws.
Very selfish and shameless minds ex-
pediently overlooked the need to clean up
ClarkAirBase(andSubicNavalBase)prior
to their turnover to the Philippine govern-
ment. Those harmed most in the base clos-
ing agreement are evidently those who are
least empowered and the dispossessed, left
to the mercy of a poisoned landscape.
It may come as no surprise that report
after report should find the U.S. military,
and thus, the U.S. government and the
American public, culpable in this "toxic
legacy." The U.S. government should bear
responsibility for cleaning up the former
Clark Air Base, regardless of whether the
Philippine government or its people press
the matter. Today we know better, and an
environmental disaster of this magnitude
on the continental U.S. would raise robust
protest besides a slew of lawsuits.
Thank you for a "recovery" of this very
sad story, amid the ongoing news events
on Haiti, on Iraq or Afghanistan. May like
minds in the Obama administration, the
U.S. government, our armed forces and the
American public genuinely take this issue
to heart. I pray that we do the right thing.
Petty Officer 1st Class
Jose Maria Nacanaynay
Tallil, Iraq
Support for Tops in Blue
I read "Time to retire Tops In Blue"
(letter, Feb. 3) and was floored by the
comments.
The Air Force is constantly changing,
and it seems these days that all things old
are being shelved as unnecessary. Is there
no pride left in the Air Force?
The Tops In Blue program has survived
the past 56 years because people value the
program. You may not see the value in it
now with the global issues that are at hand.
However, I see it differently. In America,
everywhere you turn, we are becoming a
society that no longer values the human
connection.
These days individuals would rather
play on their Xbox, shell out $60 to go to the
movies, or surf the Internet. Gone are the
days when you would bring cookies to the
new neighbors or rake the leaves for the
elderly without thought. It's the "me men-
tality." What benefits "me"? It's no longer
what can benefit others.
There is not another program like Tops
In Blue in the world and never will be.
The individuals who are members of
this elite organization give every ounce of
themselves for the benefit of others. They
live and breathe the Air Force values and
cherish the human connection.
The value you do not see is in the unspo-
ken moments.
It's getting a hug when you need it the
most, the chance to cry with someone so
they are not alone, the holding of a veter-
an's hand, or giving courage to that weary
soldier who doesn't think he can survive
another day.
Tops In Blue members cherish these
special moments because it's what makes
their job special. It's not the show that
makes them unique. It's what they do with
their hearts; it's for those unspoken mo-
ments. Moments that cannot be bought.
Tech. Sgt. Katie Badowski
former Tops in Blue staff member
Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.
Let's treat everyone fairly
[Recently] my husband and I watched
the movie "Men of Honor" on American
Forces Network. It brought on a lot of dif-
ferent emotions: disgust on how blacks
were treated in the military only 50 years
ago, shame because of leadership encour-
aging this discrimination, hope in seeing
the young black Navy diver persevere and
finally elation to see him succeed.
Let's not look back 50 years from now
and feel disgusted and ashamed over how
our gay/lesbian military members were
discriminated against.
Please, let's be compassionate and give
everyone the same, fair opportunities, re-
gardless of the color of their skin or their
sexual orientation.
Gabi Simon
Aviano Air Base, Italy
Doonesbury BY GARRY TRUDEAU
Tell us what you think
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BY COL. BRYAN SALAS
O
n Iwo Jima 65 years ago, the
battle for that Japanese-held
island began with Marines
landing and Navy ships sup-
porting them with a lifeline of supplies
from the sea. There is a link between those
events in February 1945 and the suffering,
loss and relief efforts that are under way
in the island nation of Haiti today.
The USNS Jack Lummus sits offshore
of the Jewel of the Caribbean, packed with
engineering and humanitarian aid and de-
salinating and pumping fresh water ashore
for the Haitian people. She's a floating sea
base and part of the nation's planned flotil-
la of supply ships positioned, waiting and
ready in the world's sea lanes to respond
to natural disasters such as the massive
earthquake that hit Haiti.
Amid the horror they endured on the
black sands of Iwo Jima, Marines learned
two logistics lessons that endure: A moun-
tain of supplies must be close at hand to
support combat ashore; and the enemy
will deny the use of airfields and ports to
deliver the supplies.
What does this have to do with Haiti?
Instead of armed defenders on the
beaches, ports and airfields in Port-au-
Prince, the enemy is the passage of time
and the geologic whim of Mother Nature.
The Lummus is part of the solution to the
challenge posed by nature that is afflict-
ing the Haitian people now.
By chance, the Lummus was in Florida
restocking when the earthquake hit Haiti
last month. Sailors and Marines filled
her armories with relief supplies, and she
sailed to Haiti within four days.
In a twist of irony, the Lummus is named
for an ordinary American whose extraor-
dinary drive and courage as a Marine
platoon leader on Iwo Jima 65 years ago
broke the back of the Japanese defense of
the northern part of that island.
The irony doesn't stop there: Jack Lum-
mus also played both offense and defense
in the National Football League for the
New York Giants in the 1941 championship
game, the precursor to today's Super Bowl.
After the attack on Pearl Harbor that
year, he left a promising NFL career out
of a sense of patriotism and enlisted in
the Marines. For extraordinary heroism
in combat, Lummus was posthumously
awarded the Medal of Honor, and a ship
was named in his honor.
So now that the Super Bowl is over, re-
call the service of a fine American and
football great; remember the Haitian
people in their time of need; and know that
the Jack Lummus and its crew are still on
duty, night and day, aiding them on behalf
of America.
Col. Bryan Salas is the director of Marine Corps
public affairs at the Pentagon.
Haiti, Super Bowl, Iwo Jima's common thread
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