Briefs
Advertiser Staff
NAVY
USS Key West to return Thursday
The USS Key West, one of four Pearl Harbor submarines to fire Tomahawk cruise missiles in Operation Iraqi Freedom in the early stages of the war, will be back in Hawai'i Thursday.
Cmdr. Chuck Merkel made history as the first submarine commanding officer to lead his crew through two consecutive combat deployments. The Key West deployed Jan. 24 for a six-month tour. Key West was the first U.S. warship to be on station in the Arabian Gulf following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. It also fired Tomahawks during the deployment.
Pearl Harbor submarines Key West, Louisville, Columbia and Cheyenne fired Tomahawks on March 21 during the "shock and awe" aerial attack.
Sale of roadster to benefit museum
A 1971 Jaguar convertible will be put up for auction on eBay today through July 31 as a benefit for the USS Missouri Memorial Association, caretaker of the battleship- turned-museum. The two-seat series II roadster was donated by Hawai'i residents Stu and Victoria Cowan as a gift to the nonprofit association. The Jaguar has 87,815 miles and a six-cylinder engine.
MARINES
F/A-18 Hornets coming to train
Marine Corps Base Hawai'i at Kane'ohe Bay is hosting F/A-18 Hornet jet aircraft through Aug. 1 as part of training and operational requirements. Training will be conducted at the Pacific Missile Range Facility on Kaua'i and at Pohakuloa Training Area on the Big Island. Residents should expect increased noise during the training period, the Marine Corps said.
VETERANS
Honor survivors of Korean War
The Department of Veterans Affairs encourages Americans to honor the 3.7 million living veterans of the Korean War on Sunday, the 50th anniversary of the armistice that ended the conflict, and to remember the sacrifices of all who served in the military during the Korean War.
"These veterans are not forgotten warriors. They will be remembered as people value courage, self-sacrifice and a commitment to democracy," said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony J. Principi.
The 50-year commemoration of the Korean War began June 25, 2000, the anniversary of the North Korean invasion of South Korea, and officially ends Veterans Day, Nov. 11. More than 5 million Americans served on active duty during the three-year war. Thirty-four thousand were killed, 103,000 were wounded and 8,000 are listed as missing in action.
