Skywriter- July 2020

Hospital Corpsmen Celebrate 122 nd Birthday

Typhoon Season Awareness

JULY

CMDCM CORNER

What’s Inside...

Public Affairs Officer Howard Sam Samuelson Deputy Public Affairs Officer Greg Mitchell

Hospital Corpsmen Celebrate 122nd Birthday

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Editor Greg Mitchell Skywriter Staff MC3 (SW) Jacob Smith MC3 Olivier Clement MCSA Rafael Avelar Public Affairs Staff Maika Fujisaki Ikumi Tanaka

Typhoon Season Awareness Page 8

Facebook.com/naf.atsugi

With Command Master Chief Daniel Irwin

Shipmates, Greetings. I am sure a lot of our minds have been preoccupied with other things recently and we might not be thinking of the environmental concerns that we face living here in Japan. Typhoon season is upon us! It is definitely that time to make preparations and ensure we have all the necessary items and material when the weather starts to change. In this area, it is not a matter of IF a typhoon will happen, but WHEN it will happen. If this is your first time in Japan during the typhoon season, you need to be prepared at all times as typhoons can just “pop” up. There are plenty of resources available to help you prepare for this or any other type of emergency or natural disaster that could happen...but in particular for this article, I am referring to typhoon season. But, why not use one of our best resources and that is NAF Atsugi’s Emergency Management department!

Youtube.com/NAFAtsugi

The Emergency Management department has a wealth of knowledge in dealing with emergencies to include information and checklists to assist you in being prepared. If you have not started to

@NAFAtsugiJP

Japan’s 1st City to Ban Phone Use While Walking Page 11

CHECK OUT OUR LATEST LEADERSHIP GUIDANCE VIDEO

prepare for this now or thought about it, the weather can change quickly around here and we all must be prepared, so we need to be prepared now.

www.issuu.com/nafatsugi

That’s it for this month. Thank you for all you do. Remember, if you have any questions...

ASK THE CHIEF!

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On The

Cover July 14, 1813

July 1, 1972

During the War of 1812, Lt. John M. Gamble becomes the first Marine to command a ship in battle, USS Greenwich, when she captures British whaling ship Seringapatam.

Rear Adm. Samuel L. Gravely Jr. becomes the first African-American to achieve flag rank in the U.S. Navy.

July 7, 1948 Front: Typhoon Hagibis over the Pacific Ocean on October 2019.

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Back: Graphic encouraging use of masks during COVID-19 Pandemic

The first six enlisted women are sworn into Regular Navy: Chief Yeoman Wilma J. Marchal; Yeoman Second Class Edna E. Young; Hospital Corpsman First Class Ruth Flora; Aviation Storekeeper First Class Kay L. Langen; Storekeeper Second Class Frances T. Devaney; and Teleman Doris R. Robertson.

July 27, 1953

The Korean War armistice is signed at Panmunjon, Korea. The Korean cease-fire goes into effect at 22:00.

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Combined Federal Campaign Command Award

Senior Chief Aviation Boatswain’s Mate Alan J. Libungan looks on as Capt. Lloyd B. Mack, commanding officer at Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, Japan, presents the Combined Federal Campaign Command Bronze Award to Chief Petty Officer Master-at-Arms Zane E. Kentner during a ceremony held in the NAF Atsugi headquarters building, June 30, 2020.

Japan-U.S. Goodwill Society (JUGS) donates masks to tenant commands at NAF Atsugi

The Japan-U.S. Goodwill Society is a local organization that supports service members and their families in order to deepen the friendship and various interactions with locals living around NAF Atsugi.

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Hospital Corpsmen Celebrate 122nd Birthday Amid a Global “We, the Hospital Corpsmen, keep the Navy ready to fight and win!”

Story By HM1 Jesus A. Zea Garrido Photos Provided By Branch Health Clinic

ATSUGI, Japan - Hospital Corpsmen from Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Unit (NMRTU) Atsugi, located in the Kanagawa prefecture within the boundaries of Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, celebrated their 122nd birthday amid the COVID-19 pandemic, June 17. The ceremony was conducted while maintaining compliance with Coronavirus Health Protection Guidelines.

necessary. Each time there is a war, natural disaster, peace keeping operation or humanitarian assistance request we are there extending a helping hand to those in need of protection and care.”

Navy Chaplain Lt.j.g. Ruth Rivera provided the invocation for the occasion. The Clinic’s Officer in Charge, Cmdr. William Bennett, provided opening remarks.

The master of ceremony welcomed members of the chain of command, staff members, civilian personnel and special guests to the event.

Immediately after the welcoming announcement,

“Corpsmen remain humanitarians, professionals, and above all continue to provide the highest-quality of medical care,” said Bennett. “Your performance is truly awe-inspiring. I commend each of you on a job well done!”

After a brief interlude, a video tribute produced by Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Eric Evans was played for all attendees.

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The following is a brief sample of the film narration; “Known for our adaptability, we continue the work which has made us one of the most prestigious and decorated ratings throughout the Navy. We thrive in environments where tremendous fortitude, courage and humility are

“In the last 22 years, I have served with some of the most skilled, devoted and caring people that there are,” said Hospital Corpsman Senior Chief Chartida Kraikoom. “My words cannot express how proud I am of all corpsmen and it is an honor to serve at everyone’s side. Happy Birthday!”

The video displayed NMRTU Atsugi Corpsmen executing their duties during daily operations such as patient care, laboratory, pharmacy and x-ray services, as well as emergency transportation and the donning of personal protective equipment in preparation for COVID-19 specimen collection.

Upon the completion of the video, a decorated blue and gold cake was paraded center stage. The most senior and most junior enlisted personnel within the clinic staff took part in the cake cutting ceremony and posed for photos.

After receiving the chaplain’s benedictions, the event resumed with a second video presentation consisting of all clinic personnel singing happy birthday to their fellow “Docs” around the globe.

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Yamato becomes Japan’s 1st city to ‘ban’ use of phones while walking YOKOHAMA - The city of

Yamato in Kanagawa Prefecture became the first municipality in Japan to attempt to stop people using their smartphones while walking outside in public places.

Following the passage of a draft ordinance in the city’s assembly, the rule came into effect July 1, 2020. It does not, however, carry any penalties for those who ignore it.

The city says it hopes people will recognize that “smartphones should be used when not in motion.”

According to the ordinance, pedestrians should stop at a place where they are not obstructing traffic if they want to use their smartphones in public spaces, such as on streets and in parks.

As a result, 11 percent at Chuorinkan station on the Odakyu Enoshima line on weekdays and 13 percent on Saturdays at Yamato station were using smartphones while walking. The city personnel submitted the ordinance during the regular city council meeting, andit was approved June 25.

In January, the city independently conducted a field survey on the use of smartphones while walking on weekdays and Saturdays for two hours each in the afternoon and evening.

Following the survey, the draft ordinance was submitted to the city’s assembly on June 1.

The ordinance stipulates that in an outdoor public setting, smartphones must be operated while standing still in a place that does not obstruct pedestrian traffic.

Yamato city officials say that they will start with enlightenment first; the city’s traffic safety patrols will call attention and promotional posters will be in view to raise awareness while publicizing regulations.

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Branch Health Clinic Atsugi For Appointments: 264-3311 or 0467-63-3311

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