Beginning now [ April , 2010 ] I shall try and keep an updated Memorial Roll Call of all those U.S. Soldiers , Sailors . Airmen and Marines that perish in Afghanistan and Iraq . May the Lord God bless them all , every one . We shall never forget you .
Posted in Hawaii GOE, Never Forget, Remembrance
The Gathering of Eagles – Kona Coffee to Our Troops Projects
[ begun in February 2008 ]
Gathering of Eagles – Hawaii Chapter sends continuous supplies of excellent Kona coffee to our combat deployed, Hawaii based ,
U.S. Armed Forces
in Iraq and Afghanistan
to date : 5979 lbs [1/15/2013 ]
Update : 6007 lbs [ 5/7/2015 ]
Update : 6025 lbs [ 1/1/2018 ]
OPERATION KONA LIGHTNING – 2012
OPERATION JARHEAD JAVA – 2012
‘ Mission Accomplished ‘
I wish to thank all these incredibly brave men and women who represent the very finest among us and the very best of what our Country represents It is my deep regret that I have never , ever , been able to do enough for them , to support them . They deserve more , they deserve better , they deserve the best . They have earned it and we are ALL in their debt . A debt that can never be repaid .
(ps: I post these letters here , just in case something happens to me , my computer , my home, my island …. These precious messages must remain well archived , and here they are )
Beginning in February , 2008 and continuing until the present :
Update : this Post was started back in 2009 and I continued to add it , as letters came in , for years . Now the additions have gone quiet , for quite a long time now . It’s sad but I hear from no one anymore . Someday this should make it into a book . Along with their pictures . It’s just that I am so tired , so busy and so broke . How to create a book ?
18 lbs of Greenwell Farm’s finest !
Dark , Medium , Full City and Peaberry
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Enjoy ! Happy New Year Sailors !
Thank you for your great service to our country ! Mahalo nui loa ! ( thank you very much )
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Posted in LCPL Christopher Camero, Never Forget
Finally ! And at last ….. Hawaii Gathering of Eagles ( now defunct ) congratulates Hawaii USO
and Hawaii Area Director , Carlos Rowe , U.S.M.C. (ret) for following through on this great initiative , to success .
It appears things worked our far better than expected ! We see here the entire USO set up within the modern PTA base Rec Center , rather than an old restored Quonset hut , as was originally offered and projected . The Rec Center @ PTA is a 1st Class modern facility , with modern amenities , including kitchen and toilets , high ceiling and good lighting . This is HUGE!!!
Now , Hawaii GOE appeals to members of the Big Island veteran and patriot community to CONTACT USO and see what volunteer requirements are and offer our services . Yes , it’s quite a drive up to PTA , but troops are in & out of PTA only intermittently . This is a volunteer sacrifice we can surely make ?
Please contact : Carlos Rowe – crowe@uso.org for inquiries about the PTA USO point volunteer process
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Once again : MAHALO USO and Mahalo Carlos for seeing this thru
Posted in Support Our Troops !!!, Support PTA, USO
Posted in Never Forget
Posted in Hawaii GOE
[ editors note : tremendous single handed effort going on at the port these days , valiantly carrying on years of Gathering of Eagles -Hawaii efforts to show clear troops support here on the Big Island . Not everyone quit !]
Posted in Support Our Troops !!!
‘retired’ U.S. Marine , and member of the former Hawaii Chapter of the Gathering of Eagles , Paul , went out to the Port , on his own initiative and without any forewarning and conducted this excellent little troops support effort , all by himself . Paul is a credit to his Corps and a fine example of motivated Big Island patriots who support our troops . Mahalo Paul !
Posted in Support Our Troops !!!, Troops Support
March 17th , 2007 – March 17th , 2016
I started the day all alone , and for several hours stood there by myself , then another gentleman showed up , Bob Williams , who had driven all the way from Naalehu to join me . After awhile , the door to the nearby church meeting hall opened up and over 40 Hawaii County Republicans who had been holding a gathering there flowed out and joined me along the roadside .Suddenly it was a BIG DEAL in Waimea town . The rest is history …….
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Posted in Gathering of Eagles history, Remember
Presenting for your consideration ; a special Op-Ed by my friend , Kenneth R. Conklin, Ph.D , whose insights on what is REALLY behind the so-called ‘Hawaiian sovereignty’ movement are without peer .
Please feel free to contact Ken : ken_conklin@yahoo.com
Posted in OP-ED, opinion, Support Our Troops !!!
15 days ago , on January 15th 2016 , 2 United States Marine Corps CH-53E helicopters from Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 463 , Pegasus , collided on night training exercise off shore of Oahu’s North Shore . All 12 Marine aviators aboard both helos died and their bodies have yet to be recovered .
A week ago , word reached me that a group of people who have protested our military at Pohakuloa Training Area (PTA) for years , had called for a protest of the Marines now training at PTA , including aviation Marines from the very same Marine Air Group (MAG-24) who recently suffered the loss of their 12 Marines . Upon hearing this news I personally wrote and directly appealed to the leader of this anti-military group and asked him to PLEASE CALL OFF their announced protest . Out of respect for those that have so recently lost their lives on Oahu , and out of respect for their fellow Marines who would be physically present at PTA at the time of the proposed protest . Unfortunately my appeal to desist at this time was ignored . Thus is was that as word of all this rapidly went out over the ‘coconut wireless’ here on the Big Island , the many people you will see in the photos contained within this post decided to come up to PTA on Saturday , Jan. 30th , 2016 , and let the protesters see that MANY people on this Big Island love and appreciate our military and particularly the United States Marine Corps . Being a Saturday , they could have been doing many other more pleasurable things .
But they came to PTA . And HERE they drew a line ….
With Harley Davidson motorcycles and United States flags !
Please enjoy viewing the photographs , followed by the comments that have been sent , telling of the day and how it felt . MORE photos will be added in days to come , as they come in . Come on back y’all !
[ from Google Earth – showing another successful counter-protest day ]
[ we have been doing this FOR YEARS !]
Thank You ! and God bless you forever ….Semper Fidelis
( please watch Full Screen )
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We owe them all a debt that can never be repaid ….
Posted in Never Forget, Remembrance, Support Our Troops !!!, USMC
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
» Maj. Shawn M. Campbell, 41, College Station, Texas.
» Capt. Brian T. Kennedy, 31, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
» Capt. Kevin T. Roche, 30, St. Louis, Missouri.
» Capt. Steven R. Torbert, 29, Florence, Alabama.
» Sgt. Dillon J. Semolina, 24,Chaska, Minnesota.
» Sgt. Adam C. Schoeller, 25, Gardners, Pennsylvania.
» Sgt. Jeffrey A. Sempler, 22, Woodruff, South Carolina.
» Sgt. William J. Turner, 25, Florala, Alabama.
» Cpl. Matthew R. Drown, 23, Spring, Texas.
» Cpl. Thomas J. Jardas, 22, Fort Myers, Florida.
» Cpl. Christopher J. Orlando, 23, Hingham, Massachusetts.
» Lance Cpl. Ty L. Hart, 21, Aumsville, Oregon.
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[flag edge note : Flown in CH-53D-HMH 363-Sept 11th 2008- al Anbar , Iraq ]
[ I sleep under this flag , flown for me on 9/11/2008]
Posted in Remembrance, USMC
Posted in Richard
Just me & my dog ,on a hill , above the highway ,
at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery .
And a drone …….
Posted in Never Forget, Remember, Veterans Day
Meet SUDS & MUDS !….
They have been visiting Kona for the last several years and here is a a video report :
SOLDIERS UNDERTAKING DISABLED SCUBA
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Posted in SUDS
A small troops support effort was mounted down at the port . Sorry folks ,I received no report or details of the days activities or who they were which were supported , or who were the volunteers . Big Mahalo to those volunteers that did attend!
On Earth Day , back in April , I was a guest at PTA for the day and I took these photos of the new USO PTA Post location . Can anyone confirm if anything has happened up there since ?
Posted in Hawaii GOE
I deeply regret the redeployment of the 2nd Stryker Brigade and conversion into a non-Stryker based infantry brigade .That these incredible vehicles are being handed over to a National Guard unit in Washington state and no longer available for the defense of Hawaii is a really sad thing to me . Similar to the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade being stripped of it great OH-58 choppers and being reequipped with a few formerly National Guard Apaches . Ill advised Army internal maneuvering . All on account of the facetious ‘Sequestration ‘ agenda of the present Federal Administration . How about sequestering the use and movement of the vast fleet of aircraft , to include Air Force One , required to schlep the POTUS and his entourage ( to include the FLOTUS ) on all their constant vacations , holidays , golf soirees , and Party fund raising trips ? THAT would save a LOT of $$$$ ! With the power and Naval might of China now just over the horizon , and this feckless two-faced administration badly fumbling the defense and readiness of America’s security , I as a Hawaii resident , have never been more worried . The dissolution of the 2nd Stryker Brigade is just one more nail in our coffin ; nearly defenseless as we are out here . Not to mention the growing , near insurgency , right here on the Big Island . I have to give my strongest ‘auwe auwe ‘ ( shame shame ) to this decision
Posted in Support Our Troops !!!, U.S. Army
386th Bomb Group attacking road networks behind the Normandy beachhead soon after D-Day
Posted in Never Forget, Remembrance
The views from high on Pu’u Kuili hill : around the North Kona coast and
looking up towards the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery
Great attendance at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery ceremonies , with cars parked all the way down the Warriors Way .
Standing the watch atop Pu’u Kuili , 2 miles away .
This remembrance event I dedicate to the memory of
GySgt Michael J. Clark – United States Marine Corps
If anyone has any photos from within the WHVC please send me a few .
Mahalo !
These 3 gentlemen hiked all the way from Kona Airport , along the
Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway ! Wow !!!
Posted in Memorial Day, Never Forget, Remembrance
More solid support for our HEROES in uniform :
March 16th , 2015 :
More donated standup paddle boards!!
Thank you to KA’ANALIKE !
They always come through for our troops!
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March 17th , 2015 marked the 8th Anniversary of the Gathering of Eagles , both here on the Big Island and Nationally
St. Patrick’s Day = Support our Heroes in GREEN Day
March 17th :
Posted in Never Forget
Posted in Troops Support
Aloha and fair flying O’ great Cavalrymen of 2nd Squadron 6th Cavalry -25thID-CAB-
We shall never forget you and your OH58’s !
It was our great honor to kick off the New Year by offering joint Services support to both Army Soldiers and U.S. Marines .
More folks than expected , far more ! Yet the supplies were sufficient and everyone was taken care of very well . Enjoy the photo gallery within this posting . Many thanks to those GOE volunteers that came out and those that brought goodies . We cannot do this without you . The weather was calm and fair . A lot of vog due to the lack of wind . The most amazing thing was that there were loads of manta rays in the water right off shore and all Marines and Soldiers who got to go snorkeling got to see them UP CLOSE . Everyone was so amazed . Whales jumping offshore too . It is our great pleasure and our honor to be able to bring this kind of direct ‘Troops Support’ to those Armed Forces members tasked to come to train on the Big Island . While we are aware we actually manage to reach only a small percentage of them , those that get supported down at the port tell all the others and it generates an overall great morale boost for all . We have been doing this for a solid 5 years now and it will continue , God willing and if the supplies funds remain sufficient , for a long time to come . At his point ; How can we not go and greet and support them ? Thanks again to all who assisted and GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS !
[GOE is alive & well in Hawaii !]
More Photos within
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
A New York City subway train holds 1,200 people. This blog was viewed about 5,900 times in 2014. If it were a NYC subway train, it would take about 5 trips to carry that many people.
Posted in Hawaii GOE
Posted in Charity trees
For what we believe is the final training deployment for 3rd Marines to the Big Island for this year of 2014 , we few volunteers went all out to let them feel our Aloha and see our deep appreciation for their service to our country . Perfect weather , low wind , and abundant supplies made for a great day. Also it was our pleasure to greet incoming members of 3rd Brigade 25th ID and we hope to be able to show them the same kind of Big Island send off when their days come . Next month . For now please enjoy the following photos ( click > Read More < to see the entire photos report) . Big Mahalos to Carlos C for joining us today , your generous supplies donation and ice put is over the top ! Big Mahalos to Hawaii USO for backing this humble effort . We’d really be scraping the barrel with your help ! MAHALO ! And also a special thanks to a visitor , Mr Bill Aaronson , for laying $50 on us for supplies . We will use that with 3BG’s outgoing ! Mahalo …
Today was ALL OUT @ Kawaihae Port : U.S. Marines coming off of PTA and U.S. Army coming aboard . And we were only talking to the Marines in advance …. Never-the-less , solid support and sufficient supplies made every one of over 100 souls in uniform happy , well fed and properly hydrated . Special thanks to our wonderful volunteers that came out to help provide these services : Norma and Carlos , Mr. G , and Barry & Ava and Miss Barbara C . BIG Mahalos to Hawaii USO for their great support to this effort !
It was a great day , very uplifting , with perfect weather . Cool and breezy . Folks : PLEASE consider joining our ACTIVE volunteer team . We NEED your assistance to keep this going . Please . Thanks !
U.S. Army
U.S. Marines
God love them and protect and keep them safe .
Bring them Victory in the Global War on Islamist Terrorists !
[ FYI – if you wish to see any of the photos within UP CLOSE , keep clicking on the photo to a larger size ]
take a look at this photograph , there’s a story here : 
Our Marines helping themselves to some bottled water . At Kona Airport . Where there is a choice of a water fountain , or Dasani water at over $2.00 per bottle . For three days they have been coming in . Maybe today and tomorrow as well . Who knows . On Friday we had the honor of supporting them for a solid 4 hours , but that was it ; a few hours on one day , out of many . Spotting them on Sunday while I was at work , I went to CostCo after I got off work and purchased 8 cases of H2o and dropped it off to them . Right before the buses arrived . It was the least I could do . I know the United States Marine Corps runs on more than water , but it helps .
Posted in Support Our Troops !!!
Hawaii Gathering of Eagles and Hawaii USO joined forces again to provide direct troops support to our great Kaneohe based Marines coming to train @ PTA .
Result : MANY HAPPY AND APPRECIATIVE MARINES :
‘ Hana Hou !’
” Every Moment Counts : indeed it does !…
Punalu’u sweetbread PBJ’s were the headliner snack of the day . Relished by Hawaii’s Marines !
Over 100 Marines served today ! Semper Fi !
Posted in Aloha greeting !, Support Our Troops !!!, USMC
COMREL = Community Relations project or event ; when the active duty troops ( Marines , Army , Navy or Air Force ) assist the local civilian community in positive , creative and constructive projects . The two COMREL that occurred here in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii , on September 11th and September 12th fit the entire definition of good COMREL .
Marines from different Companies with the 1st Battalion of the 12th Marines . 3rd Marine Regiment , performed the community assistance . 1st : on September 11th , a group of Marines helped other volunteers and grounds development personnel at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery , plant a wide range of native Hawaiian trees and shrubs in and around the newly developing WHVC POW/MIA garden . They also helped clear out a lot of non-native invasive species . A huge amount of progress was made , in developing and maintaining the renewal of the native dryland forest , a unique environment in Hawaii and in the world . 2nd : a separate team of 1/12 Marines came out to the Port of Kawaihae and greatly assisted the Hawaii Gathering of Eagles and Hawaii USO in doing a whirlwind quick and complete clean-up and re-organization of several CONEX that troops support efforts operate out of . BIG mahalos for this . The ball was truly advanced down field this day !
COMREL photos within :
Posted in COMREL, Hawaii Civilian-Military Good News, Thank you
we wish we could do more ….much more !
It is always a great honor for Hawaii Gathering of Eagles and Hawaii USO to support the fine Marines of 1st Battalion 12th Marines ,when they come to train @ PTA . You all are the thunder on the mountain!
But it ain’t thunder ….
It’s our Marine Corps !
” We also had the Army EOD today”
a few photos within :
Posted in RSP, Support Our Troops !!!, Surf Park, USO
ever wonder where the worlds finest PBJ’s come from ?
This Marine is from Kona and never had this Punalu’u PBnJ before!!
He loved them!!!
The Marines all stated ” this is the BEST part of RimPac and PTA”
Got to love these guys!!!
Posted in Hawaii Civilian-Military Good News
OUTBOUND !
150 to 200 troops served today alone !
More to come – Please stand by – Please volunteer !
Rising before dawn , I was able to make it to Kawaihae port on the Big Island at 0700 hours . Just in time to enjoy watching one of the most spectacular displays of our nation’s military might that I have ever seen . Front row seat ! Bearing a large , light weight United States flag I greeted each and every LCAC – landing craft air cushioned that came into the port while I was able to be there . Far out at sea , and using powerful 10×50 binoculars , I watched a large ship deploy a long line of U.S. Marine Corps AAV’s – Assault Amphibious Vehicles As the LCAC’s came and went the AAV slowly approached the coastline . Observed through binos , it indeed looked like a full-on combat assault beach landing was underway . While waiting for the AAV’s to arrive I had a great time observing the USS Peleliu (LHA 5) – Tarawa Class Amphibious Assault Ship launching a variety of rotary wing aircraft : MV-22 Ospreys ! ( never seen these before ; totally AWESOME !) , SH-60/MH-60 Seahawks , huge CH-53E Super Stallions , and I think pairs of UH-1Y Venoms and possibly AH-1 SuperCobras . What a show ! If you like to observe militaria in action , it does not get better than this ! Finally , the long line of AAV’s began to enter Kawaihae port . Imagine their surprise to see a guy with a huge U.S. flag standing by , waving to them . Along with a few members of the public who also came out on to the breakwater to view ‘the parade ‘ They waved back . Lot’s of thumbs up . THIS is the way to welcome our Marines to the Big Island ! Semper Fi ! Later before leaving the AO I was allowed to drop off another 400 bottles of drinking water at the Mil compound . Hydrate !
It’s that time again ! Rim of the Pacific exercises have begun . Today ; July 3rd , marks the first arrivals on the Big Island of Hawaii . Stay tuned for updates about HI GOE support efforts throughout the month of July .
Posted in Aloha greeting !, RIMPAC, Support Our Troops !!!
The bright and clear blue morning of June 13th , 2014 saw a Change of Command Ceremony at U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii – Pohakuloa Training Area , on the Big Island of Hawaii , with Lt. Col. Eric P. ‘ Tubby’ Shwedo turning over PTA command to Lt. Col. Jacob A. ‘ Jake’ Peterson .
Hearts were heavy at our friend Tubby and his family leaving our Big Island ohana , and also full of joy at Jake and Shelly Peterson coming to join this same ohana . Welcome aboard Jake ! e komo mai ! Hawaii Gathering of Eagles would like to wish Tubby and Suzanne and their 2 fine boys all the best in the world , in their life and in his career . MAKE A DIFFERENCE TUBBY ! and thank you for being our ‘best friend’ , so many times . Aloha nui loa
Posted in Change of Command, Support PTA
Early June of 2014 saw a nice turnout of Hawaii Gathering of Eagles support for members of 3rd Battalion 3rd Marines and CLB3 , along with U.S. Army Soldiers ; engineers from the 13oth ENG , who were here on this island for many months , without any community support at all . Hard at work up at PTA . It has been our pleasure to finally be able to provide some small measure of support and appreciation .
Folks: Many more photos , over several days of support efforts , within this posting :
May 2nd , 2014 – Representatives of the Hawaii Chapter of the Gathering of Eagles attended the Change of Command ceremony for the 25th Infantry Division , at Weyand Field , Schofield Barracks , Wahiawa , Oahu
Aloha to outgoing CG : MG Kurt Fuller and family and Aloha to incoming CG Joe Flynn and family
Posted in GOE-Military interaction, Hawaii GOE
May 2 , 2014
Great Chili cook off 10 entries…..lots of fun and music!
GOE members helping ;
Ava n Barry
Vonnie n Bob
Barbara Cambell
Tracy n Scott
Marlin n Gaylene
Sam Choy, Vodoo, and Ernie were our Judges
Fun fun day!
Great job!!!
Thank you to all the Volunteers that helped ….because of you…the Chili cook off 2014 was a Great GOE success !!!
Job well done!!!
Posted in Gathering of Eagles fund raiser
Hawaii Gathering of Eagles 