Jan
26
Los Al Base to go in new BRAC round(s)?
Filed Under 2012 Issues, Planning & Zoning, The Base, Traffic | 19 Comments
(1/26/2012, Los Alamitos) Earlier today the word was that Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta (left, with General Martin Dempsey, Joint Chiefs Chairman) would seek two new rounds of military base closures, in 2013 and 2015.
Ultimately, Panetta’s announcement wasn’t quite a specific, but did include a strong recommendation for more military base closures. As the New York Times put it, “Pentagon Plan Includes Base Closings and Read more
Jan
20
Red Tails: A movie for black teens, Dean Grose, & all Americans
Filed Under Dean Grose, Decency, Inspiration, The Base | 3 Comments
(1/20/2012, Los Alamitos) Why did it take a Hollywood legend like George Lucas 24 years to make and market his movie about America’s Tuskegee Airmen?
Lucas said part of the problem was America’s studios reluctance to bet on a film where all the good guys are African American and all the bad guys are white.
Sadly, another part was our studio’s reluctance to produce something besides a “music video Read more
Nov
11
An 11/11/11 Salute to our Veterans!
Filed Under Decency, Inspiration, The Base | 4 Comments
(11/11/11, Los Alamitos, from Laura Hertzog, Honoring our Fallen.org)
On this Veterans Day, let us take a moment out of our busy schedules to thank our U.S. troops who have fought, bled, and died for our country. We appreciate all that they have done and give our heartfelt thanks and gratitude for the sacrifices they and their families have made in order to preserve freedom in the United States of America and around the world.
Less than one Read more
Sep
4
Hero Mission Tuesday for fallen Long Beach Airman
Filed Under Inspiration, Local events, The Base | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 9/4/2011) A Hero Mission for Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, Calif. will be held at the Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos time on Tuesday, September 6, 2011 at 2 p.m. Attendees are asked to arrive at 1:30 p.m. to allow time for parking and walking to the airfield.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew W. Harvell, 26, of Long Beach, Calif. was among the 30 American military killed when the Taliban shot down a CH-47 Chinook helicopter Aug. 6 in Wardak province, Afghanistan. Staff Sgt. Harvell, a Combat Controller, was assigned to the 24th Special Tactics Squadron, Pope Field, N.C.
Harvell was not the only serviceman with local connections killed in that crash. Also killed was Read more
Jul
12
Cal Guard loses $15.2 Million to fraud: Our tax dollars at work?
Filed Under 2011 Issues, The Base | 3 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 7/12/2011) Yesterday Retired Master Sergeant Toni L. Jaffe, 52 plead guilty to defrauding the California National Guard of $15,200,000.00.
Jaffee, who was Cal Guard’s Bonus and Incentive Manager, admitted routinely submitting false claims to help fellow Guardsmen obtain Read more
Jul
2
More Black Hawks coming to Los Al
Filed Under 2011 Issues, The Base | 11 Comments
(7/2/2011,LosAlamitos) Expect that Cal Guard fleet of 8 Black Hawk helicopters to arrive at Los Alamitos’ Joint Forces Training Base sometime this October, because the Army has approved the unit’s transfer from Victorville.
Despite Seal Beach’s “grave” concerns that, “absent a highly effective noise mitigation program, [the transfer] could result in significant negative effects” and their request for additional noise analysis, the Army is moving full speed ahead.
Of 126 comments recieved from the public, 68 Read more
Jun
2
“H G:” My Thoughts This Memorial Day
Filed Under Highlands Guy's Thursday column, Inspiration, The Base | 3 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 6′/2/2011, by Highlands Guy) I would like to take a few minutes of your time and tell you a short story about a good friend.
His name is Danny Kawakami. I knew Danny for close to 30 years. We were colleagues for much of that time. He was a father, a brother, an uncle, a friend, an ordained minister, a patient, a son, and to many, a brother-in-arms. My goal in writing, and sharing this, is to bring the Memorial Day celebration down to a personal level.
Danny was born in Honolulu, grew up in Gardena, and spent many years in Orange County. After one of my first business meetings at my (then) new employer, a few of us continued the discussion in the company cafeteria.
Danny and I found that we had many things that we both really liked, including beer, sushi, and pretty women. But we also shared the memories of friends who lost their lives in combat. We became close and continued our chats by the lunch room window over the next 20 plus years.
When he was comfortable with our relationship he revealed his fears, his doubts, his boredom punctuated by terror in the hills and valleys of Viet Nam. The life and death decisions that he had to make took a toll on this young soldier that Read more
May
29
Memorial Day, 2011: Honoring our Fallen
Filed Under Inspiration, National Issues, The Base | 1 Comment
(Los Alamitos, 5/29/2011)Last month Barb & I were privileged to visit two beautiful memorials while visiting her cousin near Washington: The World War II Memorial (in the foreground of the photo on the left) and the Air Force Memorial. The quotes, fountains and sculptures at each one can’t help but move anyone who visits.
We are so blessed to live in America, but our freedom has come at great cost. Since 1776, over one million, three hundred thousand 1,343,812 brave American servicemen and women have given their lives for our country.
I hope you find some time this Memorial Day to consider their sacrifice, and the sacrifice of their families,and of the millions of other American servicemen and women who were and are willing to give their all.
I found many inspiring quotes engraved on the two Memorials Barbara & I visited. Here are three you may want to share with your kids or grandkids this weekend:
“Tell them that we gave our todays for their tomorrows.”
Inscription in Allied Forces Cemetery
North Assam, India
“I am going on a raid this afternoon. . . there is a possibility I won’t return. . .
do not worry about me as everyone has to leave this earth one way or another, and this is the way I have selected.“If after this terrible war is over, the world emerges a saner place. . .
pogroms and persecutions halted, then, I’m glad I gave my efforts with thousands of others for such a cause.”Sergeant Carl Goldman, USAF WWII B-17 Gunner killed in action over Western Europe in a letter to his parents
Apr
28
Helicopters, budget on Los Al Council’s agendas
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Budget, City Council Meetings, The Base | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamtios, 4/28/11) Agendas and staff reports are now posted for both a Regular Los Alamitos City Council meeting this coming Monday, May 2, at 7 p.m. as well as a Special Meeting at 5.
The Regular Meeting (click here for full agenda with reports following) includes
- Discussion of a suggested letter to the Army expressing concerns about the proposed relocation of additional Blackhawk helicopters to the Base (details below)
- A consent item to hire Douglas Wood to temporarily manage LATV while “the City considers the future structure of LATV.” (Larry Strawther and his CSMP declined to renew or extend their agreement after the Council Read more
Apr
12
Helicopter transfer: Pros & Cons
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Planning & Zoning, The Base | 5 Comments
The good news is that the Army has extended to May 5 the time for public comments on their plan to move a company of Blackhawk helicopters from the high desert to Los Alamitos (Comments can be e-mailed to Ms. Carmen Call, carmen.call@usar.army.mil, or sent to the City of Los Alamitos to be included in the city’s comments, or both).
The bad news is the citizens appear deeply divided about the additional choppers.
I suspect part of the division lies between those whose homes are circled by helicopters regularly already, largely those along the northeast border of the Base, and those who aren’t affected as much, or who just love the sound of choppers.
I live near a “quiet” corner of the Base, but I had my eyes (& ears) opened Read more
Apr
5
Citizens, Councilwomen express concerns about more choppers at Base
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Planning & Zoning, The Base | 2 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 4/5/11) At Monday’s Los Alamitos City Council meeting a number of residents living close to the Joint Forces Training Base were joined by at least 3 in expressing concerns about the Army’s plans to move an 87 member, 8 helicopter unit from Victorville to Los Alamitos.
As seen in the reader comments on two posts on the sparsely attended helicopter Open House here, residents appear split on the proposal, which the army seems determined to move ahead with. (See “Proposed Black Hawk Open House” and “Black Hawk fleet moving to Los Al Base?”
“They’re always going over our house on Mindora Street, said one New Dutch Highlands resident.
Mayor Ken Stephens, who also lives Read more
Apr
2
Black Hawks, LosAl TV, trash audit on Monday Council Agenda
Filed Under 2011 Issues, City Council Meetings, LosAl TV, The Base | 17 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 4/2/2011) Our CityCouncil kicks off April with a 7 p.m. regular meeting with what appears to be a relatively light agenda with three interesting discussion items and at least one interesting consent item.
Discussion items include the selection process for General Plan firms and a Request for Proposal for an accounting firm to audit Los Al’s financial statements, including waste hauler Read more
Mar
15
Proposed Black Hawk Fleet Open House Wednesday night at Joint Forces Base
Filed Under 2011 Issues, Planning & Zoning, The Base | 22 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 3/15/2011) The U.S. Army is hosting an Open House from 7 – 8 p.m. this Wednesday night, 3/16 to inform the public of a proposed stationing action that includes the transfer of an 87 member, 8 helicopter Aviation Company from Victorville to the Joint Forces Training Base at Los Alamitos.
The Open House will feature Read more
Mar
14
Blackhawk fleet moving to Los Al Base?
Filed Under 2011 Issues, The Base | 16 Comments
(Los Alamitos, 3/14/2011) Looks like a fleet of Cal Guard’s Blackhawk helicopters will be moving to Los Alamitos from Victorville.
That may be good, or it may be bad, but the lack of publicity about an Enviromental Analysis meeting set for this Wednesday, March 16 7-8 PM at the Base is cause for concern to at least one local citizen.
I first heard of the meeting via an e-mail I received from Read more
Dec
8
Noise Advisory: Cal Guard shooting a commercial at the Base next week
Filed Under Community News, The Base | Leave a Comment
(Los Alamitos, 12/8/2010) (edited from a press release from the ever-diligent Laura Herzog) California National Guard will be using areas including the Military Operations in Urban Terrain (MOUT) site (former base housing) located off of Farquar Ave., as well as the Los Alamitos Army Airfield to film upcoming recruiting commercial. The filming will take place December 13 through December 21, 2010.
Local residents can expect to see and hear helicopters throughout the filming. The majority of the filming will be conducted during Read more