The White Falcon - 20.08.1965, Blaðsíða 5

WHITE FALCON
Friday, August 20, 1965
Friday, August 20, 1965
WHITE FALCON
CHOW’S ON—The Galley at H-2
THE MACHINE SHOP—Three men “do it themselves” in the Machine Shop in the Maintenance Build-
ing at H-2.
Personnelmun Tells Facts
About ‘Misty Mountain’ Site
by Larry A. Lloyd, PN3
POWER PLANT—R. Dent, CMA2, left, and G. Robbins, EN2, inside the engine room at H-2.
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LOOKING OVER THE TRANSMITTER—The transmitter at Tropo
in H-2. Checking everything over is M. McLaughlin, ETN3, left, and
D. Snell, RMSN.
Since my return from the Site referred to as H-2 I
have been asked many times, “What is H-2?” This is my
answer:
H-2 is a remotely located site in the Northern part of
Iceland an the Langanes Peninsula. It is located on the top
of a mountain commonly called “Misty Mountain,” so named
because of the almost constant fog surrounding its upper
reaches.
Supports Operating Forces
The main mission of the site is to provide services and
material in support of the operating forces of the Navy
and other military forces and installations as designated
by the Chief of Naval Operations. We provide our own sup-
port in the form of maintenance of grounds, buildings and
transportation, security and recreational programs. Logis-
tic support of the site is provided by the Naval Station,
Keflavik.
Because the roads are completely or at least partially
closed during the winter months, large quantities of sup-
plies must be laid in during the summer to keep the in-
flow of supplies during the winter down to a minimum.
Although quite small numerically, about 70, the Site has
a large responsibility. It is primariy a communications sta-
tion, a branch of the U.S. Naval Communications Station,
Iceland. Communications are headed up by RM1, Richard
G. Coogan, and under him, his crew maintains H-2’s sole
means of communication.
The Air Force is also represented at H-2 with Capt.
R.W. Gardener heading up their ranks. With their valu-
able performance it’s needless to say how welcome they are.
Another question commonly asked regarding the Site is:
“How did H-2 come into existence?” Its beginning came
in 1956 when the Air Force moved there and set up a radar
tower. This was in operation just a short time when a
wind storm came thundering down from the north and
down went the tower. Then with a more stable tower erected,
the Air Force settled down to its routine existence.
Site ‘Goes Navy’
In 1962 the Air Force stepped down and the U.S. Navy
came to H-2 with a branch of the Communications Station.
Coming up to the present we find the responsibility of the
Officer-in-Charge falling to Lt R. C. Parady. It is his job
to see that the site is well manned and that all units are
operational. He is assisted by the Acting Executive Officer,
P.S. Hunter, EN1, who is presently in charge of the Power
Plant and is general Site supervisor.
The Administration Department is headed by J. J.
Grenier, PNSN, and assisted by J.C. Grace, SN. These men
maintain the mountains of records, files and general cleri-
cal work. With the coming of summer and the advent of
new phases of planning and additions to the Site, their
job multiplies into a flood of paperwork.
The Medical Department is headed by M.V. Horne, HM2,
whose functions cover the billets of two men. As well as
being Medic for the Site, it is his job to insure the usability
of the airplane landing strip. To fill out his role at the Site,
Doc Horne, as he is commonly called, also acts as the Ex-
change Manager and is responsible, along with TSgt.
Sepelyak of the Air Force, to see to the efficient running
of the Exhange and that the men have all their basic needs
available.
The maintenance department is run by R. J. Quellett,
UT2. Under his jurisdiction come the carpenter shop, electri-
cal shop and heating plant. In addition, he and his men have
to insure general maintenance, building maintenance plus
maintenance of the phone and the power circuits.
A radio station broadcasting with 10 watts, 1400 KCs
on a 24-hour basis had been another feature of the Site.
Recently, however, they became part of a network origin-
ating from the Armed Forces Radio Station, Keflavik.
The men of the Public Works department maintain the
telephone switchboard. Operating on a 24-hour-a-day basis
keeps W. J. Phillips, CP, busy on day watches while the
night watches are stood on a rotating shift.
Commonly asked, and perhaps with the most interest,
is the question, “Well, now that I understand what is out
there, what do you do for recreation?”
Recreation is centered around the “Misty Mountain
Club,” run by the Navy Exchange. A great number of off
duty hours are spent here with the men becoming pro-
ficient on the shuffleboard table. Friday game-nights bring
welcome relief, giving a much needed change of pace. The
Special Services of Keflavik also maintain a sporting gear
locker and a small hobby shop which is always well stocked.
The Outdoor Life
As with most men stationed around the world the out-
doors holds a great fascination for the personnel of H-2.
Naturally all plans made pertaining to the outdoors are
headed up by the injection, “weather permitting.” When
this weather does permit, hiking is one of the most popular
forms of relaxation. The Site has its own Fish Camp to boot.
It is located about 35 miles from the Site and its lake is
well stocked and the fishing is good.
The story of H-2 could go on for pages but without these
pages available it comes to a close. The H-2 Site is one
of the several sites assisting the Naval Station, the Ice-
land Defense Force and NATO by being one tiny barb
on the freedom fence of the world.
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RADIO STATION—DJ Tom Metour adjusts the microphone during a
show at the AFRS Radio Station.