The White Falcon - 07.11.1980, Blaðsíða 2

Page 2 The White Falcon November 7, 1980
Some courts rule
retirement pay is
community property
There is a recent trend in
divorce law which is having a defi-
nite affect on military retirees.
Under the new line of case authority
some states are recognizing the
right of a spouse to have retired
pay divided and paid to the divorced
spouse.
This could even be done if you
are years away from retirement. The
Montana Supreme Court recently ruled
against a service member's conten-
tion that his retirement pay was not
common property which the court
could divide upon divorce.
The United States Supreme Court
is preparing to address this issue
in the near future. Individuals
who are contemplating divorce action
ought to be aware of the trend and
should consult with their legal as-
sistance officer to determine if
they will be affected.
Health care notes
Health Care Notes is provided for
station hospital beneficiaries.
Should anyone have a particular item
they would like to have addressed
they may write or call the Medical
Administrative Officer, extension
3203.
So you thought those balmy
breezes and warm autumn days would
last forever and surfing would still
be the main sport clear into Novem-
ber. Wrong again. The time has
come to batten down and prepare for
wind, rain, sleet and snow.
They didn't hand you a parka when
you got off the Rotator to prepare
you for a tropical climate. To
paraphrase Chaucer, "winter is in-
cummen in."
Winter in Keflavik can be fun
if you give it a chance. Your
station hospital staff will gear up
for a work-load increase of about
50 percent that historically accom-
panies the "Winter Blahs." Take
some notes from old "Doc Kef" to
help you keep well and away from
Sick Call and the emergency room.
It's not that you're not welcome,
but we'd rather see you at the Mini-
mart or the club enjoying
good health rather than occupying a
bed in the hospital.
Winter in Keflavik, as the "old
timers" know, brings with it

problems beside the wind, snow a;
cold. The prolonged hours of darlc5
ness amplify existing medical
problems. As the daylight and
tempers grow progressively shorter,
the lines at the station hospital
tend to grow longer.
Don't hole up for the duration or
take to extra food or to the bottle
in an attempt to boost your spirits.
It's best to get out and get in-
volved - read some good books, par-
ticipate, explore the hobby shop, go
to church, sing in the choir or join
one of the actors groups.
It is good common sense to take
preventive health measures which
will help reduce the frequency of
illness. Dressing for wind and cold
and getting the proper amount of
rest and a nutritional diet will
certainly reduce chances of getting
a common cold.
Awareness of the strength of the
wind has been emphasized repeatedly,
yet injuries from blowing doors are
common. Stop and think before you
leave the protection of indoor
spaces.
At the station hospital, the
patient returned to or kept in good
health is our most important
product. Help us help you stay ij
good health.
The U.S. Marine Corps-’Asthe President directs
by J02 Vickie I. Oliver
WASHINGTON, D.C...
By act of the Continental Con-
gress on Nov. 10, 1775, the
U.S. Marine Corps saw its
historic beginning to
“... .serve during the present
war with [between] Great Brit-
ain and the Colonies .. ”
An act of July 11, 1798,
deemed the Marine Corps to
be a separate service within the
Navy Department. Yet, in
1836, Congress granted the
president authority to order
Marines to duty with the
Army; this law is still on the
books.
Since the Revolutionary
War, the U.S. Marine Corps
has undertaken assignments
afloat and ashore. Captain
Samuel Nicholas became the
corps’ first officer; his com-
mission was dated Nov. 28,
1775. On a small scale,
Nicholas performed the duties
of later-day commandants of
the corps.
In March 1770, CPT
Nicholas led a force of 220
Marines and 50 sailors in cap-
turing Forts Montague and
Nassau in the Bahama Islands.
This successful amphibious
landing was the first of many
throughout the Marine Corps’
history. This was the first
time, too, that the American
flag was flown over foreign
soil.
Throughout U.S. history,
the Marine Corps has fought
alongside all branches of the
U.S. armed forces—providing
the muscle of amphibious
forces, as well as support on
land, sea and air. Leather-
necks fought in the undeclared
war with France in the late
18th century, subdued pirati-
cal rulers of the Barbary
States, and took part in the
battle between USS Chesa-
peake and HMS Shannon.
The Marines cleared looters
from the “Halls of Monte-
zuma” during the war with
Mexico. They also were with
Commodore Matthew C.
Perry when he opened Japan,
with Colonel Robert E. Lee
during the Civil War, and with
Brigadier General Lewis B.
“Chesty” Puller in Korea.
Under presidential orders,
the U.S. Marine Corps protec-
ed Pribilof Island fur seals
from Canadian poachers.
They patrolled mountains and
jungles, and surpressed rebels
and bandits. They supervised
elections and operated military
governments in the Dominican
Republic, Haiti and
Nicaragua.
In November 1921, Presi-
dent Harding directed the
Secretary of the Navy “.. .to
detail as guards for the U.S.
mails, a sufficient number of
Marine Corps officers and
men to protect the mails from
depredations by robbers and
bandits.”
As the Marines’ chronicle
continues, it becomes evident
that the corps has continually
provided fleet commanders
with the mobility and
readiness needed to carry out
presidential orders.
The U.S. Marine Corps con-
tinues to be Semper Fid^
“Always faithful”—
ca’s “force-in-readiness.l
rps con-