Photo By Gunnery Sgt. Matthew Bragg | Lance Cpl. Travis Paul, a crew chief with Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367,...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS BASE, Hawaii - Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 commemorated its 70th anniversary in the Marine Corps in Hangar 101 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Dec. 2. Throughout the week, HMLA-367 held several events for the “Scarface” alumni to participate.
The squadron was activated on Dec. 1, 1943, at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va., and designated as Marine Observation Squadron 351. After serving honorably throughout the Pacific Theater in World War II, VMO-351 was deactivated, Aug. 20, 1949.
The unit was reactivated Aug. 1, 1966, at MCAS Camp Pendleton when the Marine Corps increased its presence in Vietnam. Nearly two years later, VMO-3 was re-designated as Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 367 and immediately began conducting operations, which directly supported ground combat units.
The unit commemorated its 70th anniversary in the Marine Corps in Hangar 101 aboard Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, Dec. 2, 2013. Throughout the week, HMLA-367 held several events for the “Scarface” alumni to participate.
These events included a cake cutting ceremony, golf tournament on the Kaneohe Klipper Golf Course and a tour of the Scarface hangar. Unit personnel and veterans shared stories and discussed the history of Scarface.
The unit also coordinated a fly over above the USS Missouri and the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor for Scarface alumni, veterans and other onlookers in the area.
Before the cake cutting ceremony, Marines and sailors stood in formation as Lt. Col. Victor Maduka, commanding officer, promoted one sailor and five Marines.
Veterans who previously served with Scarface were invited to attend. One veteran, Calvin Dorn, who was a pilot in the unit from 1980 to 1987, stood in as the oldest Marine of the squadron during the ceremony.
“They wanted to have one of the alumni be a part of the cake cutting ceremony,” Dorn said. “They asked me and I said, ‘Sure.’ It was definitely an honor to be a part of it all.”
When the ceremony concluded, Marines and sailors lined up to celebrate with alumni while others took photos with family and friends in front of an American flag draped in between an AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter and UH-1Y Huey helicopter.
“It was a unique situation as Scarface prepared to celebrate its 70th anniversary,” said 1st Lt. Anthony Ciochetta, S-5 alpha personnel with HMLA-367. “The stars kind of aligned and we couldn’t think of any better way than to invite some (Scarface) veterans to Hawaii to celebrate the occasion with us.”
On Dec. 4, the squadron gave the veterans a full tour of the Scarface hangar and showcased a bayside landing outside the hangar for them to view the aircraft in action. For many of them, it was the first time seeing the squadron again since they served with the unit.
“The whole celebration essentially revolved around the alumni being here,” Ciochetta explained. “It’s always a learning experience when you get to talk to veterans and hear their stories, and it’s even better when you get to talk to some of the guys who helped shape the unit into what it is today.”
The unit coordinated for several helicopters to conduct a flyover of Pearl Harbor the following day while some alumni and other veterans were aboard the USS Missouri. As they stood on the deck of the battleship, they watched as four helicopters flew across the sky while donning an American flag.
The aircraft flew over the harbor three times before returning to MCAS Kaneohe Bay to wrap up its anniversary celebration with a luau at the Officers’ Club with traditional Hawaiian food.
“The camaraderie is the exact same as it was in the Cold War days, and I’m amazed to see how much it has grown since then,” Dorn said. “I truly am proud to have served in this squadron.”
| Date Taken: | 12.12.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 12.12.2013 23:06 |
| Story ID: | 118169 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, HI, US |
| Web Views: | 164 |
| Downloads: | 2 |
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