"Drunk Marine releases fire suppression system in Kadena hangar"

2015-06-12T14:45:52-04:00

Originally published on stripes.com:
--
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Air Force officials are investigating how a drunk Marine was able to enter an aircraft hangar at Kadena Air Base and activate the fire-suppression system, releasing flame retardant foam in the vicinity of at least one aircraft.

The incident occurred at 1:45 a.m. May 23, according to officials from 18th Wing public affairs. The Marine was arrested.

Marine Corps officials said they would not release the Marine’s name, where he is or was being held, or details on any potential court-martial proceedings due to “policy and privacy reasons.”

Air Force officials said they could not comment on damage due to the ongoing investigation. No further details were available.

“The details of the incident are currently under investigation,” 2nd Lt. Erik Anthony wrote in an email to Stars and Stripes. “Kadena’s capabilities and readiness have not suffered.”

http://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/drunk-marine-releases-fire-suppression-system-in-kadena-hangar-1.351940

(Note: The picture is of another incident at King Hangar at Eglin AFB)

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2015 3:05 PM

2015-06-12T15:05:16-04:00

Annnddddd were back on restriction (will be soon)

Response by Sgt David G Duchesneau made Jun 12 at 2015 3:11 PM

2015-06-12T15:11:13-04:00

Ah, it figures that the Air Force can't take a joke! WTF-Over. SEMPER FI!

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Jun 12 at 2015 3:18 PM

2015-06-12T15:18:09-04:00

I *almost* feel sorry for that Marine...

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2015 3:38 PM

2015-06-12T15:38:14-04:00

Well, you know how sneaky/stealthy us Marines are!!!!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2015 3:52 PM

2015-06-12T15:52:37-04:00

Whole ton of people about to lose rank, get fired, and booted from service over this.

Response by Sgt Mike Aydelotte made Jun 12 at 2015 4:02 PM

2015-06-12T16:02:12-04:00

The Marine was obviously acting in response to a clear unavoidable threat to national security. The fire suppressant was obviously deployed to provide concealment while the hard charging devil dog read the manual on one of the fighter planes so he could close width and destroy the enemy.
OORAH Devil!!! If they aren't us they don't get us!

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jun 12 at 2015 4:07 PM

2015-06-12T16:07:34-04:00

"Slow Clap".....I just gotta say, outfrigginstanding!!!!

Response by Capt Mark Strobl made Jun 12 at 2015 4:12 PM

2015-06-12T16:12:03-04:00

A drunk Marine! That's flippin' crazy! Obviously, the owner of the liquor store and/or the bartender have total culpability: They know better than to sell booze to a young Devildog! Someone just re-introduced the ol' phrase, "Career Private."

Response by Cpl Jeff N. made Jun 12 at 2015 4:12 PM

2015-06-12T16:12:16-04:00

He will say he was testing the Air Force Security around the hanger. He found it lacking and though he was turning on the lights and pulled the fire suppression system by mistake. He will be a legend though and talked about for years. Every Marine on Okinawa just had liberty secured!

Response by Sgt Cody Dumont made Jun 12 at 2015 5:35 PM

2015-06-12T17:35:10-04:00

I guess the Air Force Security forces need so re-education.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Jun 12 at 2015 5:50 PM

2015-06-12T17:50:54-04:00

As an aviation goober, I can say that this is going to be very costly to the AF to take care of. The number one destroyer of aircraft is corrosion. We are looking at countless hours of maintenance, insections, removal/cleaning/replacement of critical flight parts. The Squadron suffers the loss of the aircraft during all this time which decrease the operational readiness of the squadrons operational readiness (OR) rating, which is tracked all the way up to the DoD, and affects the squadron commander personally/professionally. In aviation, there are no points given for losing an acft to shenanigans. The acft is down, and down is down.....period. If the squadron falls below 70% OR rating for the month, which is easy if you have one acft down the entire reporting period (15th of the month---15th of the next month) The squadron and commander is tagged as Not Mission Capable (NMC). In layman's terms......the boss gets f###ed. The damage to the hanger will be included as well. The cost of all the repairs will come out of the operational budget of the unit. I promise you the AF isn't going to cancel flights to save the costs when they can bill the USMC. If that engine is a loss (extremely possible) as well as some of those 'black boxes'.....which fall in the $250-500,000 all day long category, you can see where the humor fades quickly. The Marines, who are infamous with getting a miniscule portion of the defense budget, are looking at losing millions from their operational budget because of a drunken Marine.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2015 5:57 PM

2015-06-12T17:57:11-04:00

AF Security Forces... power-tripping wanna-be cops. The only side they're on is their own. Doesn't matter if no harm came to anyone/anything, they will bust you as if their lives depended on it. In some situations that's obviously warranted.

So a Marine "let off a little steam." What a novelty. Make your blotter entry, put him on cleanup detail and call it a day.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2015 6:02 PM

2015-06-12T18:02:36-04:00

FTW!

Response by SSG John Erny made Jun 12 at 2015 6:16 PM

2015-06-12T18:16:52-04:00

I bumped the fire alarm in the rigger barracks on FT Lee, luckily I had a witness that made sworn statement that I hit with my elbow while trying to walk the edge of the hallway to keep from messing up the floor. The chain of command wanted flesh, mine.

When the fire inspector came over he said my argument was impossible and that bumping a fire alarm would not set it off. My DI, the inspector, and I walked up to the alarm in question. The inspector said, "see watch this" he bumped the alarm and it set it off. He did not say another word and got his tools out and worked on it. The DI told me to go to class and had an amused smirk on his face. DI Hoskins was his name. Great Guy.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2015 11:05 PM

2015-06-12T23:05:22-04:00

I predict some vey harsh consequences for security personnel.

That Marine will rue the day. He had better hope that the military swiftly confines and safely spirits him to a secure stockade before his unit lays hands on him.
Holy Jesus, that would be ugly.

I have to admire the audacity and scope of his prank, but he is going to pay, along with a lot of other parties.

Response by SPC Americo Garcia made Jun 13 at 2015 2:30 AM

2015-06-13T02:30:51-04:00

I agree with the rest of you expensive and sucks to be that person. On the funny side you can say that someone was not doing their duty rounds maybe. One could say with a straight face They were testing security and found it to be flawed. That's what I would of claimed if I was that person. As far as drunk guilty had cheap shots at the E club. It was not me it was a ghost I was chasing could be another one I would use lol! Then wait to see if they get him a section 8 for seeing ghost.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2015 3:03 AM

2015-06-13T03:03:43-04:00

Why are so many people blaming security forces for the incident?
What aircraft hangar on a military base has a security guard posted outside, at all entrances, and at all hours of the day? I could understand if it was the hangar to Air Force one... But come on people, let's be realistic.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 13 at 2015 3:19 AM

2015-06-13T03:19:26-04:00

I'm glad I'm not the only one who found this inappropriately funny. Must be a military thing! Way to go Devil Dog!

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jun 13 at 2015 3:50 AM

2015-06-13T03:50:39-04:00

And all my Marines wondered why they weren't allowed into the Banyan club!

Reminds me of the Marine from my Company that stole a vehicle from Foster and drove it back to Hansen.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jun 13 at 2015 4:45 PM

2015-06-13T16:45:53-04:00

I wouldn't want to be in his CoC!

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2015 5:31 PM

2015-06-13T17:31:32-04:00

So... my question here is, who is the asshole that left that hangar unsecured? Never mind security forces, they can't be everywhere on the flight line, but I know someone was supposed to lock the door this devil entered through.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 13 at 2015 6:29 PM

2015-06-13T18:29:34-04:00

I would hate to be his boss.

Response by PO2 Seth Carron made Jun 13 at 2015 7:43 PM

2015-06-13T19:43:39-04:00

Now THAT is sea story

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2015 10:45 PM

2015-06-13T22:45:12-04:00

Gotta love those Devil Dogs.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2015 10:55 PM

2015-06-13T22:55:45-04:00

No other drunken story in the history of drunk stories can top this one!! I applaud you drunkMarine!! However, you are screwed!!

Response by SSgt Tim Ricci made Jun 14 at 2015 12:18 AM

2015-06-14T00:18:42-04:00

I swear it wasn't me, I have been retired for 14 years!!! LOL

Response by CMSgt Tom Ledbetter made Jun 14 at 2015 12:49 AM

2015-06-14T00:49:40-04:00

I hope none of these acft were dedicated to support his battalion/company in any upcoming enemy clashes. Been there and done this with a prank of fire bottles down the intakes, BULLSHOT! Now, let's open the scuttles on that distroyer.

Response by SSgt Jonathan Ayers made Jun 14 at 2015 3:07 AM

2015-06-14T03:07:31-04:00

That jet will be headed to a front gate display somewhere soon. The corrosion that foam brings down can't be cleaned out completely, especially considering it being from Kadena (those C-Models are older than shit/high flight hours). How about being the Marine that kills a jet?

Response by Sgt Ramon Nacanaynay made Jun 14 at 2015 10:43 AM

2015-06-14T10:43:51-04:00

That's a good live test

Response by PV2 Charlie Bias made Jun 14 at 2015 2:53 PM

2015-06-14T14:53:31-04:00

This Marine will be counting bathing suits in Alaska, ans will be joined by his C.O. and whoever was responsible for security in that hangar. This makes a great story, but will also flush the careers of those who were unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Response by Cpl Clay Harrison made Jun 14 at 2015 9:02 PM

2015-06-14T21:02:03-04:00

Who was supposed to be on fire watch??!!

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Jun 15 at 2015 10:33 AM

2015-06-15T10:33:32-04:00

Chalk this up in the civilian world as, "Things I'm thankful for not having to deal with on a Monday."

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jun 15 at 2015 10:42 AM

2015-06-15T10:42:03-04:00

This is we can't have nice things.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 15 at 2015 11:10 AM

2015-06-15T11:10:03-04:00

Sh*t happens I guess.

Response by Cpl Mark McMiller made Jun 16 at 2015 2:15 AM

2015-06-16T02:15:49-04:00

When it absolutely has to be destroyed overnight...Marines! =)

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 16 at 2015 12:25 PM

2015-06-16T12:25:59-04:00

On one level, I agree, LCpl Mark Lefler, but on other levels I disagree. In another similar incident (in the article), a person died from the release of that foam. And I'll bet that Marine is not laughing about this incident. Don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, but some things are better left alone, things like fire suppression foam that fills a hangar, for example. :-)

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 16 at 2015 12:35 PM

2015-06-16T12:35:48-04:00

I don't imagine the Marine in question is laughing much now.

Response by SGT William Howell made Jun 16 at 2015 1:23 PM

2015-06-16T13:23:09-04:00

Like all good RP personal I will state that we do not know all the facts.

We do not know if this Marine actually did this. Was there any witnesses, is there a path of beer bottles that lead back to said Marine, has any AF personnel's girlfriends mysteriously ended up pregnant in a 5 mile radius of this Marine, are there any gloves that may have been left at the scene? Just because the Marine Times writes an article does not mean that it is 100% true. Marines are historically known for their ability to make good judgement calls, especially when knee crawling drunk. I for one will not judge until all that facts are in on this.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Jun 16 at 2015 2:48 PM

2015-06-16T14:48:00-04:00

I had not realized someone died or I wouldn't posted it at all.

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Jun 21 at 2015 12:06 AM

2015-06-21T00:06:59-04:00

I saw this and starting belly laughing glad I am retired
But I agree with @SFC Mark Merino this gonna be costly for the Air Force but damn it's funny

Response by SSgt Dale W. made Oct 18 at 2015 11:47 PM

2015-10-18T23:47:58-04:00

I know this is an old post, but I had to add my nickel. Perhaps the Marine figured that since he was on an AF installation, he had to abide by AF directives. From the Emergency Preparedness Flyer published by Kadena:
"FIRE EXTINGUISHER TRAINING: Make sure you, your family and coworkers know how to use the fire extinguishers in your facilities. Every home needs a fire extinguisher."

I'm thinking that he wanted to be sure his training was effective.