Kailuan’s Son At ‘Cobra Gold’
By MidWeek Staff
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS | Share
Del.icio.us
|
Marine Corps Staff Sgt. John Chilson recently served with Cobra Gold 2011, the annual multinational military exercise in northern Thailand. As an embarkation chief based at Camp Hansen, Okinawa, his role was to make sure the ships were loaded well so they could bring the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit ashore efficiently.
Tasks of the more than 7,200 U.S. troops during the two-week maneuvers in February included amphibious assaults, and engineering and medical humanitarian and civic assistance projects with the local population.
A nine-year Marine veteran, Chilson is the son of Barbara Chilson of Kailua.
“My role here is to help bring the operating forces ashore in a planned and effective manner,” he explained during Cobra Gold. “As I am receiving gear from our landing crafts,” he added, “I am sitting on one of the most beautiful beaches that I have ever seen. The vendors that I have met are friendly and seem eager to please.”
Troops on the mission also helped build schools, treat medical and dental problems and also ran a veterinary clinic. The jungle training included survival skills, such as how to safely corral a cobra and how to distinguish edible from poisonous plants in the jungle.
E-mail this story | Print this page | Comments (0) | Archive | RSS
Most Recent Comment(s):
