MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Hawaii -- One thing most Marines say they will never forget is their first unit assignment. For one lieutenant general, reflecting on his old unit wasn’t enough; he wanted to visit the unit in person.
Lieutenant Gen. John G. Castellaw, deputy commandant for aviation of the Marine Corps, was in Hawaii recently to visit his former squadron – the “Ugly Angles” of Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 362 aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay.
“HMH-362 was my first squadron,” said Castellaw in a speech to the current members of the squadron.
“It has always been my squadron. It has a long, proud history and you continue a long line of superb mission accomplishments.”
During the course of his visit to his former squadron, Castellaw presented the Navy Achievement Medal to Cpl. Ronald Ford, ordnance, HMH-362; and an Air Medal to Capt. Anthony Fiacco, the air officer for the squadron.
Castellaw was then shown to the historical room for the Ugly Angels. What waited for Castellaw inside the room was a flashback of his time in the squadron. The walls were covered with photographs of the squadron from the beginning to present day.
Capt. Nicholas A. Turner, officer-in-charge, flight line, HMH-362, asked Castellaw to sign in the visitors logbook.
“We were truly honored to show you around and to have you visit us,” said Turner.
Before he left the squadron, Castellaw spoke to the squadron members about their upcoming deployment to Iraq.
“Your sister squadrons have all served well out there,” he said. “I know that all your officers and staff noncommissioned officers have trained you well to prepare to go out there, and I have no doubt that you will succeed.
“You have my greatest admiration, and I will keep a special note in my mind on all the accomplishments that you have all made in my squadron.”