Capt. Sean L. Brock, 29, a former company commander with Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base, Okinawa, was killed in action Feb. 2 in Anbar province, Iraq.

Brock was with the 1st Marine Division when he sustained a fatal shrapnel wound in the abdomen while conducting combat operations, according to Marine officials on Okinawa.

He is survived by his wife; she is a Navy lieutenant at the U.S. Naval Hospital on Camp Lester.

Brock enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1993, serving as a crash, fire and rescue Marine and infantryman before earning his officer’s commission in 1998. He was assigned to Okinawa in 2003, deploying for the initial invasion of Iraq that spring and returning last November.

“We are all terribly saddened to learn of Sean’s death,” said Brig. Gen. James F. Flock, commanding general of Marine Corps Bases Japan, in a news release. “He had a profound impact on this command, and we will keep his memory alive in our hearts.”

Hose glitch forces Futenma KC-130 to land

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A Marine KC-130 from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma made a precautionary landing Thursday afternoon after a refueling hose failed to retract.

The plane had a hose hanging about 18 yards below the left wing when it was diverted at 3:30 p.m. to Kadena Air Base, which has a longer runway and had a fire truck standing by. The aircraft landed without incident, a Marine spokesman said.

A mechanical problem prevented the complete retraction of the refueling hose, said Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Eric Tausch.

“Precautionary landings are a standard procedure adopted whenever a pilot notices anything out of the ordinary with his aircraft, no matter how minor,” Tausch said Friday. “Precautionary landings do not pose a danger to the local community, base or the aircraft itself. Nevertheless, trained response teams are called out to maximize safety.”

Tausch said Thursday’s precautionary landing was not reported to Okinawa officials. “If this landing would have had an impact on public safety or the environment, we would have informed the local communities and appropriate government officials in accordance with the U.S.-Japan Joint Committee and Tripartite Liaison Committee agreements,” he said.

Evacuation drill a success at Yongsan Garrison

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — School officials here held an annual evacuation exercise Friday, moving 2,300 students into “safe areas” while military police searched for a mock bomb package, according to Area II officials.

The exercise started at 8:45 a.m., when teachers were notified of the “threat” and were asked to move students to secure, off-campus locations. Elementary students went to Collier Field House, the middle school to the movie theater and the high school to Trent Gym.

The move took eight minutes, said Barry Robinson, Area II deputy director of plans and operations. By 9:17 a.m., all students were accounted for, and by 9:25 a.m. the military police found the mock bomb package.

Jazz festival on Guam

The public is invited to the Navy’s free Sunset Jazz Festival at Guam’s Polaris Point on Sunday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Navy’s first-ever jazz festival features Pieces of a Dream, an ensemble jazz band from Philadelphia. The concert also includes local bands Fried Bananas and Caliente, Guam High School’s jazz band and the Guam Jazz All Stars. Each band will play a 45-minute set.

Vendors will sell food and beverages. Guests may bring diaper bags, small camera bags, purses, umbrellas and folding chairs. Coolers, backpacks, glass containers and large bags are prohibited.

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