azxtte Vol. 51 No. 43 Guantanamo Bay, Cuba Thursday, November 10, 1994 MCX Gitmo closes doors For years, the Guantanamo Bay Marine Corps Exchange has met the needs of the Marines specifically and all residents in the Gitmo community. However, last Sunday, the MCX closed its doors forever. Dedicated MCX shoppers showed up early, hoping to get the best bargains at the "Final Blowout" sale. The first customer, ContractorAbner Lopez-Kellogg, arrived at 7 a.m. By 9 a.m., a line of customers had formed around the building past the Western Union office. At 10 a.m., the doors were unlocked and the first group of bargain hunters entered the building. Only 50 customers were allowed in the MCX at a time. "The main reason for the closing was the evacuation. When the dependents left the island, so did almost the entire staff of the MCX," said Chief Warrant Officer Danny Ronan, USMC, Marine Corps Exchange Officer. "All but sixteen of the one-hundred and thirty employees were evacuated." As one customer checked out and left the store, another quickly entered looking for that special bargain. Those patiently waiting outside the MCX expressed their feelings on the store closing. "When the store closes, it'll cut down on the selections," said Petty Officer 1st Class Mark Conrad. "(With the MCX), we at least had more than one place to choose from." Another customer, Seaman Leticia Vanzo, had a different concern. "The more things that are closed, the lowerthe morale," she said. The employees are also concerned about the closing of the MCX and the effect it will have on the community. "Customers shopped the MCX forthe simple factthey could special order items instead of using catalogs," said Gunnery Sgt. Michael A. Hinton. "Whatever the customer wanted, we could order. Although the MCX has closed its doors for the last time, "there is still much work to do," said Ronan. Marines stationed here and five Marines from Camp Lejeune, N.C. have worked hard taking care of the added duties necessaryto close down the MCX. "There is inventory to be counted and goods to be returned to vendors and to other Marine Corps exchanges," said Ronan. "We also have to pack up and ship all the accounting data." Those Marines assigned to the exchange are also working at the other Gen. Mundy wishes US Fifty years ago, at the pinnacle of our Corps' heaviest involvement in combat, Gen. Alexander Vandergrift, our distinguished 18th Commandant, issued the following birthday greeting: "Today, we Marines begin our 170th year of life. It is destined to be Haitians migrants repatriated A soldier cuts the DMPITS (Deployable Mass Population Identification and Tracking System) bracelet from a Haitian child during the most recent repatriation on Nov. 3. This child was only one of the forty-one Haitians who left Gitmo aboard USCGC Mohawk en route to PortAuPrince. Aboard the Mohawk, the crew of the Mohawk, which is home based in Key West, Fla,, makes sure the repratriated Haitians are fed and kept warm during the eighteen-hour voyage. Photo by JOsN Melissa Farley A,, The line for the finalopeningofthe Mane Corps Exchange here began at7a.m.Sunday. The final customer was Capt. Shawn Stith, USMC, of Marine Forces. Photo by JOSN Melissa Farley facilities that have remained open. The Marine Mini-mart, Post 46, Staff Non-commissioned Officer Lounge and the warehouse are still open, but the furniture store has closed.The mini-mart has been redesigned to fit the needs of the Marines. For example, men's sportswear, dive gear and Marine uniforms are sold at the mini-mart. MChappy one of the most momentous years in all our battle-filled history. A birthday is a fitting time to peer backwardand forward. We have reason to look ahead with hope and courage. Since the last observance of the Corps' official birth, our advance in the Pacific has been steady and unswerving. We take deserved pride in our role as the spearhead of a great amphibious drive against a formidable enemy. You have fought ably in the past year. You have met and licked the FOE's forces at Cape Gloucester, at Bougainville, in the Marshalls, the Marianas, the Palaus. You have planted our flag again on Guam. You have helped secure the bases from which our Navy has sailed forth to overwhelming conquest. You, with the other services, have come as liberators to thousands of men, women and children who have been under Japanese rule for nearly three years. The price has been high. Many of your comrades are gone. Their lives, their wounds paid for those victories. Today, as new blows are being readied, we stand prepared for futher action. Our enemy is determined that we shall not reach our objective 'The mission of the MCX was to take care of the personnel assigned to the Marine Barracks by meeting their needs in any way possible," said Ronan. 'Now we'll do our best through the mini-mart.' As the Marines turned out the lights and locked the door of the MCX, another page was turned in Guantanamo Bay's history. 219th B-day of inflicting total defeat. He is ready to fight to the death. In these many years, we have met other such enemies. As these obstacles confront us, we shall destroy them and press on to our goals. On this 169th birthday of the Corps, therefore, I wish all who wear the Marine green the highestsuccess in the ventures they face." Some things never change. Today, we Marines begin our 220th yearof life...and we continue to stand prepared for further action. On this 219th birthday of the Corps, therefore, I charge all who wear the Marine green to stand tall. You're United States Marines; and highest success in the ventures you face will continue to be your hallmark. Semper Fidelis. Power Outage Saturday, 7 a. m.5p.m. To find out areas affected, contact UTCS(SCW) Estep at 3402/2552 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . EitO