Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- It may have been the Town Hall moment of all time, at least Station commanding officer Col. Dave Darrah said he thought so.

Towards the end of the Marine Corps Air Station Town Hall meeting at the Station Chapel Sept. 6, a Navy Airman informed Darrah that he only ate at the chow hall twice a day, and, in all earnest, requested if the government could reimburse him $1.50 per missed meal - or $45 a month.

The answer, given by Darrah and reinforced by Marine Aircraft Group 12 Commanding Officer Col. Stephen Pomeroy, didn't seem to surprise anyone in attendance, not even the Airman, Michael O'Donnell, who asked it.  The answer was no.
Then it happened.

"That was the last question of the night, so it was time to draw for the raffle winner," said Pomeroy.  "A little 3-year-old boy came up to draw the ticket.  When the number was read it was a moment of pure irony."

That's because the winning ticket for the $250 gift certificate donated by Marine Corps Community Services belonged to - you guessed it - O'Donnell.

"I just went crazy when I won," said O'Donnell.  "I was jumping up and down and screaming.  I couldn't believe it."

His enthusiasm was contagious, as the whole crowd at the Town Hall erupted into thunderous applause.

"Town Hall meetings are an invaluable tool for allowing residents to make their voices heard directly to me, and helps me as the commander figure out just where the community is coming from," said Darrah.  "We take them very seriously.  But that doesn't mean Town Hall meetings can't be fun."

"When that Sailor won the $250 raffle after complaining about his $1.50, it was a great moment, and one I feel brought the entire community closer together," added Darrah.

Topics addressed during the Town Hall included medical and urgent care, child care, the possible moving of the Arts and Crafts Center, stock and variety at the Marine Corps Exchange and Commissary, and the liberty policy.

"Colonel Darrah might not always give people the answers they want to hear," said Debra Crone, Arts and Crafts Center manager,  "but he is forthright and you can tell he genuinely listens to input from the community.  If he says he's going to make something happen, it happens.  Town Hall meetings are the best place to go to find out what's really happening aboard the Station."

Navy Captain Adam Robinson, commanding officer of U.S. Naval Hospital Yokosuka, said he was particularly impressed by the Town Hall meeting.

"Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni has some of the best Town Hall meetings I've seen anywhere," said Robinson.  "Residents seem to get involved, not just by attending, but by interacting with the command.  The impression that I got here is that every resident really does have a voice and a say in Iwakuni."

"Plus, I've got a great story to take back to Yokosuka about the Sailor winning the raffle, though I'm not sure anybody will believe me on that one," added Robinson.

To view the questions and answers from the Sept. 5 Town Hall meeting go to http://www.iwakuni. usmc.mil/townhallqandas.htm.