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Marooned
By LT Peter Martinelli
Volume 49, No. 12, July 12, 2007 |
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ORIGIN ENERGY: RAAF Queensland supporters FLGOFF David Stary, LAC Travis Taylor, SQNLDR Andy Hoare and FLTLT Brianna Connelly join US Marine LT Ken Harinishi (centre) to show their true colours before watching the second State of Origin match at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area during Exercise Talisman Saber.
Photo by CPL Chris Moore |
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Two US Marines had their first taste of State of Origin passion recently, not in a crowded bar, but in a canvas tent bursting with interstate rivalry.
CPL Brandon Lawrence and LT Ken Harinishi found themselves at an airstrip deep in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area when the Queensland Maroons prevailed against NSW on Wednesday, June 13.
“It was intense,” LT Harinishi said. “It was my first time watching an entire game – it got really crazy in the end.”
The two Marines from Air Support Squadron 2 in Okinawa, Japan, were attached to a RAAF air traffic control radar site for Exercise Talisman Saber.
Emotions ran high during a game marked by controversial refereeing decisions.
“It’s definitely a lot faster than American football,” LT Harinishi said.
“Everyone was just ‘in there’ and they kept playing without consistent commercial breaks, which was nice.”
He said fellow Marines had bought Queensland jerseys in time for the game.
“There was a similar vibe to the Superbowl,” LT Harinishi said. “It was the big game everyone was waiting for.”
NSW-born Queensland supporter FLGOFF Paul Scott was one of nearly 20 RAAF members who crammed into the tent to watch the match on a run-down projector.
“The whole section was watching it,” FLGOFF Scott said.
“Flying had finished early so we didn’t have to do air traffic control.”
He was critical over refereeing in the game that sealed Queensland’s series victory over its southern rival.
“The referee gave penalties for the most ridiculous stuff,” FLGOFF Scott said. |
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