Na Leo O Na Koa (Voices of Warriors) Newsletter of the Hawaii Aloha Chapter, Affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America COL Marvin J
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Na Leo O Na Koa (Voices of Warriors) Newsletter of the Hawaii Aloha Chapter, Affiliate of the Military Officers Association of America COL Marvin J. Harris 4-Star Communications Award for Printed Newsletters — 2015 Chartered July 23, 1959 Volume No. 3, Issue No. 1 http://www.moaa-hawaii.org January 2017 Chapter Christmas Party Hawaii Veterans Goodwill Fifty Hawaii Aloha Chapter, MOAA, Delegation 7 Trip to China members and guests assembled late Sat- urday afternoon, 3 December, at the Sun- History set Lanai, Camp H. M. Smith for their In 2007 COL Wesley Fong, USA, Ret., was annual Christmas dinner and party. This asked by the China Association for Interna- Marine club was beautifully decorated for tional Friendly Contact (CAIFC), a Chinese Wesley Fong Christmas and the scenery overlooking NGO (non government organization), as a Pearl Harbor at sunset was spectacular. past president and retired U. S. Army Colonel, to invite retired general and flag officers to China to promote friendship and The tables were also beautifully deco- understanding between China and the U.S. and its militaries rated by Shirley Fujiwara, Mimi Torre- with all expenses paid in China. The Chinese Chamber of ano, Marion Von and Helene Webster. Commerce of Hawaii has helped to coordinate this CAIFC- Two large boxes decorated by Jane hosted program since its inception in 2007. It has been so Kekoa were filled with unwrapped toys successful that we have now have had seven delegations. for the Marines’ Toys For Tots program. After this seventh trip last November, Wes has taken 23 retired generals and admirals from all branches of the military service, Virtually including the Coast Guard, to China at the invitation of the e v e r y o n e CAIFC. It began in 2008 with LTG Allen Ono as the fist delega- agreed that tion representative for Hawaii Veterans Goodwill Delegation 1. this was one The other MOAA chapter members who have participated are of the chap- ADM Thomas Fargo, BGen Jerome Hagen, ADM Ronald Hays, MG Calvin “Kelly” Lau, ter’s best Inside January Issue Christmas COL Richard Wong, BG Ha- The Marine SSgt picking up ruo Shigezawa, MG Bob Lee, Birthdays 7 parties ever. Calendar of Events 6 the toys flanked by Mark MG Stephen Tom and our Chaplain’s Corner 6 Torreano, John Ma and What made President, BG John Ma. it particu- Chapter Leaders 10 Ralph Hiatt Wes is the delegation leader and Chairman’s Comments 2 larly enjoy- represents the Chinese Chamber Community Services 4 able was the of Commerce and there is one Golf Report 7 entertain- delegation rep (senior general or Honolulu Marathon 7 ment by the flag officer) each trip. In the past JBPHH Commissaries 4 very tal- 7 delegations the reps were: Membership Application 9 LTG Ono, ADM Hays (former Obituaries 5 ented group, Pearl Harbor Remembrance 5 Ekolu Ma- CINCPAC), ADM Zlatoper (former CINCPACFLT), ADM Reservation Form 9 kua, ar- Fargo (former CINPAC), LTG Star Card 9 Lola Hiatt, second from ranged by Stackpole (former CDR, USMC Surviving Spouses 6 left, and Ralph Hiatt with R a l p h Hawaii), LTG Wiercinski Tension Along the DMZ 4 TUG 8 the Ekolu Makua Trio Hiatt. Please See HGVD Page 3 Page 2 Nā Leo O Nā Koa No. 1, January 2017 Hawaii Aloha Chapter, Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service Medals, and the Combat Medic Badge. MOAA In his life as a civilian attorney, Wes has served as Chairman’s Comments a State Supervising Deputy Attorney General and a Senior Deputy Corporation Counsel with the By Mark Torreano City and County of Honolulu and the Staff Coun- Aloha Kakou! cil for the Fireman’s Fund Insurance Company. A great 2016 is behind us and 2017 is before As a civic leader, Wes is currently a Commis- us, ready to be shaped into another great and sioner of the City Grants-in-Aid Commission, enjoyable Hawaii Aloha Chapter year! Chair of Neighborhood Board 14, President of Pacifica AOUO, and the Chinatown Com- Of course, much of our success in 2016 is owed munity Center Association. to the outstanding leadership of President John He has served as a Commissioner (Vice Chair) Ma and his fine Executive Committee. I thank of the Honolulu Liquor Commission, President and congratulate John as he completes his two-year of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii tour of duty as president and has now turned the and the Palolo Chinese Home and Chair of the reigns over to Wes Fong, our incoming president. Hawaii Arthritis Foundation and the Maryknoll With his outstanding background as an officer, School Advisory Board. He also served as Presi- lawyer, member of many boards and civic commit- dent of See Dai Doo Society, Mun Lun Chinese ments, we know Wes will move the chapter for- Language School, Hawaii Chinese Civic Associa- ward with energy and strong leadership. Please see tion, West Honolulu Rotary Club, Reserve Offi- the profile below for more on our new president. cers Association (both the Hawaii and Waikiki Our 2017 programs kick off with the installation Chapters) and Concerned Citizens on River Street of our new officers and directors at the 26 January Housing. He was the Vice President of the Ha- luncheon at the OVC. I encourage you to join waii Technology Institute and Hawaii Camp Fire us to recognize our volunteer senior leaders. and Vice Chair of the Hawaii/Pacific District Ex- port Council, U.S. Department of Commerce. He Get to Know Our New President is a former Director of Catholic Charities Hawaii. Our Hawaii Aloha Chapter President, that is. After graduating from Punahou and UH, Wes graduated from the University of Illinois School The Board of Directors is pleased to announce of Law with a Juris Doctor degree. He is also a that Director Wesley Fong has accepted the graduate of the U.S. Army Command and Gen- Board’s request to serve as our president. eral Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. As a longtime chapter member, Wes brings Not surprisingly, Wes is a recipient of the na- significant experience to the presidency, having tional Jefferson Award for Public Service, the Uni- served in a variety of chapter leadership roles, versity of Hawaii Distinguished Alumni Award, including chair of the Community Services and the Organization of Chinese Americans Award ROTC/JROTC Committees and a member of for Community Service and the Hawaii Chinese the Bylaws Committee. Civic Association’s Mandarin Award for com- Wes is a Vietnam veteran, re- munity service and personal achievement. tiring as a colonel in the Army JAG Corps, with service as the NOTICE Staff Judge Advocate, U.S. This newsletter, my 133rd issue of Nā Leo O Nā Koa, is Army Japan, and Staff Judge promulgated monthly as an official publication of Ha- Advocate, HQ, IX Corps. waii Aloha Chapter, Military Officers’ Association of America, P.O. Box 201441, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96820. His military awards include Views expressed herein are not necessarily chapter policy. the Legion of Merit, two No. 1, January 2017 Nā Leo O Nā Koa Page 3 HGVD From Front Page sions and the stability of the Ko- Guest House where former U.S. (former CDR, USAPAC) and rean peninsula. That evening the presidents had been hosted. The this year MG Darryll Wong delegation was hosted to a grand banquet was hosted by Senior (former Hawaii TAG). Nor- banquet by Vice President Xin Advisor (President) Vice Admi- mally there are 4 delegates in- Oi at the private dining room ral Zhao Guojun (Retired). The cluding spouses. next day they Each delegation has visited visited the three different cities, which nor- S h a n g h a i mally includes Beijing and French Con- Shanghai and the third city was cession, the Luoyang, Xian, Nanjing, Suzhou, famous Tem- Kun Ming, Chengdu, or Guang- ple of the Jade zhou and this year, Hangzhou. Buddha, the Hawaii Veterans Goodwill Shanghai Mu- Delegation (HVGD) 7 seum and the On 4 November HVGD 7 de- Delegation and spouses with Xin Li, VP of CAIFC Bund. parted for Beijing, China. The delegation led by COL Fong atop of the Bei- with spouses included: Major jing Hotel over- General Darryll Wong (Retired), looking Tianan- Major General Peter Pawling men Square. (Retired), Brigadier General Next stop was Braden Sakai (Retired), and beautiful Hang- Colonel Wesley Fong (Retired). zhou where they Besides Beijing the delegation cruised on its visited Hangzhou and Shanghai. Wes, second from left, at the Shanghai Institute for In- famous West ternational Studies (“China Think Tank”) In Beijing, the delegation visited Lake. The dele- the China Air Museum with over gation also visited the well- All of the delegation agreed 400 planes, Tiananmen Square, known Dragon Well tea farm that thanks to the CAIFC and the Forbidden City and the Great and a silk farm. Chamber, the HVGD pro- Wall. They also participated in a Leaving Hangzhou, the delega- gram has been very successful tion took a bullet in promoting friendship and a train to Shanghai. better understanding between Upon arrival, China and the U.S. and more they participated so, its militaries to help main- in a panel with tain stability and peace in professors from the Pacific region. the Shanghai In- The Trivia Question China Air Museum with over 400 planes (notice stitute for Inter- the row of MIGs – like a used car lot of MIGs), national Studies, If you received a gift box of including Mao’s Air Force One another China those delicious Harry & panel discussion with representa- “think tank.” David Riviera pears, did you tives from a China “think tank” They discussed similar interna- wonder- what country is the and discussed future China–U.S.