Year: 2017

Two hundred forty-two years ago, our nation's leaders established the Continental Army. Today, the Army is the strategic landpower of the joint force; called upon to prevent, shape, and win against our adversaries. Today is the U.S. Army's 242st Birthday,…

L-R: MSgt Kenneth Morimoto, CMSgt David Pontes and 1st Lt David Snakenberg (click on photograph to enlarge) Retiree News asked Dave Snakenberg if he could share more information about the date and the event. Snake’s reply: About 1984. I was…

Not all the Officer Candidates in the class are in this photograph. Formation leader Wayson Wong, guideon bearer John Amadeo. 1st row L-R: Alan Arakaki (Air), Skip DeMello, Billy Fernandez. 2nd row L-R: John Flores, Norm Nitta (Air), Roy Tanahara,…

Miles Moriyama was a Traditional Guardmember who served as the 1st Sergeant of the 154th Aircraft Generation Squadron. He retired as a senior master sergeant in 2007. Miles continues as the Vice President of Pyramid Insurance Centre, Ltd. in Kapalama.…

Members of the Hara family present at the ceremony. L to R: SSG Ryan Hara, 25th CAB, 25th ID (L); Maj Darren Hara, USAF Retired; CSM Dennis Hara, US Army Retired; MSgt Donna Shimizu, USAF Retired; BG Kenneth Hara, DAG;…

Major Edward R. Cruickshank, Commander of the 1st Battalion, 299th Infantry, Hawaii Army National Guard, observes the entry of 25th Infantry Division Orange Forces into the city, as they advance against the Blue Forces during the joint South Korean/US Exercise…

Michio Niiya, 82, peacefully passed away on May 1, 2017. Mich was born in Kapoho and retired from the Pacific Division of the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (PACDIV). Michio was a Traditional Guardmember who served with the 169th Aircraft Control &…

Retiree News recently had an email exchange with Joseph “Joe” Holliday. Joe retired from the 169th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron in April 1998. A Traditional Guardmember, he worked for the Department of Human Services. He and his family later…

Francis Osumu Kawakani, 81, of Aiea, a retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 for the National Guard, passed away April 26, 2017 at Pali Momi Medical Center. He was born in Honolulu. Survived by wife, Mildred Y. Kawakami; brother, Robert Kawakami;…

Retiree News is sad to learn of the passing of Howard Okita. Chief Master Sergeant Okita retired from the Hawaii Air National Guard after a 40-year career. Okita was a legendary women’s softball coach at Kailua High School, Hawaii Loa…