By Bob Krauss
Advertiser Columnist

Col. Frank Steer, probably the most popular Army officer ever to serve in Hawai'i, will be promoted to major general on Sunday, his 102nd birthday.

His qualifications are impeccable. Steer is the oldest living graduate of West Point. He is the last survivor of his Class of 1925. Better still, his second wife was Tootsie Notley, a hula legend.

Dan Devaney, provost marshal of Tripler Army Medical Center, said it took some politicking to get Steer his promotion. Devaney sent off a blizzard of letters to people in high places, including Sens. Dan Inouye and Dan Akaka.

"It was Gov. Gary Locke of Washington state who came through," Devaney explained. "He commissioned Frank an honorary major general in the Association of Washington Generals. So Col. Steer will become a Washington general on Sunday."

Meanwhile, Devaney said, Rep. Neil Abercrombie intends to promote Steer in the Congressional Record to honorary provost marshal of the Army and Air Force.

When I talked to the colonel at his Kailua home a couple of months ago about his impending promotion, he didn't bat an eye. After all, he started as a buck private in World War I. But his popularity in Hawai'i resulted from his being provost marshal of the territory during World War II.

"I came to Hawai'i for a short while as a second lieutenant in 1930," he said. "In 1940 I came back as a major. The general called me in and said, 'You're going to be in charge of the military police.' I told him, 'I hate MPs. They chased me all over France when I was a private.'"

It was Steer who had to deal with alleged Japanese and German spies and he has some fascinating stories to tell. He said he had a jail in the basement of the old Yokohama Species Bank on Bethel Street "where we could put 250 for a day or so."

But mostly he dealt with drunk and disorderly arrests. Locals credit him with being fair and considerate during martial law. Steer was quoted years later as agreeing with critics that martial law could have ended sooner. "But it served the purpose and it got the job done," he added.

His friend and admirer, Devaney, said he'll run to the PX and pick up some stars to pin on the general on Sunday — two each for his uniform, baseball cap and pajamas that he wears at home in his wheelchair.

"The Army has a 'charm school' for officers promoted to general to teach them how to behave," Devaney said. "Frank wanted to know if I have any literature on the charm school so he can act like a general on Sunday. I got 10 dos and don'ts off the Internet."

The event, a brunch, begins at 11 a.m. at the Officers Club at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i at Kane'ohe Bay. The brunch is by reservation only. For reservations, call Jack Miller at 261-4100.

Gov. Linda Lingle is proclaiming Sunday Gen. Frank Steer Day. He'll also be honored at noon on Friday at the country club. The public is welcome.

Reach Bob Krauss at 525-8073.

Correction: The 11 a.m. brunch Sunday at the Officers Club at Marine Corps Base Hawai'i honoring Col. Frank Steer is by reservation only. For reservations, call Jack Miller at 261-4100. Information in a previous version of this column was incorrect.