Send soldiers love from home

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

Alvin Au, who was in combat in Vietnam and was with one of the first units to enter Cambodia in 1970, remembers how precious mail was.

From left, Staff Sgt. Joseph Yokoyama, Spc. Nakoa Hoe and 100th-442nd veteran James Kuroiwa kicked off an "Adopt-A-Platoon" campaign yesterday for Hawai'i soldiers serving in Iraq. Through the program, care packages can be sent to one or more of the 22 platoons with the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment serving in Iraq. Photos of the battalion are shown at left. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

Some soldiers didn't get mail at all, and would ask others to read their letters out loud.

"I remember the guys would sit there and listen to them — they felt part of the family," said Au, who's 59. It was just one of many hardships the GIs would face.

"Lesson learned. Let's not have the soldiers (today) have the same problems we had," Au said.

With the portraits of nine 100th Battalion Medal of Honor recipients from World War II flanking them, Vietnam veterans including Au and soldiers currently serving in the fabled unit yesterday kicked off an "Adopt-A-Platoon" campaign for Isle soldiers serving in Iraq.

"This campaign is a call for help," said Au, president of the Go for Broke Association. "This support will help ease the stressful minds of these soldiers."

Through the program, care packages can be sent to one or more of the 22 platoons with the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment serving in Iraq.

Among those involved is Spc. Nakoa Hoe, whose brother, 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe, 27, was killed on Jan. 22 in Mosul, Iraq, while he was on patrol with an Army unit out of Fort Lewis, Wash.

As a sole surviving child and at his parents' request, Nakoa Hoe, 20, stayed back, and now is working in Hawai'i with the rear detachment for the battalion.

Yesterday, at the 100th Infantry Battalion Memorial Building near Iolani School, the reservist lent his voice in support of the Adopt-A-Platoon program.

"I feel this is a little thing I can do for them — get them support," Hoe said, adding he's looking at becoming an active-duty soldier at some point, and still wants to serve in a war zone.

Spc. Nakoa Hoe wears a bracelet in honor of his brother, Nainoa, 27, who was killed earlier this year in Mosul, Iraq. Hoe, 20, said he still wants to serve in a war zone. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

During its 21 months in combat in World War II, the 100th suffered 337 killed in action. It received nine Presidential Unit Citations, 1,703 Purple Hearts, nine Medals of Honor, 16 Distinguished Service Crosses, 147 Silver Stars and 2,173 Bronze Stars.

The battalion, attached in Iraq to the 29th Brigade Combat Team of the Hawai'i National Guard, has 270 soldiers from American Samoa, 140 from Guam, 150 from O'ahu and Hilo, and 80 soldiers brought in from other commands.

The 100th is providing security at Logistical Support Area Anaconda in Balad, but also has soldiers near Baghdad. Five 100th-442nd soldiers have been wounded in action in Iraq.

James I. Kuroiwa Jr., a 100th-442nd veteran who was activated with the unit in 1968 as part of the 29th Brigade and went to Vietnam, said, "It's almost like the same kind of situation that we're going through today. ... My wife and son were on their own."

"I really support this kind of a program," Kuroiwa said of the Adopt-A-Platoon effort.

Sharleen Acierto, whose husband, Sgt. 1st Class Glen Acierto, is at a forward operating base near Baghdad, said "he's doing good. I actually heard from him yesterday." Already, the soldiers miss local foods.

"It's getting to the point I'm afraid to answer the phone," Sharleen Acierto said jokingly, "because his list is getting longer and longer."

Mochi crunch, saimin, rice, Spam and baby wipes are right up there. Although bigger bases have well-stocked exchanges, the base the Honolulu police officer is at only has a small store.

She's already sent 23 care packages, and yesterday sent four more. Packages have been arriving in about two to three weeks.

"The troops coming back for (rest and recuperation) say rice is a top priority," Au said. "They said (dining facilities) have Minute Rice, and it doesn't taste like our local rice."

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.