Moanalua club 'adopts' unit in Iraq
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Moanalua Senior Citizen’s Club members Betsy Miyahira, left, and Dorothy Otsuka sort toiletry items that will be sent to soldiers of Hawaiçi’s 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment.
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser
Tasty local snacks, phone cards, batteries and other useful items — not to mention soap from the California Hotel in Las Vegas — will be on their way to about 300 soldiers in Iraq in the form of care packages from a group of seniors.
Care packages being sent to Iraq as part of the 100th Battalion's Adopt-A-Platoon program, include lots of toothpaste.
The Moanalua Senior Citizen's Club put together the packages yesterday for the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry's Adopt-A-Platoon program.
"The list is quite long. We're trying to get baby wipes and soap, toothbrushes and razor blades, and whatever we can dig up," said Francis Kau, 80, one of those helping the effort.
Some 131 seniors worked on the packages at Moanalua Recreation Center.
"We can't think of everything to give them, but maybe some things that they miss," Kau said. That includes soap from Las Vegas hotels, definitely a reminder of being back home.
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"A lot of our seniors go to Las Vegas and they come back with these things and we said, 'OK, they can use it, so let's put it in there,' " Kau said.
Soap from Las Vegas hotels also will be put to good use in Iraq.
Sharleen Acierto, the family readiness group leader for the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment, said the Adopt-A-Platoon program has received "way over 100 phone calls," and nearly as many e-mails since the kickoff last week.
Her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Glen Acierto, 33, is at a forward operating base near Baghdad.
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"It feels awesome. It shows the people care about the guys from home," she said. "It gives the families a good feeling, too, knowing we're not alone."
Caroline Kam of Moanalua prepares a note that will accompany the care packages to Iraq.
Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
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Anyone interested in adopting a 100th-442nd platoon may contact Staff Sgt. Joseph H. Yokoyama at 228-5554 or send an e-mail to adopt-a-platoon@hawaii.rr.com. An information packet will be sent out with a list of suggested items, platoons, instructions and other information. Platoon sergeants will serve as points of contact for sponsors. Organizers say the goal is to build a relationship between a platoon and a sponsor. Monetary contributions also will be accepted, and checks can be sent to Adopt-A-Platoon, c/o Go For Broke Association, P.O. Box 88234, Honolulu, HI 96830-8234.
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