NAWILIWILI – For Chris Tang, director of catering at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club, he couldn’t leave without visiting some of the employees of the resort that were in attendance at the Friends of Co. A fundraiser, Monday
NAWILIWILI – For Chris Tang, director of catering at the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort and Beach Club, he couldn’t leave without visiting some of the employees of the resort that were in attendance at the Friends of Co. A fundraiser, Monday night.
Tang, who chatted briefly with Ildefonso Doctor, said there are three employees from the Marriott who are with the Hawai‘i Army National Guard that are being deployed to Iraq.
Home for the holidays, Tang said the troops will be leaving later this week for final training in Louisiana before being transferred to Kuwait, and eventually, Iraq.
Over 200 people attended the event that is designed to raise funds to support troops that are being deployed to Iraq.
Queenie Pezario, one of the spearheads of the dinner, said the funds will be earmarked to support the troops with supplies and equipment that are non-government issue.
These would include items like rice cookers, rice, cans of Spam, patis, and other items enjoyed by local troops.
“This means they can return to their hooch and cook up their own food instead of having to rely on MRE’s,” she explained.
Pezario also noted that since their return from training in Texas, some soldiers said they need locks for their lockers as well as other little necessities.
“This is what this support will provide,” Pezario said. “And, it will continue for as long as they are over there.”
This support will extend beyond the Co. A, 2nd Brigade, 299th Btn, Pezario said.
Coordination will be done through liaison officers with the units with Col. (retired) Teddy Daligdig III on Kaua‘i. Some of the liaison officers include Master Sergeant Luke Octavio and Captain Phillip Stone.
Daligdig added that the Monday night event was geared towards getting the business community involved and more aware of what the Kaua‘i troops are going to be doing.
This was done using a special slide show presentation by Capt. Stone and First Sergeant Mark Victor, the commander and unit first sergeant of Co. A, 2nd Btn, 299th Infantry, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The Rubies, comprised of students Tayni and Bryn Hashimoto, and Jorey Cantu offered up a special presentation for the event with Da Ohana providing dance music following the formal program officiated by Daligdig.
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or mailto:dfujimoto@ pulitzer.net.
