GI HOME FROM IRAQ TALKS TO STUDENTS

LIHU‘E — U.S. Army Cpl. Neil Apuna, on a brief vacation back home from combat zones in Iraq, and students both got a lot out of his visit to Wilcox Elementary School Wednesday.

Apuna, 23, got a hero’s welcome from 165 second- and third-grade students who recognized the sacrifice he made by volunteering to go to Iraq to protect America. They sang to him, shook his hand, waved small American flags, and got his autograph.

In return, Apuna gave thanks to students who previously sent care packages, letters of support, and pictures to Hawaii Army National Guardsmen who have become part of the regular Army and are now serving in Iraq.

Nathan Logan, a student in the second-grade class of teacher Karen Joto, said he wouldn’t have missed the meeting for the world.

“I am glad to be around a person like that,” Logan said. “I am glad that he is there to defend his country. My uncle is over there.”

His uncle, Kevin Logan, is in the U.S. Navy, and has recently returned to Kaua‘i.

Logan said he was touched that Apuna visited the students with his mother, Susan Oshiro, who took pictures of her son as he mingled among students during a gathering on a grassy area outside several classrooms.

“I think it is great that he came here, because he wants to be with his family, and is good to his mom,” Logan said.

Diane Landretti, a second-grade teacher, said the students were thrilled to see Apuna, and see him as a role model. “It is great that the kids are being acknowledged for what they did (sending care packages to servicemen from Hawai‘i serving in Iraq), that their efforts meant something.”

Apuna said the visit to the school meant a lot to him. “They took the time to send the care packages to us. The least I can do is take time out from my vacation to see them,” he said.

Apuna was deployed to Iraq in January, returned from Iraq April 29, and is scheduled to return to Iraq this Sunday, May 15.

Apuna’s visit was arranged by Milton Oshiro, no relationship to Apuna’s mother, with the Family Assistance Center at the Hawaii Army National Guard Hanapepe armory. Apuna is with the 29th BCT (Brigade Combat Team).

Landretti coordinated Apuna’s visit with six second-grade teachers: Helen Nyland-Wilson, Amanda Arakaki, Flora Oda, Gene Hashimura, Jana Kaui and Karen Koto, and seventh-grade teacher Suzanne Evra, whose class sent their own care packages and support letters to Hawai‘i-based troops in Iraq.

In recognition of his visit, students sang three songs to Apuna, including “Voices that Care,” “Leaving on a Jet Plane” and “I’m Proud to Be an American.”

In line with the singing of songs, students gathered around Apuna and waved flags, triggering an occasional tear from Apuna.

Apuna said he couldn’t talk about the combat conditions in Iraq, but told the students that Iraq “needed to be liberated” from insurgents that have threatened to topple an emerging Iraqi government.

“They have to get rebuilt. They need a stable government,” Apuna said.

Following the gathering, Apuna said being with Hawai‘i-based solders is comforting, but offers no assurance that he will be out of harm’s way.

“Anything can happen, whether you are with local people or with people from the Mainland,” he said.

Apuna graduated from Kapa‘a High School in 2000, and said he joined the Army because he wanted to “broaden my horizons.”

Apuna has been in the Army for the past five years, during which he has been stationed along the demilitarized zone in Korea for two years, his mother said.

After returning to Kaua‘i, he volunteered to go to Iraq.

“My mom didn’t want me to go (to Iraq),” Apuna said. “I was looking forward to going, though. I volunteered to go to Iraq.”

Students asked when Apuna and other, Hawai‘i-based troops would return to Kaua‘i for good.

“We are not sure when we are going to come back,” he said. “It may be some time in March (2006).”

• Lester Chang, staff writer, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or lchang@pulitzer.net.