PUHI — Val Ako said if his wife was here, she would have been so proud. Ako was one of 18 veterans at the Regency at Puakea retirement and assisted living facility who were honored Monday afternoon by a group
PUHI — Val Ako said if his wife was here, she would have been so proud.
Ako was one of 18 veterans at the Regency at Puakea retirement and assisted living facility who were honored Monday afternoon by a group of military dignitaries led by Jeffrey Pears, a Kauai Hospice chaplain, as part of the hospices across the country, and the Veterans Administration national initiative of honoring veterans with a pin and special certificate for their service to the nation.
“I just lost my wife four days ago after 62 years of marriage,” Ako said. “You are my family now, and I will lean on you to survive.”
Ako served with the Merchant Marine for 11 years before being pushed into the battlefront.
“I was 24 years old when they drafted me for the Korean War,” Ako said. “I served there for two summers before coming out disabled. I am thankful to the Veterans Administration for everything they did to help me.”
Jim Jung, a chaplain with the American Legion, Post 54, said the recognition was done as part of the Veterans Day observance.
But even those who were not military veterans were thanked, such as Masa Emoto.
“I’m a veteran of hard knocks,” said Emoto. “I wanted to go, but they said I could not because I worked for the sugar industry. I had to stay home.”
Gen. Mary Kay Hertog, who joined the group of pin presenters, said the work on the home front was as important as those on the battlefields, and there must be a way to recognize the efforts such as Emoto’s as well as all of the families of soldiers.
“Thank you, vets,” Hertog said. “And thank you to all those who support the veterans.”
Judge Clinton Shiraishi, 94, served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. Shiraishi rushed off before the ceremony to retrieve his cap from his room.
“It was an honor to serve,” Shiraishi said. “I was wounded, but I can still walk strongly. I’m 94 years old, and expect to live six more years; God willing, maybe another 10 years more after that.”
Ikito “Ike” Muraoka, married for 69 years, served with the 100th Infantry Battalion as part of the 442nd RCT.
“I was hurt in a hunting accident when I was a freshman,” Muraoka said. “I still have pellets inside me, but the Army took me, pellets and all. There were 221 volunteers from Kauai in March 1943. I was with Company I, and you know what happened to them.”
Muraoka said there were more than 180 people in Company I when it went into the battle of the Lost Battalion in the Vosges Mountains.
“They came back with just eight men,” Muraoka said. “I was injured in Italy, and if I went with them, I would not be here today. There was another Kauai man, Daida, who took my place, and he was captured.”
Honorees on Monday included Barbara Coan, Navy Women’s Reserve; Ikito “Ike” Muraoka, 100th Inf Btn; Col. Bill Carroll, Air Force; Charlie Rebb, Navy; Chito Isonaga, Military Intelligence Service; Jimmy Costa-Ayres, Army; Judge Clinton Shiraishi, 442nd RCT; Walter Louis, Air Force; Gary Nelson, Navy; Val Ako, Army; Ian Steenblick, Navy; Fred Kelly, Air Force; Jimmy Kimokeo, Navy; Frank Nonaka, Army; John “Jack” Senda, Army; Millard “Mac” Mac Atee, Army; Kimmey Tamarabuchi, Army; and Wayne Watanabe, Army.
“This brings back so many memories,” Nonaka said. “Thank you all for coming. There are so many stories to tell.”
