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Congressional Gold Medal Awarded to Chinese Americans

From the KHON2 website

Earlier this year, the United States Congress awarded the Congressional Gold Medal to Chinese Americans who served during World War II. Leading the drive for the Chinese veterans was Hawaii’s former Adjutant General, Maj Gen Robert G.F. Lee. These are the same medals awarded to Japanese Americans in 2011. 

In the linked video, local television reporter Pamela Young reports on the medal and highlights several awardees. One of the awardees, George G.W. Lee, was a fighter pilot who served with the famous Flying Tigers squadron.

There is a Hawaii Air National Guard connection – Keith Lee. Watch the video here

More on the Congressional Gold Medal awarded to Chinese Americans who served in World War II


Thanks to Dexter Chin for forward this link to Retiree News for posting.

Check Six: July 1996 Kūkā‘ilimoku

The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawaii Air National Guard. The first issue came in September 1957 and continues as an e-newsletter today. 

Today we feature the July 1996 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:

* 154th Wing senior officers promoted to colonel

* Promotions: including Ronald Aniya, Douglas Awana, Christopher Ardo

* Sports News

* Military Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal established

Review the entire the July 1996 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue

Another 16 million veterans can get these DoD travel deals

From the Military Times website

An additional 16 million veterans are now eligible to use the Defense Department’s discount travel site, under an expansion announced today by DoD’s American Forces Travel and Priceline.

Those eligible can find discounts of 40 to 60 percent off popular hotels, flights, car rentals, travel packages and cruise brands, according to DoD and Priceline officials. There are more than 1 million hotel deals at more than 71,000 destinations around the world, for example.

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Signs and Symptoms of a Major Heart Attack

From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website

The signs and symptoms of a major heart attack include chest pain, shortness of breath, upper body pain, or nausea. Calling 9-1-1 right away when you notice these symptoms could save a life.

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Airman Shares Environmental Passion, Leads Conservation Project

From the Air National Guard website

Hawaii Air National Guard photograph

Genesaret was in a bit of a ‘rut’ the first time she climbed Mount Kaala, the highest point on the island of Oahu. Harsh weather conditions struck the mountain from the East, making it unsafe for her and her friends to scale down the scenic ridgeline on the other side.

Nature, proving to be mysterious and unpredictable as usual, was exactly what she came out to experience and spending extra time at the marshy peak to gather her thoughts was hardly a setback for the crew of teenaged hiking enthusiasts.

Nearby, Genesaret spotted a group of people pulling heaps of grass from the earth and decided to inquire about their landscaping efforts.

“They were a volunteer group pulling this really invasive grass that flourishes in swampy areas,” said Genesaret Balladares, who is now an Airman 1st Class in the 154th Security Forces Squadron. “We’re like ‘do you guys need help? We actually have some spare time cause we’re not going to do this ridge hike.’ They said yes and ended up teaching us all about the mountain and why preservation efforts like this are so important.”

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Check Six: July 2004 Kūkā‘ilimoku

Kukailimoku masthead

The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawai’i Air National Guard. The first issue came in September 1957 and continues as an e-newsletter today. 

Today we feature the July 2004 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:

* 154th Wing – Operational Readiness Inspection Success Great photographs

* List of Outstanding Performers

* Promotions: including Vincent Ramos, Carswell Ross, Michael Matsuura, William Stumbo, Yvonne Reyes

Review the entire July 2004 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue

As Travel Rebounds, Airlines Are Figuring It Out on the Fly

From the Wired Magazine website

Before, air travel had certain rhythms. Business travelers flew out on Monday mornings and back on Thursday evenings, filling pricier seats. Come summer, price conscious leisure travelers took to the skies. Crowds flew for Thanksgiving, Labor Day, and Christmas, and to specific destinations for events—sports championships, music festivals, fashion weeks. Decades of historical data plugged into complex mathematical models helped airlines determine schedules and prices. 

Then came the pandemic. “All of the history, all of the old practices that airlines used to follow to decide what was scheduled to fly and what prices to charge, had to be thrown out the window,” says Jim Barlow, vice president of strategic consulting at Amadeus, which builds software for airlines.

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Why the Delta Variant Is a New COVID-19 Threat —and How to Stay Safe

From the Everyday Health website

The highly transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 threatens to undermine the progress that the United States has made to end the pandemic.

Delta is now the dominant variant in the United States and accounts for 51.7 percent of positive COVID-19 samples, according to the latest surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The prevalence of the delta variant, along with the sluggish vaccination rate, are key factors in a recent 10 percent increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the United States, said CDC director Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, in a July 1 briefing.

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Check Six: July 2009 Kūkā‘ilimoku

Kukailimoku masthead

The Kūkā‘ilimoku is the official e-newsletter of the 154th Wing, Hawai’i Air National Guard. The first issue came in September 1957 and continues as an e-newsletter today. 

Today we feature the July 2009 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue. This issue includes the following stories:

* Hawaii Airmen spread Aloha in the desert

* 154th Operations Support Squadron activated

* MSgt Steven Matsuda, 154th Security Forces Squadron, named HPD’s Metropolitan Police Officer of the Year

* Promotions: including Gary Oshiro, Jorena Young, Anthony Victorino

* Combat Survival Training with the 204th Airlift Squadron

Review the entire July 2009 Kūkā‘ilimoku issue

DCCA: Review Your Insurance Policies to Ensure You Have Adequate Coverage

Every homeowner needs to review their insurance policies to ensure they have adequate coverage to rebuild and replace their losses.

Check out the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs website resources

US Faces Passport Backlog

From the Travel Pulse website

The U.S. State Department is facing a massive backlog of passport applications as it brings back staff.

According to ABC News, Americans are looking to travel overseas and they will need current passports in order to do so. This has created a glut of applications that need to be processed, which is overwhelming the State Department.

The agency has warned Americans that they need to submit their applications at least six months in advance.

The backlog has created frustrations for Americans looking to leave the country to travel this summer and from Congress.

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The Truth About Taking Multivitamins

From the Consumer Reports website

Almost 40 percent of adults 60 and older take multivitamin or mineral supplements, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2017 to 2018.

“A lot of my patients take multivitamins because they see them almost as an insurance policy to guarantee they get all the nutrients they need,” says Kenneth Koncilja, MD, a geriatrician at the Cleveland Clinic.

But are they helpful? Here’s what we know—and what to consider.

Check Six – 1980s: James Yamamoto

Hawaii Air National Guard photograph

James Yamamoto was key member of the Maintenance Control team in the 154th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Jimmy served during the F-102 Delta Dagger, F-4 Phantom and F-15 Eagle eras.

The photograph is undated but the “Eagle is Coming” sticker can be seen in the upper right hand corner. The then-154th Composite Group started flying the F-15 Eagles in 1987.

71% of Americans are worried Social Security will run out of money in their lifetimes. Why experts say that won’t happen

From the CNBC website

Most Americans are worried that Social Security will run out in their lifetimes, and those fears have only gotten worse amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

That’s according to a survey from financial services company Nationwide, which found that 71% of adults felt that way. Fears about the benefits program were highest among Gen Xers, at 83%, and millennials, with 77%, while just 61% of baby boomers agreed.

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