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Check Six: 199th Fighter Squadron Patch

The first 199th Fighter (Interceptor) Squadron patch was designed by First Lieutenant Wade H. McVay, Jr.

199 FS patch 1

The patch presented the mythical war god, ” Kūkā‘ilimoku,” a symbol of fearlessness, valor and strength in the heat of battle and truly represented the spirit of the 199th Fighter Squadron.

This patch was officially approved on October 11, 1951.

5 Summer Scams to Avoid

Just because it’s summer doesn’t mean scammers are taking a break. In fact, there are several cons that surface during the warmer months. Here are five scams that are common in the summer and steps you can take to avoid them

Read more at http://ow.ly/yLVh2

Taps: Victor “Jimmy” Luna Sr.

Victor “Jimmy” Luna Sr., 80, of Waipahu, a retired Ameron cement truck mixer and driver, and a Hawaii National Guard veteran, passed away on July 16, 2014. He was born in Aiea.

He is survived by wife Dorothy P.; sons Alan Canon and Victor Jr., Jan and Sterling Luna; daughters Stephanie L. Onekea, Georgie Amantiad and Estra Luna-Schwartz; hanai sons Jarrett Furuichi, Ronald Takara and Calvin Taniguchi; brothers Lawrence and Benny; 26 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.

HIANG Facility Dedication

f22

Major General Darryll D.M. Wong, the Adjutant General, State of Hawai‘i cordially invites you to the dedication ceremony of the “Daniel K. Inouye Fighter Squadron Operations and Aircraft Maintenance Unit” in honor of the late Senator Daniel K. Inouye.

Date: Wednesday, 20 August 2014
Time: 1300
Where: Building 3428, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam
 
New AMU Ops Bldg

click on photograph to enlarge

Reception to follow
Military: Uniform of the Day

Civilian: Aloha Attire

Electronic Invitation and RSVP http://ow.ly/zJ7TX
 
R.S.V.P. by 15 August 2014
Capt Love Williamson / 808.733-4230

Mrs Renee Mosher-Wakumoto / 808.733-4232

2014 AF Outstanding Airmen of the Year

Each year, Air Force Association (AFA) salutes outstanding enlisted personnel for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement, and personal achievements. AFA proudly honors these Outstanding Airmen at its annual Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition held in September in Washington, D.C.

“The Air Force Association is very proud to honor the commitment of these outstanding airmen,” said George Muellner, AFA Chairman of the Board. “We salute them for their patriotism and dedication and thank them for their continued service to our country.”

Read more http://ow.ly/zybT2

Pearl Harbor Commissary Reset

The Pearl Harbor commissary will have a Full Store Reset, scheduled for August 17, 18, and 19, 2014 and will be required to close in order to accomplish this. We will open for half the day on Sunday August 17th and remain closed on the 18th and 19th, reopening on the 20th for normal business. This store reset will involve the replacement of all dry shelving in the Pearl Harbor commissary.

The Hickam commissary will be prepared to support our commissary patrons during this time.

Eyvinne I. Umemoto
Store Director

Pearl Harbor Commissary

Read the full press release  Reset Notification

Special thanks to Harry Miller for sharing this information with Retiree News.

My Back Pages: BG Wilhelm Arthur Andersen

This is the second of a series of articles by contributing editor Stephen Lum entitled My Back Pages. Steve retired from the Hawai‘i Army National Guard and continues to work in the State Department of Defense’s public affairs office. His had worked on annual reports, the pūpūkahi and other documents over the years. His research produced in depth articles about the Hawai‘i National Guard and Guard members.

Brigadier General Wilhelm Arthur Andersen

click on photographs to enlarge


Hana, Maui-born, Wilhelm A. Andersen, joined the National Guard of Hawaii prior to World War I. After graduating from Officers’ Training Camp held at Schofield Barracks in November 26, 1917, the newly commissioned first lieutenant was assigned to the 2nd Infantry. He was called into federal service in December 1917 and reported to Fort Shafter.

Eight months later, he left for more officers training at Camp Fremont, California. The 10-person class of former Hawai‘i Guard officers included Major Samuel I. Johnson, the former brigadier general and Hawai‘i adjutant general, who had to resign his rank and drop from brigadier general to major. National Guard ranks did not always translate directly to active duty mobilized ranks. Andersen was honorably discharged after the war at Schofield Barracks.

In 1923, the demobilized Hawai‘i Guard was reorganized: Oahu’s 1st Infantry became the 298th Infantry Regiment, while the neighbor island’s 2nd Infantry became the 299th Infantry Regiment. In 1925, Major Andersen became a lieutenant colonel and 1st Battalion, 298th Infantry commander. Also in 1925, the legislature approved the designation changing the National Guard of Hawaii to the Hawai‘i National Guard.

Nineteen twenty-nine brought Andersen his full-bird eagles (colonel) and command of the 298th Infantry. The following year he received his 10-year Hawai‘i National Guard Service Medal and he attended advance field and staff officer school at Fort Benning, Georgia.

Colonel Andersen becomes the assistant adjutant general in addition to 298th commander, in 1934. He and the Hawai‘i National Guard were federalized October 15, 1940, prior to the United States “joining” World War II. The 298th Infantry became the active duty 22nd Infantry Brigade, Hawaiian Division, at Schofield.

In 1942, he is nominated and promoted to brigadier general by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The general concluded his military service shortly after the war in 1945. Colonel Robert L. Stevenson replaced Andersen as commander of the 298th in 1946.

In civilian life he worked at Theo. H. Davis and Co. Ltd., and later at the Bank of Hawai‘i.

Update: Lance Mizumoto

Lance Mizumoto

Lance Mizumoto served in the Hawai‘i Air National Guard as a personnel officer. After his promotion to captain, he left the Guard to pursue his banking career in the 1980s.

Earlier this year, Central Pacific Bank named him President & Chief Banking Officer. Hawaii Business News published a story on his most recent promotion. Read more http://ow.ly/zw9iq

Lance is the son of Brigadier General Allen Mizumoto, whose last assignment was Commander, Hawai‘i Air National Guard.

How Safe Is Your Hospital?

No one looks forward to a hospital stay, but most people expect to be discharged in better shape than when they were admitted. The scary reality is that things can go wrong during a patient’s journey from diagnosis to treatment and recovery – “things that are never supposed to happen,” said Andrew Kenler, MD, a general surgeon at Bridgeport Hospital in Connecticut. That’s why patients need to be their own best advocates and help ensure healthcare safety.

As many as 440,000 American deaths each year are related to preventable medical errors in hospitals, according to a September study in the Journal of Patient Safety. “Needed changes involve not only doctors and hospitals but increased participation by patients in their health-care decisions,” wrote study author John T. James, PhD.

Continue reading http://ow.ly/yQ6dx

Use your VA home loan benefit

Be sure you read “Some reminders, little-know facts and tips” toward the end of the article.


After a tornado ripped through Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rhonda Stockstill’s house in Moore, Oklahoma, in May 2013, she and her husband began the hunt for a new home, thinking they would go through their previous lender to get another VA home loan.

That lender told them they would be better off going with a conventional loan that would saddle them with a $160,000 down payment and closing costs. The mortgage company “was making us jump through hoops. We were really discouraged,” Stockstill said.

After about four months of trying to work with the previous lender, Stockstill found another, Veterans United, which helped the couple secure a Veterans Affairs-backed loan within about 30 days, with a far lower down payment and a lower interest rate than what their previous lender had quoted.

The VA home loan program has guaranteed more than 20 million VA loans in the 70 years since its creation. Numbers fell during the middle of the last decade, coinciding with the rise in conventional loans to people who would not be approved now.

Continue reading http://ow.ly/zqnvu

Summer Reminder: Sunglasses Protect Your Eyes

Veterans should be cautious and protect their eyes from the sun. Good quality sunglasses are recommended when outdoors, even if it’s for a few minutes at a time.

Continue reading http://ow.ly/ztJP5

Two Bad Habits That Can Raise Your Blood Pressure

You can’t always prevent high blood pressure, but giving up these two habits can go a long way toward lowering your risk.

Find out what they are: http://ow.ly/yNLXq

Taps: Jeannette Sturges

Jeannette Ilene Sturges, 78, of Honolulu, a retired administrative assistant for the Hawaii Army National Guard, U.S. Property and Fiscal Office, passed away on July 12, 2014. She was born in Denver. She is survived by son Michael, daughter Michelle and sister Jacqueline Haines. Private services.

HIARNG Retirement Counselor change

SFC Sherly Ludaes has assumed the responsibility to help our Hawai‘i Army National Guard retirees. She replaces SFC Jin Pak who will retire.

SFC Ludaes office and contact information:
Joint Forces Headquarters
Hawai‘i Army National Guard
91-1227 Enterprise Ave
Building 1784, Kalaeloa
Kapolei, Hawaii 96707
Telephone: 808.844.6428

Email:

Congratulations to Sherly and Happy Retirement to Jin!