In the Military Gregg K. Kakesako

4 from isles tour air bases in South Korea

They were the guests of Gen. Paul V. Hester, who heads Air Force operations in the Pacific. He took four Honolulu business leaders to Korea Nov. 21-24 to serve a Thanksgiving meal to airmen there and to get a feel for Air Force operations on the Korean peninsula.

Making the military flight were John Andersen, an associate of AXA Financial, Inc., formerly the Equitable Companies Inc.; Howard Lee, president of HJTL Inc.; Laurence Vogel, president and CEO of Y. Hata & Co. Ltd.; and Heidi Wild, who used to own a consulting company.

The four are all members of the Pacific Air Forces Civilian Advisory Council, which advises the Air Force leadership here on ways to improve the morale and welfare of Air Force families.

Besides tours of Osan and Kunsan air bases, the group visited the Joint Security Area in the demilitarized zone.

Anderson said his trip was educational. "We traveled to the DMZ and saw the past, present and future of Korea. You really get to see the dedication of the troops out here, while recognizing their mission and how well they do it."

Because of the time difference, the group was able to spend a second Thanksgiving with their families after returning home early Thursday morning.

THE WIFE of a Hawaii Army National Guard soldier now serving in Afghanistan got a surprise Thanksgiving Day visit from Maj. Gen. Benjamin Mixon, commanding general of the 25th Infantry Division, who with his wife was visiting troops hospitalized at Tripler Army Medical Center.

Kayoko Matsushige, wife of Sgt. 1st Class Curtis Matsushige, was recuperating from surgery when the general dropped by to offer encouragement. Curtis Matsushige, a Campbell High School science teacher, is assigned to the Hawaii Army's Guard 117th Public Affairs Detachment, which was mobilized in January.