RICHARD AMBO / POOL PHOTO VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS Hawaii Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Vern Miyagi showed Charles Kawakami, middle, and Gary Rockwood yesterday a protective insert worn by Guardsmen designed to stop assault- rifle bullets. Kawakami, president of Big Save Inc. on Kauai, and Rockwood, Mauna Kea Beach Hotel human resources director, were among employers visiting Fort Polk, La.

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‘Bosslift’ drops
good cheer on
isle soldiers

FORT POLK, La. » Jane Heimerdinger, Iolani School's director of institutional development, brought 110 packets of goodies for the members in 1st Lt. Mike Caraang's company.

"This is outstanding," said Caraang. "It will be a great morale booster. Anything from Hawaii is good."

In civilian life, Caraang is an athletic trainer at Iolani. However, for the next 12 months in Iraq, he will be the executive officer in 29th Support Battalion's Charlie Company.

He said he was overwhelmed by the seven boxes brought by Heimerdinger, who is participating this week in the "Bosslift" program, in which the Hawaii National Guard takes employers of citizen soldiers to see what their employees do when they are called to duty.

Kimberly Miyazawa and Kori Miyake, both representing Servco Pacific, sat down yesterday for an MRE -- or "meals ready to eat" -- lunch with Sgt. Tony Thairathom, who sold Toyota automobiles for Servco before he was mobilized in August.

"We're holding his place," Miyazawa said. "We're anxious for him to come back."

Thairathom, a 2000 McKinley High School graduate, had joined the Army National Guard about five years ago with the hope of using its educational benefits to get a college degree.

Now his biggest desire is just to get home to family and friends. "The hardest part is leaving home, family and friends and everything I am used to," said Thairathom, 22.

Miyazawa said she feels "a real sense of pride and understanding." Her visit, although just for one day, was overwhelming, she said.