ROD THOMPSON / RTHOMPSON@STARBULLETIN.COM Sgt. Anson Caceres, second from left, received an American flag in a wooden casing yesterday from Hawaii Army National Guard Adjutant General Robert Lee during homecoming ceremonies in Hilo. With Caceres were his girlfriend, Candace Lim, and his parents, Frances and Larry Caceres.

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Hometown heroes
back on Big Isle

Mayor Harry Kim honors
the soldiers returning from Iraq

HILO » U.S. armed forces have become an international police force, a role made necessary by the presence of evil in the world, Big Island Mayor Harry Kim told Hawaii Army National Guard members returning from Iraq yesterday as he thanked them for their service.

"As long as there are people in this world who seek power for evil purposes, we'll need a police force," Kim said.

"Mahalo nui loa," he said.

Yesterday's Freedom Salute ceremonies honored eight Big Island members of Company C of the 193rd Aviation unit, just back from Iraq. It also honored members of Company B, recently returned from Afghanistan, and the 411th Engineer Battalion of the Army Reserves, also back from Iraq.

Kim made plain that his comments on U.S. military forces were not an endorsement of militarism.

He said he recently told a general that he planned to attend a peace rally. The general replied that every night before she goes to sleep, his 4-year-old daughter prays, "Please God, don't send my daddy to war."

During his own military service, Kim was a medic.

The son of immigrant parents from Korea, Kim also related how nearly everyone in his family who remained in Korea during and after World War II was killed.

Kim's father was sent by his family to Hawaii before the war so that at least one family member would survive, Kim said. Everyone who remained behind died.

On his mother's side, he remembers the "awful day in the 1950s" when he found his mother "wailing" with sadness. She had received a letter telling her many of her relatives had been killed in the Korean War.

If a world policeman had existed in those days, the lives of his relatives might have been spared, he said.

U.S. forces are succeeding in bringing change to Iraq, Hawaii National Guard Adjutant General Robert Lee told returning troops and family members.

When Company C of the 193rd Aviation arrived at Camp Anaconda, about 50 miles north of Baghdad, a year ago, there were rocket and mortar attacks at least once a day, he said. Now it's down to once a week.

"The Iraqi people are supporting the interim government," he said.

Company C of the 193rd Aviation is a helicopter unit. During their year in Iraq, they engaged in 6,200 hours of combat missions, carried 50,000 passengers, and transported 50 million pounds of cargo, said Company C commander Maj. Joe Laurel. At one point, they also transported deposed Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, he said.

Each of the returning soldiers was given a package of gifts, including a folded American flag in a triangular wood and glass presentation case.

"These are hometown heroes," said Guard spokesman Maj. Charles Anthony. "It's a big deal. We really feel good about doing a ceremony right here in Hilo." All Guard members statewide will receive similar ceremonial welcomes when they return home, he said.