---

Squadron returns
after 6 months away

Navy Patrol Squadron 4 will return home to Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe Bay tomorrow after a six-month deployment. The squadron of P-3C Orion aircraft, commanded by Cmdr. Steve Bethke, participated in anti-submarine warfare, reconnaissance, intelligence gathering and surveillance.

The 370 enlisted sailors and officers in the squadron, also known as the Skinny Dragons, deployed in late November to the Middle East, and completed more than 575 combat missions for a total of 5,000 flight hours.

Lt. Gen. John M. Brown III, commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific, will celebrate the Army's 230th birthday with a formal Army Ball at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom. Entertainers will include Frank DeLima, country music star Dita Holifield and the Army's Tropic Lightning Band.

Tickets are still available for $50 and will include a dinner and dancing. The attire for the ball is formal dress uniform or formal evening attire. For more information or to purchase tickets, call the U.S. Army Pacific protocol office at 438-6363.

Brig. Gen. James T. Hirai, a graduate of Leilehua High School and the University of Hawaii, is returning to the islands to become the deputy commanding general of U.S. Army Pacific at Fort Shafter.

Hirai was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1974 through the University of Hawaii Army ROTC program. His island assignments have included U.S. Pacific Command at Camp Smith in March 1989, where he served as a joint exercise operation officer and executive assistant to the director for operations. Hirai commanded the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry, of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) from June 1992 to June 1994. After attending the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pa., he was again assigned to Camp Smith, where he served as the speech writer to the commander of the U.S. Pacific Command from 1995-97.

He left Camp Smith to command the U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii from June 1997 to August 1999 and became chief of staff for U.S. Army Pacific in September 1999. Hirai has been in Alaska since August 2004.

Hirai will replace Maj. Gen. Stephen D. Tom, who will continue to serve as the deputy commander for mobilization and reserve affairs for U.S. Army Pacific.