5 decades, 1 heart

Wolfhounds families continue Army tradition of hosting orphans from Japan

Families of the Wolfhounds of the Army's Hawaii-based 27th Infantry Regiment are hosting four orphans from Japan for the 50th year in a row, carrying on a tradition started by soldiers who began helping children living in pitiful conditions following World War II.

The six families met the two boys and two girls from the Holy Family Home orphanage in Osaka, Japan, for the first time yesterday at Schofield Barracks. They will take turns hosting the children over a six-day stay.

Coming straight from the airport, the orphans were up to their ears in leis in the first five minutes of a formal ceremony at Schofield.

"They're just so beautiful, beautiful -- all of them! They're just precious. I'm so excited!" exclaimed Yamyra Robles, wife of Staff Sgt. Jesus Robles, who will be taking care of the girls for the first two days. She and son Joshua, 9, draped leis on Misaki Takenaka and Miho Tanaka, both 11, dressed in traditional kimonos.

Brothers Seiya Nishida, 12, and Hayato Nishida, 10, wore T-shirts, shorts, baseball caps and shy smiles.

Yamyra Robles introduced herself as "Kyoto" to the girls, using her Japanese middle name to make it easier for them to remember. Although the families will be provided with interpreters at times, she said, "We don't have to speak Japanese to show them how to have a good time. That's what we're here for."

Jesus Robles signed up to host the orphans because, he said, "We love children." With three children of their own, Yamyra added, "We have a lot of patience. The best thing is to treat them like our own ... show them lots of love and affection."

"You're good at that," Jesus Robles responded.

Pfc. Binta "Ty" Norman and his wife, Teresa, volunteered to be a host family for the second year in a row.

Norman wanted to host the orphans because, he said, "I like children. I always wanted a big family. I know what it's like not to have parents."

His wife, who comes from a big family, said, "I want to give them family love and compassion. I want to try and adopt from that orphanage -- we have the room. Why not?"

Ty Norman said playing video games and swimming at beaches were high on the orphans' list of favorite things to do last year.

"I was up late at night with them, and up early the next morning ready to go. ... It was pretty cool. I wanted them to be a part of a family," he said.

Teresa Norman said their own three kids were "overexcited -- they can't wait (to meet the orphans). They have all the games set up."

Other Army families involved in hosting the orphans are Staff Sgt. Doug Pierson and his wife, Colleen; and Army wives Lonna Bartlett, Katie Payne and Debbie Wilson.

Army sergeant started legacy

Sgt. Hugh F.X. O'Reilly was the first Wolfhound from the U.S. Army's 27th Infantry Regiment to help the orphans after he saw their living conditions at the Holy Family Home in occupied Osaka, Japan, on Christmas Day 1949.

It was a turning point in all their lives, depicted in a 1955 Columbia Pictures movie, "Three Stripes in the Sun."

The regiment, whose motto is "No Fear on Earth," came to adopt the orphanage and rebuilt it.

In 1957 two children from the orphanage visited the soldiers and their families in Hawaii, The following year, the Wolfhounds began another custom of sending two soldiers to the Holy Family Home to act as Father Christmas.

O'Reilly eventually settled with his family in Hawaii, working for Bank of Hawaii. He died last June.

Peace Bridge Inc., a nonprofit organization, was founded this year to carry on his legacy.