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Show TU 20 — For the week of November 14, 2008 te reve, Pays? ea cea eae ee ey ST. GEORGE NEIGHBORHOODS The Spectrum — www.thespectrum.com Not just an ‘other’ cadet @ Hawaiian reflects on youth in the military BY JULIE WALTON For St. George Neighborhoods ST. GEORGE — Fifty-six years ago, a young woman walked into a United States Air Force recruiting office in Hawaii with some friends and changed the direction of her life. St. George resident Kalei Kauihou Harris, a native Hawaiian, said that in October of 1952 during the Korean War, as a young woman she was impressed that she should consider the military. It could help her pay for college and see Europe, both things she wanted to do. stood for, so Harris asked one of the attendants. “This was back. in 1952, and they said, “Youre not “My mother was a widow and when I told her, she thought it was a good idea; Harris said. “My uncles who had served in the military, tried to talk me out of it, but I won? Private Kalei Kauihou joined the USAF and traveled to Lackland Air Force Base in Texas for her basic training. One experience she remembers from the Lackland AFB was prior to graduation at a checkout where they received our shots. She explained that there were two OO'’s on her dog tags, one was for her O+ blood type. But she wanted to know what the other “O” a Jew, or a Catholic or a Protestant;” Harris said. “You are considered “O” for “Other”” I told them, “I am ‘not an “other’-—I am LDS? They wouldn't do it. It wasn’t regulation. I would not move until they put “LDS” on my dog tags. My argument was what if I couldn't talk, what “O” would you call? There was 500 of us girls waiting, and they all left” “I was 19, headstrong, not afraid of anything and a bit naive. “You are going to get “court martialed” they told me’ (I didn’t even know what that meant.) I said, “I don't have any stripes to take off’ They even brought an LDS chaplain to talk to me. Stuffed acs LOADS OF HOTA SIZE//Get more bang for your buck with our biggest paper of the year. VALUE//Find big holiday savings with sales circulars and coupons. VARIETY//See a spectrum of retailer offering bargains. STORE INFO//Find out who opens early, closes late, and has day-afterThanksgiving deals. Look for your copy ae ; THE SPECTRUM They finally did it, and I was happy. So I guess I did fight the war. After that, the military changed their policy and allowed “LDS” to be offered as one of the religious preferences stamped on dog tags. In 1953, her first assignment was at the Long Beach, Calif. Air Force Base in the 2375th Headquarters which served the Air Force Reserve Combat Support Training Center. She worked in the unit supply for 17 months where they were to “requisition office materials and supplies for the base and take in dirty or used linens and hand out clean ones”. It felt pretty routine, she said and Harris was excited when she found out she was going to Germany with the USAF 7100th Supply Squadron. She was going to see Europe. “Tt didn't feel like I was in the Air Force until I went to Germany, she said While stationed in Weasba-den, Germany, 35 miles from Frankfurt, Harris _ was able to visit many places including Berlin before the Wall went up. Early in 1955, her commanding officer invited her and Tessie Aikau, a friend also from Hawaii, to entertain the first German army allowed to organize since World War II. Neither she nor Tessie had any costumes or music, so they improvised. Kalei had a ukulele and Tessie had a lovely voice, so they decided to sing and dance. They bought red and yellow materials, the royal Hawaiian colors, had Submitted Kalei Kauhane (Harris) and her friends in Hawaii appear at the recruiting office when she joined the Air Force in October of 1952. She is on the right of the young women standing. Harris, a native Hawaiian, served in the U.S. Air Force at the Long Beach, Calif., base. In the photo below, she is at right. . made some costumes and performed in front of entire German Army. Later, Tessie continued to travel, singing with the Air Force Band. Near the end of her threeyear enlistment, Harris extended her time for a few months. The highlight of her military time came when representatives from the US. Air Force were invited to march at Queen Ingrid of Denmark's birthday celebration. Harris was chosen to go to Denmark. You can buy, trade and sell. Find it in the Classifieds. 674-6200. Hans Christian Andersen was a beloved author of hers and she had always wanted to visit Denmark. Harris said that when they arrived at the airport, Danish AF girls served as a hostesses and each had a picture of us. They provided each of the American girls with a place to stay. “The people of Denmark were beautifulandhandsome © and very kind, she said. “I saw “The Mermaid”, went to a ballet, and loved the delicious food. I saw the beautiful queen in a red carriage, dressed in white with stunning blonde hair’ Harris was discharged at the rank of Airman First Class and appreciated the many experiences that she _ had through belonging to the US Air Force. |