Monday, August 13, 2007
MIA-POW Bracelets--UPDATE to my Update!
I hit "publish post" too soon!
I looked through the bracelet - how and when to return website and found a full page of information on Sherman, Peter W.!!
And best of all, Jen, here's his picture:
Wow.
He was lost June 10, 1967 in North Vietnam, status: MIA in 1973. His remains were returned to the US in January of 1991.
I looked through the bracelet - how and when to return website and found a full page of information on Sherman, Peter W.!!
And best of all, Jen, here's his picture:
Wow.
He was lost June 10, 1967 in North Vietnam, status: MIA in 1973. His remains were returned to the US in January of 1991.
MIA-POW Bracelets--UPDATE!
I knew Jen would know the name of her MIA/POW: Captain Peter Sherman of the US Navy.
Bonus! She still has her bracelet:
We were IMing about it this morning and she said:
Mine was a Navy Man that Died in Vietnam....when we were at the wall I found his name and talked to one of the people there who told me where to look on the wall and that he was a navy guy...made me cry
So I looked up the The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall site online and found this info:
PETER WOODBURY SHERMAN
CAPT - O6 - Navy - Regular
Length of service 22 years
Casualty was on Oct 17, 1973
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
You can click through to this page to add personal rememberances or photos. There are three there for Captain Sherman and these comments brought tears to my eyes.
I'm writing this post while I'm clicking through the Vietnam Memorial Wall site (Live blogging my blogging, I guess) and just found this page about Bracelets. Here is a history of the bracelets (quick read) which was an idea of a college student and became a national program. And even more amazing, if you have a bracelet you want to return, you can go here to see if the family is looking for it. There are 8 people listed saying they have Peter Sherman's bracelet with their email addresses. What if they all became pen-pals with my sister and they shared their memories about who they are and where they were when they got the bracelets?
Jen would have to tell it in her own words, and I've never been to the Vietnam Memorial (I've haven't been to DC yet) so I imagine that the experience is intense to begin with. But going to the memorial where the only person's name you might know is from a bracelet you've had for over 30 years, then finding his name and a bit more information about him, must be wonderful and sad. What a connection.
I'm an old sentimental softy. No argument from me there. I just love this kind of thing, the stories, the connections, the history. The internets and all the people behind each page, are amazing.
Thanks for sharing, Jen!
Bonus! She still has her bracelet:
We were IMing about it this morning and she said:
Mine was a Navy Man that Died in Vietnam....when we were at the wall I found his name and talked to one of the people there who told me where to look on the wall and that he was a navy guy...made me cry
So I looked up the The Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall site online and found this info:
PETER WOODBURY SHERMAN
CAPT - O6 - Navy - Regular
Length of service 22 years
Casualty was on Oct 17, 1973
In , NORTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing, FIXED WING - PILOT
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was recovered
You can click through to this page to add personal rememberances or photos. There are three there for Captain Sherman and these comments brought tears to my eyes.
I'm writing this post while I'm clicking through the Vietnam Memorial Wall site (Live blogging my blogging, I guess) and just found this page about Bracelets. Here is a history of the bracelets (quick read) which was an idea of a college student and became a national program. And even more amazing, if you have a bracelet you want to return, you can go here to see if the family is looking for it. There are 8 people listed saying they have Peter Sherman's bracelet with their email addresses. What if they all became pen-pals with my sister and they shared their memories about who they are and where they were when they got the bracelets?
Jen would have to tell it in her own words, and I've never been to the Vietnam Memorial (I've haven't been to DC yet) so I imagine that the experience is intense to begin with. But going to the memorial where the only person's name you might know is from a bracelet you've had for over 30 years, then finding his name and a bit more information about him, must be wonderful and sad. What a connection.
I'm an old sentimental softy. No argument from me there. I just love this kind of thing, the stories, the connections, the history. The internets and all the people behind each page, are amazing.
Thanks for sharing, Jen!
MIA-POW Bracelets
While writing about "Walk For Mankind" and my sister and living in Kahala, I remembered that Jen (and all her friends) had MIA/POW bracelets for soldiers in Vietnam. I'm sure Jen still remembers the name of her soldier. To my 7 or 8 year old mind, they were pretty cool and I wanted one. I wanted to wear the name of a soldier in Vietnam on my wrist, to think about him far away. I really don't think I quite understood the reality of all that was going on at the time, but the bracelet brought an immediacy to this hazy "war" thing to my young mind.
I googled around for the bracelets and found this picture:
It came from this website posting from May 2006: Family History Circle: Get Out Your POW Bracelet
You can buy new ones now for people currently serving, but you have to provide the name of the person to have the bracelet made. POW-MIA Memorial Bracelets
I'm not sure where Jen got the one she got, but I like that you were given a random name. Seems nice to send positive thoughts to people you don't even know, remembering them without having met them.
I googled around for the bracelets and found this picture:
It came from this website posting from May 2006: Family History Circle: Get Out Your POW Bracelet
You can buy new ones now for people currently serving, but you have to provide the name of the person to have the bracelet made. POW-MIA Memorial Bracelets
I'm not sure where Jen got the one she got, but I like that you were given a random name. Seems nice to send positive thoughts to people you don't even know, remembering them without having met them.
Walk For Mankind
(Jen is going "Ha! I remember that!" right now and maybe forwarding this post on to Betsy...)
In Honolulu around 1973 or 1974, there was a fundraising thing called "Walk for Mankind." I was only six or seven, so I remember this event more as a tag-along to my sister Jen. It was created by Project Concern and sponsored by the Ala Moana Jaycees. I did some cursory googling and didn't find much else.
I remember it was a long walk, maybe 20 miles and that it required sponsors. (Though I'm sure I didn't walk 20 miles and didn't have my own sponsor list.) So my sister and her friends were going door to door asking for sponsors. Hopefully they made a lot of money since we lived in Kahala and I recall walking down Kahala Avenue (more on that neighborhood here) and having people answer their doors. There is a specific memory that I have about "looking for sponsors" but am not sure if I was actually there, or just heard about it. (You know how family myths can be.) The memory is of my sister and friends knocking on a door and having a man answer, don't recall how the sales pitch went or if he sponsored, but then when we were leaving, someone said, "That was Peter Lawford!" (Or was it Peter Lorre?) Anyway, I had no idea who either was at the time, but remember thinking just how cool that someone famous lived down the street! (Not long after that I would get to meet Jack Lord and take a photo with him.) (Hey Mom, do you know where that picture is?)
I remember the actual walk day as exciting--tons of people on the roads, walking for mankind, with bands playing at parks along the route and aid stations, etc. I'm sure I walked from our house to Triangle park (only about 1/2 mile) to be part of the fun. Here is the visual--click for bigger. The link to the actual map (so you can zoom around Oahu) is here.
(I guess it is actually called "Fort Ruger Park" but I only ever knew it as Triangle Park.)
Funny thing about Triangle Park -- when Kurt and I (and our great AIDS Marathon team) ran the 2001 Honolulu Marathon, the last few miles are down Kahala Avenue and next to Triangle Park, right by our old home and stomping grounds. Fun to take Kurt on a tour of where I grew up while running a marathon! (We had gotten married only a month before...
(What you can't see in this photo is how hard I'm crying right at that moment. The whole experience was intense and wonderful.) On top of getting married and running a marathon, we raised over $6,000 for Aids Project LA! Thanks to all of our sponsors for that achievement!
The reason these thoughts sprang up is that I emailed blogbud Will to see if he wanted to schedule another long walk toward the end of the year. In February he walked the entire length of Sunset Blvd. and had suggested a walk down Western next. It's only 28 miles! Yippee. I need a new exercise goal to look forward to.
In Honolulu around 1973 or 1974, there was a fundraising thing called "Walk for Mankind." I was only six or seven, so I remember this event more as a tag-along to my sister Jen. It was created by Project Concern and sponsored by the Ala Moana Jaycees. I did some cursory googling and didn't find much else.
I remember it was a long walk, maybe 20 miles and that it required sponsors. (Though I'm sure I didn't walk 20 miles and didn't have my own sponsor list.) So my sister and her friends were going door to door asking for sponsors. Hopefully they made a lot of money since we lived in Kahala and I recall walking down Kahala Avenue (more on that neighborhood here) and having people answer their doors. There is a specific memory that I have about "looking for sponsors" but am not sure if I was actually there, or just heard about it. (You know how family myths can be.) The memory is of my sister and friends knocking on a door and having a man answer, don't recall how the sales pitch went or if he sponsored, but then when we were leaving, someone said, "That was Peter Lawford!" (Or was it Peter Lorre?) Anyway, I had no idea who either was at the time, but remember thinking just how cool that someone famous lived down the street! (Not long after that I would get to meet Jack Lord and take a photo with him.) (Hey Mom, do you know where that picture is?)
I remember the actual walk day as exciting--tons of people on the roads, walking for mankind, with bands playing at parks along the route and aid stations, etc. I'm sure I walked from our house to Triangle park (only about 1/2 mile) to be part of the fun. Here is the visual--click for bigger. The link to the actual map (so you can zoom around Oahu) is here.
(I guess it is actually called "Fort Ruger Park" but I only ever knew it as Triangle Park.)
Funny thing about Triangle Park -- when Kurt and I (and our great AIDS Marathon team) ran the 2001 Honolulu Marathon, the last few miles are down Kahala Avenue and next to Triangle Park, right by our old home and stomping grounds. Fun to take Kurt on a tour of where I grew up while running a marathon! (We had gotten married only a month before...
(What you can't see in this photo is how hard I'm crying right at that moment. The whole experience was intense and wonderful.) On top of getting married and running a marathon, we raised over $6,000 for Aids Project LA! Thanks to all of our sponsors for that achievement!
The reason these thoughts sprang up is that I emailed blogbud Will to see if he wanted to schedule another long walk toward the end of the year. In February he walked the entire length of Sunset Blvd. and had suggested a walk down Western next. It's only 28 miles! Yippee. I need a new exercise goal to look forward to.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Hawaii vs. Texas
So we cleaned out our emergency kit today and for fun and a laugh recycled our can of spam for dinner. (Turkey spam, not the original.)
Now, I ask you -- Who is from Hawaii and who is from Texas?!?!111
Describe and discuss the difference in side dishes and conidments.
Now, I ask you -- Who is from Hawaii and who is from Texas?!?!111
Describe and discuss the difference in side dishes and conidments.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
You Know Someone Is From Hawai'i If:
(Got this from my stepmom -- thanks Diane!)
They have a separate circuit breaker for their rice cooker.
Only NOW they know that cilantro is the same as Chinese parsley.
They measure the water for the rice by the knuckle of their index finger.
They know which market sells poi on which days.
They know that Char Sung Hut is closed on Tuesday.
They can handle shoyu with green mango, li hing mui gummy bears, raw egg on hot rice, and pearl tea (carnation milk in hot
water with sugar) with creme crackers.
Their refrigerator has half-empty jar of mango chutney from the '95 Punahou Carnival.
The condiments at the table are shoyu, ketchup, chili peppah watah, and kimchee. Also, takuwan, Hawaiian salt, slice onion, and pickle onion.
They go to Maui and their luggage home includes potato chips, manju, cream puffs, and guri guri for omiyage.
(Kurt must have his malasadas from Home Maid Bakery.)
They think the four food groups are starch (rice), Spam, fried food, and fruit punch.
A balanced meal has three starches: rice, macaroni, and bread.
They know 101 ways to fix their rubber slippers -- 50 using tape, 50 using glue, and one using a stick to poke the strap back in.
They sometimes use their open car door for a dressing room.
They wear two different color slippers together and they don't mind.
Nice clothes means a T-shirt without puka.
They are barefoot in most of their elementary school pictures.
They have a slipper tan.
Their only suit is a bathing suit.
They drive barefoot.
(If I'm wearing slippers or other slip on shoes, they MUST come off to drive. I literally can't drive with them on.)
They have at least five Hawaiian bracelets.
(my bracelet got stolen last year. Bummah. )
They never ever, under any circumstances, wear socks with slippers, or an aloha shirt that matches their wife's muumuu.
They still call the Blaisedell Center the HIC and it's Sandy's, not Sandy Beach.
They say "I going go for lawnmower da grass" when they mean "I'm going to mow the lawn."
They can understand every word Bu Lai'a says and they know what his name means.
They have a sister, cousin, auntie, or mom named "Honey Girl" or.....
Someone in the family named Boy, Tita, Bruddah, Sonny, Bachan, Taitai, Popo, or Vovo.
They still chant "Hanaokolele" when a friend or co-worker goofs up.
They say "Shtraight," "Shtreet," and "Shtress."
They say "Da Kine" and the other person says "Da Kine" and they both know what is "Da Kine."
The "Shaka" and the "Stink Eye" are worth a thousand words.
They're shopping at Epcot Center at Disneyworld and they may say something to their sister and a complete stranger says, "You're from Hawai'i, aren't you?"
They feel guilty leaving a get-together without helping clean up.
The idea of taking something from a heiau is unthinkable.
They call everyone older than themselves "Aunty" or "Uncle" and they kiss everyone in greeting and farewell.
They let other cars ahead of them on the freeway and they give shaka to everyone who lets them in. (And get mad if someone they let in doesn't say thanks.)
Their philosophy is "Bumbai."
They would rather drag out the compressor and fill that leaking tire every single morning than have it fixed.
The only time they honk their horn is once a year during the safety check.
If a child needs a home, they give him one. She/He becomes "Hanai."
They can live and let live with a smile in their heart.
(Aloha spirit, brah.)
Their male best friend's name is either Wade, Max, Nathan, or Melvin.
Owns two types of slippers: da "good slippas" and da "buss-up/stay home slippas."
Does not understand the concept of North, South, East, and West, but instead gives directions as Mauka, Makai, Diamond Head, Ewa, and uses landmarks instead of street names.
(This is true and it drives Kurt a bit nuts. I've lived on the mainland for 22 years and it is still a hard thing to figure out!)
The first thing they look for in the Sunday paper is the Long's ad.
They take off their slippahs before going into the house.
You ask what year they grad and where they grad from, and then you say "eh you know so and so..."
(And for you haoles, this means high school.)
When it's done, they say "pau!"
They have a separate circuit breaker for their rice cooker.
Only NOW they know that cilantro is the same as Chinese parsley.
They measure the water for the rice by the knuckle of their index finger.
They know which market sells poi on which days.
They know that Char Sung Hut is closed on Tuesday.
They can handle shoyu with green mango, li hing mui gummy bears, raw egg on hot rice, and pearl tea (carnation milk in hot
water with sugar) with creme crackers.
Their refrigerator has half-empty jar of mango chutney from the '95 Punahou Carnival.
The condiments at the table are shoyu, ketchup, chili peppah watah, and kimchee. Also, takuwan, Hawaiian salt, slice onion, and pickle onion.
They go to Maui and their luggage home includes potato chips, manju, cream puffs, and guri guri for omiyage.
(Kurt must have his malasadas from Home Maid Bakery.)
They think the four food groups are starch (rice), Spam, fried food, and fruit punch.
A balanced meal has three starches: rice, macaroni, and bread.
They know 101 ways to fix their rubber slippers -- 50 using tape, 50 using glue, and one using a stick to poke the strap back in.
They sometimes use their open car door for a dressing room.
They wear two different color slippers together and they don't mind.
Nice clothes means a T-shirt without puka.
They are barefoot in most of their elementary school pictures.
They have a slipper tan.
Their only suit is a bathing suit.
They drive barefoot.
(If I'm wearing slippers or other slip on shoes, they MUST come off to drive. I literally can't drive with them on.)
They have at least five Hawaiian bracelets.
(my bracelet got stolen last year. Bummah. )
They never ever, under any circumstances, wear socks with slippers, or an aloha shirt that matches their wife's muumuu.
They still call the Blaisedell Center the HIC and it's Sandy's, not Sandy Beach.
They say "I going go for lawnmower da grass" when they mean "I'm going to mow the lawn."
They can understand every word Bu Lai'a says and they know what his name means.
They have a sister, cousin, auntie, or mom named "Honey Girl" or.....
Someone in the family named Boy, Tita, Bruddah, Sonny, Bachan, Taitai, Popo, or Vovo.
They still chant "Hanaokolele" when a friend or co-worker goofs up.
They say "Shtraight," "Shtreet," and "Shtress."
They say "Da Kine" and the other person says "Da Kine" and they both know what is "Da Kine."
The "Shaka" and the "Stink Eye" are worth a thousand words.
They're shopping at Epcot Center at Disneyworld and they may say something to their sister and a complete stranger says, "You're from Hawai'i, aren't you?"
They feel guilty leaving a get-together without helping clean up.
The idea of taking something from a heiau is unthinkable.
They call everyone older than themselves "Aunty" or "Uncle" and they kiss everyone in greeting and farewell.
They let other cars ahead of them on the freeway and they give shaka to everyone who lets them in. (And get mad if someone they let in doesn't say thanks.)
Their philosophy is "Bumbai."
They would rather drag out the compressor and fill that leaking tire every single morning than have it fixed.
The only time they honk their horn is once a year during the safety check.
If a child needs a home, they give him one. She/He becomes "Hanai."
They can live and let live with a smile in their heart.
(Aloha spirit, brah.)
Their male best friend's name is either Wade, Max, Nathan, or Melvin.
Owns two types of slippers: da "good slippas" and da "buss-up/stay home slippas."
Does not understand the concept of North, South, East, and West, but instead gives directions as Mauka, Makai, Diamond Head, Ewa, and uses landmarks instead of street names.
(This is true and it drives Kurt a bit nuts. I've lived on the mainland for 22 years and it is still a hard thing to figure out!)
The first thing they look for in the Sunday paper is the Long's ad.
They take off their slippahs before going into the house.
You ask what year they grad and where they grad from, and then you say "eh you know so and so..."
(And for you haoles, this means high school.)
When it's done, they say "pau!"
Labels: hawaii
Monday, July 09, 2007
Kikaida!
Today I saw an image that reminded me of Kikaida. If you are from Hawaii or Japan, you remember Kikaida, right?
I could sing you the theme song in Japanese. Well, maybe not "Japanese" per se, but how I remember singing the song when I was little...
This guy has quite the fascination with Jiro/Kikaida. I salute his passion!
I could sing you the theme song in Japanese. Well, maybe not "Japanese" per se, but how I remember singing the song when I was little...
This guy has quite the fascination with Jiro/Kikaida. I salute his passion!
Labels: hawaii
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Don Ho
My mom sent me this email late last night:
Don Ho died. I think Carlos and I went to see him 100 times. They were good friends. I'm sure it will be in your newspaper tomorrow. (Carlos was my dad.)
Read the full stories in the The Honolulu Advertiser. Here's a classic image:
My dad was a local celebrtiy in Honolulu first for his radio announcing and baseball game recreations way back when, and later for his work in advertising and on political campaigns.
Here is a vintage Honolulu photo:
Duke Kahanamoku and Don Ho in 1967.
I don't have any pictures of my dad and Don Ho. But you've seen the one of dad and Duke.
News of Don Ho's death make me feel a little old again.
Don Ho died. I think Carlos and I went to see him 100 times. They were good friends. I'm sure it will be in your newspaper tomorrow. (Carlos was my dad.)
Read the full stories in the The Honolulu Advertiser. Here's a classic image:
My dad was a local celebrtiy in Honolulu first for his radio announcing and baseball game recreations way back when, and later for his work in advertising and on political campaigns.
Here is a vintage Honolulu photo:
Duke Kahanamoku and Don Ho in 1967.
I don't have any pictures of my dad and Don Ho. But you've seen the one of dad and Duke.
News of Don Ho's death make me feel a little old again.
