Pac-Rim Conference - Were did the AED go

For those of you who attended the conference and saw all the door prizes, didn't Steve Brooks do a fantastic job of collecting prizes?  Well I have a terrific story to tell about one of them which was an AED (defibrillator) that went to Larry Chun, CSP, one of our ASSE Hawaii Chapter members.  Here is what he decided to do with it > this is a letter he wrote to Joe Aguon, at Sun Industries, the company that provided this fabulous door prize for our conference...

click here for > UPDATE as of August-12 & 18, 2004

From: Larry Chun
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2004 10:54 AM
To: Joe Aguon
Subject: AED Door Prize at Pac Rim Safety and Health Conference

Mr. Joe Aguon:

Nice chatting with you this morning. I was lucky and picked up the door prize of your company's generous AED door prize at last week's Governor's Pacific Rim Safety and Health Conference at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Thank you very much.

After talking with my family, I have decided to donate the AED to the Honokaa Fire Department along the Hamakua Coast of the Big Island. The donation will be made in memory of Sergeant First Class Wesley John Kealoha Batalona, US Army Retired, former Airborne Ranger of the 1st Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment. He was one of the four Blackwater Security Consulting guards killed almost four weeks ago in Iraq. (As you may know, Pat Tillman [former NFL player] was also an Airborne Ranger with the 2nd Battalion of the 75th.)

I've been in contact with the Hilo County Fire Department and the fire folks at Honokaa. Once the protocols are met with the fire department and city council on the Big Island, I'll inform you and Mr. Steve Brooks of Hawaiian Dredging who is holding the AED. Please feel free to contact me if there are any questions.

Sincerely,

Larry Chun

Send comments to > Jim Newberry (Conference Co-Chair)
More stories that Larry shared with me regarding Ranger Batalona and the 75th Ranger regiment were so interesting that I felt I had to include them as well  (thanks Larry for sharing -  in more ways than one) ~ Jim

In Operation Just Cause (December, 1989), Airborne Ranger Batalona jumped into Panama from 500 feet to help secure the Torrijos-Tocumen International Airport, Rio Hata Military Airfield so that aircraft could land. 500 feet--no reserve!  One of his main jobs was to ensure the Safety of the battalion commander. Ranger Batalona was also involved in the Iranian rescue mission in the late 70's, Grenada, and Operation Desert Storm.

Then, America has Pat Tillman (former NFL Safety with the Arizona Cardinals) to emulate. He gave the things of this world away to be an Airborne Ranger with the 75th Ranger regiment--one of the most elite fighting units in the world. Their efforts will not be forgotten by mere mortals like myself. Rangers Lead The Way! RLTW! I'm confident they're now patrolling for us mere mortals from their base in heaven. Pray for us that we may one day join you in eternal peace...

Update - August 12, 2004

After much correspondence and a lot of coordination, the AED will be going to the Honokaa Aquatic Section of the gym complex in memory of Mr. Wesley Batalona (resolved August 2004).  Larry will be going to the Big Island August 17th and along with David Nurse who is with Hawaiian Dredging, will be turning the AED over to the gym there.  Aloha and thank you so much Larry for all your hard work and for your generosity in making this possible.

RESOLUTION from the County of Hawaii
Update - August 18, 2004

Larry made the trip to the Big Island and gave a presentation to the Hamakua Coast Council, here's his final update...


-----Original Message-----
From: Lawmoc@aol.com
Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 9:41 AM
Subject: AED Is Formally given to the County of Hawaii, 17 Aug
Dear Folks,
I want to express my heartfelt mahalo to each and every one who had a part in the AED journey to the Aquatic Section of the Gym Complex in Honokaa of the Big Island. The complex is under the County of Hawaii.
 
Dave Nurse of Hawaiian Dredging represented the local chapter of American Society of Safety Engineers (ASSE) in the presentation to the county. Dr. Holschuh, Hamakua Coast councilman, did so much from finding a home for the AED to getting the time for the AED presentation to the county. Susan Cisceria of the county did a wonderful job in drafting the county acceptance resolution. The unsigned copy is attached for your reference.
 
Dave and Pam Mizuno were kind enough to take time out of their busy schedule to be there at the Finance Committee meeting for the presentation.
 
I gave a short presentation to recognize a few people and particularly to pay tribute to the late Sergeant First Class Wesley John Kealoha Batalona, US Army Retired--a retired Airborne Ranger. He was killed in Fallujah, Iraq, on March 31, 2004 while on convoy guard detail. The three other "All Americans" killed along with Wesley were Scott Helvenston, Jerko Zovko, and Michael Teague. Farewell, Brothers. Rest in eternal peace and pray for us mere mortals.
 
To you all, thank you for your role--big or small.
 
Me Ke Aloha Pumehana and Sincerely,
 
Larry Chun
808-263-2141
 
P.S. Colonel Clarence K.K. Chin, US Army, now commands the Ranger Training Brigade. He was the former Deputy Commanding Officer of the 75th Ranger Brigade, the regiment under which Wesley served most of his Army career. Extended my personal congratulations to the colonel. Colonel Chin's parents now reside somewhere in Hawaii after the dad's retirement from the Army. As some of you know, the Ranger Regiment is the Army's best direct action, light infantry organization. It is one of the best in the world.
 
ASSE folks, tried to put the local chapter on the radar scope with a larger signature. Larry...