Selah family provides Japan Ground Self-Defense Soldier with an American experience

YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash. -- It's the end of summer. The weather is cooling down. The scent of burgers sizzling on the grill is fading. Less people are escaping the heat by taking a swim in the river. Each year, the Hepners of Selah, Washington, take time to show Japanese soldiers a bit of that summer life in America.

The Hepners were one of 20 families in the Yakima Valley to host 60 soldiers of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force. The soldiers, who were participating in Rising Thunder on Yakima Training Center, took time off to experience an afternoon of American culture Sept. 19.

"We try to show the Japanese soldiers a great American culture experience," said Norman Hepner, a host family member for a home visit.

Hepner and his family have been a host to the Rising Thunder participants for the past three years. Every year, he takes the three Japanese soldiers to the Yakima Canyons, where they kayak down Yakima River through the canyon. This year was no different.

After kayaking, the soldiers were treated to one of America's greatest summer traditions.

"We brought them to our home -- to a typical American barbecue," said Norman. "We had burgers and fries."

Before the groups began to eat, the soldiers presented the hosts with gifts and souvenirs from their country. One of the soldiers even presented a gift he drew himself.

Hepner and his family are no strangers to the Japanese culture. Apart from hosting soldiers for the past two years, they have also been host to a foreign exchange student from the country. His older son was also a foreign exchange student to Japan and his wife had a Japanese college roommate.

The chance to host the foreign soldiers is a great way for them to build an important bond, said Hepner.

"To me it is important to build that camaraderie between the different services of different nations," said Hepner. "Building that strong relationship makes them more comfortable with the American culture."

Hepner said he would continue to volunteer to be a host family and would like to be able to host more in the coming years.

"I think a lot more of them should get the opportunity to kayak down the Yakima River," he said. "It's unfortunate that I only get three of them and not a group of 30."