The American Legion delegation, the largest U.S. veteran’s organization with more than 1.6 million members, met with U.S. Army leaders Dec. 9, 2024, to learn how to help Soldiers and families stationed in Hawaii and the Indo-Pacific region.
Col. Ryan O’Connor, deputy chief of staff, U.S. Army Pacific, provided an Army operational overview of Army forces in the Indo-Pacific, and Col. Rachel Sullivan, commander, U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, discussed quality of life issues impacting Soldiers and their families stationed in Hawaii.
Following the briefing the delegation including James La Coursiere Jr.; National Commander; Francis Riddell, National Executive Committee member; Mark DeVirgilio, Commander Department of Hawaii and Mr. Ariel A. De Jesus Jr; Acting Director National Security Division, joined other members including Ms. Trish Ward, National President, American Legion Auxiliary and Ms. Irene DeVirgilio, Local Vice President, American Legion Auxiliary for a lunch in the Sustainment Bistro, and spent time with Soldiers’ discussing personal aspirations and challenges.
After lunch, the delegation visited Survivor Outreach Services to learn how the Army cares for Soldiers and families of fallen soldiers.
The tour continued with a briefing on Child Development Center initiatives underway to increase capacity with two new CDCs currently under construction at Schofield Barracks and Aliamanu Military Reservation and a windshield tour of the Peterson Child Development Center.
The visit concluded with a tour of the Army’s Transition Assistance Program (TAP), which provides information, tools, and training to ensure service members, and their spouses are prepared for the next step in civilian life.
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