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October 10, 1951
"Back in the Day," appearing every Sunday, takes a look at articles that ran on this date in history in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items appear verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar.
117 Island Youths Home from Korea, Get Rousing Aloha
One hundred and seventeen Hawaii veterans of the Korean fighting came home yesterday afternoon to the lei laden welcome of 1,800 friends and relatives.
And without exception, they voiced a single opinion of the peace talks. Of the Communists, they said: "They’re stalling."
They gave their views to reporters as greeters smothered them with leis and kisses at Pier 40-A, where the transport Gen. E.A. Anderson arrived to the fanfare of the 264th army band and a troupe of hula dancers.
Fighting Gets Tougher
While the veterans agreed that the Red negotiators are stalling at the peace table, they also were unanimous that the fighting is getting tougher.
They added, however, the 8th army also is getting stronger and is more than able to handle the Reds.
Asked what he thought of the peace talks, Sergeant 1st Class Rick Yoshinaga, 829-C Beretania St., a veteran of 14 months in Korea, replied: "I’m pretty pessimistic. I figure it’s all just a farce on their part. I don’t think anything will come of it."
Holds Same Views
The same view was expressed by Sergeant Ernest Tabata, 3775-A Kanaina Ave., another soldier who went to Korea with the 5th regimental combat team in July of last year. He said: "They (the Reds) are just wasting time so they can make a big push."
In the field, however, he said, increasing numbers of the enemy are surrendering. He explained: "We capture a man and give him some C rations and send him back to his buddies. Pretty soon, more come over and surrender."
