Page 16 - MidWeek - April 26, 2023

16 MIDWEEK APRIL 26, 2023
His Mission Includes Putting People First FROM PAGE 15
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but mostly there were far too many months of living apart. The irony is not lost on the brigadier general when re- calling his adolescence, and the intense resentment he had for the military for removing his father from periods of his
and he decided to join the Air Force, which was a good de- cision,” he says. “What’s re- ally neat is that my son never resented me for being away. I think he understood what was occurring ... that his dad was actually providing some- thing bigger and greater than himself in protection of our nation.”
my senior years in the mili- tary and after having been put in various command positions as a senior officer, starting as a major lieutenant colonel and now as a general officer, that I learned the most important lesson, which is to take care of people.”
Part of the challenge he faced while serving at Guan- tanamo Bay Naval Base (and really through much of his military career) was separa- tion from his wife and their two children. Sure, Tracy would catch flights down to Cuba “maybe a couple of times a year,” and Okamura would return for short visits every now and then as well,
his wife and children behind for months and up to a year at a time?” Okamura asks. “I was the one who had to explain to my children why their father was not there, why their father was not at- tending their soccer games, why I could not sometimes be there for their birthdays.”
Okamura discusses strategic engagement opportunities with Rana Lynn Kennedy, chief of legislative affffairs, at Joint Task Force-Red Hill headquarters on Ford Island. ANTHONY CONSILLIO PHOTO
That idea of protecting oth- ers continues for him at JTF- Red Hill. Ultimately, Okamu- ra realizes that in his role, he must stress the importance of valuing people above all else.
“If you focus on people first, the mission will suc- ceed,” he states in conclusion. “If you foster an environ- ment where you’ re there to empower people to succeed, give them all the training, resources and leadership les- sons necessary, they will do remarkable things.”
life.
“Guess who had to leave
It’s a mission he hopes to be successful at in the com- ing days, weeks and months as part of the united effort at JTF-Red Hill.
Fortunately, his absences did not have the same impact on his children as his father’s hardship tours had on him.
Today, Okamura’s daughter is preparing to graduate from University of Michigan Law School while his son is a pilot in the U.S. Air Force.
“I like to think I was able to rub off positively with my children by virtue of the fact that my son thought it was a good idea to provide service
“There are all these man- tras you’ re inculcated with throughout your military ca- reer: readiness, be a warrior, train, discipline, be prepared to go to war,” he says. “But I’ll be honest, it wasn’t until
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