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Tropic Lightning -- 12 April 2001
Wolfhounds gear up for 100th anniversary
By Staff Sgt. Michael Westerfield
The 27th Infantry Regiment "Wolfhounds" will celebrate their 100th anniversary with three days of festivities April 25 - 27. An important part of that celebration is the naming of a new honorary commander.
Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Robert F. Foley will replace Col. (Ret.) Lewis L. Millett as the Wolfhound's honorary regimental commander.
The ceremony will include the honorary sergeant major Hugh O'Reilly who serves as a living example to all enlisted Wolfhounds of what it means to be a member of the longest continuously active unit in the Army. The Wolfhound's honorary sergeant major was named in July 1981 along with the out-going honorary commander.
"The Wolfhounds have been in my life for 50 years, even before I was one," said O'Reilly. "I was a private at Schofield in ‘32 but I was stuck in another unit. I wanted to be a Wolfhound even then. They were cocky. I guess they're as cocky now as they ever were.
"Back then, boxing was the big sport," said O'Reilly. "Whenever a Wolfhound stepped into the ring, you'd hear the other units yelling ‘Get a Wolfhound! Get a Wolfhound!' Of course that just fired up the Soldiers more."
World lightweight boxing champion Lew Jenkins served as a Wolfhound first sergeant. O'Reilly explained, "Everyone knew the Wolfhounds were the unit to beat." O'Reilly got out of the Army for a while but signed up for World War II as a Wolfhound. "I wanted to be a Wolfhound and that's how I signed up," said O'Reilly.
O'Reilly said he wanted to go to war to fight the Japanese, but something wonderful came from that war. "I ended up marrying a Japanese lady," O'Reilly said. "I've got the most wonderful wife in the world. I guess you never know what the world will hold for you."
"In those days you were lucky to get a pass, usually you had to earn it. The command was very involved in every aspect of a Soldier's duty. It wasn't unusual to have even a colonel come check how well you cleaned the latrine," O'Reilly said. "You'd stand tall with your scrub brush and yell ‘Little Wolfhound reports to Chief Wolfhound sir' as he walked by.
"You have no idea what it's like being a Wolfhound unless you are one," O'Reilly said. "One company in the Wolfhounds has five Medal of Honor winners. That's the kind of heritage we're dealing with."
Command involvement in Soldier duties extended throughout the command. Everyone from the regimental commander to the buck sergeants took a hands-on approach to leadership, O'Reilly explained.
"There are always Soldiers that refuse to fire their weapons," O'Reilly said. "I guess they figure it's safer not to attract the enemies' attention. In reality, those who don't fire have as much as a 25 percent higher fatality rate. That's why the sergeants would go around after a battle and sniff the gun barrels."
Even though the Wolfhounds had a well-earned reputation as a fighting unit they also earned a place in history with their humanitarian efforts, especially those associated with the Holy Family Home Orphanage in Osaka, Japan.
After World War II, the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul established the orphanage in Osaka, Japan. The war left many children orphaned and trying to survive on the bombed-out streets of Osaka.
Some Soldiers from 27th Inf. Rgt. visited the severely under-funded orphanage on Christmas Day, 1949. They were touched by the poor conditions the children were living in. The Soldiers took up a collection and on New Years Day the regiment made its first donation to the orphans' home. Gradually the Wolfhounds adopted the orphanage. During the next six months, Wolfhounds, led by O'Reilly, spent their spare time helping the sisters fix the orphanage. Donating time, money and effort to this worthy cause became part of being a Wolfhound.
The generosity of the Wolfhounds touched the hearts of Americans and Japanese alike. Japanese Army Pvt. Akio Aoyama was stunned when he discovered that U.S. Soldiers were taking such good care of their former enemy's orphans. That discovery led to a commitment to the orphanage's cause and a life-long friendship with O'Reilly.
"He found out about the orphanage when I started dating my wife in Osaka in 1949," said O'Reilly. "There's never been a man like this. Even though he doesn't speak much English, and I don't speak much Japanese, we are very close friends."
The 27th Inf. Rgt. deployed to Korea but continued to support their adopted orphanage with regular donations and occasional visits. In June, 1951 the regiment's donation topped the $10,000 mark. In 1955 the film, "Three Stripes in the Sun", featured the regiment's unique relationship with the orphanage. A new tradition started in 1957 when two orphans flew to Hawaii to visit the Soldiers and their families. In the winter of 1958 two Soldiers visited the Orphanage for Christmas to serve as Santa and help distribute donated toys.
Aoyama continued his relationship with the Wolfhounds as well. He now serves as chairman of the board for Steel Company Limited and donates $10,000 a year to fly Soldiers to Japan for Christmas and fly the children to Schofield Barracks each spring. Aoyama also sponsors as many as 30 Wolfhounds to visit the orphanage each time they're on an exercise in Japan.
"Kids need female and male presence in their life," said O'Reilly. "They need someone to look up to as a role model. There are many wonderful success stories from the orphanage. Many kids grew up to be very successful. It's great to see someone who's left the orphanage come back and talk about the Wolfhounds.
"You get in this unit and it gets in you. The esprit de corps is unbelievable. I worked in banking for more than 20 years and never felt anything like it. I made a lot more money but never had more satisfaction. You become part of the Wolfhounds, part of their legacy.
"Once you're a Wolfhound, you know what the country you're fighting for represents. No matter what unit you go to, you'll always want to go back to the Wolfhounds. You'll be proud to know what you're defenders of - what America really means. There is no second place in combat."
The Regiment's 100th Anniversary Ceremony will include lunch and an evening social at the Nehelani, Schofield Barracks April 25. The Regimental Induction Ceremony will be at Sills Field, Schofield Barracks April 26, and a regimental run, memorial ceremony and luau on April 27. For more information, call Capt. Eric Hudson at 808-655-2631.