Wolfhounds bring joy to orphans in Japan

By 1st Lt. Brandon Thompson 2nd Bn., 27th Inf. Rgt.

While many Soldiers and families enjoyed the holidays visiting family around the world, two Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Regiment visited their extended family of more than 150 children at the Holy Family Home orphanage in Osaka, Japan. This year's Christmas visit to Japan marked the 45th year the Wolfhounds visited and delivered presents to all the children at the Holy Family Home. After World War II, the Holy Family Home was established in Osaka, Japan, by the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul, to house the many orphans living in Osaka. The children lived in poor conditions due largely to a severe lack of funds. On Christmas Day, 1949, about a dozen Soldiers from the 27th Infantry accompanied a Red Cross field representative to a holiday party at the Holy Family Home. The orphanage was found to be in bad shape. The Soldiers took up a collection on their next payday for the orphanage. Gradually, the Wolfhounds came to adopt the orphanage. For the next six months, Soldiers of the regiment, led by Sgt. Hugh O'Reilly, spent their spare time helping the Sisters to repair the orphanage. The Soldiers came to know the children well, and soon after, the Wolfhounds began collecting funds for the Holy Family Home on a regular basis. In 1957, the Wolfhounds invited two children from the Holy Family Home to visit the Soldiers and their families stationed in Hawaii, beginning a tradition that continues each summer. Another tradition began the following year when the Wolfhounds sent two Soldiers during Christmas to act as "Father Christmas." They visited the orphanage bearing gifts and companionship that brought joy and happiness to the children. The tradition continued this year when Sgt. First Class Jason Geis, 1st Battalion, 27th Inf. Rgt., and Spc. Robert Koop, 2nd Bn., 27 Inf. Rgt., earned the privilege to visit the Holy Family Home bearing gifts from the Wolfhounds. Preparation for the visit began in August after four children from the orphanage visited the Wolfhounds as part of the 2002 Holy Family Home Summer Visit. Soldiers from both battalions raised money for gifts and donated presents throughout October and November. On Dec. 12, Wolfhound Soldiers and families wrapped 330 gifts to be delivered to the Holy Family Home on Christmas day. Each present was wrapped with care and marked for one of the more than 150 children at the home. Geis and Koop left for Japan on Dec. 16 with the gifts and a Santa suit. While in Japan, the Soldiers spent several days playing and eating with the children. The children performed traditional Japanese dances, the nativity scene, and plays for the two Wolfhounds. However, the highlight of the visit was watching the children perform their Hula show. Koop had a hard time putting into words his experience during the winter visit. "The trip to the Holy Family Home was an experience I will never forget," he said. "All the sisters, staff and children showed us an overwhelming amount of love. It is so hard to even begin to describe how I felt during my stay in Osaka. "Everything about my trip was just perfect," Koop continued. "I would definitely be willing to go again next year. It was such an honor to represent the Wolfhounds in this wonderful tradition and to be able to provide some less fortunate ‘Wolfhound' children with gifts and love from the Soldiers and Families at Schofield Barracks."