WEBVTT

00:06.545 --> 00:09.295
(majestic music)

00:15.800 --> 00:18.430
- I am Sergeant First
Class Christopher Hirata.

00:18.430 --> 00:20.370
I'm the operations sergeant

00:20.370 --> 00:22.373
for United States Army Garrison, Japan.

00:23.720 --> 00:26.250
I was born in Pago Pago, American Samoa.

00:26.250 --> 00:28.650
I joined the military when I was 18.

00:28.650 --> 00:31.370
My grandfather Hisami Hirata,

00:31.370 --> 00:34.000
joined the military in
1944, and was involved

00:34.000 --> 00:36.360
in the campaign that went to Italy.

00:36.360 --> 00:39.480
My father, Larry Hirata, he also deployed

00:39.480 --> 00:42.850
towards the end Vietnam from '71 to '72.

00:42.850 --> 00:45.420
Myself, I have deployed twice to Iraq,

00:45.420 --> 00:46.840
and once to Afghanistan.

00:46.840 --> 00:49.020
I have three younger brothers.

00:49.020 --> 00:51.630
We are all non-commissioned officers.

00:51.630 --> 00:53.250
The military has played
a very important part

00:53.250 --> 00:56.350
in our family, somewhat
of like a passing down

00:56.350 --> 00:59.890
to us, allowing us the
experience to serve our country.

00:59.890 --> 01:04.890
When I was a junior NCO, I had two mentors

01:04.890 --> 01:08.440
leading by example, by
teaching me, or taking me

01:08.440 --> 01:10.790
underneath their wing and
showing me what it takes

01:10.790 --> 01:14.070
to take care of families,
take care of soldiers

01:14.070 --> 01:15.010
and their families.

01:15.010 --> 01:17.570
There's no other place
where somebody will put

01:17.570 --> 01:19.990
so much in taking care
of you and your family.

01:19.990 --> 01:21.350
And that's what I want to do.

01:21.350 --> 01:25.000
I do it because I love
to serve the soldiers

01:25.000 --> 01:26.170
and their families.

01:26.170 --> 01:28.210
Letting them know that I'm there for them,

01:28.210 --> 01:30.320
that I won't go nowhere.

01:30.320 --> 01:31.270
That's why I serve.