Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Profile-Helen Cason

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amber Sorsek
  • 302nd Airlift Wing

Helen Cason joined the 302nd Airlift Wing headquarters staff as the wing’s Management Support Specialist in February 2014. She was born in Rota, Spain and raised on Guam, U.S. territory.  Her father retired from the U.S. Navy and her mother is a native of Guam.  Cason accompanied her husband on tours to Italy, Virginia, Guam, and Washington before he retired from the U.S. Navy.  This afforded them the opportunity to meet and bond with families of diversified backgrounds.

Cason first got involved volunteering during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month while employed at Hurlburt Field Air Force Base, Fla. and continued while at Eglin AFB, Fla., and United States Marine Component Pacific Command, Hawaii.  Passionate about APAH observances, she showcased Guam’s culture and history while reading story books about Guam to kindergarten and first grade students at Valparaiso Elementary School, Fla., and hosting cultural booths during APAH Month. 

Cason continues to support Asian Pacific American issues by sharing resources that help employee career opportunities, training, and development. This promotes community support, outreach and building effective solutions to community problems. 

Some of Cason’s most memorable moments are the stories told to her by her grandmother of Guam’s occupation in 1941 and liberation in 1944, and her family’s survival.  Although these stories were sad, the importance of the message was how the war brought them closer together and tested their will to survive under dangerous conditions.  Each year Guam’s Liberation Day is celebrated by Guamanians around the world.