RICHARD WALKER / RWALKER@STARBULLETIN.COM
A joint session of the Hawaii State Legislature was held yesterday in the Senate chambers at the state Capitol for a Hawaii Medal of Honor Ceremony for Hawaii soldiers killed in action from March 29, 2003, to Feb. 28. Family and friends of honorees stood during a 21-gun salute in the atrium of the Capitol. CLICK FOR LARGE

Isle fallen honored with medal

Lawmakers award the Hawaii Medal of Honor to 67 who died at war

By Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.com

The ship's brass bell tolled 67 times to pay homage to the latest recipients of the Hawaii Medal of Honor.

As the fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan moves into its fourth year, lawmakers from both the state House and Senate met in a joint session yesterday to remember 67 service members with island ties who died between March 29, 2003, and Feb. 28.

The medal was conceived by Hawaii Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Pollick. Last year, it was awarded to 120 service members.

Among the 42 family members present yesterday was Sandra Marino, whose son Lance Cpl. Kristen Figueroa-Marino was killed March 12, 2006, while on patrol in Ar Ramadi in Iraq. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, at Twenty-nine Palms, Calif.

He had only a month to go before he was supposed to be home, Marino said. Her son graduated from the Hawaii National Guard's Youth Challenge Academy in 2003 after dropping out of McKinley High School during his junior year. Marino realized that to be a Marine, he needed a high school diploma.

"I applaud what the state of Hawaii has done," Sandra Marino said after the ceremony. "I honor every fallen soldier. I honor their wisdom and their bravery and their strength."

Lt. Col. Drew Meyerowich commands the 25th Division's 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, and his 12-month deployment in Iraq was extended for another three months. He accepted the medal for three of his soldiers: Sgt. Jesse Castro, Cpl. Jason Huffman and Cpl. Yari Mokri.

Meyerowich arrived home Saturday on a two-week leave and said his soldiers in Iraq "are ready to do the job if it means staying for another three months."

Defense Secretary Robert Gates' extension announcement last week came as a surprise. "It was something none of our commanders knew beforehand," Meyerowich said. "It's a change, and in the military you adapt to change."

Maj. Gen. Robert Lee, state adjutant general, also will present the Hawaii medal to two families of fallen Kaneohe Marines -- Lance. Cpls. Nicholas Kirven and Brian Medina -- at a Pentagon ceremony tomorrow.

Kirven, 21, was killed while clearing out a cave in Afghanistan on May 8, 2005, and Medina, 20, in the Nov. 12, 2004, battle for Fallujah in Iraq. Medina was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines; Kirven served with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines.

The Hawaii Medal of Honor, encased individually in a koa frame, was presented to family or friends of 67 service members by Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, House Speaker Calvin Say and Maj. Gen. Lee. Medals for the another two dozen fallen warriors were to be mailed or hand-delivered to their families.

When the last name was read, an Air Force honor guard presented a 21-rifle salute in the atrium of the state Capitol, followed by a bugler playing taps.

State Rep. Mark Takai, who authored the 2005 law that established the medal, said New Hampshire and Alaska have followed Hawaii's lead.

Takai pointed out that the Hawaii medal and ceremony mean a lot to families who have lost a loved one, noting that Aouni Jim Isshak did not let a heart attack of two weeks ago sidetrack his trip to Hawaii.

His son, Staff Sgt. Daniel Isshak, was killed Oct. 3 by small-arms fire while assigned to Schofield Barracks' 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry.

His wife, Betty, said the medal and the ceremony are "really, really special."

"I got to meet a lot of his friends," she said. "Daniel brought us a lot friends. He extended our family in Hawaii. They are family to us. They are a great family."

Hawaii Medal of Honor

The following is a list of troops with island ties who were killed in Iraq or Afghanistan and who were honored yesterday with the Hawaii Medal of Honor. Each is listed with either hometown or the town of next of kin provided by the state or reported by the Associated Press. The award is given to service members who were residents of Hawaii, stationed in the islands, attended colleges in the islands or members of the Hawaii National Guard when they died.

» Marine 1st Lt. Dustin M. Shumney, 30, of Vallejo, Calif.
» Marine Lance Cpl. Richard A. Perez Jr., 19, Las Vegas
» Marine Lance Cpl. Kristen K. Figueroa Marino, 20, Honolulu
» Marine Lance Cpl. Nicholas R. Anderson, 21, Sauk City, Wis.
» Marine Cpl. Andres Aguilar Jr., 21, Victoria, Texas
» Army Pfc. Joseph I. Love, 22, North Pole, Alaska
» Marine Staff Sgt. Jason C. Ramseyer, 28, Gamewell, N.C.
» Marine Cpl. Eric R. Lueken, 23, Dubois, Ind.
» Army Staff Sgt. Metodio A. Bandonill, 29, Honolulu
» Marine Staff Sgt. Edward G. Davis III, 31, Antioch, Ill.
» Marine Cpl. Brandon M. Hardy, 25, Cochranville, Pa.
» Marine Sgt. Lea R. Mills, 21, Brooksville, Fla.
» Army Sgt. Steve M. Sakoda, 29, Hilo
» Marine Lance Cpl. Adam C. Conboy, 21, Philadelphia
» Marine Lance Cpl. Hatak Yuka Keyu M. Yearby, 21, Overbrook, Okla.
» Marine Lance Cpl. Jose S. MarinDominguez Jr., 22, Liberal, Kan.
» Marine Sgt. David R. Christoff Jr., 25, Rossford, Ohio
» Marine Lance Cpl. William J. Leusink, 21, Maurice, Iowa
» Marine Cpl. Michael A. Estrella, 20, Hemet, Calif.
» Army Staff Sgt. Jeffrey S. Loa, 32, Waianae
» Army Cpl. Jeremy R. Shank, 18, Jackson, Mo.
» Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael T. Fuga, 47, Nuuli, American Samoa
» Marine Lance Cpl. Ryan A. Miller, 19, Pearland, Texas
» Marine Cpl. Yull Estrada Rodriguez, 21, Alegre Lajas, Puerto Rico
» Army Sgt. Velton Locklear III, 29, Lacey, Wash.
» Army Pfc. Kenneth E. Kincaid IV, 25, Lilburn, Ga.
» Marine Pfc. Christopher T. Riviere, 21, Cooper City, Fla.
» Marine Lance Cpl. James Chamroeun, 20, Union City, Ga.
» Army Cpl. Michael K. Oremus, 21, Highland, N.Y.
» Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Isshak, 25, Alta Loma, Calif.
» Marine Lance Cpl. Derek W. Jones, 21, Salem, Ore.
» Marine Lance Cpl. Jeremy S. Sandvick Monroe, 20, Chinook, Mont.
» Army Capt. Shane T. Adcock, 27, Mechanicsville, Va.
» Army Pfc. Kenny F. Stanton Jr., 20, Hemet, Calif.
» Army 1st Lt. Joshua Deese, 25, Robeson County, N.C.
» Army Sgt. Jonathan E. Lootens, 25, Lyons, N.Y.
» Marine 1st Lt. Joshua L. Booth, 23, Fiskdale, Mass.
» Marine Pvt. Edwardo J. Lopez, 21, Aurora, Ill.
» Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel B. Chaires, 20, Tallahassee, Fla.
» Marine Lance Cpl. Donald S. Brown, 19, Succasunna, N.J.
» Army Staff Sgt. Richwell A. Doria, 25, San Diego
» Marine Lance Cpl. Timothy W. Brown, 21, Sacramento, Calif.
» Marine Lance Cpl. Mario D. Gonzalez, 21, La Puente, Calif.
» Marine Lance Cpl. Michael D. Scholl, 21, Lincoln, Neb.
» Marine Lance Cpl. James R. Davenport, 20, Danville, Ind.
» Marine Pfc. Heath D. Warner, 19, Canton, Ohio
» Marine Lance Cpl. Joshua C. Alonzo, 21, Dumas, Texas
» Marine Cpl. Jeromy D. West, 20, Aguanga, Calif.
» Army Sgt. Keith E. Fiscus, 26, Townsend, Del.
» Marine Lt. Col. Joseph T. McCloud, 39, Grosse Pointe Park, Mich.
» Marine Cpl. Joshua C. Sticklen, 24, Virginia Beach, Va.
» Marine Maj. Megan Malia-Leilani McClung, 34, Coupeville, Wash.
» Army Pfc. Travis C. Krege, 24, Cheektowaga, N.Y.
» Army Sgt. Jesse J.J. Castro, 22, Chalan Pago, Guam
» Army Cpl. Jason I. Huffman, 23, Conover, N.C.
» Army Cpl. Yari Mokri, 26, Pflugerville, Texas
» Army Sgt. Joshua B. Madden, 21, Sibley, La.
» Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew W. Clark, 22, St. Louis, Mo.
» Army Staff Sgt. Henry K. Kahalewai Jr., 43, Hilo
» Marine Lance Cpl. Stephen L. Morris, 21, Lake Jackson, Texas
» Army Cpl. Toby R. Olsen, 28, Manchester, N.H.
» Marine Gunnery Sgt. Terry J. Elliott, 34, Middleton, Tenn.
» Navy Hospitalman Matthew G. Conte, 22, Mogadore, Ohio
» Army Cpl. Kenneth T. Butler, 21, East Liverpool, Ohio
» Army Cpl. David C. Armstrong, 21, Zanesville, Ohio
» Marine Lance Cpl. Daniel T. Morris, 19, Crimora, Va.
» Marine Lance Cpl. Anthony L. Aguirre, 20, Channelview, Texas

Source: Associated Press