CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM Eleven members of the 411th Engineer Combat Battalion received Bronze Star medals at the Sgt. Smith Theater at Schofield Barracks yesterday in recognition of their valor and distinguished service while deployed in Iraq: Sgt. 1st Class Raelyn A. Balfour, left; 1st Sgt. Tracy R. Perkins, 1st Lt. Reid A. Kincaid, Chaplain (Capt.) Emil J. Denemark, Capt. John G. Javellana, Capt. David E. Koseki, Capt. Barry F. Matthews, Capt. Samuel F. Membrere, Capt. James A. Young, Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond A. Irie and Lt. Col. Jonathan W.H. Wung.

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Battalion’s work
in Iraq honored

The unit's 600 soldiers earn
recognition for their 1,100
missions over a year of duty

Working 20 to 22 hours a day, seven days a week to coordinate the operations of the 411th Engineer Combat Battalion at 10 bases in Iraq and develop "a battle rhythm" was the hardest part of Capt. Sam Membrere's yearlong tour of duty.

Hello, goodbye Even as the Pacific Army Reserve's 411th Engineer Combat Battalion Pacific was celebrating its homecoming, another group of Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers prepared to leave for a year in Afghanistan. The 60 members of the 117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment and the 298th Engineer Detachment will be honored at a Schofield Barracks' farewell ceremony today. The 117th was last mobilized in 1998 for an eight-month tour in Bosnia.

Membrere, 40, said the Hammerhead Battalion completed 1,100 missions in Iraq, from fixing bomb craters to establishing and staffing checkpoints.

"It was hard to adjust to those long hours during the first three months," said Membrere, the battalion's operations officer. "I am still suffering a little burnout, but overall it was a good experience for the soldiers."

Membrere, a 1987 Farrington High School graduate, was one of 11 soldiers awarded Bronze Star medals on Friday for their service. The unit's 600 soldiers, who returned home March 25, earned a total of 22 Bronze Stars and four Purple Hearts.

Among those most seriously wounded were Staff Sgt. Juanita Wilson and Sgt. Aaron Carvalho of Alpha Company from Hilo, who were injured by a bomb attack on their convoy.

Wilson, who lost her left forearm, continues physical therapy treatments at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Carvalho was released from Tripler Army Medical Center in December and is attending classes to become a Hilo police officer.

Also awarded a Bronze Star at Friday's special welcome-home ceremony at Schofield Barracks was Capt. David Koseki, commander of the battalion's Headquarters Support Company.

"It was challenging," said Koseki, who graduated from Kaiser High School in 1991.

It took a while to get accustomed to the conditions in Iraq, said Koseki, who has been a member of the Army Reserve for eight years.

"Being in a combat environment, everything was fast-paced," added Koseki, who will return to his civilian job as project manager of Hawaiian Dredging.

Lt. Col. Jonathan Wung, who was awarded a Bronze Star for his service as commander of the 411th Engineers, said, "our work never ceased."

The Army reservists staffed checkpoints during the transfer of authority on June 28 and placed concrete barriers at police stations and polling places before the Jan. 30 Iraqi national elections.

Wung noted that the call-up of the 411th in January 2004 was "the first and largest mobilization in the Pacific in support of the Iraqi mission."

Military projects around Baghdad included the construction of base-camp improvements such as barracks and operations buildings, and repairing and improving installation security bunkers and defensive positions.

The 411th conducted 300 convoys, venturing out into the civilian community to rebuild roads, bridges, government buildings and hospitals, as well as taking part in beautification projects in Baghdad.

Wung said the unit distributed more than 50,000 school supplies and clothing to children in Baghdad.

Shizuya Hayashi, who earned the Medal of Honor while serving with the 100th Battalion in World War II, was among the guests at Friday's homecoming celebration.

"They did a good job," said Hayashi, 88. "I am proud of them, and they carried on the legacy of Hawaii's soldiers."

Hayashi was one of the original members of the 100th Battalion, the Army unit comprised of Japanese Americans formed after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack.

With friends and family members looking on in Schofield Barracks' Sgt. Smith Theater, the Oahu members of the Hammerhead Battalion were each called to the stage and received an American flag framed in a shadow box, a commemorative coin, campaign flag and a certificate of appreciation.

With half of the 600 soldiers coming from 29 mainland states, Guam and American Samoa, similar ceremonies will be held in Alaska on April 24, American Samoa on April 30, Maui on May 17, Guam on May 15 and Hilo on May 22.