Hawai'i VII

So, today I am a bit behind schedule due to some unforeseen circumstances. I promised, previously, to write something about Hawai'i today and will give it a shot now.

On my two visits to our 50th state, I was able to find a few memorials that are posted elsewhere on the site. to check them out, just click Hawai'i from the list of states on the left side of the page.

I may well be back in this beautiful state in mid 2026 and, just maybe, I will be able to find additional memorials, but in the meantime, today, I will feature a couple of names from the magnificent memorial in Oahu.

Gideon Picha Johnson

SFC Gideon Johnson was lost at Thua Thein on January 31, 1968. He was a Paratrooper and a Medic. Assigned to the 101st Airborne unit he left behind a wife and at least one child. Little else is available.

Robert Kiyoshi Kawamura

SSGT Kawamura was born in California but buried at the Cemetery of The Pacific, commonly known as The Punchbowl. His plane was shot down on February 15, 1968. He "died while missing."                

Donald Marshall

SP4 Donald Marshall was on a "sweep" mission when his platoon was attacked by a far superior number of heavily armed Viet Cong. He was hit several times and was lost February 19th, 1968 at Binh Thuan.

It interest me that all three of todays lost heroes died in 1968. This is pure chance for me, but '68 was the year of the greatest loss of American forces.

I complain, again, about the poor quality of some of the photographs. My recollection is that all service members were photographed by the military during basic. Is this not so? Anyone out there able to correct my thinking? 

If not, why are not better pictures of these men and women available? Just seems disrespectful to me.

Next time on November 23rd, we will return to Idaho and additional faces to honor, so join me there, as usual at 9:00 am. 

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia, Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, Elli from Maryland, and Peg and Ray from Florida, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served and/or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here.

I hope all those listed here will encourage you to send along photos and join the group.

Hawai'i VII

Beautiful Hawai'i'. I managed during this journey to visit our 50th state on two different occasions.

Once to visit the state Vietnam memorial in Oahu and the second time to attend the dedication of a new memorial at the cemetery at The Punchbowl.

Today, I want to revert to the state memorial which seemed to take a back seat to the Punchbowl here and highlight just a couple of names from it.

There are 276 names etched here on individual blocks and today, I will honor just three.

 

These three, for now, must represent the total. I am sure that at some point I may feature a few more but until then these must suffice: heroes all.

Next time, on the 6th of April, I hope to highlight a few of the features from the memorial in Ennis, Ireland. Join me, as always, at 9:00 am.

If you are following along at all, you will have seen that a number of you, like Joan from Wisconsin, Tony from Texas, Mike from Maryland, Ron from Florida, Tim from Virginia, Molly from Florida, Colleen from Pennsylvania, Elli from Maryland, and Peg and Ray from Florida, among others, have responded to my request to send me memorials you have seen in your area or where you may have traveled. I even got one from Ireland! These submissions help expand the knowledge of how we have remembered the men and women who served and/or were lost in 'Nam and you help to honor them. If you have any such photos, I would love to see them. Please send them along to the email at the left and I will gladly share them here.

I hope all those listed here will encourage you to send along photos.

2020 Holiday Season II

Well, it is the day after Christmas and it is cold with snow from the last fall. Its got me thinking of warmer climates and that makes me think of Hawai'i, since we were just in Arizona!

Here are some pics of some of the flora local to the island of Oahu.

This is some kind of Bromeliad, I think. It is just trying to bloom, if you look closely you can see the tiny flowers beginning to open.

Judging from the look of the leaves, I'd guess that this, too, is of the same family, but I have never seen anything like it.

No idea at all but, no less beautiful.

Here is one I have seen before, called bird of Paradise among other names it is available in many areas.

I'll end with another sunset. This was taken on Waikiki Beach, just happened to be there at the right time.

Speaking of time, next time will be New Years Eve, so check back if you get a moment for the last of my holiday, non memorial posts. After the 31st we will return to honoring our brothers and sisters, most especially those who are not able to enjoy this season with us, their, friends, their families.

To see Vietnam memorials from any state, please click on the state name on the left side of this page.

Hawai'i II

The North Shore of Oahu is famed for its huge waves and surfing competitions. I drove up to see some of the famous waves and was pleased to find this nice memorial in Hale'iwa in the Hale'iwa Beach Park. I was there for a while and was astounded how how quickly the sky changed as evidenced by these first two pictures.

The memorial commemorates and honors those lost from the area in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. I could find no additional information about it but maybe the names say it all.

Facing the water the memorial bears the names of thirteen local men who gave all in Vietnam, including one who was added at a later date..

Next time we will see a couple of small memorials located within the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific along the Walk of Honor. Join me on the 8th at 9:00am.