But unlike soldiers of World War II who were fighting defined enemies like Germany and Japan, Weyand said, U.S. troops on two war fronts are facing an amorphous foe who stands to fight one minute and then blends into a civilian backdrop the next.

"Psychologically, it seems like compared with what I faced in Korea and World War II, the stress is much greater now than it was then," said Weyand, 88. "One day they are involved in peacekeeping and the next they are running convoys and running into improvised bombs. But the character, the morale, the motivation of the soldiers seems to be on a par with what it's always been."

Since the March 2003 start of the war in Iraq, eight Marines, 24 soldiers and one civilian with notable Hawai'i ties have died in Iraq, Kuwait or Afghanistan. Seven deaths in Afghanistan and nine in Iraq have been members of the 25th Infantry Division (Light) based at Schofield Barracks.

Once again, many of Hawai'i's service members are at war, and this Veterans Day, that sacrifice is a reminder of the state's military past, and the uncertainty for many families of its present commitment.

Cara Dennis' husband, Sgt. Jeremy Dennis, 23, is in Iraq with Hawai'i Marines of the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment, a unit taking part in the offensive of rebel-held Fallujah.

"I haven't heard anything," said Cara Dennis, who is at the Kane'ohe Bay Marine Corps base with the couple's 3-year-old son. "I just kind of live day to day, and I pray to God nobody comes to my door."

A number of Veterans Day observances are planned today, and in recognition of past service brought to the forefront again by world events, all are expected to see a high turnout.

Gene Castagnetti, director of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, said he is expecting about 2,000 people — double the usual Veterans Day attendance — for a 10 a.m. massing of the colors ceremony with the theme of "Today's Troops ... Tomorrow's Veterans."

The ceremony will include a "missing man" flyover by Hawai'i Air National Guard F-15 fighters of the 199th Fighter Squadron.

Castagnetti noted a memorial was held on Monday at the Kane'ohe Bay Marine Corps base for 10 Marines from 1/3 who have died. Seven were killed Oct. 30 near Fallujah when a suicide car bomber rammed a military truck and detonated explosives.

"We at this national shrine have interred three Iraq (war) combat casualties," Castagnetti said.

Weyand, an O'ahu resident, took 25th Infantry Division soldiers to Vietnam in 1965. He said because of the historically large military presence in Hawai'i, Veterans Day is always meaningful. With more than 13,000 Hawai'i-based soldiers and Marines deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, and another 1,000 Marines on the way to Afghanistan, the day becomes even more so.

"We've seen all the soldiers, sailors and Marines take off from here, so we can't help but be probably more concentrated in our thoughts and concerns with the wars over there than most communities would be," Weyand said.

The USS Missouri Memorial Association is expecting several hundred people for a sunset ceremony on the battleship that was the scene of Japan's surrender in World War II.

Weyand went to Vietnam with more than 15,000 25th Division soldiers. From 1966 until 1969 the division was heavily engaged in Southeast Asia. A total of 4,547 "Tropic Lightning" soldiers were killed in action.

The retired four-star general recalled the bravery and innovation shown by soldiers under his command during the Tet offensive of 1968 in which North Vietnamese and Vietcong forces swept down on Saigon and other key cities and provinces in South Vietnam, catching U.S. forces off guard.

"That was a moment I was very proud of because those units of ours that were fighting began at 2 o'clock in the morning on Jan. 30, and they just fought valiantly against a very clever enemy," said Weyand, who was in command of the 25th, 1st and 101st Airborne divisions and other units at the time. "Within five days of the outbreak of that, I was able to declare to the president that this situation was in hand."

That adaptation is a hallmark of all service members.

In Vietnam and Korea, "we fought a fairly unorthodox enemy and you never knew what to expect," Weyand said. And even though the insurgency in Iraq seems like a problem with no solution in sight, "if you give these young men and women the support, both material and morale support that they deserve, they'll find a solution to that problem."

With the courage exhibited across all generations, good leadership and the pride of belonging to a military unit in battle and adding a new chapter to its history, the morale of soldiers and Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan has been high, Weyand said.

Spc. Adam Ladd, 27, a Schofield soldier with the 125th Signal Battalion in Afghanistan, said he has missed his wife and 6-year-old son, but said being in the country has been worth it.

"Absolutely," said Ladd, from Cincinnati, who returned to Hawai'i for medical attention. "I spoke with a friend from my hometown the other day and he asked me the same question. It's terrible to be away from friends and family, (but) I went to a warlord village on a goodwill mission and we handed out school supplies and candy and toys, and to see the look on a 6-year-old's face ... it's just amazing."