But DeCoite, 41, admitted he hasn't told his parents he also has been nominated for a Combat Action Badge for his heroism in a direct-fire contact with an enemy force in Baghdad in last August.

"Every time I'm deployed, my mom gets a little nervous," he told The Maui News in a telephone interview from Fort Benning, Ga., where he is stationed.

She is proud of the Bronze Star that was awarded in recognition of his meritorious achievement in a combat zone as operations sergeant with the 988th Military Police Company with the Multinational Force-Baghdad.

"We went in with 180 soldiers and we returned with 180 soldiers in the most dangerous of operating environments," said DeCoite's commander, Capt. Steve Devitt, with the 92nd Military Police Battalion based at Fort Benning.

"Sergeant DeCoite developed and implemented both security and force protection measures in support of the FOB (forward operating bases) in the Multinational Force deployment in Baghdad. His operational plans were instrumental in safeguarding hundreds of personnel and instrumental in safeguarding millions of dollars worth of U.S. Army and Department of State materials and facilities," Devitt said.

"In a nutshell, his planning resulted in the operational success of over 1,800 combat patrols."

A notice on the Bronze Star said his "sound leadership, tactics, techniques and procedures development were displayed played during numerous combat missions in support of the Police Transition Team, and during multiple indirect fire and sporadic small-arms fire attacks on the unit."

DeCoite and Devitt explained that the unit was assigned to provide training to Iraqi police units and to perform periodic security operations in four forward operating bases within the MP company's assigned area of Baghdad.

DeCoite, who grew up in West Maui and graduated from Lahainaluna High School, is very aware of the hazards of his occupation.

He is a Lahainaluna classmate of Master Sgt. Kelly Bolor, who was killed in action on Nov. 15, 2003, on a mission near Mosul, Iraq.

"I want to express my condolences to the family of Kelly Bolor. He was my classmate, Class of 1984," DeCoite said.

He noted he also learned another Lahaina soldier, Pfc. Jay Cajimat, died in Iraq on April 6, after Cajimat's vehicle was struck by a roadside bomb.

"He was another soldier from Lahaina, and I just would like to express my condolences to his family," DeCoite said.

He said he enlisted in the Army as soon as he graduated and was sworn in in January 1985. He has been with the military police since, with deployments to combat zones during the first Gulf War in 1990, in a military action in Haiti and to Baghdad last year. All of his training has been with the Army.

"In the Army, we have courses we go to for noncommissioned officers, but a majority of what I've learned is what I picked up from my sergeants as I was going through the ranks. You pay attention to what they do and how they do it and you pick it up and use it," he said.

His mother and stepfather, Cheryl and Robert Takahashi, still live in Lahaina, while his father, James DeCoite Sr., lives in Makawao. He also has two sisters, Laurie DeCoite and Kimberley Takahashi.

"They know about the medal, and they're proud that I received it," Sgt. DeCoite said.

That's when Devitt noted that Sgt. DeCoite "is nominated for the Combat Action Badge by the senior brigade command for his heroic actions under fire in direct contact with the enemy in August 2006 in Baghdad."

DeCoite did not detail the incident beyond acknowledging that his unit came under enemy fire.

"No," he said. His mom wasn't told about it – until now.