Thousands of Hawai'i troops are serving overseas on ships and in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan, but it's not the only places they are making a difference.

Army Sgt. 1st Class Sharlinda Warner led church group visits to Wahiawa General Hospital and volunteered with the Special Olympics, assisting in scorekeeping and coaching youngsters. She also coordinates a support group for families of soldiers deployed to Iraq.

Navy Petty Officer Dieu Ngo, born in Vietnam, collected $1,036 worth of canned goods for charity and assisted more than 200 children at the 2006 Special Olympics Holiday Classic.

Ryan Yung, meanwhile, a senior airman with the Hawai'i Air National Guard, was called a volunteer "tour de force." Yung, who grew up in Mo'ili'ili, volunteered more than 200 hours with UH's Friends of the Family Club.

He was student ambassador with a UH food drive and collected school supplies for deployed Marines to hand out to children.

The three service members, along with Coast Guard Marine Science Technician Elizabeth Yeager, Marine Staff Sgt. Crystal Havey and Air Force Master Sgt. Thomas Yaron, were recognized yesterday for their community service at the 22nd annual Military Recognition Luncheon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The six were nominated by their branch of service or by local charities.

"Our honorees are outstanding representatives of our nation's best," said presenter Don Horner, president and chief executive of First Hawaiian Bank. "Hawai'i is a better place because of them."

Horner added, "One of the reasons we enjoy a quality of life in the Islands is that the servicemen and women stationed in Hawai'i also volunteer in our communities, even while they serve our country."

About 450 military personnel and 550 civilians attended the recognition luncheon, which is part of Military Appreciation Month.

The Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i hosted the event with sponsors First Hawaiian Bank, BAE Systems and Alexander & Baldwin Inc.

"Thank you for opening your hearts, opening your community to each and every one of us who have come to this beautiful place we call Hawai'i," Gen. Paul Hester, commander of Pacific Air Forces and the keynote speaker, told the crowd.

Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com.