My boyfriend, Army Spc. Jarod Myers, is serving a yearlong deployment in Kirkuk, Iraq, with the 25th Infantry Division (Light). This picture was taken Jan. 15, a week before he was deployed.

He graduated from Columbia City High in Indiana, and joined the Army right out of school. He celebrated his 20th birthday in Iraq on Wednesday.

Jarod is very special to many people. He is a very loving son, brother, uncle, cousin, nephew and grandson. Everyone is very proud of his hard work and dedication to our country. He is greatly missed.

To Jarod: I miss you more than I could ever explain, and I can't wait till the day you come home to your family and loved ones. Be safe and careful; you are in everyone's prayers.

Originally from Florence, Ore., Jason joined the Army right out of high school. Schofield Barracks is his second duty station; this June he will have been in the Army six years.

I met him here in Hawai'i on Schofield Barracks in February 2002, and eight months later we were married. We have a 1-year-old daughter, Mahkaylah, who was born Feb. 12, 2003.

Jason missed Mahkaylah's first birthday, and he will probably miss her second also, but this is the price we pay to serve our country.

We support our troops, and I am proud of Jason and all of the other soldiers fighting in Iraq.

We are praying for their safety, and we miss him very much.

— Karrie Mehlhoff

At the tender age of 17, while in his senior year at the Mililani High School and as most of his friends were deciding what college to attend, Tyler made a major decision in his life. He decided to join the Army and serve his country while getting his education and gaining experience in the field he has a passion for: fixing cars.

Two months after high school graduation in 2002, Tyler was on his way to boot camp in Kentucky, then on to Maryland for his training as a diesel mechanic. Immediately after reporting to his home base, Fort Lewis in Washington state, in February, he was told that he would be heading for Kuwait.

As concerned parents, we were devastated to learn that our son would be serving in this hot spot, but there are so many parents, wives, sisters and brothers in this same situation and we all share the same feeling. We are so proud of our son and pray for him and his fellow soldiers every day for a safe, speedy return. We are so blessed to have such a wonderful son.

— Robert and Valerie Mata

Photo courtesy Lola E. Moss

— Lola Moss

Jennifer is a 1995 graduate of Mililani High School. She is a member of Central Union Church, where she taught Sunday school for 2 1/2 years.

After graduating from the University of Idaho in December 2000, she joined the Navy in the spring of 2001 and did her training in Pensacola, Fla. After being commissioned, Jennifer was assigned to surface warfare school in Newport, R.I. She is an anti-submarine warfare officer assigned to the USS Briscoe, which is part of the Truman battle group. Jennifer was deployed to the Mediterranean area in December 2002, and her ship has been active in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

Jennifer is due to return to her home port of Norfolk, Va., in the late spring. We plan to fly over to the East Coast to welcome her when she arrives. She has expressed the pride she feels for her ship and her shipmates. She is honored to serve our country and protect the liberties we all share.

Jennifer and all those serving in the armed forces deserve our thanks and support, and we pray for their safe return.

— Carl and Cyndi Medeiros of Mililani

I work on the jet engines of 10 F-14 D Super Tomcats. Many would say that I don't look like a "grease monkey" because I love to wear pink! But when it comes down to business, I'm all about work.

I have served with the USS Abraham Lincoln for almost four years, and took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom. We were at sea for a total of 10 months.

Since the USS Abraham Lincoln pulled out of Pearl Harbor on April 27, I have been enjoying my vacation with my family and friends. When I leave here, I will be taking a few days to be with my two older brothers in Arizona. Next stop is to California to visit my boyfriend, who was also on the 10-month deployment with me. From there, I will be heading back to NAS Oceana in Virginia to go back to work.

Overall, my Navy career has been a great experience: going to places I have never dreamed of visiting and meeting a whole bunch of incredible people. Thank you for all your prayers to each and every one of the troops and the whole crew of the USS Abraham Lincoln. I pray for those still out there defending our country. God Bless America!

— AD3 Monaliza Menor

Ku is a graduate of Leilehua High School and Jim got his GED from Youth Challenge. Ku is stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., with his wife Bianca and their two kids, Brianna and Alika. He is a heavy equipment mechanic with B Co., 426 FSB.

Jimbo is stationed in Fort Polk, La., with his wife Maureen. Jim is working as a vehicle driver with the S&T Troop RSS 2d ACR.

They are now both deployed overseas, part of coalition forces to liberate Iraq. Both are living the military life, proudly serving their country and fighting for what they believe in. Their family misses them a lot. And we, the family, are providing the best support we can at the home front.

— Jasmine and Jay Ragiles

— Michael Mullen

SFC Peter Millare has been in the U.S. Army for 17 years. He is with the 440th Signal Battalion stationed at Darmstadt, Germany. He is originally from Kalihi, and graduated in 1984 from McKinley High School. He is one of six children. His mother, Estella, and five other siblings still reside in Hawai'i.

Here at Darmstadt, he has one daughter, two sons and a loving wife who miss him dearly. We pray for his safe return. We would also like to say thank you to all who are making sacrifices to better our future.

May God bless all of you.

— Christina Millare

— Daniela Awai