Robert G.K. Stevens is stationed in Mosul, Iraq.
Photo courtesy of Catherine Roberts
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By Catherine "Ma" Roberts
My son, Sgt. 1st Class Robert G.K. Stevens, is stationed at Mosul, Iraq. He is with the 3rd Brigade/Stryker Brigade from Ft. Lewis, Wash. Robert is a 1979 graduate of Castle High School. His wife and family reside in Roy, Washington. He is missed and loved very much by his 'ohana here in Hawai'i and his 'ohana in Roy. We are proud of him, and we wish him and the rest of the military in Iraq a safe journey home.
Malama pono, my son.
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John Steele and his wife, Krista, and daughter, Mandalyn, on the day he left for Afghanistan.
Steele family photo
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By Krista Steele
My husband, 24-year-old John Steele, deployed in early March to Afghanistan. He is in Kandahar with his unit, Bravo 3/7 Field Artillery.
He joined the Army in 1999. He truly loves his job and loves his country. He takes great pride in being a soldier.
We have been married for three years and have spent two of them here in beautiful Hawai'i. Our 17- month-old daughter, Mandalyn, was born here. He also has a 7-year-old son named John Michael who lives in Texas.
To Johnny: I want you to know how proud I am of you. You've been my best friend and the love of my life, and now I can add hero to the list. You and all of your fellow soldiers are heroes. Don't ever forget it. We haven't forgot about all of you still there fighting for us. I think about you every second of every day. You are with me always in my heart and in my prayers. I can't even begin to describe how much I love you. Mandalyn and I miss you like crazy.
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Cpl. Josh Schick and his wife, Cassandra, were married on Aug. 1 in Pearl City. |
By Cassandra Schick
My husband, Cpl. Josh Schick, was deployed to Kirkuk, Iraq, on Jan. 22. He and his unit, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment Wolfhounds of Schofield Barracks, are scheduled for a 12-month deployment.
Josh graduated from Oshkosh West High School in Wisconsin in 2001, and I graduated from Winneconne High School in Wisconsin in 2003. We have been together for over four years, and we were married on Aug. 1, 2003, in Pearl City.
To Josh: I look up to you, miss you, love you and support you so very much for everything that you are doing. I cannot wait for the day that I get to see your smiling face again, and give you the biggest hug and never let go. Just remember, when the days get really hard — you have so many people praying for you and supporting you … we all love you and miss you.
Hurry up and get home — all of our love, always!
Your babygurl & all family — HOOAH!
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Abe Smith |
By Lisa Gore
This is my brother, Abe Smith, stationed in Hawai'i with his wife, Rachael, and their children. We are very proud of Abe. He did his basic training at Fort Benning, Ga. Hawai'i was his first tour of duty, and he has loved every minute of it.
When he was called for this war, he never wavered. He was ready. A true son of Tennessee, he would have volunteered in a minute. His entire family stands firmly behind him, supporting him in every way, and we would hope that every American would stand behind him and all the rest of our soldiers who are putting their lives on the line to fight for our values and beliefs.
To know that he is over there to defend our system of beliefs is awe-inspiring to me. I pray each day for his and all the men and women's safe return.
We love and miss you Abe. Come home soon.
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Spc. Chad J. Sagaysay |
My son, Spc. Chad J. Sagaysay, joined the Hawai'i Army National Guard as a Waialua High School junior in 1998. He and more than 60 soldiers from Wahiawa's Company B, 193rd Aviation helicopter main-tenance unit left Hawai'i in August for Afghanistan. They will provide helicopter main-tenance for Army forces in Operation Enduring Freedom.
I am a retired Hawai'i Guard recruiter, and I enlisted Chad. His mother and I say, "Watch out for yourself and remember we will always love you."
— Lawrence Sagaysay
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My husband, Sgt. Domonic Sumailo, is proudly serving in the U.S. Army in Iraq. Domonic deployed from Fort Carson, Colo., on April 15 to Kuwait and a month later he was serving in Iraq. He is with the 3rd Squadron 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
Domonic is a 1999 graduate of Campbell High School. He is proud to be from Hawai‘i. Before he left for Kuwait he got the Hawaiian Islands tattooed across his chest. In the accompanying photo, he is in Iraq teaching the people how to shaka. True local boy.
His wife, daughter, family and friends are very proud of him and miss him dearly. Our prayers go out to him and all of the soldiers defending our country. We love you, Domonic!
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Jerry D. Souza Jr. |
Hi, my name is AO1(AW/SW) Jerry D. Souza Jr. from Hilo. I'm a 1990 graduate of Waiakea High School. I have been in the Navy for 11 years, having joined in January 1992.
Right now I'm in the Persian Gulf on board the guided-missile cruiser USS Princeton, which is based in San Diego. I work on the SH-60B aircraft from HSL-47 DET-5.
— Jerry D. Souza Jr.
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Marine Sgt. Ronald Souza provided security for the U.S. Embassy in Kuwait. Next up, protecting forces at the Pentagon.
Souza family photo
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One of the few, the proud, a Marine. That is our son, Sgt. Ronald Souza. He has been stationed in Kuwait providing security for the U.S. Embassy.
He graduated from Kailua High School in 1997 and joined the Marine Corps in March 1998.
His tour in Kuwait ended at the end of May. His next duty station will be at the Pentagon, providing security for the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
We miss him and love him very much.
— Barbara Souza
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1st Lt. Mark Snakenberg, a 1997 Punahou School graduate, helped lead the drive into Baghdad.
Snakenberg family photo
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Our family would like to recognize and thank our oldest son, Mark Kawika Snakenberg, for his sacrifice and service to his country as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
First Lt. Snakenberg is an Army tank platoon leader, in charge of four M1A2 Abrams tanks. He was in the lead element of the 3rd Infantry Division's armored force on the drive to Baghdad.
His platoon fought through the Karbala Gap and into downtown Baghdad. Once the fighting "stopped" on April 9, most of the Iraqi people gave them a very warm welcome.
Mark is a 1997 graduate of Punahou School and Indiana University. He is the son of Lt. Col. David and Ann Snakenberg and brother to Aaron Alika Snakenberg, soon to follow in his older brother's Army footsteps.
— David and Ann Snakenberg
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Ekkie Stiller |
Our big brother, Ekkie Stiller, sends his greetings to you. He is spending his "dream vacation at the world's largest waterless beach." Ekkie is a graduate of West Point's bicentennial class of 2002. He is proud to defend the interests of the United States and we are proud of him.
Our father had escaped from East Germany to the American sector of West Germany that was liberated by American GIs. Our father had tears in his eyes when he saw the statue of Saddam topple; he was so proud that his son took part in the liberation of Iraq.
Our mother is from Japan, which also was liberated by Americans. So we have a lot to be thankful for to America. Our dad wonders what the world would be like without the United States.
We are proud of our troops and pray for their safe return. God bless America.
— Olivia and Eleonore Stiller
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The picture is of 1st Lt. Kyle Sunada of Kaimuki, Sgt. DeLeon of Guam, and 2nd Lt. Michael Saulibio of Kaua'i.
We are sitting around, listening to Three Plus, eating local candies (li hing mango, arare, dried guava, ika, and marlin jerky), and talking story. We are stationed at Camp Wolf in Kuwait as part of the 47th Combat Support Hospital. Other Islanders here include Lt Katie Mobley and Pfc. Garcia of O'ahu.
We would like to thank everyone that has been sending their aloha here to bring us a little closer to home.
— 2nd Lt. Michael D. Saulibio
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Our hero is Spc. Joseph Simpliciano Jr. Joe's unit is 1-41 Infantry, which is stationed at Fort Riley, Kan.
He is originally from Wai'anae. Joe graduated from Wai'anae High School in 1993. Then he decided to serve our country in November 2000. He loves the military so much that he re-enlisted this year.
We just wanted to send our aloha to him for all he has done. We are very proud of him. Our families pray for him every day and for his safe return, also for the other brave men and women who are serving our country. We love you and miss you so come home as soon as you can.
Love, your cousin, Janell Mercado and the whole gang at Wai'anae
— Janell Mercado
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"Ben" Steele is a gunner with the Army’s 4th Infantry division in Iraq.
Steele family photo
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Spc. Benjamin "Ben" Steele, son of Francis "Dutch" Steele and Wanda "Shorty" Cross, and brother to David Steele (deceased), Nalani Short and Tiare Romero, is proudly serving his country in Iraq with the Army's 4th Infantry Division as a gunner on a Bradley fighting vehi
Ben, 21, was born at the old Kaiser Hospital and lived in Waimanalo before moving to the Mainland with his mother, brother and sisters.
He considers both Hawai'i and New Mexico his home states as he has many friends and 'ohana in both places. He attended Waiau Elementary School in Pearl City, and graduated from Logan High School in Logan, N.M.
Ben paddled for Lanikai Canoe Club as he has a great affinity and affection for the ocean. He said to make sure his surfboards are ready upon his return as the ocean is what he thinks of while looking at the sand dunes in Iraq (when there isn't a sand storm in progress).
We are very proud of Ben for having the courage to stand in harm's way for his country.
We pray every day for the safe return of Ben and his fellow soldiers.
We ask that all Americans support their troops regardless of their personal views concerning this war.
— Francis "Dutch" Steele
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Sgt. Siaosi Savelio |
Aloha, my name is Penina Savelio and this is a photo of my daddy Sgt. Siaosi Savelio. My dad is with the 3rd Infantry Division from Ft. Stewart, GA. His unit is 3-15 Infantry.
I just wanted to send my aloha to my daddy for all that he has done. Before we moved to Georgia, we were stationed in Schofield Barracks, Hawai'i.
My dad loves Hawai'i and I hope when he returns from Iraq, we'll be heading back to the Islands.
His favorite local treat is the dried mangoes. The one thing he misses the most about Hawai'i is the FOOD — Hawaiian, Korean, Samoan food.
Daddy hurry home!!! We are very proud of you. We love and miss you.
Love you
— Mommy, Penina, & Tobias Savelio
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USMC Lance Cpl. Stephen J. Shewell is an air traffic control radar technician.
Shewell family photo
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We are from Kailua and are the proud parents of Lance Cpl. Stephen J. Shewell. Stephen is an air traffic control radar technician assigned to MACS-1, Det. B out of Miramar in California. He is serving in Kuwait/Iraq. Stephen graduated from the Academy of the Pacific in 1995 and went on to get a two-year degree in electronics from the Electronics Institute in Honolulu. Stephen joined the Marine Corps in July 2000.
After basic training, Stephen attended school in Pensacola, Fla., to learn his military occupational skill. He loves the Marine Corps and his job.
We all miss Stephen dearly but know that he is doing the job that he was trained to do. We pray daily for Stephen's safe return home. It is reassuring to know that there are young people like Stephen defending our country and our beliefs. God bless America and our American fighting men and women.
— Pam and Dennis Shewell
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My son, Donald Serrao, is with the Marines' 1st Force Reconnaissance Unit (4th Force attached to the Marine base in Kane'ohe) in the Persian Gulf. It was his dream to be a Marine, and at the age of 17 — the day after his graduation from Pearl City High School in 1994 — he enlisted and left for boot camp. Active in the Marine Reserve, he was called to active duty on Jan. 13, 2003, and left for Kuwait on Feb. 9. When Donald isn't being a Marine, he's a sales associate at Sports Authority. Donald is intelligent, gentle and kind, with a wild sense of humor. He loves all sports and plays them well, even football in the Kuwait desert. Donald has three brothers, three sisters and 18 nieces and nephews who miss him terribly. We love him, worry about him and pray that God will keep him and all our troops safe. He is truly our hero.
— Jeri Serrao
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If you know someone in the military from or based in Hawai'i serving our country in the Persian Gulf, please send us a photo and a few words about him or her to: alohatroops@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Submissions may be published or distributed in print, electronic and other forms.
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Aloha Troops
