By Charmaine Depaynos

This is a picture of my brother, Senior Airman Lorenzo Depaynos Jr., at right, taken at Balad Air Base in Iraq.

He was deployed with the 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron for six months.

He is back at Yokota Air Base in Japan after a short visit home with his family in Royal Kunia.

He wishes to express his thanks and gratitude to everybody for their support and prayers.

The person on the left is Senior Airman Houser.

By Donald M. Kyle

By Sheryl Ladrillono Dodge

This is a picture of my husband, Staff Sgt. Sean M. Dodge of çEwa Beach (formerly of Guam). Sean is assigned to the Fire Support Platoon (Hiki No!) of Headquarters and Headquarters Service Battery, 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery Regiment, but is attached to Company D, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, in Baghdad as the Fire Support NCO.

I just wanted to let everyone know how proud our family is of him. I look forward to the day when he and the rest of the troops come home, and I pray that God will continue to guide and protect our soldiers.

Sean, I’m so blessed to have you in my life. Keep the faith, babe. … We’re almost there! I’ll ask Auntie Lou to teach me that Chamorro dish, and my mom can refine my chicken adobo before you come home. I can’t wait to grow old with you! Sheryl, Cheçu Kalakas and the rest of the family.

This is a picture of our friend, Vincent deGuzman, at Camp Samek in Afghanistan. He is part of the 154th Communications Flight, Hawai'i Air National Guard, based at Hickam Air Force Base. He has been gone since February 2005. From your family and friends, we love you and thank you. May your journey be blessed from the time you have left to the time you return. And for the rest of our soldiers, here and still in the midst of the war, we leave you with a quote from Gaylord Nelson: "The ultimate test of a man's conscience may be his willingness to sacrifice something today for future generations whose words of thanks will not be heard." Again, we send our sincerest gratitude to our troops away and at home.

This picture is of my husband, 2nd Lt. Travis Dane. He is serving in Iraq as a platoon leader with Alpha Company, 2-299 Infantry, 29th Brigade Combat Team. He was originally a member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard before transferring to Hawai'i and becoming a member of the "Lava Brigade." I am so proud of him and of what a smart, level-headed, caring leader he is. I know he can take care of himself and will take good care of his men. It's just a matter of waiting out until what I think will truly be the happiest day of my life next to the day I pledged my love to him for the rest of my life: the day he walks in through the airport terminal, or welcome-home ceremony and back into my arms. I love you, Travis, and I am always thinking about you. Yours, Lindsey.

Ugay Wilfredo Dinong Jr. is not only my boyfriend of six years, but also my hero. He's training at Fort Bliss, Texas, about to get deployed to Iraq in a couple months. He's with the awesome 229th Military Intelligence Company. Every night before I sleep, I pray for him and all the men and women putting their lives out there for all of us. Please take care of yourselves and God bless you all! Behbeh, you're coming home in a couple weeks, but leaving a couple weeks after that. It'll be hard to let go. Behbeh, please be strong and always remember that I'm here for you no matter what. I miss you lots and I love you so much more!!! I love you, Your lil' butterfly. Jehan Casem Ugay sends her blessings to Spc. Wilfredo Dinong Jr., now training in Texas for deployment to Iraq.

This is a picture of our son, Staff Sgt. Jon-Paul Dafonte. All of his hometown friends from Port Bolivar, Texas, and his family miss him and can't wait until he is home again. He is currently stationed in Kirkuk, Iraq. His father is Dario and he has a brother, Jered, and a sister, Jenny. So Jon-Paul, if you read this, we love you very much and I hope you (had) a very Merry Christmas. We send you big hugs and kisses.

This is our son, Pfc. Brad Kekoa DeFabian-Silva, a 2003 graduate of Waimea High on Kaua'i. He is with the 82nd Airborne out of Fort Bragg, N.C., and is currently deployed in Iraq. He chose the Army to follow in the shadows of his grandfather, who served in the Vietnam era, and his older sister, who recently came home from Afghanistan. Brad completed his basic training at Fort Knox, Ky., his (military occupational specialty training) at Fort Lee, Va., and airborne training at Fort Benning, Ga. After his deployment to Iraq, he plans on furthering his training in the Special Forces. As do most parents, we would rather he had pursued a career that's not so dangerous. However, it's a choice he made and we are very proud of him and of all of our soldiers. I am honored for the sacrifices they've made to help make the world a better place. Although we are pleased that he is able to come home during the holidays, the circumstances are a bit saddened because his great-grandmother has passed. Ironically, I believe it was a gift from God that she chose this time to leave, so Brad can be with family and friends during the holidays. That for me makes this holiday season even more meaningful. Thank you God, thank you Grandma and welcome home for the holidays Brad! Merry Christmas to all of our soldiers and aloha for all of your sacrifices. We wish you all a safe homecoming.

Maj. Mike Davey, my husband, was raised in New York and joined the Army 16 years ago. We have been fortunate to be stationed here at Schofield Barracks for 2 : years within the 1-14 Infantry Battalion and the 2nd Brigade headquarters. He has been serving in Iraq since January. In mid-October, he completely surprised us by coming home on R&R. We didn't expect him to come home at all during the deployment. It was amazing to see him spend time with our son, Brandon, who is almost 2 (picture taken the last day of R&R). We were so grateful to have that time with him and are so excited for his return home in a few more months! We are very proud of Mike and all of his fellow soldiers serving overseas. Their contributions to the global war on terrorism are all so important. They are all heroes to us.

Sending our love to our families and friends in Hawai'i. Thanks for all the love and support. From left, Sgt. Davin Takahashi, Sgt. Blandena Pagulayan, Sgt. John Mercado, Sgt. Sonia Desamito-Dietz, Sgt. Rochelle Einjel Esmena and Sgt. Dexter Pascua. We are stationed at Camp Liberty in Baghdad.

This is our daughter, Ladda "Tammy" Duckworth, who is a company commander with the composite 185th Aviation Battalion (combined Illinois/Hawai'i National Guard) in Iraq. Tammy is a graduate of McKinley High School and the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. She is a helicopter command pilot, has been selected for promotion to major and is assigned to her battalion staff. We are very proud of Tammy and pray for her daily, so long as she is involved in combat actions.

Here is a photo of my proud husband, Sgt. Cliff Duffey. He is currently serving his yearlong tour in Iraq with the 25th Infantry Division (Light). He has been in the Army for 13 years and serves as a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment. He has five sisters who miss him very much in Tennessee (Go Vols). And I want the whole world to know how proud I am of him and his fellow soldiers. They and their families have been through a lot and we pray they come home safe and soon. Sincerely, a loving wife missing her heroic, courageous, wonderful husband.

This is a picture of PC3 Christopher Woodruff, left, and my son, GSMFN Ollie E. Dunlap IV, who are in the Navy on deployment on the USS Hopper. They have been deployed since June 2004; this picture was taken in Hong Kong. They have also been to Singapore, Muscat and Dubai. Ollie was born and raised in Hawai'i so his wife was quite elated when he also got stationed here! Woodruff and Dunlap are both musically talented.

This is Sgt. Ricky Dewitt and his squad stationed in Kirkuk, Iraq. They are assigned to the 25th Military Police Company at Schofield. Ricky, you and your soldiers are in our thoughts and prayers every day. We can't wait for you to all come home again! Everyone here is proud of what you are doing and are supporting you every step of the way. Robbie sends his love from Kandahar. We'll see you soon! name

This is the group High Intensity, which is on a long year deployment in Iraq. They are spreading the aloha with local island vibes that rock not only in the islands but in Iraq as well.

Also included in the band is the well-known artist Braddah Ira from the group Kolea.

Members of the band in Iraq is Sgt. Domingo, Spc. Sapolu, Sgt, 1st Class Pray and Staff Sgt. Crisco.

Anybody can say that they rocked Hawai'i, and now they can say they rocked Iraq! Look for the group High Intensity as they come back from Iraq to rock once again in Hawai'i.

This is my husband Spc. Rex Davidson. We met back in Texas when he was bull riding.

A year after he finshed basic training, we were married and have been happily married for about two years. 

He is serving his country in Afghanistan with A Co. 2-27 Infanry.  

Rocky, I know that it's going to be a while untill I see you. I want you to know that I love you very much and I can't wait until you're home so we can have that honeymoon we never had and make the best of things to come.

I can't wait until we grow old together so I can I love you as much as I did back when we were dating.

Hicks family photo

By P. Hicks

My daughter, Spc. Uilani Deshazior (aka Uilani Hicks), is a 1999 graduate of McKinley High School and joined the Army in April 2001. Her unit, the 27th Transporting Moving Control Team, is based in Germany but was deployed to Kuwait in February and now she's in Iraq.

Her job is to open up paths for the convoys. "You go, girl."

I'm so proud of her and all the men and women in the U.S. armed forces for keeping our nation safe so we can live in freedom and not in dictatorship. May God bless you one and all.

I love you, "Ui."

Love,

Mom

Submitted by Mary Simmers

By Mary Simmers

My son, Jason D. Dolan of Mililani, is with the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Campbell, Ky., with the Screaming Eagles, 101st Airborne Division, 3rd Brigade, Air Assault.

He has been in Iraq since February. He is a 1995 graduate of Mililani High School. He joined the Hawai'i Army National Guard and worked for Eagle Hardware and Garden before going active duty in 1997.

He is sorely missed by his brother, sister, mom, dad, grandma, and many aunties and uncles, as well as his sweetheart, Kandy Dorris, and her family in Tennessee.

Jason is strong and courageous. He is not afraid, because His Lord is with him and holds him in the palm of His hand.

By Eliseo F. Dumlao III,
Tech. Sgt, USAF

I am Tech. Sgt. Eliseo (Joe) Dumlao III. I graduated from Moanalua High School in 1991 and enlisted into the Air Force in 1992.

I am proudly representing my service, my wing (92d Air Refueling Wing, Fairchild AFB, WA), my squadron (92d Logistics Readiness Squadron), my family, and my home state of Hawai‘i in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

I am serving at Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait.

I would like to thank my family and friends back home on O'ahu for all your support, not only for me but for all the local boys and girls at my deployed locations.

I would like to send a special mahalo to my beautiful wife, Julie, in Washington for taking care of the home and myself.

I hope all the proud Aloha Troops return home safely to their families.

Aloha.

Dydasco family photo

By Jolyn and Elvin Dydasco

Our son, Sgt. Shaun K. Dydasco, was deployed to Kuwait on Feb. 17. He is with the 63rd Signal Battalion and stationed at Fort Gordon, Ga. He is from Kane'ohe and is a 1997 graduate of Castle High School. He joined the Army shortly after graduation.

Shaun is happily married and has two beautiful children, Khelynn, 4, and a brand-new baby son, Elvin-John, who was born on March 14. Shaun is doing fine and is very eager to return to the United States to reunite with his family and to finally hold his son whom he knows only via pictures and the cries on the telephone.

To all our family and friends who sent letters and care packages to him: Mahalo! He can't get enough of the cuttle fish, mochi crunch, li hing mui everything and all the other 'ono snacks sent his way. Thank you also for keeping Shaun in your prayers. We are so very proud of him and love and miss him very much and pray for his safe return.

God bless you all, and God bless America!

By 2nd Lt. Michael D. Saulibio

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.

By Erin Nichols

1st Lt. Nick Dvonch, of Kailua, is proudly serving in the U.S. Army. Nick is a 1997 graduate of Punahou School, and a 2001 graduate of the University of Hawai‘i, where he earned his commission through UH Army ROTC.

Upon graduation Nick completed the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course, and earned his Airborne and Air Assault badges, and Ranger qualifications.

He is assigned to 2/319th Field Artillery Division, with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C.

Nick deployed in February in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and is serving as the Fire Support Officer for B Co, 3/325th Airborne Infantry. He has been involved in combat, stability and support operations between Kuwait and Baghdad.

Nick's family and friends are very proud of him. We love and miss him lots, and pray for his safe and quick return home.