By Larry Franquez

Wanted to send a photo of my son and two of his friends, who arrived homeJan. 10 after completing a tour of duty in Kuwait.

They flew on military transport from Kuwait to Spain and then on to San Diego and Los Angeles before arriving in Hawai'i via Hawaiian Airlines, after 40 hours of nonstop traveling.

They are the only Hawai'i Coast Guard members who left last February for Kuwait.

By Erna Faber

He is the proud parent of our two little boys, Tyler (2 years old) and Brayden (8 months). He is the son of Gary and Vicki Faber and brother of Jake Faber.

He was born and raised in Kailua and is a 1994 graduate of Kaläheo High School. He’s with the 608th Ordnance Company out of Fort Benning, Ga.

He joined the Army to serve our country and to pursue a career in firefighting. He is strong-willed and a very dedicated soldier. He truly misses the local foods, surfing and everything about Hawai'i. He’s our hero to our country and most of all, to us, his family.

A short note to him: Know that we love you and miss you very much. This is the first time you’re away from our family, especially during this holiday season. We hope that time will go by quickly. Know that you’re always in our thoughts and prayers, and that we look forward to your return home.

Love you always,
Erna, Tyler and Brayden

By DoVelyn-Paulette Kakalia

My uncle is my best hero and inspiration. He would like to thank his family and friends for supporting him on this mission and for their prayers. He is eating well, thanks to his nieces and nephews' constantly sending him goodies from Hawaiçi. Most of my little cousins think he's starving, but he definitely isn't.

Uncle Fomai is still as humorous as ever and is counting the days for his homecoming party with our family.

By Spc. Devin Feuerhelm

Hello from Iraq. I have been with the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry since September, when it mobilized to come over here.

One thing that is fun over here is meeting and greeting the children. Their faces light up every time we roll through the area. Although we do not have gifts and candy for them every time, they still smile and wave to us. Hopefully, if we touch one child’s heart here, it will rub off on the others. That’s what’s going to make the difference here.

I’m looking forward to returning to Hawaiçi and visiting before I make my way back to Wisconsin.

Aloha. This is a photo of my son, Petty Officer 1st Class Jon Franquez, and his family. Pictured with Jon, clockwise, are his wife, Patti, daughters Malina and Rebecca and son Zachary. Jon is a member of the Coast Guard Reserve. After completing a six-week Middle East training program with a fellow Hawai'i Coast Guard Reservist, Petty Officer 2nd Class James Wilson, they departed San Diego for Kuwait to start their 12-month tour of duty. We miss him already and wish him safe passage as he participates in the United States effort in the Middle East. We eagerly await his return.

Sgt. Dominic Fresch just arrived back at Schofield Barracks after being in Iraq for a year. He is in the 1st Battalion, 14th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division (Light). I am his mother, Denise Gerold, back in Arizona awaiting his arrival. We have all prayed for Dominic's safety and for his whole troop to arrive back safely. To all the troops who have just arrived back in Hawai'i, I want to thank them along with my son for a wonderful job they did in Iraq.

This is my husband, Sgt. Eddie Fonoti, a 1997 graduate of Wai'anae High School. He is currently deployed in Afghanistan and is serving with Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry "Cacti" of Schofield Barracks' 25th Infantry Division (Light). For Christmas and New Year's we were so fortunate to have him home for his R&R. We enjoyed every second he was here, and he had lots of fun with his two sons Micah (3 years old) and Matthew (10 months). His unit deployed in April 2004 when his younger son was only 3 weeks old. Now that my husband's unit is in the final stages of deployment, we just wait patiently as our soldiers come home to their wives, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters. I just wanted to thank each and everyone: family and friends who have supported my husband as well as me and our two boys here on the home front. Without your prayers and support, we wouldn't have made it through this deployment. But you sure did keep my husband strong as well as we did here back home. My husband, a dad, a brother, a son and a friend, is truly our hero. You just make us so proud. Thanks for being who you are, the strong, the brave and the courageous one. Thanks for making me feel as if you were always here with us when you called us or when you wrote to us. I love you, Eddie! Honey, I just can't wait to hold you in my arms again and have a normal life together as a family. Keep safe, baby, and always know we are praying for you. It's almost time for you to come home to us and your loco moco, too!! So hang in there! Thank you to all who are serving our country. Without you, we wouldn't be who and where we are today. May God continue to bless each and everyone for their safe return back home. With Christ's love and blessings, Cherilyn Fonoti, proud wife of Sgt.

An 18-member group of WWE entertainers visited Iraq and were flown into our son's forward operating base for a day during their stay. Here is a photograph of our son, Senior Airman Chris Frobuccino, who is based at Hickam Air Force Base, and his U.S. Air Force work partner, Jesse Wagnon. Both are deployed in Iraq. The generous visit by the WWE entertainers has greatly boosted the morale of this outpost, particularly since their original deployment has now been extended until sometime after the Iraqi elections. We are so very proud of all our soldiers and airmen and the hardships they are enduring in this quest for Iraqi freedom and thank you for your support of them.

Here are three Hawai'i Coast Guard reservists who are currently deployed and are providing harbor security at Guantanamo Bay (GTMO), Cuba. Pictured left to right, aboard a USCG port security vessel: Petty Officer Stan Fukuda, coxswain, of Pa'ia, Maui; Chief Petty Officer Ira Foshay, assistant engineering chief, of 'Ewa Beach; and Cmdr. Jack Laufer, officer in charge, of Kailua. These men exemplify the Coast Guard's motto of being Semper Paratus (Always Ready) and have been serving on active duty since April of this year; they are expected to return back to the Islands in time for the upcoming holiday season.

This is my husband, Sgt. Keonekealoha Pasirio Fatiaki of the United States Marine Corps. — a true local boy, born on O'ahu and raised in Kalihi. He is a proud 1995 graduate of Farrington High School (go Govs!). I was blessed to have met my husband while he was stationed at Camp Pendleton in California. We married in 1999 in my hometown of Oceanside, Calif., and moved to Kane'ohe Marine Corps Base. We recently relocated back to Camp Pendleton, where Keone is a proud member of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. He is now in Iraq serving our country and we miss him a whole lot. We think about him daily and our prayers are with him every day and yours will be greatly appreciated.  Despite many differences that we had growing up, my husband is one of the most influential people that I have ever met in my life. He is a wonderful husband, father and most of all "best friend"! Him being in Iraq is very difficult for me to handle right now. We are expecting our third baby around Christmas and this will be the first time he will not be there for the delivery. My oldest son asks for his daddy daily and prays to God to protect him. There are so many wonderful things to say about Keone that I don't think there's enough room to type it all down. I love Keone with all my heart and soul — just getting a letter fills my day with so much happiness, it makes the days easier to live through. We pray for his safe return during these difficult times in Iraq. He tells us that he is doing good and that he is not scared. He writes in his letter that "God has a plan for all of us and that I should prepare myself mentally for anything." He also writes that he often daydreams about being with us and doing family activities. Keone, you are always in our hearts and we love you honey! All our love always, Teuila, Lance and Baby Keonekealoha — the Fatiaki Aiga!

This is our hero, Nigel. His encouraging words are: "Time won't wait for anyone," and "Things can only get better." As a soldier, let us address him as Sgt. Nigel Aganon Fagaragan. We salute him for his courage and dedication defending America and humanity. He is fighting the war in Afghanistan. As dangerous as it is, he always assures us not to worry for he is well-trained. Yes, it is part of his adventurous nature to have easily learned and be able to apply the tactics the U.S. Army equipped him with. Nigel, you are a brave soldier. You are a soldier of God. Put on the full armor of God. We can't wait to see you come back victorious.

Sgt. Puletua Fili is a 1998 graduate of Farrington High School.

He served as an assistant operation NCO for the Phantom Command III Corps at Camp Victory, Iraq. He is an infantryman from 'Ewa Beach and a native of Taputimu, American Samoa.

His unit is out of Fort Hood, Texas. Sgt. Fili is a great volleyball player and a good role model. He is a very outgoing and a funny person. Sgt. Fili deployed to Iraq on Jan. 3 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Sgt. Fili is 24 years old, son of Mose and Tulei Wilson of Taputimu. He is also known as "Pule" to a lot of people in Hawai'i and Texas.

He misses his church choir in Killeen, Texas, and 'Ewa Beach, as well as his family.

By Candace Murphy

This is my son, Sgt. Chad Foster, who is very much missed by all. His wife, Heather, and his newborn son, Donovin Paul Michael Foster, are in Hawai'i. I, along with his brother Patrick and extended family in Massachusetts, await his safe return. Chad was deployed to Iraq from his home base in Hawai'i four days before the birth of his son.  We are all very proud of him for serving his country. We pray for him to return to us safe. 

By Jane C. Fau

My son, Spec. Frank H. Fau, is serving in Afghanistan.

He is with the Company B, 193rd Aviation Helicopter Maintenance Unit that left Hawai'i in August. 

He joined the Hawai'i Army National Guard soon after his graduation from Pearl City High School in 1987. Frank was very excited to go and was looking forward to fulfilling his duty while the unit was getting ready for deployment.

While on deployment he has called home several times. He misses Hawai'i, his family and friends, especially his daughter, Remi. 

We miss him a lot and pray that he and his fellow brothers in the unit have a safe return home soon. We love you, Frank. Take care of yourself.

Love,

Mom and the rest of the 'ohana.

By Todd Falcon Sr.

My son, Todd Falcon Jr., was born and raised in 'Ewa Beach and joined the Navy in July 2000. He is stationed aboard the carrier USS Kitty Hawk, which was deployed to the Persian Gulf. His duties are on the flight deck, which runs 24/7.

The limited contact through e-mails show him to be in fine spirits. The crew was working 12 hours on, 12 hours off.

His mom, sister and I are very proud of him and of all the sailors and soldiers stationed overseas.

By Sarah Akiona

My grandson, Francis M.A. Ferris, originally from Hawai'i, is serving his country somewhere in Iraq.

He also has several cousins serving in the armed forces.

This grandmother loves him and prays for him every day. God bless our armed forces.

By Lisa Nakasone, a classmate of Ferguson's from Waipahu High, class of 1982

Patrick Ferguson is serving in the U.S. Army Special Forces Unit based in Kuwait. Attached is a photo received in January depicting the local adage "You can take the boy out of Hawai'i, but you can't take Hawai'i out of the boy."

Having lived on the Mainland, I know the feeling of missing local grinds from home. An aloha care package was sent to him in Kuwait in February. It will be a while until Pat receives the package, due to the start of the conflict. Hopefully, the mochi crunch and crack seeds will survive the journey.