By Lysa Jump

This is a photo of my husband, Timothy Jump, the day he left for Iraq. He is with the 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines H&S Company at Kane'ohe Bay. He joined the service in 2000.

Timothy is from Naperville, Ill. We have two children, Breanna, 10, and Cullan, 8.

His unit deployed on March 19 to Haditha Dam, Iraq. They are due home in late October or early November.

We love and miss him very much. We wish all our military the best and a quick and safe return home!

By Staff Sgt. James Pacheco

We are stationed at Camp Ali and are enjoying the extreme heat. We'd like to thank all the people of Hawaiçi and our home unit, the 291st CBCS, for their support and aloha.

Staff Sgt. Lowrey Kim of the 291st Combat Com Squadron from Hilo helps prepare supplies for a convoy out of Camp Ali in Iraq.

Master Sgt. Lazaro Joaquin of the 291st Combat Com Squadron sends his thanks to the people of Hawai'i for their support and aloha.

This is a picture of my brother and his friends at Aloha Stadium in October, when our Hawai'i National Guard were honored prior to their deployment. I just want to tell my brother Brad how much we love him and how proud we are of him! I was very happy to see you on your R & R and I can't wait to see you again. This is poem that I wrote for my brother, and I would like to share it with everyone because we are all one big family praying for one thing, which is that our soldiers return home safe to their loved ones. Much aloha and love to each and every one of you, including my brother.

Family

A family is someone always being there
Through good times and bad
A family always has a listening ear
Whenever you feel sad.

A family is nothing without one another
No matter how many friends you may have
A family keeps you sane
By filling you up with lots of laughs.

Family is what we have now
And no one can break that bond
No matter how far away you are
Our hearts will always beat as one.

So as you gaze up into the sky
So many miles away
Just remember one thing,
Our love as family will always be the same.

I just found this spot on the Web, and I am so happy to see the military news link. This is a photo of my son, Spc. Ron Johnson, left, and his “best man,” Spc. Brian Roberts, next to the barracks in Mosul, Iraq.

Ron and his wife, Tara, were married Aug. 1, 2004, on Waikïkï Beach. Ron is from Minnesota and Brian is from Oklahoma. Both are stationed at Schofield Barracks, 17th Corps Support Battalion.

My fiance, PV2 Nicholas L. Jaber, is deployed with 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, in Iraq. This is the last picture we took together before he left the next morning to the Middle East. Before he joined the military, he lived in Kailua, Hawai'i, with his family. He calls Hawai'i home. I'm very proud of him! Despite many difficult situations in Fort Stewart, Ga., he stuck to his dreams. Although he may be deployed for as long as 18 months, I'm doing my very best to stay positive for our sake. Nick, I miss you and love you SO much and I can't wait until you can come home safely. I know your family in Hawai'i and California misses you very much, too! I look forward to getting married and spending the rest of my life with you! You're my inspiration and the best thing that has ever happened to me. Just thinking about it bring tears to my eyes, not out of sadness but out of joy being with you. I love you! Always, your soon-to-be wife, Marisa.

This is my college friend, Pfc. DeWayne Jones Jr., when he was on leave in Hawai'i in October. He is a very hard-working, brave and strong soldier who was deployed to serve our country in Kwangju, South Korea, with the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. It will be at least a year until I see him again. I miss him with all my heart and pray for God's angels to guard him and keep him safe daily. Each day for us is a tremendous trial as we are separated by miles and miles of ocean, and face this world together in times of upheaval and uncertainty. However, we both trust and take comfort in the unfailing strength of the Lord. He is the rock that is unwavering and the reason in which we live and have hope. I miss you, DeWayne Jr. ,with all my heart and will be here waiting when you return. Your 'ohana here in Hawai'i loves you very much and we send our prayers and aloha to you.

The father of three and a wonderful husband has recently deployed to Afghanistan with the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. Although it has only been three days since he left, if feels like a lifetime. He is a strong Marine as all others are. Please keep them in your prayers. God bless to all members serving our country.

Our son is Lance Cpl. Stephan A. Bell, who is serving in Iraq. He is from Carrollton, Texas. He graduated from boot camp at Camp Pendleton last year and was stationed in Hawai'i for the next 3 : years. He will be celebrating his 20th birthday Dec. 12 while serving in Iraq. He is getting married next year to Sarah Gingles, his high-school girlfriend, in Addison, Texas. We miss him and look forward to seeing him soon. Cheryl, Ken and Corey.

This is a picture of my son, Spc. Michael Jones of Schofield's Headquarters and Support Company, 84th Engineer Battalion, during a convoy run to Kuwait. He made two trips to pick up equipment: first for equipment that had broken down after their arrival, and a second trip to pick up new equipment. He took a lot of pictures and even remembered to take a few of himself. He is missed by his mom and dad in California.

This is my soldier, my soul mate, my love, Spc. Nathaniel Johnson, who's from HHC, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment. He has been in Kirkuk, Iraq, since January. I just want to let my husband know that Anna, Zachary and I love him and miss him very much.

Spc. Geoffrey C.W. Johnson

These are our sons Bryceson and Geoffrey who proudly serve in the U.S. Army with the 25th Infantry at Schofield.

Words can not adequately express how much we love and miss our sons. Their return is anxiously awaited by their brother Matthew who is living in Hawai'i after having moved there to be closer to his brothers.

We are joined by our lovely daughter-in-law Janel and grandson Keegan, as well as grandparents Trish and Chuck Cates, all of Spokane, Wash., in wishing them a safe and speedy return.

Keep strong in your faith my sons, and know that while you are away our Father has wrapped his loving arms around you. 

This is a picture of my husband, Spc. Kevin Jones, who we love and miss so very much. He's from the 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, out of Schofield Barracks.

It's hard at times to get along without him but he's in Iraq for a good reason.

Kevin, if you are reading this, WE LOVE YOU!

By Elena Javillo

My son Brandon C. Javillo joined the Army in 2001 to better his life for himself and his two sons, 4-year-old Jahsaiah and 2-year-old Izraiah. He is an aircraft electrician and is stationed in Hanau, Germany. Brandon is originally from Palolo and graduated from Kaimuki High School. He is one of three sons; he has an older brother and a younger brother. His parents both still reside in Hawai'i. I am writing to you because we love him and miss him. We pray for his safety and a safe return home to Hawai'i.

Brandon, take care, and may God bless you all!

We're very proud of him, and he's my hero!

By Julia Matthews

This is my daughter Sgt. Maile A. Jenkins, who is with the 101st Airborne (Screaming Eagles). Maile has been in Iraq since just before the war started. She was born and raised in Honolulu, and graduated from Farrington High School in 1990. Maile joined the Army not long after graduation. Her husband, Chris, and their two children, Bree, 9, and Christopher, 5, are back in Fort Campbell, Ky. Maile is the youngest of three children, and I miss her so much.

She will be 31 on June 2, and there's no word on her coming home anytime soon.

She has served her country well; she was in Bosnia for nine months, in South Korea for one year and now in Iraq.

My hero indeed.

May God watch over them all.

Cory Jim photo

By Cpl. Cory M. Jim

I'm with 4th Force Recon Company stationed in Kane'ohe MCBH and am currently in Camp Commando Marine Corps Base Kuwait attached to 1st Force Recon Company. I just wanted to say hello to all my friends back home and my loving family and to assure them I am doing great as well as all the 4th Force Recon Marines. Wish me the best of luck as I move forward into Iraq.

By Stephanie A. Jucutan

My brother, John Jucutan, was deployed to Kuwait in February. This picture was taken just a few days ago. Despite everything that is going on, he still has his sense of humor! He's been serving 14 years in the Navy and resides in San Diego with a very supportive wife, Myra, and daughter, Sharla. The rest of his family lives here in Hawai‘i. All of us are praying for his safe return as well as the other soldiers who are fighting in Iraq.