Big Island soldiers who died in Vietnam War are honored – West Hawaii Today

U.S. Army 1st Lt. John Kauhaihao of Captain Cook was just 27 when he was killed in action on Sept. 5, 1969, in Tay Ninh Province during the Vietnam War.

He was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross — the Army’s second-highest military decoration for extraordinary heroism in combat, below only the Medal of Honor — in addition to the Purple Heart and other military honors.

Kauhaihao’s name now graces the U.S. Post Office in Captain Cook.

At the Keaukaha Military Reservation in Hilo on Friday, his 83-year-old widow, Shirley Kauhaihao, was among dozens honoring him and other Hawaii Island military members killed in action in the Southeast Asian nation.

The memorial service, hosted by the Big Island National Guard Retirees’ Association and the 1st Squadron 299th Cavalry Regiment, marked National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which is technically today. Today’s date is a fitting choice, as March 29, 1973, was the day the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam, was disbanded and the last U.S. combat soldier departed Vietnam. It was also around this date that Hanoi released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.

Shirley Kauhaihao, who had four children with the decorated hero, drove from Kona to attend the ceremony. She said the memorial at KMR bearing her husband’s name and nine others whose service, like her husband’s, began with the National Guard — assures “these men will never be forgotten, that they will live forever.”

In addition to the 10 whose names are engraved on the memorial, there were 42 other Big Island service members whose ultimate sacrifice was commemorated.

One, Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Yano of Kealakekua, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for sacrificing his own life on Jan. 1, 1969, near Bien Hao, to clear a helicopter of prematurely detonating explosives that could have downed the aircraft and killed crew mates.

The 25-year-old air cavalryman was originally laid to rest at the National Memorial of the Pacific at Punchbowl in Honolulu. At his family’s request, however, his remains were re-interred on Nov. 11, 2025, Veterans Day, at the West Hawaii Veterans Cemetery in Kailua-Kona. Yano Hall, a county Parks and Recreation community center in Captain Cook, is named after him.

Retired Col. Gerald Takase, BINGRA president and the event’s emcee, noted that the fallen service members were honored “in the shadow of our ongoing conflict” with Iran and urged the dozens in attendance to “remember all service members at this time.”

A proclamation from Gov. Josh Green, presented by Peter Sur, Green’s East Hawaii liaison, asked Hawaii residents “to contemplate the price of peace and and to express appreciation to those who have borne the unequal burden of war.”

Maj. Keoki Leong, executive officer of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 1st Squad, 299th Cavalry, delivered the keynote address written by Brig. Gen. Tyson Tahara, the commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard. Tahara couldn’t leave Oahu because of duties related to the aftermath of the recent Kona low storms.

“Whether private or general, when called upon, like these brave soldiers we honor today, we answer,” Leong said.

From Tahara’s prepared speech, Leong noted the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade “lost 29 soldiers.”

“What are the odds that the number would match? That is 29 too much,” he said. Leong added the “bravery and honor of the lava brigade” earned the brigade 40 Purple Hearts, 187 Bronze Stars, 87 Air Medals, four Silver Stars, two Legions of Merit and a Distinguished Service Medal.

“To the ‘ohana of Vietnam veterans, you served as well,” Leong said for Tahara. “You endured long separations, uncertainties — and for some, profound loss.

“Your strength sustained those who wore the uniform, and your sacrifices are part of this legacy.”

He added that Vietnam veterans “answered their nation’s call during one of the most complex and challenging conflicts in our history.”

“Today, we recognize not only their service, but their sacrifice, their resilience and their enduring legacy …,” Leong said.

“These veterans are inspirations of bravery, the standard of heroes in the flesh — and they are the most valuable reminder of the cost of war.”

Each fallen service member’s name was read and a bell tolled for each name. In addition to Kauhaihao and Yano, they are:

Army

• Sgt. 1st Class Edward Loo Jr., Waimea;

• Sgt. Wilfredo B. Andrada, Hilo;

• Sgt. Alberto Milar Jr., Hilo;

• Cpl. Glenn Shibata, Kealakekua;

• Spec. 4 Larry Leopoldino, Hilo;

• Spec. 4 Frank Longakit, Hilo;

• Pfc. Dennis Penis, Honomu;

• Pfc. Dennis Silveri, Pahoa;

• Spec. 4 Gilbert Olivar, Kurtistown;

• Spec. 4 George Luis, Pahoa;

• Spec. 5 Delmore Nerveza, Hilo;

• Spec. 4 Wallace Matayoshi, Hilo;

• Spec. 4 John Cabrera, Kohala;

• 1st Sgt. Samuel Solomon Jr., Hawi;

• Spec. 4 Bobby Barcena, Hakalau;

• Sgt. James Kajiwara, Hilo;

• Staff Sgt. James Lindsey, Naalehu;

• Sgt. Eugene Castaneda, Honokaa;

• Spec. 5 Kaoru Honda, Hilo;

• 1st Lt. Lawrence Gallego, Papaaloa;

• Sgt. 1st Class George Salema, Kurtistown;

• Staff Sgt. Momi Kane, Kailua-Kona;

• Spec. 5 Aaron Hervas, Kailua-Kona;

• Spec. 5 Wolfgang Mohl, Papaikou;

• Spec. 4 Fred Hatada, Hilo;

• Sgt. 1st Class John Salazar, Kohala;

• Sgt. 1st Class Seichi Sakai, Kohala;

• Pfc. Fernando Valdez, Pepeekeo;

• Spec. 4 Michael Nakashima, Hilo;

• Pfc. Errol Perreira, Hilo;

• Spec. 4 Mose Kuahiwinui Jr., Kurtistown;

• Cpl. Robert Lazarus, Waimea;

• Sgt. Herman Ban, Hilo;

• Spec. 4 Calvin Serain, Ookala;

• Warrant Officer Wayne Hedeman, Kealakekua;

• Sgt. 1st Class Alfredo Sanut, Paauhau;

• Staff Sgt. Steve Johnson, Kailua-Kona;

• Sgt. Joseph Gaa Jr., Kealakekua;

• Sgt. Lester Alipio, Hakalau;

• Spec. 4 Terence Ogata, Hilo;

• Spec. 5 Arthur Kawachika, Hilo;

Marine Corps

• Cpl. Charles Iopa, Hilo;

• Lance Cpl. Harold Llanes, Kailua-Kona;

• Gunnery Sgt. Kenyu Shimabukuro, Hilo;

• Lance Cpl. Keith Puhi, Holualoa;

• Pfc. Charley Paro, Kohala;

• Lance Cpl. Hayward Peleiholani, Pahoa;

• Capt. John Peacock II, Kailua-Kona;

Navy

• Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Steven Wolter, Hilo.

Email John Burnett at john.burnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.