Big Island military deaths during the Korean War

HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald Volunteer Bob Lovin of the Akaka Falls Lions Club applied a sealant and enhancer to the outside of the new Korean War Memorial Friday in preparation for Saturday's dedication.
Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

The following are the names, rank, branch, unit, hometown and date of Big Island military killed in action during the Korean War:

• Lt. Peter E. Arioli Jr., Navy, 7th Marine Regiment, Waimea, Dec. 3, 1950*

• Pfc. Hiroshi Asada, Army, 27th Infantry Regiment, Mountain View, Aug. 10, 1952

• Pfc. Albert Asau, Army, 19th Infantry Regiment, Hilo, March 8, 1951

• Cpl. David Aspili, Marines, 1st Marine Regiment, Olaa, Aug. 10, 1952*

• Pfc. Douglas A. Burke, Army, 21st Infantry Regiment, Honokaa, Oct. 15, 1951

• Sgt. 1st Class Justin M. DeMello Jr., Army, 5th Regimental Combat Team, Hilo, Sept. 18, 1950

• Sgt. Julio Figueroa, Army, 65th Infantry Regiment, Olaa, Aug. 15, 1952

• Pfc. Yoshimi Fukumoto, Army, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Kapoho, April 18, 1951

• Pfc. Alfredo Gajeton, Army, 8th Cavalry Regiment, Honomu, July 17, 1950

• 2nd Lt. Raymond T. Goto, Army, 223rd Infantry Regiment, Honomu, June 19, 1953

• Pfc. Raymond A. Haili, Army, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Honaunau, April 8, 1953

• Pvt. Isaac K. Hale, Army, 19th Infantry Regiment, Kapoho, July 12, 1951

• Pvt. Paulino E. Hernaez, Army, 5th Cavalry Regiment, Halaula, May 30, 1951

• Pfc. Rin Hiraoka, Army, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, Paauilo, Dec. 6, 1950

• Pfc. Wilfred K. Hussey Jr., Army, 31st Infantry Regiment, Hilo, Dec. 12, 1950*

• Pfc. Yukinobu Ito, Army, 160th Infantry Regiment, Hilo, Oct. 28, 1952

• Cpl. Basil M. Kaapana, Army, 5th Regimental Combat Team, Naalehu, Sept. 18, 1950

• Pfc. Herman B. Kamai, Army, 19th Infantry Regiment, Hilo, Sept. 10, 1950

• Pvt. Benjamin S. Kamoku, Army, 24th Quartermaster Co. Division, Hilo, July 20, 1950*

• Cpl. Samuel K. Keomaka, Army, 5th Regimental Combat Team, Hilo, Aug. 21, 1950

• Pfc. Masayuki Kihara, Army, 7th Infantry Regiment, Hawi, Sept. 15, 1952

• Cpl. David A. Kuikahi, Army, 7th Infantry Regiment, Hilo, March 30, 1952

• Sgt. 1st Class Minoru Kunieda, Army, 17th Infantry Regiment, Hilo, Feb. 28, 1951

• Pfc. Kiyomitsu Kutsunai, Army, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Hilo, April 26, 1951

• Pfc. Aurelio Mateo, Army, 38th Infantry Regiment, Kohala, May 18, 1951*

• Pfc. Heishin Matsuda, Army, 15th Infantry Regiment, Kapaau, April 26, 1951

• Cpl. Jun Matsushige, Army, 223rd Infantry Regiment, Ninole, Nov. 13, 1952

• Pfc. John Mitchell Jr., Army, 8th Army Ranger Co. (Airborne), Hawi, Jan. 12, 1951

• Pfc. Tamotsu Miyashiro, Army, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Hilo, May 18, 1951

• Pfc. Koichi Moriwaki, Army, 19th Infantry Regiment, Kurtistown, Sept. 20, 1950

• Pvt. Ernest A. Nagai, Army, 27th Infantry Regiment, Hilo, Oct. 4, 1952

• Pfc. Seinojo R. Nakatani, Army, 5th Regimental Combat Team, Hilo, Sept. 1, 1950

• Pfc. Richard K. Nirei, Army, 180th Infantry Regiment, Hilo, March 11, 1953

• Pfc. Suetoshi Ogata, Army, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Big Island, Sept. 19, 1951*

• Pfc. Clifford H. Okinaga, Army, 32nd Infantry Regiment, Kealakekua, Aug. 15, 1952

• Cpl. James Pacheco, Army, 32nd Infantry Regiment, Hilo, Oct. 24, 1952

• Cpl. Esmenio Panela, Army, 32nd Infantry Regiment. Hilo, Dec, 2, 1950

• Pfc. Wilson Park, Army, 5th Regimental Combat Team, Hilo, Aug. 9, 1950

• Cpl. Fred H. Peters, Army, 5th Regimental Combat Team, Hilo, Sept. 24, 1950

• Pvt. Fernando Rivera Jr., Army, 34th Infantry Regiment, Hilo, July 20, 1050*

• Pfc. Gilbert Santiago, Marines, 7th Marine Regiment, Hilo, Nov. 7, 1952

• Pfc. Shingo E. Shimabukuro, Army, 23rd Infantry Regiment, Hilo, Feb. 14, 1951

• Pvt. Herbert H. Suzuki, Army, 34th Infantry Regiment, Papaaloa, Aug. 7, 1950

• Pfc. Harry F. Takeuchi, Army, 57th Field Artillery Battalion, Papaaloa, Dec. 26, 1950*

• Sgt. 1st Class Masao Tayama, Army, 10th Military Police Co., Papaikou, June 28, 1953

• Pvt. Gilbert M. Travis Jr., Army, 17th Infantry Regiment, Honokaa, Oct. 7, 1952

• Sgt. Mitsuo Uemura, Army, 532nd Signal Construction Co., Hilo, Nov. 16, 1950

• Cpl. Konomu Ura, Army, 179th Infantry Regiment, Kurtistown, June 29, 1952*

• Pvt. Raymond M. Vincent, Army, 19th Infantry Regiment, Hilo, Oct. 13, 1951

• Sgt. 1st. Class Nobuji Yamagata, Army, 5th Cavalry Regiment, Kealakekua, Oct. 4, 1951

• Pfc. Yeiji Yamaguchi, Army, 8th Cavalry Regiment, Pepeekeo, Aug. 9, 1951

• Pfc. Gary K. Yasunaka, Army, 19th Infantry Regiment, Ka‘u, April 25, 1951*

* Denotes remains not recovered

• • •

The following is a list of non-combat-related deaths of Big Island military in Korean War:

• Cpl. Hiroshi Hagino, Army, 31st Infantry Regiment, Hilo, May 17, 1952

• Sgt. John Chung J. Kim, Marines, 1st Service Battalion Marine, Hilo, Feb. 5, 1952

• Pfc. Daniel Maldonado, Army, 2nd Armored Reconnaisance Co., Pepeekeo, April 22, 1951

• Pvt. Barbatim Morante, Army, 2nd Signal Co. Division, Pahoa, April 26, 1951

• Pvt. Yoshikio Tengan, Army, 10th Field Artillery Battalion, Haina, June 28, 1953