20 fallen heroes honored with medals

By Gregg K. Kakesako

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Mar 24, 2010

Jay Hoskins Jr. was born Jan. 26.

Although he shared a birthday with his father, 8-week-old Jay never got to see his dad, Sgt. Jay M. Hoskins.

The Kaneohe Marine was killed in Iraq on Aug. 6 when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle, striking down the rifleman and two other members of hisplatoon from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment: Lance Cpl. James D.Argentine, 23, of Farmingdale, N.Y.; and Lance Cpl. Travis T. Babine,20, of San Antonio.

The elder Hoskins would have been 25 this year.

Yesterday, baby Jay; his 18-month-old brother, Tristen; and their mother, Chandler, were among the families and friends of 20 servicemembers who received the Hawaii Medal of Honor during a solemn 90-minutejoint session of the state Legislature held in the House chambers. Alsohonored were eight other service members who died last year but whosefamilies or friends were unable to attend yesterday's ceremony.

It was the fifth joint session held by the Legislature since the law, authored by state Rep. K. Mark Takai, a Hawaii Army National Guardmajor, was enacted. To date, 268 medals have been presented to membersof the U.S. armed forces, the U.S. military reserves and the HawaiiNational Guard who were residents of Hawaii, attended an educationalinstitution in Hawaii or were stationed in Hawaii at the time of theirdeath.

Referring to Hoskins' two infant children, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa said that yesterday's ceremony was "one of the most difficult."

Also on the dais to present the medals were House Speaker Calvin Say; Maj. Gen. Bob Lee, state adjutant general; and Gov. Linda Lingle.

Chandler Hoskins said it was still painful to speak of her husband, adding she was appreciative of the honor being bestowed on him.

Medal of Honor given to 28 families in Hawaii

Hawaii lawmakers held a joint session at the Capitol to honor fallen heroes with ties to the Aloha State.

[ Watch ]

"I appreciate everything everyone has done," said the Paris, Texas, native. Hoskins enlisted in August 2003 and reported to Kaneohe inJanuary 2009.

Receiving the medal for Argentine was his mother, Janet.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jordan Potts accepted the medal for fellow corpsman Babine.

Traveling from Palau to receive the medal for Sgt. Jasper Obakrairur were his parents, Daniel Obakrairur and Florence Kambalang.

Jasper Obakrairur, a team leader with the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, inFort Drum, N.Y., died June 1 in Nerkh, Afghanistan,from injuries he suffered from a roadside bomb.

He was 26 and had attended the University ofHawaii at Hilo.

Obakrairur deployed to Afghanistan in January. He joined the Army in March 2004 and served at Fort Drum since August of that year. Hepreviously deployed to Afghanistan from January 2006 to May 2007.

"It means a lot to us," his father said after the ceremony. "It's a very special occasion for us. We are honored to be part of thisceremony. We want to thank the Hawaiistate Legislature for giving us the opportunity to attend thisceremony."

Jay Hoskins Jr. was born Jan. 26.

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM

Sandra Poche, middle, mother of Army Sgt. Devin C. Poche, acceptedthe Hawaii Medal of Honor for her deceased son yesterday during aceremony at the House of Representatives' chambers in the state Capitol.

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Although he shared a birthday with his father, 8-week-old Jay never got to see his dad, Sgt. Jay M. Hoskins.

The Kaneohe Marine was killed in Iraq on Aug. 6 when a roadside bomb hit his vehicle, striking down the rifleman and twoother members of his platoon from 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment:Lance Cpl. James D. Argentine, 23, of Farmingdale, N.Y.; and Lance Cpl.Travis T. Babine, 20, of San Antonio.

The elder Hoskins would have been 25 this year.

Yesterday, baby Jay; his 18-month-old brother, Tristen; and their mother, Chandler, were among the families and friendsof 20 service members who received the Hawaii Medal of Honor during asolemn 90-minute joint session of the state Legislature held in theHouse chambers. Also honored were eight other service members who diedlast year but whose families or friends were unable to attendyesterday's ceremony.

It was the fifth joint session held by the Legislature since the law, authored by state Rep. K. Mark Takai, aHawaii Army National Guard major, was enacted. To date, 268 medals havebeen presented to members of the U.S. armed forces, the U.S. militaryreserves and the Hawaii National Guard who were residents of Hawaii,attended an educational institution in Hawaii or were stationed inHawaii at the time of their death.

Referring to Hoskins' two infant children, Senate President Colleen Hanabusa said that yesterday's ceremony was "one ofthe most difficult."

Also on the dais to present the medals were House Speaker Calvin Say; Maj. Gen. Bob Lee, state adjutant general; and Gov. Linda Lingle.

Chandler Hoskins said it was still painful to speak of her husband, adding she was appreciative of the honor beingbestowed on him.

Medal of Honor given to 28 families in Hawaii

Hawaii lawmakers held a joint session at the Capitol to honor fallen heroes with ties to the Aloha State.

[ Watch ]

"I appreciate everything everyone has done," said the Paris, Texas, native. Hoskins enlisted in August 2003 and reportedto Kaneohe in January 2009.

Receiving the medal for Argentine was his mother, Janet.

Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Jordan Potts accepted the medal for fellow corpsman Babine.

Traveling from Palau to receive the medal for Sgt. Jasper Obakrairur were his parents, Daniel Obakrairur and FlorenceKambalang.

Jasper Obakrairur, a team leader with the 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10thMountain Division, in Fort Drum, N.Y., died June 1 in Nerkh,Afghanistan, from injuries he suffered from a roadside bomb.

He was 26 and had attended the University of Hawaii at Hilo.

Obakrairur deployed to Afghanistan in January. He joined the Army in March 2004 and served at Fort Drum since August ofthat year. He previously deployed to Afghanistan from January 2006 toMay 2007.

"It means a lot to us," his father said after the ceremony. "It's a very special occasion for us. We are honored to bepart of this ceremony. We want to thank the Hawaii state Legislaturefor giving us the opportunity to attend this ceremony."