Ka Leo O Hawaii

Issue date: 12/6/07 Section: Commentary

Cajimat

Tauala

Our profiles of Hawai‘i and other Pacific island residents who were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan ends today. Although this year's toll may seem light, more U.S. soldiers died in Iraq this year than since the war began.

On Monday, I will try to make sense of what these stories tell us about these people, the war and ourselves.

Earlier installments in this series were printed on Nov. 14, 15, 29, and Dec. 3 and 5. See:
'Names and memories dramatize true cost of war', Nov. 14
'In Remembrance: Locals killed in Iraq and Afghanistan during 2005', Nov. 15
'UH-Hilo grad among last year's local war dead', Nov. 29
Careers, Sept. 11 inspired local soldiers who died this year, Dec.3
Remembering one more M?noa warrior killed in Iraq, Dec. 5
or visit the Ka Leo office to read them.

2007

18. Sgt. Nimo W. Tauala, U.S. Army - ‘Aiea

Tauala died in Iraq on March 17, 2007 from a non-combat injury. Tauala graduated from Kaimukī High School in 1995. Further details of his death have not been reported. He was 29 years old.

19. Pvt. 1st Class Jay S. Cajimat, U.S. Army - Lahaina

Cajimat was killed by an IED in Iraq on April 4, 2007. Cajimat graduated from Lahainaluna High School in Lahaina, Maui. Born in Manila, Cajimat moved to Maui with his family when he was 3.

Inspired by the events of Sept. 11, he decided to join the Army as soon he graduated from high school. Five days before he died, he planned to surprise his grandmother Carolina on her birthday by calling from Iraq. He never made that call. He was 20 years old.

20. Sgt. Alexander U. Gagalac, U.S. Army - Wahiawā

Gagalac was killed by a rocket-propelled grenade in Iraq on Sept. 9, 2007. Gagalac graduated from Leilehua High School in Wahaiwā in 1997. He and his twin brother, Alexis, joined the Army together in 2000. His brother enlisted in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard after six years in the Army.

In the last post to his blog, he wrote: "I can't wait to be back home with family and friends. This has been a long time coming and it gonna feel a lot longer as it comes to those last hours that I'm here." He was 28 years old.

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