After 48 years, Grace Kuewa received closure Monday. Her brother, Navy Airman Albert Kalahana Kuewa, a Waialua High School graduate, was one of 10 to have their names inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C., two weeks ago, bringing the total to 58,282.
"His death left an emotional scar," Kuewa said Monday at the Governor’s Memorial Day Ceremony, "but I can rest easier now that he has received such an honor."
Hundreds showed up for Monday’s program at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery in Kaneohe, which included opening remarks from Maj. Gen. Darryll Wong, state adjutant general; a parade of flags and presentation of floral lei; a rifle salute by the Hawaii Air National Guard; a flyover by a Coast Guard Dolphin helicopter; and music from the 111th Army Band.
On Sept. 18, 1964, Airman Kuewa, 22, was aboard the aircraft carrier USS Ranger in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the shore of Vietnam, when he was hit and killed by a moving plane, an incident that should have made him a casualty of war.
However, Grace Kuewa, 65, said the military logged her brother’s death differently, stating that he walked into a plane’s propeller, which is why he never received the honor he should have.
Until now.
Airman Kuewa’s high school classmate and war buddy Benjamin Ishida, 68, found out about the discrepancies in military records as to how his friend died when he returned home from war.
For the past 46 years, Ishida, who lives in Wahiawa, has worked with the Kuewa family to get Kuewa’s death classified as a casualty of war and his name on the war memorial in Washington. More recently he got help from U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka and Clay Park, director of veterans programs at Papa Ola Lokahi, a nonprofit agency that focuses on Hawaiian health issues.
On Monday, Ishida represented the Kuewa family in Washington at a ceremony for the new additions to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
"It has been a great journey for Ben," Grace said. "Myself, along with the rest of my family, are so thankful for what he has gone through to get my brother’s name on that wall."
In his keynote address, Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz said President Barack Obama has asked federal, state and local officials to honor Vietnam veterans with "appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities" this year, the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the war.
Schatz acknowledged Akaka, who was present, and Ishida for their efforts to get Kuewa’s name on the wall.
And he recognized Grace Kuewa and the rest of her family in attendance for the sacrifices that her brother, whom he called a "noteworthy hero," made during the war.
He said efforts are under way to have Kuewa’s name engraved on the Hawaii Korean and Vietnam War Memorial on the grounds of the state Capitol.
"It is the ultimate honor to finally have his name on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in D.C.," said Grace Kuewa. "Hopefully, one day I’ll make it out there to see it."
