Photo Gallery: Capt. Reid Nishizuka memorial

Air Force Capt. Reid Nishi­zuka, a Hawaii native son and 2000 Kailua High graduate, was buried Monday at Punchbowl, joining so many other war heroes laid to rest there.

Nishizuka, 30, and three other airmen were killed when their MC-12 aircraft, piloted by the Kailua man, went down near Kandahar Airfield on April 27.

Nishizuka was assigned to the 427th Reconnaissance Squadron at Beale Air Force Base, Calif.

More than 1,000 packed Central Union Church on Saturday to pay respects to the man who his aunt Liane Mori­hara said "grew up to be the most decent and noble person I’ve ever known."

The fact that far fewer Hawaii-born and based service members are being lost now in Af­ghani­stan gave that much more prominence to Nishi­zuka’s death.

Between 30 and 50 family and friends were present for the short service and burial Monday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

Nishizuka’s brother, Chad, also in the Air Force, laid a maile lei on a portrait of his brother in the gazebo where the service was held.

Six white-gloved airmen escorted his casket, and a rifle salute and taps echoed across Punchbowl in Nishi­zuka’s honor.