As We Approach Veterans Day, To All Who Wore their Country’s Cloth: “Thank You!” from Clan Mueller!
We again had the privilege to decorate graves at Oahu Cemetery, where veterans from the U.S. Civil War through the Iraq / Afghan Wars lie at rest. There are also combat-fallen from World Wars I and II, and, curiously, there are a few foreign troops here as well. As 11 November is Armistice Day in most places, the Hawaii Civil War Round Table has taken it upon ourselves to mark their graves with their nation’s current flag. Frequently, the cemetery’s neighbors join us in our efforts. This annual event has been an amazing way to uncover local history and to viscerally see the diversity of men (and one woman) who chose to stand beneath the Colors. Normally, I post a picture of our group; this year, I thought I’d introduce some of the 200+ veterans we honored.
HRHH King David Kalakaua granted the Grand Army of the Republic, a Union veterans organization, a plot. The four cannons marking it allegedly came from his yacht. There are men from obscure and storied regiments here, to include an at least one officer of the colored 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry,
There are two foreign born men here, so we marked their graves with their home country’s flags.
There are two areas with Commonwealth troops. Historically, the local honorary consulates mark these. The Canadians marked theirs…
… but the British have not yet done so. We made sure these men would rest below the Union Jack
Before returning to U.S. troops, I thought it would be interesting to share that the Imperial Austrian Navy and Imperial German Navy both have men here on O’ahu.
Master Chief Scholz didn’t get a flag this year, as it fell out of my haversack. There is a vague chance he was in the Pacific at the same time as the boys’ great-great-grandfather who served with the Imperial Marines, so we always take a moment to reflect at his grave. That moment will have to serve in place of flag this year.
Returning to U.S. troops, I thought I would highlight a few unique individuals, such as Sgt. Apau-Kau of Hawaii who fell in 1918.
Korean War veteran SSG Gladys Kiyoko Yakushiji, USMC must be a singularity as a female Marine NCO that served in Korea.
Maybe there is a teacher out there (Ahem…Craig?.@ctown2) whose student needs some extra credit. Her story remain unknown to me and our group, at least.
Because of the volunteers that joined us, we are sometimes able to find unmarked veterans. These two were overjoyed we had enough flags for them to honor a family member that served in the U.S. Navy.
There is a large Japanese section of the cemetery. Most are in Japanese with only names in English. A lady tending a grave stopped what she was doing and went aisle by aisle through the section, looking at each Kanji inscription, to make sure we had missed no one.
We always conclude our day at the grave of Pvt. J.R. Kealoha, 41st US Colored Troops.
One of our members came across a record of his service, and, several years ago we got a donated headstone and organized a full service for him. We know little of him, but he joined one of many regiments formed from Philadelphia’s Black community in late '63 and early '64. All officers were combat veterans and open abolitionists. The regimental Colors were decorated in a manner intended to draw fire. Kealoha served in the trenches before Richmond, the grand assault against Petersburg, and the pursuit of the Army of Northern Virginian. The 41st was at Appomattox and suffered some of the Army of the Potomac’s last combat casualties before the ANV surrendered,
Again, to all who served, “Thank you!”
