Distinguished Service Cross

A SPECIAL SORT OF MAN

Lieutenant John K. Kauhihao was a special sort of man. He spent most of his life on the Kana Coast of Hawaii, going to school, making a living, raising a family, and fishing when he wanted to relax and think. John died in Vietnam last year in a final effort that won him the Distinguished Service Cross, the nation’s second highest combat award.

His handwritten autobiography in the OCS files sketches a man of quiet strength and determination, who was devoted to his wife and four children. There are other letters in the file with the autobiography-letters of recommendation from his clergyman, a family friend, and one from his company commander in Kana. Descriptive phrases recur in the letters, “learns quickly,” “well coordinated,” “has a great deal of strength and stamina.” A sheaf of colored forms adds more to the picture of John’s character. His OCS classmates thought of him as fair, enthusiastic, cooperative, and a man who was always ready to help someone else. The staff at OCS concurred, and John Kauhaihao was selected to receive both the Hawaii National Guard Association and the Association of the United States Army awards for leadership.

The awards were presented on Friday, May 10, 1968. A short while later, his unit was activated. John was eventually reassigned to an infantry company of the First Cavalry Division.

On Friday, September 5, 1969, he was briefed by his OCS classmate, Lieutenant Zenon Wong, prior to a reconnaissance patrol near Tay Ninh. Later, during that mission, in the dense jungle, the patrol was fired upon by a battalion-size force of North Vietnamese regulars occupying bunker fortifications.

After John had directed his men to cover behind large bamboo covered dirt mounds, the rest of the company moved up to lend support fire to the pinned down element, only to be caught m a crossfire from flanking enemy bunkers. Seizing upon a momentary lull in the exchange of fire, Lieutenant Kauhaihao hacked an opening through the bamboo growing over the dirt mound behind which he had taken cover. During the next 15 minutes, he hurled more than 30 hand grenades at the enemy bunkers, drawing enemy fire on himself again and again so that his men could sight the enemy gunners and bring them under suppressive fire.

Lieutenant Kauhaihao then directed the withdrawal of his battered point element, crawling over a hundred meters of fire-swept terrain to drag vital equipment to the rear and helping wounded soldiers to positions of safety.

Later, as he and his men moved to rejoin the company’s main force, John sighted an enemy squad moving up on them. He engaged the approaching enemy and was mortally wounded by their fire.

For his extraordinary heroism, which cost him his life, Lieutenant Kauhaihao was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Shirley Ann Kauhaihao, John’s wife, and John Jr, one of the four children, recently received the award from Major General Ben Sternberg, Commanding General of USARHAW.

John Kauhaihao lived for 27 years. His life was shaped by his personal choices. He chose to join the National Guard. He chose to become an officer, and he chose to perform some difficult tasks as a leader. John was one of those special men whose service in uniform make the wearing of that uniform a very special privilege for the rest of us.

– 1970 Winter The Hawaii Guardsman pp. 6

30th anniversary of ’68 activation remembered

Lieutenant K’s Vietnam heroics recalled

By Sgt. 1st Class Aaron R. Pollick
Historical Section

Lieutenant K. That’s what his men called him in Vietnam. They couldn’t pronounce his name so they nicknamed him ”Lieutenant K.”

First Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao, born and raised on the Kona coast of the Big Island, did what most local boys would do, went to school, made a living, raised a family and like most loved to fish. A devoted husband and father of four, John was a person who learned quickly, was athletic and had a great deal of strength and stamina said his family friends.

Hawaii Army National Guard Officer Candidate School, Class 06-68 classmates thought of him as fair, enthusiastic and cooperative. He was a man who was always willing to help someone else. Kauhaihao, a member of the Hawaii Guard’s Company C, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry out of Honokaa, was commissioned just two months after the call-up on May 13, 1968. Just a little over a year later, John was reassigned with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry, of the 1st Cavalry Division.

“The Mission”

Lieutenant K’s story of heroism began Sept. 5, 1969. Kauhaihao was briefed by his OCS classmate 2nd Lt. Zenon K. Wong prior to his a reconnaissance patrol near Tay Ninh, South Vietnam. He was advised that there were unknown numbers of enemy bunkers hidden in his sector of patrol. His mission: to seek and destroy the bunkers. He was willing and ready.

Kauhaihao preferred hand grenades to rifle fighting and favored fragmentation grenades. At least 30 were fixed on and over his gear and clothing, so many that it looked like armor.

Lieutenant K’s search for the enemy bunkers was relatively short. He and 25 men from his platoon found a strand of blue communication wire in the scrub brush. They carefully traced the wire to its source. Then the battle began.

Fire erupted savagely from a bunker complex on the platoon’s flank. It was instantly clear that the Gls wereout numbered and they could only drop for cover. Kauhaihao’s cover was a mound of dirt. He knew his platoon was caught in a crossfire put down by a large North Vietnam force in thick jungle terrain. Recognizing his unit’s precarious position, he hacked an opening through the bamboo growing over the dirt mound and began a one-man war. In the next 15 minutes he threw 30 hand grenades. When his own supply dwindled, his men tossed theirs up to him. The lieutenant kept grabbing and tossing. Minute after minute until the battleground was littered with enemy dead, he drew fire upon himself again and again so that his men could sight the enemy gunners and bring them under suppressive fire. Kauhaihao then directed the withdrawal of his men and crawled more than 100 meters over fire-swept terrain to drag vital equipment to the rear and help wounded soldiers to a position of safety.

Later, as he and his men moved to rejoin the company’s main force, Kauhaihao sighted an enemy squad moving toward his platoon. He advanced toward them, opened fire, and was mortally wounded by their fire. It was said that after the battle a newspaperman heard of John K. Kauhaihao and wanted to do a story on him. The men eyed the newsman curiously. “Oh, you mean Lieutenant K. Listen man, you know, he saved our lives out there. Just say he was the greatest; that’s all, the greatest.”

Recognition

For his extraordinary heroism, Kauhaihao was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the highest award for valor to be given to anyone called up with the 29th Infantry Brigade.

Mrs. Shirley Kauhaihao and her four children also received a Bronze Star medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster for heroism, earned by her husband in an earlier engagement, as well as the Air Medal, Purple Heart and seven other awards.

Editor’s notes: Story based on materials gathered from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Hawaii Army National Guard records and the Hawaii Guardsman (Guard’s historical publication from 1950 to 1973, prior to the pupukahi).

– 1998 February – March Pūpūkahi pp. 3