Taps: Wayne Iha (Updated)
Posted on Jan 19, 2015 in Taps
Special thanks to Stephen Lum who shared this photo
Wayne T. Iha, 66, of Honolulu, passed away December 25, 2014, at the Veterans Affairs’ hospice facility at Tripler Army Medical Center following a courageous battle with cancer.
He was preceded in death by his father, Fred Iha. He is survived by mother, Shirley Iha; sister, Cynthia Oshiro and nephew, Garrick Oshiro.
A Celebration of Life will be held from 1:30 – 4:30 pm, on Saturday, January 24 at the 100th Infantry Battalion Veterans clubhouse (Club 100) at 520 Kamoku Street. Parking is available at Ala Wai Elementary School.
There will be a viewing at Hosoi Garden Mortuary on 30 N. Kukui Street from 10 am – 12 pm on Monday, January 26, followed by a graveside service with full military honors beginning at 1 pm at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
Special thanks to Dennis Fujii and Stephen Lum who worked Wayne’s biography
Wayne was born June 16, 1948 in Honolulu. He graduated from Saint Louis School in 1966.
In 1968, he joined the Hawai‘i Army National Guard as a member of the 29th Support Battalion. Shortly after returning from his Advanced Individual Training, he was called up to active-duty when soldiers of the 29th Infantry Brigade, the Hawai‘i Army National Guard were activated for 18 months. The activation was a result of the USS Pueblo incident in South Korea. During his mobilization, Wayne backfilled positions at Schofield Barracks when the 25th Infantry Division deployed to the Republic of South Vietnam.
After deactivation, Wayne continued his education at the University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa where he was a member of the Imiloa Fraternity.
After graduation, Wayne worked full-time as a Classified Personnel Specialist with the State Department of Education. He retired from the DOE after more than 35 years.
Wayne continued his service with the Hawai‘i Army National Guard.
During his years, Wayne served in the 12th Admin Company as a Personnel Specialist and then transferred to the 117th Public Affairs Detachment as a still photographer.
With the 117th PAD, Wayne deployed five times to the Republic of Korea for Exercise Team Spirit in support of US Forces Korea, twice to Thailand for Exercise Cobra Gold in support of US Army Pacific, and three times to Panama in support of US Southern Command. He first was just months before the US invasion during Operations Just Cause to capture of the former Panama President Manuel Noriega.
He retired as a Sergeant First Class (E-7) from the Hawai‘i Army National Guard after 40 years of service.
His other passion was photographing Robert Cazimero’s hula hālau traveling several times to Japan with Robert and photographing Robert and his brother Roland.
He also served as a photographer for the sons and daughters of Hawai‘i’s World War II Nisei veterans documenting many veteran events. His father, Fred Iha, served during WWII with the 1399th Engineer Construction Battalion. Wayne really enjoyed and looked forward to attending the weekly social gathering at Club 100 with the Wine Gang every Thursday afternoon. It gave him a chance to socialize with other sons and daughters as well as with the Nisei veterans.
A pride and joy for Wayne was driving his BMW. He always owned a BMW, buying a new model every seven years or so.
Of note, Wayne appreciated and wanted to thank Oncology Nurse, Pat Nishimoto, from the medical staff at Tripler Army Medical Center, for her visits with him and his mother at their home and making arrangements for Wayne to be admitted to the VA’s Hospice facility at TAMC.
