R.I.P. Sgt. Joshua A. Lukeala

Army Sgt. Joshua A. Lukeala
Died June 07, 2010 serving during Operation Enduring Freedom

23, of Yigo, Guam; assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky; died June 7 in Konar, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his vehicle with an improvised explosive device. Also killed in the attack were Spc. Matthew R. Catlett, Spc. Charles S. Jirtle and Spc. Blaine E. Redding.

(The following was taken from www.guampdn.com of June 11, 2010) The community continues to mourn the death of Guam soldier Joshua Akoni Sablan Lukeala, who was killed earlier this week while fighting in Afghanistan.

The 23-year-old Army sergeant, who was attached to the 101st Airborne Air Assault team, was a former resident of Yigo. Rosaries continue at his family's Yigo home.

Delegate Madeleine Bordallo yesterday honored Lukeala for how he "made the ultimate sacrifice."

"Sgt. Lukeala was awarded the Purple Heart during a previous tour in Iraq and in answering the call of duty, he inspires us all by his courage," Bordallo said in a statement. "I join our community in mourning the loss of Sgt. Joshua Lukeala, and my thoughts, prayers and deepest sympathies are with his wife, Deniece, his daughter, Maya, his parents, and his family and friends."

Gov. Felix Camacho on Wednesday declared the island in a state of mourning and ordered all flags to be flown at half-staff in Lukeala's honor.

The Department of Defense has yet to release information about Lukeala's death. According to family members, he was fatally injured when the humvee he was in ran over a roadside bomb.

Lukeala was stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. He was a 2005 graduate of Simon Sanchez High School, according to his family.