When Spc. Corey Del Rosario first joined the Hawaii Army National Guard, he did it largely because other members of his families had served in the military.

“I wasn’t really doing anything at the time,” he recalled.

He enlisted for a three-year stint, serving as a mechanic for construction equipment. After three years in the guard he got out and figured that was it for him. Months went by, but then in August 2023 flames engulfed Maui and destroyed the town of Lahaina.

Guardsmen he had served with were called up to respond, searching the rubble in Lahaina to find the remains of those killed in the fire and other response efforts. Del Rosario said, “I figured there was some way I could help.”

He initially reenlisted for one year. Since then, he has reenlisted for another six years and is

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