The raw emotion of five combat deaths in Afghanistan resurfaced in Hawaii this week via a Texas artist’s portraits memorializing the fallen service members.
Damien Memorial School’s approximately 400 students assembled in the school gym Friday morning for the unveiling of one of those paintings: that of Army 1st Lt. Jonathan P. Brostrom, 24, a 2002 Damien graduate who was killed in a 2008 firefight in eastern Afghanistan.
Artist Phil Taylor with the American Fallen Soldiers Project unveiled the 20-by-34-inch acrylic painting of Brostrom, which, like those of other service members, is done in black and white with color added to eyes — "the window to the soul," Taylor said.
"That’s definitely Jonathan. It’s amazing," his father, retired Army Col. David Brostrom of Aiea, said as he saw the work for the first time with his wife and Jonathan’s mother, Mary Jo.
The photo Taylor used for the portrait was one of the last taken of their son in eastern Afghanistan.
"You can see he was really tired, but you can still see the smile on his face," David Brostrom said later.
Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz told those assembled that "this project is a way to perpetuate the legacy of those who have sacrificed so much for our country."
The portrait will be displayed in the school’s library. David Brostrom told the students the ceremony was really for them and that the seeds of his son’s battlefield bravery "were planted here at this school."
"All of you are going to have challenges and trials and tribulations and decisions to make throughout your life — hopefully not as dire as the one that Jonathan had to make on the battlefield," Brostrom said.
His son was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for bravery. Jonathan Brostrom left the cover of a command area to reinforce other soldiers whose position was in danger of being overrun. He was one of nine U.S. soldiers killed that day.
"One thing for sure that Jonathan truly believed, and he carried it through: No matter what, you never quit, you never give up and you never, ever, surrender," his father said.
Dean of Students Rudy Alejo said Jonathan Brostrom arrived at Damien as a gangly, shy young man.
"We know now that a leader was being built and a hero was being forged," Alejo said. "He taught us. He taught us that heroes are ordinary people doing extraordinary things."
Taylor has produced the portraits of at least 92 fallen service members through the nonprofit American Fallen Soldiers Project.
An unveiling also was scheduled for Friday afternoon on the Battleship Missouri of a portrait of Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer Kraig Vickers, a 1992 Maui High School graduate and explosive ordnance disposal technician who was among 30 American service members killed Aug. 6 when their Chinook helicopter was shot down in Afghanistan.
On Thursday, Taylor presented prints of portraits of three Navy SEALs who were killed in a ground firefight in Afghanistan in 2005 to the SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team 1 command at Pearl Harbor.
Two of the SEALs, Lt. Michael P. Murphy, 29, and Sonar Technician 2nd Class Matthew G. Axelson, 29, were based at Pearl Harbor. The third SEAL, Gunner’s Mate 2nd Class Danny P. Dietz, 25, was based out of Virginia.
Corky and Donna Axelson, the parents of Matthew Axelson, came from their home in Cupertino, Calif., for the portrait presentations.
"I just think it’s amazing because the way it’s presented is so personal," Corky Axelson said. "Phil (the artist) gets to know a lot about these soldiers, sailors or Marines. He meets the families, and it’s just really, really special to have a portrait like that painted and know that a lot of people can see it."
Donna Axelson said the loss never get easier to bear.
"But when they do things like this … and they keep the memory of your son alive, it’s helpful," she said.
