Randy Bonifacio Javar

He was born on April 27, 1947 at Queen’s Hospital in Honolulu. Randy was the fourth oldest of 11 children (6 sisters and 5 brothers). He was preceded in death by his parents, Clara Matsue and Maximino Javar, Fernando and Mildred Nalawagan, and three brothers, Benjamin, Franklin and Robin Nalawagan.

In 1987, Randy married Sandra A. Lacuesta. Together they have 4 children, 12 grandchildren and many great grandchildren. He leaves behind his wife, Sandra, and his children, Tracy Gilbert, Candice Cerny, Shawn Javar, and Cyndi Costa, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters, Pauline Castro, Alexandria Gonzales, Winona Johnson, Victoria Reische, Eileen Javar and Sharleen Allard and by his brother, Arthur Javar, and survived by countless numbers of nieces, nephews and cousins.

Randy spent his high school years in California. In 1965, the military draft increased with the expansion of the U.S. troops in Vietnam. And like many young American men right out of high school, he was drafted into the United States Army in 1966. After his army training, he served with the 9th Infantry Division in the 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment that was assigned to the joint Army-Navy Mobile Riverine Force (aka Riverines) in the Mekong Delta Region located in Southwestern Vietnam. This region is known to have presented operational challenges to the Americans and South Vietnam allies due to its difficult terrain of waterways and rice paddies. The 9th Infantry Division operated deep within the Viet Cong-controlled Delta.

As an infantry soldier, Randy faced combat-heavy missions in the Mekong Delta. He was wounded a couple times and received two Purple Hearts, one for wounds received in action on 9 April 1967. He also received a couple other medals for his service in the Vietnam War and the CIB (Combat Infantry Badge) award for performing duties while under fire and engaged in active ground combat. Against the odds, Randy survived the Vietnam War, but not without scars. The war left lasting impressions on both his physical and mental well-being.

Randy was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in August 1968 and returned to Hawaii. He went back to school and started a family. Randy received training as an electrician and started out as an apprentice and worked his way up to become a Master Electrician. He was a devoted husband and father to his children.

In his free time, Randy loved to play golf and go fishing with his friends. He would golf two or more times a week and go night fishing once a week. Randy’s love for golf extended to volunteering his time and efforts to both the men and women professional golf tours in Hawaii such as the PGA Sony Open, LPGA Fields Open, and the Lotte Championship. Randy also volunteered at the local golf tournaments organized by “First Tee”, a youth development organization empowering kids and teens through the game of golf. His volunteering at all these golf tournaments spanned 20 years. Randy’s very last night fishing was at the Kailua-Kona Pier on 26 November 2023 with his brother, Art, long-time friend, Jeff, and two brother-in-laws, Rudy and Willie, while spending the Thanksgiving holiday on the Big Island with his wife, Sandra, and family.

Fifty years after Randy was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, he reconnected with several of his Vietnam buddies who served in the same platoon. They had been looking for him for many years and were not successful due to Randy’s last name change. Finally, in 2018, one of the wives of his Vietnam buddies (Margaret and Larry Phillips) found Randy from his mother’s obituary that was posted on the Internet. They phoned him and invited both Randy and Sandra to the annual reunion organized by the “Charlie 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Vietnam” group.

In September 2018, Randy and Sandra attended their first annual reunion in Colorado Springs, which was the first time Randy had seen his Vietnam buddies since he left Vietnam as a young man in 1968. Their nickname for Randy in Vietnam was “Pineapple” so they all called him and still remembered him by that name. Randy and Sandra attended two more annual reunions, one in Augusta, Georgia and the other in Branson, Missouri. Randy was pretty much tight-lipped about his experience in the Vietnam War, but after reuniting with his Vietnam buddies, he became more opened and relaxed in talking about his experience in the Vietnam War.

In March 2019, Randy and Ray Ambrozy, one of his Vietnam buddies, traveled to Vietnam and took a sampan ride with a tour guide in the Mekong Delta to revisit the locations of the two base camps, Dong Tam and Binh Phuoc, where their infantry unit was stationed during the war. Randy was very excited and happy about his trip to Vietnam and talked about going back.

Another one of his Vietnam buddies, Rocky, sent a text message to Randy’s cell phone after hearing about his passing. It read:

“We finally hooked up with our reunions. Then you went and died on me. Randy we experienced something not many people shared.”

A church service in honor of Randy B. Javar will be held on Thursday, 1 February 2024. There will be a viewing of Randy in the morning at the church. Private family viewing only is at 9:30am. Then open to the public at 10:00am followed by the Mass at 11:00am. Father Edmundo Barut, Jr., Pastor, will be the celebrant.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 91-1004 North Road Ewa Beach, HI 96706

On Tuesday, 6 February 2024, at 11:30am, there will be an inurnment service with Military Honors for Randy at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) where his cremated remains will reside in the columbarium. Officiating the inurnment service will be Deacon Ron Paglinawan.

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, 2177 Puowaina Drive, Honolulu, HI 96813

The inurnment service is expected to last 45 minutes and will start on time. It is advised to arrive at least 5 minutes before 11:30am.

All family and friends are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Randy to the preferred charity or cause.