St. David's Islanders will be tying yellow ribbons round their trees for a US National Guardsmen with deep Bermudian roots now serving in Iraq.

Helicopter mechanic Joshua Lambe arrived in the Gulf just days before the US invaded and has not been in contact with his family since.

But he has not been forgotten by grandfather Dennis Lamb of Dennis' Hideaway and second cousin Theresa Simpson, who both live in St. David's.

Joshua, now 25, spent his first five years in the East End island living at Sofar Road before moving to the States with his mother.

He joined the US army when he was 17 and after six years service joined the National Guard in Gulfport, Mississippi.

But the Black Hawk helicopter mechanic was then asked if he would serve in Iraq.

He set off on March 6 from New York and arrived in Kuwait just before the invasion.

A letter to his mother Sheila Scott said that by the time she read it he would already be in Iraq.

Speaking from Mandeville, Lousiana Joshua's mother Sheila, who left Bermuda 15 years ago, shed tears as she read from her son's letter saying why he went.

Joshua wrote that if he didn't go, someone else would have to and "if anything were to happen to him instead of me I would not be able to live with myself".

Mrs. Scott told The Royal Gazette: "That touched me. That's the attitude of the military people out there, those kids."

But she says it was typical of her son to put others with families before himself.

"Sometimes I lose it and my husband has to hold me and tell me Joshua is a man who knows what he is doing and he's going to be fine and come back home."

Despite the relatively smooth progress of the war, Mrs. Scott still has many fears.

"The President tells us "Don't think it's over, there's still a lot more to go.' I get more scared feeling it's not the worst of it. Maybe they will start switching guys out."

But his actions have made the entire family proud.

Ms Simpson said: "They are asking people to tie yellow ribbons around trees in the yard and I am going to do that."

She said other relatives and friends were going to follow suit.

But it's nothing new for Ms Simpson, who had a brother in Vietnam.

She said: "I know what the family is going through. My brother went missing twice. I remember how hard it was for my mom when she was told he was missing.

"The only thing you can do is hope and pray they make it home safely."

And Dennis Lamb said: "I trust in God to take care of them. It has to be done. People can't go on with all that rudeness for the rest of their lives.

"Someone has to stop them so it's great to get people like that to put a stop to it."

Great-uncle Johnny O'Connor last saw Joshua Lambe about six years ago when he was in the regular army.

He said: "He's doing a great thing, I approve of it. The battle should be won. I hope he comes home safe and sound.

"What Bush is doing is for the world - I really glory in Joshua's spirit."