It's a smaller force than
the 7,500 isle-based personnel
in 1991—so far

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

More than 600 Pearl Harbor sailors on three combat vessels are part of 320 aircraft and 28 American ships now in the Persian Gulf.

They are the only Hawaii military force poised to go into action against Saddam Hussein -- a far cry from the 1991 gulf war. That action saw nearly 7,500 Kaneohe Marines, helicopters and F-18 fighter-attack squadrons; 500 25th Division soldiers and Army Reservists; 50 Hickam Air Force Base security police officers; and five Pearl Harbor ships in the midst of the fighting.

Six servicemen who were either based here or had ties to the islands died in that war.

Currently, the nuclear attack submarine USS Charlotte, home-ported at Pearl Harbor, is part of the USS Independence carrier battle group, which recently replaced the USS Nimitz and its escort vessels.

Also included in 15 combat vessels and 13 support ships in the Persian Gulf region are two other Pearl Harbor-based vessels:

USS Ingersoll, a 563-foot destroyer with a crew of 339, helmed by Cmdr. Stephen Bradley.

USS Reuben James, a 445-foot frigate with a crew of 192, skippered by Cmdr. William Richards.

Slated to deploy this week from Pearl Harbor to the Western Pacific area as part of a routine six-month rotation are the USS Crommelin, a frigate with a crew of 209; and the USS Russell, a destroyer with a crew of 346.

The aircraft carrier USS Stennis will relieve the nuclear carrier USS George Washington and its flotilla of warships next month. However, no Pearl Harbor vessels are expected to join that battle group.

Returning to the islands next month will be the Aegis-guided missile cruiser USS Port Royal and its crew of 400 sailors. The Port Royal and the attack submarine USS Olympia, also based at Pearl Harbor, were part of the Nimitz battle group.

The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, a multipurpose contingent of 2,200 Marines, was supposed to have stopped in Hawaii this week for several days of training. However, the Southern California Marines were forced to leave San Diego five days early and are being sent to the gulf to replace the USS Guam Amphibious Ready Group.

Eight years ago, elements of the 1st Marine Brigade, stationed at Kaneohe, had to pack their bags and head for Saudi Arabia after Kuwait was invaded on Aug. 2, 1990. Brigade units returned to Hawaii from the gulf war on March 16, 1991.

In the thick of the action were Kaneohe ground units from the 3rd Marine Regiment, which made up Task Force Taro and were the first to breach Hussein's "Line of Death."

The massive deployment left the Windward communities of Kailua and Kaneohe virtual ghost towns as businesses and families rallied to help those who were left behind.