|
In the Military
Gregg K. Kakesako
|
New tour for Guard is second for most
Of the more than 1,200 citizen soldiers from Hawaii in the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team being sent to Kuwait this fall, 84 percent of them have already served a combat tour in Iraq or Afghanistan, according to Maj. Gen. Bob Lee, who leads both the Hawaii Army and Air National Guard.
The 29th Brigade is completing pre-mission deployment training at Schofield Barracks before departing Aug. 18 for Fort Hood, Texas, for additional training. The unit will leave for Kuwait in October. The date of an Aloha Stadium farewell ceremony has been changed to Aug. 16.
Part of the 29th Brigade -- the Army Reserve's 100th Battalion, commanded by Lt. Col. Mike Peeters -- will be escorting convoys from Kuwait into Iraq. The rest of the 29th Brigade will be spread throughout Kuwait, with some of the soldiers assigned to the security force protecting the naval base where members of the 487th Artillery were stationed three years ago. Of the 2,000 soldiers assigned to the 29th Brigade (Hawaii- and Arizona-based soldiers), about 1,700 will be mobilized for the 12-month deployment. In 2005, the last time the 29th Brigade was called to active duty, 2,300 soldiers, including members from the Army Reserve's 100th Battalion, were mobilized.
"In the Military" was compiled from wire reports and other sources by reporter
Gregg K. Kakesako, who covers military affairs for the Star-Bulletin. He can be reached by phone at 294-4075 or by e-mail at
gkakesako@starbulletin.com.