Watched by his wife Kellie, left, Sgt. Gilbert Pascua gave his daughter Kili, 2, a kiss after returning to Wheeler Air Field last night with his Hawaii Army National Guard unit. Bravo Company, 193rd Aviation, had been in Afghanistan for nine months.
Never too early for
troops to come homeHawaii Army Guard soldiers return
a little early from Afghanistan
to eager family members
The first Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers to be deployed overseas since the Vietnam War returned to a hero's welcome and an early breakfast last night at Wheeler Army Air Field.
Fifty-four members of Bravo Company, 193rd Aviation, touched down at Hickam Air Force Base just past 8 last night after spending nine months in Afghanistan. They were bused to Wheeler.
After the 32-hour flight from Kandahar, the soldiers were whisked off to security briefings before reuniting with the roughly 100 family and friends gathered.
Their time in Afghanistan "was a priceless experience" company commander Maj. Margaret Rains said as she walked from the bus to the security briefing.
The unit was greeted by retired Maj. Gen. Dennis Kamimura, who used to command the 193rd. They flew in a C-17 Globemaster jet transport, leaving Afghanistan at 4:30 a.m. Honolulu time Monday, with stops in Germany, Canada and Washington, D.C.
After the briefing and family reunions, the soldiers were to enjoy a breakfast of Portuguese sausage, scrambled eggs, rice and Spam. Family and friends had prepared the unusual late-night snack because the soldiers were originally scheduled to arrive at 3 a.m. today.
Larry Sagaysay, whose son Staff Sgt. Chad Sagaysay is a supply sergeant with the 193rd, said his wife called him earlier in the day, saying "they are going to be back by 9 or 9:30 p.m. But it didn't say which day. So I had to call the family support group."
The elder Sagaysay, who was a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard for 27 years, added: "I'm just happy he's back."
Fifty-six 193rd soldiers left Afghanistan, but two soldiers were left in Germany to be treated for dental problems.
Bravo Company had been servicing helicopters in Kandahar since leaving Wheeler on Aug. 10. It was augmented with mechanics from the Idaho Army National Guard whose job was to maintain the AH-64 Apache attack helicopters from the New Mexico National Guard. They also serviced Black Hawk and Chinook helicopters.
The soldiers were replaced by another 60 aviators and mechanics from Bravo Company who left Wheeler on May 5.
Since April 14, the 193rd also has another company of 200 aviators and mechanics in Balad in Iraq. They are attached to the 1st Cavalry Division.
Also in Iraq and assigned to the 1st Cavalry are nearly 600 Army reservists from the 411th Engineer Combat Battalion (Heavy). Of the 600 soldiers, 300 are from Hawaii.
In 1968, the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade was mobilized and some of its members were sent to Vietnam as replacements.
