|
100th soldiers
back at it again
No rest for the weary as troops train
at Schofield before leaving for Texas
For the more than 200 soldiers in Bravo and Charlie companies of the Pacific Army Reserve's 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, it has been a hectic summer with little time for friends and families in American Samoa.
This is because the 100th Battalion, with its soldiers from American Samoa and other Pacific islands, was already scheduled to perform its mandatory two weeks of active duty training at Schofield Barracks in July with its parent unit -- the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade.
"We were home for little more than two weeks," said Capt. Doug Hill, who commands the 100th Battalion's Charlie Company, "and then we had to be back here just after the unit was mobilized on Aug. 16."
Last week, members of the 100th Battalion's Bravo and Charlie companies were at Schofield Barracks' KR-7 rifle range completing the last of 18 individual tasks -- qualifying on their M-4 carbines -- before leaving for El Paso, Texas, this week.
"This is one of 18 individual soldier skills which include weapons qualification, first aid and land navigation," said Maj. Mike Peteers, the battalion's executive officer. "Once we get to Fort Bliss, we will begin collective training as one unit."
Peteers, 41, has been in the Pacific Army Reserve for 13 years, joining the 100th Battalion after leaving the active Army in 1993. He was a fire support officer with the 1st Cavalry during the 1991 Gulf War, but said his next mission will be a lot different.
|
"We will be in more close contact with the insurgents," Peteers said. "The last time I flew with an Apache (helicopter) brigade. This time there will be more close contact both with the people of Iraq and the insurgents.
"In 1991, it was an open desert war and we controlled the air. This time it will be a little more vicious -- house-to-house fights."
Hill, who served in the 1991 Gulf War as a platoon sergeant with the Army Reserve's 348th Transportation Company from Arizona, said his role has changed.
"Last time I was one of 15 guys," said Hill, 37, "this time I am in command of 131 soldiers."
He acknowledged that putting his soldiers in the right mindset is a challenge.
"But they are coming along," said Hill, who has been in the military for the past 19 years.
Pfc. Don Niu, a medic with the 100th Battalion's Headquarters & Headquarters Company, had planned to start classes to be a nurse at Leeward Community College this fall. Those plans are now on hold for the next 18 months.
When he enlisted in the 100th Battalion nearly two years ago, the thought of serving on active duty or going to war never crossed his mind.
But when National Guard and Reserve units started getting the call last year, Niu, 22, knew it would be only a matter of time before it would be the 100th's turn.
"Everyone was going," said Niu. "I knew then I would be going too, but I didn't know when."
The last time the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade and its subordinate 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, were mobilized for war duty was in May 1968 for Vietnam. The brigade then went on active duty with 214 officers, 23 warranted officers and 3,100 enlisted soldiers. However, only 1,500 were sent to Vietnam as replacements.
This time all 2,200 Hawaii Army National Guard and Hawaii reservists are expected to see combat duty in Iraq beginning in late February or early March.
Yesterday, the first group of four 100th Battalion and 290 Hawaii National Guard soldiers left for Fort Bliss in El Paso as part of an advance party to prepare the way for the main body of more than 600 soldiers.
"We hope to be close to full strength -- 676 soldiers -- after we get another 20 to 25 soldiers from other reserve units while at Fort Bliss," said Peteers.
The 100th Battalion is one of three combat infantry units of the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade, which was mobilized on Aug. 16. The other two are the 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, with its headquarters in Hilo and the 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry, from California.
The 100th Battalion is the Army Reserve's only combat unit and draws more than 200 soldiers from American Samoa, 50 from Guam, 70 from Saipan, and nearly 300 from Hawaii.
All of the members of the 29th Brigade will train at Fort Bliss until Dec. 20 when they will be given a two-week liberty to return to their homes for the Christmas holiday. Once they return, the 29th Brigade will be sent to Louisiana's Fort Polk for final evaluation and combat certification.
Until August, the largest number of Hawaii National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers mobilized were 200 aviators and helicopters mechanics belonging to Charlie Company, 193rd Aviation; and more than 300 members of the 411th Engineer Combat Battalion. The two units were sent to Iraq in March.
