Isles’ 29th Brigade
begins Iraq duty

The Army National Guard
members are in the
country for a year

Hawaii's 29th Brigade Combat Team officially began its year-long mission in Iraq yesterday amid an investigation into allegations that a key leader assaulted a subordinate officer.

During a ceremony at Logistical Support Area Anaconda in Balad northwest of Baghdad, the 81st Brigade Combat Team from Washington formally transferred its authority to the 29th Brigade.

"The soldiers of the 29th BCT have been provided a unique opportunity to write the next chapter in the history of this war on terror," Brig. Gen. Joe Chaves, commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade Combat Team, said at the ceremony.

Brig. Gen. Oscar Hilman, commander of the 81st BCT, said his unit's success since April came at a price: Nine Washington citizen soldiers were killed.

"Throughout the year, the brigade has fought terrorists, former regime elements and anyone trying to destabilize Iraq," Hilman said.

The ceremony marked the official start of the 29th Brigade's mission in Iraq.

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STAR-BULLETIN / OCTOBER 2004 Pam Lau attends the 100th Battalion's farewell luau at Schofield Barracks with her son, Sgt. Keenan Lau, who is a member of Delta Company.

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Chaves, meanwhile, is investigating the alleged fight between Lt. Col. Alan Ostermiller, commander of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, and his operations officers. Ostermiller, 41, was relieved of his command pending the investigation.

Last month, shortly after arriving in Iraq, Ostermiller allegedly threw a chair at his subordinate, then grabbed and choked him. Ostermiller reportedly was subdued by other members of his staff, and military police officers took his weapons from him.

Maj. Mike Peteers, who was second in command to Ostermiller until he was hospitalized with a back injury just before the unit left for Kuwait on Jan. 20, told the Star-Bulletin this week that the battalion is still "very strong."

"The unit does not stop because of the incident," said Peteers, who is recuperating in Hawaii from back surgery. "They will continue to keep their nose to the ground. They are soldiering hard."

Peteers, who has stayed in contact with the 100th Battalion's staff but is not allowed to discuss the alleged incident, acknowledged that "it's a pretty tough situation now."

But he noted that Ostermiller, a 1982 Kamehameha Schools graduate, has assembled a "very strong team. There's a lot of depth in his staff."

"He's been a leader for the past six months," said Peteers, who hopes to return as executive officer for the 100th Battalion in six weeks.

"He should be given credit for establishing the battalion's high level of performance and his constant emphasis on 'staying alert and staying alive,'" Peteers said.

Pam Lau, who is one of the 100th Battalion's Family Support Group leaders, said she is hoping for a quick resolution. She also was told not to discuss the specifics of the case.

"As far as I am concerned, the sooner we get this resolved, the better it will be for everyone," said Lau, whose son, Sgt. Keenan Lau, is a member of the 100th Battalion's Delta Company. "My thing is always to be positive and keep pride in the 100th."

The incident occurred a week after the 100th Battalion, which has more than 500 soldiers from Hawaii and the Pacific area, arrived in Iraq during the weekend of Feb. 19.

Lau said her son has not said anything about the incident since he arrived earlier this week at LSA Anaconda north of Baghdad.

In e-mails to families of the 100th Battalion, Lau has cautioned them "to reserve their judgment until all the pieces of the puzzle fit."

Peteers said Ostermiller, who has been a member of the Pacific Army Reserve for 12 years, was highly respected.

In civilian life, Ostermiller operates a linen supply service on Maui with his wife.

With Peteers sidelined, Maj. Paul Gault was assigned to temporarily run the 100th Battalion, one of three infantry battalions assigned to the 29th Brigade.

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Changing of the guard This is where the 3,500 soldiers from Hawaii's 29th Brigade Combat Team will be in Iraq for the next year: The 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery and part of the 227th Engineer Company: Kuwait Naval Base in Kuwait. Half of Battery E, 1st Battalion 216th, Air Defense Artillery; and Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 172th Armor Company: Eskan Village in Saudi Arabia. The 2nd Battalion, 299 Infantry: Camp Victory South near Baghdad International Airport. The 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry; and half of Battery E, 1st Battalion, 216th Air Defense Artillery: Camp Union in Baghdad. Headquarters of the 29th Brigade Combat Team; the 29th Support Battalion; Troop F, 82nd Cavalry; the 229th Military Intelligence Company; the 1st Battalion, 100/442 Infantry; and a platoon of the 227th Engineer Company: Logistical Area Support Anaconda in Balad, northwest of Baghdad. The missions of the units assigned to LSA Anaconda include the training of an Iraqi army battalion and security of the base's perimeter and entry control points, as well as providing a quick-reaction force for the base.