U.S. battle flag gets carried in third overseas campaign

An American battle flag carried by a Hawaii soldier in Vietnam War in 1967 and then by his son before he was killed in Iraq 38 years later once again flies in Iraq.

This time it is carried by soldiers of the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Combat Brigade Team from Schofield Barracks, according to an Army news release.

Allen Hoe bought the flag in Chu Lai in South Vietnam in 1967, and Hoe has kept it to honor his team leader, Lt. Frederick Ransbottom, whose body was never recovered. More than three years ago, his son, 1st Lt. Nainoa Hoe, asked his unit leader whether they could carry the flag in Mosul to honor Ransbottom. He was still carrying it when he was shot and killed by a sniper in January 2005.

Three years after the death of Nainoa Hoe, Allen Hoe entrusted the flag to Lt. Col Thomas H. Mackey, commander, of the 2nd Squadron, 14th Cav. Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, for his unit's 15-month deployment to Iraq. Mackey was commanding officer of Nainoa Hoe's unit when he was deployed to Mosul.

The battle flag is now carried by Schofield Barracks soldiers patrolling the streets around Taji.

The task of protecting the commander of the 25th Infantry Division's 2nd Stryker Combat Brigade and his headquarters in Iraq falls to Sgt. Tyrel Tierney, who is from New Orleans, writes Army journalist Spc. Aaron Rosencrans.

Tierney is Col. Todd McCaffrey's personal security detachment shift leader with Headquarters and Headquarters Company. Rosencrans writes that whenever McCaffrey leaves Camp Taji, Tierney and his team are called upon to ensure he has a safe and secure environment to conduct his business and return safely.

Also at Camp Taji are Schofield Barracks soldiers assigned to the 536th Maintenance Company, whose job includes making lifesaving modifications to the 20-ton Stryker combat vehicles, according to an article by Army journalist Pfc. Andrea Merrit.

The soldiers install ballistic glass around the gunner's hatch to protect the soldiers from snipers and fragments from bombs. They also install the frames for sniper screens and make "Rhinos" -- electrical devices mounted on the fronts of vehicles and designed to detonate roadside bombs.

"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.