GREGG KAKESAKO / GKAKESAKO@STARBULLETIN.COM Sgt. 1st Class Carmen Kanei got a farewell hug from her cousin, Rene Bishaw, this morning as 270 soldiers of the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade Combat Team left for Kuwait.

Isle troops head off

Many of the National Guard soldiers have already served in the Mideast combat zone

About 270 Hawaii Army National Guard soldiers headed for Texas early today on their way to war.

In a somewhat subdued send-off, the soldiers said goodbye to loved ones at the Kalaeloa facility before boarding buses to Hickam Air Force Base.

By the start of next week, all 2,200 members of the Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team will be at Fort Hood, between Austin and Waco in Texas. They will be there for two months of training before deploying to Kuwait in late October for 12 months.

The brigade includes troops from Guam and Saipan, as well as an artillery unit from Oklahoma.

More than 1,000 of the Hawaii-based troops have already served in the Middle East and were members of the 29th Brigade when it was mobilized in 2004 for combat duty in Iraq.

This time, some of the troops will provide security for convoys from Kuwait to Baghdad, while others are assigned to administrative and security duties in Kuwait.

FULL STORY »

GREGG K. KAKESAKO / GKAKESAKO@STARBULLETIN.COM Kainalu Tumpap had a good view of the action at Kalaeloa this morning from the shoulders of his father, Capt. Tino Tumpap, whose unit prepared to leave for Fort Hood in Texas.

Three-year-old Elban Badua clung to his father to keep warm against the early morning breeze at Kalaeloa today.

His father — Hawaii Army National Guard Spec. Elmine Badua — was headed off to war, again.

The elder Badua is a citizen-soldier assigned to Alpha Company, Brigade Special Troops Battalion.

His company is among the 1,700 members of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the Army Reserve's 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry who are heading to Fort Hood, Texas, this week for two months of training before deploying to Kuwait for a year.

Elban Badua wasn't born when his father was first mobilized for war duty in Iraq in 2004.

"This time, it's going to be rough," Badua admitted as he looked down at his son.

This morning's departure was more subdued than the farewell held four years ago when the soldiers left the quads at Schofield Barracks, where they had spent several months in pre-mobilization training.

Missing today were the mylar balloons, the large farewell placards and even the leis.

But one thing remained constant — the many lingering hugs, kisses and whispers between couples before the soldiers climbed aboard the buses that took them to Hickam Air Force Base just before 3 a.m. From there a charter jet would take them to San Antonio, followed by another bus ride to Fort Hood.

As many as 84 percent of the soldiers have been through the goodbyes before, according to Hawaii Guard officials.

Sgt. 1st Class Carmen Cane, who has been in the Hawaii Guard for 27 years, summed it up: "I'm ready. I'm not really surprised (to be mobilized). We all knew somewhere down the line that we would have to go again."

GREGG K. KAKESAKO / GKAKESAKO@STARBULLETIN.COM Spc. Elmine Badua said he will worry about his son, Elban, who is only 3 and doesn't understand why his father will be gone for 12 months. The last time he was deployed, Badua said, his son wasn't born yet, but "this time, it's going to be rough."

Departing this morning were soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 487th Field Artillery; Brigade Special Troops Battalion; and 29th Brigade Support Battalion.

Capt. Tino Tumpap, who commands Alpha Company, said this deployment presents new challenges for him, not only because he will command more soldiers than the last time but also because his unit will be tasked with providing security for civilian and military convoys moving from Kuwait into Baghdad.

"Last time our main duties were just patrolling," he said.

Members of the 100th Battalion, which will leave Oahu later this week, and the 29th Brigade's 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry Regiment, have also been tasked with convoy security duties.

The rest of the 29th Brigade, which replaces a unit from the Ohio Army National Guard, will be stationed throughout Kuwait providing administrative and security support. The brigade's headquarters will be located at Arifjan, south of Kuwait City.

The Brigade will be at full strength by the beginning of next week, when it is joined by 600 soldiers from the 45th Fires Brigade, an Oklahoma Army National Guard artillery unit.