HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

34

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

commending the efforts and bravery of the hawaii national guard FOR THEIR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE SERVICE TO OUR STATE, NATION, AND THE WORLD AS WE COMBAT THE WAR ON TERRORISM.

 

 

WHEREAS, the richness and vitality of our State are due in large part to the invaluable personal contributions and meritorious acts of individuals who are committed to enhancing the well-being of our nation to go beyond what is expected of them to assist others in times of need; and

WHEREAS, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, continue to have repercussions today as thousands of military service members and their families grapple with the news of upcoming deployments to dangerous, volatile, and unstable areas of the world, such as Iraq and Afghanistan; and

WHEREAS, since its inception in 1893, the mission of the Hawaii Army National Guard component of the HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD has been to serve as an integral component of the Army by providing fully-manned, operationally ready, and well-equipped units that can respond to any national contingency such as war, peaceful missions, or national building operations, and to provide a highly effective, professional, and organized force able to respond to natural and human-caused disasters and the unique needs of the State; and

WHEREAS, the Hawaii Army National Guard is comprised of three major commands: the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade, the 103rd Troop Command, and the 298th Regiment Regional Training Institute with units and installations throughout the State of Hawaii on the islands of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai; and

WHEREAS, the mission of the Hawaii Air National Guard component of the HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD is to provide organized, trained units to protect Hawaii's citizens and property, preserve peace, ensure public safety in response to natural or human-caused disasters, and to provide operationally ready combat units, combat support units, and qualified personnel for active duty in the U.S. Air Force in time of war, national emergency, or operational contingency; and

WHEREAS, the Air National Guard as we know it today, a separate reserve component of the United States Air Force, was founded in 1947 and is comprised of the 154th Air Control Squadron/150th Air Control Warning Squadron, the 154th Wing, the 291st Combat Communications Squadron, and the 292nd Combat Communications Squadron; and

WHEREAS, with a dual mission that requires being part of the nation's full military force during times of national crisis, while also being responsible to the respective states during times of state or community emergencies, the HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD has maintained a proud heritage of strength and diversity; and

WHEREAS, many troops face deployment to join those currently on tours of duty, in what the United States Department of Defense describes as the largest series of troop rotations since World War II; and

WHEREAS, as this mobilization has not left Hawaii's residents untouched, under the command of Adjutant General, Robert G.F. Lee, the HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD currently comprised of approximately 5,500 proud members, of which more than 1,200 have been activated to duty and more than 400 have been deployed to the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, the HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD units from the Hawaii Air National Guard including the 154th Security Forces Squadron, the 291st Combat Communications Squadron, the 292nd Combat Communications Squadron, the 293rd Combat Communications Squadron, and the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron have already proudly served our country in the initial missions following the September 11th attacks; and

WHEREAS, joining the HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD units on deployment, 62 members of the COMPANY B, 193rd AVIATION (INTERMEDIATE MAINTENANCE), whose primary duties are maintaining helicopters flown by the 25th Infantry Division and the Hawaii Army National Guard, will report for active duty to prepare to replace other members in their unit who have been in the Middle East since last August 2003; and

WHEREAS, as of January 2004, approximately 200 Hawaii Army National Guard personal from COMPANY C, 193rd AVIATION REGIMENT (HEAVY HELICOPTER), stationed at Wheeler Army Airfield were placed on federal active duty status in preparation for a year-long deployment to Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom; and

WHEREAS, the soldiers of COMPANY C, 193rd AVIATION REGIMENT (HEAVY HELICOPTER), fly and maintain 14 CH-47 "Chinook" helicopters, each capable of transporting up to 30 passengers and an additional 10,000 pounds of cargo, and will be responsible for ferrying troops and supplies between various military posts and stations in the Middle East; and

WHEREAS, under the leadership of Captain Joseph C. Laurel and First Sergeant John Y. Gollero, the men and women of COMPANY C, 193rd AVIATION REGIMENT (HEAVY HELICOPTER), live by the motto "Ku wela ka hao" which means "Strike while the iron is hot," exemplifying the warrior spirit of the unit as they stand ready to combat terrorism; and

WHEREAS, COMPANY C, 193rd AVIATION REGIMENT (HEAVY HELICOPTER), will be joined by approximately 25 soldiers from the Ohio Army National Guard's 1-137th Aviation Battalion (Heavy Helicopter), Company G, Detachment 1, stationed in North Canton, Ohio, who, in the true spirit of teamwork, stepped forward to fill critical vacancies in support of COMPANY C, 193rd AVIATION REGIMENT (HEAVY HELICOPTER), and will now become part of their ohana; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-second Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2004, that this body commends and applauds the efforts and bravery of the HAWAII NATIONAL GUARD, salutes and thanks the soldiers of COMPANY B, 193rd AVIATION (INTERMEDIATE MAINTENANCE), COMPANY C, 193rd AVIATION REGIMENT (HEAVY HELICOPTER), for their service to our State and country, and extends to all of these brave men and women its aloha and best wishes for their safety and well-being during deployment.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaii National Guard