HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.R. NO.

271

TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2006

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 
   


HOUSE RESOLUTION

 

COMMENDING THE EFFORTS AND BRAVERY OF THE SOLDIERS OF THE HAWAII ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND THE HAWAII ARMY RESERVE AND THE AIRMEN AND AIRWOMEN OF THE HAWAII AIR NATIONAL GUARD ON THEIR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE SERVICES 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 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, United States and coalition forces have been conducting Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom missions in Iraq and Afghanistan since October 7, 2001, against Taliban and Al Qaeda forces, in retaliation for the September 11th terrorist attacks and to prevent further terrorist attacks around the world; and

WHEREAS, troops from all over the nation have faced deployment to join those currently on tours of duty in what the United States Department of Defense has described as the largest series of troop rotations since World War II; and

WHEREAS, the 29TH BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, under the command of Brigadier General Joseph Chaves, is the Hawaii Army National Guard's major combat unit and includes soldiers from the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry of the United States Army Reserve and is truly a Pan-Pacific brigade with units and installations located on islands throughout the State of Hawaii, in the states of California, Minnesota, and Oregon, and on the Pacific islands of American Samoa, Guam, and Saipan; and

WHEREAS, having been last activated in 1968 when the United States forces fought in Vietnam, the 29TH BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, a 6000-member citizen soldier force, has been one of the nation's elite enhanced readiness brigades, a distinction that means the brigade must be trained and equipped to deploy within 90 days of a federal call-up, to become one of 34 brigade combat teams in the Army National Guard's arsenal; and

WHEREAS, upon federal mobilization, the 29TH BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM's strength is augmented by the 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry of the California Army National Guard; 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry of the United States Army Reserve (with units from Oahu, Guam, American Samoa, and Saipan); Troop F, 82nd Cavalry (Ground) of the Oregon Army National Guard; and Battery E, 216th Air Defense Artillery of the Minnesota Army National Guard; and

WHEREAS, the 29TH BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM as part of the Hawaii Army National Guard, has continued to carry out its mission to serve as an integral component of the Army by providing fully-manned, operational ready, and well-equipped units that can respond to any national contingency such as war as part of the United States Army, peaceful missions, or national building operations, and to provide a highly effective, professional, and organized force able to respond to natural and man-made disasters and the unique needs of the state; and

WHEREAS, as a key element in the Army multi-component unit force of the 29th Brigade Combat Team, the 100TH BATTALION, 442ND INFANTRY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE, under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Colbert Low, provided trained and ready soldiers and units with the critical combat service support and combat support capabilities necessary to support national strategy during peacetime, contingencies, and war; and

WHEREAS, serving as the Army Reserve's only ground combat unit, the 100TH BATTALION, 442ND INFANTRY OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY RESERVE carried out neighborhood searches, monitored traffic-control points, and conducted civic action projects for local Iraqi citizens in neighboring villages, in addition to serving its primary mission of base defense, and confiscated or destroyed more than 400 weapons, including AK-47 riffles, more than 15 mortar tubes, hundreds of artillery rounds, mortar rounds and rockets, and more than 50 rocket-propelled grenade launchers and homemade rocket launchers; and

WHEREAS, also serving a vital role in the defense of our country is the HAWAII AIR NATIONAL GUARD component of the Hawaii National Guard, providing organized, trained units to protect Hawaii's citizens and property, preserving peace, ensuring public safety in response to natural or man-made disasters, and providing operationally ready combat units, combat support units and qualified personnel for active duty in the United States Air Force in time of war, national emergency, or operational contingency; and

WHEREAS, through the deployment of the 203rd Air Refueling Squadron, the 154th Security Forces Squadron, the 291 Combat Communications Squadron, the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron, the 154th Civil Engineering Squadron, and the 154th Medical Group, the airmen and airwomen of the HAWAII AIR NATIONAL GUARD, under the command of Major General Darryll D. Wong, played an intricate and significant role in defending America's freedom; 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 maintains a proud heritage of strength and diversity; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2006, that this body hereby expresses its deepest gratitude to the soldiers of the HAWAII ARMY NATIONAL GUARD and the HAWAII ARMY RESERVE, and the airmen and airwomen of the HAWAII AIR NATIONAL GUARD for their service to our state, nation, and the world, and recognizes and applauds their deeds, bravery, and sacrifice, and extends to all of these brave men and women its aloha and best wishes in all future endeavors.

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Hawaii National Guard; Hawaii Army Reserve