Posted on: Wednesday, October 31, 2001

The September 11th attack
141 more National Guardsmen called up

By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer

The Pentagon yesterday announced the call-up of 141 Air National Guard personnel from the 154th Wing at Hickam Air Force Base.

It was the second big activation of Hawai'i-based troops announced in more than a week. On Oct. 23, defense officials said 172 Air National Guardsmen from the 169th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron had been called.

Both call-ups were announced after the fact. The activation of troops from the 169th occurred Oct. 1, while the latest batch of Air Guard personnel have been mobilized on an ongoing basis since the Sept. 11 attacks, said Hawai'i Guard spokes-man Maj. Chuck Anthony.

"This is a whole bunch of different people with different specialties performing a variety of missions," Anthony said.

Tours of duty range from months to a year, he said.

Some Hickam-based F-15 fighter and KC-135 tanker pilots and support personnel fulfilling maintenance, security and communications functions are part of the latest announcement.

Air Guard F-15 pilots have escorted some commercial jetliners into Hawai'i since the terrorist attacks. The 169th Squadron serves as air control for the fighters.

To date, the Pentagon has announced the call-up of 321 Air Guard and 19 Army National Guard personnel in Hawai'i. There are not quite 2,500 Air Guard and about 3,000 Army National Guardsmen and women in the state.

Officials would not say whether any Guard personnel have been called up for operations outside Hawai'i. Most, including members of the 169th squadron, have roles in support of "Noble Eagle" homeland defense.

The Pentagon also announced yesterday the call-up of four Air Guard personnel from the 291st Combat Communications Squadron on the Big Island, and one member of the 292nd Combat Communications Squadron on Maui.