Posted on: Thursday, March 3, 2005
Thousands greet returning Guard soliders
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD — Somehow, after nearly a year in Iraq, and with families ogling, waving and hoisting newborn babies yards away, the soldiers of Charlie Company, 193rd Aviation were able to stay focused and at attention for a few minutes more.
After a thank-you yesterday from Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona for a job well done, the 180 returning soldiers were given the order they were most eager to hear: Dismissed.
And with that, they were enveloped by a sea of family and friends, balloons, lei and hugs inside a base hangar.
Thousands turned out for the redeployment in a battalion-size welcome home for the company of soldiers — the single largest return of Hawai'i National Guard members from combat since the Vietnam War.
Spc. Nathaniel Luff, 23, of Kapolei climbed over three rows of chairs to get to his family.
"It's great," Luff, a little lost for words, said of being home.
Balad Air Base, where Charlie Company and 14 Hawai'i Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopters operated, was "hot, cold, miserable. Lots of mud," Luff said.
Sgt. Matt Werts, 23, of Mililani beamed as he held his 4-month-old son, Micah, for the first time.
"It's hard for families — and people who have newborn sons," said Werts, a plumber in civilian life, of the yearlong tour of duty.
A friend passed a Star Market tray of ahi poke, and Werts dug in with chopsticks.
"It's good. I haven't tasted it in a while," he said.
His wife, Natalie, said the deployment was "very, very depressing."
"It was kinda hard because I had the baby, and I was on my own," she said. "So I was looking forward to this day a lot."
More than 200 soldiers with Charlie Company, including helicopter pilots and mechanics, were mobilized Jan. 7, 2004.
A small advance party returned last week, and a group remains in Kuwait with the big twin-rotor Chinooks.
Commander Maj. Joseph Laurel said the company flew 6,240 combat hours — double that of the helicopter rotation before.
"The company exceeded all expectations," he said.
The unit carried just under 50,000 passengers, 15 million pounds of cargo, flew 1,280 combat missions and was awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation. Eight Charlie Company soldiers received Bronze Stars.
Hawai'i Guard helicopters flew $1.65 billion in U.S. currency to Kurdish-held Irbil in the north of Iraq, and even gave former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein a lift for a court hearing.
Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jack Sharkey, 62, a Vietnam War veteran and retired Aloha Airlines pilot, added to his flying time during the deployment.
The unit would fly to the border of Iran in the East, up to Kirkuk, Irbil, Tikrit and Mosul in the North, and to Nasariyah and Al Kut south of Baghdad.
"We went everywhere. We were kind of like Federal Express," Sharkey said.
The extensive use of the 193rd coincided with a reduction in Chinook units in Iraq and a spike in the insurgency last April, when the unit still was in Kuwait.
One Chinook went down in a hard landing in April. No one was seriously hurt, officials said.
"We brought everyone back. That's the main thing," Sharkey said. There were some close calls, though, and incoming rockets at Balad Air Base "took some chips" out of one Chinook on the ground, he said.
Asked if the Iraq duty was worth a year of his life, Sharkey said, "At first I didn't think it was, and I'm still not sure what the final outcome will be over there. But I think it's worth it serving your country and fulfilling your commitment."
Natalie Werts said it's up to her husband whether he wants to stay in the Guard.
"I'll support him whatever — as long as he doesn't go to Iraq again," she said.
Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
