Posted on: Friday, March 4, 2005
Hawai'i soldiers begin Iraq mission
By William Cole
Advertiser Military Writer
Hawai'i National Guard and Army Reserve soldiers with the 29th Brigade Combat Team officially began their mission in Iraq yesterday with a transfer-of-authority ceremony in Balad.
Capt. Kyle Yonemura • 29th Brigade Combat Team Chaves uncased the combat team's colors, and the Hawai'i state flag was raised above the brigade's tactical operations center at Logistical Support Area Anaconda. The 15-square-mile air base about 50 miles north of Baghdad will serve as the headquarters for the citizen soldiers' yearlong mission to Iraq.
The Hawai'i soldiers relieved the 81st Brigade Combat Team, a National Guard unit out of Washington state. The 81st lost nine soldiers in Iraq.
The 29th Brigade, with about 3,600 soldiers, comprises units from California, Oregon and Minnesota and members of the Army Reserve's 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, from Hawai'i, Saipan, Guam and American Samoa. The 29th will undertake a multitude of security missions in Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
The 1st Battalion of the 487th Field Artillery and part of the 227th Engineer Company are assigned to Kuwait Naval Base. Half of an air defense artillery battery and an armor company are assigned to Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia.
The 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry, is based at Camp Victory South in Baghdad. The 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry, out of California, and half of an air defense artillery are assigned to Camp Union in Baghdad.
In addition to the brigade headquarters, the 29th Support Battalion, part of a cavalry troop, the 229th Military Intelligence Company, the 100th-442nd, and a platoon of the 227th Engineer Company are at LSA Anaconda.
The units assigned to LSA Anaconda will have missions such as training an Iraqi army battalion, securing the base's perimeter and entry control points, and providing a Quick Reaction Force for the base.
Reach William Cole at wcole@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-5459.
"The soldiers of the 29th BCT have been provided a unique opportunity to write the next chapter in the history of this war on terror," said their commander, Brig. Gen. Joseph Chaves.
Brig. Gen. Joseph Chaves uncases the 29th Brigade Combat Team's colors at the transfer-of-authority ceremony at Logistical Support Area Anaconda, an air base about 50 miles north of Baghdad.
