Department of Defense

IN MEMORIAM

It is with deep regret that the deaths of the following personnel of the 29th Infantry Brigade, Hawaii Army National Guard, mobilized on 13 May 1968, are announced. The Hawaii National Guard mourns the loss(sic) of these loyal members who served their country with distinction and honor.

Combat Deaths

• PFC Earl C. M. Au Hoy – Co A 1st Bn 299th Inf
• SP4 John 5. Otake Co A 1st Bn 299th Inf
• PFC Glenn T. Shibata-Gnd Survl & Hv Mort Plat HHC 2d Bn 299th Inf
• SFC Edward L. Loo, Jr. – Co C 2d Bn 299th Inf
• PFC Michael S. Nakashima – HHC 29th In(Bde

Non-Combat Deaths

• lSG Anthony C. S. Tam Sing – HHC 29th Inf Bde
• SP4 Norman K. Hayashi – Co D 29th Spt Bn
• SP4 Rudy Aquino – Co B (-) 1st Bn 299th Inf
• PFC Robert H. Kawamoto – Btry A 1st Bn 487th Arty
• lSG Joseph Harvest – Co A 29th Spt Bn
• PFC Dennis R. Penis Co A ( -) 2d Bn 299th Inf
• SSG Allen K. Matsumoto — HHC 29th Inf Bde

– 1969 Annual Report pp.4

IN MEMORIAM

It is with deep regret that the Department announces the deaths of additional 29th Infantry Brigade members during Fiscal year 1970. These men were mobilized with the Brigade on May 13, 1968. The Department mourns the loss of these loyal men who served their country with distinction and honor.

COMBAT DEATHS

• SP4 Roger R. Pangan, Trp E, 19th Cav
• SGT Gaylord K. Defries , Co B, 1st Bn, 299th Inf
• SP4 Walter D. Browne, Co C, 1st Bn, 299th Inf
• 1LT John K. Kauhaihao, Co C, 2d Bn, 299th Inf
• SP4 Alberto Milar Jr., HHC, 2d Bn, 299th Inf
• SGT Wilfredo B. Andrada, Co B, 2d Bn , 299th Inf

NON-COMBAT DEATHS

• SP4 David S. Laamea, Co B, 1st Bn, 299th Inf
• SP4 Frank T. Longakit, Co A, 2d Bn, 299th Inf

– 1970 Annual Report pp.5

On May 23, 1971 the brigade held its second annual memorial ceremony honoring the men of the 29th Infantry Brigade and 100th Battalion, 442d Infantry who lost their lives while on active duty from May 13, 1968 to December 12, 1969. Brigadier General Edward M. Yoshimasu, brigade commander, delivered the memorial address. A bronze plaque was unveiled by Brigadier General Yoshimasu and Brigadier General Frederick A. Schaefer, III.

– 1971 Annual Report pp. 11

29th Brigade Memorial Day

By Capt Alvin A.F. Kort, USAR

In a stirring Memorial Day address, Lt Col Frederick A. Holck, commander of the Army Reserve’s 100th Infantry Battalion, honored the 29 men who died in Vietnam while the Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade was on active duty.

The Brigade was called to active duty during the Pueblo Crisis and served from May 13, 1968 to Dec. 12, 1969. The 29 men. who were killed in action, included members of the 100th Battalion which was part of the Brigade during its period of activation.

This fifth annual memorial service was held at the Brigade’s Fort Ruger headquarters. During the ceremony, BrigGen Edward M. Yoshimasu, brigade commander, and Germaine Kauhaihao laid a wreath and plaque honoring the Brigade’s fallen comrades.

Miss Kauhaihao is the daughter of 1Lt John Kauhaihao, who was killed in Vietnam, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously.

A 21-gun rifle salute and the sounding of “Taps” concluded the half-hour ceremony.

– 1974 Summer Pūpūkahi pp. 8

29th Brigade Memorial Day Services held

Members of the Hawaii Army National Guard paid tribute on May 22 to the 29 men who died in Vietnam.

In its annual Memorial Day services, the Army Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade honored comrades who were killed while the Brigade was on active duty.

The annual memorial service was held at the Brigade’s headquarters on 22nd Avenue in Kaimuki.

BrigGen. Frederick A. Schaefer III, commander of the Hawaii Army National Guard, delivered the memorial address.

During the ceremony, Schaefer laid a wreath honoring the Brigade’s fallen comrades.

The Brigade was called to active duty during the Pueblo crisis and served from May 13, 1968 to Dec. 12, 1969.

The 29 men who were killed in action, included members of the 100th Battalion, which was part of the Brigade during its period of activation.

The sounding of “Taps” concluded the half-hour ceremony.

– 1977 June Pūpūkahi pp. 3

Brigade holds memorial services

CSM Allen Smith, 100th Bn., and CSM lsayas Santa Ana, 29th Infantry Brigade, assist MajGen. Valentine A. Siefermann in laying a wreath during the recent Brigade memorial service. The ceremony honored those 29 individuals who suffered death while serving in Vietnam ten years ago. The memorial address was given by Col. Solomon Kaulukukui, who saw these men as dying “in simple obedience to duty as they understood it … sacrificing all and daring all … “

– 1978 June Pūpūkahi pp. 6

VIETNAM ERA DEAD HONORED

The Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade conducted a memorial ceremony in front of the Brigade Armory on 22nd Avenue on May 20.

The ceremony honors the 29 members of the 29th Brigade and the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, U.S. Army Reserve who died while on active duty when the units were activated for service to Vietnam in May, The units were returned to reserve status on December 12, 1969.

The Hawaii Army National Guard’s 111th Army Band provided a band concert which proceeded the ceremony.

Sgt. First Class Moses Kalauokalani of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 29th Brigade, gave the invocation. The memorial address was given by Command Sergeant Major lsayas D. Santa Ana, also of Headquarters, 29th Brigade.

CSM Santa Ana and CSM Brian Yamanaka of the 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry placed a floral wreath on the permanent memorial plaque listing the soldiers who were killed 16 years ago.

There was a rifle salute by Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 29th Brigade and the 111th Army Band played taps.

Kalauokalani gave the benediction and the ceremony concluded with the 111th Army Band playing the State anthem Hawaii Ponoi.

– 1984 Second Quarter Pūpūkahi pp. 2

Brigade Remembers Fallen Comrades

On November 8, 1987 the 29th Infantry Brigade of the Hawaii Army National Guard conducted a memorial ceremony on the lawn fronting the Brigade’s Headquarters on 22nd Avenue to honor the Brigade members and Army Reservists who died during the units’ activation for service in Vietnam.

In May of 1968, the 29th Infantry Brigade under the command of Brig. Gen. Frederick A. Schaefer, III, reported to Schofield Barracks for active duty. More than 200 officers and 2,700 enlisted men from the Hawaii Army National Guard were mobilized for active service. By the time of their demobilization in 1969, the 29th Infantry Brigade and Army Reserve had lost 29 soldiers. The unit received 533 awards and decorations for their service.

The ceremony began with the National Anthem by the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 111th Army Band and an invocation by Brigade Chaplain Philip J. Davis.

Brig. Gen. John R. D’Araujo, Jr., the Assistant Adjutant General, Army; delivered the memorial address. General D’Araujo, who was activated with the Brigade, served a tour of duty in Vietnam. Following the memorial address, the honor roll was read and a floral spray was placed before the permanent memorial plaque by Command Sgt. Maj. Clement Y.F. Hew, of the 29th Infantry Brigade and Sgt. Maj. Arthur S. Delos Santos of the 100th Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, honoring the fallen soldiers. A twenty-one gun salute and the playing of Taps concluded the ceremony.

Story by 1st. Lt. Curtis Matsushige
Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Wayne Iha
117th Public Affairs Detachment

– 1987 October – December Pūpūkahi pp. 8

Brigade honors fallen comrades

The 29th Infantry Brigade (Separate), Hawaii Army National Guard, conducted its annual memorial ceremony on Nov. 6 to honor Brigade members and Army Reservists who died while on active duty during the 1968 Vietnam call up.

The ceremony began with the playing of the National Anthem by the 111th Army Band on the lawn fronting the Brigade ‘s’ headquarters on 22nd Avenue . Capt. James R. Jacobs, the Brigade chaplain, gave the invocation.

Sgt. Maj. James M. Reis, senior enlisted member of the 1st Battalion , 487th Field Artillery, delivered the memorial address.

The reading of the honor roll and the placement of a flower spray before the permanent memorial plaque by Sgt. Maj. Raymond M. Sakai, of the 29th Sup port Battalion, and Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur S. Delos
Santos of the 100th Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve followed the memorial address. The ceremony ended with a 21 gun salute and the playing of taps.

Twenty years ago, on May 13, 1968, the 29th Infantry Brigade, under the command of Brig. Gen. Frederick A. Schaefer III, reported to Schofield Barracks for active duty in Vietnam.

More than 200 officers and 2,700 enlisted men of the Hawaii Army National Guard were mobilized for active service.

More than 1,100 men went on to serve in Southeast Asia.

The National Guard soldiers were released from active duty December 1969.

Twenty-nine members of the 29th Infantry Brigade and Army Reserve died while on active duty . the units received 533 awards and decorations.

– 1988 October – December Pūpūkahi pp. 3

While preparing for future combat environments, the HIARNG commemorated one of itsmost historic events in its history: the 30th anniversary of the May 13, 1968, federal activation of the 29th Separate Infantry Brigade during the Vietnam Conflict. The Guard commemorated the activation of more than 4,000 citizen-soldiers of Hawaii and the more than 1,100 who went on to perform duty in Southeast Hawaii Army National Guard Asia. Twenty-nine members of the Brigade, and its round-out 100th Battalion of the Army Reserve, died by the time the brigade returned to State control in December of 1969.

– 1998 Annual Report pp. 10

Brigade “rock” to be rededicated November 11

By Ret. Command Sgt. Maj. James Reis

When the 29th Infantry Brigade moved to Kalaeloa, the memorial fronting the 22nd Avenue headquarters was removed and placed in storage until a final resting place was agreed upon.

This Veterans’ Day, Nov.11, the Hawaii Army National Guard will once again honor its fallen comrades from the Vietnam Call-Up as the memorial is rededicated at the Hawaii State Veterans Cemetery.

In 1970-71, the Hawaii Army National Guard decided to place a memorial for the 29 Hawaii Army Guardsmen and Army Reservists who died while on active duty during the 1968 Reserve Call-Up. A large bronze plaque was commissioned, designed with the names and activated units of all 29 soldiers who perished during the call-up.

During 1971, word went out to all unit armories that the Guard was searching for a suitable rock of a fairly large size, on which to mount the bronze memorial plaque. Capt. Albert Ayers, 227th Engineer Company commander, contacted a friend, lsao Ito, who worked for the City and County of Honolulu in the Wahiawa area. Ito said that he had recently surveyed the entire Wahiawa area for a very large stone because Wahiawa town had requested one for a similar purpose and that he knew of such a stone, deep in Waipio Valley, that might fit the Guard’s requirements.

Ayers accompanied Ito into the back of Waipio Valley to look at the prospective rock. The jeep trail they followed wound deep into the valley, past intermittent small farms and thick jungle growth. Eventually, they came to a small patch of banana trees just off to the side of the trail. The rock they were looking for was deeply imbedded in the ground, with only its top showing above the tall kunai grass. It seemed to be the perfect choice to Ayers, as it met all of the Guard’s specifications for a large, flat and suitably shaped rock.

Early one morning, Ayers, along with Sgt. 1st Class Joe Nakoa, Sgt. Edgar Clark, Sgt. 1st Class Manny Silva, and Sgt. Robert Segawa, started off with the 5-ton wrecker and a 5 ¼ ton (Jeep) truck to bring the rock out of Waipio Valley.

After a long drive from the unit armory, traveling for quite a while on the muddy dirt trails up the valley, they finally reached the site of the banana patch. The wrecker had a hard time making it all the way up that narrow, muddy trail, and if the road conditions weren’t bad enough, it started raining with the intensity of a downpour in the monsoon season in South East Asia.

Ayers gave a blessing, asking whatever spirits dwelled in the rock and the surrounding jungle to pardon them for taking the rock and telling them that it was to be put to good purpose.

To get the rock onto the truck, it first had to be dug out of the ground. A hole was dug several feet deep all around the large rock. A sling was then rigged underneath it, and the rock was hoisted out by the boom of the wrecker and placed on the bed of the 5¼-ton truck.

The rock was very heavy and the five men struggled in the pouring rain to position it in the bed of the truck. The rock was about three feet wide, over six feet long, and about one foot thick; shaped like a surfboard with a rounded end and a jagged pointed tip.

Eventually, the rock received a traditional Hawaiian blessing prior to the attachment of the large bronze plaque.

– 2002 July – September Pūpūkahi pp. 5

29th Brigade Operation IRAQI FREEDOM memorial unveiled

By Sgt. 1st Class Stephen Lum and Spc. Joanna Amberger,
117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade unveiled the Operation IRAQI FREEDOM Memorial, Nov. 5, at the 29th’s Kalaeloa, Hawaii, headquarters. The Memorial honors 18 Brigade Soldiers who paid the ultimate price for freedom during the OIF deployment.

The ceremony began with opening formalities and introductions of the official party by Maj. Gen. Robert G.F. Lee, state adjutant general. Brig. Gen. Joseph. J. Chaves, commander, Hawaii Army National Guard and 29th Brigade, and Gov. Linda Lingle addressed the many leaders, comrades, family and friends of the fallen soldiers.

“I ask you to always remember our fallen comrades, who in their sacrifice, we find the courage, strength and inspiration to continue our quest for peace and freedom in the world. I ask that we keep their families in our hearts and prayers,” said Chaves.

“Today’s memorial is just a small way to express our respect and to honor those who gave their lives. It seems so small. Small, but important that we do it because we should never forget the sacrifice they made for us. This memorial preserves their memory for current, as well as for future generations,” said Lingle.

These remarks were followed by the unveiling of the OIF Memorial by the official party, presentation of floral wreaths at the OIF, and Vietnam Memorials by present and past Brigade command sergeant majors, and the roll call of honor for both campaigns.

A ceremonial 21-gun salute, the playing of Taps, and a three-helicopter flyover highlighted the conclusion of the ceremony.

Sgt. 1st Class Joseph C. Barker, fire support officer for D Co., 184th Fire Support Team in Iraq, sent condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers memorialized. “You can’t put into words how much their sacrifice means,” said Barker. “Every one of those guys are heroes.”

Capt. Haz N. Anguay, military transition team leader in Iraq, D Co., 100th Battalion, 442nd Infantry, expressed a sense of great loss over the fallen soldiers and recognized their important sacrifices for their country and units. “My heart goes out to their families,” he said.

The Hawaii Guard’s 111th Army Band provided the music, and C Co., 193rd Aviation, which returned from OIF in 2004, provided the CH-47D Chinook helicopter support.

The OIF roll of honor included 14 soldiers assigned or attached to the California based 1st Battalion, 184th Infantry (three attached to 1st Bn., 487th Field Artillery), three from the U.S. Army Reserve’s 100th Bn., 442nd Infantry, and one from Hawaii’s 229th Military Intelligence Co.

– 2006 October – December Pūpūkahi pp. 4

29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Honors Their Lost Soldiers

by Pfc. Paul Berzinas

KALAELOA – Soldiers from the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team gathered at the unit’s headquarters in Kapolei, Hawaii on May 3 to honor the soldiers of the unit who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The annual ceremony pays tribute to the soldiers the unit has lost since the first time it was ordered into federal service in May 1968, said retired Army Maj. Gen. Joseph J. Chaves, past commander of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and keynote speaker for the ceremony.

The names of every soldier the brigade has lost are engraved on a pair of plaques, each set in sacred stones, or “Pohaku”, said Chaves

“Having this memorial ceremony every year is really about bringing people back, and reminding everybody about the sacrifice that [the fallen soldiers] made so that we can enjoy the things that go on every day in our lives,” said Chaves.

The ceremony took place between the Pohaku to honor the brigade’s fallen soldiers. During the ceremony, the name of each brigade soldier who gave their life in the line of duty was read so that they would always be remembered.

The purpose of the ceremony is to remind service members and their families to live their lives to the fullest, contributing to America’s strength in honor of those men and women who gave their lives so that they can live.

Throughout his military career, Chaves has held numerous key positions in the 29th brigade. These positions include platoon leader, company commander, brigade operations officer, brigade deputy commander, and brigade commander.

“I spent most of my career in the 29h Brigade,” said Chaves. “When I retired, I had 43 years of service, and I would say about 30 of them were in the 29th brigade.”

– 2015 May Pūpūkahi pp. 2

Honoring the fallen, welcoming home the forgotten

Story by Spc. Paul Berzinas, 117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, Hawaii Army National Guard.

KALAELOA, Hawaii- The Hawaii National Guard honored Vietnam-era veterans in a pair of ceremonies held at the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Readiness Center here on May 25, 2017.

The ceremonies, which focused on honoring Hawaii’s Vietnam-era veterans, included remarks from speakers associated with the 29th Brigade during the Vietnam War.

The first ceremony of the day took place in front of the readiness center, between the pohaku, or sacred stones, bearing the names of the members of the 29th Brigade who gave their lives in service to their country.

Retired Brig. Gen. Irwin K. Cockett, Hawaii Army National Guard commander from 1983 to 1986 and Korean/Vietnam veteran, and Mrs. Shirley Kauhaihao, widow of 1st Lt. John Kauhaihao, gave their remarks during the first ceremony.

1st Lt. John K. Kauhaihao was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously for his action in battle Sept. 5, 1969, when he intentionally drew enemy fire on himself in order to save his platoon.

Many Hawaii Guard service members exhibited outstanding conduct similar to Lt. Kauhaihao, said Col. Moses Kaoiwi Jr., commander of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

“As for the members of the 29th who were deployed during the Vietnam War, their performance was outstanding,” Kaoiwi said. “This is why it was particularly important to honor the Hawaii Guard’s Vietnam-era veterans with these ceremonies. What we really wanted to do, as part of the 50th Anniversary of the Hawaii’s involvement in the Vietnam War, was to recognize the veterans that served during that time. Not a lot of people know about the 29th Brigade’s contributions to the Vietnam War.”

The 29th Brigade was called to fight in the Vietnam War on May 13, 1968, mobilizing approximately 4,000 personnel. Eleven hundred Hawaii Guard Soldiers went on to serve in Vietnam. While most people didn’t think the National Guard served in Vietnam, the 29th Brigade did.

A second ceremony, held inside of the Readiness Center honored of all Hawaii National Guard Vietnam-era veterans, to include Hawaii Air National Guard.

According to retired Maj. Gen. Edward V. Richardson, a former Hawaii adjutant general, the Hawaii Air National Guard performed exceptionally well in Vietnam. Hawaii Air Guard pilots, including then, Maj. Richardson, flew air defense missions dubbed PALACE ALERT over Vietnam.

“The Air National Guard’s procedures were so good and so standardized that everybody functioned very well as a unit,” said Richardson. “We integrated very well with the [active duty] Air Force because of that.”

According to Richardson, connecting with veterans is vital.

“It’s important to look back into history and see how things happened,” said Richardson. “We have a lot to learn from the Vietnam War. The most meaningful part of the day’s events was seeing the Vietnam-Era veterans who were proud to come out and be a part of the ceremonies.”

According to Kaoiwi, “the importance of holding ceremonies like these cannot be overstated. We have to remember our history, we have to honor those who sacrificed themselves.”

– 2017 Spring Pupukahi pp. 1 & 10