29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Memorial

Posted on Jan 17, 2025 in 1970's, 1980's, 1990's, 2000's, 2010's, 2020's, HING History

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

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