Department of Defense

The Hawaii National Guard (HING), like many other U.S. military organizations, did not directly participate in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. However, the HING supported the effort by providing C-130 air transportation for the “Coral Run” to Johnston and Midway Islands. Following the February 27 ceasefire, the department led a statewide effort to personally greet 8,500 service members returning from the Persian Gulf. HING units also participated in numerous welcome home parades and celebrations throughout the state. In August, four Army medical specialists were sent to Saudi Arabia to treat American and allied military personnel.

– 1991 Annual Report pp. 1

The Hawaii Air National Guard, like military organizations everywhere, felt the impact of the events which transpired in the Persian Gulf. While HIANG units were not activated for Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm, some helped to fill the voids left by deployed forces.

In January, the 154th Composite Group took over aircraft runs to Johnston and Midway Islands for the Air Force’s 834th Airlift Division. Dubbed “Coral Run,” the mission provided channel airlift three times a week to the South Pacific islands. Between January and March, the C-130 aircrew logged more than 126 hours and transported 995 passengers and 485,096 pounds of cargo.

Security at American military bases around the world was stepped up during this period, and the 154th Security Police Flight was called on to secure HIANG aircraft at Hickam AFB. Activeduty military police, who would have usually provided this support, had been deployed to the Middle East

– 1991 Annual Report pp. 12

In August of 1990, a person by the name of Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. On that very day we canceled a scheduled island cargo mission to airlift 300 marines back from Pohakuloa Training Area to Kaneohe MCAS in preparation for shipping out to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Desert Shield.
And with the onset of Desert Storm in 1991. We participated in flying the Pacific “Coral Channel” providing airlift for Kwajalein Atoll, and Johnston and Midway Islands. This allowed the US Air Force to free up the C-141 fleet for duty in the Persian Gulf. We continued doing these missions for the duration of the Desert Shield/Desert Storm campaign.

– Five Decades of Service Excellence Hawaii Air National Guard Golden Anniversary 1946-1996 pp. 45