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Major General Gary M. Hara

January 22, 2025
Categories: 
HING History, People
  • CHECK WITH PURPOSE -- Col. Gary M. Hara, chairman of the National Guard Aassociation of the United States Conference Corp. presented a check for over $196,000 to the Hawaii National Guard Association president Lt. Col. Dave Molinaro. The funds were generated during the National NGAUS conference held in Hawaii. The NGAUS committee recommended that the funds be used to improve membership in NGAUS and fund junior officers to attend the annual national conferences.
  • GUIDING LIGHT - Col. Gary Hara, the Hawaii Army National Guard's 103rd Troop Command leader and officer in charge of the exercise, and Sgt. Davone Crump, from the 25th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade, observe the CH-47D's load up at their pick-up zone. Sgt. lst Class Wayne T. Iha photo
  • HARA . .. HARA -- Col. Gary M. Hara, new commander of 103rd Troop Command is join by bis Hawaii Army National Guard family, dad, retired Lt. Col. Henry S. Hara, and brothers, Capt. Kenneth S. Hara, Sgt. 1st Class Dennis J. Hara and Staff Sgt. Larry M. Hara.
  • HAND-OFF - Col. Gary M. Hara accepts the symbolic guidon of command from Brig. Gen. Edward L. Correa Jr., the Hawaii Army National Guard commander. The new 103rd Troop Command leader took the helm in September.
  • A GUARD FAMILY-Lt: Col. Henry S. Hara (center) gathers with his son Sgt. Dennis Hara (left), his wife Janet, and his son, Maj. Gary Hara after being honored during change of command ceremonies May 15 in Hilo. Hara retires after 37 years with the Hawaii Army National Guard, his last 13 years as commander of the Hilo-based 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry. Hara has four sons who are members of the Hawaii Army National Guard. HIARNG Photo by Lt. Col. Gregg K. Kakesako.
  • HARA CLAN - Capt. Gary Hara (31) swears in his youngest brother Kenneth (17) while (L to R) brother Dennis (29), father Lt. Col. Henry S. Hara (50), mother, Mrs. Janet Hara and brother Larry (27) stand witness to their brother's induction into the Hawaii Army National Guard at the Hilo Armory on May 4. - by 2nd. Lt. Curtis Matsushige
  • 1stLt. Gary Hara.
  • BROTHERS IN ARMS – New 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander, Col. Kenneth S. Hara receives the brigade colors from his brother, Brig. Gen. Gary M. Hara, then Hawaii Army National Guard commander, at Kapolei High School field. HIARNG photo
Maj. Gen. Gary M. Hara

Maj. Gen. Gary M. Hara assumed duties as Deputy Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific on June 1, 2013. Prior to this assignment, Hara served as Commander, Land Component Command, Hawaii National Guard.

Hara received his commission from the Hawaii Army National Guard Officer Candidate School, Hawaii Military Academy in 1972. He has served in numerous positions of increased authority and responsibility to include: Commander, Troop E (Air), 19th Cavalry; Commander, 1st Battalion (Attack Helicopter), 193rd Aviation Battalion; State Army Aviation Officer (SAAO), Hawaii Army National Guard; Commander, 103rd Troop Command; Chief of Staff, Hawaii Army National Guard; Chief, Reserve Component Division, Multi-National Corps-Iraq; and most recently, Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Hawaii, and most recently, Commander, Land Component Command, Hawaii National Guard.

EDUCATION

  • 1994 Chaminade University, Bachelor of Arts, Business Administration, Honolulu, Hawaii
  • 1998 United States Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania

ASSIGNMENTS

  1. August 1972 – July 1974, Infantry Platoon Leader, Company B, 2nd Bn, 299th Infantry, Olaa, Hawaii
  2. July 1974 – September 1975, Team Leader, Aero-Weapons Platoon, Troop E (Air) 19th Cavalry, Wahiawa, Hawaii
  3. October 1975 – September 1976, Section Leader, Aero-Weapons Platoon, Troop E (Air) 19th Cavalry, Wahiawa, Hawaii
  4. September 1976 – April 1979, Team Leader, Aero-Weapons Platoon, Troop E (Air) 19th Cavalry, Wahiawa, Hawaii
  5. April 1979 – May 1981, Platoon Commander, Aero-Weapons Platoon, Troop E (Air) 19th Cavalry, Wahiawa, Hawaii
  6. May 1981 – October 1982, Flight Operations Officer, Troop E (Air) 19th Cavalry, Wahiawa, Hawaii
  7. October 1982 – November 1984, Executive Officer, Troop E (Air) 19th Cavalry, Wahiawa, Hawaii
  8. November 1984 – October 1986, Commander, Troop E (Air) 19th Cavalry, Wahiawa, Hawaii
  9. October 1986 – October 1989, S-3, 1st Battalion, 193d Aviation (Attack Helicopter), Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii
  10. October 1989 – April 1990, Executive Officer, 1st Battalion, 193d Aviation (Attack Helicopter), Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii
  11. April 1990 – December 1991, Aviation Staff Officer, Headquarters Troop Command, Pearl City, Hawaii
  12. December 1991 – September 1992, S-2/3, Headquarters, Troop Command, Pearl City, Hawaii
  13. September 1992 – September 1994, Battalion Commander, 1st Battalion, 193d Avn (Attack Helicopter), Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii
  14. September 1994 – April 1995, Full Time Staff Officer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Hawaii Army National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  15. April 1995 – June 1996, Aviation Staff Officer, 103d Troop Command, Pearl City, Hawaii
  16. June 1996 – July 1997, Aviation Staff Officer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Hawaii Army National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  17. July 1997 – June 1998, Additional TDA, Student, U.S. Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania
  18. June 1998 – June 1999, Aviation Staff Officer, Headquarters, State Area Command, Hawaii Army National Guard, Fort Ruger, Hawaii
  19. June 1999 – August 2002, Commander, 103d Troop Command, Hawaii Army National Guard, Pearl City, Hawaii
  20. August 2002 – June 2003, State Army Aviation Officer, Hawaii Army National Guard, Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii
  21. June 2003 – September 2005, Chief of Staff, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  22. September 2005 – October 2005, Chief, Joint Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  23. October 2005 – May 2006, Chief, Reserve Component Division, Multi-National Corps -Iraq, Camp Victory, Iraq
  24. May 2006 – November 2006, Chief, Joint Staff, Joint Forces Headquarters, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  25. November 2006 – June 2008, Chief of Staff, Hawaii Army National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  26. June 2008 – May 2009, Assistant Adjutant General – Army, Hawaii National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  27. May 2009 – May 2013, Commander, Land Component Command, Hawaii National Guard, Honolulu, Hawaii
  28. June 2013 – Present, Deputy Commanding General, United States Army Pacific, Fort Shafter, Hawaii

AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

  • Legion of Merit
  • Bronze Star Medal
  • Meritorious Service Medal (with 2 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Army Commendation Medal (with 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • Army Achievement Medal
  • Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (with 1 Silver Oak Leaf Cluster and 3 Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters)
  • National Defense Service Medal (with Bronze Service Star)
  • Iraq Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Stars)
  • Global War on Terrorism Service Medal
  • Humanitarian Service Medal
  • Armed Forces Reserve Medal (with Gold Hourglass and M Device)
  • Army Service Ribbon
  • Overseas Service Ribbon
  • Army Reserve Component Overseas Training Ribbon (with Numeral 2)
  • Joint Meritorious Unit Award

EFFECTIVE DATES OF PROMOTION

  • Second Lieutenant 28 August 1972
  • First Lieutenant 17 August 1975
  • Captain 19 June 1979
  • Major 19 April 1985
  • Lieutenant Colonel 10 January 1992
  • Colonel 15 July 1999
  • Brigadier General 10 June 2008
  • Major General 12 December 2012

Last updated July 2013

103rd Troop Command Starts Millennium Under New Leadership

By Pfc. Brandon D. Bocanegra and Stephen M. Lum

HAND-OFF - Col. Gary M. Hara accepts the symbolic guidon of command from Brig. Gen. Edward L. Correa Jr., the Hawaii Army National Guard commander. The new 103rd Troop Command leader took the helm in September.
HAND-OFF – Col. Gary M. Hara accepts the symbolic guidon of command from Brig. Gen. Edward L. Correa Jr., the Hawaii Army National Guard commander. The new 103rd Troop Command leader took the helm in September.
HARA . .. HARA -- Col. Gary M. Hara, new commander of 103rd Troop Command is join by bis Hawaii Army National Guard family, dad, retired Lt. Col. Henry S. Hara, and brothers, Capt. Kenneth S. Hara, Sgt. 1st Class Dennis J. Hara and Staff Sgt. Larry M. Hara.
HARA . .. HARA — Col. Gary M. Hara, new commander of 103rd Troop Command is join by bis Hawaii Army National Guard family, dad, retired Lt. Col. Henry S. Hara, and brothers, Capt. Kenneth S. Hara, Sgt. 1st Class Dennis J. Hara and Staff Sgt. Larry M. Hara.
(Pictures from the 1999 Summer – Fall Pūpūkahi)

Newly promoted Col. Gary M. Hara received the 103rd Troop Command guidon from Gen. Edward L. Correa Jr. during change of command ceremonies held at Wheeler Army Airfield in September. Stepping down from the reins was Col. Glen I. Sakagawa.

Hara, who works full-time as the Hawaii Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 commander, joined the Guard in April 1970. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Chaminade University. After receiving his commission in 1973, he was assigned as a platoon leader in one of his father’s companies, Company B, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry. Other assignments included command of Troop E, 19th Cavalry and 1st Battalion, 193rd Aviation.

Hara, a master aviator with more than 4,500 accident-free flying hours, is qualified to fly the OH-58 Kiowa observation, UH-1 Iroquois utility, AH-1 Cobra attack and CH-47 Chinook medium-lift helicopters, as well as the C-26 Metroliner 18-passenger airplane.

In addition to routine flying, Hara has flown numerous brushfire-fighting missions, most recently on the Waianae Coast and Molokai.

The Big Island soldier continues a family legacy. His dad, Lt. Col. Henry S. Hara, commanded the 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry for more than 13 years, while his uncle, Col. Horace S. Hara, closed out his military career as the Hawaii Army Guard’s assistant chief of staff for logistics (G4) in 1993.

Hara’s younger brothers are presently serving in his command. His youngest brother, Capt. Kenneth S. Hara, is the drill-status commander of the headquarters detachment of 103rd Troop Command and full-time physical security and training officer for the 103rd. Sgt. 1st Class Dennis J. Hara is part of Troop Command’s logistics section and works full-time at Army Aviation Support Facility No. 2 in Hilo. Staff Sgt. Larry M. Hara is a member of Company B (Aviation Intermediate Maintenance), 193rd Aviation, at Wheeler, and also works full-time at the Hilo aviation facility.

Hara’s major awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Army Achievement Medal.

He is married to the former Diane Shigeoka. They reside in central Oahu with their son, Jarett, and daughter, Jayne.

BROTHERS IN ARMS – New 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander, Col. Kenneth S. Hara receives the brigade colors from his brother, Brig. Gen. Gary M. Hara, then Hawaii Army National Guard commander, at Kapolei High School field. HIARNG photo
BROTHERS IN ARMS – New 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander, Col. Kenneth S. Hara receives the brigade colors from his brother, Brig. Gen. Gary M. Hara, then Hawaii Army National Guard commander, at Kapolei High School field. HIARNG photo
(Picture from the 2013 Annual Report)