Year: 2014

The Hawaii Army National Guard (HIARNG) dedicated its new 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) Readiness Center in Kalaeloa on August 2, 2014. Governor Neil Abercrombie, Brigadier General Joseph Kim, the Deputy Adjutant General, and Brigadier General Bruce Oliveira, HIARNG…

On Friday, August 15, 2014, Retiree News reached one of the three major goals set for 2014. Retiree News published its 1000th post – Check Six: Hawaii becomes the 50th State. It has been quite a journey since the first post on January…

Admissions Day is a state holiday that celebrates the day President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the proclamation welcoming Hawai‘i as the 50th state of the union. He unveils the new fifty-star American flag as part of the ceremony in 1959. But…

Toshio Nagai, 75, of Kailua-Kona, an electronics technician for the U.S. Department of Defense, an employee for Avis Rent A Car, Jack Tours and KTA Super Stores Keauhou and a veteran of the Air Force and Air National Guard, died…

CMSgt Raquel Ramos submits reports and photographs of the activities of Hawai‘i National Guard members assigned to the National Guard Bureau and other locations in the Washington DC area. This group, known as Team 808, has activities where the Hawai‘i…

Warren Oshiro relayed information from Shawn Nagai, daughter of Toshio Nagai, who recently passed. Toshi served with the 297th Air Traffic Control Squadron, both in Kailua-Kona and at Barbers Point. His services will be on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at the…

Sixty eight years ago, on August 3, 1946, an Executive Order of Governor Ingram M. Stainback established the Hawai‘i Air National Guard. Four Army Air Force units were accepted: 199th Fighter Squadron 199th Utility Flight Detachment “C” 199th Air Service Group 199th Weather…

The first 199th Fighter (Interceptor) Squadron patch was designed by First Lieutenant Wade H. McVay, Jr. The patch presented the mythical war god, " Kūkā‘ilimoku," a symbol of fearlessness, valor and strength in the heat of battle and truly represented…

Victor “Jimmy” Luna Sr., 80, of Waipahu, a retired Ameron cement truck mixer and driver, and a Hawaii National Guard veteran, passed away on July 16, 2014. He was born in Aiea. He is survived by wife Dorothy P.; sons…

This is the second of a series of articles by contributing editor Stephen Lum entitled My Back Pages. Steve retired from the Hawai‘i Army National Guard and continues to work in the State Department of Defense’s public affairs office. His had worked on…