In April 1968, the Hawaii National Guard was called to active duty for the first time since World War II. The 29th Infantry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier General Frederick A. Schaefer III, mobilized on May 13, 1968, with 2,760 enlisted men, 187 officers, and 21 warrant officers. Units activated included various infantry, artillery, engineering, and aviation companies, and the call-up involved about 20,000 additional reservists nationwide. The mobilization was initially met with some criticism, but the brigade quickly began preparing for service.
Training began immediately, with soldiers transitioning to new equipment, such as M-14 rifles, armored vehicles, and new weapons. The brigade underwent intense individual and collective training, including jungle warfare. As part of their preparation, the brigade conducted full-scale field exercises, simulating an attack on a beachhead in Korea. By the end of 1968, the 29th Brigade had begun sending members to Vietnam, with approximately 50% of the original personnel eventually serving there.
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