| Military Matters
by Mike Gabbard
I recently returned from one of the most unforgettable experiences
of my life: the Hawaii Civic Leaders Tour at Fort Hood, Texas.
The event gave local business and community leaders a chance
to see up close the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the
Hawaii Army National Guard and the vital mission it performs.
As you might know, 1,700 of our citizen soldiers, including my
daughter, 1st Lt. Tulsi Gabbard Tamayo, a former Hawaii state
representative, deployed last week to Kuwait for a 12-month tour
of duty. Our 29th Brigade has joined with 600 soldiers of the
45th Field Artillery Brigade from Oklahoma for this mission to
form Task Force Lava Thunder.
As we observed and actually participated in some of the field
training exercises, I gradually began to appreciate what incredible
austerities and sacrifices our soldiers and their families make
for each of us in Hawaii and the nation.
There was something extraordinary about being in the field
on a hot day in Texas with our Hawaii soldiers, with 50-caliber
gunfire ringing in our ears and watching them perform an improvised
explosive device (IED) clearing exercise that quite dramatically
got my attention.
For some reason, there I was, a grown man with tears streaming
down my face as I watched the training rescue mission of our
"wounded" soldier on that dusty road. He had an IV
needle stuck in his arm and real blood dripping to the ground,
as his comrades surrounded him, encouraging him to hang tough.
I knew he wasn't actually wounded, but still, the emotion, the
surroundings and the warlike ambience got to me in a very real
way.
Later, I found myself in an intense training exercise as the
gunner on top of a Humvee with an M-240 machine gun cradled
in my arms, firing virtual bullets at the bad guys. As Jimmy
Kuroiwa, president of the Go for Broke Association, was yelling,
"Short bursts, Gabbard, short bursts, or you'll melt the
barrel" in my ear, Ramsay Wharton from KGMB-TV was on my
left, and Bob Barrett, vice president of Coastal Windows Inc.,
was on my right in their own Humvees, whaling away as our life-size
enemies popped up on a virtual screen of urban buildings and
landscapes. Wow! You talk about adrenaline rushing out of every
pore.
When I climbed down from the Humvee, with my whole body covered
in "chicken skin," Gen. Joe Chavez commented, "Senator,
try to imagine what our soldiers feel like in that situation
in the Mideast, with the enemy shooting back at them."
On the final day of the tour, I attended the farewell deployment
ceremony with U.S. Sens. Dan Akaka and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.)
and U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, plus many families from Hawaii
and Oklahoma. It was humbling to congratulate and present an
honorary certificate from the Hawaii Legislature to Hawaii's
Col. Bruce E. Oliveira, 29th IBCT commander, and Oklahoma's
Col. Glen Moore, 45th FiB commander, and the heroes of Task
Force Lava Thunder.
As I listened to Sgt. Sam Hesch's beautiful a cappella rendition
of "Hawai'i Pono'i," I looked out at the field with
all of our brave warriors standing at attention, and I lost
it again.
I extend my heartfelt mahalo nui loa to Gens. Lee, Miyagi,
Hara and Chavez; retired Maj. Gen. Lau; Cols. Oliveira, Slowey
and Mullins; Maj. Ellison; Sgts. Mitsui, Kumalae, Lum and Hesch;
and Brooks Akana, not only for making this trip unforgettable,
but for all that they do for our state and country. I ask you
to please keep all of our soldiers and their families in your
prayers.
Mike Gabbard, a Democrat, represents Senate District 19 (Waikele,
Royal Kunia, Makakilo, Kapolei, and parts of Waipahu and Ko
Olina).
Please contact me if I can help you. My phone is 586-6830 and
e-mail is sengabbard@capitol.hawaii.gov.
Mahalo for the privilege of serving you!
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