Airman is the online magazine of the United States Air Force. The magazine is produced by the Defense Media Activity for the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs. Read the October issue http://airman.dodlive.mil/2013/10/
Aloha!
Mark your calendars as the 377th National Guard Birthday Commemoration is slated for December 13, 2013, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort, Coral Ballroom. For more detailed information go to 2013 National Guard Birthday Commemoration
If you attended the 376th Commeration last year, you know that it was one of the best ever! This year, we have committed our planning to making this one even better! So don’t miss out! Get dressed up with your date, or come stag, either way, you will have a great time! RSVP as soon as possible (see your designated POCs on the flyer), tables will be filling up fast.
This is our opportunity to celebrate our heritage by honoring our traditions while coming together to see old and new friends at a holiday social.
On behalf of the Adjutant General, the HIANG Commander and staffs, we hope to see you there.
Honored to serve,
Robert S.K. Lee III, CMSgt, HING Senior Enlisted Leader, Hawaii National Guard State Command Chief, Hawaii Air National Guard Comm: (808)672-1220 Work Cell: (808)722-7199 robert.lee.4@us.af.milSpecial thanks to these Retiree News readers who registered to “Follow Blog via Email” last week: Al Satogata, Doug Hanashiro, Cary Honda, M. Inoue, Ramona Lariosa, Anson Kimura
Apologies to the registered reader whose email address did not include a recognizable name, but thank you for registering.
Don’t be too quick to dismiss a barrage of strange calls to your cell or home phone. It could just be pranksters or a mistake — or it could be an indication that thieves are targeting your financial accounts.
The FBI is warning the public about a sophisticated scam where criminals couple social engineering with computer-based denial-of-service attacks to a victim’s phone line in order to loot their accounts. Think you’re not a likely target? When it comes to this form of identity theft, you should think again, say security experts. Read more http://ow.ly/qcQKh
Please come to pay your respects and to celebrate the life of Henry “Uncle” Chang.
When: Sunday, November 10, 2013 Where: Diamond Head Mortuary 535 18th Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816 0930-1030: Viewing 1030-1100: Service 1100-1230: Refreshments1245: Burial at Diamond Head Cemetery
Please pass this information on to anyone that you feel was blessed by Uncle.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime.
Captain Skip H. Saito 204th Airlift Squadron 808.449.1265 or skip.saito@us.af.milBrigadier General Bruce E. Oliveira, the Hawaii Army National Guard Commander cordially invites you to attend a Change of Responsibility Ceremony. CSM Ronald S. Oshiba will relinquish responsibilities of HIARNG Command Sergeant Major to CSM Dana W. Wingad.
Date: Sunday, November 3, 2013 Time: 1500 Place: Kapolei High School Athletic Field Reception to follow Electronic RSVP by October 30, 2013 https://einvitations.afit.edu/inv/anim.cfm?i=172009&k=036640097B5E POC: SGM Elva Schaben (808) 672-1237 Alt POC: SPC Charmaine Reyes (808) 672-1257
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Retired Brig. Gen. Robinson “Robbie” Risner, who spent more than seven years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, shot down eight MiG-15s during the Korean War, and served during World War II, died on Oct. 22 in Bridgewater, Va. He was 88 years old. “Risner was part of that legendary group who served in three wars, built an Air Force, and gave us an enduring example of courage and mission success,” wrote Chief of Staff Gen. Marc Welsh in A True Airpower Giant, his tribute to Risner. “I’m proud to serve in Robbie Risner’s Air Force and to try and live up to his example,” stated Welsh. Born in Mammoth Spring, Ark., in 1925, Risner flew the P-38 and P-39 in Panama during the latter portion of World War II. Recalled to active duty during the Korean War, Risner completed 108 combat missions in that conflict, downing the eight MiGs in the F-86. On Sept. 16, 1965, the North Vietnamese shot down Risner’s F-105 during a bombing mission and took him prisoner. He endured torture and solitary confinement at the infamous Hanoi Hilton prison during his captivity. Risner retired from the Air Force in August 1976. Among his decorations, he received two Air Force Crosses for his heroism in Vietnam. Risner authored the book “The Passing of the Night: Seven Years as a Prisoner of the North Vietnamese.” A statue of him is on display at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Includes Washington, D.C., report by MSgt. Angelita Colón-Francia) (For more on Risner, read Nine Feet Tall from Air Force Magazine’s February 2012 issue and Valor: When Push Came to Shove.)
Airpower Classics is a new, 136-page, coffee-table size, hardbound book (with laminated dust jacket) that captures the vintage aircraft from Air Force Magazine’s one-page Airpower Classics series. The first 60 aircraft from this imaginative series have been printed in full color on art paper and collected in this visually stunning book. The giant 14.5 inch x 11.5 inch horizontal format showcases the vivid aircraft illustrations—classic fighters, bombers, transports, and recce aircraft—created by Air Force Magazine’s Zaur Eylanbekov, with supporting text by world-renowned aviation writer Walter J. Boyne. Each listing contains additional historical facts and photos that did not appear in the magazine version. Airpower Classics provides a captivating look into the history of military aircraft around the world. It will be an irreplaceable source of visual enjoyment, memories, and reference.
The book includes the F-86 Sabre and the F-102 Delta Dagger. More info http://www.afa.org/book
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The photo above was taken at the 1984 Hawai‘i Army National Guard Officer Candidate School graduation.
From left to right: Colonel Irwin Cockett, the Hawai‘i Army National Guard commander, Second Lieutenants John Kakazu, Kent Tsutsumi, Stephen Logan, Major General Alexis Lum, the Adjutant General, and Second Lieutenant Matthew Nagasako. Lieutenant Nagasako received the Adjutant General’s Award as the outstanding graduate.
Update:
* Colonel Irwin Cockett, a Korean and Vietnam War veteran, was promoted to brigadier general and retired in 1986. He went on to serve as the Director of the State Office of Veterans Service from 2001-2004.
* John Kakazu retired in the 1990s.
* Kent Tsutumi retired in 2003 and now works as a Program Specialist with the Veterans Administration, National Teleradiology Program.
* Steve Logan recently returned from his Afghanistan deployment. He will assume command of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT). This will be his M-Day assignment and he will continue as the State Army Aviation Officer (SAAO) as a technician.
* Alexis Lum served as the Adjutant General until 1991. He went on to serve as the special assistant on military affairs to Senator Daniel Inouye for 15 years. He passed away on August 20, 2009 at age 82.
* Matthew Nagasako served several tours at the National Guard Bureau and retired in 2012.
Special thanks to Stephen Lum who shared this photo.
The Army National Guard is reorganizing its brigade combat teams to stay in step with rest of the Army, according to a report in Army Times.
Six of the Guard’s 28 brigade combat teams will be reorganized this year, with the others to follow through fiscal 2018, said Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr., the director of the Army Guard.
Under the reorganization, each armored and infantry BCT will receive a third maneuver battalion. Each BCTs also will receive additional engineer and fires capabilities. The plan is to take existing Guard units and align them with the BCTs, Ingram said.
After reorganization, each brigade will have about 4,500 soldiers, about 1,000 more than they do now.
The six BCTs that will be reorganized in fiscal 2014 are:
– 1st BCT, 34th Infantry Division, Minnesota
– 29th BCT, Hawaii
– 55th BCT, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania
– 56th BCT, 36th Infantry Division, Texas
– 76th BCT, Indiana
– 79th BCT, California
The report said six more BCTs a year will reorganized through fiscal 2016 and five each will be done in fiscal 2017 and 2018.
Earlier this year, Stephen Lum of the department’s Public Affairs Office completed a photo gallery recognizing the eighteen individuals who served as Hawai‘i’s adjutants general through the years. Each photo includes short biography of officer. This photo gallery is in the hallway outside the Adjutant General’s office here at the State Headquarters.
Special thanks to Steve for another superb job.
To share Steve’s hard work, we will post one of the photos each week. This week’s photo features the second Adjutant General, Colonel John W. Jones.
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State Civil Defense recently started their Facebook page. Go to https://www.facebook.com/statecivildefense.HIgov
Special thanks to these Retiree News readers who registered to “Follow Blog via Email”: Wayne Iha, Dennis Fujii
Apologies to the registered reader whose email address did not include a recognizable name, but thank you for registering.
