THE HAWAII ARMY NATIONAL GUARD’S CHINOOK HELICOPTER UNIT MOBILIZES FOR AFGHANISTAN
Approximately 150 Soldiers from the Hawaii Army National Guard’s Company B, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment’s, a heavy lift helicopter (Chinook, CH-47) unit, are preparing for their deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
For Immediate Release: August 5, 2010
THE HAWAII ARMY NATIONAL GUARD’S CHINOOK HELICOPTER UNIT MOBILIZES FOR AFGHANISTAN
WHEN: Sunday, August 8th, 2010, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
WHAT: Deployment Ceremony for Company B, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment
WHO: Major General Joseph J. Chaves, Deputy Commander, Army National Guard, U.S. Army, Pacific (USARPAC), Captain Johnny Wandasan, Commander, First Sergeant James Burkhart, First Sergeant and Soldiers from Co. B, 1-171st Aviation Regiment, their families and friends
WHERE: Army Aviation Support Facility #1, Wheeler Army Airfield
Wheeler Army Airfield, HI- Media are invited to attend Company B, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment’s Deployment Ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility #1 at Wheeler Army Airfield on Sunday, August 8th at 11:00 am. Approximately 150 Soldiers from the Hawaii Army National Guard’s heavy lift helicopter (Chinook, CH-47) unit are preparing for their deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.
The unit will leave Hawaii within the week and will be conducting mobilization training at Fort Hood, Texas. The unit will be deploying to Regional Command South (RC South) in Afghanistan.
In 2004, the unit was called Company C, 193rd Aviation, and it served with distinction during its year-long deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The company flew 1,260 combat missions, logged 6,240 combat flight hours, transported over 555,000 personnel, soldiers and detainees, over fifteen million pounds of cargo. For its exemplary service during Operation Iraqi Freedom II, Co C, 193rd Aviation earned the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the first Hawaii Army Guard unit to be awarded the commendation for service during combat operations. Approximately 30% of the Soldiers in the unit have combat experience.
Media interested in attending, should RSVP at 733-4258 by 4:00 pm Friday, August 6th. Media will meet at the Kawamura Gate, Wheeler Army Airfield no later than 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, to be escorted to the AASF #1.
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For more information, contact:
Lt. Col. Charles Anthony
Public Affairs Officer
Office: (808) 733-4258
