The 299th Cavalry Regiment, formerly the 299th Infantry Regiment, nicknamed "The Koa Squadron", is a unit of the Hawaii Army National Guard. It was established in 1923 from the old 2nd Hawaiian Infantry Regiment, and it served during World War II as part of the 24th Infantry Division. The name "Koa" comes from the Hawaiian word for "Warrior", and is currently headquartered in Hilo, Hawaii. The 1st and 2nd Battalions, 299th Infantry were federally activated in 1968 to support the United States Army Pacific during the Vietnam War. More recently 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry Regiment deployed to Iraq and again after being re-flagged in 2007 as 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry Regiment.
Service history The 299th Infantry Regiment was formed on 17 August 1923 from the old 2nd Hawaiian Infantry. Both the old 2nd Hawaiian Infantry and the new 299th were part of the Hawaii National Guard. The old 1st Hawaiian Infantry was also reformed and designated the 298th Infantry.
World War II In 1940, the 299th Infantry and its sister regiment, the 298th Infantry were called into federal service as the United States began to prepare for a possible war with the Axis powers. In 1941, the Hawaiian Division was reformed from a square division, which was the army's World War I divisional format, into the triangular division that would be the norm for World War II and Korea. Out of the old division came both the 24th Infantry Division and the 25th Infantry Division. The 299th IN was sent to provide the third infantry regiment for the new 24th Infantry Division. In May 1941, the 299th was sent to the neighbor islands to provide for their defense, since the regiment was mostly composed of citizens from these islands.
As part of the US preparation for World War II, the Islands were on a war footing as an outpost of the United States. After the draft and activation of 1940, the makeup of the 299th changed dramatically, with a mix of Hawaiian, White, Japanese, Chinese, Portuguese, Puerto Rican, and other races. During this time, the 299th Infantry Regiment were removed from the Hawaii National Guard territorial control and fell under control of the active duty military. Despite some pushback from Washington DC, the multiethnic unit provided support for its active duty counterparts in Hawaii. Although the initial activation was only supposed to last for 12 months, it was extended in October 1941, much to the chagrin of many of the men who were federalized and taken away from their civilian jobs and families. Hawaii transitioned to possible attacks by conducting blackout drills and air raid practices that continued in Hawaii up until December 1941. The regiment was also able to increase its numbers due to the draft to provide a full regiment, and train despite not being given the most modern equipment.
In the aftermath of Pearl Harbor, the 299th Infantry Regiment was guarding the outer islands from possible invasion by the Empire of Japan. This was a real fear for Hawaii, as Japanese Imperial troops conquered across Asia and the Pacific Islands. Following 7 December 1941, The 299th Infantry enforced Martial Law across Hawaii Island, Maui, Molokai, and Kauai. As the de facto military governors of the islands, the unit's commanders prepared for possible invasion, enforced rationing and blackouts, coordinated with the County Governments, and made plans to integrate follow on forces into the defense of the outer islands. Many US military planners feared the Japanese would bypass Oahu and use Hawaii Island or Maui as landing sites and mass their combat power on the mostly agricultural lands, and then isolate and then seize Oahu from the US military. The 299th Infantry protected key infrastructure, manned defensive positions, and built defenses along the coasts.
Stress and fear in the wake of the Pearl Harbor in the islands was palpable. Gas masks were issued to all citizens as the Japanese had used gas countless times in China, a majority of the population of Hawaii were fingerprinted, and curfews were initiated. Nobody knew how strong the Japanese forces were, especially civilians who were not privy to military intelligence. On the night of 30 December 1941 the Japanese submarines launched a coordinated strike on Hilo, Hawaii, on Kahului, Maui, and Nawiliwili on Kauaʻi. The Japanese operation can best be described as ‘morale bombings’, as the attack was not significant enough take or destroy a military objective. In Hilo, the submarine I-1 surfaced and fired ten high explosive shells into Hilo piers before submerging once again. The shells landed primarily around Pier 1, damaging a "fenders and a concrete haunch and pile”. Overall, damage done was insignificant, however the aim of the operation was not to inflict high casualties or damage, but to inflict phycological damage and to jar the homefront. Soldiers of the 299th Infantry inspected the damage and found the shells fired into Hilo.
On 28 January 1942, the US Army Transport Ship Royal T. Frank, was bringing 26 soldiers of the 299th Infantry back home to Hawaii Island after finishing their basic training, which had been interrupted by the attack on Pearl Harbor. While in a three ship convoy, with the small cargo ship Kalae, and their escort the USS Trever (DMS-16) they departed from Maui and were crossing the ‘Alenuihāhā Channel between Maui and Hawaii Island. The Japanese submarine I-171, surfaced and fired two torpedo's that missed the Frank. The third torpedo launched hit the Frank, the ship is reported to have sunk in thirty seconds. Many below deck did not make it, the survivors swam in oil laden water for three hours awaiting rescue. Of the 60 people aboard the Frank, only 36 survived. Survivors of the explosion included nine of the Big Island soldiers who had been above deck and 27 crew members. Some were thrown into the water, and others jumped in soon afterwards. Covered in oil, the survivors spent hours in the ocean, many clinging to whatever debris they could, before they were picked up by the ammunition barge that had been the actual target of the Japanese submarine. Upon being rescued they were taken to Hana, Maui, where the Hana School, who had been preparing for emergencies since the war began, created a triage and first aid center and awaited military personnel. It took some time to reach Hana, but when the military arrived, they told the local population that the incident did not happen and were told to never tell anyone. Sixteen 299th Infantry soldiers of multiple ethnicities lost their lives, only nine survived. Eight would go on to fight in the 100th Infantry Battalion, and one would serve in the South Pacific with the 298th Infantry Regiment. They were from then known as "The Torpedo Gang" and gathered every 28 January to have a drink and remember their fallen comrades, this is why the unit has chosen 28 January as the Regimental Memorial Day. The sinking was kept classified, and the families of the sixteen were not told of how their loved one died until the end of the war. Fears of Japanese sentiment, martial law, and news of Japanese submarines still patrolling Hawaiian waters contributed to the decision to keep the sinking of the Frank classified. The Torpedo Gang survivors were also ordered not to tell anyone what happened.
Relief from the mainland finally started to arrive in March 1941, and the 299th Infantry began to transition to Scofield Barracks for service. Although the Hawaii Territorial Guard, created by the Governor of Hawaii following the attack on Pearl Harbor, eventually removed soldiers who were Americans of Japanese Ancestry in January 1942, the 299th Infantry and 298th Infantry did not. Soldiers of Japanese ancestry remained at their posts until June 1942.
On 4 June 1942, the Japanese-American soldiers of both the 299th and 298th were pulled from the ranks of the regiments, some 29 officers and 1277 enlisted men in all. These Hawaii Nisei (Japanese-Americans) would form the famed 100th Infantry Battalion later attached to the 442nd RCT and would fight heroically in Europe becoming the most decorated unit of its size in World War II. However the Nisei soldiers were nearly 40% of the 299th ranks, and the removal of these men put the regiment grossly under strength. Therefore, on 21 July 1942, the 299th was relieved from the 24th Infantry Division and deactivated, the unit's men and material being transferred to the 298th. However the 2nd Battalion, 299th's HHC and B Company remained intact. These units were sent overseas to the Philippines and the Ryukyu Islands for which the 2–299th received campaign participation. However it is not clear with whom they were attached and what role they played in these campaigns.
Post-War period After the war, the Hawaii National Guard had to be reconstituted as most of their units had been deactivated and the men sent to other units. The 299th was activated in August 1946 and formed into the 299th Regimental Combat Team (RCT). The regiment was to have its companies on the islands of Hawai'i, Maui and Moloka'i, with the 298th Infantry taking O'ahu and Kaua'i. The process to rebuild the regiment was slow in the post-war years and but by May 1947 the regiment had over 1,000 men in ranks. However, by 1949, the 299th RCT was at full strength and equipped with new weapons and gear, taking part in a large military review with the 298th RCT at Schofield Barracks. In 1959 the 299th RCT was deactivated and the 299th Infantry with its 1st, 2nd and 3rd Battalions transferred to form the 29th Infantry Brigade Hawaii Army National Guard.
Vietnam activation In May 1968 the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 299th was called to active duty under its parent unit the 29th Infantry Brigade. The 299th reported to Schofield to begin training for any possible deployment to Vietnam or other Asian hotspots (i.e. Korea) The 29th SIB was to serve as a strategic reserve for the Army since active-duty units such as the 25th Infantry Division were tied up fighting in Vietnam. According to Hawaii's political leadership at the time, the 299th and the 29th Brigade were never intended to deploy to Vietnam when they were federalized. Nonetheless, many soldiers from the 299th went to Vietnam as individual replacements, serving in the active-duty units that were already in-country. Some 1,500 Hawaii Guard soldiers served in Vietnam during the 29th's mobilization, the majority of them coming from the 299th. Thirteen soldiers from the 299th died in Vietnam:
1st Battalion SGT Gaylord K. DeFries SP4 Rudy Aquino SP4 Walter D. Browne SP4 David Laamea SP4 John S. Otake PFC Earl C.M. Au Hoy
2nd Battalion 1LT John K. Kauhaihao SFC Edward L. Loo JR SGT Wilfredo B. Andrada SP4 Frank T. Longakit SP4 Alberto Milar JR PFC Dennis M. Silveri PFC Glenn T. Shibata
Operation Iraqi Freedom III