Congressman Neil Abercrombie, chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces, visited Fort Hood, Texas to meet with military commanders and Hawaii Army National Guard troops. The Hawaii soldiers had just completed 65 days of training and were preparing to leave for Kuwait for their second deployment during the Iraq War.
Abercrombie and soldiers' family members also attended farewell ceremonies for the troops, members of the 29th Brigade Combat Team. The Windward Oahu Lions Club provided hundreds of dendrobium orchid leis, adding to the emotional wishes of aloha to the troops.
