At least one Kauaian is bound for Iraq earlier than the members of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s Company A, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry Regiment, which is slated to deploy there in February. Waimea High School graduate and U.S. Army
At least one Kauaian is bound for Iraq earlier than the members of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s Company A, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry Regiment, which is slated to deploy there in February.
Waimea High School graduate and U.S. Army PFC Preston Pohaku McCormack, son of Suzanne McCormack of Kekaha and Henry McCormack of the Big Island, is heading to Iraq in mid-November.
“I got my orders to go to Iraq after serving 11 months in the U.S. Army. I knew in my heart that I had to come back home first to marry the girl of my dreams,” he said.
That girl is Sheree Chiemi Koki, daughter of Theresa Koki and Derek Koki. They were married last month. They spent just two weeks together, as Preston McCormack had to return to Fort Bragg, N.C., to rejoin his 82nd Airborne Division for continuing training in advance of leaving for Iraq in November.
“The reason why I joined the Army in the first place was to serve my country,” he said. He will be joining his best friend and classmate Brad Silva, also of Kaua‘i. Mrs. McCormack, a recent graduate of the Kaua‘i Community College nursing program, continues studying for her nursing board exam, which she will take soon.
“I know it will be a long time before I see my husband again, but I will keep myself busy with studying and working,” the new Mrs. McCormack said.
Preston McCormack said he could be gone for about 14 months or more. “Although I am sad to leave my wife and family behind, the reason why I joined the Army in the first place was to serve my country. Sheree will stay on Kaua‘i, where she has lots of family support.”
Already in Iraq is U.S. Marine Corps PFC Levi Fajardo, a 2003 Kaua‘i High School graduate and the son of Daniel and Holly Fajardo of Lihu‘e. He deployed last month from Camp Pendleton, Calif.
Meanwhile, Belinda Madrid Butac, a Kaua‘i High School graduate who recently celebrated her 21st birthday, is also preparing for a tour of duty in Iraq.
Most Kaua‘i members of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s Company A, 2nd Battalion, 299th Infantry Regiment, are at Schofield Barracks on O‘ahu, undergoing training before shipping out to Ft. Bliss, Texas, where they will get additional training and join larger units, before coming home at Christmas and then leaving for Iraq in February.
Since mobilizing on Monday, Aug. 16 and moving into Schofield Barracks, the 299th members have joined members of the 29th Brigade, participating in the soldier-readiness preparation program.
Troops at Schofield were issued active-duty identification cards, and have received or are receiving complete health screenings, and are brought up-to-date on their immunizations and dental work.
The training at Schofield concentrates on honing basic soldiering skills such as land navigation, weapons firing and first-aid.
Upon completion of the program, the troops will undergo additional training exercises at Ft. Bliss, Texas, involving squads, platoons, and larger groups.
