Video

Video by Cpl. Aven Santiago

Two Hawaii Soldiers Go From Lava Flow to Kosovo (Pkg, no graphics)

117th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (Hawaii)

Oct. 23, 2018 | 2:10

Two Hawaii Army National Guard Soldiers from Hawaii island will be going from the lava flow to Kosovo as they deploy with the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Both will be putting their civilian careers at Keaau High School on hold as they support Peace Keeping Operations for KFOR Multinational Battle Group-East, U.S. Army Europe. Video by Cpl. Aven Santiago/Released

TRT: 2:20

Soldiers from the Hawaii Army National Guard are wrapping up their training this week at Fort Bliss,Texas as they prepare for their deployment to Kosovo

While most of the Soldiers are from Hawaii, some of the Soldiers share an even deeper connection. Meet Staff Sergeants Barry Kobayashi and James Ziegler.

Both are deploying to Europe, Both from Hawaii Island, and both work at Keaau High School.

“I’m a high school teacher at Keaau High School on the Big Island in the Puna district,” said Staff Sgt. James Ziegler, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

“I work as a tech at Keaau High School. I actually manage computers and technology for teachers and students,” said Staff Sgt. Barry Kobayashi, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Both Soldiers will are putting their civilian careers on hold for the next few months but for Keaau High School Principal Dean Cevallos, he says he couldn’t ask for better employees

“I like the fact that they are dedicated to a job like that. There is no way, shape, or form that i won't get a dedicated employee that is involved in something like voluntarily giving themselves whenever they are needed,” said Keaau High School Principal Dean Cevallos.

The next mission for the two Big Island Soldiers is to deploy to Kosovo in support of Peace Keeping Operations.

But before they got the orders to deploy, they were both serving on the lava flow mission on Hawaii Island as part of the security and rover teams in the lava impacted neighborhoods. It was during this time that Ziegler and Kobayashi also had to take time away from the school to help the people of the Big Island.

“Our mission was to have a show of presence to discourage looters and vandals and stuff like that,” said Staff Sgt. James Ziegler, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

I mean I’ve seen them have to pull out during all the different tragedies we’ve had. Through Iselle and through our lava situation and some of the hurricanes we’ve had so I know their dedication. They display that in the class room and professionally with my faculty and working with them and wanting to better themselves.

Now both Soldiers will be going from helping keep people safe in their home state to providing a safe and secure environment in a foreign country , as they go from the lava flow to Kosovo.

“Well, this is the first time I’m going to Europe in a military capacity. So I’m looking forward to the new culture and meeting new people and especially doing a new type of job,” said Staff Sgt. Barry Kobayashi, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

“I’m real excited to go on this mission. I’ve been looking forward for it. I’m going to have a great opportunity to explore a lot of cultures that I haven’t seen before,” said Staff Sgt. James Ziegler, 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.

Reporting from Fort Bliss, Texas, I'm Cpl. Aven Santiago