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~The FReeper Canteen Presents~ Road Trip: Schofield Barracks, Hawaii 
Schofield Barracks is a United States Army installation located in the City and County of Honolulu and in the Wahiawa District of the island of Oahu, Hawaii, United States. Schofield Barracks lies adjacent to the town of Wahiawā, separated from most of it by Lake Wilson (also known as Wahiawā Reservoir). Schofield Barracks is named after Lieutenant General John McAllister Schofield. He was sent to Hawaii in 1872 and recommended the establishment of a naval base at Pearl Harbor.
Schofield Barracks occupies some 17,725 acres on Central Oahu. The base was established in 1908 to provide mobile defense of Pearl Harbor and the entire island. It has been the home of the 25th Infantry Division, known as the Tropic Lightning Division, since 1941 as well as the Command Headquarters for United States Army Hawaii (USARHAW). Schofield Barracks is also home to the 8th Theater Sustainment Command. 
After the Japanese air attack on Schofield Barracks, 7 December 1941, the 25th Infantry Division moved to beach positions for the defense of Honolulu and Ewa Point.
U.S. Army soldiers push supplies up the Matanikau River to support the 25th Infantry Division's offensive on Guadalcanal in January, 1943.Following intensive training, the 25th began moving to Guadalcanal, 25 November 1942, to relieve Marines near Henderson Field. First elements landed near the Tenaru River, 17 December 1942, and entered combat, 10 January 1943, participating in the seizure of Kokumbona and the reduction of the Mount Austen Pocket in some of the bitterest fighting of the Pacific campaign. 
In response to a request from the U.S. Military Assistance Command in Vietnam, the division sent 100 helicopter door-gunners to the Republic of Vietnam in early 1963. By August 1965, further division involvement in the coming Vietnam Conflict included the deployment of Company C, 65th Engineer Battalion, to South Vietnam to assist in the construction of port facilities at Cam Ranh Bay. By mid 1965, 2,200 men of the Tropic Lightning Division were involved in Vietnam. The division was again ordered to contribute combat forces in December of that year. Its Resupply Regiment, the 467th, was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George S Dotson through the end of the war. Learn More About The History Of Schofield Barracks And The 25th Infantry Division HERE!
The 25th Infantry Division did not take part in the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq from 2001–2003. However, in early 2004, units from the division deployed to Iraq to take part in the combat operations of that country. Second Brigade deployed around February 2004 to Iraq and returned to Schofield Barracks a year later. The 3rd Brigade 25th Infantry Division began deploying to Afghanistan in March 2004. 
The 25th Infantry Division redeployed to Schofield Barracks Hawaii in April 2005. The 25th Infantry Division is recognized for the first successful free democratic elections in Afghanistan on 9 October 2004. One of the missions of the 25th Infantry Division was to track down insurgent Taliban and Al-Qaeda members in the mountainous terrain of Afghanistan. 
In July 2005, a 4th Brigade was added to the 25th Infantry Division as an airborne brigade stationed in Fort Richardson, Alaska. It deployed in October 2006 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 2nd Brigade began its transformation as a Stryker Brigade Combat Team while the 3rd Brigade began its transformation as a Unit of Action (UA) in the same year.
The (Light) status was dropped from the division name in January 2006. On 15 December 2006 the former 172nd Infantry Brigade reflagged as the 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry Division as the former 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team at Fort Lewis, Washington was redesignated as 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment and moved to Vilseck, Germany.
As of March 2009, 1st Brigade, 2nd Brigade, and 3rd Brigade were deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with 4th Brigade deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Learn More About Tropic Lightning HERE!
In August 1956 the 25th Infantry Division Association, Schofield Barracks Chapter, began to gather together the Division's history, memorabilia, and assorted artifacts. On 28 October 1957, the museum committee held its first meeting in a small room behind the Headquarters Commandant’s office. 
The next major renovation was undertaken for the 50th Anniversary of the 25th Infantry Division. Support for this renovation came from both the Division and the 25th Infantry Division Association.
On 1 October 1991, the Tropic Lightning Museum opened its two brand new galleries during the 25th Infantry Division Association's annual reunion. The first gallery tells the story of Schofield Barracks and the history on the Post from 1908 to 1942. The second gallery picks up the story by following the 25th Infantry Division into the Pacific and tells the story of their combat history from World War II to the present.
Visit The Tropic Lightning Museum At Schofield Barracks HERE! FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT~Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allies military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.
Please remember: The Canteen is a place to honor and entertain our troops. The Canteen is family friendly. Let's have fun! We pray for your continued strength, to be strong in the face of adversity. We pray for your safety, that you will return to your families and friends soon. We pray that your hope, courage, and dignity remain unbroken, so that you may show others the way. God Bless You All ~ Today, Tomorrow and Always |
