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Brig. Gen. Oscar
Hilman reports Iraq experience to legislators
March 15,
2005
OLYMPIA
- Sen.
Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek, hosted Brig. Gen. Oscar B. Hilman,
81st Brigade Commander, at the Legislature today by
inviting him to relate his experiences in Iraq as commander of
the Washington Army National Guard’s 81st Brigade
Combat Team.
“We
wanted to show our thanks to the men and women of the 81st
Brigade by the way they represented us in Iraq,” said
Schmidt, a member of the Select Committee on Veterans and
Military Affairs. “These men and women sacrificed their
time, money and lives to defend freedom. They deserve our
respect and gratitude.”
The
brigade relinquished command of its operations in Balad, Iraq,
earlier this month to the 29th Brigade Combat Team from
Hawaii. The brigade focused on security and stability in the
region.
“The
National Guard serves as everyday heroes,” said Schmidt, a
22-year veteran of the Army National Guard. “The Guard does
everything from serving in Iraq to helping Washington citizens
who are hurt in local, natural disasters.”
Hilman
commanded approximately 3,200 Washington Army National Guard
soldiers during the deployment. It is considered the largest
activation of guardsmen and -women from Washington since World
War II.
Born
in Camarines Sur in the Republic of Philippines, Hilman
started his military career in 1969. He is a graduate of
Philippine College of Criminology, Central Washington
University, and he received his master’s degree in Strategic
Science from the United Sates Army War College.
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