The ongoing war with Iran and the purge by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of generals and admirals in the U.S. military were among subjects raised by callers to a telephone town hall held Tuesday evening by U.S. Rep Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii).

Read more Game of the week: No. 10 Wildcats visit No. 15 Warriors tonight; other weekend football matchups

The ongoing war with Iran and the purge by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of generals and admirals in the U.S. military were among subjects raised by callers to a telephone town hall held Tuesday evening by U.S. Rep Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii).

One caller, a Big Islander, described the firings and denial of promotions, as well as the resignation Monday of Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll — reportedly in protest over Hegseth’s leadership — “quite alarming.”

“It felt like our military leadership was decimated,” said the caller, a Waimea woman who identified herself as “Caroline.”

“Secretary Hegseth has prevented the promotion of dozens, at this particular point, (of) Army leaders, military service leaders … many of them, to your point, have been service members of color and women … ,” Tokuda replied. “Again, by the time they reach (Hegseth’s) desk for consideration, they have been vetted. They have an established career and record, so this is quite uncommon to see this number of interventions from the secretary.

“… As somebody on the (House) Armed Services Committee, I can tell you on both sides of the aisle, there are great concerns about what this does for our military readiness posture. We are in the midst of a war. That is exactly what it is with Iran. It is a war. And right now, we are running short of military leaders, we are running short of missiles and armaments and supplies.”

In addition, according to Tokuda, rank-and-file military members “are running short of patience and time.”

Read more DOH: Dengue virus detected in wastewater from Hawaii Island

“You see, you hear the reports of how service members are bearing just unmanageable and unlivable conditions aboard some of these naval vessels finally starting to come into port after months and months of deployment, longer than they should’ve been,” she said.

“Again, this is a blatant sign of a lack of leadership at the very top with Secretary Hegseth. I have said from, you know, the start of his tenure that he should resign, that he should be replaced, that he is not fit to serve, that he does not have the temperament or decorum required for such an important position,” Tokuda continued. “And you’re seeing it play out right now, in these resignations, in the forced retirements and the punitive actions he’s taken on those who have served and served with dignity.”

Hegseth has reportedly fired or blocked promotions of more than 80 generals or admirals, including seven after Driscoll tendered his resignation to President Donald Trump. Of the seven, two were Black and two were women. His ongoing purge has affected an estimated 10% of the military’s top officers.

A poll taken during the town hall concerning support for the war with Iran had 91% of respondents replying they didn’t support the war, and 8% replying in support of the conflict and 1% uncertain.

Other subjects broached by callers and discussed by Tokuda include housing, Hurricane Lala and its effects, Social Security fund solvency, food security, sharp hikes in health insurance premiums, the Jones Act, the National Defense Authorization Act, and Department of Homeland Security plans to equip Immigration and Customs Enforcement field officers with gloves that can deliver an electrical shock to arrestees.

Read more Hurricane Lowell reaches Category 5 status south of the Big Island

Email John Burnett at [email protected].