Photo By Capt. Lauren Orr | Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general, Kansas National Guard, presents the...... read more read more
This year’s honorees were retired Brig. Gen. Charles Baier, retired Brig. Gen. Wilder Metcalf, and retired Brig. Gen. Deborah Rose.
“This is really the highlight each and every year where we have an opportunity to bring back the rich legacy of our National Guard in those individuals who served with such distinction, and today is no different,” said Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general of Kansas. “It is indeed my privilege to recognize three outstanding individuals on this special occasion.”
Baier commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1963 and received his wings in March 1966 from the Air Force undergraduate pilot school at Moody Air Force base in Georgia. Baier commanded the 190th Air Refueling Wing during Desert Storm and throughout his career flew a total of three different aircraft.
“Obviously it’s a great honor,” said Baier. “I wish I earned it myself, but I had nearly a thousand people at the 190th who put it all together and made it happen and let me sit at the top and take the credit for it.”
Metcalf moved to Kansas in 1887 and enlisted as a private in the Kansas National Guard where he accepted a commission as a major in the 20th Regiment under Col. Frederick Funston. Metcalf was deployed to the Philippines and commanded the 20th Regiment during the Filipino Insurrection. He also served as colonel of the 1st Kansas Regiment on the Mexican border in 1916.
“He was a man of many firsts,” said Tafanelli. “He is truly someone that we’re very honored to have stood in our ranks in the Kansas National Guard.”
Brig. Gen. Edward Gerhardt accepted the induction certificate on Metcalf’s behalf.
Rose entered the Air Force with a direct commission into the Nurse Corps in March 1983. She deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1990; was activated for service to Afyon, Turkey, in 2003; and served as an Air Force National Guard assistant to the commander of 17th Air Force in Ramstein, Germany. Rose commanded at the squadron and group levels and was the vice wing commander of the 190th Air Refueling Wing. She was the first woman ever promoted to brigadier general in the Kansas National Guard.
“I am so appreciative of the generosity of Colonel Carla Hale for her gift of generating my nomination,” Rose said. “It’s truly a gift that was very unexpected and very appreciated.”
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 01.10.2018 15:14 |
| Story ID: | 261766 |
| Location: | TOPEKA, KS, US |
| Web Views: | 107 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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