Grissom's past and present intersect in England

Photo By Master Sgt. Benjamin Mota | Airmen from the 434th Air Refueling Wing at Grissom Air Reserve Base, Indiana join Airmen from RAF Mildenhall, England to participate in a Memorial Day celebration at the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridge, England May 29, 2017. During the ceremony, Airmen gave wreaths to British veterans symbolizing the unity between the two nations. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Mota)  

CAMBRIDGE, ABERDEEN CITY, UNITED KINGDOM

06.05.2017

Story by Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Mota 

434th Air Refueling Wing

RAF MILDENHALL, England --
A first-hand history lesson allowed Airmen to get back to their roots and pay homage to those that paved the way to liberty.

Members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing participated in a Memorial Day ceremony and other activities designed to teach about the unit’s history and heritage during a trip to RAF Mildenhall, England May 24-31.

"Events like this which showcase our heritage are important because they give our airmen a first-hand look at the impact our predecessors have made to secure our liberty and the freedom of so many others around the world," said Col. Hiram Gates, 434th ARW vice commander and project manager for the event. "Our nation was founded on the principle that all of us have inalienable rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. But these rights have been paid for by the sacrifices of those service members who came before us. We are here this Memorial Day to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice to defeat tyranny and return liberty to Europe.

"Today we fight an enemy very different than NAZI Germany or fascist Italy, but also very similar in that they use a corrupt ideology to control others through tyranny. Each member of our wing plays a critical role in accomplishing our mission to defeat our current enemies and protect liberty," said Gates. Knowing our heritage and the heroic efforts of our predecessors in the 434th Troop Carrier Group is vital to an understanding of our place in history. "It's important that we continue to pass this on to current and future generations of Airmen so they appreciate their role in the on-going fight against those who seek to deprive others of their inalienable right to freedom.”

That history and heritage was demonstrated first hand during a Memorial Day Ceremony at the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England. The cemetery is the final resting place of 3,812 men and women who died in and around Great Britain during World War II. Another 5,127 Americans, whose bodies were never recovered, are commemorated on the Wall of the Missing.

“Being part of the ceremony was one of the best parts of the trip for me,” said Tech. Sgt. Brandie Bucinski, 434th Maintenance Squadron crew chief. “It was an honor to represent those who wore our patch and shared our unit’s name before making the ultimate sacrifice of losing their life so we could enjoy the freedoms we have today.”

At the cemetery Airmen were able to see headstones belonging to nine members of the 434th when the unit was a troop carrier group during World War II.

“The stories of the Airmen who are buried here really struck a chord with me,” said Bucinski. “We learn about history during tech school, but being able to see and touch a tombstone on the same land where that history took place really touched home.”

That history was also highlighted by Staff Sgt. Michael Ziadeah, 434th Air Refueling Wing historian, who provided a historical overview of the U.S Air Force’s involvement in the region during World War II during a special briefing at a historic site on RAF Mildenhhall.

“The purpose of the briefing was to inform the group of our unit’s role building up to the invasion of Normandy also known as D-Day,” said Ziadeah. “During that time the 434th was a troop carrier group with the mission of transporting troops via glider across the English Channel to France and the Netherlands who were heavily occupied by the Nazi’s at the time.

“We were seeing monuments and historical items from the history of our unit, and the presentation tied everything together,” he added. “It’s an amazing heritage we share; we carry the same insignia and despite having a different mission our overall mission still remains the same.”

While that proud heritage is taught and shared throughout an Airman’s career many fear it is in jeopardy of being lost, and trips such as this one ensure history is not forgotten.

“I think our history is being lost, and the significance of what we did here is too extraordinary to just be forgotten,” said Maj. Amanda Owens, 434th Maintenance Operations Group commander. “Being here is our way of keeping our history alive.

“I hope those who participated will go back and share the history they have learned; share the story of our contributions and what it means to bear the name of the 434th,” she said. “By building pride in our unit and echoing what we learned we can ensure our sacrifices here will not be forgotten.”

In addition to educating Airmen back home, participants were also able to share their stories and the unit’s involvement with local residents.

“I was able to meet several British veterans and talking to them I recognize they were appreciative for the Americans who sacrificed for their freedom; that was very humbling,”said Ziadeah. “They were very appreciative of what we did here during that time period.”

“Our allies here know that not only were we fighting for our freedom but for their freedom as well; they know we stood together,” said Owens. “Being here for this event fortified that unity and showed that we still stand together today.”

The 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command. Men and women from the Hoosier Wing routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission.

Stay connected with the 434th ARW on Facebook and Twitter.

• Date Taken: 06.05.2017
• Date Posted: 01.30.2018 10:55
• Story ID: 263848
• Location: CAMBRIDGE, ABERDEEN CITY, GB