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The anniversary brought Airmen together from all generations, including a few Airmen that served in the 134th ARW in the 1950’s.
The celebration started with a ceremony, hosted at the Air Park, honoring the wing’s rich heritage, and included several guest speakers, including Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett.
“You have made this one of the finest Air National Guard units in the country and I thank you for your service,” said Burchett. “I owe the men and women who wear our country’s uniform for everything I have in my life.”
Other distinguished guests included Col. Thomas Cauthen, commander of the 134th ARW, Brig. Gen. Donald Johnson, assistant adjutant general-air, Tennessee National Guard and Brig. Gen. Jason Cripps, chief of staff-Air, TN Joint Force Headquarters.
The ceremony also included a ribbon cutting for the newly opened Air Park. The park includes a stage and static displays of aircraft.
SMSgt (Ret.) Carl Huff who served from 1957-1983, reminisced over the static displays remembering the P47 Thunderbolt was the aircraft here when he joined.
“I remember all the aircrafts,” said Huff. “The base has changed so much, but I like that the 134th are still flying and doing the mission.”
Lt. Col. (Ret.) Dale Dyslin was in the 151st Fighter-Inceptor Squadron when he first joined in 1958. After finishing school at the University of Tennessee, he came back as a pilot.
“I flew every aircraft we had here, such as the F86-D, F86-L, 104’s, 102’s, and KC’s,” Dyslin said. “I think it’s wonderful the 134th has continued. I know they have a huge mission and there is a lot of activity but Col. Cauthen seems to be doing a great job.”
Following the ceremony, there was a social gathering and dinner where people were able to reconnect with former and current members of the 134th ARW. During the dinner, there were many stories told and memories shared.
“I enlisted in March of 1958 as a fulltime technician,” said Col. (Ret.) Ron Briggs, former deputy commander for 134th Support Squadron. “I left the technician program to go to UT fulltime, but stayed on as a traditional guardsman. I had to leave school early due to the recall in 1961 when they took the 104’s to Germany, but I finished when I returned.”
Briggs said he commissioned after finishing school and served in a few different positions before retiring in 1994. He said the 134th is in excellent shape and that he is still involved with the unit as director of the Volunteer Retiree Activity Office.
Although the dinner was the conclusion of the celebration, the event will be remembered by many for years to come.
The 134th ARW became official on Dec. 15, 1957. Their mission is to provided air refueling and airlift for rapid deployment, sustained combat operations and effective training as directed by the Secretary of Defense.
| Date Taken: | 10.14.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 07.15.2018 10:31 |
| Story ID: | 284301 |
| Location: | KNOXVILLE, TN, US |
| Web Views: | 20 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Airmen past and present gather to celebrate, by SSgt Melissa Dearstone, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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