Photo By John Hughel | Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau (left), Maj. Gen. Michael...... read more read more
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UMATILLA, Ore. – Framed under a newly erected archway bearing his name, Major General (ret.) Raymond F. Rees was duly recognized during an official ceremony to rename the former Umatilla Chemical Depot (UMCD) in his honor on Sept. 29, 2022. Over the past several decades, the post has seen a slow transition from one of nine Army installations that stored chemical weapons in the United States, to now, being an important training site utilized by members of the National Guard for consistent drills and military instructional training.
The original site covered nearly 20 square miles and was built as the nation prepared for World War II. As a native of Eastern Oregon, Rees grew up in Helix, less than 50 miles east of the UMCD. Throughout his extensive tenure with the Oregon National Guard, Rees often contemplated how Oregon Citizen-Soldiers could use the location, in lieu of recurrent travel to Idaho and Washington State for range exercises and weapons training.
On a warm but windy afternoon, Rees began his remarks, noting this paradox for convenient training space, specifically with the abundance of available military terrain at neighboring federal installations.
“So over 40 years ago, from my earliest days as a staff officer and commander with the 3-116 CAV, we were constantly faced with a dilemma of having to travel hundreds of miles to places like Gowen Field [Idaho], or Yakima Firing Center, and Fort Lewis [Washington] to conduct our training,” Rees said, describing the lack of range options in Eastern Oregon. “One of the most maddening circumstances – was driving by this depot and the Boardman Bombing Range, and knowing that these federal facilities could ease the burden of our soldiers – but we couldn’t use them.”
Though the depot officially closed in 2012 after all the chemical weapons were incinerated, the enormously intricate process to transfer the UMCD to the National Guard involved nearly every level of federal, state, county, and local leadership, which Rees highlighted and acknowledged many of the leaders in attendance during his address.
“Without their willingness to work in a collective and cooperative effort this would not have happened, and certainly we would not have been able to tie this together with the Boardman Range without the cooperation of the United States Navy,” he said.
When the Umatilla Army Ordnance Depot first opened in 1941, it was constructed to store munitions for its geographical location in the Pacific Northwest and proximity to accessible railroad lines. By 1988 the Base Realignment and Closure Committee identified the depot for closure and by 2004 the process to dispose of the chemical agents stored at the site began. When the process was completed in 2011, the entire site was declared as excess property by the Army in 2012.
With a license agreement finally completed in 2017, a portion of the site was allotted to the National Guard, where the 249th Regional Training Institute is now located; one of two infantry training schools west of the Mississippi River. Additionally, other portions of the property will now be returned to local control, helping impact regional economic concerns while ensuring natural areas and sacred tribal lands are protected.
“Today is an affirmation of that old saw: patience is a virtue,” Rees said, reflecting on the long process leading up to the ceremony. “My appreciation for today’s honor goes beyond the brick and mortar - It goes to the spirit of the National Guard.”
In detailing the financial impact for the Oregon Military Department, which has already spent $60 million at the training center, Rees said future investments will bring continued growth.
“Now $130 million has been programmed for the best training center in the National Guard, with $20 million more in the near future,” he stated. “And $25 million more for the Boardman range in two years.”
The ceremony also served as a homecoming for General Daniel Hokanson, Chief of the National Guard Bureau, who delivered the Keynote address for the ceremony. After leaving active duty in 1995, Hokanson’s first assignment in the National Guard was serving as the Aide-de-Camp, for Rees, who was the Adjutant General for the Oregon National Guard.
“There are no words that capture my gratitude to describe his commitment or could possibly convey the magnitude of the impact that Fred Rees has had on so many,” Gen. Hokanson said, as he began his remarks. “That is why it is so fitting today, that Camp Umatilla becomes the Raymond. F. Rees Training Center.”
In describing the influence that Rees has played on his own career, Hokanson spoke about the legacy he has left with so many others.
“Leadership is not about the leader, it’s about the lead. It’s about taking care of people; the men and women who serve and the families that support them,” he said. “I am merely one of the many countless soldiers and airmen he has influenced in his sixty-year career…everyone at every rank, every partner at every level have benefited by his counsel and leadership by example.”
Maj. Gen. (ret.) Rees began his military career as a cadet at United States Military Academy. After graduating from West Point in 1966 he was assigned as a platoon leader with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in West Germany. In late 1968 he was assigned to serve in Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion, 17th Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.
After joining the Oregon National Guard, he held various roles with the 116th Cavalry Regiment before his first appointment as the Adjutant General of Oregon in 1987. His career took him to the Pentagon and Colorado, before returning to Oregon for his third and fourth terms as the Adjutant General, before retiring in July of 2013. As a government civilian, he was selected as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Training, Readiness, and Mobilization from 2014 to 2019.
Many of these accomplishments were recounted by Oregon State Senator Bill Hansell, who grew up nearby in the town of Athena, “or just a few miles apart – as the crow flies.” Their long affiliation dates back to playing basketball against each other at rival High Schools.
“Fred was an outstanding player on an average team,” Hansell said, reminiscing to those in attendance. “Bill was an average player on an outstanding team.”
As Rees prepared to retire from the military after 47 years of service, Hansell introduced a resolution to acknowledge his contributions to the country, state and region.
“When General Rees retired I was honored to sponsor a Senate resolution, commemorating his distinguished career of serving our nation and Oregon.”
It was not by chance that the ceremony was held on September 29th. When addressing those attending the ceremony, Oregon’s current Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Michael Stencel cleverly acknowledged the conjecture of the date.
“This is truly one of the best birthday gifts that I think I have ever personally delivered,” he said, to the applause of those in attendance. “So General Rees – Happy Birthday!”
When talking about the future of the Raymond F. Rees Training Center, Stencel alluded to the new prospects for the site.
“Throughout my career, I’ve come to recognize that facility dedications like this, are a recommitment to the future,” he said. “General Rees represents not only the values of our organization but also this region. With this dedication today we not only honor his legacy and contributions to our state and nation, but with his name, we visibly define what we stand for – for generations to come.”
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2022 |
| Date Posted: | 10.21.2022 20:43 |
| Story ID: | 431839 |
| Location: | UMATILLA, OR, US |
| Web Views: | 381 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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