ROBINSON MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ark. – On the eve of the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing took center stage as the University of Arkansas Razorback football team honored the nation’s military.
At War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, Ark., the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001 were remembered as those who lost their lives that day, and those who gave their lives in the defense of freedom since that day, were honored and memorialized.
Just as the finial notes of the National Anthem faded from the instruments of the University of Arkansas marching band, two majestic C-130 Hercules aircraft from the 189th passed over the stadium. The capacity crowd erupted into cheers and an impromptu chant of “USA, USA…”
Early in the first quarter of the game against the University of New Mexico, five members of the 189th who have experienced overseas deployments took to the field to lead the fans in a special Hog Call.
Calling the Hogs is a popular tradition in Arkansas and involves the thrice-repeated chant of “Woo, Pig, Sooey.” The final chant ends with a rousing “Go Razorbacks!” Senior Airman William Gault, Staff Sgt. Jeff Nichols, Capt. Alan Starr, Master Sgt. Angela Young and 2nd Lt. Ben Bradshaw were able to raise the decibel level in the stadium as they led the call.
The crowd roared their approval as the five departed. Later, during a television time out in the third quarter, the aircrews from the two C-130s took to the field for another spirited Hog Call. Afterward, the fans again began chanting “USA, USA…”
The special military Hog Calls must have worked as the Razorbacks defeated the Lobos 52-3.