Guard Detail 1 WINTER 2014 A CHRONICLE OF THE MISSISSIPPI ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD WINTER 2014 GUARD DETAIL
Guard Detail 1 WINTER 2014
A CHRONICLE OF THE MISSISSIPPI ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD
WINTER 2014
GUARD DETAIL
Guard Detail 2 WINTER 2014
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
Maj. Gen. Augustus L. Collins
PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF
EditorLt. Col. Tim Powell (Ret.)
Asst. Editor
1st Lt. Ben Mackin
Master Sgt. Sandy Ates (Ret.)
phone (601) 313-6271.
VISIT US AT:
www.ms.ng.mil-
FRONT COVER: A member of the Mississippi
Army National Guard’s 185th Theater Avia-
tion Battalion tests night vision goggles before
the Combat Readiness Training Center (ANG)
Public Affairs.
. . . .
EA
TU
RE
GUARD DETAIL
3
4 New Year’s Resolution – How about PDCPC?
5 on top
6
8
10
11
2
14
16 of battalion warriors
18
20 Brigade Support Battalion
22 Mississippi
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22
Winter 2014
full-moon night at the Camp McCain
-
lic Affairs Detachment).
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Although each member of
172nd Airlift Wing participating in
the 2013 Air Force Marathon suc-
sense of well-deserved accomplish-
ment was felt long before each run-
ner completed
the 26.2 mile
run at Wright-
Patterson Air
“It’s not all
about running
it’s the journey
said Master
Wilson when
talking about
the demand-
ing process of
preparing for a
marathon. “It
to do your long
training runs
unless you have
people telling
you can do any-
thing you set
your mind on.
The marathon
is just the prize
Wilson
who was
joined by fel-
based on the path she followed to
become a long-distance runner.
“I started training for mara-
thons because I had gained a lot of
completed 12 of these grueling
-
posed to do our physical training.
I had some friends who joined the
The value of the Marathon
Makeover program also paid divi-
dends for Wicker whose participa-
tion in the Air Force event marked
the Wright-Patterson Air Force
Base course after beginning the
25% of the female division with
a time of 4:13:50. Once I start-
me to be better. It was a chal-
The Air Force marathon course
is a 26.2 mile run that traverses
historical places at Wright-Patter-
Prairie Flying
Wright Broth-
ers Memorial
Monument.
“Most of
the marathon
is run on base
Wilson. “You
run along the
between dif-
ferent types of
aircraft includ-
ing running un-
right before the
Senior Air-
man Josie
Wicker
is glad to
Force Marathon held recently at
Wright Patterson Air Force Base
in Ohio. She was one of three
who participated from the 172nd
Airlift Wing in Flowood, Miss.
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Year’s Resolutions probably have
the highest mortality rates of any-
-
at least make one that has a snow-
I have a suggestion for one
and will certainly please every-
one around you the entire new
others care about hearing other
people’s cell phone conversations.
-
ing and mostly unnecessary. My
sister and niece were my guests for
no interest whatsoever in what I was
saying. I always try to be consider-
ate with cell phone calls and other
interruptions in the public domain.
I boarded a plane one morn-
in the seat behind me struck up a
cell phone conversation reminis-
diatribe while chasing the Bandit.
he searched the faces of passengers
hoping for looks of amazement at
-
-
man has a cell phone brain deep in
the ear and a voice that would top
-
sion turns into a lasting one of
all be cognizant of this and use this
as a starting point for a successful
My reaction to those out there
who would attempt to invade my
Until next time……………………
From the EditorBy Lt. Col. (Retired) Timothy J. Powell
Guard Detail 5 WINTER 2014
watching as he folded his wings
his body towards the earth at over
Phantom II reconnaissance air-
calm and fought tirelessly to keep
-
The program began in earnest in
Guard Bureau contacted base lead-
ership about the possibility of utiliz-
ing Meridian-based crew members
surveillance and reconnaissance
The two-and-a-half year training
mission maintaining critical man-
power support as the 186th ARW
-
alongside national and state repre-
“There is nothing better than
looking out on the ramp and seeing
a lot of talk today about what I did
but the truth of the matter is there
were so many people who had a
through the Academy of Military
-
-
-
Prior to assuming his cur-
Other military assignments in-
-
merous awards and accolades
touching note to those who served
under him for seven years.
“It has been an honor and a
pleasure to serve with each and
are the “standard by which oth-
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Guard Welcomes
Organization
“We’re very happy to have the
Soldiers and Airmen have deployed
on mentorship and exposure to seasoned Veterans. We’re
visit www.rocksinc.org. The MSNG
student.shu.edu.
TAG RUN -
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Refueling Wing’s incoming
the adjutant general of
-
the assumption of com-
mand ceremony. (Photo by
-
“This is such a wonderful op-
-
who started special events for the
Batson kids through its Adopt-
in their battle with illnesses and
many are unable to go home to be
to these kids when we visit them at
and 25 members of the Madison-
-
spent chat time with children that
the hospital to make special visits
to those unable to attend the party.
There were small stuffed
before leaving early to go home
with his parents for the holidays.
“We made sure we read his
-
feel so good to be able to do some-
the senior class at MRA must
-
ect hours before graduating.
“It was a lot of fun for them
-
“that the visit is part of the senior’s
-
to do this for the children at the hos-
-
is always among the front-runners
in helping those in need. “This
little bit of time spent with these
children is something they will
20 years supporting this remark-
able bunch of people at Batson
Guard members host Christmas party
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M
to celebrate life and raise suicide awareness during
-
-
-
mitment to bring something positive out of his family’s
pain.
“I went into a major depression after losing my child
-
-
his seminars.
told me that my story makes an impact because it’s
from the heart. My story has given some the courage to
-
-
-
slogged through ankle-deep water and got splashed
with glow-in-the=dark acrylic paint by volunteers stag-
gering across the route.
-
-
-
hind the madness.
“I think it helped people realize that this isn’t a topic
this event will give somebody the push they need to get
help.
Mississippian joins splash and dash in suicide prevention
Volunteers throw paint on Soldiers and civilians during the Sara Smiles Neon Splash Dash at Camp Buerhing, Kuwait, in Sept.
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A Gift of Thanks
different things to different people.
the best shopping deals before the
holiday shopping frenzy. For mili-
remembrance.
In honor of their service and
-
ey and purchased 30 gas gift cards
valued at $20 each to hand deliver
“Once a year we host a weekend
-
-
-
dent Ministry.
“This is a way to teach our youth
to appreciate our military and share
Over 70 youth between the ages
of 13 to 18 years old participated in
led the charge for coordination and
planning of the community activities
-
care assistance to elderly commu-
-
tion to local community members
in need as well as the efforts of
‘Packing the Bus’ for an upcoming
bus and supply donation to a Belize
Ministry.
-
plained that it was important for
their youth to make a difference in
the community.
“We strive hard to teach our
students to make a difference in the
lives of those around them. Further-
all men and women of our armed
forces and anything we can do to
with the current economic situa-
tions and with the recovery of the
recent government shutdowns and
cards would be a simple way to
greatly show appreciation for the
military.
“We are thankful for the oppor-
are therefore called to do is to lay
said Pippen.
Macedonia Baptist Church of Petal raised the funds to purchase the gas gift cards in honor of
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By: Maj. Deidre Smith Camp Shelby Public
A Legacy Remembered
It is the roar of the crowd, the triumphant energy in the air and the
a legacy in the American passion of -
ed season and of course an almost three feet tall gleaming trophy. The 38th Division “Cycloners” Soldier football team was victorious on the
-ing deployed in support of World War II as members of the Allied
The Mississippi Armed Forces Museum recently obtained the V Corps (Fifth Corps) Army football championship trophy won by the “Cycloners” Soldier Football team in 1941. The team was undefeated against other Soldier football teams from training camps in the South-eastern United States. All of the dates, opponents and scores are en-graved on the trophy.
The 38th Division was stationed at Camp Shelby from February
Theater of Operations in late 1942. The division consisted of National Guardsmen from Indiana, Ken-tucky and West Virginia. The “Cy-cloners” played all of their home games at USM’s (then Mississippi Southern College) football stadium and were cheered on by the local Hattiesburg High School’s cheer-leaders.
The museum received the tro-phy from Ms. Ginny Sidlowski,
daughter of the Cycloners’ coach, Wayne T. Sandefur. Sandefur was a star football player at Purdue University and, after college, be-came a high school football coach in Indiana. He also obtained a
Indiana National Guard. While at Camp Shelby, Lieutenant Sand-efur met and married his wife, Ms. Sarah Rhodes of Hattiesburg. The couple was married on November 15, 1941. Sarah’s sister, George Ann, was one of the Hattiesburg High School cheerleaders that often cheered for the Cycloners. Ms. George Ann Rhodes also attended the dedication.
Lieutenant Sandefur served heroically in World War II. He was promoted to Captain while overseas and earned two Silver Star Medals for valor during the Philip-pine Liberation campaign (1945). After World War II, Captain Sande-fur remained in the Army Reserves during his career with the Physical Education College at the University of Florida. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in 1962 before re-tiring from the Army Reserves.
The 1941 V Corps Football Trophy is the focal point of a larger exhibit about Colonel Sandefur’s time at Camp Shelby and honor-able service in World War II.
WW II Trophy dedication
When asked about the Family’s feelings upon the trophy’s return to Camp Shelby, Ginny Sandefur-Sid-lowski replied, “We feel wonderful. When I was a little girl, this trophy sat on the shelf and we would walk by it and look at it and kind of stand in awe and wonder at what this big huge trophy was. The sad thing about being a little girl is that you don’t think to ask the ques-tions that you wish you would have
-gether and decided that this trophy belongs someplace besides in our personal possessions, in our closet. So that got the whole thing started and I started digging through my dad’s memorabilia and that’s where we have the exhibit, and I have to thank my sisters for helping me put the whole thing together and con-tribute, sending me over the things that they had stored in their shoe-boxes, etc.”
This trophy meant a lot to the Soldiers who won it back in 1941, but the dedication date was very
“This (November 15th) is the 71st Wedding anniversary of my parents. Back in 1942 on Nov. 15, they were married at the Camp Shelby chapel,” said Sidlowski.
Mississippi Armed Forces Museum Director, Chad Daniels
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explained that the dedication of this trophy also had a distinct tie back to the Hattiesburg community.
“This is one of those great stories where you have a link between Camp Shelby, between the University of Southern Mississippi and Hattiesburg and it’s really great to have it here because so many people in Hattiesburg helped to support the Soldiers when they were playing their games and then bring home the trophy. It was something celebrated in the area so it’s really good to have it here because it has that real community connection and real Camp Shelby connection too,” said Daniels.
The trophy is currently being displayed at the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum at Camp Shelby as part of a new exhibit. The exhibit also pays tribute to Col. Sandefur and his distinguished accomplishments during his military career.
“Among a unit of really distinguished Soldiers, he (Sandefur) really stands out, awarded two Silver Stars for valor
the Lathe Island in the Philippines, but you know for every Soldier you have a story like that. You know thousands of connections, that all kind of happens here in the museum,” said Daniels.
The timing of the dedication during the week of Veteran’s day
“A lot of the exhibits in the museum are emblematic of so many who serve. We may focus on one Soldier here or there, it really speaks to
many who are not in the museum, but we recognize that service and remember that service. We shouldn’t forget what this is, this being around Veteran’s day- even better,” said Daniels.is a sign of the times and relic in history that embodies the success of Soldier athletes.
-
th
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taff Sgt. Timothy Munn with B Battery, 1st Battalion, 204th Air Defense Artillery, supervises target data entries prior to being sent out to the Avenger Air Defense System Nov. 2.
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Charlie Battery 1st Battalion 204th Air De-
the units training mission Nov. 2.
-
-
mission Nov. 2.
hands-on training after com-
pleting classroom instructions.
Anderson is assigned to Bravo
Battery 1st Battalion 204th Air
WINTER 2014
Always on Ready...
-ment
It is a cool autumn morning
the crews of the 185th Aviation
-
-
ongoing process for aviation per-
sonnel in order to meet aviation
serves as one of the crew chiefs
-
champion of helicopters.’ It can
reach speeds up to 167 mph and is
chain gun that have proven to be
very effective in the modern day
Yielding said that a huge part
of success for the Apache was the
Yielding communicated with his
crew and informed them what the
mission was for the day and told
inspections. The crews dispersed
upon the Apaches to start “un-wrap-
Yielding speaks very highly
are both full- time technicians and
-
sures the training for all crew mem-
that is why Yielding says his crews
work so well alongside one another.
maintenance inspections the pilots
arrive; they work side-by-side with
the mechanics on up-to-date infor-
mation.
conduct checks and readings on the
a lot of trust in the crews that main-
tain the Apache and that teamwork
Weeks who is an instructor pilot
combat tours; his copilot for the
Apache mechanic before going to
When Weeks is asked what
fellow crew and pilots alike gather
around to listen; he smiles and tells
a story of a boy that had to take dai-
-
taking pride in what he does. “You
can say I have the greatest job in the
Weeks and McIntosh climb into
twin-engines up; the blades begin
minutes the wind picks up and
the rumbling from the four rotary
is time to put the birds in the sky.
is silent once more with the crews
-
ing completed. In perspective at the
-
-
sion.
All guardsmen are from the Tu-
pelo area.
steady on the ready.
Guard Detail 19 WINTER 2014
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from the unit continuously stay readiness trained.
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MIGHTY MONTICELLO
th th Armored
the start of the ribbon cutting ceremony.
rd
National Guard Readiness Center.
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longs to the American Legion.
th
Maj. Gen. Collins signs a portion of the ceremonial ribbon for Agriculture and Commerce Commis-
Guard Detail 22 WINTER 2014
Guard hosted what was hailed as
-
-
realistic combat training for the
-
vited units from all over the country
In order to meet each unit’s
planners created a scenario based
west and north by aggressor na-
tions that tried to seize its recently
discovered natural gas deposits.
-
-
destruction of enemy air defenses
in a counter-insurgency scenario.
“We focused on tactical level
training for all of the participat-
ing units incorporating all of their
“We crafted a war game scenario
that met all of those objectives and
then brought them here to par-
electronic warfare. The unit’s focus
was maintaining its skills after re-
turning from its recent Afghanistan
important because it gives us the
opportunity to maintain our readi-
-
to train with joint forces provide
-
-
Southern Strike 14
Guard Detail 23 WINTER 2014
sions included simulated air-to-air
Operations forces retook strategic
close air support and aeromedi-
cal evacuation teams transported
patients from one aircraft to an-
military airspace over the Gulf of
Range where units practice air-
plan for 2014 is to work towards
Israelis are coming back to Gulfport
aircraft. Based at the Naval
Air National Guard’s premier
held at the Trent Lott Combat
Readiness Training Center in
and realistic training for the
National Guard in a joint and
multinational environment
training event hosted by the Mississippi Air National Guard is providing tactical combat
-
-
-
training event hosted by the Mississippi Air National
Guard is providing tactical combat training for com-
Guard Detail 24 WINTER 2014
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-
-
tory and achievements in the Missis-
-
who came before us while serving
as a military police battalion. We
wanted to bring them in and iden-
tify those leaders that have set the
path for this battalion and we want
have plenty of history and stories
-
ton. After several years of strategic
planning and appropriated fund-
Military police personnel pro-
tect the lives and property on Army
installations by enforcing military
the MP’s also serve as a major force
in response to all state emergencies.
-
forcement capabilities and being an
only domestic operations such as
hurricane relief but any disaster
operations. We are the enablers for
the governor and adjutant general
for the state. We also provide a
multitude of skills of law enforce-
ment detention operations as well
as a combat multiplier to engage
and destroy the enemy and provide
security. The skills are over-arched
provided support to the state and
-
tinue to play a key role in future
operations. For years the unit has
been mobilized in support of the
-
numerous of state emergencies.
“The battalion has and will
continue to play a vital role
in serving this great state and
-
Affairs)
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