Fighting New Battles - Arkansas National Guard

Carlisle takes ‘keys’ to a 189 AW C-130– 189th dedicates stampeding bisonBy Master Sgt. Bob Oldham, 189th Airlift Wing Public AffairsThe newly-dedicated “City of Carlisle” C-130 is the backdrop for a group of about40 residents and officials of Carlisle, Ark., and pilots, crew and commanders ofthe Arkansas Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing. (Photo by Senior AirmanJames Collins, 189th Airlift Wing.)If Airmen on the Little Rock Air ForceBase see a stampeding bison on theflight line, they shouldn’t worry; it actuallybelongs there.The Arkansas Air National Guard’s189th Airlift Wing on Saturday dedicateda C-130 Hercules aircraft, namingit the City of Carlisle.Above the crew entrance door is alogo that includes an outline of the state,a star where Carlisle is in the state, thecity’s high school mascot – a black andwhite stampeding bison, and the words“City of Carlisle.”About 40 city leaders, businessleaders, school officials, parents andstudents were on hand for the ceremonyand received a base tour, Air Guard missionbriefing, one-hour orientation flighton their cargo plane and participated in aquestion-and-answer session.The group erupted in applause planeside when Mayor Bob McCallie unveiledthe logo above the aircraft’s crew entrancedoor. The dedication has caused abuzz around his city.“I’ve not talked to a soul who didn’tlike it,” the mayor said.He said the day’s activities openedhis eyes and the eyes of several othersabout the opportunities that exist in theArkansas Air National Guard.“This aircraft dedication programhas helped us tell our story to the stateof Arkansas,” said Col. Dwight Balch,189th Airlift Wing commander.Every military installation needsthe support of its local community, thecolonel said. “We certainly have thathere in Central Arkansas, but our memberscome from over 120 cities aroundthe state. We like to think of those as our‘local community,’ too.”With unit members from so manycities around the state, the colonel saidthe Air Guard is Arkansas’ hometownAir Force. And with the wing’s estimated$50.7 million economic impact, someof that money is spread around the stateto cities like Carlisle.“These residents are now a forcemultiplier for us,” the colonel said.“They’ll talk up the Air Guard and AirForce base at church, at school eventsand everywhere in between.”The wing has been dedicating itsfleet to cities around the state since February2004. Morrilton was first, and wasfollowed by Searcy, Forrest City, Cabot,Conway, Batesville, Lonoke, Bryant andBeebe. Unit members nominate theirhometowns for the honor.The Arkansas MinutemanDolanski earnsBronze Star MedalLt. Col. Robert Dolanski, 188thFighter Wing Mission Support Groupcommander, was awarded the BronzeStar Medal at a Commander’s Call forthe 188th on Sunday, Feb. 5.The Bronze Star Medal is the10th highest decoration awarded bythe president and the Department ofDefense.“This marks the first time a Guardmember from the 188th Fighter Winghas been awarded the Bronze StarMedal while a member of this unit,”said Col. J.R. Dallas, then 188th FighterWing commander. “I’m so proudof Rob, and of all my commandersthat have walked the walk and talkedthe talk. I’m proud of their sacrificeduring the Wing’s deployment, andfor all of the great leadership that theydisplayed,” said Dallas.Dolanski recently returned froma four month tour as the base commanderof the new Al Muthana AirBase near Baghdad, Iraq.As soon as he arrived there Dolanskiknew that he was facing an obstaclecourse of challenges as the basewas only 80 percent complete. “Therewasn’t even a fence around it when Igot there,” he said. He immediatelyset up a force protection program thatincluded a six-foot high chain linkfence with concertina wire on top.More involved security proceduressoon followed.There were also attacks on thebase while he was there. “They werecalled ‘indirect fire’ attacks, “ Dolanskisaid. “I walked into the hanger oneday and there was a mortar laying onthe ground.”New Al Muthana functions asthe site for basic training for all of theIraqi Air Forces, as well as most ofthe technical training. The base wascompleted by the time Dolanski’s tourwas finished.“I hope that the things we didwhile there have made a difference,and that success will follow,” saidDolanski.Summer 2006 Page 39