The Delaware Air National Guard (DE ANG) is the aerial militia of the
State of Delaware
Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...
,
United States of America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territo ...
. It is, along with the
Delaware Army National Guard
The Delaware Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau.
The Delaware Army Na ...
, an element of the
Delaware National Guard
The Delaware National Guard consists of the Delaware Army National Guard, and the Delaware Air National Guard. It is a state agency of the government of Delaware. From February 2017 its commander, the State adjutant general, has been Major Gene ...
.
As state militia units, the units in the Delaware Air National Guard are not in the normal
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
chain of command. They are under the jurisdiction of the
Governor of Delaware
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
through the office of the
Delaware Adjutant General unless they are federalized by order of the
President of the United States
The president of the United States (POTUS) is the head of state and head of government of the United States of America. The president directs the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United Stat ...
. The Delaware Air National Guard is headquartered at
New Castle Air National Guard Base
New Castle National Guard Base is a United States Air Force installation under the control of the Delaware Air National Guard, located at New Castle Airport in New Castle County, Delaware.
Overview
The base is the home of the 166th Airlift W ...
, and its commander was Brigadier General
Carol A. Timmons.
The Delaware Air National Guard is an Air Reserve Component of the
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Aerial warfare, air military branch, service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part ...
. Delaware ANG units are trained and equipped by the Air Force and are operationally gained by a
Major Command of the USAF
This is a list of major commands (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force.
A major command is a significant Air Force organization subordinate to Headquarters, US Air Force. Major commands have a headquarters staff and subordinate organizations, ty ...
if federalized. In addition, the Delaware Air National Guard forces are assigned to Air Expeditionary Forces and are subject to deployment tasking orders along with their active duty and
Air Force Reserve
The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a MAJCOM, major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of ...
counterparts in their assigned cycle deployment window.
Along with their federal obligations, as state militia units, the Delaware ANG is subject to activation by order of the Governor to provide protection of life and property, and preserve peace, order and public safety. State missions include disaster relief in times of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and forest fires, search and rescue, protection of vital public services, and support to civil defense.
The Delaware Air National Guard consists of the
166th Airlift Wing. It traces its history to the establishment of the
142d Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1946. It operates the
Lockheed C-130H Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally design ...
. It is stationed at
New Castle Air National Guard Base
New Castle National Guard Base is a United States Air Force installation under the control of the Delaware Air National Guard, located at New Castle Airport in New Castle County, Delaware.
Overview
The base is the home of the 166th Airlift W ...
, and when mobilized is commanded by
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command (AMC) is a major command (MAJCOM) of the U.S. Air Force. It is headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, east of St. Louis, Missouri.
Air Mobility Command was established on 1 June 1992, and was formed from elements ...
.
History
![Delaware ANG F-86A 1954-2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Delaware_ANG_F-86A_1954-2.jpg)
On 6 Sept 1946 the 142d Fighter Squadron, Delaware Air National Guard stood up with an authorized strength of 49
officer
An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," fro ...
s and 263
enlisted men
An enlisted rank (also known as an enlisted grade or enlisted rate) is, in some armed services, any rank below that of a commissioned officer. The term can be inclusive of non-commissioned officers or warrant officers, except in United States mi ...
. The actual strength on founding day was 15 officers, one
warrant officer
Warrant officer (WO) is a rank or category of ranks in the armed forces of many countries. Depending on the country, service, or historical context, warrant officers are sometimes classified as the most junior of the commissioned ranks, the mos ...
and 36 enlisted men.
Korea
During the
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
, the entire Delaware Air National Guard was ordered to active duty, and though the 142nd Fighter Squadron remained at
New Castle County Airport
Wilmington Airport (formerly known as New Castle Airport, New Castle County Airport, sometimes referred to as Wilmington-New Castle Airport, or to a lesser extent Wilmington/Philadelphia Regional Airport and Greater Wilmington Airport) is an a ...
, its pilots were all rotated to the Far East and most saw combat against Russian-built jets in what came to be known as
MiG Alley
"MiG Alley" was the name given by United Nations (UN) pilots during the Korean War to the northwestern portion of North Korea, where the Yalu River empties into the Yellow Sea. It was the site of numerous dogfights between UN fighter pilots and ...
over
Korea
Korea ( ko, 한국, or , ) is a peninsular region in East Asia. Since 1945, it has been divided at or near the 38th parallel, with North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea) comprising its northern half and South Korea (Republic o ...
.
Vietnam
In the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
, the Delaware Air National Guard began a regular schedule of cargo flights to
Vietnam
Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...
in late 1965 and operated several each month, in addition to its regular flights to Europe and the Caribbean. The Air Guard carried 60% of the cargo it would be expected to carry if it were an active unit in Federal service.
Brig. Gen.
Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...
William "Bill" Spruance (1916–2011), a founding member of the Delaware Air Guard, received the first
Air Force Distinguished Service Medal
The Air Force Distinguished Service Medal (AFDSM) is a military decoration of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force and is presented to airmen and guardians to recognize distinguished and exceptionally meritorious service to ...
given to a reserve officer for his work Vietnam. In 1961, after a near fatal plane crash as passenger in a
T-33
The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is an American subsonic jet trainer. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then d ...
, Brig. Gen. Spruance selflessly devoted his time, knowledge and experience in an effort to improve flying and crash survival techniques. In 1968 during one of his three trips to Vietnam he gave over 100 presentations to over 10,000 people, at 58 bases, in 60 days.
Persian Gulf
During the
1991 Gulf War
The Gulf War was a 1990–1991 armed campaign waged by a 35-country military coalition in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. Spearheaded by the United States, the coalition's efforts against Iraq were carried out in two key phases: ...
, the Headquarters 166th Tactical Airlift Group, 166th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and the 142nd Tactical Airlift Squadron were activated in January 1991 involving over 275 Air Guard members. Shortly thereafter, members of the 166th Tactical Clinic were also called upon, bringing the total Air Guard involvement to over 350. All eight
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is an American four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built by Lockheed Corporation, Lockheed (now Lockheed Martin). Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 ...
aircraft were deployed with the Air Guard to the
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf ( fa, خلیج فارس, translit=xalij-e fârs, lit=Gulf of Persis, Fars, ), sometimes called the ( ar, اَلْخَلِيْجُ ٱلْعَرَبِيُّ, Al-Khalīj al-ˁArabī), is a Mediterranean sea (oceanography), me ...
. The Air Guard merged with the 1670th Tactical Airlift Group (Provisional) at
Prince Sultan Air Base
Prince Sultan Air Base ( ar, قاعدة الأمير سلطان الجوية) (PSAB) is a military air base located in the closed-city of Al Kharj, Saudi Arabia.
History
There was formerly a large United States presence there during Operat ...
(Al Kharj), part of the largest composite U.S. Air Force wing in the entire Persian Gulf area. The unit flew missions carrying personnel and
fuel bladder
Fuel bladders, fuel storage bladders are a type of Flexi-bag used as a fuel container. They are collapsible, flexible storage bladders (also known as tanks) that provide transport and storage (temporary or long term) for bulk industrial liquids ...
s critical to destroying the
Iraqi Republican Guard
Iraqi or Iraqis (in plural) means from Iraq, a country in the Middle East, and may refer to:
* Iraqi people or Iraqis, people from Iraq or of Iraqi descent
* A citizen of Iraq, see demographics of Iraq
* Iraqi or Araghi ( fa, عراقی), someone o ...
. They were also one of the first crews that flew into
Kuwait International Airport
Kuwait International Airport ( ar, مطار الكويت الدولي, ) is an international airport located in the Farwaniya Governorate, Kuwait, south of the centre of Kuwait City, spread over an area of . It serves as the primary hub for Kuw ...
to begin rebuilding. In May, they moved a significant portion of the
Shiite Muslim
Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest branch of Islam. It holds that the Islamic prophet Muhammad designated ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his successor (''khalīfa'') and the Imam (spiritual and political leader) after him, most n ...
refugees to a camp in
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia, officially the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), is a country in Western Asia. It covers the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and has a land area of about , making it the fifth-largest country in Asia, the second-largest in the A ...
السعودية. In January and February personnel from the 166th Civil Engineering Squadron were also tasked with the 100% enlargement of the mortuary facility at
Dover Air Force Base
Dover Air Force Base or Dover AFB is a United States Air Force base under the operational control of the Air Mobility Command (AMC), located southeast of the city of Dover, Delaware. 436th AW is the host wing and runs the busiest and largest a ...
.
Brig. Gen. (then
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...
) Ernest Talbert served in combat zones in
Southwest Asia
Western Asia, West Asia, or Southwest Asia, is the westernmost subregion of the larger geographical region of Asia, as defined by some academics, UN bodies and other institutions. It is almost entirely a part of the Middle East, and includes Anat ...
as a C-130 pilot in support of
Operation Desert Storm
Operation or Operations may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media
* ''Operation'' (game), a battery-operated board game that challenges dexterity
* Operation (music), a term used in musical set theory
* ''Operations'' (magazine), Multi-Man ...
. On 11 Nov 2005 he became the first African-American general in the history of the Delaware National Guard. Upon his retirement as Chief of Staff, Headquarters, Delaware Air National Guard on 11 Jan 2009, Brig. Gen. Talbert received the honorary rank of
major general
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
. Maj. Gen.
Hugh T. Broomall, Special Assistant to the Director, Air National Guard, spoke of General Talbert's military career of 36 years, 30 of which were in the Delaware Guard:
Ernie Talbert's career is the clearest proof we have in the Delaware National Guard that outstanding performance merits ever higher positions of leadership. Delaware and the nation should be proud of General Talbert's career contributions, including his mentoring of dozens of Airmen
An airman is a member of an air force or air arm of a nation's armed forces. In certain air forces, it can also refer to a specific enlisted rank. An airman can also be referred as a soldier in other definitions.
In civilian aviation usage, t ...
, his wartime combat service and leadership, and his steadfast devotion to those who serve in the Delaware National Guard and wear the uniform of the U.S. Military. General Talbert has upheld his oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, in 1789. Originally comprising seven articles, it delineates the natio ...
and the Constitution of the State of Delaware against all enemies, foreign and domestic.
The Delaware Air National Guard units returned on 31 May 1991.
Afghanistan
The Delaware Air National Guard was called upon again during the
Afghanistan War. Its units have deployed to the Afghan region several times since 2001. In November 2004 Lieut. Col. (then
Major
Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...
) Patrick Houtman received the
Distinguished Flying Cross for taking evasive action at low altitude after a
surface-to-air missile
A surface-to-air missile (SAM), also known as a ground-to-air missile (GTAM) or surface-to-air guided weapon (SAGW), is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft or other missiles. It is one type of anti-aircraft syst ...
(SAM) was launched against his C-130 aircraft. Lieut. Col. Houtman was the first Delaware Air National Guard member to receive this decoration. Lieut. Col. Gregory Carr and Master Sgt. Thomas Michaels of the 142nd Airlift Squadron were awarded the
Air Force Combat Action Medal for active participation in combat action, having been personally present and under direct enemy fire on 26 Sept 2004. On that date they were carrying Afghan and US VIP's on a classified mission when they were engaged by multiple sources of ground fire. In April 2008,
Staff Sgt. Aaron Weber, Staff Sgt. Aaron Sweeney an
Staff Sgt. David Gazzarareceived the Air Force Combat Action Medal for being engaged by enemy forces while supporting
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) was the official name used synonymously by the U.S. government for both the War in Afghanistan (2001–2014) and the larger-scale Global War on Terrorism. On 7 October 2001, in response to the September 11 at ...
. These three Airmen are the first Delaware Air National Guard ground personnel to receive the newly created Air Force Combat Action Medal.
As the deputy commander of the 455th Expeditionary Operations Group,
455th Air Expeditionary Wing
The 455th Air Expeditionary Wing was a provisional United States Air Force unit formerly located at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. It was one of two expeditionary wings in Afghanistan. Most wing personnel were located at the Air Force Village know ...
,
Bagram Air Base
Bagram Airfield-BAF, also known as Bagram Air Base , is located southeast of Charikar in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan. It is under the Afghan Ministry of Defense. Sitting on the site of the ancient Bagram at an elevation of above sea leve ...
,
Afghanistan
Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
, Brig. Gen. (then
Colonel
Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...
) Carol Timmons received the
Bronze Star
The Bronze Star Medal (BSM) is a United States Armed Forces decoration awarded to members of the United States Armed Forces for either heroic achievement, heroic service, meritorious achievement, or meritorious service in a combat zone.
Wh ...
for meritorious achievement during period of 3 May 2008 to 3 Sept 2008. On 14 May 2011 she was promoted to brigadier general and became the first federally recognized female general officer in the history of the Delaware Air National Guard.
Effective 1 Jan 2012 Brig. Gen. Timmons was assigned as the Assistant Adjutant General, Delaware Air National Guard, succeeding Brig. Gen. John Merritt who retired after 43 years of service.
The change of command ceremony on 8 Jan 2012 was attended by U.S. Sen. (former Governor)
Tom Carper
Thomas Richard Carper (born January 23, 1947) is an American politician and former military officer serving as the Seniority in the United States Senate, senior United States Senate, United States senator from Delaware, having held the seat si ...
and U.S. Sen.
Chris Coons
Christopher Andrew Coons (born September 9, 1963) is an American lawyer and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Delaware since 2010. A member of the Democratic Party, Coons served as the county executive of New Castle Cou ...
. Sen. Coons, an honorary commander of the 166th Air Wing of the Delaware Air National Guard, thanked both Brig. Gen. Merritt and Brig. Gen. Timmons for their service. He said of Brig. Gen. Timmons:
General Timmons is a true trailblazer and an inspiration to women in Delaware and around the country. She followed her dream to fly aircraft in service of our nation and has done so with courage and honor. I look forward to working with her, General Vavala, and the rest of the Delaware Guard leadership team on priorities in Washington for the men and women who serve our state.
Sen. Carper, a Veteran of the Vietnam War who retired from the
U.S. Naval Reserve
The United States Navy Reserve (USNR), known as the United States Naval Reserve from 1915 to 2005, is the Reserve Component (RC) of the United States Navy. Members of the Navy Reserve, called Reservists, are categorized as being in either the Se ...
after 23 years of service with the rank of
Captain (naval)
Captain is the name most often given in English-speaking navies to the rank corresponding to command of the largest ships. The rank is equal to the army rank of colonel and air force rank of group captain.
Equivalent ranks worldwide include ...
, also spoke of Gen. Timmons:
She brings with her an outstanding work ethic and strong leadership qualities which I have come to know through conversations with her and through her work on my service academy interview team. I am proud that Brigadier General Timmons has been chosen to lead the exceptional men and women of the Delaware Air National Guard, who not only work their day jobs, but additionally shoulder the duty to protect all Americans in their service to their state and their country. I thank them and Brigadier General Timmons for performing with professionalism and precision to keep our nation safe and secure
Iraq
While deployed to
Ali Air Base
Nasiriyah Airport is a public and military airport located 23 km (14 mi) southwest of Nasiriyah, Iraq.
It is also known as Tallil Air Base until December 2011 and Imam Ali Air Base until March 2017, when the base was used by United ...
,
Iraq
Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...
العراق with the Delaware Air National Guard's 166th Airlift Wing in 2010, Col. Dennis Hunsicker, the deputy commander of the
407th Air Expeditionary Group
The 407th Air Expeditionary Group (407 AEG) is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces Central Command, 332d Air Expeditionary Wing. It was stationed at Ali Air Base, Iraq, until the closure of the bas ...
, following a presidential directive to reduce the American military presence in that country, helped facilitate the drawdown designed to responsibly shift the Air Force mission from a combat posture to one of advice and assistance.
Kuwait
The 166th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES) of the Delaware Air National Guard served in several bases in Southwest Asia including
Ali Al Salem Air Base
Ali Al Salem Air Base is a military air base situated in Kuwait, approximately 23 miles (37 km) from the Iraqi border, and roughly 15 km west of Al Jahra. The airfield is owned by the Government of Kuwait, and during Operation Souther ...
,
Kuwait
Kuwait (; ar, الكويت ', or ), officially the State of Kuwait ( ar, دولة الكويت '), is a country in Western Asia. It is situated in the northern edge of Eastern Arabia at the tip of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to the nort ...
دولة الكويت with the 386th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron,
386th Air Expeditionary Wing. Led by Maj Elias Danucalov, Maj Kevin Canning, and CMSgt Ron Marandola, they performed base maintenance, engineering operations, major repairs, maintenance, construction management, explosive ordnance disposal, and emergency management planning. Base engineering work was performed by skilled craftsman such as
electrician
An electrician is a tradesperson specializing in electrical wiring of buildings, transmission lines, stationary machines, and related equipment. Electricians may be employed in the installation of new electrical components or the maintenance ...
s,
plumber
A plumber is a tradesperson who specializes in installing and maintaining systems used for potable (drinking) water, and for sewage and drainage in plumbing systems. s,
HVAC
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) is the use of various technologies to control the temperature, humidity, and purity of the air in an enclosed space. Its goal is to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. HV ...
specialists,
heavy equipment operator
A heavy equipment operator operates heavy equipment used in engineering and construction projects.{{cite book, title=Construction Safety Handbook , author= V. J. Davies, Ken Tomasin, year=1996, publisher=Thomas Telford, url=https://books.google.c ...
s,
engineering
Engineering is the use of scientific method, scientific principles to design and build machines, structures, and other items, including bridges, tunnels, roads, vehicles, and buildings. The discipline of engineering encompasses a broad rang ...
assistants, liquid fuels management, utilities, pest management, and specialists in
structures
A structure is an arrangement and organization of interrelated elements in a material object or system, or the object or system so organized. Material structures include man-made objects such as buildings and machines and natural objects such as ...
,
emergency management
Emergency management or disaster management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Emergency management, despite its name, does not actuall ...
,
fire protection
Fire protection is the study and practice of mitigating the unwanted effects of potentially destructive fires. It involves the study of the behaviour, compartmentalisation, suppression and investigation of fire and its related emergencies, as we ...
,
explosive ordnance disposal
Bomb disposal is an explosives engineering profession using the process by which hazardous explosive devices are rendered safe. ''Bomb disposal'' is an all-encompassing term to describe the separate, but interrelated functions in the militar ...
(EOD) and
force protection
Force protection (FP) refers to the concept of protecting military personnel, family members, civilians, facilities, equipment and operations from threats or hazards in order to preserve operational effectiveness and contribute to mission succes ...
. For their superb work and performance, the deployed members of the 166 CES earned the Meritorious Unit Award. In addition, several members individually received the Air Force Achievement Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Kyrgyzstan
Col. Karl Kromer, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom received the Bronze Star for his service in the
Republic of Kyrgyzstan Кыргызстан. As the commander of the 376th Expeditionary Maintenance Group,
376th Air Expeditionary Wing
The 376th Air Expeditionary Wing (376 AEW) is an inactive wing of the United States Air Force. It was last stationed at the Transit Center at Manas International Airport, Kyrgyz Republic, supporting U.S. and ISAF operations in Afghanistan.
Durin ...
from November 2003 to March 2004 he led a team of 170 aircraft maintainers in the upkeep of six C-130 and seven
KC-135
The Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker is an American military aerial refueling aircraft that was developed from the Boeing 367-80 prototype, alongside the Boeing 707 airliner. It is the predominant variant of the C-135 Stratolifter family of transpo ...
aircraft. Those aircraft generated more than 1,600 combat sorties and more than 4,700 hours flying time. The group was responsible for transporting 4,300 tons of critical combat supplies supporting
Operation Mountain Resolve
Operation Mountain Resolve was launched by a coalition led by the United States on 7 November 2003 in the Nuristan province and Kunar province in Afghanistan. It involved an airdrop into the Hindu Kush mountains by the 10th Mountain Division (Unit ...
, Mountain Blizzard and Mountain Avalanche. His aircraft achieved a 99% departure reliability rate. Only three flights out of 450 were cancelled due to maintenance issues.
On Veteran's Day 11 Nov 2004 he was presented the medal by Lt. Governor
John Carney and Maj. Gen. Francis D. Vavala, Adjutant General, Delaware National Guard. Maj. Gen. Vavala said at the event, "Colonel Kromer's unswerving devotion to duty proved vital to sustaining the momentum of decisive combat operations and resulted in the swift defeat of enemy forces. All of Delaware should be proud of him."
Hurricane Katrina
On 31 Aug 2005 "Task Force Delaware" composed of the 166th Security Forces of the Delaware Air National Guard and the
153rd Military Police Company (United States) of the Delaware Army National Guard deployed to
Gulfport, Mississippi
Gulfport is the second-largest city in Mississippi after the state capital, Jackson. Along with Biloxi, Gulfport is the co-county seat of Harrison County and the larger of the two principal cities of the Gulfport-Biloxi, Mississippi Metropolitan ...
in response to
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina was a destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that caused over 1,800 fatalities and $125 billion in damage in late August 2005, especially in the city of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. It was at the time the cost ...
. Two C-130 Aircraft carried around 75 troops, the first of about 400 troops from Delaware. The Delaware Guard under the direction of
Joint Task Force Katrina and the
Mississippi National Guard
The Mississippi National Guard (MSNG), commonly known as the Mississippi Guard, is both a Mississippi state and a federal government organization, part of the United States National Guard. It is part of the Mississippi Military Department, a state ...
, operated 24-hour traffic control points, roving patrols, presence patrols as well as performing humanitarian operations in the Gulfport, Long Beach,
Biloxi
Biloxi ( ; ) is a city in and one of two county seats of Harrison County, Mississippi, United States (the other being the adjacent city of Gulfport). The 2010 United States Census recorded the population as 44,054 and in 2019 the estimated popu ...
and
Pass Christian
Pass Christian (), nicknamed The Pass, is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, United States. It is part of the Gulfport–Biloxi Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,307 at the 2019 census.
History
Pre-European history
...
areas. Humanitarian aid was distributed such as
potable water
Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, ag ...
, ice and
MRE
A Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) is a self-contained, individual field ration in lightweight packaging purchased by the United States Department of Defense for its service members for use in combat or field conditions where other food is not avail ...
's (Meal, Ready-to-Eat).
Over a dozen C-130 transport missions brought Civil Engineers from the 166 Civil Engineer Squadron (CES), communications specialists, ground and air medical personnel, fire fighters (166CES) and other skilled personnel who contributed to relief efforts in almost a dozen cities in Mississippi as well as
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
in the city of
, in areas north of
Lake Pontchartrain
Lake Pontchartrain ( ) is an estuary located in southeastern Louisiana in the United States. It covers an area of with an average depth of . Some shipping channels are kept deeper through dredging. It is roughly oval in shape, about from west ...
such as the towns of
Slidell and Hammond.
Participants of these relief efforts received the
Humanitarian Service Medal
The Humanitarian Service Medal (HSM) is a military service medal of the United States Armed Forces which was created on January 19, 1977 by President Gerald Ford under . The medal may be awarded to members of the United States military (includi ...
.
The commander of the 142nd Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Col. Virginia Schneider, recalled a year after Hurricane Katrina:
Hurricane Gustav
When Hurricane Gustav hit Louisiana on 1 Sept 2008 Delaware was one of the first four states to respond. The Delaware Air National Guard evacuated 285 hospital patients from potentially dangerous areas in Louisiana and
Texas
Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...
. The Delaware Air and Army National Guard sent two
Black Hawk helicopters, communications and search and rescue specialists, as well as a Joint Enabling Team (JET).
Operation Jump Start
On 18 Aug 2007 46 members of the 166th Civil Engineer Squadron returned from a two-week deployment to areas south of
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma ( coc, Yuum) is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. The city's population was 93,064 at the 2010 census, up from the 2000 census population of 77,515.
Yuma is the principal city of the Yuma, Arizona, M ...
in support of
Operation Jump Start
Operation Jump Start was a military operation to aid U.S. Customs and Border Protection, announced by President George W. Bush in May 2006. The mission entailed the deployment of United States National Guard troops along the Mexico–United Stat ...
. Working in two teams directly across from the border of
Mexico
Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...
the 166th Civil Engineer Squadron installed metal fence panels eight feet wide and 15 feet tall which needed to be
welded
Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by using high heat to melt the parts together and allowing them to cool, causing fusion. Welding is distinct from lower temperature techniques such as braz ...
together. On the first day the teams installed 91 panels, breaking the previous daily record of 35 set by other National Guard troops. Over two work weeks the teams installed 1,100 panels along a 9,000 foot border. The unit installed four 50 foot tall light poles in one day, exceeding the normal installation rate of two light poles per day. Other important support tasks were performed such as road maintenance. Major Elias Danucalov summed up the efforts of the 166th Civil Engineer Squadron, "Our people were satisfied that they could contribute something to national security."
Notable members
*
Jamie Wyeth
James Browning Wyeth (born July 6, 1946) is an American Realism (arts), realist painter, son of Andrew Wyeth, and grandson of N.C. Wyeth. He was raised in Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania, and is artistic heir to the Brandywine School traditio ...
, contemporary
realist painter.
See also
*
Delaware State Guard
*
Delaware Wing Civil Air Patrol
Delaware Wing Civil Air Patrol is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in the state of Delaware. Delaware Wing headquarters is located at Dover Air Force Base. It comprises seven squadrons from Claymont to Georgetown, and a unit just over ...
References
* Gross, Charles J (1996), The Air National Guard and the American Military Tradition, United States Dept. of Defense,
Delaware National Guard website* Broomall, Hugh T., (1999)
''Integration of the National Guard into the Total Force'' Thesis. United States Army War College, Pennsylvania.
* Kim, Suzanne M., (2007)
''Applying New Institutionalism to the National Guard Empowerment Act'' M. Sc Thesis. Naval Postgraduate School, California.
External links
Air National Guard166th Airlift Wing
{{authority control
United States Air National Guard
Military in Delaware
State agencies of Delaware