November 2001 Kee and Madison, Were Ordered to Supplement Airport Security Op- Erations at Seven Wisconsin Air- Ports
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Guard joins war on terror Missions range from airport security mission, expected to last up to six months, is performed airport security to under state control by authority of Operation ‘Enduring Title 32 U.S. Code. OCT. 1: Approximately 50 mem- Freedom’ support bers of the 128th Security Forces Squadron, Milwaukee, were or- By Tim Donovan dered to active duty. At Ease Staff OCT. 4: Approximately 50 mem- bers of the 115th Security Forces The Wisconsin National Squadron, Madison, were ordered Guard was involved in our to active duty. nation’s response to Sept. 11 OCT. 7: U.S.-led air strikes within minutes of the World Trade against Al Qaeda terrorist camps Center incident that signaled the and military targets of the Taliban attack’s beginning. regime in Afghanistan began at ap- After taking immediate steps to proximately 11:30 a.m. Central time. prevent any harm to Wisconsin Security at Wisconsin Army Guard personnel and facilities, the and Air National Guard installa- Wisconsin National Guard pre- tions was increased to Force Pro- pared for its inevitable involvement tection Condition Charlie shortly af- in military operations. ter air strikes began. Two military operations were OCT. 8: Aircraft from the 115th established in response to Sept. 11: Fighter Wing, Madison, con- Operation NOBLE EAGLE, for home- The most visible Guard support could be seen at nine Wisconsin airports, where troops ducted a mission for the North American Aerospace Defense land defense; and Operation EN- have supplemented security since Sept. 27. Pictured are members of the 32nd Military DURING FREEDOM, the war on terror- Command (NORAD) following a Police Company on duty outside Dane County Regional Airport in Madison. ism overseas. request from the Federal Aviation As At Ease went to press at Guard leaders consulted with Gov. crews flew as volunteers to sup- at 422 airports nationwide. Administration. the end of November, the Wiscon- Scott McCallum on security is- port Air Force-tasked homeland de- The seven Wisconsin airports OCT. 13: Members of the 32nd sin National Guard had more than sues in Wisconsin related to the fense missions. were General Mitchell International Military Police Company who made 650 members engaged on both terrorist SEPT. 14: Airport in Milwaukee, Dane County the initial response to supplement fronts. attacks. “As commander-in-chief of the President Regional Airport in Madison, Aus- airport security were relieved by Chronology S EPT. Wisconsin National Guard, I am Bush signed tin Straubel Airport in Green Bay, troops from other Wisconsin Na- 12: Air proud that our state will make an executive Central Wisconsin Airport in tional Guard units. SEPT. 11: Attack on America crews and an important contribution...” order autho- Mosinee, La Crosse Municipal Air- OCT. 17: Approximately 75 mem- began approximately 7:45 a.m. KC-135 air- rizing up to port, Outagamie County Regional bers of the 128th Air Refueling Central time. craft from — Gov. Scott McCallum 50,000 mem- Airport in Appleton, and Wittman The Wisconsin National the 128th bers of the Regional Airport in Oshkosh. The See ‘Terrorism’ page 5 Guard immediately increased level Air Refueling Wing flew three fed- Guard and reserve to be called up of security at all Army and Air eral missions from the wing’s base under a partial mobilization. Guard installations statewide. at Mitchell Field, Milwaukee. The SEPT. 20: Members of the 128th Air Refueling Wing de- ployed to an undisclosed over- seas location to support U.S. mili- tary operations. Participating members of the 128th Air Refueling Wing were on active duty as volunteers and Celebrating 24 years of service to were not part of the partial mobi- members of the Wisconsin Army and lization. Air National Guard and their families SEPT. 27: Members of the 32nd Military Police Company, Milwau- November 2001 kee and Madison, were ordered to supplement airport security op- erations at seven Wisconsin air- ports. The airport security mission A simple gesture was directed by Gov. Scott Mc- Members of the 128th Air Refueling Wing push a fuel cell Callum following President into a KC-135 Stratotanker while serving at an undisclosed of appreciation Bush’s request to all the nation’s location in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Photo governors to place Guard troops by Staff Sgt. Pamela Farlin. Americans have expressed mory one morning after the at- their feelings about the Sept. 11 tacks, members of the 724th En- terrorist attacks in many ways gineer Battalion headquarters Adjutant general praises Guard’s since the first found a small chilling images bouquet of quick, effective response to Sept. 11 filled our TV flowers leaning By Maj. Gen. James G. Blaney Brig. Gen. Al Wilkening was making screens and our against the The Adjutant General the first of three visits to the Capitol that thoughts on that building. day to consult with Gov. McCallum. second Tues- Attached Like every American, I will never The Guard was also taking fast ac- day of Septem- to the flowers forget exactly what I was doing the tion to protect our own personnel and ber. was an anony- morning of Sept. 11, when our nation facilities: within minutes of the sec- An entire This unsigned note was left mous note of was the target of an unbelievably evil ond airliner’s impact in lower Man- nation mourned at the Hayward armory. support for the series of attacks that ended more than hattan, all Wisconsin Guard armories for the victims, most hoped for Guard soldiers who drill there 4,000 innocent lives, shocked the world, and air bases were put on Threatcon swift justice, and many others and who represent the U.S. and attempted to destroy our way of life (Threat Condition) Bravo; when the looked for military action against armed forces in this northern forever. Pentagon was hit a half hour later se- the people responsible for the at- Wisconsin community. As American Airlines Flight 11 curity was increased to Threatcon tacks. The note told the Hayward smashed into the north tower of the Charlie; and by noon we had imple- In Hayward, Wis., at least soldiers that someone was think- World Trade Center, it was 7:45 a.m. in Maj. Gen. Blaney mented our highest security level of one person had another feeling ing of them while they serve — Wisconsin and I was at St. Mary’s Hos- Threatcon Delta. to express. and it ended with a simple pital in Madison, where I was scheduled to have knee And all across Wisconsin, men and women of the Arriving at the Hayward ar- “Thank you all.” surgery that morning. When a second airliner, this National Guard stood ready to do anything they were time United Flight 175, slammed into the WTC’s south asked to do in response to the terrorist attack on tower 21 minutes later it became apparent we were America. witnessing an unbelievable act of terrorism rather than By the time I could return to my duties two weeks a tragic accident. later the Wisconsin National Guard was involved: The Although I would rather have personally directed 128th Air Refueling Wing supported military opera- the Wisconsin Guard’s response to the terrorist attacks tions both at home and abroad, and the 115th Fighter over the next two weeks, I knew the Wisconsin Guard Wing was supporting the North American Aerospace had two outstanding deputy adjutants general, a su- Defense Command. perb staff, experienced commanders — and nearly More Guard involvement would follow and more 10,000 of the finest men and women in Wisconsin. still may be ahead. I knew the state’s National Guard was in good As I think back to the events of Sept. 11, my hands so I was not the least bit surprised as I watched thoughts fill with the same shock and horror all Ameri- A small bouquet of flowers, left at the Hayward armory, how professionally and effectively the Guard per- cans experienced that terrible day. But my thoughts greeted soldiers of the 724th Engineer Battalion a few formed in the first uncertain weeks that followed are also filled with pride in the men and women who days following Sept. 11. Sept. 11. serve in the Wisconsin National Guard and who al- As I was wheeled into a hospital operating room, ways accomplish every mission that comes their way. Page 2 Editorial : TWENTY YEARS AGO... From the Fall 1981 edition: “We know about the fog of war. Now we learn about the war of fog.” The Wisconsin Air National Guard received 18 A-10 “tank killer” aircraft to replace the former — Maureen Dowd, New York Times OA-37 observation planes. Climbing the ladder “This is the first war of the 21st century.” is Brig. Gen. David Hoff, commander of the 128th Tactical Support Wing at Truax Field in Madison. — U.S. President George W. Bush Other news from 20 years ago: “No one can tell where this will end.” The 128th Tactical Control Flight of the — Stephen J. Forsberg, Army Times Wisconsin Air National Guard at Mitchell Field In the sobering weeks since the shocking im- in Milwaukee participated in a joint United ages of death and terror splashed across our TV States, Great Britain and Canadian training exercise, Maple Flag VII. During the month- screens, we have come to know that the world long exercise, the 128th controlled 1,800 is changed. sorties. Missions included combat rescue Everyone agrees we are at war. But what and recovery, low level surveillance and kind of war? How can it be fought? What are exercise airspace control, plus flying 85,000 the rules of engagement? Who is the enemy? pounds of equipment for use in the exercise.