A4 APG News • Thursday, March 22, 2018 CMA Commanders Run honors legacy of U.S. Army

By Kelly White and historical aspect gave him a different U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity perspective about CMA’s origins. The run ended where it began, at CMA The U.S. Army Chemical Materials Headquarters, Bldg. E4585, which was Activity, or CMA, hosted a Commanders constructed during World War II for the Run March 13 to commemorate the role Chemical Corps Board that was responsible Aberdeen Proving Ground played in chemi- for checking the quality of the equipment cal weapons history. developed for chemical defense. Since the The tour served as the kickoff for the 1970s, it has served as the headquarters for Readiness, Operations and Closure Forum, the chemical demilitarization mission, aquarterly planning meeting held at CMA’s undergoing numerous name and organiza- Chemical Demilitarization Training Facil- tional changes until the U.S. ArmyChemical ity at APG South (Edgewood). Materials Agency was created in 2003 to CMA Director Col. James Reckard, who merge demilitarization with the storage organized the run, mapped out memorials mission. CMA transitioned to the Chemical highlighting the legacy of the U.S. Army Materials Activity in 2012 after completing Chemical Corps, which marks its 100th destruction of nearly 90 percent of the anniversary this year. During World War I, chemical weapons stockpile. as many as 11,000 people worked in Today, CMA continues to support the shell-filling plants and factories at what was Army and the nation by assessing and then called Edgewood Arsenal. destroying recovered chemical warfare “CMA is proud to showcase its own materiel, by storing the remaining chemical Chemical Corps history,” Reckard said of stockpile, and by supporting continued U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY KELLY WHITE, CMA the four-mile run, which started before demilitarization ofthe remaining10 percent Coll. James Reckard, director of the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity, right, leads Col. dawn and included stops at 10 sites. of the stockpile. For more information, visit Scott Gould, Lt. Col. Rodney McCutcheon; and Col. Christopher A. Grice on a Command- Among those sites was a memorial to the https://www.cma.army.mil. er’s Run to commemorate 100th anniversary of the Chemical Corps March 13, 2018. 1st Gas Regiment Role of Honor on McBride Field. The modest bronze plaque com- memorates the “Hellfire Battalion,” the U.S. Army’s first offensive gas regiment, which suffered dozens of casualties during World War I. Memorials to the 87th Chemical Mortar Battalion and the 2nd Chemical Mortar Battalion are also located at Mc- Bride Field. “It is important for our workforce to honor those who gave theultimate sacrifice, while recognizing the area’s achievements working in chemical weapons activities over the last century,” Reckard said. Joining him on the run tour was Col. Christopher A. Grice, commander of the Pueblo Chemical Depot in and Col. Scott D. Gould, commander of the Blue Grass Chemical Activity (BGCA) in Ken- tucky. Incoming BGCA Commander Lt. Col. Rodney McCutcheon joined the early morning activities. All agreed the Warrior Ethos, also known as the Army Values, behind the run made the day extra special. “It was a great team-building exercise with an opportunity to learn about areas of CMA and the Chemical Corps we may not have known otherwise,” Gould said. U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY KELLY WHITE, CMA McCutcheon, who takes command of Military personnel from the U.S. Army Chemical Materials Activity excercise near a Chemical Corps monument during an early morning BGCA this summer, likened the run to a run at Aberdeen Proving Ground March 13, 2018. CMA Director Col. James Reckard organized the Commanders Run which included stops “re-greening,” and noted how the course at memorials highlighting the legacy of the U.S. Army Chemical Corps, which marks its 100th anniversary this year. New Army museum to share Soldier stories

By David Vergun Army News Service

FORT BELVOIR, Va.— “Every Soldier has a story to tell, and this museum will allow their stories to be shared with all Americans through their eyes and ears and voices,” said Army Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper during a visit to the construction site of the National Museum of the March13. Now, more than ever, telling the Army story is important because there are so few veterans in society and many Americans don’t know or understand the Army or the Soldiers who have served and sacrificed so much to protect the nation, Esper said. That story of service and sacrifice begins with the earliest militias, prior to the founding of the republic, he said, adding that the history of the Army is the history of America. He added that a wish is for the museum to inspire future generations of Americans to learn more about the Army and appreci- ate the Army’s role in the nation’s history and its role in safeguarding its security. Esper, who served in the regular Army, the Army National Guard, and the Army Reserve, said he’s particularly pleased that planned exhibits for the museum will include Soldier stories from all three components. As the secretary walked through the four-story structure, he said he will be eager for areturnvisit when the museumopens in PHOTO COURTESY OF RETIRED COL. DUANE LEMPKE about two years, and to visit the quiet Aerial view of the front of the National Museum of the United States Army construction site at Fort Belvoir, Va., taken in February 2018. reflective area known as the Medal of Honor Garden, which will be located on the as bridge building, satellites, unmanned third floor. aerial vehicles, and Army medicine. Other features he said he looks forward Within that center, she said, there will be to seeing are some of the tanks and a aspecial hands-on area for younger chil- fighting vehicle that will be on display. dren called “Fort Discover” where, children Those macro artifacts are actually in the can play with and learn about things such as museum already. Tammy E. Call, the radios, jeeps, and rockets. Inside, there will museum director, pointed out some very even be a miniature military fort they can large plywood crates housing two tanks, an play in and climb on. LCVP, and a Bradley fighting vehicle. There will also be a 300-degree viewing The reason they are already inside the theater that can seat 128 guests, she said. museum is because they would have been The film shown there will create an too big to fit through the door, she immersive experience and introduce the explained. So they were put in place early Army and the museum to visitors. and the museum was erected around them. Forgroups of visiting Soldiers and others, Esper said another part of the museum the museum galleries will provide opportu- that he is eager to visit is the Army and nities for professional development where Society Gallery, which will include stories they can study lessons learned in warfare of Soldier innovations. He said Soldiers and changes to equipment and tactics over were involved in many groundbreaking the Army’s history. She noted that this science and technology advances through- understanding will contribute to current out history, from aircraft to trauma medi- readiness. cine. The 185,000-square-foot National Muse- “Their innovations span virtually every um of the United States Army is being built industry,” Esper said. “I hope that the on 84 acres of property at Fort Belvoir, U.S. ARMY PHOTO BY DAVID VERGUN, ARMY NEWS SERVICE museum will inspire others to consider the Virginia. Visitors to Washington, D.C., will View inside the National Museum of the United States Army construction site at Fort Army as a career or at least to appreciate it find that the museum is just a short drive Belvoir, Va., March 13, 2018. for all it’s given back to society.” away, only 15 miles south of the Pentagon, In addition to Army-related exhibits, Call and just six miles from Mount Vernon -- The Army Historical Foundation is and then installing the artifacts and exhibits said the museum will have an Experiential home of President George Washington. The constructing the building through private that transform the building into a museum. Learning Center where students can study museum is also accessible via public funds, Call noted. The U.S. Army is The Army will own and operate the science andtechnology through suchthings transportation. providing the infrastructure, roads, utilities, museum and admission will be free.