Purple Heart Awarded to Soldiers ...11, 12
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Purple Heart 190th ARW Bataan awarded to marks 50th Memorial Soldiers anniversary Death March PPll . a.a . .i i.11,nn 12 ss GGof serviceuuaa .13rrddiia a. .n n. .23 Volume 50 No. 4 Serving the Kansas Army and Air National Guard, Kansas Emergency Management, Kansas Homeland Security and Civil Air Patrol April 2007 Rose confirmed as first female general in Kansas Guard By Stephen D. Larson of the 190th Air Refueling Wing at Forbes A vote in the Kansas Senate in March Field in Topeka since April 2004. went down as an historic moment for the “I am greatly honored to have this state as Col. Deborah S. Rose was con- opportunity and I look forward to working firmed as the first woman to become a gen- closely with Gen. Bunting and the Joint eral officer in the Kansas National Guard. Forces Headquarters staff,” said Rose. On Tuesday, March 20, the Kansas Rose also made history in April 2002 Senate voted to confirm Rose for selection when she was the first woman to be pro- as brigadier general in the Kansas Air moted to colonel in the Kansas National National Guard. Guard. “Colonel Rose’s professionalism and Rose acknowledges that being recog- commitment to duty are models for all nized as a “first” is something she will Kansas Guardsmen,” said Maj. Gen. Tod enjoy, to a degree. Bunting, the adjutant general. “She has “I will relish the recognition,” she said, made a tremendous impact on the Kansas “as recognition for all women in the mili- National Guard during her many years of tary, but that’s not what I am going to service and she’ll be key to guiding the focus on.” Guard in the future.” “Being the first is an important thing,” Rose was promoted in April and assumed Rose said, “but it’s really more about the the position of director of the Joint Forces second, the third and fourth, those that Headquarters Kansas, Kansas National will come after me. That’s the legacy I Guard. She had served as vice commander (Continued on Page 11) Col. Deborah Rose, vice commander of the 190th Air Refueling Wing, Kansas National Flora receives command of Guard, stands at attention with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the adjutant general, as the orders are read in the Kansas Senate chamber, presided Kansas Air National Guard over by Kansas Senate President Steve Morris, naming her a brigadier general in the By Sharon Watson “I am honored to serve in this command Kansas National Guard. Rose is the first woman in the Kansas National Guard to Brig. Gen. Edward Flora received com- and I look forward to this tremendous achieve that rank. (Photo by Stephen D. Larson) mand of the Kansas Air National Guard opportunity,” said Flora. during a change of command ceremony Flora, a native of rural Newton, is a held Sunday, March 4 at the Kansas graduate of Berean Academy High School, Kansas Guardsman laid to National Guard Headquarters in Topeka. Elbing, Kan., and Wichita State University. Brig. Gen. Edward McIlhenny, who served He earned a Master of Arts in National rest with military honors as the commander since 2003, is scheduled Security and Strategic Studies from the to retire in April. Naval War College in June 1998. By 1st Sgt. Carl Mar, 105th MPAD “A commander counts himself fortunate Flora received his commission in the Funeral services for Kansas Guard when one fine officer replaces another,” U.S. Navy through Aviation Officer Soldier Sgt. 1st Class David Russell said Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the adjutant Candidate School in May 1980, and upon Berry were held Saturday, March 3, at general. “General McIlhenny has served completion of flight training was designat- the Westside Freewill Baptist Church in the Kansas National Guard with distinction ed a Naval Aviator. He was assigned to the Wichita. He was laid to rest afterwards and I wish him well in his retirement.” initial cadre for the F/A-18 Hornet and with full military honors at the Eden “General Flora has served us superbly as completed three deployments to the west- Cemetery in Milton, Kan. chief of staff of the Joint Forces Air ern Pacific aboard USS Constellation with Berry, 37, was killed in action in Iraq, Component and brings tremendous experi- Strike Fighter Squadron 25. He graduated Feb. 22, when his humvee was struck by ence to this command,” Bunting contin- from the U.S. Navy Fighter Weapons an improvised explosive device while ued. “I am pleased to have a strong leader School, (TOPGUN), in 1986. responding to an attack by insurgents. He and excellent airman in this position.” (Continued on Page 16) was a member of Battery B, 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery, Kansas National Guard, Pratt, Kan., which had deployed to Iraq in March 2006 to con- duct force protection. Eight other Kansas Soldiers from the same unit were injured during the same attack. Berry, a staff sergeant, was posthu- mously promoted to sergeant first class. Sgt. 1st Class David R. Berry In addition to family members, hun- dreds of friends and mourners attended fire. At great personal risk, Berry pulled his services, including Gov. Kathleen the driver from the burning vehicle, sav- Sebelius and The Adjutant General of ing his life. Maj. Gen. Bunting presented Kansas, Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting. Also Berry with this medal while at his pre- honoring Berry that day were more than mobilization station at Camp Shelby, 200 members of the Patriot Guard who Miss., prior to his deployment to Iraq. lined the driveway and held flags in front Berry’s military career spanned more of the church. than 16 years. It began when he joined In February 2005, he was awarded the the Kansas Army National Guard in Soldier’s Medal, which is the highest April 1986, enlisting with Detachment 1, peacetime honor that a Soldier can Battery C, 1st Battalion, 161st Field receive. Artillery, at Kingman, Kan., as an ammu- Berry was serving on active duty at nition team chief. He graduated in 1987 Fort Leavenworth during Operation from Advanced Individual Training as a Enduring Freedom. While at home on Heavy Anti-armor Weapons Infantryman leave he came upon a single vehicle acci- at Fort Benning, Ga. In 1997, he com- Brig. Gen. Edward Flora (center) receives the command flag of the Kansas Air dent in Kingman County. The driver had pleted the Primary Leadership National Guard from Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the adjutant general, during a change lost control of the vehicle and crashed Development Course at Camp Ashland, of command ceremony with Bunting and Brig. Gen. Ed McIlhenny (right), the out- off the highway and the vehicle was on (Continued on Page 2) going commander, on March 4. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Alan Pickert) Page 2 Plains Guardian • April 2007 Kansas Guardsman laid to rest with military honors Continued from Page 1 Neb. In 2001, Berry completed his Basic “He really, truly is a hero. Non-Commissioned Officer course for He was that as our friend, a Field Artillery. In 2003, he completed the person who we respected Multiple Launch Rocket System Crewmember course. and admired. He gave all of Berry’s other awards include the Army himself to his friends and we Achievement Medal, Army Reserve trusted him for his support. Components Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces It’s hard to say it right, but Reserve Medal, Global War on Terrorism he died a hero as he lived his Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Kansas life.” National Guard Meritorious Service Ribbon, Kansas National Guard Tina Braden Commendation Ribbon, Kansas National Guard Emergency Duty Service Ribbon But I guess the foundry work helped.” and the Kansas National Guard Service “He had to do a lot of heavy lifting back Medal. then which was part of his job,” Durr con- In civilian life, Berry was a lead supervi- tinued. “Over the years he bulked up, he sor for Farrar Corporation, a metals grew stronger. He got strong enough, I foundry located in Norwich, Kan. think, to become the best type of Soldier – “All the Farrar employees are closely one who’s willing to make the greatest knit,” said Farrar Corporation Human sacrifice for everyone else.” Resources Manager Deborah Durr, who Among many of Berry’s close friends hired him in 1989. “Everyone knew David remembering him at a church dinner after and many of his best friends came from the interment was fellow employee Carl work. They’d hunt and fish together, go on Hurd. Their friendship began about six family outings together.” years ago when Hurd hired on at Farrar Sgt. 1st Class David R. Berry’s Kansas Army National Guard career is displayed in “When a friend of his wife called to let and Berry was made his supervisor. this collection of his military memorabilia and personal photographs. (Photo by 1st us know what had happened to him, we “We became good friends,” he said. Sgt. Carl Mar, 105th MPAD) were stunned. We all cried,” she said. “While David had many friends, he didn’t “He was a skinny kid when he first make friends with everybody. You had to with him about anything and you knew he daily basis. came to work with us,” she recalled. “He be lucky with him on that and if you were, was really listening. Yea, we would even “Kylie is still shaken by David’s death,” was quiet, but he was also easy-going and then you had a good friend for life. You talk about subjects I couldn’t bring up with said Barry Braden.