The Militiaman AA newnew beginningbeginning Brig.Brig. Gen.Gen. OrrOrr assumesassumes commandcommand ofof IowaIowa NationalNational GuardGuard Contents The Iowa Militiaman Spring 2009 Brig. Gen. Tim Orr 4 assumes TAG command The Adjutant General by 1st Sgt. Duff E. McFadden Brig. Gen. Tim Orr Iowans participate in Public Affairs Officer 6 Bataan Death March Lt. Col. Greg Hapgood by Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Fox 135th MPAD Commander 132nd FW Med Group Capt Tim Mills 8 trains in Puerto Rico by Tech. Sgt. Wendy S. Ohl Editor Iowa Gold Star 1st Sgt. Duff E. McFadden M1 Military Museum Insert Contributors ESGR awards presented Capt. Heather Guck Staff Sgt. Jerald Phippen 11 Sgt. Matthew McArthur Buena Vista U. adds ROTC Sgt. Christina Beck 14 Sgt. Chad Nelson Spc. Robert Jones 132nd FW trains in Alaska Spc. Brian Lloyd 16 by Lt. Col. Mike McMillian Spc. Cassandra Monroe Pvt. Zach Zuber The Iowa Militiaman is an unofficial publication authorized under the provisions of AR 360-81. It is Regular Columns published by the Iowa National Guard Public Affairs Office and is printed four times annually. 4 TAG Sends News and opinions expressed in this publication are not neccessarily those 12 Through the Ranks of the Adjutant General of Iowa, or the Department of the Army. 13 From the Educaiton Office Address all submissions to: 15 Chaplain’s Corner The Iowa Militiaman Public Affairs Office On the cover -- Brig. Gen. Tim Orr assumes com- mand as the 27th Adjutant General of the Iowa 7105 NW 70th Ave. National Guard. Iowa Governor Chet Culver passes Johnston, Iowa 50131-1824 the National Guard colors on to Orr during the recent or e-mail: [email protected] Change of Command ceremony at Camp Dodge. (Iowa National Guard photo by Justin Cato) The Iowa Militiaman 2 Spring 2009 ‘Humbled by the opportunity to serve’ On March 26, 2009, I assumed command of some really great military leaders in the Iowa the Iowa National Guard and became its 27th National Guard. Leaders, who took the time to Adjutant General. Twenty-six distinguished ensure that I kept my career on track, focused leaders have preceded me - well-known my energy, provided sound guidance through stewards of the Iowa National Guard. It is the journey, and ensured I never forgot that we a great honor and privilege to walk in their work for Soldiers. That is why, today, I stress footsteps. My family and I are humbled by to all Soldiers and Airmen, the importance this opportunity to serve the finest group of of finding a quality mentor and establishing Soldiers, Airmen, and their families, in Iowa professional relationships that will assist you National Guard history. in your journey to achieving your goals and We look forward to the challenges this ultimately being the “Master of your own position brings, but ship.” more importantly I have been in to the time we will command of the spend with the Army Iowa National Guard and Air team. Later for three months this summer, my and my experiences family and I will already have been move to the Adjutant tremendous. I have General’s house on been working very Camp Dodge and hard to visit our establish residency units at home station, – making the Iowa annual training and National Guard our on overseas deploy- TAG home both literally ments to introduce and physically. myself and get to Sends For my first TAG know our team and Brig. Gen Sends column, I want better understand Tim Orr to share a little of my their issues. I call The Adjutant General background with you this program my and talk about what battlefield circulation is important to me plan and I intend to from The Adjutant execute this program General’s fighting on an annual basis. position. I have visited both Army and Air National My military career started 31 years ago Guard units at home stations, annual training, when I enlisted into the Iowa National Guard and overseas deployments. I had oppor- as a high school senior into a Heavy Weapons tunities to see the 734th Regional Sup-port Specialist assignment, HHC 2nd Brigade. I Group in South Dakota, the 2nd BCT in Camp spent over eight years in the Brigade, leaving Ripley, Minn., select units on Camp Dodge, at the rank of Staff Sergeant to attend active and even had the opportunity to travel to component Officer Candidate School. Kuwait and Iraq to visit our truck companies, I am very proud of the fact that both my aero medical unit, Air National Guard fire wife and I served as enlisted Soldiers and Non- fighters, and individually deployed Soldiers. Commission Officers before receiving our I will spend the remainder of this summer commissions. I owe a great amount of loyalty visiting annual training sites and preparing to to the NCO corps for the encouragement kick-off the Community Covenant program and support I received as I crossed into the around the state. In the fall, I will again visit commissioned officer ranks. It was with the units around the state during the week and on encouragement of three senior NCOs, that I completed the active duty Officer Candidate School program and commissioned as a 2nd Tag Sends Lieutenant. continued on page 17 I have been fortunate to be mentored by The Iowa Militiaman 3 Spring 2009 Brig. Gen. Tim Orr sworn in as 27th Iowa Adjutant General by 1st Sgt. Duff E. McFadden truly a humbling experience, Orr noted. The week of March 22 proved to be a whirl- “I realize that I have been entrusted with the wind of activity for Col. Timothy E. Orr and leadership and care of our nation’s most pre- his family, as well as a momentous period for cious resource – the Soldiers and Airmen of the Iowa National Guard. the Iowa National Guard – our Warriors, and On March 25, Orr became Iowa’s newest their family members. brigadier general, following his promotion “Teddy Roosevelt once observed that far ceremony at the Joint Forces Headquarters and away, the best prize that life offers is the in Johnston. Twenty-four hours later, in a chance to ‘work hard at work worth doing.’ Change of Command ceremony presided over This position certainly fits that description,” by Iowa Governor Chet Culver, he became the he said. 28th Adjutant General of the Iowa National Orr, a 30-year military veteran born in Win- Guard. terset, Iowa and raised in Earlham and Boone, Being afforded the awesome responsibility had been serving as the Deputy Adjutant Gen- of commanding the Iowa National Guard is eral, Iowa Army National Guard. Former Ad- The Iowa Militiaman 4 Spring 2009 jutant General of the Iowa National Guard, Lt. families, and their needs. Gen. (IA) Ron Dardis, retired as The Adjutant He then presented his current assessment to General, but will continue working for Iowans Gov. Culver of the Iowa National Guard being after being appointed executive director of the strong, “Iowa strong.” Rebuild Iowa Office by Gov. Culver. “I want everyone to know that I am com- Orr began his military career by enlisting in mitting all my energy, effort, focus and drive the Iowa National Guard during his senior year to ensuring that the Iowa National Guard is of high school, graduating from Boone (Iowa) agile, adaptive, prepared for any mission and High School in 1979. After attending basic always ready in the event that Iowa, or the na- training and advanced individual training at tion calls. Fort Benning, Ga.’s Infantry School, his first In closing, Orr pointed his most important assignment was as a heavy anti-armor gunner thanks to those Iowa Soldiers and Airmen. with Headquarters and Headquarters Compa- “You are part of the most experienced, best ny, 34th Brigade. equipped and most professional military to He advanced through the enlisted ranks and serve our state and nation and we all can, and was ultimately promoted to staff sergeant, un- should be, very proud of them,” he said. “It is til receiving his officer’s commission through an honor to serve with you. the U.S. Army’s Officer Candidate School at “There can be no higher privilege for any Ft. Benning on Aug. 20, 1985. Orr has com- soldier than being allowed to serve once more manded at the detachment, company, battal- with such wonderful Americans and to ‘work ion, and brigade level. hard at work worth doing.’ You have my com- “The future will continue to be challeng- plete loyalty and dedication. Thank you for ing,” Orr said. “However, the Iowa National your service,” said Orr. Guard’s tasks are of enormous importance As the adjutant general, Orr is responsible to our state and nation. It is clear that in the for command and control for 104 Army and months and years ahead, a great deal of re- Air National Guard Units and over 9,600 sponsibility will continue to rest on the shoul- Army and Air National Guard members in the ders of the wonderful Soldiers and Airmen of state of Iowa and is responsible for providing the Iowa National Guard and it is an honor to a force ready for mobilization. serve with them. Ver Planck Van Antwerp, was appointed in “It will be my number one priority within 1839 as the first Adjutant General of the Iowa the command to focus on the Soldiers, their territory. The colors are pre- sented during the Change of Com- mand ceremony for The Adjutant General of the Iowa National Guard (far left). Lt. Gen. (IA) Ron Dardis presents his farewell remarks during the hour- long ceremony.