Grissom closes out busy 2012, reviews achievements

Published Dec. 31, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner
434th ARW Public Affairs

GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. -- Since 1942, every year at Grissom has been filled with service, sacrifice, duty, courage, family, community, change and hope; and 2012 was no exception.

With this in mind, the 434th Air Refueling Wing's public affairs office looked back over the last 365 days and assembled some of the year's highlights.

The 434th ARW, Grissom's host unit, flew over 1,234 missions, offloading 25 million pounds of fuel. The unit also supported Operations Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector by meeting over 150 deployment taskings and deploying over 260 volunteers.

The base also had an economic impact of $149.5 million with $71.2 million coming from payroll and another $46.1 million in job creation. Also included in that figure were $32.2 million in expenditures and $14 million in new construction.

In January, Grissom aircrews returned home to their families and friends after a two-month deployment to Southwest Asia. That same month, the 434th Security Forces Squadron was the first unit in the Air Force Reserve Command to actively arm its members with electronic control devices.

In February, the base's air traffic controllers ramped up to support Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, brining in thousands to the Hoosier state from around the globe.

March was a month for 434th ARW Airmen to focus on supporting each other during a special Wingman Day held to give participants the proper tools to deal with stress.

In April, Indiana Army National Guard helicopters descended on Grissom for predeployment medical evacuation training, preparing for war and showcasing Grissom's joint capabilities.

May was a busy month for the base as once again 434th ARW Airmen returned home after a deployment to Southwest Asia. The base also opened its newly renovated vehicle maintenance facility and renamed an avenue in honor of Lt Col. (Dr.) Marvin Evens, a Grissom A-10 pilot who lost his life in a flying accident in 1992.

In June, the base welcomed a new commander as Col. Don Buckley took command of the 434th ARW. That same month, 434th Civil Engineer Squadron Airmen trained with regular Air Force Airmen in England.

Families were the focus of July as Grissom held its annual Family Appreciation Day picnic to thank servicemembers' families for their continued support.

In August, Grissom completed construction on its new $7.4 million air traffic control tower, a state-of-the-art facility that helps controllers control all air traffic over north central Indiana between Chicago Center and Indianapolis Center up to 10,000 feet and going as far west as Lafayette, Ind. That same month, Grissom's 434th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Airmen, Marine Corps Reservists and Army Reserve psychological operations Soldiers participated in a joint exercise that also included the Indiana Army National Guard.

September was a solemn time as the base remembered the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, and later helped bring home Marine Corps Sgt. Bradley Atwell, who lost his life while supporting combat operations at Camp Bastion, Afghanistan.

In October, Grissom reopened its Base Exchange after a $380,000 renovation project that added increased hours, a snack bar and an 80 percent increase to the line items in the store's inventory.

November brought with it the opening of the base's new and much-anticipated running track along with the award of the Purple Heart medal to Marine Capt. E. Markus Trouerbach for wounds he received during combat in Afghanistan in 2008.

December closed out 2012 at Grissom with the deployment of 24 Soldiers from the Army Reserve's 316th Psychological Operations Company to Africa in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

And with that close, Grissom's servicemembers began preparing for another busy year.

Grissom is home to the 434th ARW, the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve, as well as three Army Reserve units and Marine Corps Reserve communications detachment.

The base was first opened in 1942 as Bunker Hill Naval Air Station. In 1957 the Air Force took over the base and renamed in Bunker Hill Air Force Base. The base was once again renamed in 1968 in honor of Lt. Col. Virgil I. "Gus" Grissom, an astronaut who lost his life in a training accident. In 1994, Grissom transitioned to an air reserve base.

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2012 year in review

Grissom closes out busy 2012, reviews achievements

Public Affairs Staff