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From Normandy to now, Grissom to host 434th reunion

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Mark R. W. Orders-Woempner
  • 434th ARW Public Affairs
GRISSOM AIR RESERVE BASE, Ind. --  From Normandy to Odyssey Dawn, Airmen of the 434th have been defending freedom around the globe since 1944.

Each year, the men and women who have served with the historic unit gather together to reminisce on their service, catch up with old friends and learn more about the 434th Air Refueling Wing's current operations.

"It's a time for everyone to get together and reminisce about what went on in days gone by and talk about where the wing's going now," said retired Master Sgt. Les McConnell, a former 434th ARW historian and current Grissom Fire Department assistant chief, who is helping to set up the reunion.

This year's reunion will be held at the Grissom Services Complex Aug. 25, and reservations must be made with retired Col. Larry Alexander no later than Aug. 18. Alexander can be reached at lwalex88@sbcglobal.net.

Since many of the former 434th Airmen don't live locally, participants are welcome to stay at the Grissom Inn here the night of Aug. 24. To make reservations, call (765) 688-2844.

Several of the base support services will be open to assist attendees Saturday morning to include Pass and ID as well as the 434th Force Support Squadron customer service desk to assist in updating IDs and Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System information.

The 434th was officially activated on Oct. 1, 1942 as the 434th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron at Mitchel Field, New York. In preparation for the invasion of Europe at Normandy, France, the unit was moved to Alliance Army Air Field, Neb., and was designated as the 434th Troop Carrier Group on Feb. 9, 1943. The 434th TCG consisted of the 71st, 72nd, 73rd and 74th Troop Carrier Squadrons, which all flew C-47 Skytrains throughout their WWII career including D-Day.

Today the 434th ARW is the largest KC-135R Stratotanker unit in the Air Force Reserve Command, and Airmen and aircraft from the 434th ARW routinely deploy around the world in support of the Air Force mission and U.S. strategic objectives.

To learn more about the history of the 434th ARW, click here.

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Public Affairs Staff

Material contained on the Official Grissom Air Reserve Base Internet Web Site is written and produced by members of the 434th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office. The award-winning staff includes:

Ben Mota
Chief, public affairs

Maj. Elias Zani
Public affairs officer

Master Sgt. Wendy Day
Staff writer

Tech. Sgt. Alexa Culbert
Staff writer

Senior Airman Elise Faurote
Staff writer

Senior Airman Benjamin Cowles
Staff writer