Fort Chaffee : 188th Fighter Wing gets new boss
Posted on Monday, May 8, 2006
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/154099/
FORT SMITH — Col. J. R. Dallas said goodbye to fighter jets Sunday, when he stepped down as commander of the Arkansas National Guard’s 188 th Fighter Wing to resume his career as a commercial pilot.
Dallas saw the 188 th through five of its most turbulent years, taking command shortly after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and weathering a federal proposal to strip the wing of its planes and flying mission.
Col. Kevin Wear, vice commander throughout Dallas ’ command, faces just as many challenges as the new commander.
“Serving under you the last four years made for the most challenging four-plus years of my career,” Wear said to Dallas. “I’ve learned a lot.”
Wear has been in the 188 th for 27 years. He flies DC-10 s for FedEx.
“We have a bright future ahead,” he told the airmen standing in formation before him at Sunday’s ceremony. “Thanks to the BRAC Commission we can look forward to a bright future with the conversion to the A-10 Warthog and additional people.”
Known as the “Flying Razorbacks,” the 188 th deployed last year to Iraq and is preparing to trade its beloved F-16 fighter jets for A-10 Warthogs — larger, slower jet fighters.
The conversion is part of the Base Realignment and Closure Commission plan. Originally, the wing was set to lose all of its planes, but a late decision by the commission gave them Warthogs. The Air Force is phasing out the F-16.
“After 27 years here, when I bleed, I bleed Flying Razorback red,” Wear said with a smile.
Dallas is not retiring from the Air National Guard, but transferring to the state headquarters at Little Rock Air Force Base as a traditional guardsman.
He is returning full time to American Airlines to fly international routes in one of the largest aircraft in the commercial market — the Boeing 767.
“Our lifestyle was not what I expected it to be when I took this position five years ago,” Dallas told his family in front of the crowd.
Commanding the wing was stressful, full of deployments and the beginning of the war on terrorism.
He thanked city and airport officials, calling them “partners” in a recent struggle over the wing’s use of the Fort Smith Regional Airport.
And he joked with business leaders, repeating a saying they knew him for, “If you like the 188 th, I like you. If you don’t like the 188 th, I don’t care for you.”
He also applauded the members of the wing, calling them warriors and sharing his pride.
“[The wing’s success ] was not achieved by simple luck,” he said. “It was achieved by hard work and dedication.”
Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark.; Rep. John Boozman, R-Ark.; and former congressman and current gubernatorial candidate Asa Hutchinson attended the hourlong change-of-command ceremony. Pryor presented Dallas with the Legion of Merit award. He also received a Bronze Star for his work while deployed last year to Iraq.
Dallas said he struggled with what to make his final words as commander of the 188 th. What he decided on brought a standing ovation and cheers.
“God bless you and your families. God bless the great state of Arkansas. God bless America and God bless the 188 th Fighter Wing.”