COMMENTARY>>Returning to the Herk legacy

By Capt. Joe Knable
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs

A former C-130 pilot assigned to the base in 1994 has come home to command the world’s largest C-130 wing.

Col. Michael Minihan, a former 61st Airlift Squadron pilot, took command of the 19th Airlift Wing Black Knights in a change-of-command ceremony here Aug. 2.

“We are Combat Airlift,” he told the audience of military and civilian dignitaries. “Some days our mission is to train, and other days it is to rest and reconstitute. We’re the bus that takes warriors to work, and safely home again. We’re the delivery truck that takes beans and bullets to the front line. And some days we are the ambulance fighting to preserve precious American lifeblood. And some days we are the hearse - some sorrowful days we are the hearse - that flies sacred angels home one last time. It is an honor to be the home of combat airlift.”

Colonel Minihan concluded with a reference to the C-130 engine start-up checklist - the verbiage the pilot calls out before starting the number three engine, the first engine to be started, indicating the start of the mission. “Black Knights, I’m proud to wear your patch. I’m ready to ‘clear number three’ and go to work.”

As commander, Colonel Minihan leads the world’s largest fleet of C-130 aircraft and is responsible for providing worldwide deployable C-130 aircraft, aircrews, support personnel, and equipment for Air Mobility Command and Air Expeditionary Force taskings. Lt. Gen. Robert Allardice, 18th Air Force commander, explained the importance of the 19th AW and the great work accomplished by its people.

“I don’t know if you can possibly appreciate the reach of Little Rock Air Force Base,” General Allardice said. “When virtually anything happens in the world of substance, you’ll have Air Mobility Command there ... and certainly the men and women of Little Rock and the 19th AW are involved. The 19th just delivers a whole range of support to people worldwide and we’re so proud of what they’re doing.”

Because the wing has more airplanes and geographically separated units than any other 18th AF wing, the general regarded the 19th AW as “the most complex, diverse wing in 18th AF.”

The general lauded Colonel Minihan’s ability to perform the important work ahead of him. “The reputation of (Colonel Minihan) is incredibly strong,” General Allardice said.

The new wing commander is a third-generation Air Force officer, whose grandfather flew B-26s and whose father retired as a lieutenant general. “You have someone who understands the Air Force and understand the Air Force mission and is committed to excellence...” said General Allardice.

Col. Greg Otey, the wing’s previous commander, received the Legion of Merit during the ceremony and is headed to the Pentagon to serve as the Headquarters Air Force Senior Air Force Planner for Joint Matters.

The 19th AW is the “Home of C-130 Combat Airlift” and works in concert with the 314th Airlift Wing, 189th Airlift Wing and US Air Force Weapons School in all aspects of C-130 training.