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Dover lends hand in C-5s taking flight in Memphis

  • Published
Move over Elvis, blues and barbecue, Memphis, Tenn., is now home to the C-5 Galaxy, the largest cargo plane in the Department of Defense.

With the help of Dover AFB personnel, the Tennessee Air National Guard's 164th Airlift Wing is currently converting from C-141B Starlifters to C-5 Galaxys.

Gen. John W. Handy, commander of U.S. Transportation Command and Air Mobility Command, Lt. Gen. William Welser III, 18th Air Force commander, Col. John I. Pray Jr., 436th Airlift Wing commander, and other Dover personnel made the trip to Memphis-Shelby International Airport, home of the Tennessee Air National Guard, Oct. 1 for the formal welcome ceremony of the C-5 Galaxy, as well as a chance to meet their 164th AW counterparts and lend a hand with the transition.

Colonel Pray echoed the commitment to the 164th AW expressed by the leaders of AMC and 18th AF, promising to help the Tennessee Air National Guard with anything they needed.

"We are going to make sure we are doing everything to take care of you," said Colonel Pray. "I have told my troops up at Dover that it is not 'us' and 'them.' We're all part of the Dover Team. If they need a part, get it for them. If they need equipment, get it for them. We're all on the same team."

With two C-5s in the background, the ceremony began.

"This is a great day for Tennessee, Memphis and the 164th (AW) with the arrival of the C-5," said Maj. Gen. Gus Hargett Jr., Tennessee National Guard Adjutant General.

General Hargett's words were echoed throughout the afternoon ceremony on the flight line.

"Today is a day of celebration, because we're opening another chapter in the history of the 164th AW," said Col. Dave Burton, 164th AW commander. "We welcome the C-5 to its new home where we will fly our missions to all corners of the Earth to protect and defend the freedoms we enjoy."

While Dover AFB is providing training for the Tennessee ANG crews and maintainers, without the commitment of the 164th AW team the project would never work.

"I'm glad to see the C-5 come here," said Master Sgt. Ken Simmons, 155th Airlift Wing aircrew life support, Tennessee ANG. "With the help of the people from Dover, the crew chiefs are taking ownership of these planes. This is a great sense of pride for the 164th to have that red tail up there."

The Tennessee National Guard has a long history of participating in every major conflict the United States has been involved with for almost 200 years. With the addition of the C-5, the Citizen Soldiers of Tennessee plan on stepping up their already-mind-boggling impact on the Global War on Terrorism.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 9,600 members of the 164th AW have been activated to help with the Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom.

"In the great tradition of Tennessee Volunteers, we stand ready to get back into the fight," said Colonel Burton. As the colonel turned to General Handy and General Welser up on stage with him, he said, "It is our intent to get these aircraft back into the fight as soon as we can. We have been on the bench way too long. Let us back in the game, coach."

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