Officers of the 21st Cavalry Brigade, air combat unit, made their final flight from Brownwood Regional Airport on Monday in a ceremony which represented the end of a 27 year relationship with the City of Brownwood.
As a result of troop draw downs, from 540,000 to 420,000, the U.S. Army is doing away with several units such as the 21st Cavalry, according to Colonel John C. White, Commander of the 21st Cavalry Brigade (Air Combat). Included in the draw down are 2 of the 13 aviation brigades.
Colonel White and 11 officers and a civilian aviation trainer of the 21st Cavalry came to make their final flight from Brownwood.
“I am the last commander of the 21st Cavalry, I unfortunately got that job.” He explained that he was recently posted to this position after having worked at the Pentagon, and knew what the future held for the 21st Cavalry and many other units. “When I took command and learned what the Brigade does, I was amazed, it is small – only about 70-80 people and some contractors. Over the years, it has trained over 80 battalions, and many, many of those battalions came out here to Brownwood,” said Col. White. “I got to get a little sample at Camp Bowie when we were out doing the last battalion when it was training here last year.”
He explained that he wished he could have been here over the years with all of the barbeques, picnics and other support the community has given the 21st Cavalry in the years past.
“So I appreciate it. This is really the end of an era. When you tell people the 21st Cavalry is going away, even the people in the army are like ‘Really? I can’t believe this is really happening,’” said Col. White.
According to Col. White, many communities are losing their units which train at local bases and become part of the community. Although the 21st Cavalry Brigade is leaving, their partner nation unit, the Dutch 302 Squadron, will continue to train at Camp Bowie, said White. The 21st Cavalry is based at Fort Hood but has conducted many training operations over the years at Camp Bowie. There are 80 battalions at Fort Hood, many of which have trained at Camp Bowie, according to Col. White.
As the 21st Cavalry prepares for their deactivation in June of 2015; they are turning in their aircraft at the end of this month, including the six Apache helicopters which made the final flight. These six Apache Deltas are scheduled to be sent to Colorado, where they will be refurbished to become Apache Echo models. Soldiers in the battalion will either be reassigned or will retire. Some of the contractors will stay at Fort Hood in some capacity or move on to other projects.
According to Captain Aaron Scully, the refurbishing of the Apaches from the 21st Cavalry will include longer carbon fiber rotor blades that are lighter and stronger, removal of the 2-3 black boxes to be replaced with 1 solitary black box that is more efficient with faster processors, to name a few changes. Some of the aircraft such as the crew stations will remain relatively the same, said Captain Scully. The aircrafts that do not meet the requirements for refurbishing will be crushed or may be donated to be put on display at places such as museums or airports.
Some of these Apaches have fought in combat in the first or second Gulf Wars and weigh approximately 17,400 pounds. They are a 4-blade attack helicopter flown by two pilots, equipped with a 30 mm auto cannon, AGM Hellfire missiles, 2.75 inch aerial rockets, two 1800 horsepower engines and have a 130-150 mph cruising capability, according to Captain Scully.
The 21st Cavalry Brigade has already turned in their Blackhawk and Lakota helicopters, Col. White said. The Apaches will fly away on Thursday from Fort Hood as they too are turned in.
Colonel White thanked the Brownwood community as he presented the U.S. Army Commander’s Award for Public Service to Brownwood Mayor Stephen Haynes.
“Thank you for all you have done over the last 27 years, I appreciate it and I know the Army does and every Apache pilot in the Army has some fond memories of coming through here,” Col. White stated. “Thank you so much for all the service over the years.”
The award signed by Col. White states:
“Thank you for your unselfish dedication these past 27 years assisting the 21st Cavalry Brigade in training soldiers and aviation units from both the U.S. Army and partner nations. Your contributions are a positive reflection on the City of Brownwood and should be held up as an example for all to follow. Your support, sense of duty, loyalty and personal sacrifice is in keeping with the finest traditions that built this great nation.”
In return, the City of Brownwood and Brownwood Chamber of also presented the 21st Cavalry Brigade a certificate of thanks for their service and dedication to the community. Debbie Morelock, on behalf of the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce’s military relations committee, presented a letter from Dr. Steve Kelly.
“The 21st Cavalry has been a great partner to the City of Brownwood. They have constantly reached out to the City of Brownwood and done projects when we needed something taken care of. When they come here they have been good partners and good citizens, always gave us fair warning when they were going to be here, respectful of our community in their flight times,” said Mayor Haynes.
He stated that his children will be sad not to hear the helicopters which he and his wife have taught represent the “sound of freedom.”
“We are sad to lose a portion of our community and hope that it, through some other unit, will be back someday,” said Haynes. “We certainly want to pay tribute to the 21st Cavalry, they have been great partners and great citizens.”
The 21st Cavalry will be at Fort Hood until their deactivation in June of 2015 and Colonel White stated that they will be available to the community, willing speaking at graduations or other public events.
The draw down, according to Mayor Stephen Haynes, is a lot of units and a lot of history.
“Losing the 21st Cavalry is certainly a big loss to us,” said Haynes. “We appreciate their work for freedom and the community enjoyed seeing them at events such as the Brownwood Reunion.” Haynes explained that there will still be a military presence and relationship with the City of Brownwood as they continue to support the National Guard, Texas State Guard and the Dutch squadron which continue their training at Camp Bowie.
Pictured above are Colonel White and officers of the 21st Cavalry Brigade with city leaders and members of the Brownwood Community at the final flight ceremony Monday morning.
Below are more photos during the event.
The six Apache Delta helicopters land at Brownwood Regional Airport.
City Secretary Christi Wynn and Debbie Morelock take a look into one of the Apaches.
Mayor Stephen Haynes is presented the U.S. Army Commander’s Award for Public Service by Colonel White.
Morelock presents Col. White with letter from the military relations committee.
The 21st Cavalry makes their final flight from Brownwood.
