Valor

A SPECIAL EDITION FOR SUBSCRIBERS OF DESERET NEWS AND THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

U . S . A r m y s o l d i e r s l o a d i n to a U H - 6 0 L B l a c k h aw k a t Fa i r f i e l d , 2 0 1 2 . T h e s o l d i e r s a re c o n d u c t i n g p ra c t i ce j u m p s i n o rd e r to p r e p a r e f o r a f u t u r e e xe r c i s e . u.s. air force photo / senior airman devin doskey

CONTENTS 3 Fo re w o rd : Va l o r A S a l u t e t o U t a h’ s Ve t e r a n s a n d M i l i t a r y

5 Re m e m b e r i n g My St o r y U t a h Ve t e r a n H i s t o r y P r o j e c t : “ Where Were You When WWII Ended?”

16 A n s w e r i n g t h e Ca l l Utah Honor Flight: Their Memorial, Our Mission

20 F l y i n g Hi g h Ce l e b ra t i n g 7 5 Ye a r s , H i l l A i r Fo r ce B a s e Co n t i n u e s to Impact Utah

34 Ho m e g r ow n He r o e s The Utah National Guard S e r ve s a t H o m e a n d A b r o a d

44 D e f i n i n g Fre e d o m Fr o m O n e G e n e r a t i o n to Another va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

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A r m y ve r s i o n o f M e d a l o f H o n o r a n d G o l d S t a r F l a g , o f Wo r l d Wa r I I v i n t a g e . d e s e r e t n e w s p h o t o / m i c h a e l d e g r o o t e

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va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

VA L O R A S A L U T E T O U TA H ’ S V E T E R A N S A N D M I L I TA RY

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tah Media Group and our par tners, Deseret Ne ws and The Salt Lake Tribune, recognize the ser vice and sacrifice of Utah’s veterans and militar y men and women. We want to share their stories, histories and vignettes of militar y ser vice with our readers. When we chose to do so with a keepsake magazine, we decided on the title, VALOR, to align with words associated with the nation’s highest militar y decoration — the Medal of Honor — extreme courage, inspiration to lead, conspicuous gallantr y, dauntless for titude and spirit of self-sacrifice.

Officially called the Congressional Medal of Honor, the award is given for “uncommon valor” by men and women in the armed forces. It is given for braver y in actions “above and beyond the call of duty” in combat against an armed enemy. Since the medal was established by an act of Congress and signed into law by President Lincoln, there have been some 3,450 recipients. Utah has six accredited recipients — Mar vyn S. Bennion, William E. Hall, George T. Sakato, Jose F. Valde z, George E. Wahlen, all of World War II vintage; and Brian M. Thacker of the Vietnam War. According to Terr y Schow, former executive director of Utah’s Depar tment of Veterans and Militar y Affairs, Medal of Honor recipients are, in his experience, humble, modest individuals. Mostly, they’re surprised by recognition of their heroic actions, often done at the cost of their lives.

Recipient responses are simply, “I just didn’t want to let my buddies down, that is why I did what I did. I had to go get them, care for them.”

As the measure of one man, Schow referred to George E. Wahlen’s citation for his Medal of Honor: For conspicuous gallantr y and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty with the 2nd Battalion, 26th Marines, 5th Marine Division ... during action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima. Painfully wounded, Wahlen remained on the battlefield … to aid a wounded marine and carr ying him back to safety despite a terrific concentration of fire. Tireless in his ministrations, he consistently disregarded all danger to attend his fighting comrades as they fell under the devastating rain of shrapnel and bullets, and rendered prompt

assistance to various elements ... Wounded again, he gallantly refused evacuation … repeatedly rendering medical aid while exposed to the blasting fur y of power ful Japanese guns. Stouthear ted and indomitable, he persevered in his deter mined effor ts as his unit waged fierce battle and, unable to walk after sustaining a third agonizing wound, resolutely crawled 50 yards to administer first aid to still another fallen fighter. By his dauntless for titude and valor, Wahlen ser ved as a constant inspiration and contributed vitally to the high morale of his company during critical phases of this strategically impor tant engagement. His heroic spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of over whelming enemy fire upheld the highest traditions of the U.S. militar y …

Wahlen’s selflessness did not end upon retirement from militar y ser vice. He returned to Ogden and went to work for the Salt Lake Veterans office. He worked tirelessly for years for veterans by explaining benefits, lobbying for medical and retirement facilities, and establishing the Utah Veteran Memorial Park and Cemeter y. Schow says even in his final decline, Wahlen watched the daily progress of the Ogden Veterans Home, which bares Wahlen’s name. “His final concerns were for his fellow ser vice men and women,” says Schow. And Utah returned the honor. “At his funeral, I thought, ‘what a revered man’ … from the highestranking to the lowest-ranking militar y personnel were in attendance. At the end, all stood and saluted him.” Schow adds, “So when you talk of valor, humility and ser vice to one’s community, Wahlen stands as an exemplar y of Utah’s outstanding ser vice men and women.”

Utah Media Group acknowledges all of our veterans and militar y personnel can identify with the uncommon characteristics of a Medal of Honor recipient, yet fe w receive such recognition. We honor each of them and their willingness to lay down their life in ser vice and sacrifice for home, God and countr y.

We salute them.

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The “Kissing Couple” is the iconic image of the ending of Wo r l d Wa r I I . P h o t o g r a p h e r A l f r e d E i s e n s t a e d t c a p t u re d t h e u n k n ow n co u p l e i n N ew Yo r k ’s T i m e s S q u a r e o n V i c t o r y O ve r J a p a n D a y — V-J D a y. library of congress photo

/ t i m e m a g a z i n e , a l f r e d e i s e n s ta e d t

REMEMBERING M Y S T O RY U TA H V E T E R A N H I S T O RY P R O J E C T b y J i m B e d i n g f i e l d a n d E r i n Wy n n

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he chance to learn firsthand about the sacrifices made by what we rightly call the “Greatest Generation” — those who fought and won World War II — is becoming increasingly difficult due to the rapid rate at which these men and women are passing.

There have been moments throughout histor y that are indelibly imprinted on the generation in which they occur.

Often times, these men and women are capable of recalling exactly where they were and what was going on at the time of these critical historical events. The end of World War II was one such event.

The agencies created an online process that asks veterans to remember where they were when the war ended and describe their experience. Families may also complete the process for their veterans. The historical record of individual ser vice will become a precious asset to Utah and the nation. “ This is a wonder ful oppor tunity for veterans and their families to come together,” said Brad Westwood, director of Utah State Histor y. “ We want to ensure our veterans receive the ser vices they deser ve and we hope to fur ther document their war time ser vice.”

Ser vice members and civilians from the World War II era were so impacted by the end of the war that when the announcement was made, tears were shed and people celebrated in the streets. The shared national experience at the end of the war created iconic images that became a par t of our national heritage. In addition to shaping our histor y, these events shaped our present culture and our overall world vie w. The accomplishments of the Greatest Generation determined the socio-political direction of the entire world and set the stage for today’s global interactions.

The launch of the Utah Veteran Histor y Project is making it a priority for World War II veterans to preser ve their memories of the end of the war. We hope that these veterans and their families and friends will assist us in recording these recollections by going to mymilitar ystor y. utah.gov and sharing their reminiscences.

To commemorate the 70th anniversar y of the end of World War II, the Utah Depar tment of Veterans and Militar y Affairs and the Utah State Histor y, a division of the Depar tment of Heritage & Ar ts, are teaming up to collect stories of Utah’s World War II veterans. More than 65,000 Utahns ser ved in the militar y during World War II and approximately 7,000 still call Utah home.

Over the next fe w years, this project will ask veterans from a variety of different eras to share specific memories of their militar y ser vice focused on significant historical events. It is our hope and intention that those stories, too, will be used by future generations to learn about and appreciate the legacy that was left for them by these great men and women.

“ This is a terrific way to preser ve the stories of those Utahns who ser ved in World War II and their unique perspective on the end of that conflict. We are honored to be par t of the project,” said Gar y Har ter, executive director of the Depar tment of Veterans and Militar y Affairs.

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V-E D AY

V I C T O RY O V E R E U R O P E M AY 8 , 1 9 4 5 b y Ro b e r t We l s h

On Ap r i l 3 0 , 1 9 4 5 , Fü h re r u n d Re i c h s k a n z l e r Ad o l f Hi t l e r, a n d a h o s t o f h i s c o h o r t s , c o m m i t t e d s u i c i d e i n h i s Be r l i n b u n k e r. In a m a t t e r o f e i g h t d a y s , t h e w a r i n t h e Eu ro p e a n T h e a t e r o f Op e r a t i o n s w o u l d c o m e t o a n e n d . Wi t h t h e Fü h re r d e a d , s u r re n d e r i n g Ge r m a n y f e l l t o h i s h a p l e s s s u c c e s s o r ( b u t m o s t c a p a b l e Ad m i r a l ) , Re i c h s p r a s i d e n t K a r l Dö n i t z . T h e a c t o f m i l i t a r y s u r re n d e r w a s a c t u a l l y s i g n e d t w i c e , o n c e o n Ma y 7 i n Re i m s , Fr a n c e , a n d a g a i n o n Ma y 8 i n Be r l i n , Ge r m a n y.

T h e f i r s t In s t r u m e n t o f Su r re n d e r, s i g n e d a t Re i m s , w a s s o f u l l o f h o l e s a n d c o n t rove r s y t h a t Ge n e r a l D w i g h t D . Ei s e n h owe r d i d n o t a t t e n d . A n d , e ve n t h o u g h t h e d o c u m e n t s h a d b e e n c e r t i f i e d by t h e Sov i e t l i a i s o n o f f i c e r, St a l i n p ro t e s t e d t h a t t h e s u r re n d e r t e r m s we re n o t t h o s e w h i c h h a d b e e n p re v i o u s l y p re s e n t e d t o h i m a n d e n d o r s e d by t h e Sov i e t Un i o n .

T h e u n c o n d i t i o n a l s u r re n d e r o f t h e Ge r m a n a r m e d f o rc e s w a s s i g n e d o n Ma y 8 i n Be r l i n . Ge n e r a l o b e r s t A l f re d Jo d l s i g n e d a s t h e re p re s e n t a t i ve f o r Dö n i t z . Wa l t e r Be d e l l Sm i t h s i g n e d o n b e h a l f o f t h e We s t e r n A l l i e s , a n d Ge n e r a l Su s l o p a rov o n b e h a l f o f t h e Sov i e t Un i o n . L a t e r, t h e f o r m a l s u r re n d e r s i g n i n g w o u l d t a k e p l a c e a t t h e s e a t o f t h e Sov i e t Mi l i t a r y Ad m i n i s t r a t i o n i n Be r l i n .

T h e w a r i n t h e Eu ro p e a n T h e a t e r o f Op e r a t i o n s w a s o f f i c i a l l y ove r.

U . S . N av y s a i l o r s c e l e b r a t e V i c t o r y O ve r E u ro p e w i t h t h e s u r r e n d e r o f G e r m a n y o n M a i n S t r e e t d ow n tow n H o n o l u l u . u . s . n ava l a i r s tat i o n f o r t l a u d e r d a l e m u s e u m photo / frank frezza

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from the editors:

Tr y i n g t o a n s we r t h e q u e s t i o n , “ W h e re we re yo u w h e n Wo rl d Wa r I I e n d e d ? ” d i d n o t c o m e e a s y.

Ex p e c t a t i o n s we re s i m p l y t o g a t h e r re s p o n s e s f ro m t h e o n l i n e p o r t i o n o f t h e Ut a h Ve t e ra n s Hi s t o r y Pro j e c t .

T h a t d i d n’t e x a c t l y h a p p e n . We o p t e d t o v i s i t w i t h W W I I ve t e ra n s a t t h e f o u r Ut a h Ve t e ra n s Ho m e s t o g a t h e r t h e i r s t o r i e s i n p e r s o n . We f o u n d s e r v i c e m e n a n d w o m e n w h o s h a re d t h e i r s t o r i e s i n w a y s t h a t we re q u i e t , u n a s s u m i n g , va g u e , s t o i c , g a l l a n t , c o u ra g e o u s , i n s p i r i n g , a n i m a t e d , h u m o ro u s , d e t a i l e d , e ve n s h o c k i n g .

Fo r o t h e r s , m e m o r i e s f a i l e d t h e m . S o m e s t o r i e s f o u n d t h e i r w a y t o u s f ro m f a m i l y m e m b e r s — a d d i n g ye t a n o t h e r p e r s p e c t i ve . W h a t we f o u n d w a s e ve r y o n e h a s a s t o r y t o t e l l , a n d we e n c o u ra g e yo u t o h e l p g a t h e r t h o s e s t o r i e s b e f o re t h e y a re l o s t . He re , we s h a re a f e w. ” I f I re m e m b e r r i g h t , I wa s i n t h i s l i tt l e tow n i n C z e c h o s l ova k i a . We we re g u a rd i n g G e r m a n s o l d i e r s . I wa s s t a n d i n g a ro u n d a f i re i n a 50-gallon drum trying to ke e p wa r m . I i m a g i n e t h e re wa s s o m e re l i e f k n ow i n g i t wa s ove r b u t I d i d n’ t ce l e b ra te — t h e re wa s n o t h i n g to ce l e b ra te . I wa s i n t h e i n f a n t r y a n d w h e n we landed on the beach, we wa l ke d eve r y s te p o f t h e wa y a c ro s s Eu ro p e .”

“I was in Okinawa, Japan, when the surrender was announced. We weren’ t sure what was going on with all the noise — cannons going off, machine gun f ire — ­ we thought the invasion was starting. But it was just everyone celebrating.

I was a Quartermaster working with munitions.

A week later I was reclassif ied and sent to Korea as a baker. One week I was handling bombs, the next I was making bread.”

— Ve r n We a t h e r s t o n e , Ar m y, 1 9 4 2 - 4 5 , Pa c i f i c T h e a t e r, Ho m e t ow n : Og d e n , In t e r v i e w a t Og d e n VA Ho m e

— Lee Cur tis, Ar my Infantr y, 1944-46, Pacific Theater, Hometown: Pendleton, Ore., Inter viewed at Payson VA Home “I was a deckhand passing ammunition. Served in Sicily, went to Europe and then on to the Pacif ic.

My ship was alongside an aircraft carrier that was on f ire after a jet dropped a bomb on it. When the war ended, I was in the hospital — they wouldn’ t let us go to town. Didn’ t really celebrate. We were all happy about it [the war ending]. Discharged as soon as I was out of the hospital. I celebrated when I came home. Went to a few beer joints.”

— Alton Nielson, Navy, 1942-45, European and Pacific theaters, Hometown: Mapleton, Inter view at Payson VA Home

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u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

“ I s u re d o re m e m b e r.

I wa s d ow n i n S a n t a A n n a , Ca l i f. , d o i n g re h a b i l i t a t i o n a n d o n e o f t h e g u ys a n d I we n t d ow n to o n e o f t h e b e a c h e s . A n y wa y, I wa s o n a Fe r r i s w h e e l w h e n t h ey a n n o u n ce d t h e e n d o f t h e wa r. B u t w h e n t h ey m a d e t h e a n n o u n ce m e n t , we we re a l re a d y r i g h t i n t h e m i d d l e o f a ce l e b ra t i o n , eve r y b o d y wa s , s o we j u s t ke p t ce l e b ra t i n g .

Eve r y t i m e we we n t a ro u n d a n d g o t to t h e to p we to o k a d r i n k o f w h i s key.

— Ma n l e y Ab b o t t , Ar m y A i r Fo rc e , Eu ro p e a n T h e a t e r, Ho m e t ow n : De l t a , In t e r v i e w a t Ho m e

“ We h e a rd t h e wa r wa s ove r t h ro u g h t h e ra d i o.

I wa s e l a te d b u t I d o n’ t re m e m b e r ce l e b ra t i n g .

It wa s j u s t d a y- to - d a y.”

— Eve l y n Hu d s o n , Na v y, 2 9 ye a r s , St a t e s i d e : Gre a t L a k e s a re a , Ho m e t ow n : Re d d i n g , Pe n n s y l va n i a , In t e r v i e w a t Pa y s o n VA Ho m e “A s a d e n t i s t we m a d e s u re o u r b oys h a d t h e b e s t d e n t a l c a re we co u l d g i ve t h e m b e f o re t h ey l e ft . I s p e n t m y s e r v i ce i n Key We s t , F l a . , Tu c s o n , Ariz., and finally in Las Ve g a s s u r ro u n d i n g by c i t r u s t re e s , b l o o m i n g g a rd e n s a n d co u n t r y c l u b s . W h e n t h e wa r e n d e d , I we n t o u t to dinner with my wife a n d we n t b a c k to wo r k t h e n ex t d a y.

No t h i n g g l a m o ro u s .” ( A co u p l e d a ys l a te r, d a u g h te r Joyce Re n c h e r co n t a c te d u s a n d a d d e d to h e r f a t h e r ’s s to r y. “ D a d ’s a h u m b l e , q u i e t m a n . He re m e m b e re d eve r y s e r v i ce m e m b e r h e wo r ke d w i t h , t h e i r n a m e s a n d f a ce s . He wo u l d n’ t te l l yo u b u t he also identified re m a i n s f ro m d e n t a l re co rd s . A n d o fte n h e re co g n i z e d s o l d i e r re m a i n s h e h a d wo r ke d w i t h p rev i o u s l y. He wo r ke d h a rd to re t u r n s o l d i e r s to t h e i r f a m i l i e s . D a d wa n te d t h e m to g o h o m e w i t h d i g n i t y.” )

u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

“ I wa s i n C h i n a to h e l p i nva d e Ja p a n w h e n t h e wa r e n d e d . I wa s d r i v i n g a truck with supplies at the t i m e . I d i d n’ t h ave t i m e to ce l e b ra te , we j u s t ke p t g o i n g . I d i d n’ t co m e h o m e f o r a b o u t s i x m o n t h s a fte r t h e wa r e n d e d .”

— R i c h a rd “ D i c k” We s t w o o d , Ar m y In f a n t r y, 1 9 4 4 4 6 , Bu r m a - C h i n a - In d i a , Ho m e t ow n : Ci rc l e v i l l e , In t e r v i e we d a t Iv i n s VA Ho m e

— Ro b e r t Hi l d e b ra n d , Ar m y A i r C o r p . , 1 9 4 2 - 4 5 , St a t e s i d e , Ho m e t ow n : Sa l t L a k e Ci t y, In t e r v i e w a t Iv i n s VA Ho m e u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

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u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

“ I wa s d ow n i n S a n t a A n n a , Ca l i f. , f o r s o m e re a s o n . I wa s w i t h m y w i f e d r i v i n g a ro u n d , p ro b a b l y l o o k i n g f o r a p l a ce to l i ve .

He a rd t h e n ews o n t h e ra d i o. We we re i n the middle of a big g ro u p o f p e o p l e i n t h e L o s A n g e l e s a re a .

Yo u co u l d h a rd l y m ove yo u r c a r, yo u k n ow, t h ey we re r u n n i n g a ro u n d ce l e b ra t i n g .

B u t we we re n’ t w i t h t h e m , we we re t r y i n g to g e t o u t o f t h e re . I wa s g l a d i t wa s ove r b e c a u s e we to o k plenty of flak when we we re f l y i n g o u r m i s s i o n s . C rew o f n i n e , f l ew 3 5 m i s s i o n s w i t h n o l o s s e s . We we re l u c k y we d i d n’ t g e t wo u n d e d .”

— Jo h n Ud y, Ar m y A i r Fo rc e , 1 9 4 2 - 4 5 , Eu ro p e a n T h e a t e r, Ho m e t ow n : Pl y m o u t h , In t e r v i e w a t Og d e n VA Ho m e

u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

“ We d rove co nvoys i n to C h i n a f ro m B u r m a . We ra n b l o c ka d e s a l l t h e t i m e .

T h e C h i n e s e we re t h a n k f u l f o r a n y t h i n g we b ro u g h t i n . I re m e m b e r w h e n t h e wa r e n d e d , I wa s d r i v i n g a t r u c k o u t i n t h e j u n g l e s p i c k i n g u p p a ra c h u te s .

T h ey u s e d to s e n d o u t l i tt l e p r i n te d p a m p h l e t s a n d t h a t ’s h ow I h e a rd t h e n ews . A l l I co u l d re m e m b e r t h i n k i n g wa s t h ey we re g o i n g to t r y re a l l y h a rd to ke e p u s ove r t h e re , b u t t h ey d i d n’ t . I wa s h o m e i n s i x m o n t h s . O n ce I re m e m b e r co m i n g i n f ro m a l o n g co nvoy. T h e re I wa s s i tt i n g i n m y te n t a n d a n o ff i ce r c a m e i n a n d to l d m e I wa s wa n te d u p a t h e a d q u a r te r s a n d to b r i n g m y b u g l e . W h e n yo u we re wa n te d a t H Q , yo u ra n . T h e h e a d g u y a s ke d m e i f I co u l d p l a y ‘ t h a t t h i n g .’ He h a d m e r u n t h ro u g h Ta p s a f ew t i m e s to p rove i t .

He t h e n to l d m e I h a d t h e j o b. He s a i d F D R h a d j u s t d i e d a n d we we re g o i n g to d o a t r i b u te . T h e re’s 1 0 , 0 0 0 t ro o p s s t a n d i n g a t a tte n t i o n a n d yo u ’ re g o i n g to p l a y Ta p s . T h a t wa s t h e to u g h e s t j o b I eve r d i d .”

— C l e m Ha n c o c k , Ar m y, 1 9 4 2 - 4 5 , C h i n a - Bu r m a - In d i a , Ho m e t ow n : Pa n g u i t c h , In t e r v i e w a t Pa y s o n VA Ho m e

1 0 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

“At Co ro n a d o we d i d a m p h i b i o u s t ra i n i n g , wa tc h e d ove r G e r m a n P OWs , d i d s h o re p a t ro l a n d p l a ye d i n t h e b a n d . I wa s p a r t o f t h e D r u m & B u g l e Co r p s a n d p a r t o f a n o ff - b a s e d a n ce b a n d f o r o ff i ce r s .

M y t r u m p e t p l a y i n g ke p t m e o u t o f co m b a t . W h e n I wa s i n l i n e to s h i p o u t , m y n a m e wa s c a l l e d ove r t h e l o u d s p e a ke r to re p o r t to t h e b a r ra c k s . T h ey n e e d e d s o m e o n e to p l a y reve l r y i n t h e m o r n i n g a m o n g o t h e r t h i n g s . T h e n i g h t t h e wa r e n d e d , we we re d o i n g s h o re p a t ro l i n S a n D i e g o m a k i n g s u re t h i n g s d i d n’ t g e t o u t o f h a n d . It wa s a w i l d p a r t y — t h row i n g p e o p l e i n t h e p o o l , s c re a m i n g , h o l l e r i n g , u r i n a t i n g o u t s e co n d - s to r y w i n d ows .

G l a d I wa s o n d u t y. G l a d t h e wa r wa s ove r.”

— Jo s e p h Ba r n e y, Na v y, 1 9 4 4 - 4 6 , St a t e s i d e : C o ro n a d o Is l a n d , Ca l i f . , Ho m e t ow n : Ma n t i , In t e r v i e w a t Pa y s o n VA Ho m e

u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

“ I wa s o n a s h i p o n t h e wa y to Ja p a n w h e n t h e wa r e n d e d . We h e a rd a b o u t t h e wa r e n d i n g f ro m o u r co m m a n d i n g o ff i ce r. It wa s b u s i n e s s a s u s u a l u n t i l we g o t h o m e .”

— Ji m Sl a d e , Na v y, 1 9 4 3 - 4 5 , Pa c i f i c T h e a t e r, Ho m e t ow n : Ore m , In t e r v i e w a t Iv i n s VA Ho m e “ I wa s o n P i e r 9 1 i n S e a tt l e wa i t i n g f o r t ra n s p o r t . I wa s d e l i g h te d b u t I d i d n’ t go bananas or berserk.

I re m e m b e r t h a t d a y ve r y we l l . S o m e p l a ce s t h ey we re e l a te d b eyo n d ex p re s s i o n .

T h e re we re s eve ra l o f u s to g e t h e r w h e n we f o u n d o u t . I wa s o n l i m i te d d u t y w h e n t h e wa r e n d e d b e c a u s e o f a b u l l e t wo u n d i n m y k n e e I p i c ke d u p f ro m a s n i p e r i n t h e i nva s i o n o f G u a m . Ha d I b e e n w i t h m y u n i t I wo u l d h ave b e e n re s p o n s i b l e f o r h e l p i n g to i nva d e Iwo J i m a . T h ey ’ re t h e o n e s t h a t to o k t h e a i r p o r t . It wa s a n i n c re d i b l e b a tt l e . T h ey [ Ja p a n ] h a d ye a r s to build up their defenses on that island and t h ey we re l i tt l e g u ys co m p a re d to u s . I wa s d i s c h a rg e d r i g h t awa y.”

— Ha ro l d Ge r m a i n e , Ma r i n e s , 1 9 4 1 - 4 6 , Pa c i f i c T h e a t e r, Ho m e t ow n : Tu c s o n , Ar i zo n a , In t e r v i e w a t Pa y s o n VA Ho m e

u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

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“ I wa s i n S a l z b u r y, Au s t r i a , w h e n G e r m a n y s u r re n d e re d . At 1 2 o’c l o c k m i d n i g h t eve r y a r t i l l e r y g u n i n Eu ro p e — American and its a l l i e s — f i re d o n e s a l vo o f t h o s e b i g g u n s . It s e e m e d l i ke t h e w h o l e wo r l d h a d l i t u p w i t h t h o s e b i g g u n s . Ta l k a b o u t a ce l e b ra t i o n .

We we re e l a te d . T h e co o k s we re o rg a n i z e d to f o l l ow u s i n to b a tt l e s o t h ey we re c l o s e by. At t h a t t i m e we o n l y h a d wa te r i n o u r c a n te e n s to ce l e b ra te .

We g o t a h o l d o f G e r m a n b e e r, w h i c h i s a l i tt l e d i ff e re n t t h a n A m e r i c a n b e e r. We we re to l d n o t to d r i n k a n y t h i n g t h a t wa s n o t U. S . m a d e o u t o f f e a r of being poisoned eve n t h o u g h t h e wa r wa s ove r. Howeve r, we h a d . I d o n’ t k n ow w h e re i t c a m e f ro m b u t o n e co o k s a i d h e wa s a b e e r t a s te r i n that he had made beer a t h o m e . He t a s te d the beer and said, ‘g o o d , t h i s i s g o o d b e e r.’ T h a t ’s h ow we ce l e b ra te d . T h e n ex t d a y a p p rox i m a te l y 15,000 soldiers, p r i va te s a n d o ff i ce r s we re a l l p u t i n to t r u c k s a n d t r u c ke d to Fra n ce to b e s h i p p e d b a c k to t h e s t a te s to t ra i n to i nva d e Ja p a n .”

u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

“ I wa s o n a s h i p s o m ew h e re o n t h e o ce a n .

We we re h e a d e d to Ja p a n f o r t h e i nva s i o n , we d i d n’ t k n ow exa c t l y w h e re we we re . A s t h e h e l m s m a n o n d u t y, I wa s s te e r i n g t h e s h i p w h e n t h e wa r e n d e d . I co u l d n’ t eve n ra i s e m y h a n d s to s a y ‘ h a l l e l u j a h’.

We we re a l l h a p py a n d a p p re h e n s i ve , b e c a u s e we d i d n’ t k n ow w h a t wo u l d h a p p e n n ex t .”

— Ma x Ha w k i n s , Na v y, 1 9 4 3 - 4 5 , Pa c i f i c T h e a t e r, Ho m e t ow n : Ne p h i , In t e r v i e w a t Iv i n s VA Ho m e “ M y s h i p wa s d o c ke d a t Eve re tte , Wa s h . , a t t h e t i m e t h e Ja p a n e s e s u r re n d e re d . I d i d n’ t h ave l i b e r t y s o I a tte n d e d to m y s h i p’s d u t i e s a s a Q u a r te r m a s te r.”

— B o b R a m o s , Ar m y, Eu ro p e a n T h e a t e r, Ho m e t ow n : Sa n An t o n i o, Te x a s , In t e r v i e w a t Og d e n VA Ho m e

— Ja c k Gi b b o n s , Na v y Re s e r ve s , 1 9 4 4 - 4 6 , Pa c i f i c T h e a t e r, On l i n e En t r y u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

1 2 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

“ I wo r ke d a t a re ce i v i n g s t a t i o n i n Ca l i f o r n i a .

It wa s l u n c h t i m e a n d I wa s t h e o n l y o n e o n t h e f l o o r. M y c a p t a i n b u r s t t h ro u g h t h e d o o r a n d s a i d t h e wa r wa s ove r b u t i t wa s n’ t o ff i c i a l ye t s o I h a d to ke e p i t a s e c re t . B oy, wa s t h a t h a rd . I wa s d i s c h a rg e d i m m e d i a te l y. Fr i e n d s a n d I we n t u p to S a n Fra n c i s co a n d d a n ce d t h e n i g h t awa y. Nex t m o r n i n g we we n t s h o p p i n g .

W h e n we g o t b a c k to t h e a p a r t m e n t , t h e M Ps we re wa i t i n g . T h ey g a t h e re d u p m e a n d m y s u i tc a s e a n d to o k m e to h e a d q u a r te r s w h e re t h ey d e l i ve re d m e to m y b ro t h e r. A l l h e s a i d wa s ‘ m o m wa n t s yo u h o m e .’ He re n te d a c a r, to o k t i m e o ff, d rove m e h o m e a n d d e l i ve re d m e i n to m y m o m’s a r m s . T h e n h e we n t b a c k to s e r v i ce .

Mo m m a j u s t wa n te d h e r g i r l s h o m e .”

— Ro s e Be n t , Na v y, 1 9 4 3 - 4 4 , St a t e s i d e : Ca l i f o r n i a , Ho m e t ow n : Tro p i c , In t e r v i e w a t Iv i n s VA Ho m e

“ I wa s a n a i rc ra ft m e c h a n i c a n d i n c h a rg e o f p i l o t t ra i n i n g . M y c rew ke p t t h e p l a n e s f l y i n g a n d t h e s e r v i ce p o o l o p e ra t i n g . I vo l u n te e re d a s a l i b ra r i a n a n d t h a t ’s w h e re I wa s w h e n I h e a rd t h e n ews o n t h e ra d i o. I wa s ve r y re l i eve d i t wa s ove r. I wa s h a p py to d o m y p a r t to ke e p t h i n g s g o i n g .”

— Ll oyd Mo r r i s , A i r Fo rc e , t w o ye a r s , St a t e s i d e : Wa c o, Te x a s , Ho m e t ow n : Sm i t h f i e l d , In t e r v i e w a t Sa l t L a k e VA Ho m e

“ I wa s t ra i n i n g a s a s o n a r te c h n i c i a n i n S a n D i e g o, w h e n t h e s u r re n d e r o f t h e Ja p a n e s e wa s a n n o u n ce d . T h e n ews wa s re ce i ve d w i t h jubilation among my f e l l ow t ra i n e e s a n d i n s t r u c to r s . L i b e r t y wa s i m m e d i a te l y g ra n te d a n d I h i tc h h i ke d u p to L o s A n g e l e s to j o i n i n t h e f e s t i v i t i e s .”

— We s l e y Cra i g J r. , Na v y Re s e r ve s , 1 9 4 5 - 4 6 , Pa c i f i c T h e a t e r, On l i n e En t r y

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V-J D AY

V I C T O RY O V E R JA PA N S E P T. 2 , 1 9 4 5 b y Ro b e r t We l s h

On Dec. 2, 1942, Enrico Fermi, an Italian refugee, produced the first self-sustained, controlled, nuclear chain reaction in Chicago. Thus, to ensure that the United States developed a bomb before Germany could, the secret $2 billion Manhattan Project was begun. On July 16, 1945, in the Ne w Mexico deser t, the Manhattan Project’s scientists exploded the first atomic bomb.

It was during the Potsdam negotiations that President Tr uman learned that the scientists had tested the first atomic bomb. Things moved rapidly thereafter. On Aug. 6, 1945, the B-29 Super for tress Enola Gay released an atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan. In a matter of seconds, some 80,000 to 140,000 people were killed or fatally wounded.

When the Japanese still refused to surrender, a second bomb was released over Nagasaki three days later. Approximately 35,000 people were killed instantly. The following day Japan sued for peace.

President Tr uman’s decision, though debated by some, ended the war for good and avoided the necessity of a costly invasion and the probable loss of tens of thousands of American lives and hundreds of thousands of Japanese lives.

The official signing ceremony aboard the deck of the USS Missouri on Sept. 2, 1945, lasted all of about 25 minutes and was heard by millions around the world.

World War II was over.

A m e r i c a n s c e l e b r a t e i n T i m e s S q u a r e , N ew Yo r k C i t y, o n V-J D a y a t a n n o u n c e m e n t o f J a p a n e s e s u r re n d e r. library of congressphoto / world-telegram, dick demarsico

va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

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UTAH

THEIR MEMORIAL, OUR MISSION

ANSWERING THE CALL U TA H H O N O R F L I G H T: THEIR MEMORIAL, OUR MISSION b y Tra c i e S u l l i va n

I

t’s been seven decades since World War II ended yet many of the men and women who ser ved during that time have never seen the memorial built for them in the nation’s capital. Manley Abbott of Delta is one of these.

T h a t i s u n t i l t h i s l a s t ye a r w h e n Ab b o t t w a s a m o n g 2 4 Ut a h ve t e r a n s t o e m b a rk o n a t r i p t o Wa s h i n g t o n D . C . o n a Ut a h Ho n o r Fl i g h t ( U H F ) g i v i n g t h e m a c h a n c e t o p a y t h e i r re s p e c t s t o t h e i r c o m r a d e s l o s t i n b a t t l e . T h e experience offers these men and women the opportunity t o s e e “t h e i r m e m o r i a l ,” b u i l t i n h o n o r o f t h e i r s e r v i c e a n d s a c r i f i c e t o t h e c o u n t r y.

T h e Na t i o n a l W W I I Me m o r i a l w a s f i n i s h e d j u s t 1 0 ye a r s a g o a n d w i t h t h e ve t e r a n s o f t h e s a m e e r a r a n g i n g i n a g e f ro m 8 7 t o 9 8 , m a n y a re u n a b l e t o t r a ve l o n t h e i r ow n t o s e e i t . “ T h e t r i p w a s w o r t h e ve r y b i t o f i t a n d I s u re t r y t o e n c o u r a g e s o m e o f t h e s e g u y s t h a t a re s t i l l a b l e t o g o t o d o i t . T h e y s a y, ‘we l l I c a n’t , I ’m t o o o l d .’ I s a y, ‘ Oh b a l o n e y, t h e y w o n’t l e t yo u f a l l d ow n .’ A n d t h e y d o n’t , t h e y t a k e t h a t g o o d c a re o f yo u . No t h i n g c o u l d h a ve g o n e w ro n g . We we re t re a t e d b e t t e r t h a n a n y roy a l t y e ve r w a s — e s p e c i a l l y by o u r s t a f f,” s a i d Ma n l e y Ab b o t t , w h o f l e w 2 5 c o m b a t m i s s i o n s a s a b e l l y g u n n e r o n a B - 1 7 b o m b e r b e f o re b e i n g i n j u re d i n t h e w a r.

A g u a rd i a n , u s u a l l y a f a m i l y m e m b e r o r f r i e n d , a c c o m p a n i e s e a c h ve t e r a n o n t h e t h re e - d a y t r i p, w h e re i n a d d i t i o n t o t h e W W I I Me m o r i a l , t h e ve t e r a n s a l s o v i s i t

1 6 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

t h e Ko re a n Wa r Me m o r i a l , t h e A i r Fo rc e a n d Ma r i n e m e m o r i a l s a n d A r l i n g t o n Na t i o n a l C e m e t e r y.

In Ab b o t t’s c a s e , w h o i s 8 9 ye a r s o l d , h i s s o n Da n Ab b o t t w a s h i s g u a rd i a n . Ab b o t t’s d a u g h t e r, We n d y Pe a rc e , w h o w a n t e d t o g o w i t h h e r d a d , vo l u n t e e re d a s a g u a rd i a n .

Sh e w a s p a i re d u p w i t h 9 6 - ye a r - o l d Fr a n c e s A l l e n f ro m Sa l t L a k e C i t y, w h o j o i n e d t h e Na v y i n 1 9 4 3 i n h e r h o m e s t a t e o f Iow a .

The visit to the memorial was one of the most defining moments of the trip for Allen who said she will always re m e m b e r h ow s h e f e l t s e e i n g t h e 4 , 0 4 8 g o l d s t a r s o n t h e w a l l , e a c h o n e re p re s e n t i n g 1 0 0 d e a d o r m i s s i n g s e r v i c e m e n a n d w o m e n f ro m t h e w a r. “ W h e n we s a w t h e Wo r l d Wa r I I Me m o r i a l , a l o t o f u s c r i e d . It w a s a m a z i n g ,” s a i d A l l e n , w h o s e j o b s i n t h e Na v y i n c l u d e d k e e p i n g re c o rd s a n d g i v i n g m e d i c a l a s s i s t a n c e a s a p h a r m a c i s t’s m a t e a t a re c e i v i n g h o s p i t a l i n B o s t o n .

Of t e n re f e r re d t o a s t h e “ Gre a t e s t Ge n e r a t i o n ,” a t e r m c o i n e d by j o u r n a l i s t To m Bro k a w, t h e ve t e r a n s o f t h i s t i m e n e ve r s o u g h t p r a i s e a f t e r re t u r n i n g h o m e f ro m w a r. “ I t h i n k t o d a y we t a k e o u r f re e d o m f o r g r a n t e d a n d t h i s t r i p j u s t re i t e r a t e d t h e f a c t t h a t t h i s re a l l y w a s t h e g re a t e s t g e n e r a t i o n ,” Pe a rc e s a i d . “ T h e y d i d n’t s e r ve j u s t because it was their duty but because of their patriotism a n d l ove o f c o u n t r y. T h e y d i d n’t w a n t a n yo n e a t t a c k i n g o u r c o u n t r y.”

A d e l e g a t i o n o f U t a h’ s H o n o r F l i g h t — ve te ra n s , g u a r d i a n s , vo l u n te e r s a n d o rg a n i z e r s — b o a rd a c h a r te r f l i g h t to Wa s h i n g to n D.C . to v i s i t t h e Wo r l d Wa r I I M e m o r i a l a n d o t h e r s i t e s . u ta h h o n o r f l i g h t p h o t o / d e s e r e t n e w s , j e f f e r y a l l r e d

Wo r l d Wa r I I ve te ra n s p e r f o r m a f l a g re t i r i n g c e re m o n y a t C a m p McHenry as part of their Utah Honor Flight activities.

U t a h H o n o r F l i g h t p a r t i c i p a n t s a tte n d the Changing of the Guard at the To m b o f t h e U n k n ow n S o l d i e r a t A r l i n g t o n N a t i o n a l C e m e t e r y.

u ta h h o n o r f l i g h t p h o t o

u ta h h o n o r f l i g h t p h o t o

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On t h i s t r i p h owe ve r, t h e s e m e n a n d w o m e n f i n a l l y re c e i ve d t h e h o n o r a n d re c o g n i t i o n t h e y h a ve a l w a y s d e s e r ve d f o r t h e i r s e r v i c e t o a c o u n t r y s t i l l re a p i n g t h e b e n e f i t s o f t h e i r e f f o r t s e ve n 7 0 ye a r s l a t e r. “ It w a s a n a m a z i n g e x p e r i e n c e ,” Da n Ab b o t t s a i d . “ T h e y we re t re a t e d s o we l l e ve r y w h e re we we n t . T h e y d e s e r ve d e ve r y b i t o f re c o g n i t i o n t h e y re c e i ve d o n t h a t t r i p. Yo u c a n’t p u t a va l u e o n t h a t a n d t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t h e y h a d t o g o b a c k t h e re .”

Dre s s e d i n b l u e Ho n o r Fl i g h t T- s h i r t s a n d c a p s , t h e t o u r s t a r t e d w i t h a m o r n i n g s e n d o f f a t t h e Ut a h A i r Na t i o n a l Gu a rd p o s t . A b r a s s q u i n t e t p l a ye d p a t r i o t i c s o n g s w h i l e f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s c h e e re d a n d w a ve d f l a g s a s t h e ve t e r a n s w a l k e d o n a re d c a r p e t t o a b u s t h a t t o o k t h e m t o t h e Sa l t L a k e C i t y In t e r n a t i o n a l A i r p o r t .

Fro m t h e re , t h e i r a r r i va l a t t h e t e r m i n a l w a s m e t w i t h t h e Ut a h Pi p e Ba n d w h o l e d a m ov i n g p ro c e s s i o n o f w h e e l c h a i r s t o t h e d e p a r t u re g a t e . A l o n g t h e s i d e l i n e s , a i r l i n e p a s s e n g e r s a n d s c h o o l c h i l d re n s t o o d a n d c l a p p e d a s t h e ve t e r a n s p a s s e d t h e m . St r a n g e r s s t o p p e d t o s h a k e hands and thank them for their service. Those in uniform s a l u t e d t h e s e m e n a n d w o m e n w h o h a d p re v i o u s l y p a ve d t h e w a y, s e t t i n g a n e x a m p l e o f i n t e g r i t y a n d c o u r a g e . “ It w a s s u c h a t h r i l l t o s e e h ow t h e p e o p l e a c c e p t e d u s . T h e c o n g r a t u l a t i o n s a n d t h a n k s a n d e ve r y t h i n g e l s e a s we we n t d ow n t h a t c o r r i d o r f ro m o n e e n d t o t h e o t h e r,” Ma n l e y Ab b o t t s a i d . “A n d t h e n w h e n o u r p l a n e w a s re a d y,

t h e y h a d u s ve t e r a n s a l l g e t o n t h e p l a n e f i r s t b e f o re t h e y l o a d e d a n y o t h e r p a s s e n g e r s s o we g o t t h e f ro n t s e a t s .”

Tr i p o r g a n i ze r s a l s o s u r p r i s e d t h e ve t e r a n s w i t h a “m a i l c a l l ,” m a d e u p o f l e t t e r s f ro m f a m i l y m e m b e r s — c h i l d re n , g r a n d c h i l d re n a n d g re a t - g r a n d c h i l d re n — e x p re s s i n g t h e i r g r a t i t u d e a n d t h a n k s t o t h e i r l ove d o n e . A l s o p a r t o f t h e p a c k e t i s a l e t t e r f ro m Gov. Ga r y R . He r b e r t c o n ve y i n g t h e g r a t i t u d e o f t h e s t a t e o f Ut a h f o r t h e i r s e r v i c e .

Fo r Ju d y L e m m o n s , w h o vo l u n t e e r s a s t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n’s p u b l i c re l a t i o n s c o o rd i n a t o r, p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n t h e p ro g r a m i s ve r y e m o t i o n a l . “ To s e e w h a t i t d o e s f o r t h e s e g u y s i s j u s t i n c re d i b l e . T h e y g o a s o l d m e n , f r a i l a n d f r a g i l e . Bu t o n c e we s t a r t d o i n g t h e m a i l c a l l , s i n g i n g w i t h t h e m , t a l k i n g w i t h t h e m , t h e c l o s e r we g e t t o Wa s h i n g t o n D . C . , we h a ve 1 7 - a n d 1 8 - ye a r - o l d s we’re c h a s i n g a ro u n d .

It i s a n a m a z i n g t r a n s f o r m a t i o n ,” s h e s a y s .

Ba c k i n Wa s h i n g t o n D . C . , t h e ve t e r a n s re c e i ve d re p l i c a W W I I v i c t o r y m e d a l s . T h e s e m e d a l s we re o n l y g i ve n t o 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 ve t e r a n s o f t h e 1 6 m i l l i o n t h a t s e r ve d in that time.

Fro m s t a r t t o f i n i s h , t h e e n t i re e ve n t w a s a n e x p e r i e n c e n o n e o f t h e s e ve t e r a n s a n d t h e i r f a m i l i e s w i l l e ve r f o r g e t .

A n d w h i l e t h e s e ve t e r a n s a re n’t k n ow n t o b r a g o r s h a re t h e i r w a r s t o r i e s o n t h i s t r i p, t h e y we re f i l l e d w i t h g r a t i t u d e f o r t h e e f f o r t s p u t f o r w a rd f ro m t h e Ut a h Ho n o r Fl i g h t . “ It w a s t o u c h i n g t o s e e t h e f a c e s o f t h o s e ve t e r a n s w h e n we we re t h e re a t t h e m e m o r i a l a n d t o u n d e r s t a n d

U t a h ve te ra n s t a ke p a r t i n a g ro u p “s a l u te” w h i l e v i s i t i n g “ t h e i r m o n u m e n t ” — t h e N a t i o n a l Wo r l d Wa r I I M e m o r i a l — i n Wa s h i n g to n D.C . a s t h e h i g h l i g h t t h e i r t r i p . u ta h h o n o r f l i g h t p h o t o

1 8 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

S o n a n d f a t h e r, D a n a n d M a n e l y A b b o tt . i n s e t : Yo u n g M a n e l y A b b o tt . u ta h h o n o r f l i g h t

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t h e i r p a t r i o t i s m a n d t h e s a c r i f i c e t h e y m a d e ,” Pe a rc e s a i d . “ So m e o f t h e m h a d t h a t f a r - a w a y l o o k w h e n we we re t h e re , t h a t i n t ro s p e c t i o n .”

U H F, a n o n - p ro f i t o r g a n i z a t i o n o p e r a t e s s o l e l y o n p r i va t e d o n a t i o n s . L e m m o n s e x p l a i n s t h e 2 0 1 4 f l i g h t w a s p o s s i b l e w i t h t h e b a c k i n g o f B o n n e v i l l e In t e r n a t i o n a l a n d K S L a s t h e m a i n s p o n s o r. “ W h e n yo u h a ve a c o m p a n y o f t h a t c a l i b e r, w i t h t h e re a c h o f t h e i r m e d i a re s o u rc e s , we we re a b l e t o r a i s e t h e m o n e y t o g o ,” s h e s a y s . “A n d w i t h t h e i r c o n t i n u i n g s u p p o r t , c o m p a n i e s a n d i n d i v i d u a l s a re c o n t r i b u t i n g t o t h i s w o r t h y c a u s e .”

Ve t e ra n Fr a n c e s A l l e n a n d G u a r d i a n We n d y Pe a rce . i n s e t : Yo u n g Fr a n c e s A l l e n . u ta h h o n o r f l i g h t p h o t o s

Du r i n g t h i s p a s t Ut a h l e g i s l a t i ve s e s s i o n , s e ve r a l re p re s e n t a t i ve s a n s we re d t h e c h a l l e n g e f ro m Re p. Br a d De e , R - Og d e n , t o d o n a t e f ro m p e r s o n a l f u n d s — r a i s i n g e n o u g h t o f i n a n c e a l m o s t a n e n t i re f l i g h t . A n d C a m e ro n Bu c k l e y, 1 2 , o f We s t Ha ve n , h a s m a d e i t a p e r s o n a l g o a l t o r a i s e f u n d s — f ro m b a k i n g g o o d i e s t o c l e a n i n g c h i c k e n c o o p s — t o s e n d a ve t e r a n o n a f l i g h t . Hi s e f f o r t s w i l l s e n d t w o ve t e r a n s .

L e a r n m o re a b o u t t h e Ut a h Ho n o r Fl i g h t , h ow t o vo l u n t e e r o r t o m a k e a d o n a t i o n a t u t a h h o n o r f l i g h t . o r g

va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

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F LY I N G H I G H C E L E B R AT I N G 7 5 Y E A R S , HILL AIR FORCE BASE CONTINUES T O I M PA C T U TA H b y S a ra h Ry t h a n Fra n co m

2 0 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

Pilots from the 388th Fighter Wing, stationed a t H i l l A F B , p e r f o r m a f o u r - s h i p f l yove r. u.s. airforce photo / james arrowood

H

ill Air Force Base is spread across nearly 7,000 acres in Davis and Weber counties, but its reach extends far beyond its borders.

Now celebrating its 75th year, Hill AFB has played an increasingly vital role in our nation’s defense and security.

As the United States Air Force’s thirdlargest base, Hill AFB is an integral maintenance depot that keeps the Air Force flying high. But beyond its role in

protecting the nation and our allies, Hill AFB has greatly enhanced the state of Utah. From ser ving as the state’s largest single-site employer to par tnering with civic and business leaders in several areas, Hill AFB has become ingrained within the Utah community. As we look back and celebrate all that Hill AFB has accomplished during its 75 years, it is clear that Utah is lucky to claim Hill AFB as ours.

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TA K I N G F L I G H T Hill Air Force Base has a long legacy in Utah.

Its earliest origins trace back to 1928, when civic leaders and aviation enthusiasts worked to create an airmail center at the Ogden airpor t. After 12 years of strategic planning and effor t, Ogden was listed as a potential site for the Army Air Corps’ permanent western air depot. Ogden was officially selected in 1939, when Congress appropriated $8 million for the establishment and constr uction of the Ogden Air Depot. Ground broke in 1940, and the site was named Hill Field in honor of Major Ployer “Pete” Hill.

Hi l l Fi e l d q u i c k l y b e c a m e i n t e g r a l t o n a t i o n a l d e f e n s e a n d s e c u r i t y. Du r i n g Wo r l d Wa r I I , Hi l l Fi e l d s e r ve d a s a v i t a l m a i n t e n a n c e a n d s u p p l y b a s e , w i t h ro u n d - t h e - c l o c k o p e r a t i o n s s u p p o r t i n g t h e w a r e f f o r t . By 1 9 4 3 , Hi l l Fi e l d h a d m o re t h a n 2 2 , 0 0 0 m i l i t a r y a n d c i v i l i a n p e r s o n n e l w h o re p a i re d t h o u s a n d s o f b a t t l e - we a r y a i rc r a f t . A n d by 1 9 4 7 , t h e b a s e w a s re s p o n s i b l e f o r t h e l o n g - t e r m s t o r a g e o f a i rc r a f t a n d s u p p o r t e q u i p m e n t a m o u n t i n g t o m o re than $200 million.

Du r i n g t h e d e c a d e s t h a t f o l l owe d , Hi l l A F B ’s ro l e a s a m a i n t e n a n c e a n d s u p p o r t d e p o t b e c a m e i n c re a s i n g l y e s s e n t i a l t o t h e A i r Fo rc e . Du r i n g t h e Ko re a n Wa r, Hi l l’s p e r s o n n e l we re t a s k e d t o re f u r b i s h B - 2 6 s a n d B - 2 9 s a t a re c o rd - s e t t i n g p a c e . At t h e s a m e t i m e , t h e Og d e n A i r Ma t e r i a l A re a b e g a n s u p p o r t i n g j e t a i rc r a f t a n d m i s s i l e m a i n t e n a n c e . So o n t h e re a f t e r, Hi l l A F B b e g a n s y s t e m s m a n a g e m e n t d u t i e s f o r t h e F - 4 Ph a n t o m I I , Ti t a n m i s s i l e s a n d Ma ve r i c k m i s s i l e .

O g d e n A i r D e p o t , H i l l F i e l d , N ove m b e r 19 4 0 , l o o k i n g northeast. Depot construction is visible at right; We b e r C a n yo n i s v i s i b l e a t t o p r i g h t (e a s t ) . u.s. air force photo

By 1 9 7 1 , Hi l l A F B b e g a n m a n a g i n g t h e F - 1 5 E a g l e , a s we l l a s t e s t i n g t h e U H - 1 H Iro q u o i s h e l i c o p t e r. T h e f o l l ow i n g ye a r, Hi l l A F B s a w t h e p ro d u c t i o n o f t h e f i r s t ve r s i o n o f t h e Sh o r t R a n g e At t a c k Mi s s i l e ( S R A M ) . By 1 9 8 0 , Hi l l A F B h a d t h e busiest single runway of any airfield in the world, w i t h t r a f f i c t o t a l i n g m o re t h a n 1 4 5 , 2 0 0 t a k e o f f s a n d landings.

Du r i n g t h e 1 9 9 0 s , t h e U . S . A i r Fo rc e c o n s o l i d a t e d i t s o p e r a t i o n s , a n d Hi l l A F B g a i n e d a d d i t i o n a l re s p o n s i b i l i t i e s t h a t h a ve c o n t i n u e d t o i n c re a s e ove r t h e ye a r s . To d a y, Hi l l A F B c o n t i n u e s i t s c r i t i c a l d e f e n s e ro l e . T h e Og d e n A i r L o g i s t i c s C e n t e r p rov i d e s worldwide engineering and logistics management for t h e F - 1 6 Fi g h t i n g Fa l c o n , A - 1 0 T h u n d e r b o l t I I a n d t h e Mi n u t e m a n I I I i n t e rc o n t i n e n t a l b a l l i s t i c m i s s i l e .

The base also performs depot maintenance on the F - 1 6 , A - 1 0 , C - 1 3 0 a n d F - 2 2 . In 2 0 1 3 , Hi l l A F B w a s n a m e d t h e f i r s t A i r Fo rc e s i t e t o re c e i ve t h e F - 3 5 A Lighting II. (continued on page 26)

2 2 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

Ke ys t o n e B - 3 A b o m b e r b e i n g l o a d e d w i t h m a i l . T h e A r m y A i r C o r p s f l ew t h e m a i l f r o m Fe b r u a r y t o J u n e 19 3 4 . u.s. air force photo

REMEMBERING BASE NAMESAKE O n O c t . 3 0 , 19 3 5 , P l oye r “ Pe te” Hi l l to o k o ff i n t h e B o e i n g ex p e r i m e n t a l a i rc ra ft Mo d e l 2 9 9, a p ro to t y p e o f w h a t wo u l d b e co m e t h e f a m o u s B - 17 F l y i n g Fo r t re s s . S e r v i n g a s a te s t p i l o t f o r t h e F l y i n g B ra n c h o f t h e Ma te r i e l D i v i s i o n o f t h e A r m y A i r Co r p s , Hi l l wa s c h a rg e d w i t h t h e d a n g e ro u s but essential task of flying this and o t h e r ex p e r i m e n t a l a i rc ra ft . O n t h a t t ra g i c d a y, Hi l l ’s p l a n e c l i m b e d to 1 0 0 f e e t b e f o re c ra s h i n g s u d d e n l y, M a j . P l oye r “ Pe t e ” H i l l k i l l i n g Hi l l a n d B o e i n g ’s c h i e f te s t p i l o t , L e s l i e Towe r.

B r i g a d i e r G e n e ra l A .W. Ro b i n s s a i d Hi l l ’s s a c r i f i ce , “ wa s a s g re a t a s t h o u g h h e h a d b e e n l o s t o n t h e f i e l d o f b a tt l e .”

In 19 3 9, t h e Wa r D e p a r t m e n t n a m e d i t s n ewe s t a i r d e p o t “ Hi l l F i e l d ” i n h o n o r o f P l oye r Hi l l ’s d e d i c a t i o n a n d u l t i m a te s a c r i f i ce . To d a y, Hi l l A i r Fo rce B a s e h a s g row n i n to t h e A i r Fo rce’s t h i rd - l a rg e s t b a s e , s e r v i n g a v i t a l ro l e i n o u r n a t i o n’s d e f e n s e a n d s e c u r i t y.

D r. L i a W i n f i e l d , w h o s t u d i e d P l oye r Hi l l ex te n s i ve l y f o r t h e Hi l l Ae ro s p a ce Mu s e u m , d e s c r i b e s Hi l l a s a p i o n e e r av i a to r. “ He p i l o te d n e a r l y eve r y A r m y A i r Co r p s a i rc ra ft b e t we e n 19 1 8 a n d 19 3 5 d u r i n g h i s h i g h l y s u cce s s f u l c a re e r a s a n e n g i n e e r, a e r i a l p h o to g ra p h e r a n d te s t p i l o t ,” s h e w ro te i n a n A i r Fo rce co m m e n t a r y. “A s we ce l e b ra te t h e b a s e’s 7 5 t h a n n i ve r s a r y, l e t u s re m e m b e r t h a t Hi l l d e m o n s t ra te d exce l l e n ce a n d b rave r y i n eve r y a s p e c t o f h i s c a re e r a n d s a c r i f i ce d h i s l i f e i n t h e s e r v i ce o f h i s co u n t r y.”

In co m m e m o ra t i o n o f Hi l l A i r Fo rce B a s e’s 7 5 t h a n n i ve r s a r y, Hi l l Ae ro s p a ce Mu s e u m u nve i l e d a s p e c i a l ex h i b i t h o n o r i n g P l oye r Hi l l , ce l e b ra t i n g h i s l i f e a n d a cco m p l i s h m e n t s .

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L e g e n d a r y B - 17 “ S u z y- Q ” u n d e rg o i n g d e p o t m a i n t e n a n c e a t H i l l F i e l d . u.s. air force photo

D u r i n g W W I I , l i g h t s we re ke p t o n i n H i l l F i e l d b u i l d i n g s a s t h e s w i n g - s h i ft c o n t r i b u t e d to a r o u n d - t h e - c l o c k o p e ra t i o n s . u . s . a i r f o r c e p h o t o

2 4 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

B - 2 9 s t r a t e g i c b o m b e r a i r c r ews a l s o t r a i n e d a t We n d ove r F i e l d o n t h e r e m o t e U t a h N eva d a b o r d e r. u . s . a i r f o r c e p h o t o

WENDOVER FIELD AND THE S I LV E R P L AT E S F - 8 6 m a i n te n a n c e l i n e , H i l l A i r Fo rce B a s e . u.s. air force photo

P T- 1 3 S te a r m a n t ra i n e r a i rc ra ft i n s to ra g e o n H i l l A i r Fo r c e B a s e a fte r W W I I . u . s . a i r f o r c e p h o t o

We n d ove r F i e l d h a s a s to r i e d l e g a c y i n Un i te d St a te s h i s to r y, p a r t i c u l a r l y d u r i n g Wo r l d Wa r I I .

In 19 4 4 , t h e A r m y A i r Fo rce a c t i va te d t h e 5 0 9 t h co m p o s i te g ro u p a n d a s s i g n e d i t n u c l e a r we a p o n s t ra i n i n g a n d d u t y.

Co m m a n d e d by L i e u te n a n t Co l o n e l Pa u l T i b b i t s , t h e g ro u p t ra i n e d a t We n d ove r F i e l d , f l y i n g t h e re n ow n e d S i l ve r p l a te B - 2 9 f o r a m i s s i o n t h a t wo u l d g o d ow n i n h i s to r y.

A fte r m e t i c u l o u s l y t ra i n i n g , t h e g ro u p f l ew f ro m We n d ove r F i e l d to T i n i a n , o n e o f t h e Ma r i a n a Is l a n d s i n t h e Pa c i f i c O ce a n , a n d b e g a n d ro p p i n g p u m p k i n b o m b s o n Ja p a n e s e t a rg e t s . O n Au g . 6 , 19 4 5 , T i b b i t s f l ew t h e B - 2 9 E n o l a G a y, w h i c h wa s n a m e d f o r h i s m o t h e r, ove r Ja p a n a n d d ro p p e d t h e wo r l d ’s f i r s t a to m i c b o m b o n Hi ro s h i m a .

T h re e d a ys l a te r, Ma j o r C h a r l e s Swe e n ey p i l o te d t h e B - 2 9 B o c k s c a r a n d d ro p p e d t h e s e co n d a to m i c b o m b o n Na g a s a k i . Ja p a n s u r re n d e re d o n S e p t . 2 , 19 4 5 .

A fte r t h e wa r, We n d ove r F i e l d wa s u s e d f o r t ra i n i n g exe rc i s e s , g u n n e r y ra n g e a n d a s a re s e a rc h f a c i l i t y u n t i l i t c l o s e d i n 19 6 9.

In 19 98 , To o e l e Co u n t y a s s u m e d ow n e r s h i p of the airport and base buildings, and l a te r b e g a n o p e ra t i n g t h e To o e l e Co u n t y We n d ove r A i r p o r t , w h i c h i s t h e wo r l d ’s o n l y re m a i n i n g , f u l l y o p e ra t i o n a l a i r p o r t o f t h e Wo r l d Wa r I I e ra .

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S i n c e i t s i n c e p t i o n i n t h e 19 4 0 s , H i l l A i r Fo rce B a s e h a s , o n ave r a g e , e m p l oye d a s u b s t a n t i a l wo r k f o rc e t o s u p p o r t t h e wa r f i g h t e r. T h i s p i c t u re c l e a r l y d e p i c t s t h i s f a c t a s a s m a l l s e g m e n t o f b a s e p e r s o n n e l h e a d t o wo r k i n e a r l y 19 5 0 s . u . s . a i r f o r c e p h o t o

CONQUERING CHALLENGES T h ro u g h o u t i t s 7 5 - ye a r h i s t o r y, p a r t n e r s h i p s a m o n g c i v i c , b u s i n e s s a n d c o m m u n i t y l e a d e r s h a ve b e e n k e y t o Hi l l’s c o n t i n u e d g row t h a n d s u c c e s s . Bu t t h e re we re m a n y u p s a n d d ow n s a l o n g t h e w a y. De s p i t e t h e m a n y a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s t h e b a s e e x p e r i e n c e d , Hi l l h a s f a c e d a n d c o n q u e re d s e ve r a l c h a l l e n g e s .

St e ve R i c h , v i c e p re s i d e n t o f t h e Ut a h De f e n s e A l l i a n c e ( U D A ) , re m e m b e r s w h e n Hi l l w a s t h re a t e n e d w i t h l a n d e n c ro a c h m e n t i n t h e e a r l y 1 9 9 0 s . Pa r t n e r s h i p s , R i c h s a y s , we re e s s e n t i a l t o Hi l l ove rc o m i n g t h a t c h a l l e n g e . U D A , w h i c h i s c o m p r i s e d o f c o n c e r n e d c i t i ze n s a n d b u s i n e s s e s , w o rk e d w i t h t h e Ut a h L e g i s l a t u re w h o a p p ro p r i a t e d f u n d s t o p u rc h a s e t h e l a n d s u r ro u n d i n g t h e b a s e . “ T h e s t a t e p rov i d e d $ 1 5 m i l l i o n t o p ro t e c t t h e p ro p e r t i e s a ro u n d t h e b a s e , w h i c h w o u l d p ro t e c t Hi l l’s r u n w a y a n d f l y i n g m i s s i o n s f o r ye a r s ,” s a y s R i c h , w h o b e l i e ve s t h a t a c t i o n s f ro m p a s t l e a d e r s h e l p e d Hi l l s e c u re t h e F - 3 5 A . “ Be c a u s e we k e p t e n c ro a c h m e n t a t b a y a n d

2 6 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

h a d t re m e n d o u s s u p p o r t f ro m t h e c o m m u n i t y, Hi l l w a s t h e l o g i c a l c h o i c e f o r t h e F - 3 5 A .”

In 2 0 0 5 , Hi l l f a c e d a n o t h e r n o t a b l e c h a l l e n g e w h e n i t w a s t h re a t e n e d w i t h m i l i t a r y b a s e re a l i g n m e n t a n d c l o s u re ( B R AC ) a c t i v i t y, w h i c h w o u l d h a ve re s u l t e d i n t h e l o s s o f t h o u s a n d s o f j o b s . L o c a l g ove r n m e n t a n d b u s i n e s s l e a d e r s , including the UDA, again rallied to support the base.

No t o n l y d i d Hi l l e s c a p e B R AC c u t s , b u t t h e De p a r t m e n t o f De f e n s e e x p a n d e d Hi l l a n d m ove d m o re t h a n 4 , 0 0 0 e m p l oye e s t o t h e b a s e . “ It a l l c o m e s b a c k t o c o m m u n i t y s u p p o r t ,” s a y s R i c h . “ T h e A i r Fo rc e e m b r a c e s t h e Ut a h c o m m u n i t y b e c a u s e o u r c o m m u n i t y e m b r a c e s Hi l l .”

Hi l l A F B c o n t i n u e s t o f a c e c h a l l e n g e s t o d a y, s u c h a s t h e re c e n t s e q u e s t r a t i o n b u d g e t c u t s . Bu t l o c a l l e a d e r s a re c o n f i d e n t t h a t w i t h f o r w a rd - t h i n k i n g a n d s t r a t e g i c p l a n n i n g , Hi l l A F B w i l l c o n t i n u e t o b e a m a j o r p l a ye r i n t h e n a t i o n’s d e f e n s e a n d s e c u r i t y.

W W I I M e c h a n i c L e a r n e r Tra i n i n g C l a s s , O g d e n . u.s. air force photo

F - 1 6 s a s s i g n e d t o H i l l A F B , a s we l l a s m a n y o t h e r a i r c r a ft f r o m a r o u n d t h e wo r l d , f l y ove r t h e U T T R t o r e ce i ve a u n i q u e t r a i n i n g e x p e r i e n c e w h e r e l i ve m u n i t i o n s a r e t e s te d . u.s. air force photo

U TA H T E S T AND TRAINING RANGE S p a n n i n g t h o u s a n d s o f m i l e s a c ro s s U t a h’s We s t D e s e r t i s t h e U t a h Te s t a n d Tra i n i n g Ra n g e ( U T T R ) . T h i s h i s to r i c t ra i n i n g s i te wa s f o r m e d i n 19 4 0 to p re p a re m i l i t a r y p e r s o n n e l f o r b a tt l e d u r i n g Wo r l d Wa r I I .

H i l l A i r Fo rc e B a s e’ s F l i g h t O p e ra t i o n s B u i l d i n g wa s t h e ce n te r o f i n s t a l l a t i o n a c t i v i t y i n t h e 19 5 0 s . u.s. air force photo

F i r s t Ad va n c e d M i n u te m a n I I M i s s i l e p ro d u ce d o n H i l l A F B t h ro u g h a p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h B o e i n g i n 19 6 5 . u.s. air force photo

To d a y, U T T R re m a i n s a s a v i t a l t ra i n i n g s i te f o r p i l o t s a n d s e r v i ce m e n a n d wo m e n f ro m n o t j u s t t h e Un i te d St a te s , b u t f ro m a ro u n d t h e wo r l d . U T T R co n t a i n s t h e n a t i o n’s l a rg e s t b l o c k o f ove r l a n d co n t i g u o u s s p e c i a l u s e a i r s p a ce , cove r i n g 1 2 , 574 s q u a re n a u t i c a l m i l e s . T h e a i r s p a ce i s s i t u a te d ove r 2 , 6 2 4 s q u a re m i l e s o r 2 . 3 m i l l i o n a c re s o f D O D l a n d . T h e s i te p rov i d e s a va s t a re a o f re a l i s t i c te r ra i n f o r wo r l d - c l a s s te s t a n d t ra i n i n g s ce n a r i o s — i n c l u d i n g l i f e - l i ke c i t i e s — to e n s u re t h o s e t ra i n i n g a re ex p e r t l y p re p a re d . It i s u s e d i n a t ra i n i n g c a p a c i t y f o r a i r - to a i r co m b a t , a i r - to - g ro u n d co m b a t , l i ve p ra c t i ce b o m b i n g a n d g u n n e r y t ra i n i n g , a n d i s t h e n a t i o n’s o n l y l o c a t i o n c a p a b l e o f s u p p o r t i n g ove r l a n d te s t i n g o f c r u i s e missiles.

A s s i g n e d to t h e 3 8 8 t h F i g h te r W i n g a t Hi l l A i r Fo rce B a s e , U T T R h a s h e l p e d p i l o t s a n d s e r v i ce m e n a n d wo m e n f ro m a ro u n d t h e wo r l d co n q u e r t h e c h a l l e n g e s o f co m b a t .

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PROPELLING U TA H ’ S E C O N O M Y W h i l e Hi l l A F B p l a y s a c r u c i a l n a t i o n a l d e f e n s e ro l e , i t i s a l s o a d y n a m i c c o m p o n e n t o f Ut a h’s e c o n o m y. Hi l l A F B i s Ut a h’s l a r g e s t s i n g l e - s i t e e m p l oye r w i t h n e a r l y 2 5 , 0 0 0 m i l i t a r y a n d c i v i l i a n p e r s o n n e l , g e n e r a t i n g a p p rox i m a t e l y $ 1 . 2 3 b i l l i o n i n a n n u a l i n c o m e . Mo re ove r, Hi l l A F B c re a t e s n e a r l y 3 0 , 0 0 0 i n d i re c t j o b s a n d p u m p s m o re t h a n $ 3 . 3 b i l l i o n i n t o t h e s t a t e’s e c o n o m y e a c h ye a r.

Ji m Sm i t h , Da v i s C o u n t y c o m m i s s i o n e r, d e s c r i b e s Hi l l A F B a s a n e c o n o m i c e n g i n e , d r i v i n g g row t h t h ro u g h o u t t h e s u r ro u n d i n g c o m m u n i t i e s . “ Mo s t o f t h e 2 0 , 0 0 0 - p l u s e m p l oye e s o n t h e b a s e a re l o c a l re s i d e n t s a n d t h e i r s a l a r i e s r i p p l e t h ro u g h t h e e n t i re e c o n o m y,” h e s a y s . “ Ma n y c o m p a n i e s w h o h a ve i n d i re c t t i e s t o Hi l l a re l o c a t e d h e re a n d e m p l oy t h o u s a n d s m o re o f o u r c i t i ze n s . Be c a u s e o f t h e i m p a c t o f a l l t h o s e d i re c t a n d i n d i re c t s a l a r i e s , o u r c o m m u n i t i e s a re a b l e t o s u p p o r t m o re re t a i l s h o p s , e n t e r t a i n m e n t o p t i o n s , p u b l i c p a rk s a n d o t h e r i m p o r t a n t i n f r a s t r u c t u re t h a t we a l l e n j oy.”

Hi l l A F B i s a n e c o n o m i c d e ve l o p m e n t m a g n e t .

It s p re s e n c e h a s h e l p e d Ut a h — p a r t i c u l a r l y n o r t h e r n Ut a h — b e c o m e a l e a d i n g a e ro s p a c e a n d d e f e n s e i n d u s t r y h u b. C o m p a n i e s l i k e AT K , No r t h ro p Gr u m m a n , B o e i n g a n d L o c k h e e d Ma r t i n , a s we l l a s h u n d re d s o f s m a l l c o n t r a c t o r s a n d s u p p l i e r s , c a l l Ut a h h o m e . T h e Gove r n o r’s Of f i c e o f Ec o n o m i c De ve l o p m e n t ( G O E D ) d e s c r i b e s Ut a h’s a e ro s p a c e a n d d e f e n s e i n d u s t r y a s e s s e n t i a l t o t h e s t a t e’s e c o n o m y, e m p l oy i n g m o re t h a n 2 1 , 0 0 0 i n d i v i d u a l s w i t h i n c o m e s t h a t e xc e e d 1 5 7 p e rc e n t o f Ut a h w a g e s .

Ut a h’s a e ro s p a c e a n d d e f e n s e i n d u s t r y i s continuing to expand with the construction of Fa l c o n Hi l l , a c o m m e rc i a l d e ve l o p m e n t c re a t e d i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h Hi l l A F B . A a ro n C l a rk , Hi l l A F B h i s t o r i a n , d e s c r i b e s Fa l c o n Hi l l a s a w i n - w i n f o r Hi l l A F B a n d t h e c o m m u n i t y. “ We h a ve b u i l d i n g s o n b a s e t h a t a re ove r 7 0 ye a r s o l d a n d [ t h e A i r Fo rc e ] i s n’t a b l e t o re p l a c e t h e m ,” s a y s C l a rk . “ Fa l c o n Hi l l i s a w o n d e r f u l p a r t n e r s h i p w h e re Hi l l i s l e a s i n g 5 5 0 a c re s t o b e d e ve l o p e d . On c e c o m m e rc i a l e n t i t i e s g o i n t o t h e p ro p e r t y, we g e t p a y m e n t - i n - k i n d t h a t w i l l g o t ow a rd b u i l d i n g n e w f a c i l i t i e s . It’s a p re t t y p h e n o m e n a l p a r t n e r s h i p.”

Hi l l A F B h a s a l s o h e l p e d Ut a h’s c i t i ze n s a n d b u s i n e s s e s by i n ve s t i n g i n a n d d e ve l o p i n g a s k i l l e d w o rk f o rc e . T h ro u g h o u t i t s 7 5 - ye a r h i s t o r y, Hi l l h a s p a r t n e re d w i t h t h e s t a t e’s u n i ve r s i t i e s a n d c o l l e g e s t o c re a t e c u s t o m - t r a i n i n g p ro g r a m s t h a t m e e t i n d u s t r y

2 8 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

Base, civic, business and community leaders participating i n g r o u n d b r e a k i n g c e re m o n y f o r t h e f i r s t Fa l c o n H i l l facility on Hill AFB. u.s. air force photo / kim cook

A r r i va l o f t h e f i r s t F - 3 5 A t o r e c e i ve depot maintenance on Hill AFB. u.s. air force photo / alex r. lloyd

F-35A LANDS AT H I L L A F B In D e ce m b e r 2 0 1 3 , t h e Un i te d St a te s A i r Fo rce a n n o u n ce d t h a t Hi l l A F B wo u l d b e h o m e to t h e s e r v i ce’s f i r s t o p e ra t i o n a l F- 3 5 A L i g h t n i n g I Is .

S c h e d u l e d to a r r i ve i n S e p te m b e r 2 0 1 5 , t h e F- 3 5 A i s s l a te d to b e t h e A i r Fo rce’s m a i n s t r i ke a i rc ra ft t h ro u g h t h e f i r s t h a l f o f t h e 2 1 s t Ce n t u r y. T h e F- 3 5 A w i l l re p l a ce t h e A i r Fo rce’s a g i n g f l e e t o f F- 1 6 F i g h t i n g Fa l co n s a n d A- 1 0 T h u n d e r b o l t I Is , w h i c h h ave b e e n t h e p r i m a r y f i g h te r a i rc ra ft f o r m o re t h a n 2 0 ye a r s .

P i c t u re d a re j u s t s eve ra l o f t h e m a n y we a p o n s ys t e m s t h e O O -A LC m a i n t a i n s f o r t h e U. S . A r m e d Fo rc e s at Hill AFB. u.s. air force photo

Ma n u f a c t u re d by L o c k h e e d Ma r t i n , t h e revo l u t i o n a r y F- 3 5 A wa s d e s i g n e d to o p e ra te i n a n a d va n ce d - t h re a t e nv i ro n m e n t . W i t h i t s a e ro d y n a m i c p e r f o r m a n ce a n d a d va n ce d i n te g ra te d av i o n i c s , t h e F- 3 5 A w i l l p rov i d e n ex t- g e n e ra t i o n s te a l t h , e n h a n ce d s i t u a t i o n a l awa re n e s s , a n d re d u ce d v u l n e ra b i l i t y f o r t h e Un i te d St a te s a n d allied nations.

Hi l l A i r Fo rce B a s e h a s u n d e rg o n e re n ova t i o n s a n d m o d i f i c a t i o n s to p re p a re f o r t h e F- 3 5 A , a n d w i l l s e r ve a s t h e a i rc ra ft ’s p r i m a r y m a i n te n a n ce b a s e . Hi l l ’s 3 8 8 t h a n d 4 19 t h F i g h te r W i n g s w i l l b e t h e f i r s t A i r Fo rce u n i t s to f l y t h e c u tt i n g - e d g e j e t .

C o l o n e l Ro n J o l l y, S r. , 7 5 t h A i r B a s e W i n g C o m m a n d e r, a n d U t a h G ov. G a r y R . H e r b e r t a t H i l l A F B . u.s. air force photo / alex r. lloyd

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F- 1 6 F i g h t i n g Fa l co n s f ro m b o t h t h e 3 5 t h a n d 8 0 t h F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n s o f t h e 8 t h F i g h te r W i n g , a s we l l a s f ro m t h e 4 6 t h F i g h t e r S q u a d r o n o f t h e 4 19 t h F i g h te r W i n g a t H i l l A F B , U t a h , d e m o n s t r a t e a n e l e p h a n t wa l k a t Ku n s a n A i r B a s e , Re p u b l i c o f Ko re a . u . s . a i r f o r c e p h o t o / s ta f f s g t . r a s h e e n d o u g l a s

3 0 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

n e e d s , c re a t i n g a s k i l l e d a n d re a d y w o rk f o rc e n e c e s s a r y f o r a e ro s p a c e o r g a n i z a t i o n s t o o p e r a t e .

SOARING AHEAD

“ W h e n Hi l l s t a r t e d a n d W W I I b e g a n , t h e b a s e d i d n’t h a ve t h e w o rk f o rc e n e e d e d t o s t a r t t h i s h u g e m a c h i n e t h a t w o u l d b e c o m e Hi l l ,” s a y s C l a rk . “ Du r i n g t h a t t i m e , the leadership of the base started partnering with local u n i ve r s i t i e s t o t r a i n p e o p l e .”

A s Hi l l re a c h e s i t s 7 5 t h a n n i ve r s a r y, i t i s c l e a r t h a t Ut a h h a s m u c h t o c e l e b r a t e . Fro m Hi l l’s e a r l i e s t d a y s a s a n a i r d e p o t t o i t s g row t h i n t o a d e f e n s e a n d m a i n t e n a n c e f a c i l i t y e n t r u s t e d w i t h i m m e n s e re s p o n s i b i l i t y, Hi l l h a s d e ve l o p e d i n t o a c o r n e r s t o n e o f o u r c o m m u n i t y. Bu t i t s i m p a c t e x t e n d s f a r b e yo n d t h e Be e h i ve St a t e .

O ve r t h e ye a r s , t h e p a r t n e r s h i p s b e t we e n Hi l l A F B a n d t h e s t a t e’s h i g h e r e d u c a t i o n o r g a n i z a t i o n s h a ve o n l y g row n s t ro n g e r. “ Be t we e n We b e r St a t e Un i ve r s i t y’s e n g i n e e r i n g p ro g r a m s a n d t h e Da v i s Ap p l i e d Te c h n o l g y C o l l e g e’s c o m p o s i t e t r a i n i n g p ro g r a m s , we a re a b l e t o s u p p o r t t h e a i rc r a f t - re l a t e d i n d u s t r i e s t h a t w a n t t o re l o c a t e c l o s e r t o Hi l l ,” s a y s Sm i t h . “A l l o f t h i s a d d s va l u e t o t h e e d u c a t i o n s y s t e m f o r a l l o f o u r c i t i ze n s .”

“ T h e 2 0 , 0 0 0 - p l u s p e o p l e w h o w a l k t h ro u g h t h e g a t e s e ve r y d a y d o n’t j u s t s u p p o r t Ut a h’s e c o n o m y a n d c o m m u n i t y, t h e y s u p p o r t o u r n a t i o n’s d e f e n s e ,” s a y s C l a rk . “ W h e t h e r t h e y’re f l y i n g a i rc r a f t o r i n a m a i n t e n a n c e g ro u p, t h e y h e l p p ro t e c t o u r s o l d i e r s , o u r a i r m a n a n d o u r d e m o c r a c y.”

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H i l l A e ro s p a ce M u s e u m , H i l l A i r Fo rce B a s e . a e r o s pa c e h e r i ta g e f o u n d at i o n o f u ta h / r o b b a l e x a n d e r

TA K E A F L I G H T THROUGH HISTORY

H

i l l A i r Fo r c e Ba s e h a s a r i c h h i s t o r y f i l l e d w i t h events and people who greatly enhanced the w o r l d w e l i v e i n . T h e Hi l l A e r o s p a c e Mu s e u m b r i n g s t h o s e e v e n t s a n d p e o p l e t o l i f e , a l l ow i n g v i s i t o r s t o re l i v e t h e m a n y m i l i t a r y e n d e a v o r s o f t h e 2 0 t h c e n t u r y.

T h e m u s e u m o p e n e d i n 1 9 8 7 a s p a r t o f t h e Un i t e d St a t e s A i r Fo r c e He r i t a g e Pr o g r a m . Si n c e t h a t t i m e , i t h a s g r ow n t o e x h i b i t n e a r l y 1 0 0 m i l i t a r y a i r c r a f t , missiles and aerospace vehicles, all of which require c o n s t a n t m a i n t e n a n c e a n d c o n s e r v a t i o n . T h e m u s e u m’s c o l l e c t i o n a l s o i n c l u d e s a w i d e v a r i e t y o f o rd n a n c e a n d munitions, military vehicles, uniforms and thousands of historical artifacts.

T h e m u s e u m’s e x h i b i t s e x t e n d b a c k t o t h e b e g i n n i n g o f f l i g h t , s h ow c a s i n g a Wr i g h t 1 9 0 3 Fl y e r, Bu r g r e s s -

3 2 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

Wr i g h t Fl y e r F Mo d e l a n d Cu r t i s s J N - 4 D Je n n y, a s well as the first military mascots and early aviation w o r k s h o p s . T h e Wo r l d Wa r I I e x h i b i t s h ow c a s e s m o re than 30 aircraft and historical artifacts, including the B - 1 7 G Fl y i n g Fo r t r e s s , C - 5 4 G Sk y m a s t e r a n d P - 5 1 D Mu s t a n g . V i s i t o r s a r e t a k e n t h r o u g h t h e e v e n t s o f t h e C o l d Wa r, a s w e l l a s t h e d a w n o f t h e j e t a g e .

A n d i n c e l e b r a t i o n o f Hi l l’s 7 5 t h a n n i v e r s a r y, t h e m u s e u m r e c e n t l y u n v e i l e d t h e P l oy e r “ Pe t e” Hi l l e x h i b i t i n h o n o r o f t h e b a s e’s n a m e s a k e . A v i s i t t o t h e Hi l l A e r o s p a c e Mu s e u m i s a n e d u c a t i o n a l a n d m e m o r a b l e e x p e r i e n c e f o r a l l , h i g h l i g h t i n g t h e b e s t o f t h e w o r l d’s a v i a t i o n h i s t o r y.

Hi l l A e r o s p a c e Mu s e u m i s l o c a t e d o n t h e n o r t h w e s t c o r n e r o f Hi l l A i r Fo r c e Ba s e , a b o u t f i v e m i l e s s o u t h o f O g d e n . T h e m u s e u m i s o p e n f r o m 9 a . m . t o 4 : 3 0 p. m . ,

HILL FIELD CHAPEL AND M E M O R I A L PA R K In 1942, the original Hill Field Chapel was built in honor of the many men and women in the U.S. military who served our country in war and in peacetime. For many years, it served as a place for solitude, as well as an educational site.

In the 1980s, the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah funded the chapel’s renovation, which restored the Mazer Memorial Chapel. a e r o s pa c e h e r i ta g e structure back to f o u n d at i o n o f u ta h its World War II appearance. In 1989, the chapel was rededicated and moved to the Hill Aerospace Museum’s Memorial Park.

The chapel has since become a prominent f igure at the museum, housing several historical artifacts, including the 384th Bomb Group memorial stained glass window.

This window is an exact replicate of a memorial stained glass window donated by the 384th Bomb Group to the Paris Church of St. James the Apostle in the village of Grafton Underwood, near Kettering, England. The chapel is also home to a bronze bell that is an exact replicate of the bell hanging in the Parish Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Kettering, England.

Both bells were donated by the 384th Bomb Group.

N o s e o f t h e re s to re d P - 5 1 “Au d re y ” a t t h e H i l l A e ro s p a c e M u s e u m . a e r o s pa c e h e r i ta g e f o u n d at i o n o f u ta h / r o b b a l e x a n d e r

Tu e s d a y t h r o u g h Sa t u rd a y. A g a t e p a s s o n t o Hi l l A F B i s n o t re q u i re d t o v i s i t t h e m u s e u m . Si m p l y t a k e e x i t 3 3 8 o f f In t e r s t a t e 1 5 i n Roy, a n d e n t e r t h e m u s e u m g r o u n d s t h r o u g h t h e g a t e . Ad m i s s i o n i s f r e e , b u t m o n e t a r y d o n a t i o n s a re g r a t e f u l l y a c c e p t e d .

The Memorial Park that surrounds the chapel is also home to several historical monuments, including the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Managed by the Aerospace Heritage Foundation of Utah, the Hill Field Chapel is open for viewing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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F i re f i g h t i n g a i rc ra ft s u p p o r t f i re f i g h te r s o n t h e g r o u n d b y p e r f o r m i n g wa te r d ro p s ove r a w i l d l a n d f i r e a t C a m p W i l l i a m s , 2 0 1 2 . A i rc ra ft ca n a cce s s s te e p , r o c k y o r u n s a f e a re a s b e f o re g ro u n d f o rce s a re a b l e to g a i n e n t r y . u . s . a i r f o r c e p h o t o / s ta f f s g t . s ta c i m i l l e r

3 4 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

HOMEGROWN HEROES T H E U TA H N AT I O N A L G U A R D S E RV E S AT H O M E A N D A B R O A D b y [ Re t . ] Lt . C o l . H a n k M c I n t i re a n d Ca p t . Ry a n S u t h e r l a n d

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he Utah National Guard is rife with histor y and tradition, and has answered the call to ser ve their state and nation since its inception. The Utah Guard is recognized as one of the finest national guard organizations in the nation, and the reason for such a quality force can be found in the make-up of Utah’s citizens, as the values and dedication to ser vice found within its own ranks is a reflection of those found within our own community.

The Utah National Guard’s roots go back to the Nauvoo Legion organized in Illinois in 1841. After Mormon settlers came west in 1847, they formed a militia of veterans from the Legion and Mormon Battalion members who ser ved during the Mexican War. This hardy group of Citizen Soldiers retained the Nauvoo Legion name, and for the next 40 years they ensured peace and protection for Utah Territor y residents.

The Utah Guard was formally organized in 1894, just two years before Utah became the 45th state in the union. The Utah Air National Guard was created in 1946, shor tly after the close of World War II. Soldiers and Airmen from the Utah National Guard have par ticipated in ever y armed conflict involving the United States from the Spanish-American War in 1898 to the most recent conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. Units of the Utah Guard have been activated for federal ser vice in ever y one of these conflicts except the Vietnam War. In that conflict, individual Utah Soldiers and Airmen did ser ve, but no units were mobilized.

Currently, the Utah National Guard has 5,600 Soldiers and 1,400 Airmen ser ving and ready for duty.

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management photo

U t a h N a t i o n a l G u a r d m e m b e r s p u t o u t a s i m u l a te d f i r e d u r i n g V i g i l a n t G u a rd , 2 0 1 4 . T h e f i r e wa s a p r o d u c t o f a s i m u l a te d e a r t h q u a ke t h a t s t r u c k a l o n g t h e Wa s a t c h Fr o n t . u . s . a r m y n at i o n a l g u a r d p h o t o / sgt. christopher lennox

A m r y c o m b a t e n g i e e r s m ove d e b r i s d u r i n g a s i m u l a te d c a s u a l t y re s c u e d u r i n g a n n u a l t r a i n i n g i n M a g n a , 2 0 1 2 . E n g i n e e r s a re u s i n g m e c h a n i c a l a d va n t a g e w i t h p u l l e ys , l eve r s a n d ra m p s to m ove a 2 ,70 0 - p o u n d p i e ce o f d e b r i s . u . s . a i r p o r c e p h o t o / s ta f f s g t . r e n a e s ay l o c k

Members of the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, N u c l e a r (C B R N ) , E n h a n ce d Re s p o n s e Fo r c e Pa c ka g e ( C E R F P ) a n d H o m e l a n d Re s p o n s e Fo r c e ( H R F ) e x t r a c t e d a n d t r e a te d m o c k c a s u l a t i e s f r o m a s i m u l a t e d r u b b l e p i l e , 2 0 1 4 . u . s . a i r n at i o n a l g u a r d p h o t o / a n n i e e d wa r d s , u ta h a i r n at i o n a l g u a r d

G ov. G a r y R . H e r b e r t a c t i va te d t h e U t a h N a t i o n a l G u a rd to a s s i s t D av i s Co u n t y e m e rg e n c y re s p o n s e w i t h d e b r i s c l e a n - u p f ro m h i g h w i n d s to r m , 2 0 1 1 .

N e a r l y 2 0 0 p e r s o n n e l s u p p o r te d c l e a n - u p e ff o r t s . u . s . a r m y n at i o n a l g u a r d p h o t o / c a p t . r ya n s u t h e r l a n d

U t a h N a t i o n a l G u a r d s o l d i e r s j o i n Re d C r o s s to u n l o a d s i m u l a t e d s u p p l i e s f r o m a B l a c k h aw k h e l i c o p te r, 2 0 1 4 . T h e e xe r c i s e t r a i n s m u l t i a g e n c i e s to assist with emergency operations. u.s. army reserve photo / sgt. michael harvie

A U t a h N a t i o n a l G u a rd U H 6 0 B l a c k h aw k h e l i c o p te r t r a n s p o r t s o n e - to n s a n d b a g s to t h e s ce n e o f t h e l eve e i n s u p p o r t o f f l o o d re s p o n s e e ff o r t s i n We b e r C o u n t y, 2 0 1 1 . u ta h d i v i s i o n o f e m e r g e n c y

3 6 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

A B l a c k h aw k h e l i co p te r f ro m t h e U t a h N a t i o n a l G u a r d h ove r s ove r a n A l p i n e C i t y i r r i g a t i o n wa te r p o n d t o r e f i l l i t s wa te r b u c ke t w h i l e f i g h t i n g a f i re a b ove A l p i n e , 2 0 1 2 . u . s . a r m y n at i o n a l g u a r d p h o t o / s g t 1 s t c l a s s b r o c k j o n e s

D O M E S T I C O P E R AT I O N S A s we e xe rc i s e o u r d u a l m i s s i o n , o u r g re a t e s t s u c c e s s i n s u p p o r t i n g t h e c i t i ze n s o f Ut a h i n t h e e ve n t o f a n a t u r a l or man-made disaster can be found in the countless hours w o rk i n g w i t h s t a t e a n d l o c a l o f f i c i a l s , f i r s t re s p o n d e r s a n d t h e i n n u m e r a b l e vo l u n t e e r s f o u n d w i t h i n o u r c o m m u n i t i e s .

Du r i n g t h e s e t y p e s o f e m e r g e n c i e s , t h e Ut a h Gu a rd p l a y s a s u p p o r t i n g ro l e t o s t a t e a n d l o c a l e m e r g e n c y m a n a g e m e n t p ro f e s s i o n a l s , a n d t h e i r l e a d e r s h i p ove r t h e ye a r s h a s p l a ye d a c r u c i a l ro l e i n d i re c t i n g t h e r i g h t Gu a rd re s o u rc e s to the right location at the right time.

Ut a h f i e l d s t h e F E M A Re g i o n V I I I Ho m e l a n d Re s p o n s e Fo rc e ( H R F ) , a u n i t c o n s i s t i n g o f n e a r l y 6 0 0 So l d i e r s a n d Airmen with the mission to deal with chemical, biological, r a d i o l o g i c a l a n d n u c l e a r e ve n t s ; t h e 8 5 t h C i v i l Su p p o r t Te a m ( C S T ) c o n s i s t i n g o f 2 2 f u l l - t i m e Ut a h Na t i o n a l Gu a rd s m e n w h o s e m i s s i o n i s t o s u p p o r t c i v i l a u t h o r i t i e s

i n c a s e o f a C B R N i n c i d e n t ; a s we l l a s e n g i n e e r, a v i a t i o n and other logistical assets.

In t h e l a s t 1 2 ye a r s , h e re a re s o m e h i g h l i g h t s o f Ut a h Na t i o n a l Gu a rd Do m e s t i c Op e r a t i o n s ( D O M O P S ) : • Ac t i va t i o n s i n re s p o n s e t o n a t u r a l d i s a s t e r s a n d c i v i l e m e r g e n c i e s i n vo l v i n g f l o o d s , f i re s , s n ow a n d windstorms • Hu r r i c a n e s K a t r i n a a n d R i t a i n 2 0 0 5 , w h e n t h e Ut a h Gu a rd s e n t u n i t s t o t h e Gu l f C o a s t a n d h o u s e d e va c u e e s a t C a m p Wi l l i a m s • Se a rc h a n d Re s c u e e f f o r t s • St a t e Em e r g e n c y Ma n a g e m e n t A s s i s t a n c e C o m p a c t ( E M AC ) re q u e s t s

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POST 9/11 Fo l l ow i n g 9 / 1 1 , m ov i n g f ro m a p e a c e t i m e t o w a r - t i m e f o rc e w a s a m o m e n t o u s t r a n s i t i o n f o r t h e Ut a h Gu a rd .

Fa c e d w i t h a n u n p re c e d e n t e d l e ve l o f d e p l oy m e n t s , Ut a h w a s t h e e a r l i e s t s t a t e t o h a ve t h e l e ve l o f a l e r t e d a n d m o b i l i ze d So l d i e r s a n d A i r m e n , p e a k i n g a t a n 8 0 - p e rc e n t d e p l oy m e n t r a t e i n 2 0 0 3 , t h e h i g h e s t l e ve l i n t h e n a t i o n . Mo re t h a n 1 4 , 0 0 0 A i r m e n a n d So l d i e r s h a ve d e p l oye d ove r s e a s s i n c e 9 / 1 1 . A l a r g e n u m b e r o f Ut a h Gu a rd m e m b e r s h a ve d e p l oye d a t l e a s t t w i c e , a n d m a n y h a ve d e p l oye d u p t o f i ve t i m e s .

T h e q u a l i t y o f A i r m e n a n d So l d i e r s w h o h a ve j o i n e d t h e r a n k s , k n ow i n g t h e y w i l l b e d e p l oye d a n d t h a t t h e y a re g o i n g t o g o i n t o h a r m’s w a y, i s a t e s t a m e n t t o t h e q u a l i t y o f c i t i ze n r y f o u n d i n t h i s g re a t s t a t e . A s C i t i ze n So l d i e r s , we h a ve m u c h left to do, both in uniform and out ...

In t h e l a s t 1 2 ye a r s , h e re a re s o m e h i g h l i g h t s o f Ut a h Na t i o n a l Gu a rd s e r v i c e : • Su p p o r t t o Op e r a t i o n En d u r i n g Fre e d o m f ro m 2 0 0 3 t o p re s e n t U t a h N a t i o n a l G u a rd e n g i n e e r s , re p re s e n t i n g s eve r a l u n i t s wo r k w i t h t h e f e n c e - b u i l d i n g c rew o n t h e U. S . / M e x i co b o r d e r, 2 0 0 6 . u . s . a r m y n at i o n a l g u a r d / [ r e t . ] lt . c o l . h a n k m c i n t i r e

• Su p p o r t t o Op e r a t i o n s Ir a q i Fre e d o m a n d Ne w Da w n f ro m 2 0 0 3 t o 2 0 1 1 • Su p p o r t t o t h e 2 0 0 2 Sa l t L a k e Ol y m p i c Wi n t e r Ga m e s , f u l f i l l i n g s e c u r i t y, logistics, medical and aviation functions • De p l oy m e n t s t o t h e U . S . / Me x i c o b o rd e r i n 2 0 0 6 - 0 7 i n s u p p o r t o f Cu s t o m s a n d B o rd e r Pro t e c t i o n o p e r a t i o n s • St a t e Pa r t n e r s h i p Pro g r a m a f f i l i a t i o n w i t h Mo ro c c o s i n c e 2 0 0 3 • Bu i l d i n g a c o m p re h e n s i ve Fa m i l y Su p p o r t p ro g r a m t o m e e t t h e n e e d s o f Ut a h Gu a rd s p o u s e s , c h i l d re n a n d families

U t a h N a t i o n a l G u a rd s o l d i e r s s t a g e a t a t ra ff i c c o n t r o l p o i n t i n A f g a n i s t a n , 2 0 1 4 . T h e u n i t wa s cove r i n g a h u m a n i t a r i a n a i d m i s s i o n . u . s . a r m y n at i o n a l g u a r d / s ta f f 1 s t lt . j e f f r e y l e e

3 8 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

We w i l l n e ve r f o r g e t t h e s e r v i c e a n d sacrifice of our fallen service members.

We h a ve l o s t e i g h t Ut a h Na t i o n a l Gu a rd m e m b e r s s i n c e 9 / 1 1 i n t h e l i n e o f d u t y. Ou r f a l l e n So l d i e r s , w h o h a ve s t o o d s h o u l d e r t o - s h o u l d e r w i t h u s i n t h e s e m a n y ye a r s o f w a r, w i l l a l w a y s b e i n o u r h e a r t s .

A N ATO E- 3 A AWAC S a i r c r a ft approaches a Utah Air National G u a r d KC - 1 3 5 R S t r a t o t a n ke r f o r air refueling during a training f l i g h t ove r G e r m a n y, 2 0 1 5 . u . s . a i r n at i o n a l g u a r d p h o t o / s ta f f s g t a n n i e e d wa r d s

A p p rox i m a te l y 1 2 0 s o l d i e r s o f t h e U t a h G u a r d ’ s E n g i n e e r S a p p e r C o m p a n y d e p a r t e d U t a h , 2 0 1 0 , f o r a 1 2 - m o n t h d e p l oy m e n t to A f g h a n i s t a n . u ta h n at i o n a l g u a r d p h o t o / c a p t . r ya n s u t h e r l a n d

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4 0 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

B R I G . G E N . VA L P E T E R S O N U TA H S TAT E H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N TAT I V E S , D I S T. 5 9

by C a p t . R ya n S u t h e r l a n d

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s a yo u n g m a n g row i n g u p i n a s m a l l c o m m u n i t y i n Id a h o , Va l Pe t e r s o n k n e w t h a t a l i f e o f p u b l i c s e r v i c e w a s h i s c a l l i n g . Se r v i c e w a s a f a m i l y p r a c t i c e . Pe t e r s o n’s f a t h e r w a s i n vo l ve d i n c o n g re s s i o n a l c a m p a i g n s , a n d h i s m o t h e r w a s a p re c i n c t e l e c t i o n s p e r s o n .

T h e i r i n vo l ve m e n t i n t h e c o m m u n i t y c e n t e re d o n c h u rc h and public service.

Pe t e r s o n’s ow n a s p i r a t i o n s we re e v i d e n c e d e a r l y, a s h e s o u g h t o u t vo l u n t e e r a n d l e a d e r s h i p - b a s e d o p p o r t u n i t i e s , m o s t n o t a b l y s e r v i n g a s a p a g e i n t h e Id a h o l e g i s l a t u re while in high school. “ I h e l p e d c a m p a i g n f o r a s t a t e re p re s e n t a t i ve i n Id a h o , a n d t h a t’s h ow I re c e i ve d t h a t a p p o i n t m e n t ,” s a i d Pe t e r s o n . “ I e n j oye d t h a t e x p e r i e n c e , a n d I a l w a y s k n e w t h a t a t s o m e p o i n t i n m y l i f e , I w a n t e d t o b e a b l e t o s e r ve i n t h e l e g i s l a t u re , t o h e l p m a k e p u b l i c p o l i c y, a n d t o m a k e o u r c o m m u n i t i e s a b e t t e r p l a c e t o l i ve .”

Pe t e r s o n w o u l d l a t e r g o o n t o s e r ve a L D S m i s s i o n i n C o l o m b i a , w h i c h h e c re d i t s f o r t e a c h i n g h i m l i f e l o n g lessons of discipline, being mentally tough, and of putting s e r v i c e b e f o re yo u r s e l f. Hi s t i m e o n h i s m i s s i o n a l s o , p e r h a p s u n e x p e c t e d l y, l e d h i m t ow a rd s h i s p a t h o f s e r v i c e w i t h t h e Ut a h Na t i o n a l Gu a rd . “ It w a s a l w a y s i m p re s s e d u p o n m e w h i l e I s e r ve d i n C o l o m b i a t h a t a l l o f t h e s e p e o p l e h a d t o s e r ve i n t h e i r m i l i t a r y, e ve n t h o u g h t h e y h a d s o m u c h l e s s t h a n we d i d i n t h e Un i t e d St a t e s t o d e f e n d ,” h e s a i d . “ T h a t m a d e a b i g i m p re s s i o n u p o n m e .”

Up o n re t u r n h o m e f ro m h i s m i s s i o n , Pe t e r s o n e n l i s t e d w i t h a l i n g u i s t b a t t a l i o n w i t h t h e Ut a h Na t i o n a l Gu a rd , s h i p p i n g o u t t o Ba s i c Tr a i n i n g a m e re t h re e m o n t h s l a t e r. “ I f o u n d Ba s i c Tr a i n i n g , i n c o m p a r i s o n t o m y m i s s i o n e x p e r i e n c e , re l a t i ve l y e a s y,” s a i d Pe t e r s o n . “ I h a d a l re a d y l e a r n e d a l o t a b o u t d i s c i p l i n e , a b o u t g e t t i n g u p, b e i n g m e n t a l l y t o u g h , a n d s o t h e Ba s i c Tr a i n i n g e x p e r i e n c e w a s re a l l y f o r m e a b o u t l e a r n i n g t h o s e b a s i c m i l i t a r y s k i l l s t h a t yo u n e e d e d , a n d b e i n g a b l e t o d o t h o s e s k i l l s w i t h yo u r e ye s c l o s e d .”

A f t e r c o m p l e t i n g Ba s i c Tr a i n i n g a n d Ad va n c e d In d i v i d u a l Tr a i n i n g ( A I T ) , Pe t e r s o n p u r s u e d a b a c h e l o r’s d e g re e a t Br i g h a m Yo u n g Un i ve r s i t y. Up o n c o m p l e t i o n o f h i s d e g re e , h e w a s h i re d by Ut a h Te c h n i c a l C o l l e g e ( n ow k n ow n a s Ut a h Va l l e y Un i ve r s i t y ) w h e re h e c o n t i n u e s t o w o rk t o t h i s d a y, s e r v i n g a s t h e Vi c e Pre s i d e n t o f Fi n a n c e a n d Ad m i n i s t r a t i o n .

u ta h n at i o n a l g u a r d p h o t o / m a j . s c o t t c h a l m e r s

At 5 2 ye a r s o l d , Pe t e r s o n h a s m o re t h a n re a c h e d t h e c a l l i n g o f h i s yo u t h . He i s a b r i g a d i e r g e n e r a l , s e r v i n g a s t h e L a n d C o m p o n e n t C o m m a n d e r f o r t h e Ut a h Gu a rd , a n d h e i s a re p re s e n t a t i ve a t t h e St a t e Ho u s e o f Re p re s e n t a t i ve s , w h e re h e s e r ve s t h e p e o p l e o f Di s t r i c t 5 9 . A n d w h i l e h e i s l i v i n g h i s l i f e - l o n g d re a m o f s e r v i n g h i s c o u n t r y a n d l o c a l c o m m u n i t y, h e s t re s s e s t h a t n o n e o f t h i s w o u l d b e possible without the support of his wife, his family and h i s e m p l oye r s . “ On e o f t h e t h i n g s t h a t h a s m a d e i t a l l p o s s i b l e i s t h e f a c t t h a t I h a ve h a d ve r y s u p p o r t i ve e m p l oye r s , a n d m o s t i m p o r t a n t l y, a s u p p o r t i ve w i f e a n d f a m i l y,” s a i d Pe t e r s o n . “ Fi r s t a n d f o re m o s t , I c o u l d n o t d o t h i s w i t h o u t t h e s u p p o r t o f m y w i f e . Sh e h a s b e e n t h e b e d ro c k f o r o u r f a m i l y. At t h e Un i ve r s i t y, Pre s i d e n t Ma t t Ho l l a n d h a s b e e n ve r y g o o d a b o u t w o rk i n g w i t h m y s c h e d u l e . Ma j . Ge n .

Bu r t o n h a s b e e n ve r y s u p p o r t i ve o f m y e f f o r t s , a n d c l e a r l y, when it comes time to go to the state house, those 45 d a y s e a c h ye a r, re a l l y a re d e d i c a t e d t o d o i n g t h e p e o p l e’s b u s i n e s s a n d re p re s e n t i n g t h e p e o p l e o f Di s t r i c t 5 9 .” “ C l e a r l y, t h e re a s o n yo u w a n t t o b e i n vo l ve d i n c o m m u n i t y s e r v i c e a n d p u b l i c s e r v i c e i s t o g i ve b a c k t o yo u r c o m m u n i t y,” h e a d d e d . “ I t h i n k m y e x p e r i e n c e s t h ro u g h o u t m y l i f e , t h e e x a m p l e s o f m y p a re n t s , m y g r a n d f a t h e r, a l l c o n t r i b u t e d t o t h e f a c t t h a t we a l l h a ve a re s p o n s i b i l i t y t o m a k e o u r c o u n t r y a b e t t e r p l a c e . We c a n d o t h a t t h ro u g h p u b l i c s e r v i c e , t h ro u g h m a k i n g o u r c o m m u n i t y b e t t e r. I re a l l y h a ve a l w a y s f e l t o n e o f t h e re a s o n s I j o i n e d t h e Na t i o n a l Gu a rd i s t h e d u a l - m i s s i o n i t h a s . It i s a re s p o n s i b i l i t y t o yo u r s t a t e , t o yo u r c o m m u n i t y, a n d a l s o t o t h e n a t i o n a l d e f e n s e .”

at l e f t : M e m b e r s o f t h e U t a h N a t i o n a l G u a rd s t a n d i n f o r m a t i o n d u r i n g t h e a n n u a l G ove r n o r ’ s D a y a t t h e U n i ve r s i t y o f U t a h’ s R i ce Ecc l e s S t a d i u m , 2 0 0 9. u ta h a i r n at i o n a l g u a r d p h o t o / t e c h s g t . m i c h a e l d . e va n s

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u . s . a r m y n at i o n a l g u a r d p h o t o / c a p t . s c o t t s l a u g h

C A P T. B R E N T TAY L O R M AYO R O F N O R T H O G D E N C I T Y

by C a p t . R ya n S u t h e r l a n d

C

a p t . Bre n t Ta y l o r, l i k e m a n y A m e r i c a n s , w a s c o m p e l l e d t o m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e a f t e r t h e e ve n t s o f Se p t . 1 1 , 2 0 0 1 . Fo r Ta y l o r, t h a t t r a g i c m o m e n t in American history was the beginning of a trajectory of p e r s o n a l c h a n g e t h a t w o u l d a l t e r h i s l i f e’s p a t h .

And like many of those post 9/11 enlistees, he has s e e n h i s s h a re o f d e p l oy m e n t s : T h re e t o b e e x a c t . T h a t i s a h e a v y s a c r i f i c e f o r a n y So l d i e r o r t h e i r f a m i l y t o h a ve t o b e a r. Fo r t h e Ta y l o r f a m i l y, t h a t s a c r i f i c e r u n s d e e p.

Ta y l o r i s o n e o f s i x b ro t h e r s , a l l o f w h o m e n l i s t e d i n t h e Un i t e d St a t e s m i l i t a r y p o s t 9 / 1 1 . “ I c u r re n t l y h a ve f i ve b ro t h e r s a n d a s i s t e r - i n - l a w i n t h e A r m y,” s a i d Ta y l o r. “ My m o t h e r w a s ve r y p a t r i o t i c a n d t a u g h t u s t o l ove o u r c o u n t r y a n d t o b e p re p a re d t o s e r ve . I l e a r n e d a s a yo u n g b oy t h a t s e r v i c e t o c o u n t r y a n d c o m m u n i t y i s a c r i t i c a l p a r t o f o u r l i ve s a n d h a ve t r i e d t o i m p l e m e n t t h a t i n m y l i f e .”

T h e A r m y h a s a s k e d m u c h f ro m t h e Ta y l o r f a m i l y.

Pe r h a p s n o o n e k n ow s t h a t b e t t e r t h a n Ta y l o r’s w i f e , Je n n i e , w h o g o t a s m a l l t a s t e o f t h i n g s t o c o m e w h e n Bre n t e n l i s t e d i n t h e Gu a rd a d a y a f t e r h i s p ro p o s a l t o h e r. “ Mi l i t a r y l i f e h a s d e f i n e d o u r e n t i re m a r r i a g e ,” s a i d Ta y l o r. “ My w i f e h a s b e e n o u r f a m i l y’s ro c k d u r i n g d e p l oy m e n t s a n d o t h e r p e r i o d s o f s e r v i c e . Sh e h a s s p e n t m o re t h a n f o u r ye a r s o f o u r m a r r i e d l i f e r a i s i n g o u r c h i l d re n s i n g l e h a n d e d l y w h i l e I h a ve b e e n a w a y f ro m

4 2 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

h o m e . T h e A r m y a s k s a l o t f ro m t h e e n t i re f a m i l y : So l d i e r, s p o u s e , a n d c h i l d re n .”

Ta y l o r’s s e r v i c e t o h i s c o m m u n i t y e x t e n d s b e yo n d h i s m i l i t a r y c a re e r a s h e c u r re n t l y s e r ve s a s t h e m a yo r o f No r t h Og d e n C i t y, m a n a g i n g a s t a f f o f a b o u t 1 5 0 f u l l a n d p a r t - t i m e e m p l oye e s . He a l s o s e r ve s o n t h e We b e r Mo r g a n C o u n t y B o a rd o f He a l t h , t h e C e n t r a l We b e r Se we r Di s t r i c t , i s a C h a i r m a n o f t h e No r t h Og d e n Re d e ve l o p m e n t A g e n c y, a n d a s a m e m b e r o f t h e Og d e n -We b e r C h a m b e r o f C o m m e rc e . He c u r re n t l y s e r ve s a s t h e Ut a h Na t i o n a l Gu a rd’s Se l e c t i ve Se r v i c e Of f i c e r f o r t h e s t a t e o f Ut a h . He c re d i t s h i s e x p e r i e n c e w i t h t h e Gu a rd f o r h e l p i n g t o s h a p e h i m i n t o t h e l e a d e r t h a t h e i s t o d a y. “ My b e s t l e s s o n s o n l e a d e r s h i p h a ve a l l c o m e t h ro u g h t h e Na t i o n a l Gu a rd , i n p a r t i c u l a r o n d e p l oy m e n t s ,” h e s a i d . “ T h e re i s s o m e t h i n g a b o u t t h e i n t e n s i t y a n d i m p o r t a n c e o f a d e p l oy m e n t t h a t p rov i d e s i n c re d i b l e l e s s o n s a n d o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r s e l f - i m p rove m e n t . I h a ve l e a r n e d f ro m m y e x p e r i e n c e s a n d a c t i o n s , g o o d a n d b a d , a n d h a ve g row n a s a l e a d e r.” “ T h e Na t i o n a l Gu a rd i s a l l a b o u t t h e c i t i ze n - So l d i e r a n d a b o u t s e r v i n g o u r c o m m u n i t i e s ,” Ta y l o r a d d e d . “ We a re t r a i n e d a n d re a d y f o r w a r, b u t l i ve a n d s e r ve o u r c o m m u n i t i e s i n p e a c e t i m e t o o. T h e l e a d e r s h i p a n d l i f e l e s s o n s I h a ve l e a r n e d i n t h e Na t i o n a l Gu a rd i m p a c t h ow I l e a d m y c i t y e ve r y s i n g l e d a y.”

u . s . a r m y n at i o n a l g u a r d p h o t o / s ta f f s g t . r i c h a r d s t o w e l l

MAJ. CHOLI ENCE P O L I C E D E T E C T I V E W I T H S T. G E O R G E C I T Y

by C a p t . R ya n S u t h e r l a n d

B

y t h e t i m e C h o l i En c e l e f t f o r A f g h a n i s t a n i n t h e s p r i n g o f 2 0 1 4 , s h e h a d a l re a d y s p e n t c o u n t l e s s ye a r s i n s e r v i c e t o h e r l o c a l c o m m u n i t y a n d t o h e r c o u n t r y. En c e h a s 1 7 ye a r s o f a c t i ve d u t y a n d Ut a h Na t i o n a l Gu a rd m i l i t a r y s e r v i c e , a n d h a s w o rk e d t h e l a s t 1 0 ye a r s w i t h t h e St . Ge o r g e p o l i c e d e p a r t m e n t , s e ve n o f t h o s e ye a r s a s a d e t e c t i ve .

En c e d e p l oye d t o A f g h a n i s t a n a s t h e c o m m a n d e r o f t h e 1 2 8 t h Mo b i l e Pu b l i c A f f a i r s De t a c h m e n t . Du r i n g h e r d e p l oy m e n t , s h e s e r ve d a s t h e d e p u t y p u b l i c a f f a i r s o f f i c e r f o r Re g i o n a l C o m m a n d ( RC ) So u t h , w h e re s h e w a s i n c h a r g e o f a l l m e d i a o p e r a t i o n s f o r 1 s t C a va l r y.

Tow a rd s t h e e n d o f h e r d e p l oy m e n t , s h e w a s re a s s i g n e d t o Ba g r a m w h e re s h e s e r ve d a s t h e p u b l i c a f f a i r s o f f i c e r f o r U . S . Fo rc e s A f g h a n i s t a n . Sh e c re d i t s h e r e x p e r i e n c e i n Ba g r a m t o e x p o s i n g h e r t o t h e f u l l s p e c t r u m o f t h e t ro o p d r a wd ow n i n A f g h a n i s t a n . “ In i t i a l l y, we h a d ve r y m i n o r m e d i a i n vo l ve m e n t b u t t h a t q u i c k l y c h a n g e d b e c a u s e o f t h e d r a w d ow n ,” s a i d En c e . “ We re c e i ve d a l o t o f m e d i a re q u e s t s re g a rd i n g i n f r a s t r u c t u re a n d t h e d r a wd ow n o f t ro o p p e r s o n n e l a n d e q u i p m e n t o u t o f A f g h a n i s t a n t o m e e t Pre s i d e n t Ob a m a’s d e a d l i n e . It w a s a h u m b l i n g e x p e r i e n c e re a l i z i n g t h a t a Na t i o n a l Gu a rd p u b l i c a f f a i r s o f f i c e r f ro m a s m a l l t ow n i n Ut a h c o u l d h a ve s u c h a n i m p a c t o n t h e ove r a l l m i s s i o n .”

He r t i m e a b ro a d , r i f e w i t h c h a l l e n g e s a n d n e w e x p e r i e n c e s , s t re n g t h e n e d m a n y o f t h e c o re va l u e s t h a t s h e

h o l d s d e a r. Bu t p e r h a p s t h e va l u e t h a t t r u m p s a l l o t h e r s i s t h a t o f s e r v i c e , w h i c h s h e c re d i t s f o r h e r c o n t i n u e d pursuit of leadership opportunities in both her military a n d c i v i l i a n c a re e r s . “ I h a ve a l w a y s b e l i e ve d t h a t yo u c a n m a k e a d i f f e re n c e ,” s a i d En c e . “ I h a ve f o u n d w i t h i n b o t h m y m i l i t a r y a n d w i t h i n l a w e n f o rc e m e n t c a re e r s t h a t i t’s a l i f e o f s e r v i c e .

Yo u’re f o c u s e d o n e ve r y b o d y e l s e b u t yo u r s e l f.” “ In l a w e n f o rc e m e n t , yo u e x p e r i e n c e t h a t e ve r y d a y,” s h e a d d e d . “ So m e t i m e s i t’s j u s t a s i m p l e a c t o f l e t t i n g p e o p l e k n ow t h a t yo u c a re a n d t h a t yo u’re w i l l i n g t o l i s t e n t o t h e m . Be i n g ove r s e a s a n d w o rk i n g w i t h t h e p e o p l e o f A f g h a n i s t a n a n d t h e i r m i l i t a r y, t h o s e s a m e p r i n c i p l e s a p p l y. It’s a l l a b o u t s h ow i n g t h a t yo u c a re , t h a t yo u w a n t a b e t t e r l i f e f o r t h e m , a n d t h a t t h e y d e s e r ve m o re t h a n t h e y c u r re n t l y h a ve .”

Re f l e c t i n g b a c k o n t h e c h a l l e n g e s o f h e r t i m e a b ro a d , En c e c re d i t e d h e r f a m i l y a n d t h e St . Ge o r g e p o l i c e department for the sacrifices they made to make her d e p l oy m e n t p o s s i b l e .

“I think the thing that affected me the most on my d e p l oy m e n t i s k n ow i n g t h a t t h e s a c r i f i c e i s re a l l y o n yo u r f a m i l y a n d e m p l oye r s , b e c a u s e t h e y h a ve t o p i c k u p t h e w o rk t h a t yo u n o r m a l l y d o ,” s a i d En c e . “ It’s t h e s u p p o r t o f t h e c o m m u n i t y a n d yo u r f a m i l y a n d f r i e n d s t h a t re a l l y m a k e i t p o s s i b l e f o r yo u t o b e a b l e t o f o c u s o n w h a t yo u n e e d t o d o.”

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U t a h Fre e d o m M e m o r i a l d e d i c a t i o n , 2 0 1 4 , S a n d y C i t y. c o l o n i a l f l a g f o u n d at i o n p h o t o / p e r r y va n s c h e lt

DEFINING FREEDOM F R O M O N E G E N E R AT I O N T O A N O T H E R

by Michelle Bridges

W

hether it’s the militar y ritual of the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemeter y, the dramatic natural setting of the National Memorial Cemeter y of the Pacific overlooking Pearl Harbor or individual flags placed on ever y veteran’s headstone at the local cemeter y, monuments stand in remembrance and recognition of the fallen.

4 4 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

Dedicated in May 2014, the Utah Freedom Memorial, located on the grounds of Sandy’s City Hall, is the state’s ne west monument to honor militar y ser vice. More than seven years in development, the monument was originally based on the ser vice of Adam Galve z, who died in Iraq in 2004, and a father’s wish to create an educational experience to let kids today know why his son ser ved.

From the beginning, Tony Galve z, and other memorial

U TA H V E T E R A N S M E M O R I A L PA R K A N D C E M E T E RY W i t h a p a n o ra m i c v i ew o f t h e Wa s a tc h Mo u n t a i n s , t h e U t a h Ve te ra n s Me m o r i a l Pa r k a n d Ce m e te r y l i e s a d j a ce n t to Ca m p W i l l i a m s i n B l u ff d a l e .

B u i l t f o r f a m i l y m e m b e r s to h o l d m e m o r i a l s e r v i ce s a n d f u n e ra l s f o r l ove d o n e s w h o a re ve te ra n s , t h e Pa r k a l s o p rov i d e s a p l a ce f o r m e d i t a t i o n a n d o t h e r ve te ra n m e m o r i a l re l a te d eve n t s .

U t a h Fre e d o m M e m o r i a l Re f l e c t i n g Wa l l . c o l o n i a l f l a g f o u n d at i o n p h o t o / p e r r y va n s c h e lt

committee members, put education at the hear t of the project; adopting the tagline “to educate Utah’s youth as to the cost of freedom.” “ We wanted a living memorial,” says Paul Swenson, memorial facilitator and founder of the Colonial Flag Foundation. “ That’s why you won’t find names of individual people who’ve died at the memorial, but rather contributions from those that have lived through their ser vice.”

The centerpiece of the memorial is a 15-foot tall granite pentagonal obelisk with five large bronze plaques at its base. Each of the five sides hosts a corresponding symbol for a branch of the militar y with a plaque explaining the value of freedom, its cost through the eyes of those who have ser ved, emphasizing the fallen, wounded, disabled, POW / MIA and the families that suppor t them.

Adjacent to the obelisk is a doubled-walled monument.

One side bears a Battlefield Cross with a symbolic vault at its base that honors all Utah’s fallen militar y. The other side is a reflection area where not only the soldier is honored but also the courageous spirit of those who are left behind to handle the challenges of day-to-day life — a wife, mother, sweethear t or significant other. “For me, the reflection wall plays an integral par t of the memorial. It is a personal space of reverence and introspection,” says Perr y Van Schelt, monument designer and ar t director.

On the southern end of the plaza is a heroic-size bronze statue of three firemen raising the American flag at Ground Zero — “ To Lift a Nation” — soon after the attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon.

T h e ce m e te r y wa s re ce n t l y ex p a n d e d to i n c l u d e a g a rd e n w h e re c re m a te d re m a i n s c a n b e s c a tte re d o n a l a n d s c a p e d h i l l s i d e .

Na m e s o f t h o s e w h o s e a s h e s a re s p re a d t h e re c a n a l s o b e e tc h e d i n p a n e l s o n a n e a r by m o n u m e n t . T h e co l u m b a r i u m h o l d s u r n s o f a s h e s f o r t h e d e ce a s e d wa s b u i l t at the same time. A kiosk near the chapel a l l ows v i s i to r s to l o o k u p a g rave’s l o c a t i o n .

T h e ce m e te r y a cco m m o d a te s a l l ve te ra n s w h o s e f a m i l i e s wa n t to b u r y t h e m t h e re , i n c l u d i n g t h o s e f ro m t h e V i e t n a m e ra a n d f ro m Wo r l d Wa r I I . Re s e r v i s t s a n d re t i re d p e r s o n n e l w i t h t h e Na t i o n a l G u a rd w h o h ave 2 0 ye a r s o f s e r v i ce a re a l s o e l i g i b l e f o r b u r i a l . Ve te ra n s f ro m o u t o f s t a te c a n a l s o b e b u r i e d a t t h e ce m e te r y.

T h e Pa r k o ff i ce c a n b e co n t a c te d a t 8 0 1- 2 5 4- 9 0 3 6 , Mo n d a y t h ro u g h Fr i d a y b e t we e n 8 a . m . a n d 5 p. m . Mo re i n f o r m a t i o n c a n b e f o u n d a t ve te ra n s .u ta h .g ov

C h a p e l a n d c o l u m b a r i u m a t t h e U t a h Ve te ra n s C e m e te r y a n d M e m o r i a l Pa r k . bridge productions photo

(continued on page 48)

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U TA H V E T E R A N M O N U M E N T S f r o m t h e e d i t o r s : Fo r t h o s e b ra ve a n d c o u ra g e o u s t o a n s we r t h e c a l l t o s e r ve a n d p ro t e c t t h e i r c o u n t r y d u r i n g w a r o r p e a c e , we h o n o r t h e i r c o m m i t m e n t a n d s a c r i f i c e . T h e s e m o n u m e n t s a n d m e m o r i a l s a re b u t a t o k e n o f o u r re s p e c t . Pl e a s e t a k e t i m e f o r a m o m e n t o f s i l e n c e .

Antelope Island Special Forces Training Crash Disaster Memorial; Dedicated 1993 Antimony Veterans Memorial (World War I, World War II); Located front of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building Bear River Bear River City Veterans Memorial; Dedicated 2004; Located front Bear River City government offices Beaver Beaver Valley Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Located Beaver Post Office Spirit of the American Doughboy Monument (World War I); Dedicated 1927; Located 120 S Main Street Bluffdale Bluffdale City Cemetery Lions Club Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 1962; Located 14205 S Redwood Road Brigham City Box Elder County Veterans Flagpole (All Wars); Dedicated 2007; Located Box Elder County Courthouse Box Elder County Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Located Box Elder County Courthouse Bingham City Cemetery Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 2008; Located Bingham City Cemetery Korean War Memorial; Located City Hall World War I Memorial Dedicated 1923; Located Brigham City Cemetery Cedar City Cedar City Veterans Memorial; Dedicated 1972; Located Cedar City Cemetery Korean War Memorial Memorial (Afghanistan-Iraq War); Located Veterans Memorial Park Vietnam War Memorial; Dedicated 2008 Memorial (World War I) Dedicated 2010; Located 140 N 300 East Coalville Honor Roll Monument/Flag (All Wars); Located 10 North Main

Topaz War Relocation Center (World War II); Located 150 W Main Street Draper US Marine Corps CO F 20 Battalion Memorial (Afghanistan-Iraq War); Located Draper Park

Lemington Lemington Veterans Memorial (World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam)

Eden Eden World War II Memorial; Dedicated 2008; Located Eden Park

Loa Wayne County Korean War Veterans Memorial; Wayne County Courthouse

Elberta Veterans Monument (All Wars); Located site of old convenience store

Wayne County Persian Gulf War Veterans Memorial; Located Wayne County Courthouse

Enoch Enoch City Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Located Enoch City Cemetery

Wayne County World War I Veterans Memorial; Located Wayne County Courthouse

Enterprise Enterprise Veterans Memorial; Dedicated 1996; Located intersection 100 North and Beryl Lane

Logan Cache County Veterans Killed in Action Monument (All Wars); Dedicated 1975; Located next to Cache County Courthouse

Eureka Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 1989; Located Eureka City Cemetery Farmington Davis County Spanish-American War Memorial; Located Davis County Courthouse Vietnam War Memorial; Dedicated 1986; Located Davis County Courthouse grounds Fayette Honor Roll (All Wars); Located 100 East Herriman Herriman City Cemetery Veterans Monument (All Wars); Located Herriman Cemetery Hill Air Force Base 5th Air Forces Memorial Sundial; Located 7961 Wardleigh Road Hinckley Honor Roll (All Wars); Located City Park Hooper Hooper World War II Memorial Hurricane Hurricane Veterans Honor Roll; Located grounds of Hurricane Valley Heritage Park and Museum

Copperton World War II Memorial; Dedicated July 1946; Located Hillcrest Street

Hyrum Hyrum City Cemetery Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 1948; Located Hyrum City Cemetery

Delta All Gave Some - Some Gave All, 422 regimental Combat Team, 100th Infantry Battalion, Military Intelligence Service (World War II); Dedicated 1976; Located West 4500 N Street

Kanesville General Thomas L . Kane (Civil War); Dedicated 2000; Located behind The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints building

Topaz Interment Camp (World War II); Dedicated 1976; Located West 4500 N Street

Laketown Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 2009; Located Henry Early Park

Kearns Vietnam War Memorial; Dedicated 1984; Located Kearns Memorial Park, 4025 W 5415 South

4 6 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

Logan City Cemetery Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 1966; Located Logan City Cemetery Magna Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 1966; Located intersection 2700 S and 8400 West Veterans War Memorial (All Wars); Located intersection of 2700 S and 8400 West World War I Memorial; Located MagnaCopper Park World War II Memorial; Located MagnaCopper Park Mapleton Mapleton City Park Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 1992; Located Maple City Park Vietnam War Memorial; Located Mapleton City Park World War II Memorial; Located Mapleton City Park Midvale Nation’s Heroes (World War I); Located 7360 S 700 East Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 2002; Located Midvale Cemetery Midway Wasatch County Memorial Hill (War of 1812); Located Midway hilltop Monroe Monroe Veterans Monument (All Wars); Located town park Morgan Korean War Veterans Memorial; Located Veterans Memorial Plaza Monument (World War I); Dedicated 2001; Located Veterans Memorial Plaza

U TA H V E T E R A N M O N U M E N T S Vietnam War Memorial; Dedicated 2001; Located Veterans Memorial Plaza

Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 2001; Located 1400 W 12800 South

World War II Memorial; Dedicated 2001; Located Veterans Memorial Plaza

Veterans Memorial Park (All Wars); Located Riverton Veteran’s Memorial Park

Moroni Moroni Cemetery Veterans Memorial Garden (All Wars); Dedicated 1993; Located Moroni Cemetery

Riverdale Veterans Monument (All Wars); Located outside Riverdale Civic Center

Mount Pleasant Spirit of the American Doughboy Monument (World War I); Dedicated 1926; Located intersection State and Main Murray Murray City Park Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 1950; Located Garden of Freedom Vietnam War Memorial; Located Murray City Park Ogden Chosin Reservoir Campaign Monument (Korea); Located 1102 N 1200 West Orem World War II POW Camp; Dedicated December 194 3; Located 950 N and 800 East Parowan Parowan Veterans Memorial; Located Parowan Town Square World War I Veterans Memorial; Located 50 S Main Street Price Carbon County World War I Memorial; Dedicated 1938; Located Washington Park Monument (World War I); Dedicated 1922; Located 185 E Main Street Spirit of the American Doughboy (World War I); Dedicated 1922; Located Peace Garden Provo Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 1972; Located 351 W Center Street Provo City Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 2001; Located Memorial Park Utah County War Memorial (World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam) Randolph World War II Memorial; Located front of Rich County Courthouse Richfield Freedom State (All Wars); Dedicated 2003; Located City Park Riverton POW/MIA Memorial (All Wars); Located Veteran’s Memorial Park US Submarine Veterans Memorial (World War II); Dedicated 1997; Located State Route 68 Utah’s Medal of Honor Recipients Monument (All Wars); Dedicated 2002; Located Veteran’s Memorial Park

Taylorsville Freedom Shrine Veterans Memorial (World War I, World War II); Dedicated 2001; Located park south side of 4500 West

Saint George Remember Pearl Harbor (World War II); Located Vernon Worthen Park

Salt Lake Community College Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 1989; Located SLCC Redwood Campus

Salt Lake City Captain James B. Austin (World War I); Located Memory Grove Park

Tooele Korean War Memorial; Located center of Tooele

George Edward Wahlen, Medal of Honor Recipient (World War II); Located Utah State Capitol German World War I Memorial; Dedicated 1933; Located Wakara Way Greek War Veterans Monument (All Wars); Dedicated 1988; Located grounds of Holy Trinity Cathedral

Medal of Honor Recipients Monument (All Wars); Located Memory Grove Park Monument (Civil War); Dedicated 1961; Located Utah State Capitol grounds Mormon Battalion (All Wars); Dedicated 1927; Located Utah State Capitol grounds

Vietnam POW/MIA Memorial; Located Memory Grove Park Utah World War I “Pagoda” Memorial; Dedicated 1932; Located Memory Grove Sandy Sergeant Louis A . Slama Memorial flag; Dedicated 2003 Utah Freedom Memorial (All Military); Dedicated 2014; Located Sandy City offices Santaquin Santaquin Veterans Memorial; Dedicated 1903; Located front of Central School South Jordan South Jordan Memorial Park (All Wars) Spanish Fork Spanish Fork Veterans Memorial Monument (All Wars); Dedicated 1999; Located Spanish Fork City Cemetery entrance

Vietnam War Memorial; Dedicated 2005; Located center of Tooele World War I Memorial; Dedicated 2005; Located center of Tooele

Toquerville Toquerville Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 2007; Located front of Toquerville LDS Meetinghouse

Liberty Park Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Dedicated 1922; Located Liberty Park

Vietnam Memorial; Located Utah State Capitol Grounds

Middle East Wars Memorial; Dedicated 2005; Located center of Tooele

World War II Memorial; Dedicated 2005; Located center of Tooele

Heroes of the American Revolution; Dedicated 1914; Located Utah State Capitol

Patrick Edward Connor; Located Fort Douglas Cemetery

Sterling Sterling Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Located entrance to Sterling Memorial Park

Union Mormon Battalion Monument (MexicanAmerican War); Located Union Pioneer Memorial Cemetery Vernal American Mother Veterans War Memorial (All Wars); Located Main Street, downtown Memorial (Operation Desert Storm); Located Main Street, downtown Men of Courage Monument (World War II); Located 147 E Main Street Spirit of the American Doughboy (World War I); Dedicated 1924; Located Uintah County Building Vietnam War Memorial; Located Main Street, downtown World War II Memorial; Located 147 E Main Street Washington Washington City Veterans Memorial (All Wars); Located next to city hall West Jordan Veterans of World War I, World War II Memorial; Located 7800 S 1300 West Utah Air National Guard Memorial (All Wars; Located 7602 Airport Road West Valley City Vietnam War Memorial; Dedicated 2008; Located Utah Cultural Celebration Center grounds

Springville Victory Fountain (World War I); Dedicated 1920 source:

americanmemorialsdirectory.com/utah

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A He a l i n g F i e l d w i t h m o re t h a n 3 , 0 0 0 A m e r i c a n f l a g s p l a n te d f o r eve r y i n d i v i d u a l l o s t d u r i n g t h e 9/1 1 a tt a c k s . c o l o n i a l f l a g f o u n d at i o n p h o t o

On t h e f i r s t a n n i ve r s a r y o f 9 / 1 1 , C o l o n i a l Fl a g Fo u n d a t i o n p l a n t e d i t s f i r s t He a l i n g Fi e l d o f m o re t h a n 3 , 0 0 0 A m e r i c a n f l a g s re p re s e n t i n g e a c h l i f e l o s t o n 9 / 1 1 o n t h e p ro m e n a d e s o u t h o f t h e Ut a h Fre e d o m Me m o r i a l . “ Eve r y Se p t e m b e r we c o n t i n u e h o n o r i n g t h o s e l o s t ,” s a y s Jo h n Ha r t v i g s e n , p ro g r a m a d v i s o r. “ We n ow m e n t o r o t h e r o r g a n i z a t i o n s w a n t i n g t o p l a n t t h e i r ow n f i e l d s o f h e a l i n g a n d h o n o r i n g . T h i s ye a r, we’l l w o rk w i t h 4 8 d i f f e re n t e ve n t s a ro u n d t h e n a t i o n .” “ T h e re a s o n we h a ve m e m o r i a l s i s n’t s o m u c h a s t o h o n o r t h o s e w h o h a ve d i e d , b u t t o g i ve t h o s e l i v i n g a b i t o f g u i d a n c e s o we c a n l e a r n f ro m t h e m ,” s a y s S c o t t Sw a i n , f o u n d e r o f Ro o t s o f Fre e d o m , t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t a d m i n i s t e r s t h e Fo u n d a t i o n s e d u c a t i o n a l c o m p o n e n t .

“What does it mean to honor our flag, our founding d o c u m e n t s , o u r f o u n d i n g f a t h e r s ? How d o yo u e x p l a i n p a t r i o t i s m ? How d o yo u d e f i n e w h a t i t m e a n s t o b e a t r u e A m e r i c a n ? ” a s k s Sw a i n .

T h e p ro g r a m s t r i ve s t o g i ve s t u d e n t s a n d e d u c a t o r s h a n d s - o n e x p e r i e n c e s o n b e i n g a t r u e A m e r i c a n . T h ro u g h a s e r i e s o f s i m u l a t i o n s c a l l e d Mi l e s t o n e s o f Fre e d o m , students experience being an immigrant on a quest for c i t i ze n s h i p, a p a t r i o t a t t h e s i g n i n g o f t h e De c l a r a t i o n o f In d e p e n d e n c e o r a c o n ve n t i o n d e l e g a t e d e b a t i n g t h e m e r i t s o f t h e n a t i o n’s C o n s t i t u t i o n . “ Eve r y s c h o o l t h a t h a s d o n e t h i s s i m u l a t i o n , t h o s e k i d s g e t i t . T h e y a re s o e n t h u s e d . T h e i r h e a r t s a re t o u c h e d a n d t h e y g e t t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f t h i s m e s s a g e ,” s a y s De b

4 8 va l o r : a s a lu t e to u ta h’s v e t e r a n s a n d m i l i ta ry

Ja c k s o n , e d u c a t i o n o u t re a c h c o o rd i n a t o r w i t h Ro o t s o f Fre e d o m . Wo rk i n g t h ro u g h t h e s t a t e’s De p a r t m e n t o f Ed u c a t i o n , t h e Fo u n d a t i o n h o p e s t o m a k e t h e p ro g r a m a va i l a b l e t o e ve r y s t u d e n t i n t h e s t a t e .

Ja c k s o n va l u e s m e m o r i a l s b e c a u s e o f t h e c o s t o f l i f e t h a t i s g i ve n t o s e c u re t h e f re e d o m s we va l u e i n A m e r i c a . “ Wi t h o u t re m e m b e r i n g t h e f a l l e n i n a p o i g n a n t w a y, we l o s e s i g h t o f t h e va l u e o f t h e i n t a n g i b l e f re e d o m s , m e r i t s a n d h o n o r s t h a t we s u s t a i n h e re i n o u r c o u n t r y,” s a y s Ja c k s o n . “ T h e va l u e t o m e i s t o re m e m b e r t h a t p r i c e , w h i c h i s p r i c e l e s s .”

Re g a rd l e s s o f t h e a p p ro a c h , o l d e r g e n e r a t i o n s n e e d t o e n s u re yo u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n s u n d e r s t a n d t h e m e a n i n g b e h i n d m e m o r i a l s . “At v i r t u a l l y e ve r y c e m e t e r y a c ro s s t h i s s t a t e f o r Me m o r i a l Da y, t h e re w i l l b e ve t e r a n s w h o w i l l b e p l a c i n g f l a g s o n t h e g r a ve s o f d e c e a s e d b ro t h e r s ,” s a y s Te r r y S c h ow, f o r m e r e xe c u t i ve d i re c t o r o f Ut a h’s De p a r t m e n t o f Ve t e r a n s a n d Mi l i t a r y A f f a i r s a n d a l s o a m e m b e r o f A m e r i c a n L e g i o n Po s t No. 9 . “A n d I t h i n k t h a t’s a s p owe r f u l a re m i n d e r o f f re e d o m a s a n y m o n u m e n t .”

S c h ow b e l i e ve s s u c h e x p e r i e n c e s a re a g re a t t e a c h i n g o p p o r t u n i t y “a n d h o p e f u l l y, p a re n t s a n d g r a n d p a re n t s w i l l re c o g n i ze t h a t a n d s h ow t h e i r c h i l d re n a n d g r a n d c h i l d re n re s p e c t f o r t h e f l a g , re ve re n c e f o r m i l i t a r y s a c r i f i c e a n d re ve re p a t r i o t i s m .”

L e a r n m o re a b o u t t h e C o l o n i a l Fl a g Fo u n d a t i o n’s He a l i n g Fi e l d s ( h e a l i n g f i e l d . o r g ) a n d i t s e d u c a t i o n a l c o m p o n e n t , Ro o t s o f Fre e d o m ( ro o t s o f f re e d o m . c o m ) .

UTAH MEDIA GROUP: 4770 S. 5600 West, West Valley City UT 84110

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PROJECT TEAM: Brent Low, Publisher / Jed Call, V.P. Business Development Michelle Bridges, Project Manager / Megan Donio, Project Coordinator Valor: A Salute to Utah’s Veterans and Military (utahvalor.com) is a publication of Utah Media Group and is distributed by subscription through the Deseret News and The Salt Lake Tribune on a biannual basis.

Copyright Š May 2015. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any format without consent of Utah Media Group. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this publication and assume no liability for errors, inaccuracies or omissions.

We extend a thank you to our Veteran and Military Affairs agencies from across the state who made this project possible, including:

UTAH

THEIR MEMORIAL, OUR MISSION

on the cover:

A m e r i c a n s e r v i ce m e n a n d wo m e n g a t h e r i n f ro n t o f Ra i n b ow Co r n e r Re d C ro s s C l u b i n Pa r i s to ce l e b ra te t h e u n co n d i t i o n a l s u r re n d e r o f t h e Ja p a n e s e , 19 4 5 . o n e h u n d r e d y e a r s o f p h o t o g r a p h y f r o m t h e n at i o n a l a r c h i v e s

USS U ta h a n d t h e Pa c i f i c F l e e t i n t h e Pa n a m a Ca n a l . u ta h s tat e h i s t o r y p h o t o / s a lt l a k e t r i b u n e c o l l e c t i o n

U S S U TA H

s e r ve d f ro m 19 19 - 19 3 1 a s a b a tt l e s h i p co n d u c t i n g t ra i n i n g a n d g o o d w i l l m i s s i o n s to Eu ro p e a n d S o u t h A m e r i c a b e f o re b e i n g co nve r te d to a g u n n e r y t ra i n i n g a n d t a rg e t s h i p. In 19 4 1 s h e wa s m o d e r n i z e d a n d e q u i p p e d w i t h we a p o n s b e i n g i n s t a l l e d o n m o d e r n d e s t roye r s b e f o re re s u m i n g t ra i n i n g d u t i e s w i t h t h e f l e e t a t Pe a r l Ha r b o r. O n t h e m o r n i n g o f D e c . 7, 19 4 1 , U ta h wa s m o o re d o n t h e we s t s i d e o f Fo rd Is l a n d a n d a t co l o r s t h e s h i p wa s s t r u c k by a to r p e d o f o r wa rd a n d b e g a n to l i s t to p o r t . S h e wa s o rd e re d a b a n d o n e d .

W h i l e m o s t o f t h e c rew wa s a b l e to e s c a p e s o m e we re t ra p p e d b e l ow. C h i e f Wa te r Te n d e r Pe te r To m i c h re m a i n e d b e l ow to e n s u re t h a t t h e b o i l e r s we re s e c u re d a n d h i s s a i l o r s s a f e l y o u t o f t h e b o i l e r ro o m s . To m i c h wa s awa rd e d t h e Co n g re s s i o n a l Me d a l o f Ho n o r f o r h i s s a c r i f i ce . By 0 8 1 2 t h e m o o r i n g c a b l e s h a d s n a p p e d a n d U t a h l a y o n h e r b e a m s i n k i n g i n to t h e h a r b o r h e r wa r ove r. S i x o ff i ce r s a n d 5 8 c rew m e n d i e d , t h e m a j o r i t y t ra p p e d i n t h e s h i p. To d a y a m o n u m e n t i s l o c a te d o n Fo rd Is l a n d n e a r t h e r u s t i n g h u l k o f t h e U t a h .

u ta h m e d i a g ro u p .co m