223d Combat Communications Squadron
Encyclopedia
The United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...

's 223d Combat Communications Squadron (223 CBCS) is an Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...

 combat communications unit located at Hot Springs ANGS
Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport
Memorial Field Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of the City of Hot Springs, in Garland County, Arkansas, United States. It also serves nearby Hot Springs National Park. The airport is currently used for general...

, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...

.

History

The 223rd began as the 8201st Air Base Squadron on 1 May 1952. The 8201st was deactivated on 30 Nov. 1952 and became the 223rd radio Relay Squadron on 1 Dec 1952. With an authorized strength of four officers and 95 airmen, the 223rd had a mission to install and operate five radio relay stations and three radio terminals under field conditions. First Lt. Joe A. Holbrook became the Commanding Officer of the newly formed unit and held that position until March 1955. The unit was assigned to the Continental Air Command (CONAC), located at Selfridge AFB, Michigan.

Under Lt. Holbrook's command, recruiting took priority and the unit quadrupled in size within months. The unit's first exercise began on 5 July 1953, setting up a base station at the Garland County Municipal Airport and a second site at the Fairgrounds. There call signs were Zekeamoto Alpha and Zekeamoto Extra.

Captain George C. Bolton replaced Lt. Holbrook as Commanding Officer on 13 March 1955 and would hold that position until 1971. Lt. Holbrook's career with the 223rd was far from over. Through the years he was promoted to the rank of Lietenant Colonel, but would later accept a demotion to the enlisted ranks with a rank of Master Sergeant so that he could remain in the unit. The respect that Joe Holbrook earned in his decades with the unit would earn him the nickname "Sergeant Colonel Holbrook", and his men would proudly admit they continued to call him "Sir" even after joining the enlisted ranks.

The 223rd was federally activated by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on 24 September, 1957 to assist in the Little Rock Integration Crisis. During this time, a new building was under construction; the same building they would call home until the unit's closure in 2008. By 1960, the 223rd had gained recognition as a premier Radio Relay Squadron. The unit's manning increased to ten officers and 181 airmen, and they gained Food Services and Medical Services. The ongoing joke at the time was that introduction of both services at the same time was necessary, as you could not have a chow hall without having a medic.

In 1968, the unit's name changed to the 223rd Mobile Communications squadron, as they received Troposcatter radios, High Frequency (HF) radios, a Tactical Communications Center, Technical Control facilities, Tactical Switchboards and Cryptographic functions. Four months after receiving this equipment, virtually unseen by any member of the unit only months earlier, the 223rd took the Commanding Role in exercise Guard Strike 2.

The unit continued to grow, its inventory expanding and its members grasp of communications becoming sharper. By 1990, Lt. Col. Marc W. Barber, the former enlisted Air Advisor for the unit, became the commanding officer. His vision for the unit took it in new directions. After dozens of highly successful exercises and operations, the 223rd, now a Combat Communication Squadron, partnered with the C2TIG, or Command And Control Training and Integration Group at Hurlburt Field, Florida. This partnership led to the development of new eauipment, new missions and new ways of doing business; many of these new concepts were quickly adopted throughout the military and are standard practices today.

The decision to close the 223rd in 2008 was a financial one. The 189th Airlift Wing in Little Rock, Arkansas and the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith gained many new personnel positions by this closure, as well additional equipment. During its history, over 4000 individuals signed the dotted line to become a member of the 223rd. Many came from active duty, representing all branches of the military, while many started and ended their careers with the unit.

Major Command/Gaining Command

  • Air National Guard
    Air National Guard
    The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...

    /Air Combat Command
    Air Combat Command
    Air Combat Command is a major command of the United States Air Force. ACC is one of ten major commands , reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force ....

     (1992–2008)
  • Air National Guard
    Air National Guard
    The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...

    /Military Air Transport Service
    Military Air Transport Service
    The Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...

     (1960-1992)
  • Air National Guard
    Air National Guard
    The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...

    /Continental Air Command
    Continental Air Command
    Continental Air Command was a Major Command of the United States Air Force responsible primarily for administering the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.-Lineage:...

     (1952-1960)

Wing/Group

  • 254th Combat Communications Group
    254th Combat Communications Group
    The United States Air Force's 254th Combat Communications Group is an Air National Guard combat communications unit located at Hensley Field, Texas.-Federal Mission:...

     (1971-Present)
  • 251st Combat Communications Group
    251st Combat Communications Group
    The United States Air Force's 251st Combat Communications Group is an Air National Guard combat communications unit located at Springfield ANGB, Ohio.-Mission:...

     (1954-1971)

Previous designations

  • 223d Combat Communications Squadron (1976-Present)
  • 223rd Mobile Communications Squadron (1968-1976)
  • 223rd Radio Relay Squadron (1952-1968)
  • 8201st Air Base Squadron (May - December 1952)

Bases stationed

  • Hot Springs ANGS
    Hot Springs Memorial Field Airport
    Memorial Field Airport is a city-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of the City of Hot Springs, in Garland County, Arkansas, United States. It also serves nearby Hot Springs National Park. The airport is currently used for general...

    , Arkansas
    Arkansas
    Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...

    (???-Present)


Commanders

  • Lt. Col. Philip Z. Horton (2000-)
  • Lt. Col. Marc W. Barber (1990-2000)
  • Major Ralph Van Cleve ( 1987-1990)
  • Lt. Col. William E. Titus (1986-1987)
  • Lt. Col. Ray E. Garner (1981-1986)
  • Lt. Col. Alvin A. Albinson ( 1973-1981)
  • Major Glen W. "Bill" Crone (1972-1973)
  • Major Thomas G. Haggard (1971-1972)
  • Lt. Col. George C. Bolton (1955-1971)
  • Lt. Col. Joe A. Holbrook (1952-1955)
  • Lt. Richard H. Scheibel (1952)

External links

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