Wing Dedicates "Spirit of Keesler"

  • Published
  • By Staff Reports
  • 403rd Wing
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- --  A ceremony celebrating 35,000 hours flown by the 403rd Wing in the C-130J aircraft and the dedication of a WC-130J 'Hurricane Hunter' plane as the "Spirit of Keesler" was held here April 22.

Brig. Gen. Richard Moss, commander, 403rd Wing, presided over the ceremony, which recognized the special bond between his Air Force Reserve unit, the active duty and all the communities of the Gulf Coast.

"We get to take the name of Lieutenant Keesler everywhere throughout the world and wherever it goes, people will see it and know we remember who made us what we are today," said Moss who dedicated the plane to the men and women of Team Keesler as well as the memory of 2nd Lieutenant Samuel Keesler.

Assisting in the unveiling ceremony were more than 15 descendents of Lieutenant Keesler. Isabel Keesler Pitts Miller, niece of Samuel Keesler, attended the base naming ceremony in 1942 when she was 12.

By naming the aircraft the 'Spirit of Keesler,' Miller hopes the Air Force Reserve will "keep his memory alive forever."

Also recognized in the ceremony were the 'Spirit of Gulfport' and the 'Spirit of Biloxi' which were dedicated in September 2006.

"We are saving lives daily," said Moss, referring to the Spirit of Biloxi which is carrying troops and supplies by air instead of by truck while currently deployed to the desert in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

Gulfport Mayor, Brent Warr and Mr. David Stahling, representing Biloxi Mayor, A.J. Holloway, were on hand to express their thanks for the work of the 403rd Wing.

The aircraft were named "The Spirit of," to remind aircrew they carry with them on each flight the hopes and prayers of their fellow Gulf Coast citizens and to remind the community this aircraft and aircrew are dedicated to protecting their way of life.
The Citizen Airmen of the 403rd Wing have logged more than 35,000 hours in the Lockheed Martin C-130J, more than any other wing in the Department of Defense and ranked third globally behind the countries of Great Britain and Italy.

"To log this many hours in this short amount of time is amazing and is a testament to the dedication of the Reservists who operate, maintain and support this wing," said Moss.

Also announced at the ceremony, were plans for a symbol of military support from the community to the citizen airmen of the 403rd. This summer, the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, known for its wide array of music artifacts, will host a display honoring the men and women of the Air Force Reserve. With assistance and support from Lockheed Martin, the Dowdy Corporation and the Gulf Coast and Biloxi Chambers of Commerce, the Hard Rock Hotel will unveil a permanent exhibit featuring memorabilia from the J-model and the mission of the 403rd Wing.

"We got the news from these folks (403rd Citizen Airmen) we'd probably not be opening," said Karl Bulot, senior vice president of non-gaming operations for Hard Rock referring to the planned opening of the Hard Rock Hotel days after Hurricane Katrina struck the coast.
The display will be showcased near the front entrance of the Hard Rock Hotel and will be complete this summer.