Filling the wall one plaque at a time

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Saphfire D. Cook
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  There are many prominent walls throughout world history. The Berlin Wall, which brings to mind a time of political change. The World War II memorial that immortalizes the great sacrifices made while fighting for freedom. The Great Wall of China, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the great Walls of Jericho and the list goes on and on.

Here on D-M, the 55th Electronic Combat Group has a wall of its own. The Heritage Wall is a 10 by 20 foot structure dedicated to the war efforts the EC-130H Compass Call has flown. On June 2, the 55th ECG unveiled two new additions to the wall, Operation ODYSSEY DAWN and Operation UNIFIED PROTECTION.

"These efforts are just new chapters in the never ending book of Compass Call," said Lt. Col. Kyle Forrer, 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron commander. "There is so much more to come. The blank spaces on this wall exist because we know that the young Airmen here today will go on to lead others in creating bigger and better chapters."

In terms of chapters, the 55th ECG has closed 15 of them in the past five years, including efforts such as Operation DESERT STORM and Operation ENDURING FREEDOM.

"A picture is worth a thousand words and serves as a way to remind us of our heritage," said Capt. Craig Rumble, 42nd ECS mission crew commander. "And not just for 55th ECG members, but for visitors to our squadron. It helps tell them who we are, what we do, and what we have done."

The Heritage Wall was created in 2006 by Col. David Sammons, who was the 55th ECG commander at the time.

"The history of the Compass Call is long and varied," Captain Rumble said. "Colonel Sammons realized that the 55th ECG had a significant story that was not known by younger generations, and was in jeopardy of being forgotten by older ones."

Each conflict is engraved on a plaque and is placed on the wall among those that came before it. The militant rows of glossy stone-colored tablets serve as a visual record of the Compass Call's impressive resume.

"The wall exists as a reminder of everything we have accomplished at the behest of our nations leaders, and as a symbol to unify us and maintain unit morale," Captain Rumble said.