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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Staff Report
As we close out another year, we look back on a successful 2014 for the Kentucky National Guard. Once again, our Guard was at the tip of the spear in answering the call to serve, at home and abroad.
Here are several memorable stories from this year. Click on the links for the full story.
Sgt. Andrew Mehltretter, USO National Guardsman of the Year
Kentucky Air Guard, Operation United Assistance
Kentucky Guard Memorial ground breaking
Air Guardsmen honored for heroism
Kentucky Guard Youth Camp
National Guard jerseys for high school sports
Kentucky Guard athletic jerseys prove a winning combination.
Kentucky Air National Guard, Red Flag - Alaska.
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment in Cuba.
Public Affairs Soldiers make a difference on deployment.
Maj. Angela White, first female chaplain in 25 years.
Angela White was sworn in as a major and the second female chaplain in the Kentucky National Guard during an appointment ceremony in Frankfort, Feb. 21.
Best emergency management program.
Kentucky Guardsman lobbys for custodial rights
Story by Leo Shane III, Military Times
Eva Slusher holds a photo of her daughter at her office in Frankfort, Ky., Dec. 22, 2014. After years serving in uniform, Slusher now works as a Human Resources Specialist for the Kentucky Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
When Kentucky Guardsman Eva Slusher returned from her stateside deployment in 2004, she was welcomed home with news that she had lost custody of her daughter.
A decade later, she finally has hope that no service member will ever have to go through that again.
Tucked into this year’s annual defense authorization bill passed by Congress late last week is a provision preventing state judges from using military deployments against troops in child custody cases.
It’s the culmination of an eight-year fight for Slusher and Rep. Mike Turner, R-Ohio, who both insist the change is needed to stop judges from using military service against troops in such court battles.
“It’s not that my military service wasn’t taken into consideration, or that I didn’t get some extra boost from my service,” Slusher said. “I’m not looking to be hailed as a hero because I served my country. I’m looking for not being penalized for military service. A judge now can’t say that the military lifestyle isn’t conducive to raising children.”
The authorization bill and new rules are expected to be signed into law by President Obama in the next few days. The rules mandate that child custody cases cannot be altered during a parent’s military deployment, and that any pre-deployment custody arrangements remain in place upon the parent’s return.
Exceptions can be made when the situation “goes against the best interest of the child,” but Turner said too often judges with little familiarity with the military have ruled that the uncertain nature of military deployments — especially during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars — made for a negative home environment in split families.
“In the end, this is about making sure that (troops) don’t serve at the expense of their families,” he said. “They deserve to be protected.”
Custody fight
Slusher said she has been appalled for years that those protections aren’t already in place.
A decade ago, when her daughter Sara was only 10, then-Capt. Slusher was mobilized as part of the Kentucky National Guard. She worked out a temporary guardianship agreement with her ex-husband, to ensure he could take care of any medical or school issues.
But upon her return, he challenged her custodial rights. A state judge made him primary guardian, citing Slusher’s past and potential future military responsibilities.
“I didn’t realize there was even a possibility that could happen,” she said. “I thought there wasn’t a job in the country that would take my daughter away from me for serving in the military. There were laws that protected my job and my home, and my mortgage interest rates, and my cell phone contract (during deployment), but not my children?”
Slusher waged a two-year legal fight that went all the way to the Kentucky Supreme Court to win back custody of Sara. Since then, she has pushed for a national law to prevent other service members from facing the same heartbreak.
Congressional fight
Turner called the changes “common sense” provisions, but they haven’t been easy to shepherd through Congress.
Versions of the measure have passed the House 12 times since 2007, most often as an amendment to the annual defense authorization bill. But Senate and Pentagon objections have repeatedly sidelined the changes.
In the past, military leaders have pushed for states to voluntarily adopt their own regulations dealing with military custody issues, but Turner and Slusher said those efforts don’t account for the transient nature of military life.
A service member could have a child in one state, divorce in another and face custody hearings in a third, underscoring the need for a national standard on how to handle such scenarios.
The next step will be educating troops and judges about the changes, Turner said. The former need to know about the new legal protections, and the latter need to adjust their bench rulings to make sure they aren’t discriminating against people in uniform.
For Slusher, her next step will be to step back temporarily from her lobbying work with Turner but still work with other military parents on fixing gaps in the law.
“This is about having peace of mind,” she said. “When you’re deployed, there are so many things to deal with. Worrying about your kids shouldn’t be one of them.”
Story by Master Sgt. Phil Speck, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs Office
Chief Master Sgt. Ray Dawson (left), command chief master sergeant of the 123rd Airlift Wing, and Amy Quimby, the wing’s Airman and Family Readiness Program Manager, unload Operation Military Cheer Christmas gifts at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Dec. 17, 2014. The gifts, donated by the American Legion Auxiliary’s Anderson Unit 34 in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, will be provided to the children of 11 Kentucky Air National Guard Airmen. (Kentucky Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Operation Military Cheer will make Christmas a little brighter for 11 Kentucky Air National Guard families this year.
The annual campaign, coordinated in partnership with Cindy Culver and Linda Jones of the Kentucky National Guard Youth Program, collected dozens of toys, games and bicycles for 12 children of Kentucky Air National Guardsmen.
The gifts were donated by the American Legion Auxiliary’s Anderson Unit 34 in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, according to Amy Quimby, Airman and Family Readiness Program Manager for the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing.
Chief Master Sgt. Ray Dawson (left), command chief master sergeant of the 123rd Airlift Wing, and Senior Master Sgt. Darryl Loafman, the wing’s ground safety manager, unload a child’s bike as part of Operation Military Cheer at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., on Dec. 17, 2014. The gifts, donated by the American Legion Auxiliary’s Anderson Unit 34 in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, will be provided to the children of 11 Kentucky Air National Guard Airmen. (Kentucky Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)
“I truly appreciate the amazing support from the American Legion Auxiliary’s Anderson Unit 34,” Quimby said. “They went above and beyond with the Operation Military Cheer program to assist our families.
“Their support means a lot. I’ve had parents cry because of the amount of presents they receive for their families. The support provides presents for Christmas and frees up money to ensure the families have extra funds for food or bills. Words will never tell the American Legion Auxiliary members the true amount of appreciation and gratitude.”
Operation Military Cheer provided gift cards, clothes, shoes and toys to 454 children of Kentucky National Guard Airmen and Soldiers last year.
Merry Christmas to all
Capt. Cliff Flanagan, commander of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation sends a holiday greeting from the Middle East. (Courtesy photo)
This Christmas, the Kentucky National Guard wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas. We are reminded throughout the year, but never as much as the holidays, that Kentuckians are serving their country far from home. We salute the brave Soldiers of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation currently deployed to the Middle East, the 1988th Contingency Contracting Team in Afghanistan and other Guardsmen deployed around the world.
Please keep them, and all U.S. Service members in your thoughts and prayers this holiday season.
Story by Olivia Burton, Kentucky National Guard Family Programs
Representatives from Ale-8-One delivered donations to the Kentucky National Guard’s Operation Military Cheer in Lawrenceburg, Ky., Dec. 9, 2014. Pictured left to right: Shirley Thornberry, Cindy Culver, Sgt. 1st Class Paul Hunt, Linda Jones, Fielding Rogers, Ann Ripy, Pam Brough, Capt. Geremy Harper. (Photo by Olivia Burton)
LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. — The Kentucky National Guard’s annual Operation Military Cheer got some additional help this year from a famous Kentucky company.
As a part of its #P8TRIOT campaign this season, Ale-8-One partnered with Operation Military Cheer to donate to the American Legion Auxiliary Anderson Unit 34.
Cindy Culver, Kentucky National Guard Child and Youth Coordinator hugs a child at “Santa’s workshop” of Operation Military Cheer in Lawrenceburg, Ky., Dec. 9, 2014. Culver said the program assisted 151 military families and nearly 400 children in Kentucky for 2014. (Photo by Olivia Burton)
Ale-8-One team members visited Patriot Hall in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, on Dec. 9 to bring the toys and of course, cases of Ale-8-One for the volunteers and families. On-site to greet the Ale-8-One team members were members of the Kentucky Guard and the American Legion Auxiliary.
“It was truly a joy for our employees to collect toys and gifts for such a wonderful organization,” said Fielding Rogers, 4th Generation Owner of Ale-8-One. “Operation Military Cheer brings smiles to so many faces during the holidays and we were pleased to play just a small part.”
The toy drive was part of an effort by the Kentucky National Guard’s Family Assistance Center to ensure that the children of Kentucky’s military families across all of the uniform services – active duty and reserve, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard – have a memorable holiday season. Contributions for this year’s drive came from a wide range of sources, local businesses, civilians, churches and schools as well as Kentucky National Guard troops and their families.
“Every year my family donates to multiple charities, food drives and participate in Operation Military Cheer,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Peel. “Donating money to charities is easy but isn’t something that gets kids excited. Operation Military Cheer provided me the opportunity to get my children more involved in giving. My kids now look forward to this time of year and start asking me in November if the announcements have come out.”
“We are so pleased to let everyone know that we had 151 families ask for assistance and that included 384 kids,“ Cindy Culver gladly announced to the Family Programs Office in Frankfort, Kentucky. “With the support of local organizations, businesses, and good Samaritans, toys were distributed to families across the Commonwealth in an effort to make the holidays a little brighter for service members.”
The voice of Saint Barbara’s
Story by Capt. Carla Getchell, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Lt. Col Walter J. Leaumont, deputy commander of the 138th Fires Brigade and Pfc. Samantha L. Jacobs with the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion, pose for a picture while attending the December 2014 Saint Barbara’s Day Dining-Out in Bardstown, Ky., Dec. 13, 2014. This is Leaumont’s last event before retiring in 2015, and it is Jacobs’ first event since joining the Kentucky National Guard in 2012. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Whitney Brown)
BARDSTOWN, Ky. Members of the 138th Field Artillery Brigade, and guests, attended the annual Saint Barbara’s Day Dining-Out Dec. 13 in Bardstown. For a few in attendance, the annual dinner was an inaugural event that will continue throughout their careers, but for one in particular it was his last as the master of ceremonies.
Lt. Col. Walter J. Leaumont, deputy commander and administrative officer, will retire in 2015, and this evening was his last as the voice of Saint Barbara’s; a position he earned in 2004 with his natural comedic timing and disk jockey voice. The only events he has missed were due to deployments to Afghanistan.
“I have attended since I was a lieutenant back in the ‘90s,” said Leaumont. “Back then it was a small event of around 60 or 70 people. Now we encourage all ranks from across the brigade to attend. This year we had over 500 attendees and many were below the grade of E6.”
Pfc. Samantha Jacobs, a cook with the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion, is one of those who attended the event for the first time. She enjoyed the event and plans on attending many more.
Lt. Col. Walter Leaumont speaks during the annual St. Barbara’s Dining Out in Bardstown, Ky., Dec. 13, 2014. The event was Leaumont’s last before retiring in 2015.(U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Whitney Brown)
“The people here are absolutely amazing, and everyone is so nice and has really helped me feel welcomed,” said Jacobs, who hopes to one day be inducted into the Order of Saint Barbara.
It is Soldiers like her who will go on to continue the traditions that were started by the senior officers and noncommissioned officers in the room that evening. Someone like her will go on to be the next voice of Saint Barbara’s.
Kentucky Guard Memorial continues to progress
Story by Sgt. Cody Stagner, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Wyatt Gragg guides a newly bronzed statue of Daniel Boone into position at the Kentucky National Guard Memorial site in Frankfort, Ky., Nov. 18, 2014. Gragg was commissioned to create the sculpture as the centerpiece of the memorial which is expected to be dedicated in the Spring of 2015. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Construction on the Kentucky National Guard’s Memorial continues at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Kentucky. The project remains on schedule for its Memorial Day dedication ceremony.
Visitors of BNGC and local passersby of the site will notice big changes from the past few months.
John Trowbridge, chairman for the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Fund, stands by the bronze statue of Daniel Boone at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ken., Dec. 5, 2014. Boone was chosen by the committee as a prominent feature for a memorial being dedicated to fallen Kentucky’s service members. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Cody Stagner)
“Work will continue to the holiday,” said John Trowbridge, chairman for the memorial. “We expect to break for Christmas and, weather permitting, we plan to finish it this spring.”
Trowbridge is also the original visionary of this project.
“I thought of this memorial in 2004,” said Trowbridge, former command historian for the Kentucky Guard. “It was right after our first casualty that year and I wanted to come up with a way to help our state remember those killed or captured.”
Trowbridge’s early passion for our Soldiers inspired teams of individuals. Finally, after a solid decade of planning and fundraising, his dream has become a reality.
A bronze statue of Daniel Boone, sculpted by Wyatt Gragg of Prospect, Kentucky, now acts as a centerpiece, in front of the Kentucky-shaped, granite memorial, recently shipped in from South Africa.
The concrete stairs leading up to the memorial are the most recent ongoing addition, while the granite tile flooring surrounding the two centerpieces is on the agenda for this spring.
Click here to read why Daniel Boone gained prominence as a key feature for the Kentucky National Guard Memorial.
As a reminder, Kentucky National Guard Memorial is still planning its dedication ceremony for 2 p.m. Memorial Day at Boone National Guard Center. Members of the public and family and friends of our fallen heroes are invited. For information, visit www.kyngmemorial.com.
Walker named top medical recruiter in Air Guard for second straight year
Story by Master Sgt. Philip Speck, 123rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Col. Barry Gorter (left), commander of the 123rd Airlift Wing, presents Tech. Sgt. Anthony Walker, officer recruiter for the Kentucky Air National Guard, with the Medicine Man Award at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 23, 2014. Walker won the award, given to the top medical recruiter in the Air National Guard, for the second straight year. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Phil Speck)
KENTUCKY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Tech. Sgt. Anthony Walker has been named the top recruiter of medical professionals in the Air National Guard for the second straight year.
Walker, who heads officer recruitment efforts for the Kentucky Air National Guard, received his second consecutive Medicine Man Award from the National Guard Bureau by recruiting more doctors than any other recruiter in the nation.
Walker said he was surprised to receive the honor, which was presented during a recruiting and retention seminar held at Volk Field, Wisconsin, over the summer.
“I was really surprised when they called my name,” Walker said. “I thought to myself, ‘Did they make a mistake? Were they talking about last year?’”
Walker, who competed against 25 other recruiters for the title, brought in six doctors in 2013. The national average is typically one or two a year, he said.
The process of recruiting a physician can be difficult, noted Walker, who also was named Recruiter of the Year for Region 4. Candidates require approval from the 123rd Medical Group, the 123rd Airlift Wing, Joint Forces Headquarters-Kentucky and the National Guard Bureau. The process involves a lot of paperwork and credentialing, and can take up to five months. Walker, however, has been able to streamline the process to as little as two months.
“You have to be well organized — attention to detail is a must — and be able to relate to candidates and tell them about the Air National Guard,” he said.
When Walker took over as officer recruiter in 2011, the 123rd Airlift Wing had only one flight surgeon. He quickly recruited Col. Christian Stewart as the state air surgeon and Lt. Col. Donna Stewart as a wing flight surgeon. Walker then worked with Christian Stewart to recruit even more physicians to the wing, including doctors for the 123rd Contingency Response Group and the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, both of which had never had physicians among their ranks before.
Such success didn’t come easy. Walker visited numerous medical schools in Kentucky and Tennessee, and reached out to other units in both the Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard.
“It’s about getting our name out there,” he said. “I am the ambassador for the Kentucky Air National Guard. It’s my job to go out there and say we have positions here, and if you’re a doc, we want you as part of our team.”
Walker’s sales pitch is helped by the wing’s reputation for excellence, he added, noting that the wing is one of the most decorated units in the United States Air Force.
“It’s nice to have the decorations and the awards — to show that the Kentucky Air National Guard truly is the premiere unit of the Air National Guard. So this effort is much bigger than me. It’s about the organization.”
With a shortage of doctors across the Air National Guard, Walker often receives calls from peers asking for assistance or recruiting advice.
“I definitely try to mentor other individuals out there, because you to have to develop a great team. This takes a lot of effort on everybody’s part.”
Kentucky taking lead in sexual assault awareness and prevention
Story by David Altom, Kentucky National Guard Public Affairs
Maj. John Harvey is the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator for the Kentucky National Guard. “If you’re victimized come forward,” he says. “Our subject matter expertise is among the top in the nation and we are here to protect your rights.” (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Media coverage of sexual harassment and assaults has steadily increased across the nation in recent months. What starts out as a personal, intimate incident — usually between two people — has proven susceptible to the wildfire fanned by social media and the 24 hour news cycle, especially when it involves celebrities, institutions of higher learning and the military.
The truth is, sadly enough, sexual assault in the military is nothing new. The good news is that awareness and training to combat this threat are on the rise, which ironically leads to an increase in reports.
But that’s a good thing, says Charles Lay, Victim Advocate Coordinator for the Kentucky National Guard.
“According to the Rand Corporation, it used to be that only one in ten sexual assaults in the military were reported,” said Lay. “The most recent figures show that it’s now one in four.”
The reason that’s good news, according to Lay, is that victims are more confident that the system works and their voices will be heard.
“It shows that our program is working and that our troops are getting the message,” he says. “You won’t find numbers like that in the civilian sector.”
Maj. John Harvey agrees. Harvey is the sexual assault response coordinator for the Kentucky Guard, which puts him on the hot seat when it comes to providing a safe environment for our troops.
“We’ve made a generation’s worth of changes in a matter of two or three years,” said Harvey. “Just in the past year alone we’ve received well over a hundred policy changes. It’s hard for our leaders to keep up with it. So it’s up to our office to raise awareness and get the word out there.”
Harvey takes his responsibilities to the men and women of the Kentucky National Guard seriously. He was recently awarded his Level II certification by the Department of Defense Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, making him one of 27 people in the entire National Guard to be so recognized. What this means is that he’s put in the time and has experience in working actual sexual assault cases and providing services to victims. And that, in turn, shows growth in Kentucky’s program.
“I think we’re ahead of other states on these matters,” said Harvey. “The state leadership is taking this seriously. For instance, one of the best moves we’ve made is hiring a dual status technician to work as our full-time permanent sexual assault response coordinator. That sends out a powerful message.”
Still, there are challenges, such as dispelling the long held myth that all victims of sexual harassment and assault are female.
“The secretary of defense came out with guidance that involved getting more male victims to come forward, and we’ve pushed this out through our command channels,” said Harvey. “That’s actually been an issue here in Kentucky and we hit it head on.”
Educating the staff and the troops is key to the success of the program. Harvey recognizes that military leadership, especially at the individual unit level, is overtasked with responsibilities of running the units. That, plus the troops are focusing on readiness training.
“Everyone recognizes the problem and wants to do the right thing,” said Harvey. “I think it’s amazing that they get done what they can.
“Our goal here is to raise awareness, educate and ensure the availability of services to all survivors of sexual assault. If you’re victimized, come forward. Our subject matter expertise is among the top in the nation and we are here to protect your rights.”
If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual harassment or assault, reach out for help.
Staff Report with contributions from Jim Warren, Lexington Herald Leader
Henry Miegs II, former Franklin Circuit Court Judge and founding father of the Kentucky AIr National Guard. (Courtesy photo)
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Former Franklin Circuit Court Judge Henry Meigs II was a hero and a visionary who helped found the Kentucky Air National Guard.
Meigs died Dec. 5 in Louisville, Kentucky at the age of 93.
Born in New York, Meigs earned a law degree from the University of Kentucky after his service in World War II. He served as an Army Air Corps fighter pilot in the Pacific, flying the P-38 Lightning, shooting down six Japanese planes. He received the Silver Star and Distinguished Flying Cross among numerous other air medals.
Enlisting into the Army in 1942, Meigs trained as a fighter pilot at Shaw Field in South Carolina. He then transferred to the 6th Night Fighter Squadron, flying missions in the South Pacific around Guadalcanal. Meigs would win at least three of his victories against Japanese bombers here, including the reported feat of shooting down two enemy planes within 60 seconds.
In 1944, Meigs married Sara Lesley Willis, daughter of Kentucky Governor Simeon Willis. The wedding was the first and so far only time the governor’s daughter was wed in the Governor’s Mansion.
While in law school, Meigs accepted a position as the first air officer in the Kentucky Guard in 1945, assuming the rank of lieutenant colonel. At the same time, the National Guard Bureau was generating interest among the states for the creation of Air National Guard units. In 1946, Gov. Willis sent his son-in-law to Washington D.C. to meet with officials about bringing an Air Guard unit to Kentucky.
Through correspondence with Brig. Gen. Gustavus H. May, Kentucky’s adjutant general, that meeting led to the 123rd Fighter Group coming to Standiford Field in Louisville. Through his hard work and determination, Meigs led the charge to bring the new air assets to the Commonwealth. A few months later, in 1947, the 123rd was federally recognized and then-Lt. Col. Philip Ardery took charge as the wing’s first commander.
Kentucky Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini presents the burial flag to Sara Willis Meigs at the funeral of her husband Henry Meigs at the Frankfort Cemetery in Frankfort, Ky., Dec. 5, 2014. A World War fighter pilot, Meigs would help found the Kentucky Air National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Scott Raymond)
“The Kentucky Air National Guard has a storied history of excellence, and it all started with Judge Meigs and Philip Ardery in 1947,” said Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, Adjutant General for Kentucky. “Judge Meigs led quite a distinguished life, from a World War II Ace to a prominent fixture in the courtrooms of the Commonwealth.”
“We are grateful for his vision and resolve that helped shape the Kentucky Air National Guard into a major player in the defense of this country and the security of our state.”
Click here to read more about the history of the Kentucky Air National Guard.
Meigs practiced law in Frankfort from 1949 until 1960, when then-Gov. Bert Combs selected him to serve as the first circuit judge of the newly created 48th District.
Because the court was based in Frankfort, Judge Meigs immediately was called on to handle cases testing the constitutionality of many pieces of state legislation and issues ranging from Christian schools to the Ten Commandments and the separation of powers in state government.
A second judgeship for the 48th District was created in 1974, and Squire Williams Jr. joined Judge Meigs on the bench. When the two retired in 1983, it marked the closing of “an important chapter in the history of the Kentucky judiciary,” the Herald-Leader reported.
After leaving the bench, Meigs moved to Louisville, where he practiced law until retiring in 2000.
In addition to his wife, Judge Meigs is survived by two sons, four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
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