60th Anniversary: Beginning of an everlasting heritage

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Mercedes Muro
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  In 1955, a pocket of Jacksonville was carved out and dedicated to serving our country.

For 60 years, that sculpture has become Little Rock Air Force Base. It has sustained its presence by accomplishing a variety of missions, hosting several units and earning awards such as the Air Force Outstanding Unit award in 2014.

However, Little Rock AFB is as successful as it is because the community took so much care in molding the base and ensuring it had everything needed to operate successfully and efficiently.

"In 1951, the Greater Little Rock Chamber of Commerce learned the Air Force was looking to build an air base and a campaign was formed to bring the base to Jacksonville," said DannaKay Duggar, the Jacksonville Military Museum director and local resident. 

That campaign evolved into the Little Rock Air Force Base Community Council. The goal of the council was to correspond with the Air Force and bring a base to Jacksonville.

"The community council corresponded with the Air Force officials through a letter to let them know they were interested to bringing a base to Arkansas," said Warren Dupree, the Jacksonville Military Museum facilities manager. "The officials were interested because, at the time, Arkansas didn't have an air base."

The community council also learned in order to build a military installation, the land had to be donated to the Department of Defense.

"Approximately 50 to 80 local groups donated a total of approx. 6,000 acres of land," Dupree said. "Many people were willing to donate their land; there were very few who didn't want to give up their land. There was even a fund to buy-out land owners."

In addition to providing land, community members contributed to funding the $50 million dollar project.

The groups raised between $650,000 and $800,000 to contribute to the project. After two years of construction, the base opened to the public with its first open house Oct. 9, 1955, and was already occupied by 100 officers and more than 1,000 enlisted members.

Without the reliability of the community, the base would not have been able to accomplish so many missions. Airmen, similar to the multiple aircraft and units, who have passed through the base have done many things to benefit the community, including contributing to the income.                                                                                                                         

"Little Rock AFB is one of the highest employers in central Arkansas," Duggar said. "Even service members, veterans and retirees seek employment in the surrounding areas."

The base has become known as the place to retire from - and many do.

"People who are stationed here tend to retire here and become teachers, police officers and firemen. So they still, in some way, help out the community, even though their military careers are over," Duggar said.

And when service members retire and get their blue ID card, many decide to continue their careers and support the local area by working on base through contracted companies.

"I liked it here so much I made it my base of preference after five years and I haven't left since then," said Danny Gregg, a local Little Rock AFB retiree resident. "It's easy to make friends here and make good relationships."

Gregg, a resident since 1988, has noticed the stable ties between the base and the community which has created lasting personal ties, too.

"I believe that military members can make friends and have good relationships with individuals in the community because of the relationship on base," Gregg said. "The base holds a lot of respect for the community, the same way the community has a lot of respect for the base."

The ties with the community are often formed through professional experiences.

However, sometimes the connections -- forged between service members and community members -- can generate personal growth.

"Being in the military, I've seen a lot of things," said Airman 1st Class Kayleigh Fountain, a 19th Force Support Squadron re-enlistments technician and active community member. "However, the community here has made me even more open-minded. I'm more eager to learn about different backgrounds and become a better wingman."

Even civilians have felt personal improvement working with other service members.
"I work with in a professional environment and with people who are polite and maintain high standards," said Monica Young, the 19th FSS Marketing Director. "The environment on base has rubbed off on me and made me more respectful when I'm working."

These first 60 years have paved the way for military operations. In the next 60 years, the goal for Little Rock AFB is continue to uphold its standards and ties with the community as the Home of Combat Airlift.

"We are being good stewards of tax payers when we're doing everything we can and we're ensured that we have all the resources and training that we need," said Col. Charles Brown, 19th Airlift Wing commander. "We trust our civil leaders and they trust us back. We have confidence that they have our back and that we will do what we're asked when called upon."