thedrifter
07-23-07, 06:05 AM
Published: July 22, 2007 03:29 pm
Area military base welcomes new arrival
Speical to the Democrat
NAVAL AIR STATION-JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, Texas — The former Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation Manpower and Support (ASM) Director will take command of Marine Aircraft Group 41 Saturday at 2:41 p.m. in a brief change-of-command ceremony at the ceremonial hangar.
Comprised of 1,600 active duty and Reserve Marines and sailors of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, MAG-41 is the largest Marine Corps unit in Texas. Col. Gary ‘Gumby’ Graham will succeed Col. Juergen ‘Baron’ Lukas, who is stepping down and retiring within the Fort Worth area after 27 years of service to the Corps.
Raised in Camden, N.J., Col. Graham received his commission in the Marine Corps in 1983 and earned his flight wings in 1986. Graham was assigned as a jet pilot where he has flown the A-6E Intruder and the F/A-18 Hornet accumulating over 3,800 flight hours and 150 carrier landings.
He has deployed ashore and afloat to the Western Pacific, the Mediterranean and to Aviano, Italy while supporting Operations Deny Flight, Deliberate Force and the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program. During that time, he served in all three active Marine Corps airwings.
In his last flying assignment, Graham served as commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 224 in Beaufort, S.C.
He has earned two master’s degrees from the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base and recently completed his second tour of duty with the Department of Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps where he served as the Assistant Branch head for Aviation Weapons Requirement Branch (APW) and Branch head for Aviation and Manpower Support.
Graham’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Air Medal with seven strike flight awards, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal.
Ellie
Area military base welcomes new arrival
Speical to the Democrat
NAVAL AIR STATION-JOINT RESERVE BASE FORT WORTH, Texas — The former Headquarters Marine Corps Aviation Manpower and Support (ASM) Director will take command of Marine Aircraft Group 41 Saturday at 2:41 p.m. in a brief change-of-command ceremony at the ceremonial hangar.
Comprised of 1,600 active duty and Reserve Marines and sailors of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, MAG-41 is the largest Marine Corps unit in Texas. Col. Gary ‘Gumby’ Graham will succeed Col. Juergen ‘Baron’ Lukas, who is stepping down and retiring within the Fort Worth area after 27 years of service to the Corps.
Raised in Camden, N.J., Col. Graham received his commission in the Marine Corps in 1983 and earned his flight wings in 1986. Graham was assigned as a jet pilot where he has flown the A-6E Intruder and the F/A-18 Hornet accumulating over 3,800 flight hours and 150 carrier landings.
He has deployed ashore and afloat to the Western Pacific, the Mediterranean and to Aviano, Italy while supporting Operations Deny Flight, Deliberate Force and the Marine Corps’ Unit Deployment Program. During that time, he served in all three active Marine Corps airwings.
In his last flying assignment, Graham served as commanding officer of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 224 in Beaufort, S.C.
He has earned two master’s degrees from the Air University at Maxwell Air Force Base and recently completed his second tour of duty with the Department of Aviation, Headquarters Marine Corps where he served as the Assistant Branch head for Aviation Weapons Requirement Branch (APW) and Branch head for Aviation and Manpower Support.
Graham’s personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal with gold star, Air Medal with seven strike flight awards, Navy Commendation Medal and Navy Achievement Medal.
Ellie