Fort Bliss Monitor

ADA branch celebrates birthday

SPC. STEVE BAACK
Monitor Staff

TFort Bliss celebrated the 36th birthday of the Air Defense Artillery branch with a ceremony at the Fort Bliss Museum and Study Center Friday.

After a video montage of ADA Soldiers in theater and in training, there was a presentation of paintings, which were donated to the ADA Association as a way to recognize the contributions of ADA Soldiers.

“First to Fire,” by Don Stivers, was painted as a tribute to World War II-era antiaircraft artillerymen purchased by Boeing Company and donated to the ADA Association. “Guardians of Freedom,” by Jim Ryan, portrays the role of Air and Missile Defense Soldiers from the Cold War through deployments to the Balkans. “Air and Missile Defenders of Freedom,” by Rick Thompson, commemorates Air and Missile Defense Soldiers’

participation in the Global War on Terrorism, including Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

“I am honored to be part of the ceremony commemorating the history of air defense,” said Ryan “As an employee of Raytheon, I’ve come to appreciate the Air Defender. Through the years, I’ve always thought of him as the unsung hero of our nation’s Army.”

Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane, commander, U.S. Army Air Defense Center and Fort Bliss, was the keynote speaker.

“Today’s celebration of the branch’s birthday is also a commemoration of more than a century of air defense artillery’s existence,” said Vane. “The Army first split the artillery into coast and field artillery in 1907 because field artillery could follow other combat arms into battle while coast artillery was anchored in the sea. By 1946, coast artillery’s antiaircraft arm had evolved into a highly mobile force. These were the Soldiers who fought with American infantry and armor across Europe, and the Soldiers who held the bridge at Ramagen.

“In 1950, Congress consolidated field artillery and coast artillery into one branch. The two artilleries were on different azimuths. Field artillery needed Soldiers expert on Howitzers and cannons, while air defense artillery needed Soldiers skilled in the expanding mission of missile science.”

Vane continued, “Air Defenders have always been unique in their willingness to embrace change. Our branch has continued to evolve to meet the changing nature of the threat. Our Soldiers and our leaders have truly embodied air and missile defense … so we look forward, not with hesitancy but with pride and excitement, to the upcoming challenges of the Army’s transformation and our expanding space and missile defense mission.”
Vane, alongside Retired Maj. Gen. John B. Oblinger, president of the ADA Association, was then invited to host the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the ADA Regimental Hallway inside the museum. The hallway honors the ADA regimental system — one of the oldest, most basic military organizational structures. Vane and Command Sgt. Maj. Julio A. Torres, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, cut the ADA birthday cake afterward, and the 62nd Army Band played the ADA March and the Army song, concluding the ceremony.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	July 1, 2004

	ADA branch celebrates birthday SPC. STEVE BAACK Monitor Staff TFort Bliss celebrated the 36th birthday of the Air Defense Artillery branch with a ceremony at the Fort Bliss Museum and Study Center Friday. After a video montage of ADA Soldiers in theater and in training, there was a presentation of paintings, which were donated to the ADA Association as a way to recognize the contributions of ADA Soldiers. “First to Fire,” by Don Stivers, was painted as a tribute to World War II-era antiaircraft artillerymen purchased by Boeing Company and donated to the ADA Association. “Guardians of Freedom,” by Jim Ryan, portrays the role of Air and Missile Defense Soldiers from the Cold War through deployments to the Balkans. “Air and Missile Defenders of Freedom,” by Rick Thompson, commemorates Air and Missile Defense Soldiers’ participation in the Global War on Terrorism, including Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom. “I am honored to be part of the ceremony commemorating the history of air defense,” said Ryan “As an employee of Raytheon, I’ve come to appreciate the Air Defender. Through the years, I’ve always thought of him as the unsung hero of our nation’s Army.” Maj. Gen. Michael A. Vane, commander, U.S. Army Air Defense Center and Fort Bliss, was the keynote speaker. “Today’s celebration of the branch’s birthday is also a commemoration of more than a century of air defense artillery’s existence,” said Vane. “The Army first split the artillery into coast and field artillery in 1907 because field artillery could follow other combat arms into battle while coast artillery was anchored in the sea. By 1946, coast artillery’s antiaircraft arm had evolved into a highly mobile force. These were the Soldiers who fought with American infantry and armor across Europe, and the Soldiers who held the bridge at Ramagen. “In 1950, Congress consolidated field artillery and coast artillery into one branch. The two artilleries were on different azimuths. Field artillery needed Soldiers expert on Howitzers and cannons, while air defense artillery needed Soldiers skilled in the expanding mission of missile science.” Vane continued, “Air Defenders have always been unique in their willingness to embrace change. Our branch has continued to evolve to meet the changing nature of the threat. Our Soldiers and our leaders have truly embodied air and missile defense … so we look forward, not with hesitancy but with pride and excitement, to the upcoming challenges of the Army’s transformation and our expanding space and missile defense mission.” Vane, alongside Retired Maj. Gen. John B. Oblinger, president of the ADA Association, was then invited to host the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of the ADA Regimental Hallway inside the museum. The hallway honors the ADA regimental system — one of the oldest, most basic military organizational structures. Vane and Command Sgt. Maj. Julio A. Torres, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, cut the ADA birthday cake afterward, and the 62nd Army Band played the ADA March and the Army song, concluding the ceremony.