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Fort Bragg honors Air Force Reserve neighbor

  • Published
POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Attending Army functions is part of the job for Col. Merle D. "Maddog" Hart, 440th Airlift Wing commander. The Air Force reservist from here internalizes strategic partnerships with the Army.

"It is kind of like visiting with your neighbors," said Colonel Hart, who frequently visits the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg, N.C.

At a recent 82nd Airborne Division social, Colonel Hart was invited to be inducted as an "Honorary Member of the Division."

Colonel Hart said he was surprised when 82nd Airborne Division commanding general, Maj. Gen. Mike Scaparrotti, and the 82nd Command Sgt. Maj. Tom Capel called him to the stage in front of several hundred local military and civilian leaders.
General Scaparrotti presided over the rare ceremony on April 24, 2009, and offered high praise for the exceptional support the colonel has provided to Soldiers at Fort Bragg.

"Colonel Merle 'Mad Dog' Hart has committed himself to building and maintaining a strong partnership between the 82nd Airborne Division and the U.S. Air Force," said General Scaparrotti. "For his leadership, vision and significant support of the division's paratroopers, we are honored to induct him as an honorary member of the 82nd Airborne Division."

The Army's reverence to the 440th AW commander can be seen by simply looking at how few others have received this tribute. Colonel Hart is now one of only 12 HMOD members and the first and only one who is currently serving in the military and from another branch of service.

"I was taken back ... what an unexpected honor for a newcomer to the community," Colonel Hart said.

Colonel Hart and the wing moved from Milwaukee to Pope in June 2007. Two years earlier the Wisconsin unit learned that it would relocate to North Carolina as a result of recommendations by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission.

Colonel Hart recognized the shift in the wing's mission. Instead of transporting equipment in and out of theaters of operation, the 440th's primary mission is airlift support for the Army at Fort Bragg.

When the first planes and Airmen began arriving at Pope, Colonel Hart immediately connected the wing with the local community. The 440th AW reached out to the region, filling 800 fulltime and part-time positions with North Carolina residents.

At the same time, Colonel Hart established a rapport with the Army by visiting his counterparts at the XVIII Airborne Corps and 82nd Airborne Division and becoming more familiar with how the Army does business.

"Colonel Hart has supported the 82nd Airborne Division by coordinating airlift capability and resources to support several Joint Force Entry Exercises at Fort Bragg," General Scaparrotti. "This close relationship with the division has always been essential in maintaining an Airborne Forced Entry capability. Colonel Hart has been a critical player in reestablishing this joint mission profile to our nation's global response force."

The relationship between the two units is evident in everything the wing does. Even the new tail flash on its aircraft combines elements of the historic legacy of the Army and the 440th. The tail flash displays the words "BRAGG - POPE," in D-Day style black and white invasion stripes, and includes the World War II airborne troop carrier patch.

Colonel Hart also helped coordinate the dedication of a unique nose art display on C-130, Tail No. 282 in honor of the 82nd Airborne Division. The dedication ceremony in October 2008 commemorated the relationship between the wing and the division, which dates back to 1943. The nose art dedication was part of a reunion of World War II troop carrier veterans in Fayetteville, N.C. (Tommy Bolton, civilian aide to the secretary of the Army contributed to this story)