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McConnell reserve commander throws morning weather viewers for a loop

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Brannen Parrish
  • 931st Air Refueling Group Public Affairs
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  When viewers of CBS affiliate, KWCH Channel 12, tuned in for the morning weather report at 8:10 today, they expected to receive the weather report from veteran meteorologist, Mark Larson but the Mark Larson they saw wasn't a meteorologist or a broadcaster.

Morning news anchor, Kara Sewell, handed off the morning weather report to Col. Mark Larson, 931st Air Refueling Group commander. Clad in his blue service attire, the colonel began delivering the weather report of the previous evening's rainfall.

"Whoa, whoa, let me help you, out Colonel," said meteorologist, Mark Larson, as he stepped in to reclaim his spot in front of the weather graphic and welcome the man with whom he shares a name. "Yes, this is Col. Mark Larson, and thank you so much for joining us today, sir."

The meeting between the meteorologist, Mark Larson, and the commander, Mark Larson, was arranged after an Airman who attends church with the local weather man informed him that he shared a name with the commander of the Reserve unit at the base.

While Larson, the meteorologist, said he's never been confused with the colonel, Larson, the colonel, has been confused with the meteorologist.

"I had a retaining wall fall down over the weekend, so I was trying to get a contractor to come out and do it. When I called I said, 'Hi, this is Mark Larson' he said, 'Hollywood!' I said, 'No, no, no. It's not that Mark Larson," Col. Larson told the viewers.

Col. Larson went on to discuss the 931st ARG's role at McConnell, the effects of the government shutdown on the more than 630 civilian employees and Air Force Reservists assigned to the group, as well as the excitement over being named the preferred main operating base for the KC-46.

"We're waiting to hear next spring, if Congress makes the decision that it's going to come here, we're going to get a whole new airplane, a whole new weapons system. It's going to mean a lot to the community," said Col. Larson.

Video of Larson's weather report and interview is available at www.kwch.com/news/morning.