After remaining missing for 70 years, Clinton native 1st Lt. Longman to return home Saturday to final resting place at Rock Island Arsenal National Cemetery

 

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad has ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in Iowa from 5 p.m. Friday, April 11, 2014, until 8 a.m. Monday, April 14, 2014, in honor of U.S. Army Air Corps 1st Lt. Louis L. Longman, formerly of Clinton, Iowa. A photo of 1st Lt. Longman may be found here.

Longman, a 26-year old Clinton, Iowa native serving with the 433rd Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Corps, was last seen April 16, 1944 as his unit returned from a B-25 bomber escort mission over Hollandia, New Guinea. A Lockheed P-38 "Lightning" fighter pilot, Longman was on the return leg of the mission in a P-38J aircraft when his unit encountered severe weather in the Markham Valley. Longman's last reported location was in the vicinity of Bogadjim, New Guinea, as his formation broke up. The 5th Air Force lost 53 pilots and crewmen that day in what became known as "Black Sunday."

Longman was officially declared deceased on Feb. 27, 1946, but his remains were never recovered. In February 2005, the Joint Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Command - Central Identification Laboratory (JPAC) received information of a possible aircraft crash site in Madang province, Papua New Guinea. In August 2007, human remains, as well as parts of a U.S. P-38J aircraft were recovered by a JPAC Investigation Team. Additional remains and physical evidence were also recovered in 2009 and 2010 by JPAC personnel.

In 2011, JPAC's Research and Analysis Group concluded a historical association drawn from Missing Air Crew Report #4501 and the excavation site. The location of the excavated aircraft crash site and the wreckage reported by JPAC personnel, consistent with a Lockheed P-38J Lightning, support this historical association.

Louis Longman was born Jan. 23, 1918 in Murdock, Minn. to George F. and Ellen T. (Cleary) Longman. He graduated from St. Mary's High School in Clinton, Iowa in 1936, and participated in a wide variety of school activities, including basketball, football (All-State honorable mention), yearbook sports editor, dramatics, and class officer positions.

Longman enlisted in the U.S. Army on Feb. 19, 1942, and transferred into the U.S. Army Air Corps in June. Longman completed his primary flight training at Cal-Aero Academy in Ontario, Calif., then completed Basic (Merced Army Airfield, Merced, Calif.) and Advanced (Williams Army Airfield, Mesa, Ariz.) Flight Training, receiving his pilot wings on April 12, 1943. He left the U.S. for duty in the Pacific theater in July 1943 and was assigned to the 433rd Fighter Squadron, 475th Fighter Group, 5th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Corps.

Among his military awards and honors is the Air Medal (with numeral "2"), American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (w/4 Bronze Service Stars), World War II Victory Medal and Pilot Wings.

He was preceded in death by his parents. His four brothers and four sisters are also deceased.

A memorial service and interment will be held at the Rock Island Arsenal National Cemetery, 1 Rock Island Arsenal, Rock Island, Ill. on April 12, 2014 at 1 p.m., with full military honors provided by the Iowa National Guard. Please use the Moline entrance. The public is welcome to attend the memorial service.

The Governor's directive applies to all U.S. and state flags under the control of the state. H.R. 692, signed in 2007, requires federal government agencies in the state to comply with the Governor's Executive Order that the U.S. flag be flown at half-staff in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces.

Flags will be at half-staff on the State Capitol Building and on flag displays in the Capitol Complex, and upon all public buildings, grounds, and facilities throughout the state. Individuals, businesses, schools, municipalities, counties and other government subdivisions are encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect.

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Congressman: Putting veterans' specialized skills to use is common sense

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today continued his fight to create a Veterans' Job Corps, reintroducing legislation that would put unemployed veterans back to work using skills they developed in the military?in such roles as improving our national parks, serving as police officers and firefighters and working in local communities.

"Unemployment levels for veterans remains higher than the national average, and the Veterans' Jobs Corps is an opportunity to level the playing field for those that have sacrificed so much for our country," Braley said. "Many of our veterans have highly valued skills that could be put to good use with minimal training?it's commonsense that we should pursue every opportunity to do that."

 

The Veterans' Jobs Corps Act would allow the executive branch to create the program as a cooperative project between federal agencies. Members of the jobs corps could be employed to improve public lands and national parks, prevent forest fires, work in public safety jobs and control floods. Participation in the corps would be open to veterans and widows of veterans.

Braley previously co-hosted a series of bipartisan field hearings on veterans' unemployment.  Braley also successfully fought for a pair of tax credits that give businesses incentives to hire unemployed veterans.

A link to the bill can be found HERE.

 

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(DES MOINES) - Governor Terry E. Branstad will present the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Governor's ROTC Award for outstanding achievement to nine students from The University of Iowa, Iowa State University, Drake University, University of Dubuque, Buena Vista University, and the University of Northern Iowa.  The ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday, April 9, 2014,  at 9 a.m. at the State Capitol in the Robert D. Ray Conference Room.

The awards are presented annually by Governor Branstad to top students in nine ROTC programs at six universities.  The awards "honor the men and women for leadership, academics, and military achievement." 

Receiving this year's awards will be:

Cadet Colonel Jonathon L. Beening, University of Iowa Air Force ROTC, the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Beening of Inverness, Illinois.
Cadet Lietenant Colonel Zachary A. Graham, Iowa State University Army ROTC, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Graham of Waverly, Iowa.
Cadet Captain Amelia A. Herink, University of Iowa Army ROTC, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Herink of Canton, Illinois.
Second Lieutenant Charles C. Hohnbaum, Iowa State University Air Force ROTC, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles K. Hohnbaum of Oregon, Wisconsin.
Midshipman First Class Kelly A. Larkin, Iowa State University Naval ROTC, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Pete Larkin of New Hampton, Iowa.
Cadet Major Benjamin J. Levine, Drake University Army ROTC, the son of Ms. Mary Levine of Bloomington, Minnesota.
Cadet Major Mason E. Nielsen, Buena Vista University Army ROTC, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Nielsen of Central City, Iowa.
Cadet Major Jacob C. Pinion, University of Dubuque Army ROTC, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Dan Pinion of Maquoketa, Iowa.
Cadet Captain Mark R. Wieneke, University of Northern Iowa Army ROTC, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Steve Wieneke of Ankeny, Iowa.
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April 5 ceremony recognizes 238th General Support Aviation Battalion

PEORIA, IL (04/01/2014)(readMedia)-- Approximately 60 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers will be recognized April 5 by the National Guard Bureau Freedom Salute Campaign for their sacrifice and service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). The ceremony for 2nd Battalion of the 238th General Support Aviation Battalion in Peoria, Ill. will be at 10 a.m. at the Army Aviation Support Facility #3, 2323 S. Airport Road in Peoria.

The unit mobilized in January 2013 and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, returning home Dec. 14. The aviation unit includes members from across Illinois.

While deployed, the 238th flew CH-47 Chinook helicopters for heavy helicopter air movement and air assault missions. The company was also in charge of re-supply operations and aviation maintenance support. The 238th moved personnel and cargo across the battlefield to decisive points at critical times.

The company flew more than 3,100 combat hours, moving more than 14,000 people and three million pounds of cargo during its rotation.

"I cannot speak highly enough of this company and its Soldiers," said Maj. Clarence Pulcher of Morton, Ill., commander of the 238th. "We executed all of our missions without fail and without a single serious accident."

Pulcher highlighted his maintenance section's performance after several of the unit's aircraft were damaged by a hailstorm in April, just weeks after the unit arrived in Afghanistan.

"It was a hailstorm of biblical proportion dropping anywhere from pea-sized to baseball-sized hail," Pulcher said. "Living most of my life in Southern Illinois, tornado alley, I have never seen anything like it."

Pulcher said his maintenance teams worked around the clock to get the Chinooks airborne within two weeks.

The Freedom Salute Campaign is a small way to show these patriotic citizen-Soldiers, their families and employers how much their sacrifice is appreciated. On behalf of the National Guard Bureau, the Illinois Army National Guard will present each eligible Soldier with an encased American flag, as well as a sequentially-numbered commemorative coin, certificate of appreciation and lapel pin. Families will also receive items recognizing their support and sacrifice.

The Freedom Salute Campaign is one of the largest Army National Guard recognition endeavors in history. It is designed to publicly acknowledge Army National Guard Soldiers and those who supported them while deployed.

News media attending the event should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the ceremony and are asked to contact the Public Affairs Office to gain access to Camp Lincoln.

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