News

Honoring all who have served

  • Published
  • By Maj. Ervin Powers
  • 37th Flying Training Squadron
COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. --   This Veterans Day, we will remember all those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, both past and present. 

The 14th Flying Training Wing will be honoring all of our Veterans during a ceremony Tuesday at 3 p.m. in front of the Wing Headquarters. The ceremony will include the honoring of five veterans that have ties to Columbus. Memorial Plaza, B, D, E and First Streets will be renamed to honor these veterans. 

Memorial Plaza will be renamed for retired Lt. Col. Richard "Gene" Smith, Jr. Colonel Smith was an F-105 pilot and prisoner of war for five and one-half years during the Vietnam War. He later served as Operations Officer and Squadron Commander of the 50th Flying Training Squadron at Columbus AFB. He is also the former Chairman of the Board of the Air Force Association and Executive Director of the Golden Triangle Regional Airport. Col. Smith currently resides in West Point, Miss. 

B Street will be renamed Bradt Street in honor of Capt. Douglas Bradt. Captain Bradt, a graduate of Columbus pilot training class 86-04 and OV-10, F-111A and EF-111 pilot, posthumously received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Purple Heart for combat actions during Operation Desert Storm. 

D Street will be renamed Harris Street in honor of retired Col. Carlyle "Smitty" Harris. Colonel Harris, was a F-105 pilot and POW in Vietnam for more than seven years where he perfected and spread a tap code that became the gold standard for communication between prisoners during the Vietnam War. Colonel Harris currently resides in Tupelo, Miss. 

E Street will be renamed for Maj. William Downs. Major Downs, a graduate of Columbus pilot training class 89-07, was a B-52, C-130 and MC-130, OV-10, Russian AN-26 and AN-32, Australian N-22 and CompAir 2000 pilot and served in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. Maj. Downs was assisting the newly established Iraqi Air Force in classified and dangerous combat missions when his aircraft went down near the Iranian border on Memorial Day, 2005 

First Street will be renamed Shumake Street in honor of retired Col. Glynn Shumake. Colonel Shumake, a B-17 pilot who flew 30 combat missions in Europe during World War II, was shot down in April 1945 and was a POW in Barth, Germany and barrack mate of Staff Sgt. Rufus Ward of West Point. As a Columbus resident, he later served as a member of the Mississippi State Legislature and the House of Representatives from 1972-1987. 

All of the BLAZE Team are invited to this 3 p.m. ceremony in front of Wing Headquarters. It will feature the above memorializations, a Retreat ceremony, Taps and a T-38 flyover.