[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1697 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 1697

    Honoring the New Mexico Air National Guard and recognizing the 
             invaluable service of the 150th Fighter Wing.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 29, 2010

Mr. Heinrich submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                    the Committee on Armed Services

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Honoring the New Mexico Air National Guard and recognizing the 
             invaluable service of the 150th Fighter Wing.

Whereas the mission of the New Mexico Air National Guard is to provide 
        unsurpassed aerospace combat capability and combat support forces to 
        meet any contingency in the world;
Whereas the New Mexico Air National Guard was federally recognized on July 7, 
        1947, as the 188th Fighter-Bomber Squadron;
Whereas the mission of the 188th Fighter-Bomber Squadron was changed from 
        fighter-bomber to fighter-interceptor on February 12, 1951, and the 
        squadron was redesignated as the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 
        July 1, 1955;
Whereas on February 1, 1951, the pilots of the 188th Fighter-Interceptor 
        Squadron were called to active duty for the Korean War;
Whereas First Lieutenants Robert Lucas and Joseph Murray, Guardsmen of the 188th 
        Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, were killed while flying close-air-support 
        missions during the Korean War;
Whereas Captain Francis Williams and First Lieutenant Robert Sands, Guardsmen of 
        the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron were each credited with three 
        air-to-air kills against the Soviet Mikoyan-Gurevich 15 (MiG-15) 
        fighters during the Korean War;
Whereas the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron adopted the nickname ``Enchilada 
        Air Force'' during the Korean War and used the flying call-sign 
        ``Enchiladas'' in honor of the large enchilada dinners they would 
        prepare for their associates;
Whereas on July 1, 1960, the 188th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron was redesignated 
        and federally recognized as the 150th Tactical Fighter Group;
Whereas on January 26, 1968, the 150th Tactical Fighter Group was called to 
        active duty as a result of the U.S.S. Pueblo Crisis and remained active 
        for the Vietnam War, flying over 6,000 combat flights in the F-100 Super 
        Sabre;
Whereas 150th Tactical Fighter Group Guardsman Captain Michael Adams was killed-
        in-action and Guardsmen Major Bobby Neeld and First Lieutenant Mitchell 
        Lane were reported missing-in-action during the Vietnam War;
Whereas the 150th Tactical Fighter Group changed its nickname and call sign to 
        ``Tacos'' during the Vietnam War in order to give air traffic 
        controllers a name that was easier to pronounce;
Whereas on December 3, 1990, members of the 150th Tactical Fighter Group's 
        Security Forces Squadron were called to active duty in support of 
        Operation Desert Storm;
Whereas on October 16, 1995, the 150th Tactical Fighter Group was redesignated 
        and federally recognized as the 150th Fighter Wing;
Whereas on April 12, 1997, the 150th Fighter Wing was called to active duty in 
        support of Operation Southern Watch and deployed to Kuwait;
Whereas on January 13, 2001, the 150th Fighter Wing was called to active duty in 
        support of Operation Northern Watch and deployed to Turkey;
Whereas the 150th Fighter Wing flew Combat Air Patrols in response to the 
        terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001;
Whereas in 2004, the 150th Fighter Wing helped fly the first F-16C's into Balad 
        Air Base, Iraq to establish fighter operations in support of Operation 
        Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas in 2007, the 150th Fighter Wing maintained a 100 percent hit rate with 
        no duds, fratricide, or collateral damage during its second deployment 
        in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom;
Whereas since September 11, 2001, the 150th Fighter Wing has supported national 
        security objectives during numerous Air Expeditionary Force and 
        Expeditionary Combat Support deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Qatar, 
        Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Columbia, Oman, and Kuwait;
Whereas the New Mexico Air National Guard received numerous accolades for 
        superior performance, including the Spaatz Trophy in 1956, Presidential 
        Unit Citation in 1968, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm in 
        1968 and 1969, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with Valor in 1969, Air 
        Force Outstanding Unit Awards in 1977, 1989 and 1996, the Winston P. 
        Wilson Trophy in 1980, the top A-7 Team at Gunsmoke in 1989 and 1991, 
        the Distinguished Flying Unit Award in 1991, and Outstanding Air 
        National Guard Unit in 1991;
Whereas the New Mexico Air National Guard flew numerous aircraft throughout its 
        history, including the A-26 Invader, F-51 Mustang, P-51 Mustang, T-6 
        Texan, F-80 Shooting Star, F-100 Super Sabre, A-7D Corsair II, and F-16C 
        Fighting Falcon; and
Whereas the 150th Fighter Wing will continue serving New Mexico and the United 
        States by associating with the 58th Special Operations Wing in a Total 
        Force Integration initiative training combat aviators in the HC-130P/N 
        Combat King, MC-130P Combat Shadow, UH-1N Huey, and HH-60G Pave Hawk: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the members of the New Mexico Air National Guard 
        who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United 
        States;
            (2) recognizes the association between the 150th Fighter 
        Wing and the 58th Special Operations Wing, which will help 
        prepare mission-ready personnel in direct support of Air 
        Expeditionary Forces worldwide;
            (3) commends the Air Force Chief of Staff, General Norton 
        Schwartz, and the New Mexico National Guard commander, Major 
        General Kenny C. Montoya, as their interaction and coordination 
        were instrumental in establishing the association between the 
        150th Fighter Wing and the 58th Special Operations Wing;
            (4) commends the 150th Fighter Wing commander, Colonel 
        Frederik ``Garvin'' Hartwig, and the members of the 150th 
        Fighter Wing for their tremendous service to New Mexico and the 
        United States; and
            (5) honors the New Mexico Air National Guard for providing 
        over 63 years of exemplary service and continuing their 
        protection of New Mexico and the United States.
                                 <all>