[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 149 (Wednesday, October 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1553-E1554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO COLONEL FRANKLIN E. CHALK, SR.

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. GREGG HARPER

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 23, 2013

  Mr. HARPER. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Colonel 
Franklin E. Chalk, Commander, 186th Air Refueling Wing, Key Field Air 
National Guard Base, in Meridian, Mississippi, for his 35 years of 
faithful service to our country.

[[Page E1554]]

  A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Colonel Chalk attended Meridian 
Community College and received an Associate of Arts Degree in 
Accounting in 1974. After enlisting in the Mississippi Air National 
Guard and completing Undergraduate Navigator Training, he attended 
Mississippi State University--Meridian where he received a Bachelor of 
Science Degree in Accounting in 1984. Colonel Chalk received a Masters 
of Commercial Aviation from Delta State University on Dec. 14, 2002.
  Colonel Chalk received his commission through the Academy of Military 
Science, Knoxville, Tennessee on Nov. 16, 1978. After commissioning, he 
attended Undergraduate Navigator Training, Mather Air Force Base, 
California, which he completed on Nov. 17, 1979. On Dec. 27, 1979, he 
graduated from Tactical Navigation Training at Shaw Air Force Base, 
South Carolina.
   Colonel Chalk served as the 153rd Air Refueling Squadron Detachment 
Commander while deployed in support of Operation Phoenix Duke II, Rhein 
Main Air Base, Germany, flying numerous air refueling missions over 
former Soviet Bloc countries. He also served as Detachment Commander 
for Operation Deliberate Forge, Operation Joint Forge, Istres, France 
and Operation Northern Viking, Keflavik, Iceland. Colonel Chalk was 
activated Oct. 17, 2001, deploying as Commander, 341 EARS, Incirlik Air 
Base, Turkey in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He has served as 
the Commander of the 478th Expeditionary Operations Squadron, Manta, 
Ecuador, the 506th Expeditionary Air Refueling Squadron, Andersen Air 
Force Base, Guam, and Viking South, Bahia Blanca, Argentina in support 
of the 2005 Summit of the Americas.
  His awards and decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal with 
one device; Air Medal; Aerial Achievement Medal; Air Force Commendation 
Medal with two devices; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with two 
devices; Combat Readiness Medal with two devices; National Defense 
Service Medal with one device; Kosovo Campaign Medal with two devices; 
Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism 
Service Medal; Armed Forces Service Medal with one device; Humanitarian 
Service Medal; Air Force Overseas Ribbon Short; Air Force Expeditionary 
Service Ribbon with Gold Border; Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon 
with four devices; Armed Forces Reserve Medal with one device; Air 
Force Training Ribbon; Mississippi Magnolia Cross; Mississippi Magnolia 
Medal; Mississippi War Medal with one device; Mississippi Emergency 
Service Medal.
  Prior to achieving the position of Commander, Colonel Chalk served as 
Vice Commander, 186th ARW. Other military assignments include Squadron 
Navigator, Chief of Standardizations and Evaluations, Training Officer, 
Air Operations Officer, Squadron Commander, and Operations Group 
Commander.
   As Commander, of the 186th Aerial Refueling Wing, Colonel Chalk 
distinguished himself by navigating the base through some of the most 
tumultuous times Key Field Air National Guard Station had seen since 
its inception in 1939. Due to a realignment of mission in the Base 
Realignment and Closure Round of 2005, Key Field lost its aerial 
refueling mission. When the last KC-135 refueling aircraft left in 
2011, Key Field performed numerous different missions on behalf of the 
United States of America on numerous different platforms. Of particular 
note, Colonel Chalk's leadership in the establishment of the MC-12W 
Project Liberty program significantly bolstered the Department of 
Defense intelligence gathering capabilities, directly contributing to 
the demise of countless enemy combatants and the safe return of 
American ground forces. Colonel Chalk also oversaw the standup of the 
C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft program, and was instrumental in Key Field's 
designation as the C-27J Flying Training Unit for the United States Air 
Force. Ultimately in 2012, under Colonel Chalk's command, Key Field, 
the birthplace of aerial refueling, saw the return of the KC-135R 
aerial refueling mission.
   Since coming to Congress in 2009, I have personally worked with 
Colonel Chalk to ensure Key Field was home to an enduring flying 
mission. I am pleased to say that under his leadership, the base has 
received that flying mission and is well positioned to play an integral 
role in the peace and security of this nation for many years to come.
   I wish Colonel Franklin E. Chalk Godspeed as he retires and enters 
this next phase of his life. On behalf of the Congress and the United 
States of America, I thank Colonel Chalk for his commitment, sacrifice, 
and contribution to this great nation in protecting it and our way of 
life.

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