Civil engineers create award in general’s honor

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. David D. Morton
  • 302nd Airlift Wing
One of the best ways to recognize a distinguished military career is to have an award presented in its honor.

The 302nd Civil Engineer Squadron has instituted such an award to recognize members who exemplify outstanding military bearing and appearance, and demonstrate unselfish dedication to the success of the unit.

The new award is named after Maj. Gen. Walter E. "Pops" Arnold, former chief of staff of the Combined Planning Staff, Central Treaty Organization, who retired in January 1968, and is the father of Chief Master Sgt. Sally Arnold, 302nd CES chief of contingency operations.

The general entered service May 27, 1936 as a second lieutenant reserve in the cavalry, and was later appointed as an aviation cadet while entering primary flying school at Randolph Field, Texas. He was later commissioned and earned his wings at Kelly Field, Texas in the Army Air Corps in 1938.

As a pilot, he flew B-17, B-52 and B-24 aircraft and served as commander of the 485th, 330th and 29th Bomb Groups in Texas, Nebraska and Idaho respectively. General Arnold was shot down over Blechammer, Germany in 1944 while flying his 19th combat mission, and spent time as a prisoner of war until liberated on May 5, 1945.

His last duty assignment was in 1965 on his way to completing 33 years of dedicated military service which included numerous other staff and command positions. General Arnold may be best known for serving as an instructor pilot for famed actor Jimmy Stewart, who served under the general's command as a second lieutenant during his introduction to pilot training.

General Arnold spent most of his retired years until his death in February 2002 focusing on and following the career of his daughter, Sally, and meeting and befriending many of the CES members.

"My father always hung around the squadron and everyone got to know him," said Chief Arnold. "It wasn't long after he passed three of our senior noncommissioned officers wanted to come up with something to honor him every year."

It was during a top-three meeting that retired Senior Master Sgt. Ron Tyrrell, former shop superintendent of CES utilities, retired Senior Master Sgt. Brad Serazio, former NCO in charge of CES operations, and Master Sgt. Hector Dela Cruz, NCO in charge of engineer assistance, decided something should be done to honor the general many of the squadron's members came to know and appreciate.

Master Sgt. Horace Baker, plumber for the CES utilities shop, is credited with researching the general's biography and designing the award to be presented annually in his honor.

"I was really touched they wanted to do something to keep his memory alive," said Chief Arnold. "My dad wanted me to follow in his footsteps and become an Air Force officer. However, he was even prouder of me when I made chief because I made it to the top of the enlisted ranks while he never made to the top as a four-star general in the officer corps."

That may be true, but the general will be remembered somewhat as a father-figure to the members of the 302nd CES.

"It gets you a little choked up," said Chief Arnold. Pops was an active part of the squadron. I'm not sure some of our younger troops will appreciate this as much as the older CES folks who've been around here for a while, but the first person nominated to receive the award will have it presented by my mother."