New to the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) as of last summer, Deputy Commanding Officer of Support Colonel Kenneth Cole brought with him several updates about Fort Campbell Thursday morning at the Bruce Convention Center — as an integral part of a special “Leap Year” edition of the annual Hopkinsville-Christian County Military Affairs Committee Eagle Ambassador Breakfast.
Arriving from Fort Liberty and himself deployed and decorated more than 20 times in service to and for America, Cole said he’s already noticed two things about his stay in south western Kentucky: the legacy of the division and its proud “Screaming Eagles,” and the camaraderie that exists with nearby communities.
Most recently, he said these friendships have been on display with the support and care of Clarksville’s tornado victims — who eerily on December 10, 2023, dealt with the destruction of an EF-3 twister that roared back into Kentucky from Tennessee on a 43-mile path.
At present, Cole noted the 101st Airborne remains “uniquely oriented” in its combination of large-scale short- and long-ranged air assault capabilities, and as such have to actively train for it in the safest manner possible.
In January, he said more than 70 aircraft and a brigade were sent to Louisiana for such training, and these efforts remain prudent. Another brigade just returned from Operation European Assure, Deter and Reinforce, and he added that another brigade just rotated toward Europe for the same mission.
Cole also confirmed that multiple units from Fort Campbell remain deployed in smaller and larger units all across the world.
Closer to home, Cole added that commanders and soldiers remain engaged with “transformation in contact” efforts within ranks. According to Pentagon officials, select units that deploy around the world have been given new weapons and training, in order to provide real-world feedback to military authorities.
This quaintly overlaps with Fort Campbell’s timely “Lethal Eagle,” in which Cole said soldiers and officers will be spending 21 days in April out in the field embracing unit training and personal development.
Locally, Cole said it means citizens will hear more helicopters and more artillery at night, experience more traffic disruptions with units constantly on the move, fewer soldiers in town to positively impact business, and families that may need more support.
But there’s also a slightly comical side to the planned maneuver.
Other key issues of pertinence, he said, include keeping watchful eyes on Ukraine, the Middle East and geopolitical turmoil in the Indo-Pacific, a need for the rapid reduction of excessive equipment bogging down commanders and their units, and the growing child care barrier between families and spousal employment.
In other MAC news:
— Christian County Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Director Shannon Lane said that officials from Hopkinsville and Todd County will soon be following in the footsteps of Trigg County, and as such will be unveiling “Hometown Heroes” banner programs for the communities. In Hopkinsville, beginning July 4 through Veteran’s Day, more than 200 banners are going up along Fort Campbell Boulevard to Ninth Street, and Guthrie could be following suit.
— Three awards were also doled out Thursday morning. The “Soaring Eagle” honor, given to those making a difference, went to Patriot Chevrolet’s general manager Gene Curtis. The MAC’s “Service” Award went to White’s Auto Mall, for their continued vehicle contract with the MAC, as well as their attention and insistence with “Welcome Home” celebrations. And Lana Bastin offered up three adjectives for this year’s “Outstanding MAC Member,” Holly Hampton.
— Paying respect to those soldiers and families who may be struggling, Todd Goulet, of First Baptist Church, offered Thursday’s invocation.
— Lane noted Thursday’s breakfast was the largest crowd in the program’s history.
