For many Hawkers, the Friday night social at the Rio Rancho American Legion provided a chance to catch up with fellow Soldiers they hadn’t seen in years. Hawkers also met at the New Mexico National Guard’s Rio Rancho Readiness Center on Saturday to reminisce around Hawk equipment that will soon become a permanent display at the hill entrance to the readiness center.
Retired Sgt. Maj. Rudy Checkley introduced Maj. Gen. Ken Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico and former Hawker, to the gathered Air Defenders to talk about the Hawk, the equipment, the service and the role it played in the New Mexico National Guard history.
“Some of you folks may have known him as Spc. Nava or Lt. Nava,” Checkley said as he introduced the Adjutant General.
Nava told his fellow Hawkers it was a great honor to have them back here in Rio Rancho. He said Greg Holmes kind of started this whole reunion thing when he was down at Fort Bliss, Texas and he happened to see a Hawk weapon system sitting behind the museum there.
“Since the Air Defense Center of Excellence moved from Fort Bliss to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, this equipment was just sitting there,” Nava said. “He asked them what they were going to do with it and the responded with ‘nothing, do you want it?’ So Greg made a call to me and I said absolutely.”
Nava said that was one of the things he regretted was not having a proper Hawk display other than a missiles in Santa Fe, but said the complete Hawk unit will sit on top of the hill on the southeast corner of the Rio Rancho Readiness Center and the M 42 Duster will be relocated to its new appropriate home.
Nava gave out thank you letters and coins to the Hawkers responsible for putting on the reunion, calling out names such as Witty, Luigi and Chigley and many others.
He also recognized currently serving Hawkers still in the NMNG formation that include soon to be Brig. Gen. Mark Miera, Lt. Col. Craig Gilcrease, CW4 Carl Trujillo, and Lt. Col. Troy Chadwell.
“Along with my grandfather and my uncle, the Hawk helps me tell who I am,” Nava said. “If I think about when we would emplace this equipment or get ready for our ISC’s, the crew drill was everybody’s regardless of rank – getting that equipment up to minimum engagement capability – it was that teamwork and hard work ethic we had that helped form who we are,” Nava said. “This battalion was also known to play pretty hard.”
“So visit the equipment and talk to the 24 Charlies, 24 Golfs, 16 Deltas and the warrant officers who are here because there is a lot of knowledge, experience and history here,” Nava said.
Nava called on all Hawkers to help tell the story of the Soldiers of the 7-200th Hawk.
“I need your help to tell the story of this battalion,” Nava said. “I grew up as a young pup from E1 to E4 in this battalion, so I need you guys to reach out to our public affairs office and our museum so we can capture our history of this Army weapon system that for over 40 years, helped protect our skies.”
The 7-200th accomplished many firsts to include top gun awards against other Hawk units and branches of service. They also made history by becoming the first National Guard or Reserve unit in the nation to fire a live Hawk missile. They also smashed the Army’s green-time to fire time record from 27 minutes to 19 minutes.
To share your photos, video and stories of the 7-200th Battalion (Hawk), please contact our public affairs office at (505) 553-1427 or [email protected]
