Col. Richard Harrison, Air Defense Artillery School commandant and chief of ADA; Lt. Gen. Dan Karbler, commanding general for Army Space and Missile Defense Command and Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense; and Maj. Gen. Ken Kamper, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill CG cut a ribbon Dec. 3, 2020, to open the ADA Training Support Facility at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Several artifacts are already inside the new Air Defense Artillery Training Support Facility, to include an inert Nike Hercules missile. Two hundred artifacts are expected to be showcased when the facility has its grand opening at the 2021 Fires Conference at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

The Oozlefinch shows its excitement outside the new Air Defense Artillery Training Support Facility Dec. 3, 2020.

FORT SILL, Okla., Dec. 10, 2020 — Oftentimes the efforts of many continue on, but with no tangible results. That is not the case for the Air Defense Artillery Branch. A new chapter in its history was marked Dec. 3 after the energy of numerous stakeholders led to the construction of a 40,000-square-foot facility, erected to preserve and share the history of the ADA.

To celebrate, many of those involved with moving the goal to its final result were in attendance for the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new Air Defense Artillery Training Support Facility.

The ADA mascot, Oozlefinch, welcomed guests through the doors, and the 77th Army Band played inside. Col. Richard Harrison, Air Defense Artillery School commandant and chief of ADA, introduced Lt. Gen. Dan Karbler as one of the key members on the team to make the facility a reality.

“This is a decade-long endeavor that through your blood, sweat, and tears helped us to bring this to fruition,” said Harrison.

Karbler’s influence on the ADA footprint comes from commanding 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade  during the inital ADA transition to Oklahoma. He then was able to find a legal way to move the artifacts from Fort Bliss, Texas, to Fort Sill when he was the chief of staff here, and he then served as the 38th commandant of the ADA School.

“You were part of the advanced party of our branch coming to Fort Sill. We thank you for that. [Karbler] became the chief of staff and really did a tremendous job bringing our branch to Fort Sill and to this building,” said Harrison.

Karbler then spoke about the day’s significance.

“This is a day that has been a long time coming. In the spirit of ‘people first’ I want to recognize some people. Joe Crazinzki was the (quality assurance officer) lead for the Corps of Engineers, and he helped really fight through a lot of the bureaucracy and the red tape that was critical to make sure this came to fruition,” said Karbler.

He thanked Harrison, retired Lt. Gen. Stan Green, Maj. Gen. Ken Kamper, Brig. Gen. Brian Gibson, retired Maj. Gen. Roger Matthews, retired Brig. Gen. Randall McIntire, the ADA Association, and David Christensen, ADA historian.

“If you didn’t know, David is a big Minnesota Vikings fan. Unlike the Vikings, David actually got this one across the goalline,” teased Karbler.

“We stand on the verge of unprecedented advances in our Air Defense Artillery Branch. How appropriate is it that today we are doing the ribbon cutting for this facility to recognize the legacy and history of our branch? This confluence of events that really, really makes this day special.”

Behind Karbler were many artifacts, to include inert missiles, a World War I French 75mm cannon, an M-55 Quad 50, a Korean War gun truck, a Vietnam-era Jeep and more.

Karbler gestured to the back and said, “Near and dear to my heart is a Nike Hercules Command and Control Van. In 1987, I was part of the last class to go through Nike Hercules training at the school house. David, thank you for that memory from 33 years ago, for finding the Nike Herc van, and then putting it here on display.”

Karbler noted the bookend events from his beginning in 1987 as a graduating Basic Officer Leader Course student, to the experience of the BOLC students who were in attendance to see the new facility.

Karbler, in the beginning of his service, visited the then ADA Museum in Fort Bliss “in what probably should’ve been condemned World War II facilities. I think that building was much older than any of the artifacts they were displaying.”

He explained the various moves of the branch’s artifacts to an old PX in Texas, then to Fort Sill in an old blimp hangar, then to warehouse buildings that were also very old.

“Now here we are today, finally in a building that is newer than the artifacts that will be displayed inside of it,” said Karbler.

The facility will have a grand opening during the 2021 Fires Conference when the final touches will be complete. In the end, nearly 200 artifacts will be showcased, and classrooms and the research library will be in use by ADA students on post.

“They’ll have the privilege of learning about our rich branch history, the heritage of our branch, and the Soldiers in whose footsteps they will follow. And in so doing they are going to carry out the proud legacy and the important role of the ADA branch, and I couldn’t be any prouder than to be part of that with the ribbon cutting here today,” said Karbler.