AlaDefense.com

‘Grieve with hope’: Fort Rucker marks Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day

October 24, 2025

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ARMY

A photo of Sgt. 1st Class Tom Butts sits amongst luminaries during the annual Gold Star Mother’s and Family Day Luminary Service at Fort Rucker. Butts was killed Feb. 27, 1991, when his UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter was shot down over Iraq during Operation Desert Storm. (Photo by Leslie Herlick) By Leslie Herlick/U.S. Army FORT…
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WW II ‘Flying Tigers’ Chennault legacy returns to Maxwell Air Force Base

October 20, 2025

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AIR FORCE

A Chinese soldier guards a line of American P-40 Flying Tiger fighter planes at an airfield in China during World War II. (Photo via National Archives) By Tech. Sgt. Savannah L. Waters Air University Public Affairs MAXWELL AIR FORCE BASE, Ala. — Maj. Gen. Claire Lee Chennault was a pioneering U.S. Army Air Corps officer…
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Closed to visitors? Alabama’s historic military sites continue to grapple with government shutdown

October 16, 2025

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Uncategorized

The Army Aviation Museum Foundation tries to be upbeat with a little humor during the federal government shutdown, which affects The U.S. Army Aviation Museum and Training Support Facility at Fort Rucker, home of Army aviation. (Facebook photo) By Troy Turner [email protected] The U.S. government shutdown continues to affect federal employees, military personnel, and numerous…
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Mobile community joins Austal USA in saying goodbye to Littoral Combat Ship build-out program

October 14, 2025

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NAVY

By Troy Turner [email protected] Shipbuilder Austal USA, headquartered in Mobile, shared photos last week of its sentimental goodbye to the U.S. Navy’s last littoral combat ship of the Independence-variant, the future USS Pierre (LCS 38). The company also hosted for its employees and special guests several celebration events and activities in salute to a program…
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Alabama Medal of Honor recipient’s medal goes on display at home of 5th Special Forces Group

October 13, 2025

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ARMY

By Troy Turner [email protected] Medal of Honor recipient Bennie Adkins of Opelika thought much of his Army Special Forces brotherhood, and that’s why his medal will rest with them, his family said. Adkins, an Oklahoma native who lived much of his life in Opelika and worked in Auburn, passed away from complications with COVID-19 in…
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US Foods Montgomery picks up $341 million food-and-beverage military contract

September 29, 2025

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CONTRACTS

Photo by USMC Lance Cpl. Tucker Wolf By Troy Turner [email protected] US Foods Montgomery, under the parent umbrella of nationwide food distributor US Foods, has picked up a military contract that carries a potential value of almost $341 million. The using military services are Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps; with an ordering period end…
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U.S. Army Rangers use Lake Martin for training exercise

September 28, 2025

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ARMY

By Troy Turner [email protected] Seeing people jump into Lake Martin is a pretty routine sight, but it’s a bit different look when 60 or so U.S. Army Rangers are doing it with parachutes and jumping from a helicopter more than a thousand feet high. Multiple local emergency services joined forces with the Army on Tuesday,…
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Fort Rucker celebrates NCO Week with artifacts and history lesson

September 27, 2025

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ARMY

By Kelly Morris Public Affairs Office FORT RUCKER, Alabama — The Week of the Noncommissioned Officer at Fort Rucker provided a walk back in time as noncommissioned officers (NCOs) learned about Army Aviation’s story from one of its historians. Fort Rucker is home to Army Aviation, and its storied history was shared by Army Aviation…
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Wounded Knee and the revisit to 20 medals of honor

September 26, 2025

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ARMY, OPINION

Photo: U.S. troops surrounding American Indians at Wounded Knee, S.D., 1890. (Miller Studio, Gordon, Neb./Library of Congress) EDITOR’S NOTE: This column was first posted more than a year ago on Aug. 3, 2024. It is being reposted because of Thursday’s announcement by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth that all 20 soldiers will keep their medals…
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Theadore company awarded contract update for Coast Guard Special Purpose vessels

September 26, 2025

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COAST GUARD, CONTRACTS

By Troy Turner [email protected] The Naval Sea Systems Command has awarded Silver Ships, Inc., based in Theadore off Mobile Bay, a nearly $12 million contract modification to an earlier $16 million deal for additional vessels to support the Coast Guard. The contract modification exercises options with Silver Ships for two 11-meter surface support craft and…
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Army expands Dynetics contract for Inc 2 air defense system against drone and cruise missile threats

September 22, 2025

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ARMY, CONTRACTS

By Troy Turner [email protected] The U.S. Army and Huntsville-based Dynetics Inc., a Leidos company, continue their partnership in short- to mid-range air and missile defense with a contract modification for the production of the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 weapon system, also known as IFPC Inc 2. Inc 2 is a mobile, ground-based weapon…
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Rep. Dale Strong looks to pave way for space transportation infrastructure with SPACEPORT Act

September 19, 2025

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AIR FORCE, ARMY, SPACE FORCE

By Troy Turner [email protected] WASHINGTON – Congressman Dale W. Strong, who represents portions of the Huntsville region in north Alabama, re-introduced the Spaceport Project Opportunities for Resilient Transportation (SPACEPORT) Act, which would provide dedicated federal support to U.S. spaceports. The Act is intended to help ensure the nation can meet growing civil, commercial and national…
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