Prime Beef and RED HORSE members reunite to recognize golden anniversary

  • Published
  • By Mekka Parish
  • AFCEC Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  More than 200 past and present RED HORSE and Prime BEEF members reunited at Fort Walton Beach, Florida, recently to celebrate 50 years of "Can Do, Will Do."

During the anniversary convention, members recalled achievements, bonded with their comrades and reflected on the legacies of contingency engineering. 

"I think it's awesome to see the original engineers that formed the original Prime BEEF teams and the original RED HORSE units come together and share the legacy they started," said Col. Anthony Davit, director of the Air Force Civil Engineer Center Readiness Directorate.

The bond shared by the squadron members is unique, said Stanley Klein, an original member of the 555th RED HORSE Squadron, affectionately called Triple Nickel.

"There is a bond folks that have served together in a war zone form that you don't form with people in other associations," Klein said.

Throughout the event, members emphasized the RED HORSE and Prime BEEF motto, "Can Do, Will Do" is more than words on a patch.  It speaks to the ethos of the men, in the 544th and 555th RED HORSE Squadrons, who came together in 1965 to support the U.S. military's mis-sion in Vietnam.

"Many of these gentlemen came and had no prior construction experience," said Lt. Col. Andy Derosa, current 554th commander, who traveled from Anderson Air Force Base, Guam, to attend the reunion. "So, to form units up in under a month and ship them out to build up air bases in Thailand and Vietnam is pretty phenomenal."

Their legacy was truly the focus of the weeklong celebration.  The convention focused on honor-ing the six original RED HORSE Squadrons, the 554th, 555th, 556th, 819th, 820th and 823rd, and Prime BEEF teams deployed between 1965 - 1966 during the Vietnam conflict. 

It's an honor Davit believes was well overdue. 

"The Vietnam era veterans did not get the celebration that service members today have.  I think it's our responsibility to rectify that," Davit said.

During the event, Davit and Col. Arno Bischoff presented information on the current capabilities and structures of modern day squadrons and units. Attendees also visited nearby Hurlburt Field, home to the 823rd RED HORSE Squadron. 

Several veterans also displayed photos and patches, and also delivered presentations on how tasks were accomplished, the conditions they endured and the obstacles they overcame.

Maj. Gen. Timothy Green, Air Force director of civil engineers, delivered the convention's key-note address and gave the final celebratory salute. 

"You all started something that all of us have tried to carry on," Green said.  "You passed down a standard of excellence and commitment to service, for that combat platform of the Air Force, which we are still trying to carry today.  I want to thank you for your service."