223d Combat Communications Squadron The United States Air Force ' s 223rd Combat Communications Squadron ( 223 CBCS ) is an Air National Guard combat communications unit located at Hot Springs ANGS , Arkansas . History . The 223rd began as the 8201st Air Base Squadron on 1 May 1952 . The 8201st was discontinued on 30 November 1952 and became the 223rd radio Relay Squadron on 1 December 1952 . With an authorized strength of four officers and 95 airmen , the 223rd had a mission to install and operate five radio relay stations and three radio terminals under field conditions . First Lt . Joe A . Holbrook became the Commanding Officer of the newly formed unit and held that position until March 1955 . The unit was assigned to the Continental Air Command ( CONAC ) , located at Selfridge AFB , Michigan . Under Lt . Holbrook ' s command , recruiting took priority and the unit quadrupled in size within months . The unit ' s first exercise began on 5 July 1953 , setting up a base station at the Garland County Municipal Airport and a second site at the Fairgrounds . There call signs were Zekeamoto Alpha and Zekeamoto Extra . Captain George C . Bolton replaced Lt . Holbrook as Commanding Officer on 13 March 1955 and would hold that position until 1971 . Lt . Holbrook ' s career with the 223rd was far from over . Through the years he was promoted to the rank of Lietenant Colonel , but would later accept a demotion to the enlisted ranks with a rank of Master Sergeant so that he could remain in the unit . The respect that Joe Holbrook earned in his decades with the unit would earn him the nickname " Sergeant Colonel Holbrook " , and his men would proudly admit they continued to call him " Sir " even after joining the enlisted ranks . The 223rd was federally activated by President Dwight D . Eisenhower on 24 September 1957 to assist in the Little Rock Integration Crisis . During this time , a new building was under construction ; the same building they would call home until the unit ' s closure in 2008 . By 1960 , the 223rd had gained recognition as a premier Radio Relay Squadron . The unit ' s manning increased to ten officers and 181 airmen , and they gained Food Services and Medical Services . The ongoing joke at the time was that introduction of both services at the same time was necessary , as you could not have a chow hall without having a medic . In 1968 , the unit ' s name changed to the 223rd Mobile Communications squadron , as they received Troposcatter radios , High Frequency ( HF ) radios , a Tactical Communications Center , Technical Control facilities , Tactical Switchboards and Cryptographic functions . Four months after receiving this equipment , virtually unseen by any member of the unit only months earlier , the 223rd took the Commanding Role in exercise Guard Strike 2 . The unit continued to grow , its inventory expanding and its members grasp of communications becoming sharper . By 1990 , Lt . Col . Marc W . Barber , the former enlisted Air Advisor for the unit , became the commanding officer . His vision for the unit took it in new directions . After dozens of highly successful exercises and operations , the 223rd , now a Combat Communication Squadron , partnered with the C2TIG , or Command And Control Training and Integration Group at Hurlburt Field , Florida . This partnership led to the development of new eauipment , new missions and new ways of doing business ; many of these new concepts were quickly adopted throughout the military and are standard practices today . The decision to close the 223rd in 2008 was a financial one . The 189th Airlift Wing in Little Rock , Arkansas and the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith gained many new personnel positions by this closure , as well additional equipment . During its history , over 4000 individuals signed the dotted line to become a member of the 223rd . Many came from active duty , representing all branches of the military , while many started and ended their careers with the unit . References . The Unofficial History of the 223rd " MSgt Scotty W . Welland ( ret . ) Published 2004