BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- More than 100 friends, family and fellow Airmen attended the retirement ceremony for Col. James L. Morriss III, 307th Bomb Wing vice commander, at Hoban Hall April 29. The ceremony was a culmination of 31 years of service and dedication to the Air Force and the mission of the B-52 Stratofortress.
Morriss knew as a child that he wanted to join the Air Force. Current events and his own family heritage led him to his decision.
“As a kid I grew up during the (Apollo) space program, so I was your typical ‘I want to be a pilot or astronaut’ growing up,” he said. “I had a grandfather that flew during WWII. I also had an uncle that was a gunner during WWII.”
The Arkansas native, received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Arkansas before receiving his commission from the Officers Training School, in April 1986. He completed his Undergraduate in Navigator and Electronic Warfare Officer at Mather AFB, Calif. and then went on to Combat Crew Training School at Castle AFB, Calif. After completing training in 1987, he was assigned to Barksdale as a B-52 EWO.
And at Barksdale he would remain. Morriss spent the next 12 years as Active Duty and after a brief separation, returned as a Reservist.
The most memorable part of his career was his participation in the 35-hour-long mission, Operation Senior Surprise, commonly known as, “Operation Secret Squirrel,” which kicked off Operation Desert Storm in January 1991.
“I have seen the B-52 play the most pivotal warfare change, at least in the United States Air Force, by launching and employing GPS guided weapons,” said Morriss. “In the past, when you used the word ‘precision strike,’ you immediately thought of a smaller type platform, such as a fighter. That’s not really the mindset anymore. The B-52 has changed the way we fight wars.”
The B-52 transitioning to a precision strike platform is not the only accomplishment Morriss has been proud to have been associated with. The 307th BW has participated in multi-national exercises and air shows over the years, developing and fostering relationships within the NATO community.
“Representing 330 million Americans while you are trying to develop relationships with another country,” said Morriss. “It is incredible being a part of that type of relationship. When you come in to serve, and you train to do your job, especially as a combatant kind of aviator; we don’t always want to do our jobs, but when it comes time, those are the significant times during your career that you remember the most.”
Before leaving for his next adventure, Col. Morriss offered up some advice to those Airmen who are just starting their Air Force career.
“Invest in yourself earlier in your life,” said Morriss. “Invest in the professional military education for the military part of your life, but don’t forget to invest in advanced education. It doesn’t matter whether you are filling that square because you think it’s important for your military career or just you as a person. Advancing your civilian education is so important for people serving in the military. Airmen are built for achievement and if they wait too long in life, they are going to miss a lot of opportunities and also going to steal from the time with their families.”
As this chapter in his life is now closed he looks back onto his past 31 years.
“It has been a good career and it has been good being here,” he said. “This installation has been a big part of my life. Retiring as a colonel and as the 307th Bomb Wing vice wing commander, I wouldn’t change it for the world.”