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NEWS | May 15, 2023

Remembering Our Heritage and the Ultimate Sacrifice

By Ryan Collins 633d Logistics Readiness Squadron

The 633d Logistics Readiness Squadron dedicated their heritage room after the late U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Bennie Lee Dexter, 633d Combat Support Group inventory management specialist, in a memorialization ceremony at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, March 24, 2023.

According to Lt Col. Heather Higley, 633d Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, this heritage room came about due to grass roots Airmen support, the combined efforts of 633d LRS personnel and dogged support from senior leadership. From the floor to the walls and the historical unit memorabilia adorning them, every Airmen, past and present, played a role in constructing this heritage room.

Col. Gregory Beaulieu, 633d Air Base Wing commander closed the ceremony by stating, “The 633d ABW and the 633d LRS will never forget Senior Master Sgt. Dexter and will continue to keep his memory alive. He is a testament to the strength and the character of the American people, a symbol of our spirit, and an expression of American trust.”

Logisticians gathered in the room commemorating Dexter, a Supply Airman assigned to the 633d Combat Support Group, who was taken as a Prisoner of War, May 9, 1966, and was later killed in action, attempting to escape and evade his Viet-Cong captors. By order of Pacific Air Forces Special Order G-317, the 633d Supply Squadron was activated Jan. 1, 1967, making it no longer a division of the 633d Combat Support Group. As of May 5, 2023, the remains of Senior Master Sgt. Dexter have not been repatriated and his name is inscribed on the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.Ryan S. Collins, 633d ABW historian relayed, “The 633d LRS has a proud heritage of warfighter support, from its past service at Pleiku Air Base, Republic of Vietnam, to Andersen AFB, Guam, and now at JBLE, Virginia. This heritage room celebrates that unique history and honors Senior Master Sgt. Dexter while simultaneously inspiring future generations of Airmen."

The 633d LRS provides worldwide expeditionary combat logistics to one of Air Combat Command's largest fighter wings, more than 40 F-22 Raptors and in addition to transient aircraft. The squadron services Headquarters ACC, 633d Air Base Wing, 1st Fighter Wing, 49 tenant units and six Department of Defense installations, providing $580 million worth of materiel management, transportation, mobility and fuels. The 633d LRS leads deployment readiness for 7,946 Airmen at JBLE, is responsible for U.S. Army mobility missions embarking from Langley Air Force Base and supports Operation Noble Eagle missions.

“It’s important to reflect on the proud legacy of the 633d LRS and its predecessors, as this unit has been known by many names and numbers,” said Higley. “In this room we can honor the memory of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation and carry on their legacy of service with pride and honor.”