A retirement ceremony was held Saturday for Col. Dave Halter, vice commander of the 139th Airlift Wing to thank him for three decades worth of service.

Halter, a St. Joseph native, retires with 30 years of military service. He has logged over 6,100 flight hours as a navigator.

“He brought so much experience to the table,” says Col. Ralph Schwader, commander of the 139th AW. “I’m sad to see him go.”

The Missouri Air National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing is comprised of approximately 1,100 citizen-Airmen from local communities throughout the region. The unit operates the C-130H Hercules cargo aircraft and has a dual mission to the state of Missouri and the federal government. Rosecrans Air National Guard Base is located at Rosecrans Memorial Airport, St. Joseph, Mo.