Celebrating 75 years of Air Force ROTC
From the vision and support of then-East Carolina Teachers College president John Messick in the 1940s to current cadets and commander Lt. Col. William Dye, who is East Carolina University Air Force ROTC’s 28th commander, ECU is celebrating 75 years of its Air Force ROTC unit.
Cadets listen to retired Gen. Gary North, second from left, and others during a panel discussion celebrating 75 years of East Carolina University’s Air Force ROTC unit. (ECU Photo by Rhett Butler)
As noted in this ECU News feature, Alston Cobourn, head of university history and records for Academic Library Services, curated the exhibition “75 Years of Detachment 600: East Carolina’s Air Force ROTC.”
“In putting together this exhibit, I personally enjoyed seeing how the Air Force ROTC program has grown and changed over the past 75 years, while also building consistent traditions that haven’t changed much,” Cobourn said. “The Air Force ROTC cadets throughout the detachment’s history have really contributed to the university’s mission, Servire, by organizing and participating in community service and fundraising events. Going through our early photographs of the program, I was struck by how long they have had a presence on campus. Seventy-five years sounds like a long time, but when I think of it as three-fourths of a century, then I really feel how long it has been.”
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An exhibition reception and panel discussion Sept. 22 at 1 p.m. for “75 Years of Detachment 600: East Carolina’s Air Force ROTC” in the library was free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. (Sponsored by the Friends of Joyner Library)
The panel discussion was in the library Room 2409 from 1-2:30 p.m.
Lt. Col. Billy Dye, left, and cadets during a visit to “75 Years of Detachment 600: East Carolina’s Air Force ROTC” in the library. (University Advancement Facebook photos)
Lt. Col. William “Billy” Dye, who is the current commander of ECU Air Force ROTC Detachment 600, served as the panel moderator. Guest panelists are:
- Retired Gen. Gary North, class of 1976
- Retired Maj. Michael McShane, class of 1966
- Col. Derrick Floyd, class of 1997
- Lt. Col. Elenah Kelly, class of 2000
- Mrs. Joan Phillips, former administrative secretary for Detachment 600.
The exhibit “75 Years of Detachment 600: East Carolina’s Air Force ROTC” opened in August and will be displayed in two locations on the library’s first floor through the rest of the semester. Panels, photos, facts and tributes provide a glimpse into Detachment 600’s long, celebrated history.
Check out more photos from a recent Air Force ROTC visit to the exhibit.
Three-fourths of a century ago, in 1948, the vision and hard work of East Carolina Teachers College president John Decatur Messick brought an Air Force ROTC program to campus. This library exhibit details the decades since then in accomplishments, distinguished commanders, awards, notable moments and alumni, and other ways the detachment has impacted campus, the region, our country and the world.
ECU’s Air Force and Army ROTC units are both part of the College of Health and Human Performance.
The panel discussion Sept. 22 and Detachment 600’s 75th anniversary ball later that night at the Greenville Convention Center also helped promote the detachment’s ongoing crowdfunding campaign.
A flight shield showcased in “75 Years of Detachment 600: East Carolina’s Air Force ROTC.” (Photo by Ronnie Woodward)